ALBUM REVIEW: Levi J. Burr – Another Domino Map

Posted on December 8, 2023 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

The acoustic guitar has been a mainstay of popular music through a myriad of genres over the last 150+ years. Through folk, country, blues, jazz and classical music it’s persisted and provided the soundtrack for generations of players, from the back porch to concert halls, juke joints to folk clubs. One particular strand that … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Alt-Country / Americana / Australia / Rock

ALBUM REVIEW: Perry Keyes – Black & White Town

Posted on December 7, 2023 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

‘Last Night In Redfern Park’ sets the scene perfectly as the opening track tumbles out of the speakers. With the urgency of life in the inner city and both the bruises and exultant times that comes with that lifestyle, Keyes sets a lofty standard out of the gate and not unexpectedly he more than matches … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Alt-Country / Americana / Australia / Cosmic Country / Rock / Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Dan Brodie – The Ballad Of Cowboy Dan

Posted on November 28, 2023 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

The Melbourne songwriter Dan Brodie is something of an enigma on the Australian music scene, having forged his way in the pub rock scene, straddling both rock in the traditional sense and countrified twang and rockabilly. His last few releases though have explored a more noir aesthetic, adding to the mystery of Cowboy Dan. On … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / ambient country / Americana / Australia / Bluegrass / Folk / New Music / Stream / Videos

ALBUM REVIEW: DC Cross – Wizrad

Posted on November 27, 2023 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Americana / Australia / Cosmic Country / Folk / Folk Rock / Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: JB Paterson – Springtime Is Coming

Posted on November 16, 2023 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Queensland songwriter JB Paterson released his third album Springtime Is Coming (Holiday Maker Records) at the tail end of 2022 but this one is such a great record I felt compelled to post a belated review of the 13-track folk suite which traces the seasonal shift from winter to spring. The album was written, performed … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Alt-Country / Americana / Australia / Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Concrete Sea – Australian Dream

Posted on November 12, 2023 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

On Australian Dream, Concrete Sea take a swing at navigating and chronicling the suburban experience of living on this great continent in the 21st century and they do so impressively, via a baroque rock feel with a vivid poetic quality. Channeling the evocative storytelling of some of our masters – Paul Kelly, David McComb, Steve … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Americana / Australia / Cosmic Country / Folk / Folk Rock / Soul / Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Ryan Martin John – Goodness Gracious Graceless

Posted on November 9, 2023 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Ryan Martin John’s Goodness Gracious Graceless (Independent) emerged blinking into the world in April and right from the opening track ‘Bourbon St’ it caught my ear and drew me in via the lush and spacious palette of sounds with shimmering guitars and John’s exquisite soulful folk voice. His falsetto and pure, wavering tone constantly thrills … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Alt-Country / Americana / Australia / Cosmic Country / Folk Rock / Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Babitha – Brighter Side Of Blue

Posted on October 23, 2023 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Babitha’s debut album Brighter Side of Blue (Spunk), released earlier this year, is a superb album that weaves an intoxicating spell. Songwriter/singer/guitarist Imogen Grist stretches the form of folk music, taking it deeper into a full band, folk-rock cul-de-sac that feels decidedly metropolitan – a pastoral trip through suburban streets. Seemingly arriving fully formed, Babitha weaves … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Alt-Country / Americana / Australia / Country / New Music / Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: David Garnham & The Reasons To Live – The Stuart Highway Part One

Posted on October 11, 2023 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

The Stuart Highway runs from Darwin, in the Northern Territory, via Tennant Creek and Alice Springs, to Port Augusta in South Australia and its northern starting point is the home of songwriter David Garnham, who has penned this concept album of sorts. The songs take in the geography, lifestyle and characters that populate and travel … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Alt-Country / Americana / Cosmic Country / Country / Psychedelic / Rock / Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Justin and the Cosmics – Cool Dead

Posted on August 28, 2023 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

JUSTIN AND THE COSMICS COOL DEAD LOVE POLICE RECORDS + TAPES I’d actually forgotten I saw Justin & The Cosmics back in 2018, opening for Deer Tick at the Lansdowne Hotel here in Sydney. Once my pre-pandemic memory recall kicked back into gear I remembered how impressive they were that night. Attitude backed up with … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Alt-Country / Americana / Cosmic Country / Rock / Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Mark Lucas & The Dead Setters – Onward Into The Fog

Posted on August 16, 2023 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

MARK LUCAS & THE DEAD SETTERS ONWARD INTO THE FOG INDEPENDENT Mark Lucas and his band of Dead Setters have been a fixture on the Sydney alt-country/roots music scene for the last two decades, playing the bars, clubs and bowlos, and every couple of years casting a new CD of songs out into the world. … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Alt-Country / Americana / Rock / Videos

ALBUM REVIEW: Lucero – Should’ve Learned By Now

Posted on August 15, 2023 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

LUCERO SHOULD’VE LEARNED BY NOW LIBERTY & LAMENT/THIRTY TIGERS Lucero are coming up to quarter of a century in the rock ’n’ roll and alt-country game and the Memphis band’s new album finds them returning to their bristling, punk’ish country-rock template after a run of more introspective releases. It’s a thrilling reminder of how great … Continue reading →

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ALBUM REVIEW: Minor Gold – Minor Gold

Posted on August 11, 2023 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

Minor Gold Minor Gold Independent Both members of Minor Gold have already individually carved out successful careers – Tracy McNeil with her band The GoodLife and Dan Parsons with his three solo albums. Partners in music and life, McNeil and Parsons have seamlessly combined their skills as songwriters and singers to produce a symbiotic and … Continue reading →

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ALBUM REVIEW: Phil Smith – Into The Night

Posted on July 31, 2023 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

PHIL SMITH INTO THE NIGHT INDEPENDENT Tasmanian songwriter Phil Smith’s new album is one of those records that’s full of effortless sounding songs, where every note caresses and complements the next. There’s a specific kind of Australian Americana at play across the nine songs – part heartland rock, part jangly melodic rock. Overall though, it’s … Continue reading →

Album Artwork / Album Reviews / Alt-Country / Americana / Country / Folk / New Music / New Zealand / Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Adam McGrath – Dear Companions

Posted on July 7, 2023 by Doubtful Sounds • Leave a comment

PTW is very pleased to have guest reviewer Heath Forsyth write this wonderful review of Adam McGrath’s Dear Companions, released late in 2022. Adam McGrath Dear Companions Independent What do you get for $10 these days? Schooner of Toohey’s New? Half a haircut? 500mb of phone data? How about a single iceberg lettuce to go with your cans of … Continue reading →