It’s always great to hear new music from Tracy McNeil. She never fails to dial into a nostalgic feeling – whether it’s one of blooming love, fading romance, the innocence of youth or the optimism of future possibilities. ‘Stars’ does some of that and more, sounding like Fleetwood Mac and The War On Drugs in … Continue reading
Here’s a lovely ambling slice of country-folk courtesy of Memphis songwriter Mark Edgar Stuart. ‘Mad At Love’ is the title track from his new album (released Oct 12th) and is written from the point of view of a widow who lost her husband to cancer. It rides on a brisk rhythm and breezy melody that belies … Continue reading
This is the latest single from Melbourne songwriter Hamish Anderson who has been picking up a fair bit of buzz in the US over the last few years. It’s a bluesy alt-country track that would sit comfortably alongside the more recent work of Ryan Adams. Clean production and definitely polished but it still has enough alt-country … Continue reading
Hollie Fullbrook has released a video clip for the second single and title track of her new Tiny Ruins album Olympic Girls, due out on February 1st, 2019 via Milk! Records and Remote Control. It’s trademark Tiny Ruins in its mix of bucolic melodies, artful wordplay and fluid and inventive instrumentation. The clip is a … Continue reading
I came across this beautiful slice of soulful Americana, the single from Freddy & Francine, a duo out of Nashville (previously based in L.A). The song comes from their recently released EP Moonless Night, produced by Dan Knobler (Lake Street Dive). Check out the amusing clip for ‘Half A Mind’ below and you can listen to the full … Continue reading
Honky tonk, hard country and outlaw combine for this rippin’ new single from Gethen Jenkins. There’s some great playing right across it, from lead guitar to pedal steel, backed by a swinging freight train rhythm section on this shuffling drinking song. Hell of a voice too – gruff and deep, in the tradition of Waylon … Continue reading
THE ROCKY ROAD TO HARMONY A caravan snakes its way across the Nullarbor; singer-songwriter, husband, toddler and Rascal the dog ensconced within as dust billows into the late afternoon air and a burning sun casts a warm glow over their travels. That’s the scene as Catherine Britt heads out on another adventure, just one of … Continue reading
Here’s the new single from JP Harris‘ new album Sometimes Dogs Bark at Nothing (due out October 5th on Free Dirt Records), co-produced by Old Crow Medicine Show member, Morgan Jahnig. The song rips and tumbles along, it’s a fun country-rock workout that details touring life with his band The Tough Choices. Fittingly it has a … Continue reading
SONGS FROM THE BROKEN RADIO “I was nominated for best new talent and I was in my 40s and everyone else was in their 20s so I was the oldest new guy in country music which was nice.” That’s singer/songwriter Michael Waugh discussing his nomination for Best New Talent at the 2017 Golden Guitar Awards. … Continue reading
There’s something about this lead track from Altameda’s (Edmonton, Canada) sophomore LP Time Hasn’t Changed You, due out in March, 2019 via Pheromone Recordings. It cuts across a bunch of different sounds – 70s FM rock, a country swing and strut and a big horn-led chorus, draped in gang backing vocals. It has that soul thing happening too, making … Continue reading
We’re pleased to premiere ‘Molly Meldrum’s Eyes’, the latest single and first video clip from Paul Andrews & Family Fold‘s new album Ashfield Skyline (with Nashville producer Brad Jones), due out on October 5th. The song has that wonderful wistful sound where alt-country meets astute and intelligent pop songwriting. It exists in the same realm of … Continue reading
A nice, live-in-studio recording from Billy Bronsted & Feed The Dog that popped up in my feed this afternoon. No theatrics necessary, just a very good song built on a loping melancholic melody with some fine playing from all involved. Bronsted is a singer/songwriter from Wisconsin who released his first album, This Bed Of Mine, … Continue reading
One day, in her late teens, Tori Forsyth wrote a composition that she considered her first proper song. It was that song, ‘Johnny And June’, that she played to producer Trent Crawford and began the journey that led first to her debut EP and now her full length album, Dawn Of The Dusk, produced by … Continue reading
PAYING HOMAGE TO OBSCURE BLUES Eilen Jewell recently visited Australian shores for a run of shows showcasing her album Down Hearted Blues, but as she reveals to Chris Familton, she’s already been in the studio working on her next album of original material. It’s an overcast spring evening in Boise, Idaho when Eilen Jewell answers the … Continue reading
In this day and age, country music is a different and multifaceted beast to what it was 80 years ago. Back then, in simpler times, the music reflected tales both true and imagined about day-to-day life, heroes and adventures. The likes of Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and Sons of the Pioneers ruled the wireless and … Continue reading
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