new release Archive
30 Jul 2024
Album Review: Rome 56 – Paradise is Free
Heartland twang, creamy vocal harmonies, shimmering powerpop jangle and Byrdsy/Petty-ish Southern lilt: all of those winning qualities make themselves known with the first minute of “The Man Behind the Man […]
23 Jul 2024
A Conversation with Sykofant (Part 2 of 2)
Continued from Part One… Did you find it difficult to take all these different styles and make them work together seamlessly without there being rough edits or jarring changes? Because […]
22 Jul 2024
A Conversation with Sykofant (Part 1 of 2)
Sykofant is a progressive rock band from Oslo, Norway, but prog is perhaps too limiting a term for what they do. On their self titled debut album, the group takes […]
17 Jul 2024
Arthur or Not Arthur: That is the Question
Landmark Kinks album inspires Chris Tullar’s Not Arthur An acclaimed late sixties concept album provided the inspiration for a local songwriter to conceive, record and stage a concept album all […]
14 Jul 2024
Album Review: Donovan’s Brain — Fire Printing
I’ve covered more releases than I can easily count by Donovan’s Brain. (Okay, I counted, and it’s at least four. Math’s not my strong suit.) And there’s a reason for […]
13 Jul 2024
Album Review: Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee – Live From the Ash Grove
Growing up in the era of rock, I didn’t stumble across the blues until I was in high school. Frequenting a record store, one day I came across a trio […]
11 Jul 2024
Album Review: Altered Five Blues Band – Testifyin’
A five-song EP recorded in a quick two-day session in Nashville, Testifyin’ is the seventh studio release from this Milwaukee-based quintet. Produced by award-winning Tom Hambridge, the new set showcases […]
10 Jul 2024
Album Review: The Wicked Lo-Down – Out of Line
Formed in 2020 just prior to the world hitting the pause button, New England-based quintet The Wicked Lo-Down builds its sound on a combination of r&b and Texas blues. Led […]
09 Jul 2024
Album Review: Min Xiao-Fen – Metta
I’ve written before about virtuoso musician and composer Min Xiao-Fen. Min has carved out a fascinating and unique niche in the musical world. With a foundation in classical music, she […]
07 Jul 2024
Album Review: The Hollywood Stars – Starstruck
It’s fair to look with skepticism upon a revived lineup of a long-lost band from days gone by. Recapturing past glories is a worthy enough goal, but it’s one that […]