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Grant Britt

On 'Dear America,' Eric Bibb Sends a Love Letter Laced with Hard Truths

On 'Dear America,' Eric Bibb Sends a Love Letter Laced with Hard Truths

If Eric Bibb were any cooler, he’d have to hang out in a refrigerator. Chilled out, blissed-out, and laid back, Bibb radiates mellow like the coils of a Frigidaire, spreading clouds of cool every time he opens his mouth. But the troubadour doesn’t aspire to the worship or

Family Forms the Foundation on Paul Thorn’s ‘Never Too Late to Call’

Family Forms the Foundation on Paul Thorn’s ‘Never Too Late to Call’

A lot of people are fighting for domination under Paul Thorn’s skin. Randy Newman and John Hiatt are the main combatants, battling for walk-around vocal control. Delbert McClinton’s in the ring as well slinging his twang around to help Thorn deliver his knockout punches. The boxing thing is

‘I Be Trying’ Finds Cedric Burnside in Bloom from His Hill Country Roots

‘I Be Trying’ Finds Cedric Burnside in Bloom from His Hill Country Roots

A trip through Mississippi Hill Country can be a bit stark, accompanied by the drone of angry mosquitoes pursuing you over the terrain. But if your guide has skills filtered down through family that can navigate the territory, it can be a melodic, uplifting experience. Cedric Burnside’s grandfather, R.

Judith Hill Brings Influences from Multiple Places to Her ‘Hollywood’

Judith Hill Brings Influences from Multiple Places to Her ‘Hollywood’

Imagine Aretha Franklin as formidable a guitar player as a vocalist, Sister Rosetta Tharpe if she had jumped all the way across the aisle and stomped the bejeezus out of the gospel, compressing it into pure soul. Despite the heading on her latest project, Baby, I’m Hollywood, former Prince

Giant Box Set Commemorates John Mayall’s Beginnings

Giant Box Set Commemorates John Mayall’s Beginnings

If you ever wanted virtually every musical utterance John Mayall made on his way to becoming the Godfather of British Blues, your homework is already done. The staggering 35-CD box set The First Generation: 1965-1974 features many of the Brit blues supergods — including Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood, John

Album Companion to ‘Hanging Tree Guitars’ Book Offers Raw Look at Race Relations

Album Companion to ‘Hanging Tree Guitars’ Book Offers Raw Look at Race Relations

EDITOR'S NOTE: As album releases slow down in December, we like to catch our breath and write about albums that came out earlier in the year that we didn't get a chance to review but we think are worthy of your attention. The Hanging Tree Guitars

Dave Alvin Looks Back Across Time, Genres, and Instruments on ‘From an Old Guitar’

Dave Alvin Looks Back Across Time, Genres, and Instruments on ‘From an Old Guitar’

It ain’t easy to drop a lasso around Dave Alvin’s neck and rope him into a musical corral. Since 1979, Alvin’s been a rockin’ county-western folkie soulful bluesblaster, first with brother Phil and then on his own. Alvin was the chief songwriter for the brotherly Blasters and