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Henry Carrigan

ALBUM REVIEW: Brittney Spencer Sings Straight From the Heart on Debut LP ‘My Stupid Life’

ALBUM REVIEW: Brittney Spencer Sings Straight From the Heart on Debut LP ‘My Stupid Life’

Although My Stupid Life is Brittney Spencer’s debut album, she’s already established herself as a straight-from-the-heart songwriter who is unafraid to share her vulnerability and claim her strengths. In 2022, the Baltimore native released the EP if I ever get there: a day at blackbird studio, and she

THE READING ROOM: More Memorable Music Books You Don’t Want to Miss

THE READING ROOM: More Memorable Music Books You Don’t Want to Miss

Several memorable music books were published in 2023, and I highlighted several in my previous column. We’re already looking forward to some more very promising books in 2024, but first I wanted to offer a look at a few 2023 music books that stand out for their contributions to

ALBUM REVIEW: Ashley McBryde Offers Vivid Snapshots of Life on ‘The Devil I Know’

ALBUM REVIEW: Ashley McBryde Offers Vivid Snapshots of Life on ‘The Devil I Know’

EDITOR’S NOTE: As the end of the year approaches, we’re taking a look back at albums we weren’t able to review when they first came out. The Devil I Know was released in September. As she did on 2022’s Lindeville, Ashley McBryde offers snapshots of life

THE READING ROOM: 12 Memorable Music Books From 2023

THE READING ROOM: 12 Memorable Music Books From 2023

Turning the pages slowly, anticipating the final chapter of the challenging, sometimes daunting, and often entertaining narrative of 2023, readers have a chance to pause and to reflect on the highlights of their journeys. While some readers and critics make lists of best books of the year, this column focuses

ALBUM REVIEW: Dolly Parton’s Got the Glitz, But ‘Rockstar’ Doesn’t Shine

ALBUM REVIEW: Dolly Parton’s Got the Glitz, But ‘Rockstar’ Doesn’t Shine

Let’s get this out of the way first: Dolly Parton is no rock singer. Her vocal register lacks the depth and range to reach down into her gut for snarling growls or to modulate into a ringing falsetto. She sings with a crystalline purity that’s well suited to

THE READING ROOM: Jeff Tweedy Preaches the Power of Songs

THE READING ROOM: Jeff Tweedy Preaches the Power of Songs

With World Within a Song: Music That Changed My Life and Life That Changed My Music, Jeff Tweedy completes a trilogy of meditative books that offer windows into his life, his songwriting, and, now, his deeply personal take on how songs shape a life. In 2018, Tweedy conducted readers on

ALBUM REVIEW: On ‘Prayin’ for Sunshine,’ Suzy Bogguss Shines Light on Her Songwriting

ALBUM REVIEW: On ‘Prayin’ for Sunshine,’ Suzy Bogguss Shines Light on Her Songwriting

On her previous two albums, Suzy Bogguss wrapped her warm, crystalline, and sometimes hard-edged vocals around familiar American folk and pop songs ( 2011’s American Folk Songbook) and the songs of Merle Haggard (2014’s Lucky). On her new album, Prayin’ for Sunshine, she wrote and produced the entire album,