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Henry Carrigan

ALBUM REVIEW: Blackberry Smoke Confirms Southern Rock Bona Fides on ‘Be Right Here’

ALBUM REVIEW: Blackberry Smoke Confirms Southern Rock Bona Fides on ‘Be Right Here’

Over the past 20 years, Blackberry Smoke has earned a reputation as a hard-driving, hard-working Southern rock band. Their new album, the Dave Cobb-produced Be Right Here, confirms the band’s place in the rock pantheon with its combination of propulsive rockers and gentle ballads. The foot-stompin’ funk of the

THE READING ROOM: ‘Badass’ Women in Rock Stake Their Claim, But Is It Feminism?

THE READING ROOM: ‘Badass’ Women in Rock Stake Their Claim, But Is It Feminism?

How do women in rock shape feminism, how does feminism shape women in rock? The answer is not readily apparent in music journalist Katherine Yeske Taylor’s new book, She’s a Badass: Women in Rock Shaping Feminism. Rather, she applies the term loosely to track the ways that women

THE READING ROOM: James Talley Weighs Music and Meaning in ‘Nashville City Blues’ Memoir

THE READING ROOM: James Talley Weighs Music and Meaning in ‘Nashville City Blues’ Memoir

In 2000, Oklahoma-born singer and songwriter James Talley released an album called Nashville City Blues on his label, Cimarron Records. In the title track, he tells a defiant yet poignant tale of his experience in a town where “the music, it don’t mean a thing / It’s all about

ALBUM REVIEW: John Leventhal Steps Into the Spotlight for ‘Rumble Strip’

ALBUM REVIEW: John Leventhal Steps Into the Spotlight for ‘Rumble Strip’

John Leventhal’s visionary musical genius allows him to dwell in a tune, seeing the notes and the spaces in between them, and to create elegant tunes that capture the imagination. After decades of composing, producing, songwriting, singing, and playing for others, Leventhal is finally releasing his debut solo album,

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