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John Amen

ALBUM REVIEW: Punch Brothers Go All Instrumental on 'The Unsung Adventures,' Still Carrying the Torch

ALBUM REVIEW: Punch Brothers Go All Instrumental on 'The Unsung Adventures,' Still Carrying the Torch

Punch Brothers’ first three albums, particularly 2010’s Antifogmatic and 2012’s Who’s Feeling Young Now?, stand out for their innovative arrangements; instrumental virtuosity, particularly founder Chris Thile’s mandolin fusillades; and riveting interplays, pushing the bluegrass genre to new heights. With 2015’s The Phosphorescent Blues, produced by

ALBUM REVIEW: On ‘Heavy Thrill,’ Caleb Caudle Mixes Country and Pop Sensibilities

ALBUM REVIEW: On ‘Heavy Thrill,’ Caleb Caudle Mixes Country and Pop Sensibilities

With his seventh album, Caleb Caudle tackles such themes as ageing, feeling like a misfit, and navigating the ups and downs we all endure. His first self-produced project, Heavy Thrill occasionally lacks the depth and mystery that a more strategic use of studio options might render. That said, his

ALBUM REVIEW: With ‘Fondness, Etc.,’ Shakey Graves Reembraces His Lo-Fi Roots

ALBUM REVIEW: With ‘Fondness, Etc.,’ Shakey Graves Reembraces His Lo-Fi Roots

Alejandro Rose-Garcia, a.k.a. Shakey Graves, launched his career in 2011 with the DIY exemplar, Roll the Bones. His next album, And the War Came, crept toward higher production values, still toeing a lo-fi line. With Can’t Wake Up, Graves constructed a well-produced, fully instrumented,

ALBUM REVIEW: On ‘Goodbye Blues,’ Kiki Cavazos’ Stories and Voice Are Timeless

ALBUM REVIEW: On ‘Goodbye Blues,’ Kiki Cavazos’ Stories and Voice Are Timeless

Following two independent sets, including the enchanting Early Mountain Songs, Kiki Cavazos releases Goodbye Blues via Brooklyn-based Jalopy Records. Her new songs, much like previous tracks, are memorable for their mythic narratives, detailed imagery, and hard-won wisdom. Most notable, however, is Cavazos’ timeless voice, which evokes the essence

ALBUM REVIEW: On ‘Total Dive’ Brown Horse Balance Originality and Derivation

ALBUM REVIEW: On ‘Total Dive’ Brown Horse Balance Originality and Derivation

Brown Horse’s first two albums, 2024’s Reservoir and 2025’s All the Right Weaknesses, established the band’s presence in the world of country rock. With their latest set, Total Dive, they further hone and occasionally perfect their MO. The mixes are more lushly arranged. Patrick Turner’s

ALBUM REVIEW: With ‘Future Soul,’ Tedeschi Trucks Band Range Far and Wide

ALBUM REVIEW: With ‘Future Soul,’ Tedeschi Trucks Band Range Far and Wide

Over five albums – including their bluesy debut, Revelator (2011), the socio-politically charged Let Me Get By (2016), and their magnum opus, I Am the Moon (2022) – Tedeschi Trucks Band synthesized their eclectic bents and honed their songcraft. With their sixth album, Future Soul, the band continue to integrate broad

ALBUM REVIEW: With 'Watterson Hall,' William Clark Green Embraces a Mainstream Sound

ALBUM REVIEW: With 'Watterson Hall,' William Clark Green Embraces a Mainstream Sound

With his seventh album, Watterson Hall, William Clark Green blends old-country stances and new-country sounds, addressing such subjects as love, partying, and feeling down but keeping your chin up. Throughout the fifty-minute set, Green acknowledges the inevitability of hardships while insisting that life is a gift we