Jon Young

Faded love and the struggle to move on after a relationship dies take center stage on Nicki Bluhm’s powerful Avondale Drive. Balancing self-help pep talks and laments about an ex, the Nashville-based singer-songwriter crafts a vivid, unsparing portrait of a heart in flux. The tug-of-war between overwhelming sadness and

Grant-Lee Phillips seems a bit torn and frayed on All That You Can Dream, which comes as no surprise. Along with so many others, the Nashville-based troubadour has been juggling a host of challenges, from the pandemic to toxic politics to family matters, in the process trying to conduct a

Maybe you think you know country music history. Maybe you’re familiar with Waylon and Willie’s hits, or Dolly and Loretta’s classics, or even some of the George Jones songbook. Now, prepare to be schooled by Professor Charley Crockett, who’s gathered a great set of overlooked gems

Can this really be the work of a rookie? Hard Times and a Woman is so fully realized and so compelling it’s hard to believe Justin Golden is practically a newcomer. While the Virginia native has dropped a few stray tracks over the last few years, there’s been

Like many bands, Canada’s Cowboy Junkies started out relying heavily on other people’s songs. Their debut album, 1986’s Whites Off Earth Now!!, consisted largely of blues standards, while a wonderfully woozy version of the Velvet Underground’s “Sweet Jane” from the group’s sophomore outing raised their

A master of full disclosure, Steve Poltz outs himself as an unrepentant entertainer on Stardust and Satellites, stuffing “Wrong Town,” the peppy leadoff track, full of memorable one-liners. Cocky and self-deprecating at once, this witty folk vet with the engaging everyman voice declares himself “Americana if you wanna, I’m