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Michael Elliott

ALBUM REVIEW: Lee Gallagher Carves a Unique Niche on ‘The Falcon Ate the Flower’

ALBUM REVIEW: Lee Gallagher Carves a Unique Niche on ‘The Falcon Ate the Flower’

“Planes,” the opening track on The Falcon Ate the Flower, Lee Gallagher’s third album with his band The Hallelujah, musically exists somewhere between inventive prog rock and a psychedelic jam worthy of the late ‘60s San Francisco scene. Piano lines dance around aggressive, yet nimble guitar while spaced-out synth

ALBUM REVIEW: Israel Nash Rediscovers His Roots on ‘Ozarker’

ALBUM REVIEW: Israel Nash Rediscovers His Roots on ‘Ozarker’

Israel Nash’s 2009 debut, New York Town, introduced a gifted artist with a powerfully expressive voice in search of both a sound and identity. He grew by leaps and bounds over the next few albums, his songs developing into moody, folk-inflected country-rock that gave more than a nod to

ALBUM REVIEW: The Rolling Stones Regain Their Shine on ‘Hackney Diamonds’

ALBUM REVIEW: The Rolling Stones Regain Their Shine on ‘Hackney Diamonds’

During the Rolling Stones’ awkward interview with Jimmy Fallon as they announced their new album last month, Fallon asked what the title, Hackney Diamonds, means. “It’s like when you get your windscreen broken on Saturday night in Hackney,” Mick Jagger replied, referring to the East London borough. “And all

Two Collections Shine a Light on Nanci Griffith’s Genius

Two Collections Shine a Light on Nanci Griffith’s Genius

When Nanci Griffith died in 2021, there was an outpouring of love from fans and peers from all over the world, from her native Texas to her beloved Ireland, Australia, and, of course, Nashville. Writers and musicians that span genres and generations cited Griffith as an inspiration, sharing memories about

ALBUM REVIEW: ‘A Song for Leon’ Tribute Honors Leon Russell’s Spirit of Reinvention

ALBUM REVIEW: ‘A Song for Leon’ Tribute Honors Leon Russell’s Spirit of Reinvention

Over the years, Leon Russell’s fans, which have included some of the biggest names in every corner of the music world, cared more for his legacy than he did. Russell spent most of his career moving forward, not disowning the past so much as just ignoring it and charting

ALBUM REVIEW: Lucinda Williams’ ‘Rock N Roll Heart’ Beats Strong

ALBUM REVIEW: Lucinda Williams’ ‘Rock N Roll Heart’ Beats Strong

Stories From a Rock N Roll Heart, Lucinda Williams’ first album since suffering a stroke in November 2020, plays directly to those kids in the high school parking lot during a Friday night football game in the era when they’d probably be blasting the album from a gold Camaro

ALBUM REVIEW: Stax Songwriter Demos Showcase the Stars Behind the Big Names

ALBUM REVIEW: Stax Songwriter Demos Showcase the Stars Behind the Big Names

Written in Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos is a collection that celebrates those who sat a piano or hunkered over a guitar with a paper and pen, scrawling, singing, strumming, and pounding until inspiration hit, either at home or at 926 East McLemore Avenue in Memphis, home of the