BEST OF BLUES: July 2026
July was a banner month for blues releases with the release of a massive box set from blues grand dame and legend Ma Rainey, featuring her entire recordings at Paramount Records between 1923-1928. Additionally, Chris O'Leary provides some hard-core roadhouse blues, and Albert Castiglia goes to
BONUS TRACKS: RIP Glen Hansard and Other Roots Music News
In journalism’s heyday, new hires at a newspaper used to have to get their start on the obit beat. Sometimes I can tap into that spirt of detachment and dedication to the craft, especially when the artists have lived long, storied lives, with dozens of albums and historical, cultural
Willie Nelson Showcases Consistency on 79th Solo Studio LP 'Dream Chaser'
Editor's Note: Annie Zaleski has been awarded one of two No Depression Criticism Fellowships to write in-depth album reviews on roots music's most important albums. Read her previous review of Kacey Musgraves' Middle of Nowhere here, and stay tuned for more from both No
No Depression's 5 Best Albums of 2026 So Far
The first half of this year flew by in a whirl of chaos and really good music. Among No Depression's writers and editors, opinions about which albums are the gems of this year are remarkably disparate – a sure fire indicator of the high caliber of albums put out
ALBUM REVIEW: GA-20 and Charlie Musselwhite Stage a Chicago Summit on ‘Blues Now’
Blues music has always bridged the generation gap.
The genre’s democratic forms help. Its calls cry out for response, within songs and down successive generations. The conventional 12-bar provides a sturdy, collective structure to which all can add personal expression without overpowering the whole.
Blues also has intergenerational
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SPOTLIGHT: John R. Miller - Living and Dying on The Road in America [ESSAY]
Editor's Note: John R. Miller, whose new LP titled The Great Unknowing came out July 17 via Rounder Records, is No Depression's Spotlight Artist for July 2026. Read more about Miller's fifth album here and watch an exclusive, acoustic performance of one of his