ALBUM REVIEW: Live and Kicking, The Rumble Captures Sounds and Sights of Mardi Gras
In February of last year, seven members of the Grammy-nominated Mardi Gras Indian funk band Cha Wa strutted away to pursue a second line in another direction. Citing “irreconcilable internal differences," the new aggregation, headed by former Cha Wa lead singer Joseph Boudreaux Jr., calls itself The Rumble.
ALBUM REVIEW: Songwriter Layng Martine Jr. Steps Into the Spotlight
Although this is Layng Martine Jr.’s debut album, he’s no stranger to the country music scene. The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer’s songs have been recorded by Reba McEntire (“The Greatest Man I Never Knew”), Elvis (“Way Down”), and Trisha Yearwood (“I Wanna Go Too Far”), among
JOURNAL EXCERPT: The Many Phases of The Milk Carton Kids’ New Album
EDITOR’S NOTE: To mark the release of Milk Carton Kids’ new album, I Only See the Moon, this week, we’re sharing an excerpt of our story about the album and the band from our Spring 2023 journal, available now. Order your copy or, better yet, subscribe today — and
THE READING ROOM: Chicago’s Central Role in Shaping Roots Music
Describing Chicago, Saul Bellow once wrote, “Provinciality is not altogether a curse, we gain from our backwardness.” Chicago wears the mantle of the Second City, taking a back seat to New York in almost every category including theater, cuisine, and music. Chicagoans see the phrase as a tongue-in-cheek
ALBUM REVIEW: Brandy Clark Explores Love in All Its Complicated Glory
Love hurts, love consumes, and occasionally love uplifts, according to Brandy Clark. On her absorbing self-titled fourth album, this insightful singer-songwriter catalogs assorted varieties of love, from romantic and greedy to familial and spiritual, making the most universal of topics feel fresh and urgent.
Brandy Clark is produced
ALBUM REVIEW: Keturah Arrives From Malawi
For her eponymous debut, 27-year-old Malawi native Keturah presents a world-class collection of world music. This is gorgeous stuff, harvested from a garden of delights representing an impressive spread of flavors and textures.
Malawi has always been a musical cauldron containing a spicy gumbo with ingredients from