THE READING ROOM: Finally, A Book About Leon Russell — But Only For Devoted Fans
Leon Russell appeared Zelig-like in almost every scene in American popular music from his earliest days of performing in his native Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the late 1950s to his performances at the 2015 Mad Dogs & Englishmen reunion engineered by the Tedeschi Trucks Band at the Lockn’ Festival in Virginia.
ALBUM REVIEW: Robbie Fulks Goes on a Joyous ‘Bluegrass Vacation’
Robbie Fulks has covered a lot of ground since the mid-’90s, most of it qualifying as Americana. The singer-songwriter has released solo projects ranging from somber character studies (2016’s Grammy-nominated Upland Stories) to a rollicking celebration of overlooked country music ancestors (2001’s 13 Hillbilly Giants). He’s
ALBUM REVIEW: Carter Sampson Is Confidently Country on ‘Gold’
Carter Sampson specializes in plain talk. The Oklahoma singer-songwriter doesn't fool around much with metaphors, she just hauls off and punches you right in the gut.
“I sent you a drunk text / And I meant it,” she admits on “Drunk Text,” from her latest offering, Gold. “I like
ALBUM REVIEW: On ‘Love You Anyway,’ Devon Gilfillian Crafts R&B for Today
There is something that feels fundamentally timeless about the sound of Motown and Stax records from the 1960s and ’70s. Whether it’s the soulful vocals, the simple yet virtuosic melodies, or the warm, spacious arrangements, echoing or reimagining those sounds and styles has paid dividends for decades of artists
In the Deep End With St. Paul & The Broken Bones
Paul Janeway, co-founder and exuberant frontman of St. Paul & The Broken Bones, is talking over the birds. As he talks on the phone from his home in Birmingham, Alabama, the birds' songs carry clearly over his own voice. He laughs if off, though, luxuriating in what he calls
ALBUM REVIEW: Ruston Kelly Reckons With Recovery on ‘The Weakness’
Midway through Ruston Kelly’s latest album, The Weakness, the song “Michael Keaton,” feels on the surface like a bit of comic relief, especially right after “Let Only Love Remain,” one of the most tender and candid tracks on the project. The catchy chorus has all the potential to be