THROUGH THE LENS: Sierra Ferrell and Other Outstanding August Roots Music Releases
I always get excited when I get the opportunity to share with ND readers new albums that I find enticing. This theme for this week's column could be third time’s the charm, as three artists — Sierra Ferrell, Maggie Rose, and Southern Avenue — are releasing third albums this
Leah Blevins Lays Bare Personal History on Debut ‘First Time Feeling’
You haven’t heard a voice like Leah Blevins’. The Kentucky native’s debut, First Time Feeling, plants itself at the crossroads of gospel and country, a product of Blevins’ Appalachian, church-singing upbringing and her Nashville coming-of-age. With all the scars to prove it, Blevins sings her own personal history
Family Forms the Foundation on Paul Thorn’s ‘Never Too Late to Call’
A lot of people are fighting for domination under Paul Thorn’s skin. Randy Newman and John Hiatt are the main combatants, battling for walk-around vocal control. Delbert McClinton’s in the ring as well slinging his twang around to help Thorn deliver his knockout punches.
The boxing thing is
Son Volt Takes the Long Road Home on 'Electro Melodier'
Ten albums into their 27-year career, Son Volt seem to know exactly who they are. While some bands may dive into experimental sounds or new recording processes over time, the Jay Farrar-fronted alt-country legends have always stayed true to their roots. Even on 2013's Honky Tonk — a departure
Charlie Parr Gets Into His Head and Ours on ‘Last of the Better Days Ahead’
We have all been thrown for a loop, left with far too much time to recollect and think about our mistakes and ruminate on what the future has in store. Charlie Parr is writing songs about it, and damn good ones. Last of the Better Days Ahead is a stripped-down
Jim Lauderdale Offers Message for Life after COVID on ‘Hope’
With his latest album, Hope, Jim Lauderdale releases another set of well-crafted songs, integrating rock, country, and folk templates. Inspired in large part by the global suffering he witnessed during the COVID epoch, Lauderdale addresses universal themes, including the resilience of the human spirit. Additionally, he speaks into the need