ALBUM REVIEW: Valerie June Gives Her Imagination Full Rein on ‘Under Cover’
Valerie June’s sonic alchemy has been on the global radar since Dan Auerbach got involved with her trad/modern song fusions as producer on 2013’s Pushin’ Against a Stone. Black gospel flair and East Tennessee folk leanings came together on that recording with riveting pop ideas, and June
THROUGH THE LENS: Six West Virginia Roots Musicians
While West Virginia may be best known for it its traditional music, it also has spawned some significant roots-based singer-songwriters. Last year Sierra Ferrell, John R. Miller, and Mary Hott all gained national attention (and were among my top albums of the year), with Ferrell being nominated for
ALBUM REVIEW: Anna Tivel Merges Nature and Human Nature on ‘Outsiders’
Anna Tivel has it on lock at this point. With three incredible studio albums behind her and one standout EP, Tivel has many strengths and no flaws. She’s one of the finest storytellers modern folk music has to offer, with lyrics so literary that it’s tempting to think
ALBUM REVIEW: Early James Gets Straight to the Point on ‘Strange Time To Be Alive’
No one can do what Early James does. That wheezy, androgynous vocal shimmy only he can produce is on fine display on his sophomore release, Strange Time To Be Alive. James delivers each phrase with a mischievous glint in his eye, as though he’s letting us in on a
ALBUM REVIEW: Andrew Combs Goes Back to Basics on ‘Sundays’
Andrew Combs has sort of done it all. He’s made an actually good pop country record (2015’s All These Dreams), an album of heady psych-pop grooves (2019’s Ideal Man), and a brooding, contemplative singer-songwriter collection (2017’s Canyons of My Mind), not to mention his
ALBUM REVIEW: Loudon Wainwright III Stares Down Age on ‘Lifetime Achievement’
Near the end of his new album, Loudon Wainwright III asks, “How old is 75?” His answer: “So old that you’re barely alive.”
Consciousness of age and a nagging sense of mortality have been present in the work of this erstwhile “New Dylan” since he started more than five