No Depression's Best of July 2025
ALBUM REVIEW: Ashley Monroe’s ‘Tennessee Lightning’ is a Swampy, Luminous Reflection on Loss and Hope
Ashley Monroe returns after a four year absence with an electrifying new album that traverses a variety of musical landscapes, from swampy blues to gospel to pop and country. Tennessee Lightning aptly describes the striking blend of Monroe’s mesmerizing vocals and the transcendent musical styles that mark the songs
ALBUM REVIEW: The Art of the Cover, Laid Bare on Baiman and Viv & Riley Collaboration, ‘Kissing Other Ppl’
What happens when you take the synth out of your favorite pop banger, the warm crinkle of an iconic vocal from a soulful lover’s plea, or the sass out of a disco country kiss-off? The thing with cover songs is that if you’re removing the thing that made
ALBUM REVIEW: Rebecca Porter Tackles Tough Themes On 'Roll with the Punches'
With her debut LP, Roll with the Punches, Rebecca Porter builds on previous work, including her 2023 EP, Queen of the Local. That said, virtually every aspect of her M.O. has been tweaked, honed, and, in the case of several tracks, perfected. Her songs brim with hooks, even as
THROUGH THE LENS: Joy & Resistance at the Newport Folk Festival
ALBUM REVIEW: Wild Mountain Mystics’ Debut ‘Fire & Honey’ is Infectious from Start to Finish
Rick Deering’s and Lisa Miller’s songcraft, musicianship, and vocal skills, honed over years of live performing, are now boldly displayed via their 10-song debut, Fire & Honey. Deering and Miller, a.k.a. Wild Mountain Mystics, have clearly absorbed the Americana canon, infusing their rootsy templates with touches