Category Archives: Country
MILLIE JACKSON-ON THE COUNTRY SOUL SIDE.
MILLIE JACKSON-ON THE COUNTRY SOUL SIDE. Trying to describe Millie Jackson in just one word, is almost impossible. If I was asked to do so, the word I’d use would be versatile. She could breath life, meaning and drama into a variety of songs. Whether it was heartbreaking, soulful ballads or country soul, Millie could …
MOGWAI-LES REVENANTS.
MOGWAI-LES REVENANTS. Earlier this year, Glasgow’s very own Mogwai released their eighth studio album Rave Tapes. This was their first album in three years, since the release of Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will. However, during that three year period, Mogwai had been busy. They contributed the soundtrack to the French television series Les …
RICK REDBEARD-NO SELFISH HEART.
RICK REDBEARD-NO SELFISH HEART. All too often, when I pore through each week’s new releases, I wonder where music is heading? It seems that nostalgia is now officially the future. A deluge of third-rate reissues seems to be all some record companies are releasing. Then there’s compilations. Like greetings cards, there are compilations for every …
LINDA PERHACS-PARALLELOGRAMS.
LINDA PERHACS-PARALLELOGRAMS. In the music industry, sadly, talent alone doesn’t guarantee commercial success and critical acclaim. If only that was the case, then things would be very different. There would be no such thing as DJs, remixers and grid-iron producers. These three products of the modern music industry examples of where music has gone wrong. …
BEVERLEY MARTYN-THE PHOENIX AND THE FUTURE.
BEVERLEY MARTYN-THE PHOENIX AND THE FUTURE. It’s nearly fifty years ago since Beverley Martyn made her recording debut. This was as a member of The Levee Breakers. They were a jug band which featured Mac McGann, Johnny Joyce and Beverley. Their debut single was Babe, I’m Leaving You, which they released on Parlophone in 1965. …
EMMYLOU HARRIS-WRECKING BALL.
EMMYLOU HARRIS-WRECKING BALL. In 1995, Emmylou Harris was thirty-eight, and about to release the sixteenth album of her career Wrecking Ball. Emmylou hoped that Wrecking Ball would be the album that would transform her fortunes. Having enjoyed commercial success and critical acclaim between 1975 and 1981, Emmylou’s career had stalled. The problem was, she was no …
THE WAR ON DRUGS-LOST IN THE DREAM.
THE WAR ON DRUGS-LOST IN THE DREAM. Philadelphia. Musically what does Philly mean to you? For many people, it’s Philly Soul. Back in the seventies, jump-suited groups like The O’Jays, The Detroit Spinners and Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes flew the flag for Philly. However, there’ more to Philly than Philly Soul. Much more. …
END OF NEIL-HEADSPINNIN’
END OF NEIL-HEADSPINNIN’ Over the last couple of years, I’ve been documenting the rise and rise of End Of Neil, one of Scotland’s best up and coming singer songwriters. End Of Neil’s unique brand of acoustic folk has seen Neil Stewart continue to win friends and influence people. So, much so, that End Of Neil …
WITHERED HAND-NEW GODS.
WITHERED HAND-NEW GODS. Five long years have passed since Withered Hand recorded their debut album Good News. It was released to critical acclaim and praised for its stark honesty. There was a reason for this. The man behind Withered Hand, Dan Willson was a latecomer to music. He was already thirty when he wrote his …
BOB FRANK-BOB FRANK.
BOB FRANK-BOB FRANK. In 2007, Jim Dickinson described Bob Frank as: “the best songwriter you never heard.” That’s no surprise. Jim Dickinson first met Bob Frank way back in the summer of 1963. Back then, Bob was part of a group of singers and songwriters hanging out in an old butcher’s shop in Crosstown Farmer’s …
BOBBY CHARLES-BOBBY CHARLES.
BOBBY CHARLES-BOBBY CHARLES. Bobby Charles will always be remembered as one of the pioneers of swamp pop. He played a huge part in popularising swamp pop, not just in Louisiana, but much further afield. However, there’s more to Bobby Charles’ career than that. Much more. Bobby was also a successful songwriter. The story begins in …
DOUG PAISLEY-STRONG FEELINGS.
DOUG PAISLEY-STRONG FEELINGS. For anyone yet to discover Doug Paisley’s music, you’ve been missing out on one of the most talented singer-songwriters of his generation. Born in Toronto, Canada, Doug has just released his third album Strong Feelings on No Quarter Records. Strong Feelings is a fusion of alternative country, Americana and folk. The album …
MOGWAI-LES REVENANTS.
MOGWAI-LES REVENANTS. Next week, Glasgow’s very own Mogwai will release their eighth studio album Rave Tapes. This will be their first album in three years, since the release of Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will. However, during that three year period, Mogwai have been busy. They contributed the soundtrack to the French television series …
THISELL-I.
THISELL-I. Never before have I reviewed an album that had been recorded in a disused school. That’s until I came across Swedish band Thisell’s debut album, I. I was recorded in a disused school during a seven day period in August 2010. For seven days, Thisell, their friends, family and even pets ate, lived, slept …
RUNAWAY ORCHESTRA-RUNAWAY ORCHESTRA.
RUNAWAY ORCHESTRA-RUNAWAY ORCHESTRA. You’ll be hard pushed to find more enchanting album than the Runaway Orchestra’s eponymous debut album Runaway Orchestra, which has been rereleased by Brighton’s Mr. Bongo Records on 1st January 2014. I was going to say the Runaway Orchestra give ten familiar tracks a makeover. That however, would be an understatement. Transformation …
THE BEST NEW ALBUMS OF 2013-PART 1.
THE BEST NEW ALBUMS OF 2013-PART 1. On the last day of the year, I always publish my list of the best albums I’ve reviewed during 2013. This year, I’ve expanded it to my top thirty albums. That’s a reflection of the quality of music released during 2013. What follows is an eclectic selection of …
THE BEST NEW ALBUMS OF 2013-PART 3.
THE BEST NEW ALBUMS OF 2013-PART 3. RODDY WOOMBLE-LISTEN TO KEEP. Back in 2006, when Roddy Woomble, the lead singer of Idlewild, released his debut album My Secret Is My Silenced, Idlewild had just enjoyed the most successful period of their career. Their third album, 2000s 100 Broken Windows was certified silver, while 2002s The …
THE KINKS-MUSWELL HILLBILLIES.
THE KINKS-MUSWELL HILLBILLIES. By the time The Kinks released Muswell Hillbillies in November 1971, they were no longer as successful in Britain. Their last three albums had failed to chart. The last Kinks album to chart in Britain was 1967s Something Else By The Kinks. It had reached number thirty-five. After that, 1968s The Kinks …
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