Darrell Scott- Modern Hymns

Darrell Scott Modern Hymns Appleseed/Full Light   Americana’s most impressive contemporary troubadour whose name isn’t Steve Earle, over the past decade Darrell Scott has produced a series of albums containing original music executed at such a high level that they have passed by all but the most discriminating listener. A true shame, considering the songs…

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Alison Krauss- A Hundred Miles or More: Live from the Tracking Room

Alison Krauss A Hundred Miles or More: Live from the Tracking Room Rounder   On this DVD, the bluegrass chanteuse performs a number of tracks from her successful compilation of last year. Joining Krauss for these live, in-studio takes are James Taylor (How’s the World Treating You), Brad Paisley (Whiskey Lullaby), John Waite (Lay Down…

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Dick Damron- Farewell to Arms

Dick Damron Farewell to Arms Self-released   I can’t pretend to having ever been a Dick Damron fan. Despite being at least partially raised on CFCW, Damron’s music never impacted me. But, a little Google searching turned up a few songs I recognized- Tequila Charlie’s and Jesus, It’s Me Again among them.   Dick Damron…

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Rae Spoon- superioryouareinferior

Rae Spoon superioryouareinferior http://www.raespoon.com   Produced with Lorrie Matheson, former Calgarian Rae Spoon’s first long-player since a satisfying 2006 collaboration with Rodney DeCroo is a revelation.   superioryouareinferior (the title hints at a comparison Spoon makes to the ocean; the greatest lake is found lacking) is a fully realized depiction of an artist in transition.…

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Melonie Cannon- And the Wheels Turn

Melonie Cannon And the Wheels Turn Rural Rhythm   I need to be honest. I am not the biggest fan of wimpy-assed country songs, especially when sung by women. Maybe I’m biased, but I don’t see the appeal of syrupy lullabies disguised as emotionally-charged statements of sisterhood. If all a song has to offer are…

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Ian Tyson- Yellowhead to Yellowstone and other Love Songs

Ian Tyson Yellowhead to Yellowstone and Other Love Songs Stony Plain   Much has been written about the vocal change Ian Tyson has undergone over the recent past.   Reading about such an alteration doesn’t really prepare one for hearing the deeper, weathered voice that comes through the speakers from Tyson’s latest release. The voice…

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Ralph Stanley- Old-Time Pickin’

  Ralph Stanley Old-Time Pickin’ Rebel Records     Subtitled A Clawhammer Banjo Collection, if anyone wanted to argue that the rhythmic, frailing style of mountain banjo playing doesn’t belong in bluegrass, this forty minute collection would serve as a solid refute.   In the space of 18 uplifting tunes- fully half of which are…

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Rodney Crowell- Sex & Gasoline

Rodney Crowell Sex & Gasoline Stony Plain   Rodney Crowell once had six consecutive Canadian country number ones, and long ago became a staple on the Americana landscape; he has released a series of introspective and refined albums since 2001 that rival if not surpass the bodies of work produced by Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams,…

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Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain- CHHR2

I created a tiny firestorm a bit ago when I posted- rather unflatteringly- about Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain’s latest album. The (semi-) fully realized review is now up at the Lonesome Road Review site. Click on the link if you’re interested. Donald

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Various Artists- The Future of the Blues, Volume 3

Various Artists The Future of the Blues, Volume 3 Northern Blues   Consistently an impressive label releasing superior blues albums of all intensities, Northern Blues further cements their position by collecting selections from their recent and upcoming releases.   Anchored by a terrific pair of previously unreleased cuts from Watermelon Slim & the Workers, this…

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