Fervor Coulee’s Favourite Roots Albums of 2022

I have no idea how many roots albums I bought, received for review, actually wrote about, listened to through a brief flirtation with a streaming service, and sampled via Polaris Music Prize jury membership, as well as other industry-provided downloads during 2022. But when I review other lists, I see a lot I am familiar…

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Just A Season- Leave to Come Home review

Just a Season Leave to Come Home JustaSeason.ca Northern Electric “Just A Season is a folk-rock band from Vancouver led by Scott Smith. The band’s sound recalls an era when folk, rock, and country met in a sun-baked embrace.” Nailed it: an ideal two-sentence introduction to Just A Season. All I had to do was…

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Terry Klein- Good Luck, Take Care review

Terry Klein Good Luck Take Care TerryKleinMusic.com This month’s theme here at Fervor Coulee appears to be “Singer-Songwriters Not Previously Encountered.” Each have been wonderful—The Waymores, Dana Cooper, Dan Weber, Rob Heath, Jefferson Ross—and I will return to their music. But the artist I’ve been listening to most since mid-March has to be Terry Klein.…

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The Waymores- Stone Sessions review

The Waymores Stone Sessions TheWaymores.com It has been so long since I encountered a new, ‘real country’ album that, at first, I mistook the Waymores’ Stone Sessions as one. Based on the opening cut, “Heart of Stone,” that is what I thought Stone Sessions would be. A taking-turns male/female duet, a bunch of pedal steel,…

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Dan Weber and Dana Cooper album reviews

Dan Weber The Way the River Goes Highway 142 DanWeberMusic.com Dana Cooper I Can Face the Truth DanaCooperMusic.com “I’ve heard it all.” How many times have I had this thought rattle around inside my brain as I reach for the next troubadour’s album? Trust me, it has been a few hundred times. Almost as frequently,…

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Taylor Rae- Mad Twenties review

Taylor Rae Mad Twenties This has been the year when country (whatever that is) and soul (you know it when you feel it) merged to a degree seldom before experienced—smooth, captivating, and absolutely gorgeous. Taylor Rae isn’t Yola or Amythyst Kiah, but dang, isn’t she good? When hearing the lead track “Windows,” one is reminded…

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Doc Watson- Life’s Work: A Retrospective review

Doc Watson Life’s Work: A Retrospective Craft Recordings I look up and I am staring at a picture of Doc Watson (and Jack Lawrence) taken in Tacoma in 2001. Over my shoulder, his first Vanguard album has pride of place, and on the record and CD shelves surrounding me there are about as many discs…

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Matt Patershuk- An Honest Effort review

Matt Patershuk An Honest Effort Black Hen Music When the Coalition of Alberta Troubadours met last spring to compare pandemic-influenced facial hair, songs, album release plans, and dark liquor, one imagines interesting conversations did unfold. Perhaps Joe Nolan suggested he release his album first, break a bit of heavy trail for the older guys, with…

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Doc Carter- High Tide for Low Times review

Doc Carter High Tide for Low Times A few years ago, Rodney Crowell and Mary Karr borrowed Nelson Algren’s phrase “Never play cards with a guy named Doc” for their song, “My Father’s Advice.” Artists get to do that. Borrow, I mean. Sometimes I wish we reviewers could do that, just take phrases that capture…

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Garrett Wieland- What Keeps The Heart Afloat review

Garrett Wieland What Keeps the Heart Afloat GarrettWielandMusic.com On these pages, I have frequently welcomed the receipt of music from those with whom I was not previously familiar. Add to the list Garrett Wieland. Each time I begin to seriously consider dropping my Roots Music Opinion pencil for the last time—most recently these last three…

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