‘Living in Extraordinary Times’ Is Extraordinary and Finds James Firing on All Cylinders
Few bands are capable of making music this vital and alive 35 years into their careers. James are one of the greats.
Ed Whitelock
Ed Whitelock is a professor of English at Gordon State College in Barnesville, GA, just 106 miles southwest of Philomath. He is co-author, with David Janssen, of Apocalypse Jukebox: The End of the World in American Popular Music (2009) from the PopMatters imprint of Soft Skull Press.
Bird Streets Serves Up a Rock-solid Power Pop Gem
Bird Streets shows John Brodeur's growth into an introspective songwriter, while Jason Falkner's production takes his long-established bedroom pop sound into a more fully-realized, radio-ready sound.
Adam Faucett Proves He’s One of the Strongest Contemporary Songwriters with ‘It Took the Shape of a Bird’
Adam Faucett's long awaited follow-up to 2014's Blind Water Meets Blind Water absolutely soars.
‘C89’ Documents a Creatively Fertile Period in British Rock Music
The fourth in Cherry Red's ongoing exploration of NME's influential C86 compilation and its aftermath, this Neil Taylor-curated collection mines the indie forbearers of the 90's Britpop explosion.
Midge Ure’s ‘Orchestrated’ Is a Career-defining Performance
In the end, the most impressive feature of these new recordings of Midge Ure is Ure's voice.
Gwenifer Raymond Impresses with Her American Primitive Guitar Style on ‘You Were Never Much of a Dancer’
A new voice in American Primitive Guitar, Welsh instrumentalist Gwenifer Raymond matches dexterity with melody on a strong debut.
‘Back Roads and Abandoned Motels’ Is the Jayhawks’ Most Enjoyable Record Since ‘Rainy Day Music’
Still finding new ways to refine and expand a beloved sound, the Jayhawks' Back Roads and Abandoned Motels is a triumph.
AHI’s ‘In Our Time’ Has the Potential to Become Another Sleeper Hit
An inviting artist with a common touch, AHI has the ability to motivate and inspire a broad audience as we see on In Our Time.
Joseph Arthur and Peter Buck Face the World Staring Straight Forward on ‘Arthur Buck’
An unexpected collaboration between Joseph Arthur and Peter Buck produces a great summer record of noisy, dark garage-pop.
Beth McKee’s ‘Dreamwood Acres’ Is the Kind of Album to Savor
Beth McKee's music shows just how vibrant and vital America's independent roots music scene remains.
The Devil’s Music: How Evangelicals Harnessed Rock ‘n’ Roll
The Devil’s Music shows how religious conservatives spent as much time studying popular culture as condemning it and have learned its lessons more effectively than progressives.
Ryley Walker: Deafman Glance
Attempting a bold departure from the English folk style, Ryley Walker and his pickup band's pseudo-jazz flourishes and prog-jam pretentions drift in search of a destination.