Wilco’s Wisdom in ‘Sky Blue Sky’ Resonates 15 Years After Release
Is there such a thing as middle-aged rock? If so, it would sound like Wilco’s Sky Blue Sky with its measured simplicity and reflective intensity.
alternative country
Faye Webster Reimagines the Past with an Orchestra on ‘Car Therapy Sessions’
The most surprising thing about Faye Webster’s new record, Car Therapy Sessions, is its lush production. The orchestra purposely aims for the beautiful.
Ezra Cohen Delivers Pop-Rock and Alt-Country Hooks on ‘The Sweet Million’
Relying equally on the country sound of Lucinda Williams and the hard rock melodies of Johnny Rzeznik, Ezra Cohen’s The Sweet Million is brimful with poppy hooks.
Ray Wylie Hubbard Co-Stars on His Own Record for the Second Time
Co-Starring Too is Ray Wylie Hubbard’s second recent LP in which every new song features a guest artist or two, paying homage to his distinctive Texas style.
Shovels & Rope Go into Battle With ‘Manticore’
Messiness is a large part of the charm of Shovels & Rope’s latest album, Manticore. The unpolished veneer suggests the authenticity of the material.
Sarah Shook & The Disarmers Illuminate the Darkness on ‘Nightroamer’
On Nightroamer, Sarah Shook and the Disarmers capture that nocturnal vibe where darkness illuminates the unknown more than hides what should be seen.
Pinegrove Affirm Their Worth on the Verdant ’11:11′
Pinegrove’s 11:11 is the extolled group’s most sober collection of songs—a literate latticing of personal sorrow and environmental collapse.
Aoife O’Donovan Looks for Connection in an ‘Age of Apathy’
Aoife O’Donovan’s Age of Apathy is lushly layered and sophisticated. Its connections to contemporary jazz and even classical music are clearly evident.
Jamestown Revival Gaze Nostalgically and Acoustically at Being a ‘Young Man’
Americana’s Jamestown Revival get back to their roots for a sublime, all-acoustic album that offers keen insights into everyday life.
Sierra Ferrell Plots Her Next Music Moves on Road to Destiny
West Virginia’s Sierra Ferrell has found a temporary home in Nashville as an artist who makes old-timey country sound new, but she isn’t ready to stop there.
Old Crow Medicine Show ‘Paint This Town’
Old Crow Medicine Show’s “Paint This Town” has musical echoes of other small town, teenage, life stories in all of its boredom and glory.
Brandi Carlile’s ‘In These Silent Days’ Is Stylistically Diverse and Stunningly Good
Unlike many pandemic music projects, there are no filler tracks or wasted space on Brandi Carlile’s In These Silent Days. Each song stands on its own stylistically.