David McPherson “The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern: A Complete History” Dundurn Press (2017) The Horseshoe Tavern is a modest throwback bar which has endured through Toronto’s growth as an international city. Even today, it exists as an island amongst shiny steel and urban growth. It shares its DNA with the countless anachronistic outposts that dot the […]
Category: Country
Ricky Skaggs (with Eddie Dean) “Kentucky Traveler: My Life In Music ”
Ricky Skaggs (with Eddie Dean) “Kentucky Traveler: My Life In Music ” Dey Street Books, Publisher Ricky Skaggs has lived a life of music and he’s not done yet. Most folks would be proud of having accomplished in their lifetime what he does in a year. Mr. Skaggs decided a few years ago to write […]
Irene Kelley: “These Hills”
Irene Kelley “These Hills” Mountain Fever Records Irene Kelley has created a bluegrass record which seems just right- well-conceived, with outstanding songwriting, singing and powerful musicianship. From the trickle down banjo run which introduces “Carolina Wind” to the soulful mountain vibe which exemplifies the final cut, “Before You Call Me Home”, Kelly makes a case for […]
Greg Blake: “Songs of Heart and Home”
Greg Blake “Songs of Heart and Home” Self-released Greg Blake is blessed with a powerful voice and a smart ear for country and bluegrass music. His latest, self-released CD is “Songs of Heart and Home”, an ambitious project in which he displays these talents to great effect. Foremost, Mr. Blake has collected a startlingly stout […]
Dan + Shay: “Obsession”
Dan + Shay “Obsession” Warner Brothers Nashville Records Dan Myers and James Shay Mooney came from different parts of the country (Allegheny County, Pa and Arkansas, respectively) and met in Nashville where each was tracking the well-worn path to country music success. They began writing songs together a little over three years ago, already have […]
Gina Clowes: “True Colors”
Gina Clowes “True Colors” Mountain Home Music Company Gina Clowes is a product of the mountain tradition, and her solo CD, “True Colors”, allows her to plumb it with her own voicings. Clowes is an accomplished banjo player and has been a member of Chris Jones’ touring band, the NIghtdrivers, since the beginning of 2016. […]
EmiSunshine: “Ragged Dreams”
EmiSunshine “Ragged Dreams” Little Blackbird Records EmiSunshine is a preternaturally talented singer and songwriter with expressive gifts belying her years. “Ragged Dreams”, her third studio album, features her vocal power on a range of songs that draw from the country and mountain tradition. Emilie Sunshine Hamilton hails from East Tennessee and gained traction through social […]
Curtis Wright: “Curtis Wright”
Curtis Wright “Curtis Wright” Voxhall Records Curtis Wright is a songwriter, and has composed some notable country hits for other artists, like Shenandoah (“Next To You, Next To Me”) and Ronnie Milsap (“A Woman In Love”). Wright has been writing songs, doing session work and playing in backing road bands for country artists for decades. […]
Chris Jones and The Night Drivers: “Run Away Tonight”
Chris Jones and The Night Drivers “Run Away Tonight” Mountain Home Records The ongoing, if pyrrhic, battle for the soul of bluegrass, rages among Newgrass, Traditional, Jamgrass, Browngrass, and flavors in between. Chris Jones and the Night Drivers are Neo-Traditionalists: they follow the Monroe bluegrass form (two instrumentals per album, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, bass and […]
Tyminski: “Southern Gothic”
Tyminski “Southern Gothic” Mercury Nashville Records Dan Tyminski, known in this collection only as “Tyminski” tackles mainstream country music, or what passes for it these days in his new album, “Southern Gothic”. Tyminski seems an unlikely candidate for the world of FGL or Dan + Shay, but his new collection of songs has a lot […]