KERMIT — We Tripantu
I was approached by KERMIT late this summer with this rousing single. I’m not into jazz as much as I’d like to be, so I don’t have an educated reason for liking this. It’s definitely dynamic and even though it…
Whitey Morgan and the 78s — Born, Raised & LIVE From Flint
There’s nothing like Thanksgiving to get you to interact with the older, out-of-touch generation. In this case, it was one of my oldest friend’s dad. He enjoys drawing people out into vigorous debate by attacking the ideologies they hold dear…
American Thread — Songs In the War
American Thread is the kind of band this blog exists for. Beautiful songwriting, honest-to-goodness rock’n’roll, and oblique John Mellencamp references will always capture my heart. In short, American Thread is the only good thing to come out of Boston. Songs…
Angela James — Way Down Deep
The latter end of 2014, it turns out, has delivered a fine crop of vocal powerhouses (tune in tomorrow for Sulfur City.) If you found Faith Evans Ruch too twangy for your taste, I guarantee you’ll fall in love with…
Whitney Lockert — Whitney Lockert
Longtime favorite of the blog, Whitney Lockert, has released his first album. Only one song has made the jump from the EP to the album, Lockert’s scathing satire “Rupert Murdoch.” The other eight are brand new and music to my…
Faith Evans Ruch — After It’s Said & Done
I always appreciate songs that are simple enough for even me to figure out how to play on guitar. It’s sort of like watching movies from the ’40s — forcing yourself to work around restrictions ends up making for more…
Buffalo Stack — Buffalo Stack
Have you guys been watching The Flash? The showrunners have achieved something truly magical — the show is about good people doing good things. It’s not cheesy, ironic, hokey, sentimental. Yes, the characters have their inner pain, but it doesn’t…
Jackie Venson — The Light In Me
It’s hard to say which caught my attention first: Jackie Venson’s guitar playing or her gorgeous voice. But at the end of the day, it’s Venson’s songwriting chops that take the prize. While Venson’s specialty is her blues guitar, her…