Manx Marriner Mainline — Hellbound For Heaven Label: Stony Plain Records Having a stack of recently released CDs to choose from, I decided to go for the most promising title. Scanning the stack of CD spines, I spied the words “Hellbound For Heaven.” Now this, I thought to myself, sounds like the source of some original … Continue reading
Category Archives: Music
New Blues: Peter Ward — ‘Train To Key Biscayne’
Peter Ward — Train To Key Biscayne Label: Gandy Dancer Records Peter Ward’s Train To Key Biscayne is a trip in the best sense. There’s a lot of musical territory covered and each stop along the way on this follow-up to his 2017 release (Blues on My Shoulders) is a rewarding discovery. The album showcases … Continue reading
New Country: Marty Brown — ‘American Highway’
Marty Brown — American Highway Label: Plowboy Records (Available: May 17, 2019) Once a modern day traditionalist, always a modern day traditionalist. Truthful, honest music doesn’t really age, nor does the artistic sense to sustain it. Thank God. American Highway is Marty Brown’s first album in two decades. He may have taken twenty years off … Continue reading
New Blues: Peter Poirier — ‘Empty Arms’
Peter Poirier — Empty Arms Label: ’59Records Empty Arms is a 1950s blues/R&B atmosphere album for today. The debut recording by Boston area guitarist and vocalist Peter Poirier, it is a thoroughly satisfying introduction to his expert ability to capture the essence of the best era of traditional electric blues. Peter Poirier’s vocals are strong … Continue reading
Taylor Scott Band — ‘All We Have’
Taylor Scott Band — All We Have Taylor Scott Band’ new album, All We Have, is a stellar example of an artist’s decision not to conform to the expectations of a singular artistic role or create in a particular genre. Taylor Scott’s talents as a singer and guitarist are matched by his songwriting ability.This collection … Continue reading
Colin Linden & Luther Dickinson — ‘Amour’
Colin Linden & Luther Dickinson — Amour Label: Stony Plains Records What a solid collection of timeless sentiment, and so sturdily delivered. This is an album that will have you in agreement with every syllable, as it reminds you of how the seemingly simplest of songs can also be the most profound… especially when interpreted … Continue reading
Digging Deep With Country Star Jacob Bryant (An Interview)
Jacob Bryant’s new album PRACTICE WHAT I PREACH charged out of the gates last Friday rising to #1 on the iTunes Top Country Albums chart. Bryant’s response was fast and to-the-point: “I’d like to thank God, my team and my amazing fans for all the support and help pushing this to #1 at iTunes. We … Continue reading
New Country: Jacob Bryant — ‘Practice What I Preach’
Jacob Bryant — Practice What I Preach Label: American Roots Records Jacob Bryant may not be a household name yet, but if he continues to release country music as exciting and consistent as Practice What I Preach, then he will be one of the greats of his generation. He has a vocal instrument that’s one of … Continue reading
Big Joe and the Dynaflows — ‘Rockhouse Party’
Big Joe and the Dynaflows — Rockhouse Party Label: Severn Records Release date: February 15, 2019 Agreeable from the very first beat, Rockhouse Party — the new album from Big Joe and the Dynaflows — proves that there is still truth in advertising. The band knows how to throw a party, alright. It all starts, of … Continue reading
Cody Johnson’s ‘Ain’t Nothin’ To It’ Debuts At #1 on Billboard’s Country Album Chart
Back in a 2016 review on Parcbench.live, I called Cody Johnson “the most instantly relatable persona to come along in country music in a long time.” I stand by that statement. He seems to be catching up with his destiny. Cody Johnson’s first major label release Ain’t Nothin’ To It has impressively debuted at #1 on … Continue reading
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