Laurence Jones — ‘Take Me High’ Label: Ruf Records No one revels in exploring the potential of the guitar these days quite as much as two-time British Blues Award-winner Laurence Jones. His new album, Take Me High, uses the instrument as a means of brilliant communication. What he seems to be saying, above all else, is … Continue reading
Category Archives: Music
New Rock: The Steepwater Band — ‘Shake Your Faith’
The Steepwater Band — ‘Shake Your Faith’ Label: Diamond Day Records This record jams. What’s more, the songs themselves are worth all of the effort. There is nothing better than a hypnotic base line, layered with an alternately gritty and smooth vocal. It is the essence of rock, and The Steepwater Band has it. Their … Continue reading
O’Connor Band (w/ Mark O’Connor) — ‘Coming Home’
O’Connor Band (w/ Mark O’Connor) — Coming Home Label: Rounder Records Coming Home, the long awaited album from the O’Connor Band, is finally here and meets the highest of expectations. The album is Mark O’Connor’s return to his bluegrass roots. It is a family affair; featuring a band centered around his family: his wife, Maggie (fiddle, … Continue reading
New Pop: Liz Longley — ‘Weightless’
Liz Longley — Weightless Label: Sugar Hill Records Every once in awhile a song comes along that cuts to the marrow of a situation and captures the emotional aftershock perfectly. Hopefully the title song on Liz Longley’s new album, Weightless, will get the exposure it deserves and thrust the singer/songwriter into a new level of … Continue reading
New Bluegrass: Kristin Scott Benson — ‘Stringworks’
Kristin Scott Benson — Stringworks Label: Mountain Home Music Company String works is a mesmerizing album showcasing Kristin Scott Benson’s abundance of musical gifts. On it, the four-time winner of the IBMA Instrumental Performer of the Year Award for Banjo offers an agreeable half instrumental, half vocal collection of twelve songs. The material chosen allows us … Continue reading
Tony Hadley, The Voice Of Spandau Ballet, Offers Debut Holiday Album On Omnivore
New 2016 edition includes three previously unissued tracks. Album features standards, seasonal hits and original songs, including duet with Kim Wilde. Out on October 21st. Tony Hadley was the soulful front man for the hugely popular 1980s New Romantic band Spandau Ballet. After fifteen Top 10 singles (including the #1 smash “True”) the group took a 20-year hiatus before reforming … Continue reading
‘Highway Prayer’: A Tribute To Adam Carroll Celebrates Singular Texas Tunesmith
Tribute album due October 28 on Eight 30 Records features James McMurtry, Hayes Carll, Slaid Cleaves, Band of Heathens, Tim Easton and Aaron Lee Tasjan Highway Prayer: A Tribute to Adam Carroll, due October 28 on Austin-based Eight 30 Records, celebrates a true songwriter’s songwriter, a Texas tunesmith who has inspired both younger and older artists for nearly two decades. … Continue reading
New Blues: Owen Campbell — ‘Breathing Bullets’
Owen Campbell — ‘Breathing Bullets’ Label: Roc Records Breathing Bullets, the new album from Australian blues singer/songwriter Owen Campbell was produced by Devon Allman of The Allman Brothers family tree. In case that wasn’t enough, Grammy winner Tom Hambridge mixed and mastered it. This collection of tunes(which blends rock ‘n’ roll, soul, and country with the blues) was … Continue reading
New Americana — Lauren Adams’ ‘Somewhere Else’
Lauren Adams — Somewhere Else With singer/songwriter Lauren Adams’ new album, Somewhere Else, the whole is not greater than the simple sum of its parts. Often, the instrumentation and arrangements alone provide more listening pleasure than the entire track. This makes for a mostly agreeable but sometimes frustrating experience. The highlights of the album are definitely the acoustic … Continue reading
New Americana: Boo Ray’s ‘Sea Of Lights’
Boo Ray — Sea Of Lights Boo Ray has a unique sound that is bound to attract attention from those who like their rock rural and gritty. Outlaw rock, Southern rock and blues rock, all set to the pulse of life as we actually live it. His new album, Sea of Lights, overflows with country/rock songs … Continue reading
parcbench .live 