Eric Bibb — The Happiest Man In The World Label: Stony Plain Records The latest album from Eric Bibb and North Country Far (Olli Haavisto, Janne Haavisto and Petri Hawala) with Danny Thompson is another in a line of consistently high quality releases. On this one (with fourteen Bibb-written tracks), Bibb is as versatile and effective as … Continue reading
Category Archives: Music
Chase Bryant Lights Up The Bowery Electric In New York City
Chase Bryant played The Bowery Electric, the best rock ‘n’ roll venue in New York City’s Lower East Side, last night. He turned the intimate club into an experience that most country music fans long for but rarely get these days; he gave a stadium-sized performance for a crowd that was merely feet away. (Can … Continue reading
New Americana: Jeff Crosby — ‘Waking Days’
Jeff Crosby — ‘Waking Days’ Dear Readers: I’m sorry. Please forgive me for having overlooked singer-songwriter/guitarist Jeff Crosby’s latest CD in the constantly growing mountain of new releases looking for an online mention. I say I’m sorry, not because I promise to keep up with the musical slush pile—I’m sorry because six months have gone by … Continue reading
New Bluegrass: Swift Creek — ‘Magnolia’
Swift Creek — ‘Magnolia’ Label: Vital Records Swift Creek has released their second album, Magnolia, featuring some outstanding original songs by Kevin Brown, the band’s guitarist and vocalist. Produced by Jerry Brown, Magnolia is a collection of solid bluegrass songs, full of stellar musicianship and satisfying three part harmonies. One of the highlights of the album … Continue reading
New Blues: ‘Blues Harp Women’
Blues Harp Women Label: Ruf Records Think you know all of the women out there keeping blues harp music relevant? Think again. ‘Blues Harp Women’ is a double-album that is a contemporary music history archive celebrating an oft-overlooked category—female harmonica players. It’s also a wonderful introduction for anyone not aware of the number of highly talented … Continue reading
New Bluegrass: Jeff White — ‘Right Beside You’
Jeff White — ‘Right Beside You’ For years, producer, musician, songwriter, and singer Jeff White has performed alongside artists including Vince Gill, Loretta Lynn, Alison Krauss, Patty Loveless and Lyle Lovett—to name just a few—but on ‘Right Beside You,’ he is in the center of the spotlight. This time, it is the other artists who … Continue reading
Prince.
Prince became a global superstar in the 1980s, with albums such as 1999, Purple Rain and Sign O’ the Times. He sold more than 100 million records during his career. A singer, songwriter, arranger and multi-instrumentalist, Prince recorded more than 30 albums. His best known hits include Let’s Go Crazy and When Doves Cry. A … Continue reading
New Country: Dave Insley — ‘Just The Way That I Am’
Dave Insley — ‘Just The Way That I Am’ Label: DIR Records Take Buck Owens, Sons of the Pioneers, very early Willie Nelson and maybe a little Buddy Holly and mix them together and give it an authentic “Country and Western” instrumentation and arrangement, and you’ll have just the beginning of an idea of the … Continue reading
Legendary Pop Punk Group The Muffs’ 2nd Album Gets Expanded Reissue On Omnivore
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The self-titled debut disc from L.A.-based, high-energy pop quartet the Muffs hit the scene in 1993, and was an instant smash. Any fear that they couldn’t follow it up successfully was answered when Blonder and Blonder arrived two years later. Now a three-piece, the Muffs again teamed up with producer Rob … Continue reading
New Soul/Blues: Tasha Taylor’s ‘Honey For The Biscuit’
Tasha Taylor — ‘Honey For The Biscuit’ Label: Ruf Records There’s nothing “rough” about Tasha Taylor, except, maybe, for her record label (Ruf Records). Everything else about here is smooth. As smooth as… well, as smooth as honey. Tasha Taylor was born to sing and play the blues; a daughter of Stax soul legend Johnnie Taylor, … Continue reading
parcbench .live 