Sometimes we get so much good and interesting music that it’s hard to give full-length reviews of the music. To give all of these other releases some live, we have compiled a bunch of new and recent releases here. Below are our thoughts on eight new or recent releases.
Charlie & The Regrets - Rivers In The Streets (Edgewater Music/RED)
Texas has given us a lot of great music over the years and while Charlie Harrison and company may not be there yet, they show a lot of promise with Rivers In The Streets, a record which blends country and blues roots songs with potent, at times visceral lyrics that are as pointed as they are poetic. songs like “Proud Man,” “Last Time I Was Here,” “No Good News,” “Baytown,” “Time Moves Slow” and “The Gavel” stand out.
Nu-Blu - Vagabonds (Nyssa Family/Voxhall Records)
The Bluegrass stalwarts return with an expansive collection of songs with nine new songs and two spirited covers of iconic country and rock songs. The covers (“Good Hearted Woman” and “Knocking’ On Heaven’s Door”) showcase how Bluegrass can take just about any great song and make it work within the genre’s tight confines. Nu-Blu is a progressive Bluegrass band and
with tight performances and great musicianship, Vagabonds is a record not to miss; Especially for traditional country music fans looking for something new. Other highlights include “Troublemaker,” “A Lot More Love,” “640 Battlefield Drive,” and “A Fool and Her Heart.”
Jimmy Fortune - Sings The Classics (Gaither Music Group)
This is a genuinely strong album. The beautiful tenor of Jimmy Fortune is showcased over the course of these 14 standards and classic songs. Renditions of “Wake Up Little Susie,” “Make The World Go Away,” “Crazy Arms,” “If,” “Annie’s Song” and “Unchained Melody” are among the highlights of the 14 track album produced by Ben Isaacs.
Various Artists - Rescue Me/A Cause For Paws (Blue Night Records)
This project is a unique collection of quirky songs about our four legged friends. The list of singer/songwriters providing fun songs for the whole family include Mary Ann Kennedy, Effron White, Friction Farm, Amy White and Kathy Chiavola. If you love your pets and wanna give a good cause some help why not buy Rescue Me: A Cause For Paws. All sales and download profits are set to be donated to animal welfare organizations!
David Starr - The Head And Heart (Cedaredge Music)
Working with his longtime friend John Oates in the producer’s chair, noted singer/songwriter David Starr returns with a Nashville made six song EP that definitely falls under “the all killer, no filler” filter. It’s a collection of story songs and it demands attention so The Head And Heart will not be for everyone but if you give these songs a chance, you will be as enthralled with it as I have been.
Blackfoot Gypsies - To The Top (Plowboy Records)
Classic roots rock n roll is alive and well with the Blackfoot Gypsies. “To The Top,” the band’s third record recalls the raw and raucous early days of rock n roll, an era where country and blues were as prevalent in the mix as the new loud sounds of rock n roll. “Everybody’s Watching” is one such highlight of the classic sounds while “Potatoes And Whiskey” will bring some sounds which recall the early highs of The Band. This is a record worthy of your investment of time. Country Fans should check out “Woman Woman,” a song which recalls contemporaries Contemporaries like Zac Brown Band and Blackberry Smoke.
Terry McBride - Hotels & Highways (MV2 Entertainment)
The former frontman of his namesake band (“Terry McBride & The Ride”) shows that the veteran hitmaker (he’s written hits for artists like Brooks & Dunn, Reba, & Josh Gracin) still is a strong artist in his own right, even as he is in his late 50s. The title track opens the 6 songs here and it feels like a radio hit to my ears, even if it’s more 2000s than 2010s. The sultry “Boots Off” has gotten some love on radio across the USA thanks to its timeless vibe while “Worth A Shot” is a classic country rocker and closer “In The Night Time” a deliciously made ballad. He may not get any huge hits with this record (as a singer) but it’s not for a lack of quality or want to. This EP leaves me wanting more.
Girls Guns & Glory - Love And Protest (Independent)
With a sound that straddles the country and rock worlds, Girls Guns & Glory certainly have a sound that suggests a band that knows who they are. They’re an American band with strong sense of lyric, melody and timing. “Rock N Roll” feels as classic as it does fresh while “Wine Went Bad (But I’m Still Drinkin’)” is as about as classic country a title as you can get. There’s a Dwight Yoakam-ish vibe to a lot of these songs. Standouts include “Man Wasn’t Made,” “Memories Don’t Die,” “Diamondillium,” “Rock N Roll,” and a spirited cover of Graham Parsons’ “Hot Burrito #1.”
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