John Stein Trio with Cindy Scott develop a dandy album No Goodbyes
Boston jazz guitarist John Stein offers another fine album. No Goodbyes, released by Whaling City Sound, is marked as much by its compositional ideas as for its skillful execution of each number. Stein’s own “Zip Line” zips right in, starting in media res, a phrase that has no beginning and no end. Stein moves his […]
The Faith Ann Band offer an impressive calling card with In Bloom
The Faith Ann Band made its way from Manchester, New Hampshire to venues throughout New England. After making a name for itself, the Faith Ann lead combo went into a studio for the second time since their Monster In Me debut recording to document the sound that provided their success and visibility on the scene. […]
Riley Johnson shows he will become a legend with Running Behind
Connecticut singer-songwriter Riley Johnson keeps his new Running Behind album carefully balanced between singer-songwriter material and Americana roots influences. While his narratives stem from his songwriter eye, his vocal timbre, approach, and all of his instrumentation ring out with authentic notes and chords from rustic acoustic instruments and old time American flavor. This results in […]
Andrew North and the Rangers showcase depth of zany talent on Thanks For The Warning Vol. 1
Andrew North and the Rangers made a fairly large name for themselves in northern New England. This New Hampshire-based jam band initially got by mostly on touring. This live album Thanks For The Warning Vol. 1, recorded at their album release party at Area 23 in Concord, captures the lively fun of their mid-tempo rockers […]
Creamery Station fly high, play big on Story To Tell album
Creamery Station just recently dropped this festive and lively album Story To Tell. This adventurous album runs on an abundance of care and energy. Every well placed instrumental line and vocal phrase is one of many moving parts that reflect many influences inserted into a big flowing sound The Connecticut jam band keeps the party […]
The Complaints are Chasing Light with much success
The Complaints latest album Chasing Light is a wedge of tempting rock and roll music. Tight, the Rhode Island trio pushes the listener through 8 solid, catchy tunes that make one want to party while they impress you with their talent. Title track “Chasing Light” gets a pushy groove from Anthony Marotti’s numerous, well placed […]
Crowes Pasture move to much higher ground with Don’t Blink
Crowes Pasture create much more than a pleasant soundscape on their latest album Don’t Blink. Lyrically, it’s concerned with how much we miss if we take our eyes off the world for a moment. The duo’s usual blend of male and female vocals, banjo, and acoustic guitar allow them to develop folksy fabrics of Americana […]
Kristian Montgomery & The Winterkill Band maintain high standards, take risks on Lower County Outlaw
Kristian Montgomery & The Winterkill Band punched out this Lower County Outlaw album in recent months. Montgomery & The Winterkill Band, as usual, rock right out with the aggression of a knife wielding street gang. As with their last three albums KMTWB rip the soulfulness out of country and muscle it into a rock and […]
Kim Moberg impresses greatly with folk-rock opera The Seven Fires Prophecy
Kim Moberg’s new folk-rock opera The Seven Fires Prophecy centers on an old Native American legend, and the album greatly impresses and intrigues on many levels. This story of ancient peoples in North America and the prophets who guide them provides mystical songwriting material that Moberg and her producer, multi-instrumentalist Jon Evans turn into a […]
Andy & Judy bring plenty of musical joy and understanding to Another Ghost Town
Andy & Judy put together their new album Another Ghost Town with the upmost care. It is true folk music, rooted in the Americana sound and also in the American story. Work songs. Abandoned towns. A song about radio. A heroic athlete’s song. A song for the next generation. Much of the American experience is […]
