MUSIC REVIEWS

The 2023 remaster of Under a Willow Tree by Phoenix-based Celtic folk-punk band Swainn, formerly known as Cockswain, brings new life to their beloved studio album. Originally a local Arizona hit and now an Irish festival favorite, Swainn’s fusion of Celtic tradition and punk vigor is reimagined in this release, …

B.B. Cole’s new album, Of Love and Loss, unfolds as a thoughtfully crafted journey through the peaks and valleys of human connection, skillfully balancing traditional country tones with contemporary folk sensibilities. From the opening note, Cole’s voice—warm, emotive, and reminiscent of legends like Dolly Parton—draws listeners into the narratives that …

Bradley Gaskin returns with his latest single, “Accidentally Drunk,” a classic country ballad steeped in themes of heartbreak and self-reflection. Gaskin, who first captured the country audience with his 2010 hit “Mr. Bartender,” channels the raw emotion of artists like George Jones and Keith Whitley. After a detour from the …

Outlaw From The South by Mike Schikora marks his return to music after a twelve-year break, bringing raw authenticity to the country genre. Schikora’s album is rooted in the grit of rural life, with storytelling that draws on his own experiences outside mainstream Nashville. His sound has the weight of …

You’d be forgiven for reading Tennessee Backwater’s biographical materials and assuming they are dyed in the wool modern retro country juked with added hop. The elasticity of “In God We Trust” is a pleasant surprise in the face of such assumptions. Backwater utilizes a three-headed vocalist approach, unusual but potent, …

Debuting with such a thoroughly realized effort like Into the West sets a daunting bar to clear for the future. Arizona-born seventeen-year-old Birdie Nichols’ first collection is a tightly focused nine song collection showing satisfying diversity rather than relying on formula. A surprising amount of relatively ingenious wordplay powers many of the …

The Grascals are as lively as ever. Their new release 20 marks the two-decade point in the band’s history, but it never feels or sounds like a summation. Instead, 20’s thirteen songs sound like the band is clearing the decks for the future. All bluegrass fans should welcome this. Over twenty years, …

Rock Hearts’ Unfinished Bridges is easily one of the best bluegrass releases I’ve recently heard. The New England-based outfit has a predilection for taking non-bluegrass songs that invariably lend themselves to that style and making them over as bluegrass tracks. The thirteen cuts included on Unfinished Bridges show that they possess an excellent instinct …

I’m familiar with the Dallas String Quartet’s often dazzling ability to mingle original musical compositions with a vigorous reimagining of well-known pop classics. Their stunning re-invention of The Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby” from the Quartet’s first release is a perfect example. However, I believe the unit’s new release, ROMANI: The Untold Story, …

Blonde & Grey, the dynamic duo of Kathy Olsen and Neil Friend, are back with their latest offering, Drifting Through The Universe—a masterful blend of nostalgia and modernity that promises to captivate both seasoned music lovers and new listeners alike. Set to release singles starting this September, the album’s first …