Compact Capsulesby Dan Ferguson Recent releases from performers appearing at the 2010 Rhythm & Roots Festival happening Labor Day weekend at Ninigret Park in Charlestown are in the spotlight this week. A decade between albums is a long time. In …
Continue Reading “CD Reviews for 08/26/10 – Rhythm & Roots Fest releases”
Compact Capsules by Dan Ferguson The RussiansCrashing the PartyMoontower Records Bay State pop craftsmen Sam Janovitz offers up a highly engaging new album. Working under the name The Russians and pulling in an “A” team of Beantown band talent into …
Continue Reading “CD Reviews for 08/16/10 – Ty Segall, The Russians”
Compact Capsules for August 3, 2010by Dan Ferguson PhosphorescentHere’s to Taking It EasyDead Oceans Records DOC025Best country record of 2009? A strong case could sure be made for To Willie from Phosphorescent. A woozy beaut of an album, it found …
Continue Reading “CD Reviews for 08/03/10 – Phosphorescent, Sarah Jaffe”
Compact Capsulesby Dan Ferguson Andre WilliamsThat’s All I NeedBloodshot Records BS171 Live fast, love hard, die young? For 70-plus year old R&B legend Andre Williams, two out of three is only a plus for fans. With That’s All I Need, …
Continue Reading “CD Reviews for 07/13/10 – Andre Williams, Bobby Fuller”
Compact Capsulesby Dan Ferguson Peter CaseWig!Yep Roc Records YEP-2222 18 months after open heart surgery and with a new lease on life, singer/songwriter Peter Case demonstrates serious mojo on his latest called Wig! A trio configuration with Ron Franklin on …
Continue Reading “CD Reviews for 06/15/10 – Peter Case, Stone River Boys”
Compact Capsules for May 20, 2010by Dan Ferguson The annual South-by-Southwest confab in March is all about discovery and with a few months to let it soak in, releases from several folks who knocked the socks off are spotlighted this …
Compact Capsules for May 7, 2010by Dan Ferguson Drive-By TruckersThe Big To-DoATO Records ATO0084 New record label, same old Drive-By Truckers. On their ATO Records debut titled The Big To-Do, this well-oiled and highly seasoned machine comes out guitars-a-blazing. Nothing …
Continue Reading “CD Reviews for 05/07/10 – Drive-By Truckers, She & Him”
Compact Capsules for April 30, 2010by Dan Ferguson The Texas SapphiresAs He WandersIke Records IR002 Shades of Gram & Emmylou and George & Tammy, for that matter, are evoked by the sophomore release As He Wanders from Austin-based country act …
Continue Reading “CD Reviews for 04/30/10 – Texas Sapphires, South Memphis Stringband”
Compact Capsulesby Dan Ferguson The Jon Spencer Blues ExplosionDirty Shirt Rock ‘n’ RollMajorDomo Records 11709 The Jon Spencer Blues ExplosionNow I Got Worry (reissue)MajorDomo Records 11767 The Jon Spencer Blues ExplosionControversial Negro (reissue)MajorDomo Records 11816 Heavy TrashMidnight Soul SerenadeBig Legal …
Continue Reading “CD Reviews for 04/14/10 – Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Heavy Trash”
Compact Capsulesby Dan Ferguson Anais MitchellHadestownRighteous Babe Records On her latest release, Vermont-based songwriter and singer Anais Mitchell turns to Greek mythology and in particular, the poet Orpheus, to deliver an ambitious and striking creation called Hadestown. Written by Mitchell, …
Continue Reading “CD Reviews for 04/06/10 – Anais Mitchell, Joe Pug”
