Reviewed by Jonathan DeWoskin

Hello again everyone. Harry sent me another album to review and, if you’ve read my previous reviews, you’ll know I’m the kind of listener who prefers to put on an album and let it play through. Electric Fever does not lend itself well to this kind of play. Each song is separate and distinct from the one it follows. You’ll wander between punk, funk, soft rock, hard rock, pop, blues and even a touch of country. (more…)

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan
As soon as you hear the singing, you will notice a similarity in signing style and voice to a legend. The comparison is undeniable and striking. OK, enough of the suspense, Colter Wall sounds a lot like The Man In Black Johnny Cash. So much so on some songs it is uncanny. Wall is not a cover act at all. In fact he is a young, vibrant artist that has the makings of a legend. Too early to give him that moniker, but I hear elements of greatness. The next step is longevity and the ability to navigate through years of touring and recording. That is the unknown, but the talent is clearly there. (more…)

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

There are times when a live performance is so dynamic and full of electricity that you just know that you are in the presence of greatness. That was the feeling last Friday night in Newport, Kentucky. The crowd wasn’t big, which is very unfortunate, but the energy was heavy and filled the entire room. These guys are consummate professionals and uber-talented. They are so in tune with each other that they elevate themselves from a four piece to maybe a six or seven piece band.  (more…)

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

Honky tonk bliss from this Seattle country outfit. I started the toe tapping immediately at the first note and the tappin’ hasn’t stopped yet. They come right out of the chute with an upbeat, twang filled number about a lost love. This is a very common theme in honky tonk music but The Whiskey Club put their own signature on bad romance and heartbreak. My Oh My (Track 1) showcases the chicken pickin’ talents of lead guitarist Jason Goessl, the tight vocal harmonies of lead vocalist Mark Pessl, flawless banjo playing of Eric Piippo, and steady bass playing of Paul Beaudry.  It is a great song that you wouldn’t know is supposed to be sad unless you listen to the lyrics, which I recommend. A very nice juxtaposition of sad lyrics with happy upbeat music. The irony is quite tangible. (more…)

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

For an established band to recreate an iconic album in its entirety live could be a career killing move. It takes huge cajones to even attempt to pull something like this off. Well Old Crow Medicine Show pulled off the seemingly impossible. This isn’t one cover song, this is a live re-creation of one of the greatest folk/rock and roll albums of all times. I didn’t want to like it because I have such a reverence for the original but, this live album is too damn good. They made me like it. Not just like it, but love it. All the songs are sung perfectly with such conviction that they pay homage to the master himself. (more…)

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

Seventies stoner/southern rock from Sweden. This stuff is outstanding. I would have recoiled if I had listened to this stuff 15 years ago, but I am mature enough to accept this music now. Not just accept it, but truly enjoy it. It is rootsy, bluesy, and rocking. If Bad Company and The Black Crowes joined forces, it would sound like this. You would never guess that these guys are from Sweden or even that this release is only three days old, but both are true.  (more…)

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

This is a musical double header with Bonneville County Pine Box. It is rare that I review two albums by the same artist in succession. Well, Bonneville County Pine Box (BCPB) have inspired me to do just that. Their music is good enough and and both albums are worthy of ownership. This is another album that was self recorded and produced. The playing and sound is so good, it is hard to believe that this is self recorded and produced. But if BCPB says it, it must be so. (more…)

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

It hit me right away like a big hail stone right on the head. The acoustic guitars, the mandolin, the harmonica, the pedal steel, the vocals, and the harmonies all play together like a well oiled machine. This six piece from Austin, Texas knows how to put a song together. Fair is self recorded and self produced and contains 11 very strong offerings. These fellas know how to extract maximum energy for a recording. I can imagine that this translates quite well into a live performance.  (more…)

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan
You may have heard of Angaleena before because she was a member of  the country semi-super group, Pistol Annies with Miranda Lambert and Ashley Monroe. Wrangled is Presley’s second solo effort, released almost three and a half years after American Middle Class. This is what country music should be. It is dark, edgy, introspective, and a downright blast to listen to. Presley wrote or co wrote every one of the 12 songs on this collection. And speaking of co writing, she got some assistance with some country and Americana heavyweights such as her old band mates Lambert and Monroe, Guy Clark, Chris Stapleton, and Wanda Jackson, among others.  (more…)