Tag: country rock

Jeff Tweedy – Love Is the King / Live Is the King album cover

Album Review: Jeff Tweedy (Love Is the King/Live Is The King) – dBpm Records

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

I just found out about this album yesterday. How this slipped through my radar is inexplicable. I’ll blame it on COVID and move on. I started playing the tracks on Bandcamp and it was love at first listen. Stripped down, raw, and vulnerable. This is when Jeff Tweedy is at his best. It really reminds me of the Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Demos. It has that same feel. The power is in the restraint.

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Album cover for Boone Creek’s 1977 self-titled debut, featuring Ricky Skaggs, Wes Golding, Jerry Douglas, and Terry Baucom

Album Review: Boone Creek (Remastered 2026) – Craft Recordings

Reviewed By Harry Kaplan

I will get into the music in a bit, but first I want to focus on the album cover. Holy smokes! This is pure Olan Mills studio work in the back of Sears Roebuck. It takes me straight back to my childhood. It looks like a photograph of the community church board of directors posted in the church business office. A true classic. There is not a natural fiber within 25 miles of this picture. All the food groups are represented: nylon, polyester, Naugahyde, and acrylic. I would buy this album for the cover alone.

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molly BANG – She Caught My Fancy album cover

molly BANG: She Caught My Fancy (A Country-ish Tribute to Ween) – Album Review

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

This is what the band wrote about themselves on their Bandcamp page: “We’ve been booed. We’ve been banned from establishments. We’ve emptied entire venues by the end of our first song. We are the worst band in Portland… ” In the words of Nurse Ratchet, “Those are some very challenging observations you made, Randall.” And indeed, they are. Worst band in Portland, which could mean worst overall worldwide? Nahhh. They’re actually pretty good. If you like a side dish of weirdness with your music, this is very enjoyable. After all, this is a country tribute to Ween, who were pretty “out there” musically in their own rights. If however, your idea of a good mix tape includes Achy Breaky Heart, Livin’ La Vida Loca, Macarena, and Who Let The Dogs Out?, this is a hard pass.

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Shinglers – Hit the Head album cover

Shinglers: Hit The Head! Album Review

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

A fine release from Shinglers who hail from Austin, Texas. And it’s Shinglers, no “the.” Clearly, these fellas are very well-schooled in Texas country, rock, and blues music. All the boxes are checked: great vocals, pitch-perfect harmonies, and twang out the wazoo. You can definitely hear very strong flavors of Roy Orbison and Doug Sahm, as well as other Texas music dignitaries. Additionally, there is a strong swig of Tejano music that runs through this album like a main circuit cable, giving it a rich and diverse flavor that pays homage to the region’s musical heritage.

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Love Rat – Southern Shaman album cover

Love Rat: Southern Shaman Album Review

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

Birmingham’s Love Rat delivers an album that continues the rich history of Alabama’s irreverent and raucous brand of southern rock in the tradition of The Drive By Truckers and The Dexateens. Throughout its tracks, the band deftly navigates the nuances of the human experience, tackling love, laughter, and the occasional foibles. The musicianship on Southern Shaman is on display, showcasing the individual talents of each member. Mandi Rae Trott brings her unique flavor to rhythm guitar and vocals, setting a rich foundation for the songs. Warren Amos’s lead guitar work adds a layer of emotional depth, while Jon Breland’s bass provides a steady heartbeat throughout the album. The driving force of Brant Benefield’s drums and percussion propels the music forward, creating an infectious energy that is hard to resist.

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Dry Lightning – Bathymetry album cover

Dry Lightning: Bathymetry Album Review

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

There are a few certainties in life: death, taxes, and if Patrick Storedahl is working on a musical project, it’s going to be great. Whether it’s solo work or collaborations, they are all top-notch. His latest project, Dry Lightning, is no different. I’m absolutely dumbfounded by how infectious and just flat-out beautiful this album is. Kate Masterson, the lead vocalist, has an amazing voice that is major label worthy. That’s no exaggeration. Kate wrote or co-wrote, with Patrick Storedahl, all of the songs on this release. All songs are crafted with the utmost precision. Many genres are represented on Bathymetry, from country to rock, rhythm and blues, and 90’s alternative, which creates a rich tapestry of sound.

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Jason Isbell Reunions album cover

Reviewed by Mae Hunt

Listening to Jason Isbell’s Reunions will inevitably leave you feeling nostalgic, but with an urge to rock out nonetheless. Backed by his band, the 400 Unit, the 10-track album mirrors Isbell’s own personal challenges while providing listeners with meticulously produced country rock music. Isbell has won four Grammys (out of four nominations!) and two UK Americana awards (out of two nominations!) – so the success of Reunions does not surprise me. Nonetheless, the Alabama singer has struck gold yet again on his seventh album. 

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