Editorial Review

Born to be mild? Amos Lee's sophomore effort for Blue Note follows firmly in the gentle guitar strums of his well-received 2005 debut and opening slots for Norah Jones and Bob Dylan. Little has changed the second time around, which will come as a relief to those enthralled by his first release. He remains a sensitive sort, mixing his insightful, reflective lyrics with lovely, unforced melodies played by backing musicians that stay on low boil. These tunes go down as smoothly as hot chocolate on a cold day, yet Lee brings an unassuming sincerity to the proceedings with his cozy, amiable voice. Comparisons to Bill Withers and James Taylor are accurate if inevitable, but when the gospel organ quivers into "Skipping Stone," it's clear Lee isn't stuck in a folk-pop rut.Read more

Reviews (12)

Great Follow Up CD to "Amos Lee"
I love this CD. I love the fact that Amos Lee is the type of artist who is true to his music and although he may not be considered "mainstream", music lovers will "get him" and his style. Sometimes, as I listen to the music of today,I get dishearted because I find no value in the music, no artistry. Well, "Supply and Demand" confirms to me that their is still real,thought provoking, moving,engaging,and creative artists around.Like his previous CD "Amos Lee", I love the lyrics in the songs."Shout Out Loud" is a great song to open with, and my teenagers ask me to play it over and over again...I have many favorites, including "Shout Out Loud", "Skipping Stone", "Supply and Demand", "Sweet Pea" ...o.k., I love the whole CD....In an age where you may get 1 or 2 songs on a CD that you really like, this CD is filled with songs you will love...Buy it, then enjoy!!!!
Superb
This CD is a great follow up to his last CD. There are very few artists with the originality that Amos Lee has. If you enjoy any folk or easy listening this is a definite must to add to your collection.

This is an entertaining new CD from Amos Lee
I love this new CD from Amos Lee.The first single is entitled Shout Out Loud.This song really puts me in a great mood.His guitar playing is so energetic here.My favorite track is Long Line Of Pain though.It is a beautiful song about personal loss and loneliness. Sympathize is an another highlight on this disc.Amos Lee's subtle voice is filled with compassion for people who are down on their luck.Southern Girl is Amos' tribute to thecharm of a girl from the south.Night Train is a very pretty love song. Skipping Stone is a bluesy sounding song about trying to move on after the loss of a loved one.Freedom is an interesting track.It is a reminder that the pursuit offreedom should not lead to violence.The lyrics of this song are true and thought provoking. Sweet Pea is a simple and sweet song about coming home to someone special.Careless is an excellent song about the betrayal of a friend.I love the feeling of loss and sense ofhurt in Amos' voice on this track. Supply and Demand is a very entertaining CD by a talented young musician and song writer. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Pop    3. Rock    4. Rock/Pop    5. Singer/Songwriter    6. United States of America   

Editorial Review

The premise was simple. Bruce Springsteen invites a dozen or so New York City musicians--packing banjos, fiddles, accordions and the like--to his New Jersey farmhouse for a three-day hootenanny, and tape is rolling. The results are sublime, his 21st album featuring their versions of songs harvested from Springsteen's dog-eared LPs by Pete Seeger. Not all written by Seeger, the songs are how the American folk icon interpreted them, and these organic recordings, with no rehearsals or overdubs, pay tribute with the simplicity and spontaneity he intended. It's not hard to link Springsteen's dissatisfaction with American politics to the protest song "We Shall Overcome" or even the Irish ballad "Mrs. McGrath," where he alters the lyrics to read, "I'd rather have my son as he used to be/Than the King of America and his whole navy." But the beauty of these Seeger Sessions are pieces that underscore the mood of the bandleader, which borders on down-home amusement: the bluegrass outlaw ballad "Jesse James," the Dylanesque "Pay Me My Money Down" and the euphoric "Jacob's Ladder," a gumbo-and-whiskey-fueled romp that could pass for the closing hymn at the Church of Asbury Park. Read more

Features

• DualDisc
• Enhanced

Reviews (329)

Old Time Culture with a Modern Flair
I bought this right before a road trip.My sister and I fell in love with it.Our 11 year old niece is always making requests whenever we're in the car.She and I can't help but belt out "PAY ME MY MONEY DOWN!"I have also found that it really makes cleaning the house a lot more fun too.

Remarkable
I have a rule: I don't ever give 5 stars to album full of covers.I had to think long and hard about breaking that rule for this one, but I couldn't do it.
Too Loud
Too many intstruments playing at once.I think this was done to bulk up the songs and drown out their flaws.Too much shouting by Bruce and the band.Forgettable. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Americana    2. Contemporary Folk    3. Folk-Rock    4. Heartland Rock    5. Pop    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. Roots Rock    9. Singer/Songwriter   

Editorial Review

This is not a review about Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon's hair. However--as any self-respecting fan knows--in country music, after proving you can pluck a guitar and carry a tune, the power of the right hairstyle is not to be underestimated. Johnny Cash, in fact, was famously vain about his locks--perhaps one of the few things he Read more

Features

• Enhanced
• Soundtrack

Reviews (179)

Just Won't Play the Audio !!!!
Be prepared for disappointment if you buy this enhanced CD, and your PC is somehow excluded from playing the audio tracks.I have a 2 year old Sony Vaio desktop with all the bells and whistles, and a 3 ghz processor.I've played every audio and video cd and dvd without a problem at all.When I put this cd in I got the graphic screen and played the 2 videos fine.But there's no link and no way for me to access the audio tracks, whether through Windows Media Player, or Windows Explorer.Somehow the people who made this enhanced CD didn't make sure it was compatible with all PC's, even if you have a high end, fairly new machine.I'll be returning the CD ASAP.

Humbled
The acting was emotional and impressive, the singing was amazing and the movie was chilling and enjoyable. In fact, I can't stop watching it - it's like a train wreck everytime it comes on. My parents dragged me when I was a young child to a Johnny Cash/June Carter concert. As much as I hated the fact they couldn't get me a sitter, or leave me at someones house - I am truly touched now at the backstory to this concert I didn't want to go to, but enjoyed nonetheless. I wish I could go back in time to enjoy it knowing what I know now.

won't play on my computer
I listen to all music on my computer. I don't even have a CD player any more. This CD will not play on my computer. Therefore, great as the music was in the movie, this CD is worthless to me. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Americana    2. Pop    3. Rock & Roll    4. Soundtrack    5. Soundtracks    6. Soundtracks & Film Scores    7. Traditional Country   

Editorial Review

The success of his debut, Read more

Reviews (64)

Nice album from a very nice guy
This review contains nothing new from what you have already read from the other customers who have heard, and own this particular album. This is straight up country music album, as what a country album should be. I bought this album mainly because I was blown away by the song "Your Man". Although the songs here are strong, besides that smash hit "Your Man", highlights of this record are: Lord Have Mercy on a Country Boy, Way Down South, and Gravity. Why I didn't give this album a full 5 star is there are some songs that I didn't particularly enjoy: "No Rush" is a drag, too slow for my liking therefore I think it's entitled appropriately and "White Noise" is an okay song, I just never was a fan of Jon Anderson. Overall, Josh's second release is worth the listen. Enjoy!

blown away
At work, I only needed the traffic report before hitting the hiway, and found it on some country station. I normally do not listen to country, being a classical music lover. Whilst listening, this singer came on with the 'your man' song, and I found myself amazed at this voice. Days to follow I looked forward to the traffic report, and to hopefully hear this voice again. They played another song 'will you go with me' by this singer, and his name was mentioned after, and so in knowing his name, I found his albums on amazon. Well now I can say I definately am a country fan, and am ordering his music. Am very impressed and happy for finding thisopen door into a beautiful sector of music that I haven't explored before.
Not a perfect album, but good
From the first time I heard "Would you go with me" I loved that song. (The video is good, too.) The banjo and mandolin combine so beautifully that the tune sticks in your head and heart.I am not a big country fan to begin with, but Turner's voice was so good I figured I'd buy the album.
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Subjects:  1. Americana    2. Contemporary Country    3. Country    4. Neo-Traditionalist Country    5. Pop   

Editorial Review

John Mayer's big-label debut was a multiplatinum breakthrough success whose sensual anthem "Your Body Is a Wonderland" scored him an unlikely Grammy for Best Pop Vocal. That out-of-the-box succes--and more than a few critics grousing that Mayer's muse was cloned from Dave Matthews--primed him for the typical sophomore slump. Instead, Mayer delivers an album whose tone and title suggests a gentle, tongue-in-cheek rebuke to his naysayers. Propelled by the subtle ambitions of an expanded pop-jazz framework (largely courtesy of Sheryl Crow/No Doubt/Jellyfish producer Jack Joseph Puig), Mayer's breathy vocal tack now suggests a detached, conflicted, and significantly less precious incarnation of Michael Franks. But, the way he weds fluid pop hooks to lyrical concerns whose self-obsessions are undercut by telling dollops of self-deprecation from the my-spirit's-too-big/smart-for-my-body laments of "Clarity," the upbeat single "Bigger Than My Body," and the bluesy plea "Come Back to Bed" to the cautionary, melodically-rich "Daughters" and even the antimaterialist agitprop of "Something's Missing should clearly draw in listeners." Read more

Reviews (616)

He Ain't Heavy...
Up until getting Continuum and listening to it twenty times, Heavier Things remained in my head as my all time favorite JM CD.Everyone loves Room for Squares and we all got introduced to John through that one, and everyone loved it immediately.But the first time I listened to Heavier Things, I thought, "not quite as good as Squares."The second time I listened to it, I thought, "hey this is pretty damn good."Then I started listening to it out on my daily walks, and the more I listened to it, the more I thought it was amazing.I liked John after Squares, but it was listening to Heavier Things over and over that really made me fall madly in love with him.Made me want to see him in concert, and again... Made me buy Try! and Any Given Thursday (DVD and CD, both great), and Continuum, and devour them and play them at home, in the car, etc. etc.I hope that John will keep putting out new stuff for a long, long time.I can't can't can't get enough of his music.He ain't bad to look at either!

Holds up to Squares....
John Mayer is a true musician in a time of mindless pop & annoying celebrity singer wannabees. I had to listen to Heavier Things a couple times before I appreciated the more subtle and mature tone. That may be the reason why some were disappointed. It lacks the "hooks" and some of the "wit" of Squares but has an abundance of true musicianship, emotion and maturity. For me the big hits of Room for Squares (No Such Thing & Your Body is a Wonderland) have worn a bit thin over time. There are no such tracks on Heavier. I've listened countless times & none have gotten old for me. Heavier is a beginning to end listen. No tracks need be skipped.
John Mayer: New to me.
Though John Mayer is new to me, I have always liked the 'soft rock' genre. I got drawn in by the easy rock guitar selections, (especially 'Clarity') and listening to the lyrics came later.
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Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative Country-Rock    3. Alternative Pop/Rock    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop    7. Singer/Songwriter   

Editorial Review

The Wreckers are Grammy-winning songstress Michelle Branch and friend/journeywoman Nashville singer-songwriter Jessica Harp, a team whose solid craftsmanship and soaring, airtight harmonies often lift their hook-smart contemporary country stylings above what's too often mere fizzy, pop-crossover formula. They may have entered the public consciousness via the wide exposure of "Good Kind" on the primetime soap opera Read more

Reviews (74)

Fun Music
This is a great country/pop blend of music.It's 1 of my favorite cd's ever since I bought it.I love their vocal blends.

Michelle Branch goes Country
I am a longtime fan of Michelle Branch and of both her previous albums--Spirit Room and Hotel Paper.When I heard she had joined up with another female singer and started a duo, I was interested, though somewhat dismayed by the delay of their album release.When I finally learned that it came out, I balked to learn that it was classified as Country.After all, I am not a Country fan, and greatly preferred the somewhat pop/rock turning towards alternative feel of Branch's first two CDs.But after listening to samples of songs on Amazon and iTunes, I decided to give the CD a shot anyway--Michelle Branch, to this day, remains the only singer I have enough confidence in my enjoying her music that I would buy one of her albums entirely on blind faith.
Pretty and Talented
It seems like just yesterday that Michelle Branch delivered to us a little bit of this and a little bit of that with Santana.Now, a few hits and a few years later we find her turning her back on the modern/alternative rock radio stations that were rumored to be a thorn in her side.Michelle teams up with Jessica Harp to deliver an Alt-Country cd that, at times, sounds like Sheryl Crow meets the Dixie Chicks. I've been hearing the first single Leave The Pieces streaming out of sound systems in just about every type of retail setting possible.I'd say that "pretty" little Michelle & Jessica will be making a "wreck" out of the charts for quite some time.The bottom line: mirror & ear friendly cd. ;) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative Country-Rock    3. Contemporary Country    4. Country    5. Country-Pop    6. Pop    7. Rock    8. Singer/Songwriter   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (234)

His best record
One song in particular, JOHN WAYNE GACY JR, is startling.The first few times I played the CD, without really listening to the lyrics, I heard it as a love song, due to the gorgeous minor-key melody, then only realized later what it was about. The song is eerily beautiful, and at the same time, stunningly creepy, about the love a serial killer feels for his victims."He dressed up like a clown for them."I wasn't aware that pop music could do something as complex as this, until Stevens did so.

Recycled goods
Having listened to Steven's previous albums, Greetings from Michigan and Seven Swans countless times, I cannot help but to notice the amount of regurgitation on this album.Stevens blatantly rips off his own music.I consider Michigan to be Sufjan's masterpiece.Do yourself a favor and start there.

Rewards with time and patience.
Ok where to begin. I am some what astonished by the few reviews I have read for this album that have been negative (i.e. 2 stars or lower). Not because "oh these people are idiots, or this music is just to much for them" but precisely the opposite reason. There were a few reviews that were 2 stars or lower from people who wrote somewhat intelligent and thoughtful comments. My advice to these people is to just give this some time to sink in. I know that it is not above these people, and If they give it a few extra listens it will eventually catch them.
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Subjects:  1. Americana    2. Indie Pop    3. Indie Rock    4. Pop    5. Progressive Folk    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. Singer/Songwriter   

Editorial Review

Nine seconds into her first studio album since 2002's Read more

Reviews (70)

An impressive cohesive whole
With her flaming red hair and imposing good looks, Neko Case strikes an impressive pose, but that's nothing compared to the development of her singing and songwriting over the past few years. This album bathes her strong voice with echoing reverb, making her tales of love and loss seem even more apocalyptic. Case mixes country, folk and pop with an unusual deftness that sets her apart from the veritable army of female singer songwriters on todays music scene, and with backup from the likes of Calexico, one of the finest roots rock groups around, the music meshes very well with the lyrics.
wonderful stuff..
"Alt-country" would indeed be a limiting description,none-the-less an accurate point of reference,as this artist is obviously drawing from past Country musicians.But make no mistake,this is not a tired retread thru the same-old same-old but rather an exceptional modern piece of music.I'm usually more inclined towards the Heavy than the twangy,but this is just so well written and catchy with a distinct melancholic cloud hanging over the proceedings,and this woman can SING.One of the few recent musicians that deserve that designation!

"Country Noir" indeed - excellent purchase
After having this recommended to me as a hard-to-categorize album, I was lucky enough to stumble into a copy the next day.The beautifully produced, played, sung, and especially well written songs on this album are haunting and catchy at the same time.The album comes in at just about 35 mintues, which is perfect for a quiet listen while reading or driving around.
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Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative Country-Rock    3. Indie Rock    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop    7. United States of America   

Editorial Review

Battling his own personal demons while he has been highly coveted as a producer for other bands, singer/songwriter Mark Linkous' output with his own Sparklehorse has been as irregular as it is ingenious. And it's been five years since the candid album Read more

Reviews (2)

Light years of dreaming
Oh, heavens. Every song, every moment was worth waiting for.
I dreamt for light years...
It's been five long years since Sparklehorse's "It's A Wonderful Life," which is probably the most "ordinary" album Mark Linkous has ever produced. But the mysterious Linkous returns to his peak with"Dreamt For Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain," his fourth album full of unpredictable indie-rock.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Country-Rock    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Dream Pop    4. Indie Rock    5. Noise Pop    6. Pop    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

Immaculately prolific and blatantly ambitious, My Morning Jacket celebrate eight years as a recording band with what many refer to as a death knell: the double live album. Yet it takes but a single listen to declare that the brass neck and bravado pays off for this Kentucky band of longhairs, which released the 21-song epic as a companion piece to their concert DVD. Songwriter and singer Jim James's howling falsetto ricochets through MMJ's backlog of songs, which have been reenergized for the stage by the band's airtight live-show mettle. Dusting off remnants of the first two records like "I Think I'm Going to Hell" and the stunning "The Way That He Sings," then lining them up with the more contemporary "Gideon" and "What a Wonderful Man," MMJ never take their foot off the gas. In fact, rather than getting bogged down in concert-album fashion, Read more

Features

• Live

Reviews (7)

One of the greatest live albums of all-time ****1/2
My Morning Jacket is an incredible band.I knew I could always count on them to release a solid psychedelic, southern rock record.But when "Z" came out in 2005, I was absolutely speechless; there was finally a band in the United States to compete with Radiohead, and incidentally, "Z" is probably the best album released since "Ok Computer."It took the band to a whole new level.They went from being solid to superstars; from doing obscure music magazine interviews to releasing a concert in indie theaters across the country.
The ultimate live album from the best live act these days
My Morning Jacket has steadily been climbing the commercial and critical recongition in the last 6 years, with 2005's "Z" album ranking easily as one of the best albums of last year. MMJ has built its reputation as a tireless live act, and finally MMJ releases a live album, and what a joy it is.
JamBase CD Review
The whole idea of a live album can be a bit tricky for all bands, especially for a great band like the Kentucky boys of My Morning Jacket. Let's face it - out of all the groundbreaking artists of the past 40 years who've cut a live one, about 90 percent of them seem to be sub-par. And no, the live downloaded Phish and .moe bootlegs that you listened to in your college dorm while sucking on a glass Jerome Baker piece don't count. Sure, the concerts at which they were recorded must've been enjoyable for the fans, but it can be very taxing when attempting to capture the essence of what it's like being there as a concertgoer in that exact moment. A double-disc album, Okonokos was recorded last November during a two-night stint at The Fillmore in San Francisco, while touring in support of their latest release Z, which was on many critics' year-end top ten lists. Okonokos exhibits the majestic semblance of MMJ's live shows and proves that they are not a jam band but instead a band that just knows how to jam.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Country-Rock    2. Indie Pop    3. Neo-Psychedelia    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop    7. United States of America   

Editorial Review

One of the freshest country albums of the year comes not out of Nashville, but rather New York, from a sporadic band with the unlikely (and somewhat suggestive) moniker of the Little Willies. At times, the fivesome (named in homage to Willie Nelson) hearkens to the great historic western-swing bands--crack, loose-limbed musicians fronted by a hypnotically sublime girl singer. If that sleepy female voice (and her distinctive piano) sounds astonishingly like Norah Jones, that's because it Read more

Features

• Enhanced

Reviews (48)

Perfect for the road
I purchased this CD before going on vacation. With both a seven-year-old and a nine-year-old in the car, we had to endure the loud soundtracks of movies from the back seat. And, when I suggested that we turn off the TV and listen to a CD, they were both unhappy! That is, until I popped in this CD. These happy tunes made all of us smile and my kids even started to sing along! If you want a CD that will make your day, purchase this one!

Fun listen... more fun the second time, even more fun after that!
I'm a recording engineer by trade.I sit in little rooms with no windows and big speakers listening to the same song for 15 hour stretches for weeks in a row.Every now and again a record will roll through that is actually fun to make.This sounds like one of those recordings.
Nora and Texas Swing
Great collection if you like Nora and also like Texas Swing. There's Nora doing a few cuts as lead and sounding great as usual. The other cuts on the CD are great country tunes, some funny, some sad with a tight band keeping it interesting. Definately worth a listen. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative Country-Rock    3. Americana    4. Country-Rock    5. Pop    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. Singer/Songwriter   

Reviews (8)

A Cut Above Country Radio Regulars
Charlie's latest has no weak tracks whatsoever.The title song is full of tongue-in-cheek humor and rebellion, hearkening to some of John Prine's best songs.It has one of the catchiest lines ever in country music:"Buy me a whiskey, get yourself stoned, we gonna have a good time." As usual, Charlie tells a great many stories in his songs:a unrepentant pleasure seeker lets it all hang out south of the border in "New Year's Day;" a man hits the skids emotionally in "The Bottom;" the narrator remembers his own broken childhood and admires his infant son in "Photograph;" a dissipated adult recalls his first drink and charts his own disgrace in "Something in the Water;" a girl weds a bad man in the haunting "Magnolia," a story-telling style that is reminiscent of Faulkner's "As I Lay Dying." Charlie Robison has more talent as a writer and performer than 99% of anyone in Nashville.Please buy this album; do yourself a favor.If you like songs deeper than your average mud puddle but still universally-applicable, this CD is for you!

Different, But Good
I found this album to be quite different then what I've come to expect from Charlie, but it is still good and worthy of attention."El Cerrito Place" is the best song on the album and I find myself listening to it over and over.If you are a Texas Country Music Fan or a Charlie Robison fan then you will like this album.Also, if you like Charlie, check out his brother Bruce Robison as well.

Charlie Robison's Best Yet
This is Charlie's best release yet.It features a wide range of songs that will keep everoyone happy! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Country    2. Contemporary Country    3. Country    4. Pop    5. Progressive Country   

Editorial Review

Australian-born Keith Urban, hot off the double-platinum success of his 2002 sophomore album, Read more

Reviews (129)

Be Here is Be-au-tiful!
I love this CD.I put off buying it for awhile but am so glad I finally got it!I love every song.It's very relaxing on the slow songs, and upbeat & fun on the faster songs.He's so talented, and everything he touches turns to gold.Get this CD - it's GREAT!

buy it NOW
Every song on this CD is writen masterfuly and with emotion. if you want a tear-jerker, it's on this CD. If you want power-country, or what ever, it's here. It's all in this nice little CD.

Be Here
Not a bad CD.It is a little tough for me to rate this cd properly due to the fact that I'm not a fan of country music.However, I enjoyed Making Memories Of Us, The Hard Way, and Tonight I Wanna Cry a lot. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Country-Rock    2. Contemporary Country    3. Contemporary Singer/Songwriter    4. Country    5. Country-Pop    6. Pop   

Editorial Review

Todd Snider, the East Nashville antihero, can always be counted on to deliver a brilliant spitball of humor and satire, shot across a classroom devoted to John Prine, Randy Newman, Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, and the Rolling Stones. Here, on one of his most instantly accessible albums, he balances troubadourish recounts of personal experience and mythmaking (the getting-mugged-in-Memphis tale of "The Highland Street Incident"), the chronicling of not-so-famous-moments in history (Bob Dylan's ass-whipping of Phil Ochs in "Thin Wild Mercury"), and songs of romantic surrender. "All That Matters," a declaration of marital love with a nearly prayerful electric guitar solo from the great Will Kimbrough, shows how profound Snider can be in his simplicity. But his genius is best captured in the deceptively smart "Just Like Old Times," particularly in an exchange with a cop about a high school photo, carried in a wallet since 1982. Here, on his half-drunk vocals, Snider makes clear what he really is: A professional smart-ass whose bravado masks a wounded heart. Read more

Reviews (8)

Todd will not likely be invited to the White House . . .
I'd never even heard of this guy until I saw him on the Tonight Show a couple of weeks ago and then it was difficult to find the album locally.I'm glad I did.It's the best album I've bought this year.If you like folk/rock with a bite, then this is the album for you.The social commentary of "Looking for a Job" (performed on the Tonight Show) puts me in mind of Woody Guthrie and a lot the others remind me of a young Bruce Springsteen.
Country music for people who don't usually listen to country music
This album gets better and better with each listen.I know that's what everybody says, but it's true.While I haven't listened to any of Snider's other records, I can't really compare it to his general output. What I do know that I intend to listen to his other discs at some point, making this a great starting point for other new fans.
Add a half-a-star, please, but it isn't as strong...
as the three albums he released on the "Oh Boy" label this decade (four if you count "Near Truths and Hotel Rooms", his live CD.) Todd does some rockin' here with a band, a la his "Viva Satellite" disc for MCA in the late '90's, but I have never thought rock was his true genre, and I've been a fan from the beginning. "The Devil You Know" starts off with the two weakest songs of the project, in my opinion, and ends with the two best. Inbetween, the slower tunes, with lyrics clearly enunciated, seem superior to any of the up-tempo efforts. This is Todd's seventh disc of new work (there is also a compilation of his best from the MCA years available) and I would rate it fifth in overall appeal. However, I am nearly 62 years old, and my favorite kind of music is confessional singer-songwriter folk and country- style stuff. When a great lyricist like Todd rocks so loud you can't clearly understand his poetry, it seems a waste to me. So my advice, if you are a fan already, is to buy this to support him, but expect to put only half of it on repeat play. If you are new to Snider, then "East Nashville Skyline" or "New Connections" or "Happy to be Here" or "Songs For The Daily Planet" are more satisfying choices. His voice sometimes cracks, but his wit saves the performances. He has been troubled by substance abuse, low sales, and less attention than he deserves, but I hope he keeps on keepin' on, because he has a distinctive talent. For an idea of what his concerts are like, buy "Near Truths and Hotel Rooms"---the closest thing to seeing Todd live you can get. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Country    2. Americana    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop    6. Roots Rock    7. Singer/Songwriter   

Editorial Review

To listen to Ray Wylie Hubbard's Read more

Reviews (6)

Dirty and Mean with good guitar work
The whole album has that old southern blues rock grind, but it doesn't lose the Ray Wylie effect.Good guitar work throughout the entire album.As most of Ray Wylie's songs they are songs of blood, sweat and grease with a touch of sin and redemption.He and Gurf Morlix really sound like they are having fun playing together and that always makes an album special to me.
Love at first note...
I can't get this cd out of my player. I love Austin music and Ray is the best. The swampy, sultry sound can take you away. The lyrics are amazing and certain lines stick in my head. Amazing stuff and a far cry from 'Up Against the Wall Redneck Mothers' although I like that too.

Middle-of-the-night music, fuel for bonfires, dice, and showdowns
Ray Wylie Hubbard's "Snake Farm" is one evil, growling monster of a record, a finely focused muscular effort that effuses grit, malice, and funk. The sound ripples with thick, raw grooves that compliment the subject matter: the devil, women, redemption and damnation, hexes, and guitars. Clearly, this stuff is middle-of-the-night music, fuel for bonfires, dice, and showdowns.
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Subjects:  1. Americana    2. Country-Rock    3. Folk    4. Folk & Traditional    5. Outlaw Country    6. Pop    7. Rock & Roll    8. Singer/Songwriter    9. Swamp Blues    10. Texas Blues   

Editorial Review

Channeling the evocative storytelling of Laura Nyro and the soulful sexiness of Dusty Springfield, singer/songwriter Jenny Lewis skips all contemporary studio gimmickry to proffer a near-perfect solo debut. The front-woman for indie darlings Rilo Kiley breaks away from the songwriting democracy she shares with that band's co-leader Blake Sennett (also of the Elected), drawing inspiration from the crackling vinyl albums of her youth. And from the opening notes of "Run Devil Run," an acapella gospel hymn sung with the Watson Twins, through the note-for-note cover of the Traveling Wilbury's "Handle With Care" (with Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst and Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard), Lewis verifies this is her record. Her goose-bump voice can be as mournful as it is optimistic, but remains perpetually mesmerizing on Read more

Reviews (59)

Takes Me To Another Place
This record reminds me so much of the old records that my grandparents and parents used to play for me, and it reminded me of the folk pop albums i listen to today.It has so much soul.Just hearing Rise With Fists for the first time inspired me to buy not only this album but all of the Rilo Kiley albums.Jenny Lewis is truly inspired.This CD is simple and pure. And in its purity it takes you away, just like that music i have grown up to love and you don't see anymore in the days of my humps and sexyback.

On the RISE!
If you haven't caught the video for the tune Rise up with Fists found on this cd...SEEK IT OUT!I caught the video on cable a couple times and immediately got into the tongue-in-cheek-this-isn't-country-well-ok-maybe-just-a-little-bit groove that Jenny Lewis and The Watson Twins deliver so effortlessly.This cd accompanied me on a 1200 mile road trip and let's just say that I wanted to drive another 1000 miles just to listen to this cd.Heads Up! This cd came out months ago.What are you waiting for? ;)

Lyrics that speak to my grungy 70s folk craving
I was so suprized to hear the cute little red-head from "Troop Beverly Hills" put out this amazing album. The whole thing is a work of art. The lyrics are astoundingly soulful and leave you wanting to sing along. Jenny Lewis is like that girl down the street thats kinda depressed and scary, but totally hot and mysterious. She put a lot of heart into these songs and the lyrics are indicitive of some of her hollywood history, which is always nice of a former child star putting out an album to do, because we are all curious.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Country-Rock    2. Americana    3. Indie Pop    4. Indie Rock    5. Pop    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. United States of America   

Editorial Review

The title of this album would seem a tad precious applied to the releases of the majority of Nashville musicians. But Guy Clark--song craftsman, guitar builder--has been doing such finely measured work for all of his storied career that "Workbench Songs" aptly sums up the pride and precision he brings to these 11 offerings. Joined by cowriters Darrell Scott, Rodney Crowell, Gary Nicholson, Lee Roy Parnell, and Verlon Thompson, Clark is at turns wry and poignant in chronicling human acts great and small. And, as usual with his albums, a number of these songs resonate long after first listen. "Walkin' Man," a Celtic-flavored demo recording which kicks off the set, pays homage to the pilgrims and searchers--Gandhi and Woody Guthrie--who had the courage to make their own path. "Out in the Parkin' Lot," the Darrell Scott collaboration which Clark recorded on 1997's live Read more

Reviews (2)

latest from a national treasure
There may be better songwriters than Guy Clark-but you can count them on one hand with fingers left over.This disc has him co-writing with some of the best in Nashville-Gary Nicholson, Lee Roy Parnell, Steve Nelson, Ray Stephenson and old standbysRodney Crowell and Verlon Thompson.The result is a project that loses none of Guy's touch, but slightly broadens the musical palate.In addition, there is a greater emphasis on production, making the record sound more like a country record (in a good sense) than a bluegrass or folk record as some projects have sounded in the past.
Excellent latest release
I've been a fan of Guy Clark since Jerry Jeff Walker first sang "LA Freeway" in the early 70s.His distinctive husky voice speaks of roadworn weariness, someone who's lived a long tough life.(And I suspect he sounded that way at 30...)
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Country    2. Country    3. Country-Folk    4. Pop    5. Singer/Songwriter    6. United States of America   

Reviews (68)

WHAT A VOICE!
I do love the low, sultry twang of Josh Turner.Every song on this CD is great, especially "Unburn all our bridges" wow!
5 Star Train
Josh Turner has a very enjoyable album in the Long Black Train. His voice and musical style should be enjoyed by all.

WOW!!
This is a fantastic CD. It's one of those I can listen to back to back.I've recommended it to all my friends. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Americana    2. Contemporary Country    3. Country    4. Country & Western    5. Neo-Traditionalist Country    6. Pop   

Editorial Review

Her father called her "The Brain," and while it's always been apparent why, Rosanne Cash will likely astonish listeners with the new level of writing and depth of feeling she brings to Read more

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Reviews (68)

4 stars only because I haven't listened to all the songs yet!
I've been waiting for Rosanne Cash to find her voice and break out with another stunning album since "The Wheel." I find great similarities between that album and this one: The thoughtfulness, the incredible soulfulness, and the intertwining of sorrow, passion, longing and questioning. Add to that a fiery edge on several of these tracks (such as you don't really find on the more meditative "The Wheel") and you have a stellar album. I have not listened to the entire album as of yet, but what I have heard has convinced me to make the purchase. This is by far the best music Ms. Cash has released in many years; in fact, in my opinion "Black Cadillac" outshines "The Wheel" and yes, possibly even "Interiors" as a coherent, thought-provoking and emotionally provocative album. As for it's dark content, recent losses in my own life cause Ms. Cash's songs to resonnate in my heart and soul with even more power. I needed this album at this time in my life. As well, it's great to see Ms. Cash at the top of her form once again.

A dark ride
Rosanne Cash's meditation of the loss of life and love (her father, Johnny; her stepmother, June Carter Cash; and her mother, Vivian Cash Distin) is here darkest album since the divorce chronicle of "Interiors." She calls into question both God and herself on such songs as "House on the Lake" and the title track. Like some of Emmylou Harris' best work (like the recent "Red Dirt Girl"), Rosanne has moved to the far fringe of country and given her music an both a dose of intelligence atmospheric edge. You won't find any lighthearted 'redneck girl' stompers here. In fact, "Radio Operator" is probably the closest thing to a generic country song on "Black Cadillac."
Another great one from Rosanne
Since she gets virtually no radio-play in our area I always look forward to her new releases.This one was clearly in the making for some time and provides a reflection of things going on in her life; as well as issues in the world around us. A worthwhile addition to your collection. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative Country-Rock    3. Contemporary Country    4. Country    5. Pop    6. Rock/Pop    7. Singer/Songwriter   

Editorial Review

Was it homesickness that compelled longtime Los Angeles resident k.d. lang to fashion her one-woman campaign for north-of-the-border nationalism, or just plain good sense? All Canadian content has long been a mainstay of the Canadian Broadcasting System, but few have selected their material with such a fine hand and a high aesthetic. The expatriate singer has taken great pains to create a sophisticated homage to her Canadian roots, elegantly reinterpreting 11 songs penned by some of her more illustrious countrymen (and women) such as Jane Siberry, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, and Leonard Cohen. The idiosyncratic chanteuse turns Cohen's "Bird on a Wire" into an aching monochromatic lament, exploring new tributaries of pain that didn't exist in the original, while recasting Neil Young's "Helpless" into a haunting anthem of memory and comfort, all the while sounding anything but helpless. A gorgeous love letter to her brethren, complete with an intelligent and understated orchestration. Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative Country    3. Canada    4. Pop    5. Pop Vocals    6. Rock/Pop    7. Singer/Songwriter