Authors: James Orme
Review: Luke Bell – Self-Titled
Luke Bell = J.P. Harris + Don Gibson + Dale Watson
… read more
Review: Luke Winslow-King – The Coming Tide
When it comes to contemporary roots music, the easy route is to punk things up—play it faster or with an edge—but roots music transcends time and period. Luke Winslow-King walks that fine line between slavishly authentic and radical change just for the sake of change. … read more
Review: Loves It – All We Are
“Western Swing Murder” is a jaunty little tune about a murder that masterfully pays homage to the genre referenced in the song’s title. “Rocket ship” is a quick rocker that showcases Walters’ Springsteen-like charisma. … read more
Review: Lydia Loveless – Somewhere Else
I first pegged Lydia Loveless as some sort of simple female equivalent to Hank 3, but as I listened further, I realized she is much more than that. … read more
Review: Lara Hope & The Ark-tones – Luck Maker
Lara Hope & the Ark-tones = Imelda May + The Reverend Horton Heat + Kim Lenz … read more
Review: Jonny Manak & the Depressives – Cold Pizza &...
Jonny Manak & the Depressives = The Cramps + The Sonics + Dead Boys … read more
Review: Kait Lawson – Until We Drown
Kait Lawson = Woody Guthrie + Nanci Griffith … read more
Review: Kim Lenz and the Jaguars – Follow Me
While maintaining all the tropes of a garden variety release, this record also is a step forward for Lenz, who gained more urgency and has become more visceral in her delivery. … read more
Review: Jonny “Two Bags” Wickersham – Salvation Town
The sideman, usually with a guitar in his hand, has finally stepped out of his role as six-string slinger for Social Distortion and put together his first solo full-length. … read more
Review: Hot Club of Cowtown – Rendezvous in Rhythm
So many jazz bands use “Hot Club” in their name, a nod to the original Quintette du Hot Club de France. In the case of Hot Club of Cowtown, I can imagine they use the “Hot Club” name because they earned it, especially on this record. … read more