Drake Jensen - On My Way To Finding You

Nova Scotia-born Drake Jensen looks and sounds like a Country singer should. He’s tall, got the beard, the cowboy hat. And, then, there’s the voice. You can tell that Jensen spent plenty of time listening to Country Music growing up. There a traditional side that comes through, mixed with a singer-songwriter style that is very much akin to that of Garth Brooks. Vocally, he has a soulful and assured approach, which comes to view on cuts like the spectacular “I Found Me,” as well as “Where You Goin With That?” He also ...

Stephanie Urbina Jones – The Texicana Sessions

OK, I’ve got a confession to make. About a decade ago, I became enchanted with a female vocalist by the name of Stephanie Urbina Jones. She released her debut back then, and there was a song on it called “He Reminds Me Of Texas.” It combined an American voice with a Hispanic flavor. Now, I get a chance to be reacquainted with Jones again through this album, which is once again a mixture of sounds from both sides of the border. It’s nothing for Jones to combine those styles in the same...

Michael Z. Cummings – Storyteller

Listening to this album is like a conversation with an old friend. You might not agree with every point of view expressed, but you respect it. And, just maybe – to quote Bill Cosby from the intro to the 70s cartoon Fat Albert, “If you’re not careful, you might just learn something before you’re done.” Cummings grew up in Boston, enthralled with the Blues that his brother was listening to. Over the years, he would add acts such as Bob Dylan and Earl Scruggs to his influence...

Rodney Dillard & The Dillard Band – Don’t Wait For The Hearse To Take You To Church

Back in the 1960s, the Dillards carved out a piece of fame with their work as the “Darling Family” on the Andy Griffith Show. Though the characters and their lack of words were an act, there was nothing put upon about their musical expertise, as the Dillards have released several great albums before and since. Rodney and Co. have just issued this set, which should bring a musical blessing...

Stewboss – Pilgrims & Runaways

Describing this one is kind of tough. I don’t mean that in a bad way, but as is often the case that you have with discs on this web site, there’s no easy classification for this album. There are Country elements, Rock ones, and even a few dashes of Texas music to be heard in this one. So, I’m not going to try to tell you what this is. I will just tell you what’s good about it. There is some first-rate singing and...

Grand Ole Opry / Cracker Barrel Collection – Classic Hits

Cracker Barrel has done a great job at helping to preserve the history of the Grand Ole Opry with their new four-CD series, the Grand Ole Opry Classics collection. In this final installment that we look at some of the all-time greats of the radio show performing the songs that might not have brought them all to the dance, but at least kept them there for many years. Leading off the package is Tammy Wynette’s...

The McClymonts – Wrapped Up Good

Australian sisters act The McClymonts made some noise a couple of years back in America with the release of their Chaos And Bright Lights CD. Now, they are ready to take that next step to stardom in the states with the release of this disc, and I think they have a strong chance of doing so – given the quality of music on this disc. Sam, Mollie, and Brooke have assembled some of the top talent in town for this disc, and have attracted the attention...

Vincent Poag – Circling Back

A native of Long Island, music has long been a part of Vincent Poag’s life. Influenced by such acts as Dylan and the Beatles, Poag set out to make a mark in the business post-school. It didn’t come to be, and he wound up being very successful in a non-music business. Still, three years ago, the dream was revived when his wife bought him a series of guitar lessons for his birthday. That led him to reach back to some of those dreams that he had put on hold for some time. There’s a heavy philosophical...

Jon Airdrie and the Shelleys – Something’s Cooking

South Wales folk rock band Jon Airdrie and The Shelleys are a little something different. With one foot firmly planted in the rich tradition of early English folk music, the other foot stepping into the new millennium, they give listeners a unique ear-bending blend of contrasts. Their new album “Something’s Cooking” is, according to frontman Airdrie, “more playful than the last, musically and lyrically” and it “tries to fuse the natural with the artificial.” Striking a balance...

Michael Mandella - American Outlaw

If it were possible for Dwight Yoakam and Danny Shirley from Confederate Railroad to have a son, this is just what he might sound like. Mandella has Yoakam’s swagger, as well as Shirley’s rough and tough vocal approach. The California swagger of Yoakam should come as no surprise, as Mandella hails from the land of milk and honey – actually not too far from Bakersfield itself. The music here has a definite Southern Rock feel, as shown on cuts like “I’m Gonna Miss You A Lot,” “Love And Whiskey,” and...

Dehlia Low – Ravens & Crows

I don’t really know how to describe the music of Dehlia Low. They are on Rebel Records, so that must mean they are Bluegrass, right? But, at the same time, there’s a tinge of old-school Country on this album that is very much apparent when Anya Hinkle and Stacy Claude combine their musical talents. Listen to tracks like “$40 Chain” and “State Of Jefferson,” and you will hear a harmony that will mystify and command your attention. They truly sound like one together. I tried to think of someone to compare their...

Bill Toms – Memphis

If ever a title summed up an album, it was this one. The opening track conjures up images of the Bluff City during an afternoon walking on Beale, and seeing instrumentalists and singers doing their thing everywhere. Then, one of the latter songs, “Lord Don’t Take Me Now,” has a feel that would be right at home in any of the clubs in downtown Memphis at night. Toms pitches an excellent tribute...

Wagons – Rumble, Shake and Tumble

Decade-old Australian group Wagons has been making some noise here in The States ever since their first appearance at SXSW in 2010. Their new CD “Rumble, Shake and Tumble” is the U.S. debut for this quirky roots-rock guitar band. Charismatic frontman Henry Wagons co-produced with Cornel Wilczek, and wrote all ten tracks (with some collaborators on the song “Willie Nelson”) on this Thirty Tigers release. There is nary an audibly...

Billy Ray Cyrus – I’m American

Nashville producer Buddy Cannon could have been a bit concerned at first when he signed up to helm a project about patriotism for Disney’s Buena Vista Records. Rising to the challenge, though, he was able to assemble an album’s worth of material that speaks to love of country in uniquely voiced ways. The result is “I’m American” – an eight-song tribute honoring our troops, recorded by country artist Billy Ray Cyrus. Opening with “Runway Lights” - current single and theme song for his TLC reality TV show “Surprise Homecoming” – and closing...

Ingrid Gerdes –Shed

The beautiful Ingrid Gerdes hails from Missouri, but you might not be able to tell it from her latest project. This has such a Latin / R&B feel to it that will have you tapping your toes wildly. From the opening strains of “Your Boyfriend,” you will find a 60s Pop feel that will definitely strike you as sensual. The music has that Latin beat that will get your blood going, but also credit Gerdes’ vocals for enchanting you in. She combines the Latin sound with straight-ahead R&B on cuts like “Move” and...