Reviews
-
Kelly Does Her Best: A Look Ahead at 2019
If you\’re a folk fan, then you know that the over-abundance of stunning talent within the realm never leaves a year without some truly stellar releases. It\’s no surprise,then, that 2019 is already exciting to ponder. Among Folk Alley favorites, Dylan LeBlanc has been in the studio with Dave Cobb, whileCaroline Spence got it done…
-
Kelly Does Her Best: 10 Albums That Changed the Game for the Artists Who Made Them
Each year, it\’s nearly impossible to narrow a “best of” list down to 10 entries. It\’s also clearly impractical to define what “best” even means. This year, though, it wouldn\’t much matter what my list\’s theme was, Brandi Carlile and Marlon Williams would be sitting next to each other at the top of it, as…
-
Rosanne Cash: She Remembers Everything
Aging is a fact of life that can be resisted, but never outrun, so the smarter tactic is generally to embrace the wisdom that comes from having witnessed so many years passing by. Those who do so recognize that it is better to be the grand old oak towering over the land than the small,…
-
JP Harris: Sometimes Dogs Bark at Nothing
The lived experience is what gives music, of any kind, meaning. After all, conveying truth, of every kind, is the songwriter\’s job. No matter where on the emotional spectrum a song falls, if it\’s not steeped in the honesty of human existence, it can\’t fulfill its artistic potential. Few songwriters in Nashville have had as…
-
The Watson Twins: Duo
Blood harmony is a topic that\’s been talked about every which way to Sunday for decades now. And for good reason: It\’s a magical thing, that blending of familial voices, and it\’s made all the more so when the blends come from twins. The synchronicity of syllables and the rhythm of phrases seem to be…
-
Jason Isbell: Live from the Ryman
Pretty much every musician who steps onto the Ryman Auditorium stage makes a comment about what a special place it is to play. What was once the Union Gospel Tabernacle and then the Grand Ole Opry House has hosted thousands and thousands of performances over its 126-year history, from church services to radio shows to…
-
Amy Ray: Holler
Most artists, who are part of bands, make a clean break before striking out on their own to explore other musical terrains. They might reunite every now and again for a good reason or a good cause, but that\’s about it. It\’s rare to find someone working within their band while pursuing solo projects on…
-
Kathy Mattea: Pretty Bird
To be a singer — who isn\’t a singer/songwriter — is, it would seem, to be a bit of an actor. After all, a song is comprised of characters living out a story, with the help of a musical interpreter stepping in and bringing it all to life. It\’s a job that requires not only…
-
10 String Symphony: Generation Frustration
Millennial memes are a dime a dozen these days. If the rumors are true, they have traded homeownership for avocado toast, courtship for hook-ups, bongs for vapes, and low rises for high waists. How much can we really expect from the generation that has killed mayonnaise, in the end? A lot, actually. Because all that…
-
Rodney Crowell: Acoustic Classics
At different points in our lives, we all take a moment to look back and reflect upon the steps that led us to where we are. We take stock of the things that worked and the things that didn\’t, the lessons we learned and the hardships we endured. It\’s all part of the process of…