“Thought I was alone in the world, until my memories gathered round me in the night” Jason Isbell sings on ‘What I’ve Done to Help’, the opening track to Reunions. The rolling chorus repeated like a mantra towards the end,…
Perhaps we should apologise for today’s Song of the Day. Or at least provide a warning. This one can blindside you. ‘Elephant’ might be one of the saddest songs you ever hear. It might also be one you can’t quite…
I’ll admit, I was late to the party with Jason Isbell. Since he departed the Drive-By Truckers in 2006, and went sober 7 years after, he’s led a widely successful solo career, but I didn’t come across him until his…
The Mountain Goats have produced 19 albums since the early 90’s but astoundingly these last couple of years have been their busiest period, seeing them release three records in the short expanse of 18 months. It’s testament to John Darnielle…
If John Prine digs your songwriting, why shouldn’t everyone else? Near the end of the Americana hero’s life, his ears perked towards Arlo McKinley, who he’d ultimately signed to his label, Oh Boy Records. The resulting album, Die Midwestern, dropped…
My Girl the River is the project of Louisiana singer and musician Kris Wilkinson Hughes. The band is fleshed out by her husband Joe and daughter Ruby on double bass and harmonies respectively. Cardinal in the Snow is the follow…
I’ve always rolled my eyes a bit at Pinegrove’s designation as a country/emo band. Emo has become a catchall (like “alternative” in the 90s), and it always seemed to me that attaching this to Pinegrove was more a function of…
When Nicholas Mudd was offered the opportunity, the troubadour took no time in taking the chance to hit the open road. Planning his 10-day trip from Lexington, Kentucky to Los Angeles aboard his Harley-Davidson, this 2011 satiating of his wanderlust…
What’s there to say when you’ve conceded to the hardships of life? Kyle Daniel wrestles with this question throughout his sophomore EP, aptly titled What’s There to Say?. Delivering his message via bright melodies and a wall of electric guitar, Daniel…
With The Weary Traveler, The Deep Hollow get about doing a whole lot of living. This comes even in the light of lamenting the act of getting older, let alone all of the emotions that tend to come out over the…