Daily Newsletter, February 26, 2024

THE DREAM ACADEMY RELIGION, REVOLUTION & RAILWAYS CHERRY RED RECORDS Having a huge, world-wide success with your first single can always be a blessing and a curse. For Dream Academy which includes singer/guitarist and songwriter Nick Laird-Clowes, multi-instrumentalist Kate St. John, and keyboardist/songwriter Gilbert Gabriel, it seems to have been something in between. The trio […]

Whether these are ‘building blocks’ or not, the music here fully stands on its own merits.

SHAINA HAYES KINDERGARTEN HEART BONSOUND When a singer-songwriter presents something quite individual and personal, without being self-centered, you simply cannot dismiss her or him as the ‘standard fare.’ That is exactly the conclusion listeners will reach listening to Kindergarten Heart, the sophomore album by Montreal-based singer-songwriter Shaina Hayes. Sure, Hayes is inspired by those great […]

Country-rock is not for everyone, but when done well the subgenre can be amazing, like on these eight albums.

AL HARPER THE ANALEMMA OBSERVATION LEAGUE TAKE A TURN RECORDS How do you distinguish yourself from other artists that are working within the ‘standard’ folk/pop realm that is so prominent these days. Well, one way to do it is come up with an intriguing album title. San Francisco’s Al Harper gave her latest album the […]

Some reissue labels know what they are doing

The sound of New York City.

To mark late blues-guitar great Johnny Winter's 80 birthday on February 23, check out some cool collaborations he recorded with Jimi Hendrix and other famous artists.

As its title suggests, the ambitious, far-reaching 1972 double album provided early proof that the possibilities were endless.

It's time to unpack the fervent allegations against The Last Dinner Party.

Freaks Out by Luke Haines is an irreverent look at the marginalised fringes of rock'n'roll, where the wild things lurk

The Oscar-winning filmmaker discusses his new animated investigation into the life of disappeared Brazilian jazz musician Francisco Tenório Júnior, co-directed by Javier Mariscal.