Billy Strings and Terry Barber Pick Their Way Down Memory Lane on ‘Me/And/Dad’
Billy Strings' Me/And/Dad is a happily unlikely outcome for father and son, a chance to record an album rooted so deeply in memory and gratitude, addiction and recovery.
Album Reviews
Mississippi Ghosts Haunt the Deep Blues of Ryan Lee Crosby on ‘Winter Hill Blues’
Winter Hill Blues is Ryan Lee Crosby's strongest work yet, alternating between hard-droning blues on electric guitar and softer, brooding blues on acoustic guitars.
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Offers Surprisingly Fresh and Original Takes on Classic Dylan Tunes on ‘Dirt Does Dylan’
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band founders Jeff Hanna and Jimmie Fadden used to play Dylan tunes together in high school, now the band has released a tribute album, Dirt Does Dylan.
‘Mercy’ Is a Strong Solo Acoustic Excursion for Phish Leader Trey Anastasio
Clocking in at 33 minutes—shorter than many Phish prog-rock jams—guitarist Trey Anastasio's album Mercy puts the spotlight on his singing and acoustic guitar work.
Bluegrass Elder Statesman Peter Rowan Still at the Top of His Craft with ‘Calling You From My Mountain’
There's a lived-in clarity to these songs: Over and over, Rowan bridges the distance between bluegrass tradition and Buddhist practice.
Lily Henley’s ‘Oras Dezaoradas’ Is a Beautiful Fusion of Sephardic and American Folk Tunes
Sephardic songs from 15th century Spain and tunes from the American folk tradition fuse together as the core of Lily Henley's album Oras Dezaoradas.
Singer-Songwriter Jesse Terry’s Covers Album ‘Forget-Me-Nots’ Is Indeed Unforgettable
Jesse Terry's covers album, Forget-Me-Nots, is a 22-song collection from a wide spectrum of writers, styles, and eras, beautifully presented in (mostly) acoustic settings.
Grant Dermody & Frank Fotusky Shine in Southern Blues Workout ‘Digging in John’s Backyard’
The performances by Grant Dermody & Frank Fotusky on Diggin’ in John’s Backyard sound like a couple of (really talented) pals casually sitting on the front porch pickin’, blowin’, and singin’.
Abbie Gardner’s Intimate ‘DobroSinger’ is a Sparkling Revelation
Abbie Gardner’s latest album, DobroSinger, is as pure a “solo” album as you’ll find—it’s live takes of just Gardner’s voice and an arsenal of resonator guitars.
Charlie Musselwhite Finds Inspiration by Going Home on ‘Mississippi Son’
The mood on Charlie Musselwhite's Mississippi Son is laid-back, as the guitarist delivers fingerpicked country blues on both acoustic and electric guitars.