Different Cultures, Styles, and Tunings Elevate Walter Strauss’ Mesmerizing ‘For Melody, Wherever She May Find Me’
The California-based acoustic fingerstyle guitarist expresses himself in a joyous, ebullient chorus of guitar voices.
Joe Henry and Friends Collaborate on the Enigmatic but Satisfying ‘All the Eye Can See’
The songs on Joe Henry’s latest album 'All the Eye Can See' refuse to give up their mysteries, the melodies wandering like question marks with the lyrics threading a thin line between knowing and unknowing.
ADVERTISEMENT
Veteran Minnesota String Band Trampled by Turtles Is Still Getting Better on ‘Alpenglow’
Alpenglow is Trampled By Turtles' best-sounding album, filled with a sonic richness that keeps these songs driving forward.
Great Picking, Singing, and Songs on ‘Kin Ya See That Sun,’ a Fitting Tribute to the Late Maggie Roche
The album brings together 15 previously unreleased live and studio tracks by two of the three singing Roche sisters, Terre and Maggie, who were a performing folk duo dating back to their teen years.
Kate Koenig’s ‘Immortal Rhythm’ is a Compelling Slice of Alternative Folk Autobiography
Kate Koenig describes Immortal Rhythm as “alternative folk," and there is a folk purity to the mostly crystalline vocals and much of the fingerpicked and strummed acoustic guitar parts.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Elijah McLaughlin Ensemble Weaves a Rich Sonic Tapestry on its Second Album
A testimonial to the power of first takes, in-studio improvisation, and the post-pandemic persistence of nature and art.
‘Travelers Rest’ Showcases the Foreign Landers’ Transatlantic Acoustic Spirit and Soul
The husband-and-wife duo the Foreign Landers' album Travelers Rest instantly puts a smile on your face and lift your spirits.
‘Once Upon a Harp’ is a Sparkling Collection of Turlough O’Carolan Pieces by Steve Baughman
Baughman’s guitar playing on Once Upon a Harp has the perfect combination of a light touch, rhythmic surety, and deeply melodic sensibility.
ADVERTISEMENT
John Moreland’s ‘Birds in the Ceiling’ Packed with Darkly Powerful Songs
The spareness of Birds in the Ceiling frees John Moreland to dig deeper into the darkness of these songs, to focus on a life where death is the only certainty.
Cristina Vane’s Slide Guitar Takes Center Stage On ‘Make Myself Me Again’
On Christina Vane's album Make Myself Me Again, the slide guitarist is exploring what it means to reconnect with herself in a new, unfamiliar city where she seems to fit right in.
Bluegrass Trio The Slocan Ramblers Breaks New Ground on ‘Up the Hill and Through the Fog’
On Up the Hill and Through the Fog, the Slocan Ramblers make a clean break from their folk-trad past and establishing three distinctive voices to make the group greater than the sum of its parts.
ADVERTISEMENT
Guitarist Scott Metzger’s Solo Debut ‘Too Close to Reason’ Is an Impressive Acoustic Tapestry
Stylistically, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead guitarist Scott Metzger's solo acoustic album, Too Close to Reason, covers a lot of territory in what he calls his “sonic landscapes.”
Joe Robinson Explores New Directions on the Eclectic ‘The Prize’
With his 7th full-length album, The Prize, Joe Robinson is reaching for the biggest prize of all: writing songs that are as good as his guitar playing.
There’s More Light Than Darkness on Mary Gauthier’s ‘Dark Enough to See the Stars’
Dark Enough to See the Stars is what we call a happy album for Mary Gauthier—the happiest album in her career, recorded at the happiest time in her life.
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
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— Mercy puts the spotlight on his singing and acoustic guitar work.
ADVERTISEMENT
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
The album is a collection from a wide spectrum of writers, styles, and eras, beautifully presented in (mostly) acoustic settings.
ADVERTISEMENT
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
The album 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.
ADVERTISEMENT
Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder Salute Two of Their Heroes on ‘Get on Board: The Songs of Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee’
Ry Cooder and Taj Mahal are now revered as legends themselves, and they’ve chosen this moment to time-travel back to honor two of their early heroes, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.