Category: Albums

Album Review: Brennen Leigh – Don’t You Ever Give Up On Love

When the Grammys recently introduced a ‘Traditonal Country Album’ one of the artists who came straight to my mind was Brennen Leigh. She has regularly played at Robert’s Western World in Nashville, has a brilliant trio with Melissa Carper and Kelly Willis called Wonder Women of Country and just seems to perfectly encapsulate the vintage style of country music which gets unfairly overlooked by the mainstream.

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Album Review: Juliana Hatfield – Lighting Might Strike

Juliana Hatfield has been hugely prolific in the period since this blog started in 2017, releasing albums Pussycat, Weird and Blood along with her cover albums of songs by Olivia Newton John, The Police and ELO. It’s been hard to keep up, even for dedicated long time fans like myself. She’s also been writing a brilliant Substack newsletter too. This new album Lightning Might Strike was recorded after she moved to the countryside and went through a difficult period in her life.

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Album Review: Mavis Staples – Sad & Beautiful World

One of the joys of blogging has been the chance to celebrate older artists like Mavis Staples who are still out here, in their 80s, singing and spreading the good word of peace, love and understanding. On her new album ‘Sad & Beautiful World’ she brings together a collection of songs which she says are ‘part of me and what I’ve been singing about my whole life.’

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Album Review: Snocaps – Snocaps 

The recent Rilo Kiley reunion has been a total joy for fans like myself and as they are one of Katie and Allison Crutchfield’s formative influences, it was lovely to read the post about them traveling to see the shows together.

Waxahtachee also supported Rilo on some dates and Katie ended up singing with Jenny too, which was incredibly sweet. 

Rilo’s reunion and listening to this excellent album makes me hope we might even have a noughties indie rock revival on our hands. 

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Album Review: Brandi Carlile – Returning to Myself

Since releasing her ‘Who Believes in Angels?’ collaboration with Elton John earlier this year, Brandi Carlile’s star has never been brighter. Lesser mortals would have some time off after such a publicity blitz (and her UK/EU tour in July) but when has Brandi Carlile ever known how to slow down and smell the roses? ‘Returning to Myself’ is her way of stepping out of the shadows of her famous friends and looking at herself in the mirror. 

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Album Review: Rianne Downey – The Consequence of Love 

Launching her debut album with a sold out in-store performance at Assai Records in Edinburgh last night, Rianne Downey described herself as ‘giddy’ at finally having ‘The Consequence of Love’ released into the world.

The last few years have been a whirlwind for the singer from Bellshill in Scotland, going from busking and sharing her music online to headlining festivals, after being chosen by legendary Paul Heaton to sing in his band.

Now she’s stepping into the spotlight herself with this country inspired collection of beautiful songs about love, loss, home and finding your own way.  

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Album Review: Ashley Monroe – Tennessee Lightning 

Opening her new album with the stark and almost eerie refrain of ‘I’m gonna run’ you might think this is going to be an album of darkness, especially after Ashley Monroe’s recent experience of cancer.

However from that opening song on ‘Tennessee Lighting’ we hear a different story – she’s looking not to share her suffering but to escape from the pain and search for love.

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