Category: Reviews

Album Review: Natalie Bergman – My Home is Not in This World 

After suffering personal tragedies Natalie Bergman recorded her debut gospel album ‘Mercy’, an exploration of how a spiritual awakening helped with her grief. On her impressive second album ‘My Home is Not in This World’, she focuses on another personal journey – this time through turbulent romantic relationships towards her finding love and becoming a mother.

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Album Review: Cash & Skye – Just a Stranger

Recently I stumbled across this album ‘Just a Stranger’ released earlier this year by Henri Cash from Starcrawler and Sophia Skye de Reeder, daughter of Pierre from Rilo Kiley (who also co-produced the record with Henri). The picture on the cover makes them look like the children of Jack White and Jenny Lewis and their sound isn’t far from that ideal mix either. The duo are fresh from supporting Rilo Kiley on some of their comeback shows.

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Album Review: I’m With Her – Wild & Clear & Blue 

Since ‘I’m With Her’ released their last album ‘See You Around’ in 2018 the trend for all-female supergroups has blossomed with others like Our Native Daughters, The Highwomen, Wonder Women of Country and boygenius coming together to great success. More recently Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis & Karine Polwart impressed with their collaborative album ‘Looking for the Thread’.  

The dream for fans is to see these projects become a regular feature in a solo artist’s career (like the Pistol Annies for example). So I was delighted to hear this second album from Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’Donovan and Sara Watkins and am equally thrilled to report that ‘Wild & Clear & Blue’ surpasses their debut, with exquisite harmonies and sensitive songwriting throughout. 

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Album Review: Brandi Carlile & Elton John – Who Believes in Angels?

After bringing Tanya Tucker and Joni Mitchell back from the dead, Brandi Carlile has done it again. This time she has revived Elton John, who after a triumphant Glastonbury had declared himself exhausted and retired (from touring anyway). Here with Brandi’s help, he sings using every ounce of what voice he has left and sounds like a man reborn. 

But this isn’t an Elton John album produced by Brandi Carlile. Elton has done something important for Brandi in return – he has humbly let her take the lead across much of the album, sharing the spotlight and the billing. The results are powerful and moving. 

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Album Review: Japanese Breakfast – For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women)

The word melancholy originated as a way to describe a state of deep sadness and introspection, where despair lives for no particular reason at all – such a place where poets and artists have long enjoyed living. Singer Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast, found the title of her new album ‘For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women) in a short story by John Cheever, and thought the tongue in cheek humour of the idea was appealing. After all most female indie singers and their fans are stereotyped this way, so why not have a little fun with it? 

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Album Review: Caylee Hammack – Bed of Roses

Caylee Hammack first came to my attention when she sang with Miranda Lambert and friends on a fun cover of ‘Fooled Around and Fell in Love’. She then was part of Ashley McBryde’s underrated Lindeville album, bringing a touch of glamour to the songs about small town life. With her red hair and fiery voice Caylee has set herself apart from the other mainstream country music singers and this new album ‘Bed of Roses’ showcases her talents beautifully. 

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