a music blog
In her new memoir Jessi Colter tells the intriguing story of her life, love, family and faith. Of course she writes about her marriage to Waylon Jennings but what is also fascinating about this story is reading about Colter’s development as a songwriter. Continue reading “Jessi Colter: More Than Just An Outlaw’s Lady”
A few years back everything fell apart for The Secret Sisters and they endured a lawsuit and bankruptcy. Such hard luck might have signalled the end of their career but thankfully they took time to regroup and after a successful crowdfunding campaign have now signed a new record deal. You Don’t Own Me Anymore is an album that doesn’t dwell in woe but is instead the sound of a band reinvigorated, having learned life’s lessons the hard way. Continue reading “Album Review: The Secret Sisters – You Don’t Own Me Anymore”
My blog is officially three months old today! I feel I’ve learned so much about what is involved with music blogging and just wanted to share my thoughts on the experience so far. Continue reading “What I’ve Learned From Three Months of Music Blogging”
On Marika Hackman’s new album she reveals herself and her troubled relationship so vividly it’s almost uncomfortable at times. Much has been said of her new ‘musical direction’ but in reality ‘I’m Not Your Man‘ is just the sound of an artist finding new strength and confidence to keep walking her own path. Continue reading “Album Review: Marika Hackman – I’m Not Your Man”
On the front cover of her new album ‘Shame‘ folk singer Rachel Baiman holds a burning violin aloft in a beautiful show of defiance. She’s read the books, she’s heard all the old protest songs and she’s here to sing about religion, love and the state of the world as she sees it. Continue reading “Album Review: Rachel Baiman – Shame”
The longlist for the prestigious Scottish Album of the Year award was announced last week in Glasgow. The last two winners were both female: Kathryn Joseph for her stunning album Bones You Have Thrown Me And Blood I’ve Spilled in 2015 and last year Anna Meredith won for her experimental opus Varmints. This year there is an interesting mix of albums nominated for the award (the full list can be found here) and so I thought I’d share some thoughts on the long listed albums which are by female artists. Continue reading “Thoughts on the Scottish Album of the Year Longlist”
‘It was the 3rd of June, another sleepy, dusty, Delta day,’ sings Bobbie Gentry in the opening of her most famous song Ode to Billie Joe, setting the scene for one of music’s most elusive mysteries. This song and the album of the same name is the topic of a book by Tara Murtha in her contribution to the 33 1/3 series about significant albums, published by Bloomsbury. Murtha explores both the recording and release of this album, alongside the life and eventual disappearance of Bobbie Gentry herself. Continue reading “Bobbie Gentry and the Power of Mystery”
Gentle Giants could not be a more fitting title for this album of sweet country classics made famous by Don Williams. The singers on this record have covered these songs with a simple softness and together this album has enough charm to reach straight up to the heavens. Continue reading “Album Review – Gentle Giants: The Songs of Don Williams”
What can a song do to you? It can change your life, save your life, bring a memory or even a person back to life, even just for a fleeting moment. On their new album, Diversions, Vol 4: The Songs and Poems of Molly Drake, The Unthanks have revived the faded splendour of a women whose music was never heard beyond her own family in her own lifetime. In the process they turn a flickering, forgotten candle into a burning fire that feels both revelatory and relevant. Continue reading “Album Review: The Unthanks – Diversions, Vol 4: The Songs and Poems of Molly Drake”
Highway Queens 