2015
Lee Ann Womack, ‘The Way I’m Livin’’
This lovely country album—recorded almost three years ago with producer Frank Liddell (Womack’s husband), producer/musician Glenn Worf and producer/engineer Chuck Ainlay—finally found a label...
2014
Mix Regional New York City: Matty Amendola Rebuilds 825 Records Studio
Musician, producer and label owner Matty Amendola has built his own career and his company, 825 Records, on a foundation of hands-on production and...
2014
Irvin Mayfield’s ‘New Orleans Creole Christmas’
This jazz holiday album is a spinoff of “The Love Sessions,” a week of concerts put on annually by New Orleans trumpeter/nightclub owner Irvin...
2014
Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics
Um, isn’t every song Aretha Franklin sings a “Diva Classic”? On her latest album, the Queen of Soul covers hits from other great female...
2014
Elliott Brood, ‘Work and Love’
To be clear: The roots-rock band Elliott Brood is actually a duo, neither of whom is called Elliott. Juno-winners Casey Laforet and Mark Sasso...
2014
Jukebox the Ghost in the Orphanage
Producer/engineer Dan Romer hosted pop band Jukebox the Ghost in his studio, The Orphanage (L.A.), to make their self-titled fourth album, out now on...
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Cool Spin: Sinead O’Connor, ‘I’m Not Bossy, I’m the Boss’ (Nettwerk)
Hardly anyone writes about Sinead O’Connor and doesn’t mention some personal or political controversy, but her music is so worthy of unqualified praise. The...
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Cool Spin: MacManus Brothers, ‘Elephant in the Room’
As I write this, the MacManus Brothers are playing onstage at Kew Gardens, London, opening for their brother, Elvis Costello, and fans who scored...
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Cool Spin: The Black Keys, ‘Turn Blue’ (Nonesuch)
From the first gentle, languid guitar strums and shadowy keys, the new Black Keys album evokes the reaction: “Wow—very Pink Floyd.” And that feeling...
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Cool Spin: Lake Street Dive, ‘Bad Self Portraits’ (Signature Sounds)
East Coast quartet Lake Street Dive blends elements of jazz, soul and Americana to create an eclectic pop that’s hook-y yet deep. There are...
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Cool Spin – CBGB: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Omnivore Recordings)
This is one of those reviews that could just be a track list. There are so many fantastic songs on the soundtrack to CBGB,...
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Brian Tarquin’s Jungle Room
Techno: It’s not just for clubs anymore. Composer/guitarist Brian Tarquin writes the high-test electronica that helps drive a wide variety of TV shows, including...
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ALAN LOMAX, 1915-2002
Renowned field recordist/musicologist Alan Lomax passed away in July at the age of 87. Lomax enjoyed a 60-year career documenting the folk music of...
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WAYLON JENNINGS, 1937-2002
Country music lost a pioneer and an outlaw on February 13, 2002, when Waylon Jennings died of complications from diabetes. Jennings' career began in...
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AMERICAN MILESTONES
NEW VERSIONS OF COUNTRY CLASSICS When Bob Irwin started dividing his time between his Sundazed label and Sony/Legacy, he not only brought his own...
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An Interview with Sam Phillips
THE BIRTH OF ROCK 'N' ROLL When a baby is born, everything kick-starts in that first breath: heart thumping, lungs pumping, feet kicking, voice...
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Buddy Miller
Homemade Buddy Miller's music has strong roots, in more ways than one. He has made three solo albums for the oakland, Calif.-based HighTone Records...
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“IRVING BERLIN IN HOLLYWOOD”: REVISITING THE COMPOSER’S MOVIE CLASSICS
Among the most inspired and significant bodies of work that the reissue geniuses at Rhino Records have undertaken is the Rhino Movie Music/Turner Classic
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Rockfield Studios: More Than History
To call Rockfield Studios (Monmouth, Gwent, Wales) historic might be accurate, but it doesn't tell the whole story. This legendary facility is said to
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Facility Spotlight: Lacquer Channel Mastering
Toronto's Lacquer Channel Mastering is among the longest-standing mastering studios in Canada. And over its 22-year history, there has been one real constant
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Davy Spillane: HIGH ABOVE THE “SEA OF DREAMS”
The west coast of Ireland: It's the stuff of poetry. Many people would trade most of what they have to live out there on...
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