MIDLAKE Slow and steady wins the race for this indie breakout band McKenzie Smith, Eric Pulido, Eric Nichelson, Tim Smith, Paul Alexander After exploring classic-rock influences like Fleetwood Mac and Crosby, Stills & Nash on their breakthrough album, 2006’s The Trials of Van Occupanther, the members of Midlake wanted a new direction. They found it in the folk-based tradition of vintage British acts such as Steeleye Span and Fairport Convention—then... 

Dave Haywood, Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley LADY ANTEBELLUM The hit country trio takes control of its own chemistry “If we could combine all our talent into one person, we’d be one hell of a good songwriter,” jokes Charles Kelley, one-third of the Grammy-nominated country trio Lady Antebellum. Kelley and bandmates Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood are doing just fine as it is. After finding fame with 2007’s platinum-certified... 

Billy Martin, Chris Wood, John Medeski MEDESKI MARTIN & WOOD Improvisation is key—just don’t call ’em a jam band In late 2008, jazz-rock trio Medeski Martin & Wood pondered ways to inspire themselves to write new material. They found that inspiration in the animal kingdom. “There’s a bird, a certain canary, that comes up with a new song every year, which it never repeats in its lifetime,” explains keyboardist John... 

JULIANA HATFIELD Alt-rocker strips down old school—and finds peace Juliana Hatfield’s 2008 album How to Walk Away was a polished effort, recorded in a New York City studio over a long time with a large cast of musicians. For her latest, Peace and Love, she elected to take precisely the opposite tack. “This time I wanted to be alone,” she says. “I wanted to see what would come out of me with no one else involved.” Writing and recording... 

OMARION Think you know this smooth R&B star? Think again Forget what you might have heard about R&B artist Omarion. “I think people misconstrue who I am a lot of the time,” he says. “I blame it on the illusion of the game. You might think Omarion is going out to the club, partying and having an orgy with 10 women. If a rumor came out like that, people might believe it. I felt like I really wanted to share more of who I am through my... 

WHO’S NEXT: CHRISTINA PERRI HOMETOWN: Philadelphia INFLUENCES: The Beatles, Beth Hart, Jason Mraz ALBUM: As yet untitled EP, due out soon WEBSITE: christinaperri.com Christina Perri began singing at a very early age, both in her school choir and for customers in her parents’ barber shop. By 15 she was so devoted to the music of the Beatles that she had the members’ names tattooed permanently on her wrist. Her older brother Nick Perri made... 

WHO’S NEXT: CHIEF HOMETOWN: Los Angeles MEMBERS: Evan Koga  (vocals, guitar) Danny Fujikawa (guitar) Mike Moonves (bass) Michael Fujikawa  (drums) ALBUM: Modern Rituals, due out Aug. 17 WEBSITE: chieftheband.com Frontman Evan Koga and his fellow L.A.-born members of Chief formed the band as students at New York University. They made the move back to California last year, guitarist Danny Fujikawa leaving school to do so. “I had faith in... 

WHO’S NEXT: RYAN STAR HOMETOWN: Dix Hills, N.Y. INFLUENCES: Leonard Cohen, Nine Inch Nails, Pearl Jam ALBUM: 11:59, out now WEBSITE: rstar.net Ryan Star inherited his big brother’s barely played guitar as a teenager, and was soon writing songs and making demos on a four-track recorder. By 14 he was selling recordings to classmates, and by his late teens he and some friends had formed a band called Stage. The group played local New York City... 

Getting the right mix involves technology, practice and careful listening Everything’s in place—the songs have been written, the studio has been booked, the musicians are playing perfectly. You’re well on your way to making a masterpiece. But even if you lay down the greatest tracks ever recorded, it’s entirely possible to screw it up at the last minute. The right mix can make or break even the most brilliantly recorded projects. Many... 

Inside one of the most crucial and mysterious steps of the recording process MASTERING ENGINEERS HAVE ONE  of the most specialized and hard-to-define roles in the music business. They sit in finely tuned rooms surrounded by boutique and vintage equipment, often finishing a record a day. But what does it mean to master a completed mix? Especially in this age of affordable digital home recording, asking five experts might elicit five different... 

Getting a great vocal take involves both technical and personal skills “THAT’S A LITTLE OFF-PITCH.” “STAND up straight.” “Don’t cut the phrase here, try it there.” “Remember to breathe!” It actually takes a lot of coaching, encouragement and collaboration to make the most of one’s “natural” instrument. To better understand working with singers in the studio, we consulted Raz Kennedy, who has recorded backing vocals for... 

M Music & Musicians is a celebration of music and the people who make it, from instrumentalists and vocalists to producers and other technical wizards who make our favorite sounds a reality. M aims to entertain and enlighten professional musicians onstage and in the studio, amateur musicians playing for the joy of it and passionate fans eager to learn how their favorite music is made. Subscribe today for $12 a Year >> M Music & Musicians... 

Martin’s new Performing Artist Series guitar has all the accessibility of an acoustic/electric. FOR: Acoustic performers. The GPCPA1 is made from woods selected for tone, beauty and reliability. Sitka spruce top and East Indian rosewood sides and back make for a sweet and sturdy sound that lives up to the Martin name whether plugged in or not. The Fishman F1 Aura electronics system onboard translates this rich acoustic sound for an amp or PA in... 

Applied Research and Technology M-Four offers a multi-purpose, multi-pattern mic with a twist of versatility. FOR: Recording instrumentalists and singers. The M-Four has all the presence and character expected in a tube mic, but its biggest draw is its ability to customize the perfect response pattern for whatever is being recorded. On top of the usual cardioid, omni- and bidirectional patterns, there are also six additional subtle stages between.... 

An innovative instrument that can record, playback and interface with a computer. FOR: Guitar players, students and songwriters. The iDea OPI-1 preamp can record around 100 minutes of MP3 files from a combination of saddle pickup and an onboard mic. It can also export song ideas or import other material via USB. Use playback to learn tunes, and even change the tempo without changing pitch to work up to speed on new material. Creatively speaking, it’s... 

The Dean Markley UltraSound CD60 reissue is a dual-channel combo guitar amp with headroom to spare. FOR: Guitarists playing everything from rhythm guitar in a blues band to Queen covers with treble-heavy distorted leads. This is an all-tube tone machine. After years of turning knobs and hearing a broad shelving of low, middle or high frequencies, the CD60’s EQ—tuned to a guitar’s tonal sweet spots—turns on a dime. Bright and Mid-Boost switches... 

New for the iPhone: high-quality guitar recording! AmpKit is a virtual amp, effects board and recorder, and AmpKit LiNK interface plugs you in. FOR: Recording on the go. The LiNK is smaller than the iPhone, so taking it to practice or on the road is a snap. It even eliminates crosstalk, so it can be used as a very low latency preamp and sent out to speakers. AmpKit is a free app, although it is equipped with a built-in gear store for racking up more... 

Issue 05 Cover Story: Sheryl Crow Features: Albums From Hell, Digital Dilemmas Gear Feature: Aces of Bass Musician Feature: The Black Crowes, Jimmie Vaughan Producer Feature: Bryan-Michael Cox Q&A’s: Tom Jones, Indigo Girls, Alejandro Escovedo, Crowded House, Aerosmith’s Joey Kramer, Belinda Carlisle Spotlight: Michael Franti, Squeeze, Nikki & Rich, Fefe Dobson, Goo Goo Dolls, Tegan and Sara, Tim O’Brien Who’s Next: Ryan Star,... 

STONE RIVER BOYS Love on the Dial stoneriverboys.com QUICK TAKE + While they come across as a down-home country combo, replete with smooth harmonies and steel guitars, Stone River Boys are remarkably versatile—as evidenced by a heartfelt take on the R&B standard “Can I Change My Mind.” But even their soulful, deep-throated originals sound like instant classics.  Read More →

DAN NAVARRO WITH STONEHONEY Live at McCabe’s dannavarro.com QUICK TAKE + The pairing of Dan Navarro with rookie country-rock combo Stonehoney reaps dividends for both parties. Navarro’s breezy style adds a distinctive lead voice that supports Stonehoney’s early-’70s sensibilities, while the group muscles up Navarro’s more easygoing inclinations.  Read More →

MARK EVANS Rain on the Roses markevansmusic.com QUICK TAKE + New York City-based Mark Evans has composed for film, radio and television. His musical skill, as well as his obvious affinity for catchy country, are just as evident here. Given its instantly appealing melodies, this impressive debut should help him find his own place in the spotlight.  Read More →

ELLERY This Isn’t Over Yet ellerymusic.com QUICK TAKE + The sophomore effort by husband-and-wife duo Tasha and Justin Golden ups the ante over their highly praised debut. Enlisting the services of famed producer Malcolm Burn, Ellery further affirms its penchant for shimmering melodies, rich textures and emotional clarity.  Read More →

GEOFFREY GURRUMUL YUNUPINGU Gurrumul www.gurrumul.com QUICK TAKE + A native of the northern territories of Australia and blind since birth, singer and guitarist Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu creates a soothing, hypnotic sound from little more than acoustic guitar and lush harmonies. Singing in the native tongue of the indigenous people, he creates lullabies that transcend language or locale.  Read More →

KEVIN WELCH A Patch of Blue Sky kevinwelch.com Ending an eight-year absence, Kevin Welch’s new album shows us all over again why he’s regarded as an Americana icon. Accompanied by an ace band that includes son Dustin on banjo and guitar, and frequent collaborator and fellow Dead Reckoner Fats Kaplin on pedal steel, he delivers touching songs of remorse and redemption with stoic conviction and indomitable resolve. “The Great Emancipation,”... 

SAHARA SMITH Myth of the Heart myspace.com/saharasmithmusic All of 21, Sahara Smith soars with the conviction and authority of someone several times her age. The Austin resident garnered honors at a songwriting contest sponsored by A Prairie Home Companion and eventually gained the attention of impresario T Bone Burnett. He oversaw the recording of this debut album, although Emile Kelman handled the production duties. Smith’s vocals soar to her... 

MATTHEW RYAN Dear Lover (The Acoustic Version) matthewryanonline.com Over the course of a dozen albums, Matthew Ryan has created a singular sound that combines low-lit arrangements with a pensive perspective. The haunting music is so consistently somber it often makes Leonard Cohen seem giddy by comparison. Regardless, Ryan’s opted to strip the sound down even more by reimagining his last album with the barest of instrumentation—acoustic guitar... 

DAVID RHODES Bittersweet davidrhodes.org David Rhodes’ lengthy résumé as a guitarist and composer includes work with Paul McCartney, Roy Orbison and Robert Plant, but he is perhaps best known for his 25-year collaborative partnership with Peter Gabriel. Bittersweet is the first solo album of his prodigious career, and his most concerted effort since his work with the band Random Hold in the late ’70s. Not surprisingly, songs like “Bittersweet,”... 

JODY PORTER Close to the Sun jodyporter.com Taking temporary leave of his day job with Fountains of Wayne, guitarist Jody Porter hews to his edgier inclinations. With only a couple of exceptions—“Aurora” and “In Between Time”—there’s little here that resembles the playful pop his usual band is best known for. Close to the Sun is more in line with Belltower, the artsy British band Porter played with early in his career. Then as now, Porter... 

GREAT BIG SEA Safe Upon the Shore greatbigsea.com After 18 years and 10 albums, Newfoundland’s leading musical proponents are newly independent and pared down to a core trio. The newfound flexibility becomes a launching point for Great Big Sea to veer from their usual overarching anthems. Recording in far-flung locales—studios, buses and basements—they welcome special guests, including producer Steve Berlin of Los Lobos. Following last year’s... 

ALBERT CASTIGLIA Keepin’ On albertcastiglia.com On his aptly titled fourth album, Castiglia, a Cuban-American guitar slinger, walks the line between traditional treatments and contemporary reinvention. His back-to-basics approach follows in the footsteps of those who fostered the blues in the Mississippi Delta and the smoky late-night haunts of Chicago. Castiglia’s muscular style is reflected in the fluid fretwork of “Cadillac Assembly Line,”... 

CINDY BULLENS Howling Trains and Barking Dogs cindybullens.com It’s fitting that 30 years after her solo bow with “Survivor,” Cindy Bullens remains as spirited as ever. It hasn’t been easy; after contributing to the Grease soundtrack and singing with Elton John, family obligations curtailed a promising career. A move to Nashville in 1990 boosted her fortunes, offering opportunities to write with noted vets Radney Foster, Bill Lloyd, Matraca... 

WILLIAM BRITTELLE Television Landscape myspace.com/williambrittelle William Brittelle demonstrates the distinction between a traditional songwriter and a sophisticated composer through a series of symphonic soundscapes bearing an expansive and thematic feel. Synths, strings, supple acoustic guitars and flailing metallic riffing provide a shifting setting, as Brittelle braces the arrangements with rich, vibrant textures and continual kinetic fluidity.... 

THE BRITANNICAS The Britannicas myspace.com/thebritannicas Chicago’s Herb Eimerman, a member of America’s power-pop elite, goes international with the Britannicas—literally and figuratively. Featuring Eimerman on bass, joined by Swedish guitarist Magnus Karlsson and Aussie drummer Joe Algeri, the Britannicas’ self-titled debut overflows with ear candy and retro touches. The soaring harmonies that grace “Those Good Vibrations” suggest the... 

THE JASON ADAMO BAND Transistor jasonadamomusic.com The Jason Adamo Band’s latest album bulges with emotive anthems, surging melodies, towering refrains and passionate performances. This is music that would sound just fine on rock radio playlists between mainstays U2, Coldplay and Bruce Springsteen. Transistor bodes well for that possibility, with songs like “Los Angeles,” “Guilty Bystander” and “Far Away From Here” conveying the angst... 

EDWARD ROGERS Sparkle Lane edwardrogersmusic.com Edward Rogers finds inspiration in the quaint melodies and elaborate arrangements first conjured up by acts like the Kinks, the Hollies and the Zombies as they were crafting their seminal ’60s sounds. As an English expatriate, Edwards comes by that heritage naturally. His earlier work with the folk-rock quartet Green Rooftops and his chamber pop duo, Bedsit Poets, offered the initial evidence, and... 

BOX SET REVIEW DELANEY & BONNIE & FRIENDS On Tour With Eric Clapton (Deluxe Edition) [Rhino Handmade] When the American rock and R&B outfit led by husband-and-wife team Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett snagged a slot as opening act on supergroup Blind Faith’s 1969 tour, little did they know they’d also be luring away the headliner’s guitarist. Eric Clapton was so taken with the fun of Delaney & Bonnie’s shows that he tagged along... 

REISSUE REVIEW STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN AND DOUBLE TROUBLE Couldn’t Stand the Weather (Legacy Edition) [Sony Legacy] The first album by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, 1983’s Texas Flood, was recorded on the fly using borrowed studio time. The follow-up was a very different story—the group headed for New York City to record for six weeks at the Power Station, where Vaughan had laid down his stinging guitar solos on David Bowie’s Let’s... 

BOOK REVIEW ROSANNE CASH Composed: A Memoir [Viking Press] First and foremost, Rosanne Cash wanted to write. It wasn’t a call to the stage that inspired the eldest daughter of Johnny Cash to make her first record in the late 1970s at age 23. Performing was simply a medium for songwriting, a craft that fascinated Cash and that she pursued with a fierce intellectualism. Her third book and first memoir, Composed is long on such procedural details about... 

DEAD CONFEDERATE Sugar [Tao Recordings/Old Flame] All the unflattering Nirvana-meets-My Morning Jacket comparisons heaped upon its 2008 debut didn’t do Dead Confederate any favors. Fortunately, the Athens, Ga., quintet doesn’t sound much like either band on its sophomore album, Sugar. Recorded in New Jersey with producer John Agnello, the record has a tough sound built around muscular guitarscapes and terse, stripped-down songs. On “Run From... 

MICKI FREE American Horse [Native Music Rocks/Mighty Loud] Past stints have found guitarist Micki Free tearing it up with such diverse entities as ZZ Top, Shalamar, Janet Jackson and punk icon Wendy O. Williams. Nevertheless, Free’s own efforts leave no doubt as to his direction. He carries the frenzied, heavy-handed blues that initially inspired him into hard rock realms previously trod by Jimi Hendrix, Cream and Robin Trower. His visceral take... 

ORGONE Cali Fever [Ubiquity] Guitars blasting and horns punctuating, West Coast funk and soul outfit Orgone roars out of the gate on its latest release with “The Last Fool,” a shuffling, syncopated piece. Cali Fever never lets up, trading off a succession of ferocious instrumental jams with vocal numbers that showcase the raw, piercing power of singer Fanny Franklin. Orgone’s building block is a species of hard-nosed funk, but the band mixes... 

VARIOUS ARTISTS Sweet Home Alabama: The Country Music Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd [Hip-O Records/UMe] Lynyrd Skynyrd’s iconic Southern rock songs fall victim to haphazard production and self-indulgent performances on this eight-song tribute disc released exclusively through Walmart. Produced by Jay Joyce, the album features Universal Music Group’s roster of country young guns (along with Uncle Kracker) on a series of aesthetically unconnected recordings.... 

ANDY BELL Non-Stop [Mute] After 25 years as half of the English synth-pop duo Erasure, it’s hard to imagine where singer Andy Bell finds the time for outside projects. And yet here he is with his second solo album, a three-suite affair aimed more at dance clubs than the airwaves. Working with Belgian producer Pascal Gabriel, Bell delivers 10 songs packed with relentless beats and dizzying electronic accompaniment. Deep, pulsing bass twists through... 

THE READY SET I’m Alive, I’m Dreaming [Sire/Decaydance] One-man band albums have been around forever, with folks like Paul McCartney, Dave Edmunds, John Fogerty, Emitt Rhodes and many others concocting some pretty great stuff while holed up alone in the studio. The latest addition to the club is Fort Wayne’s Jordan Witzigreuter. His debut as The Ready Set is an often infectious pop collection that, even though it clocks in at only 26 minutes,... 

MAPS & ATLASES Perch Patchwork [Barsuk] Their band’s name to the contrary, the members of Maps & Atlases don’t always indicate in which direction they’re headed. As the follow-up to their 2006 EP Tree, Swallows, Houses and last year’s You & Me & the Mountain, Perch Patchwork finds this unusual quartet dabbling in eclectic styles. In doing so, they clutter their arrangements with odd effects and skittish tempos, making it clear... 

MYSTERY JETS Serotonin [Rough Trade] Mystery Jets singer Blaine Harrison learned about music through his father, Henry, who founded the group, spent years as a touring member and still helps the English quintet with songwriting. The elder Harrison is responsible for—or perhaps to blame for—his son’s love of freaky, frilly progressive rock, an influence the Jets mostly avoid on their third album. On highlights “Too Late to Talk” and “Flash... 

LEE RITENOUR 6 String Theory [Concord] The album is credited to Lee Ritenour, but the real star of 6 String Theory is the guitar itself. To celebrate his 50th anniversary as a picker, Ritenour invited a true who’s who of axemen to jam. The list includes fellow jazzers, of course—John Scofield burns on “Lay it Down,” Pat Martino shares a virtuosic tribute to a fallen legend in “L.P. (For Les Paul)” and Mike Stern kills on the Jeff Beck-associated... 

BLUE GIANT Blue Giant [Vanguard] In their day job as the indie duo Viva Voce, Kevin and Anita Robinson make dreamy records that let Anita handle the greater portion of the singing chores. Blue Giant moves the spotlight toward Kevin, and turns the husband-and-wife team into something resembling alt-country’s answer to the White Stripes. Anita’s “Lonely Girl” brings to mind a shyer Neko Case, and the love-on-a-tightrope “Gone for Good” could’ve... 

TRACY BONHAM Masts of Manhatta [Engine Room Recordings] Tracy Bonham’s brand of alternative pop-rock has often been compared to Liz Phair and PJ Harvey, but on Masts of Manhatta she edges closer to the sophisticated pop of Sam Phillips and Patty Larkin. Bonham gives her new songs a solid melodic foundation and applies adventurous arrangements to bring those tunes color and life. High points include “Josephine,” a cabaret song fitted with sputtering... 

PETER CASE Wig! [Yep Roc] To paraphrase 19th-century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, Peter Case has learned that what doesn’t kill you makes you rock harder. The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter survived a near-fatal heart attack last year to create his liveliest album in years. “Banks of the River” kicks with a jolt of bluesy rock ‘n’ roll, and the roadhouse ride continues from there. Teaming up with longtime X drummer DJ Bonebrake...