Jim Moray (A Beginner’s Guide) jimmoray.co.uk With material drawn from his three English-only releases, (A Beginner’s Guide) allows American critics to finally ponder the question that’s confounded their overseas counterparts: Is Moray folk, fusion or a fresh amalgam? Based on the evidence here, the answer leans towards the third option. Although his songs originate from traditional sources, the undercurrent of digital beats and electronica... 

Shannon McNally and Hot Sauce Coldwater shannonmcnally.com Americana by definition, but possessing the soul, skill and savvy to blur boundaries, Shannon McNally hasn’t missed a beat since parting ways with major label Capitol Records and striking out on her own. Coldwater contains a mere eight tracks, but within those limited confines she covers ample ground. Southern soul (“Lovely” “Bolder Than Paradise”) and a dusty road song (Steve Young’s... 

Anne McCue Broken Promise Land annemccue.com With her latest album, this versatile Australian-born guitar slinger redefines herself as one hard-rocking mama. Sassy and suggestive, McCue amps up the attitude and borrows liberally from both Melissa Etheridge and the early blues-based version of Fleetwood Mac. “Rock ’n’ Roll Outlaw,” “Broken Promise Land” and “Lonesome Child” show her partiality to blues and boogie, but it’s the seductive... 

Jason & the Scorchers Halcyon Times jasonandthescorchers.com Attitude is everything, and on this riveting new album—their first in a decade—reconstituted Nashville rock band Jason & the Scorchers demonstrates it still has plenty to spare. Singer Jason Ringenberg and guitar foil Warren E. Hodges are in full roar, aided by a new rhythm section and ace collaborators like Dan Baird, Tommy Womack and producer Brad Jones. They raise a ruckus... 

Adam Falcon Bohemian 959 adamfalcon.com The sheer love of music exhibited by the beaming kid holding the toy guitar on the cover and the man leaping enthusiastically on the inside sleeve continues well into the grooves of Adam Falcon’s Bohemian 959. Smooth melodies frame the voice of a classic crooner with influences from Seal to Smokey Robinson, but when he gets his groove on more aggressively with “Soul Satisfied” and “Like a Soldier,”... 

Paul Curreri California paulcurreri.com Paul Curreri’s music inhabits hazy realms where elements of blues, folk and rock swirl into an amorphous brew. Curreri has never fit neatly into any one niche, and his sprawling California places the emphasis on mood as much as melody. Songs such as “Now I Can Go On,” “Stephen Crane” and “Wildegeeses” amble along loosely as Curreri single-handedly multitasks on guitar, piano and literally every... 

Susan Cowsill Lighthouse threadheadrecords.org Anyone who thought Susan Cowsill vanished along with family band the Cowsills may be surprised to learn that the family’s youngest sibling continues making music, both on her own and as a member of another communal combo, the Creekdippers. But the real surprise is that after the tragic deaths of her brothers Barry and Billy and the toll Hurricane Katrina took on her native New Orleans, her superb second... 

Kasey Anderson Nowhere Nights kaseyanderson.com With his fourth album, Anderson firmly entrenches himself in the tradition of Steve Earle, Graham Parker, Townes Van Zandt and other insurgents whose cynical perspective found them swimming against the tide. Alternately rowdy and remorseful, he stirs up a cantankerous brew, his smoky vocals perched atop ragtag arrangements and defiant posturing. A brace of raucous anthems (“All Lit Up,” “Sooner/Later,”... 

MICHAEL MAZZARELLA SODA POP GRAMOPHONE myspace.com/michaelmazzarella After establishing himself both with rock band the Rooks and as a solo act, Michael Mazzarella continues to fly below the mainstream’s radar. Happily, Soda Pop Gramophone may improve his chances of reaching a wider audience—specifically, anyone with a hankering for cheery Beatlesque pop, heavenly harmonies and a semi-psychedelic perspective. The package includes a book illustrated... 

TOL-PUDDLE MARTYRS A Celebrated Man myspace.com/tolpuddlemartyrs QUICK TAKE + The Tol-Puddle Martyrs once had potential to be prime Aussie imports—and this revitalized edition of the band’s psychedelic instincts remain intact. The band’s driving delivery is still pop-perfect four decades on.  Read More →

HARLEM PARLOUR MUSIC CLUB Salt of the Earth harlemparlourmusicclub.com QUICK TAKE + A loose co-op including Darden Smith and Mary Lee Kortes, HPMC carries a distinctive back-porch sensibility. The banjo-plucking cover of Sly Stone’s “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” is an endearingly quirky touch.  Read More →

HAFDIS HULD Synchronised Swimmers hafdishuld.com QUICK TAKE + Huld sings shimmering (if sometimes sleepy) ballads with fragility and finesse, overseen by producer Calum MacColl, son of folk forebear Ewan MacColl. A cameo by singer-songwriter Boo Hewerdine on their co-composition “Vampires” adds flavor.  Read More →

PATRICK BLOOM Ghosts of Radio patrickbloom.com QUICK TAKE + With due respect, Iowa has never been known as a hotbed of original music—but the charming pop sounds spun by Patrick Bloom and his band the Mayflies could put his home state on the musical map.  Read More →

BIRDSONG AT MORNING Vigil birdsongatmorning.com QUICK TAKE + Birdsong At Morning’s penchant for hushed and sensitive chamber folk continues on Vigil, the third installment in a trilogy of albums. All six songs here maintain an elegiac atmosphere of repose and solitude.  Read More →

THE ORANGE PEELS 2020 theorangepeels.com One would expect a band dubbed the Orange Peels to sound sweetly effervescent, and this West Coast quintet doesn’t disappoint. Led by the engaging Allen Clapp, the Peels arrive at their fourth album fully reinvigorated after a brief Clapp solo stint. They sound as giddy as ever, with “We’re Gonna Make It,” “Shining Like Stars” and “Charmed Life” exuding the irrepressible enthusiasm their song... 

GREG TROOPER The Williamsburg Affair gregtrooper.com Greg Trooper has proven on album after album that he can craft material that sounds surprisingly familiar after a single listen. That’s the case here as well, with fully half of The Williamsburg Affair immediately offering up hooks that are the stuff standards are made from. Trooper mines an Americana vein here, but like fellow practitioners Steve Earle and Robert Earl Keen he’s willing and... 

SETH GLIER The Trouble With People sethglier.com The 20-year-old Seth Glier has already earned a respectable reputation in the expansive Northeast music scene, having shared stages with the likes of John Mayer, Martin Sexton, Erin McKeown and Cheryl Wheeler. It’s small wonder, seeing as his earnest style brings to mind such warmly familiar singer-songwriters as James Taylor, Elton John and Cat Stevens—and is abetted by a voice that soars several... 

HOT DAY AT THE ZOO Zoograss hotdayatthezoo.com Hot Day at the Zoo’s live Zoograss benefits as much from the audience’s audible enthusiasm and encouragement as it does from the group’s own prowess. This is a bluegrass band best witnessed in concert—appreciation for its rowdy, ramshackle sound is boosted considerably by a few beers and a dance floor. Even when the band dallies in heartfelt sentiment, as on “Back This Way,” there’s more... 

FYFE DANGERFIELD Fly Yellow Moon fyfedangerfield.com After a successful tenure with Britain’s eclectic Guillemots, singer Fyfe Dangerfield ventures out on his own with a consistently impressive debut that affirms his lofty ambitions. Opening track “When You Walk in the Room” initially takes a techno turn before quickly giving way to a sturdy rhythm. Likewise, the driving “Faster Than the Setting Sun” and the riveting “She Needs Me” further... 

SETH AUGUSTUS To the Pouring Rain sethaugustus.com A veritable one-man band, Seth Augustus first immersed himself in Boston’s experimental music scene in the ’80s before moving to San Francisco. The apprentice of bluesman Paul Pena has concocted an unusual musical mix influenced by both tradition and experimentation. It follows, then, that with this debut, Augustus sports a ragtag delivery that owes as much to Captain Beefheart and Robyn Hitchcock... 

THE JULIEN KASPER BAND Trance Groove julienkasper.com A graduate of the University of Miami jazz program, spawning such notable players as Pat Metheny and Bruce Hornsby, Julien Kasper is a guitar virtuoso whose instrumental excursions find equal footing in both jazz and blues without being bound to either. Kasper’s sound is a searing blend of Metheny and Steve Morse, although on tracks like “Trash Day” a hint of Jimi Hendrix enters the mix as... 

KENNY EDWARDS Resurrection Road kennyedwards.com Given his rich résumé of support stints with the cream of Southern California’s singer-songwriter brigade (including Linda Ronstadt, Andrew Gold, Karla Bonoff and Wendy Waldman), it’s a little surprising that Kenny Edwards has been content to reside in the shadows until now. It took nearly 40 years for him to record his first solo album, and another seven for this wonderful follow-up. Resurrection... 

THE NADAS Almanac thenadas.com The Nadas have logged a lot of time in near-obscurity, with a résumé that spans 15 years, eight albums and even a tribute disc from fellow indie artists. Their latest effort, released on their own Authentic Records label, ostensibly includes songs written for each month of the past year. Truth be told, there’s no clear reference to the calendar in these individual entries aside from “New Year’s Eve,” which... 

CHRISTINE OHLMAN & REBEL MONTEZ The Deep End christineohlman.net Long a fixture on the New York music scene—she sang in an early incarnation of Saturday Night Live’s house band—Christine Ohlman exudes blustery rock and soul authenticity from her wailing vocals to her beehive hairdo. The Deep End features guest spots from an all-star list of Ohlman friends that includes Charlie Musselwhite, Al Anderson, Ian Hunter, Dion DiMucci and Marshall... 

REAGAN BROWNE DAYDREAMS IN STEREO reaganbrowne.com The piercing wail and assertive riffs on the trio of opening tracks from Reagan Browne’s sophomore album make for a one-two-three punch that owes a heavy debt to the Scorpions, Whitesnake and Van Halen. Anyone inclined toward tamer fare might find the material startlingly direct, especially given the sexual innuendo of “Watch My World Explode” or the attitude of “It’s All Because of U”... 

THE VOYCES Let Me Die in Southern California thevoyces.net The psychedelic spelling doesn’t detract from the meaning behind the band’s moniker, specifically the gentle cooing harmonies that grace these evocative offerings. Aptly, Let Me Die in Southern California finds the Voyces parceling out breezy soft rock and a quiet contemplation ideally suited to Pacific coast environs. Bucolic sentiments, graceful melodies and a gentle lilt prevail throughout.  Read More →

VARIOUS ARTISTS Celebrating the Music of Lowen & Navarro: Keep the Light Alive aixrecords.com Lowen & Navarro might have been heir apparent to Simon & Garfunkel, Loggins & Messina or The Everly Brothers had the duo ever found its way to the music industry mainstream. Sadly, it took Eric Lowen’s battle with ALS to earn this well-deserved tribute, featuring big-name acts like Jackson Browne, the Bangles and Keb’ Mo’ among others.... 

STONEHONEY Songs From a Hillside Living Room stonehoney.com Stonehoney draws from country-rock influences like Poco, The Flying Burrito Brothers and the Eagles. Armed with blazing guitars, an appropriate dapple of pedal steel and sweeping harmonies, the group turns such songs as “Two Years Down,” “Cry Baby Cry” and “Melinda” into jubilant anthems that grab notice on first encounter. With each member of the quintet contributing to the... 

ROBERT POLLARD We All Got Out of the Army robertpollard.net For his latest, former Guided By Voices leader Robert Pollard sets aside aliases such as Circus Devils, Airport 5 and Go Back Snowball to operate under his own moniker. That said, the man’s so prolific that the multiple monikers are a necessity if anyone wants to keep some sort of order. The Ohio native’s latest finds him busy as ever, cranking out 17 tracks of angular, edgy pop whose... 

ELLIS PAUL The Day After Everything Changed ellispaul.com After spending the majority of his recording career on Rounder Records, Ellis Paul turned to fans for the financing of his latest project—and he has rewarded their investment with his most accomplished album yet. Assisted by an adept backing band, he shifts effortlessly from breathless ballads (“Once Upon a Summertime,” “Dragonfly”) to steadfast rockers (“Walking After Midnight”)... 

PETER LACEY Behind the Scenes pinkhedgehog.com British journeyman and veritable one-man symphony Peter Lacey made his mark with immaculate chamber pop, but he’s lately expanded his parameters with two new albums. South Downs Way, a collaboration with Stephen J. Kalinich, found him exploring pastoral reflection and rugged folk narratives. Now Behind the Scenes spotlights charmingly whimsical designs in ways regal and retro, using elaborate orchestral... 

THE KAISER CARTEL Rock Island myspace.com/kaisercartel With Courtney Kaiser the prominent voice and partner Benjamin Cartel supplying graceful accompaniment and hushed harmonies, duo The Kaiser Cartel creates an ethereal glow that’s all bittersweet sentiment and emo expression. This new five-song EP’s opening track, “Carroll Street Station,” makes for a grabby intro, but otherwise the instrumentation is kept rather sparse—a tumble of acoustic... 

JAMIE & STEVE English Afterthought myspace.com/spongetones For over 30 years, the Spongetones have been among indie rock’s best-kept secrets. The North Carolina combo has labored relentlessly, turning out Anglo-infused power pop and retro rock brimming with shimmering hooks, radiant harmonies and irresistible melodies. Though stripped down to its pair of principals, Jamie Hoover and Steve Stoeckel (with other Spongetones lending support), English... 

THE FIRE MARSHALS OF BETHLEHEM The World From the Back Seat thefmob.com Their handle aside, the Fire Marshals of Bethlehem are neither incendiary nor biblical, instead aiming for a communal sound that rings with the flawless congeniality of the Cowsills or ’70s-prime Fleetwood Mac. That blend of sweet sentiments, driven by Julie Lowery’s cheery, chirpy vocals, Jenny Smith’s violin and the group’s uniformity of purpose, helps to drive a series... 

THE DOUGHBOYS Act Your Rage thedoughboysnj.com Who said there’s no going home again? Certainly not The Doughboys, who reconvened in 2007 to make their debut album 32 years after their initial schoolboy incarnation. Unsurprisingly, the band treads the same ’60s blues-rock terrain first explored by the Rolling Stones, the Yardbirds, Them and others. Singer Myke Scavone provides a credible Jagger-esque swagger, though he shares the spotlight with... 

JASON CRIGLER The Music of Jason Crigler jasoncriglermusic.com On Aug. 4, 2004, guitarist Jason Crigler suffered a brain hemorrhage onstage. Miraculously, he not only recovered but went on to complete his masterpiece, assisted by friends including Marshall Crenshaw, Teddy Thompson and Erin McKeown. The buoyantly infectious vibe of The Music of Jason Crigler belies any adversity. The radiant “See the Sun” and the seductive “When the Morning Comes”... 

CARY COOPER Dirty Little Secret carycooper.com With her muted delivery and acoustic accompaniment, Cary Cooper projects the fragile, self-effacing image of a forlorn folkie dwelling among dark shadows. But there’s a ruminative beauty that radiates through Dirty Little Secret songs like “Edge of the World,” “Wondering” and the title track. Cooper occasionally injects spunk and spark into her quiet laments, as evidenced by the unexpected appearance... 

ERIC BRACE & LAST TRAIN HOME Six Songs redbeetrecords.com Reconvening his longtime country combo after an extended break, Brace tackles a broad set of standards, varying the styles for a dazzlingly diverse EP. Here, Brace and company provide a pensive sway with “Always Raining on My Street” and then shift into a party mode on “Soul Parking.”  While it’s somewhat surprising to hear Brace croon “What Now My Love”—especially in French—or... 

LEE ALEXANDER & CO. Mayhaw Vaudeville alexandersongs.com Lee Alexander’s penchant for backwoods melodies and forlorn sensibilities fuses on Mayhaw Vaudeville with his sepia-tinted delivery. Including songs boasting a warbling croon sung through a tinny megaphone, Alexander mines his Vaudeville muse through a preponderance of weary, bluesy ballads. That said, a few jauntier excursions (”Okemah Moon,” the traditional folk tune “Maggie Mae”)... 

Jeff Larson and Gerry Beckley Over the past decade or so, Jeff Larson’s consistent string of smart, hooky and alluringly accessible albums have borne clear references to the Southern California sound of the mid-to-late ’70s. So it seems fitting that for the lovely and evocative Heart of the Valley he has collaborated with America’s Gerry Beckley and welcomed appearances from soft-rock stalwarts including America’s other half, Dewey Bunnell,...