Tyler Childers Unleashes Some Feel-Good Vibes Out on ‘Country Squire’
With Country Squire, Tyler Childers creates a feel-good country record to close out the summer. It's not too late to throw a party, and Childers will keep you swinging.
Ed Whitelock
Ed Whitelock is a professor of English at Gordon State College in Barnesville, GA, just 106 miles southwest of Philomath. He is co-author, with David Janssen, of Apocalypse Jukebox: The End of the World in American Popular Music (2009) from the PopMatters imprint of Soft Skull Press.
Gauche Blend New Wave and Post-Punk on Their Debut ‘A People’s History of Gauche’
Evoking best elements from post-punk and new wave, Gauche offers up an impolite and delightful debut album.
Pere Ubu Issue Their ‘Long Goodbye’
Pere Ubu's The Long Goodbye is an amazing achievement that accomplishes its mission of encapsulating a 45-year career with wit and aplomb.
Swamp Blues Band Bark Create a Testament to Living Life to the Fullest with ‘Terminal Everything’
For Bark, the question isn't whether life's glass is half-full or half-empty; the point is to drink it all in deeply because it's the only glass we get. This is music that celebrates life despite its necessary pains and setbacks.
Various Artists: Jazz Fest: The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Not just for those who've been to Jazz Fest, this collection offers a distillation of the diverse, whimsical, resolute, occasionally profane, and always heartfelt spirit of New Orleans.
Strangers in the Room: A Journey Through the British Folk Rock Scene 1967-1973
The inversion of British folk and the invention of British folk-rock is catalogued here in all of its stormy and delicate variety.
Eluvium’s ‘Pianoworks’ Is a Welcoming and Reflective Collection of Compositions
With his second collection of solo piano pieces, Eluvium offers the most accessible presentation of his musical persona yet.
Ordinary Elephant’s ‘Honest’ Is One of the Best Folk Duo Records in Recent Memory
With the release of their second record, folk duo Ordinary Elephant have become a full-time entity, and this exceptional release promises a long career worth following ahead.
The Dream Syndicate Continue to Innovate with ‘These Times’
It sounds like the 21st century Dream Syndicate is here to stay with These Times, and that's worth celebrating.
The Yawpers’ ‘Human Question’ Is One of This Year’s Most Accomplished Releases
The Yawpers give themselves a big head start as contenders for best rock and roll record of the year with Human Question.
Damien Jurado Revels in a Pure Acoustic Sound on ‘In the Shape of a Storm’
Quiet and confident, Damien Jurado gives us ten songs bared to the bone but filled with soul on In the Shape of a Storm.
Shovels & Rope Don’t Waste a Note and Go in for a Little Rock ‘n’ Roll on ‘By Blood’
Shovels & Rope's By Blood is a record that smacks you in the face as a first impression, but then, still demands time to give up its secrets and grow on you. Give it the time.