| McKay Brothers - McKay Brothers On this debut, Noel en Hollin McKay deliver americana(the Texas way) under supervision of producer Gurf Morlix. He's also present as a pedal-steel and slide-guitarist. Besides country-rock songs("Put your money where your mouth is", "Harrisburg") there's lot of room for tex-mex songs("Mi San Antonio","The South Coast of Texas", "Las Olas") and great ballads("When I reached the Colorado","Great big oldsmobile","Hey old man", "A pretty bay mare"). Other great musicians working on this cd are Jeff Botta on drums, Ian McLagan on organ and Joel Guzman on accordion. A must for americana texas music lovers. www.mckaybrothers.com |
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| Albert Lee, Heartbreak Hill, Sugar Hill Records It's about 15 years ago that Albert Lee has released a new album. He's still one of the best British country-rock guitar players. On his new album "Heartbreak Hill" for one of the best Labels Sugar Hill Records, Lee sings and plays a personal tribute to his former Hot Band boss Emmylou Harris together with some well known artists like Vince Gill, Brad Peisley, Earl Scruggs, Rodney Crowell, Jerry Douglas, Patty Loveless, John David Souther, Buddy Miller and Maura O'Connell. "And along comes Albert Lee, a skinny, half gypsy English man whose blistering solos and passion for American music knocked us all off our feet. (Emmylou Harris)" There's no more to say. "Heartbreak Hill" is one of the highlighted album's of 2003 and a must for the real country-rockers and fans. (www.sugarhillrecords.com) |
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| Chris Stuart - Saints and Strangers (self released) A time ago Chris Stuart stole my heart with his beautiful mix of bluegrass and americana on his first cd "Angels of mineral springs". He continues this effort on his second cd. His band "Backcountry" consists of Janet Beardly(banjo,tinwhistle), Ivan Rosenberg(resonator guitar,clawhammer banjo), and Dean Knight(upright bass). The titletrack is a nice mix of Irish folk and bluegrass. Highlight is undoubtedly "This body is a honky-tonk", which is one of the nicest songs of 2003. You can hear cajun and zydeco in "Twenty naked Pentecostals in a Pontiac" and "Buckshot is a great sample of instrumental grass. Very Recommended. www.chrisstuart.com |
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| Jason Walker & the Last Drinks - "Ashes and Wine" Jason has contrary to his first cd written all the songs himself with a little help of Michael Carpenter, who also produced. The result is a terrific sample of great country-rock(the Australian way). The spirit of Gram Parsons wanders through this cd("Listening out for our song","Helpless Guy" and "Last drinks", while ("Dissatisfaction", "Letdown" and 'Drown in that river") could be part of a countrified Stones cd. "Please save your Tears" reminds me of Neil Young. For the fans of G.P., countrified Rolling Stones and the Jayhawks. (www.laughingoutlaw.com.au) |
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| Edie carey- "When I was made"(self-released) Edie Carey is a singer-songwriter who resembles Shawn Colvin. Just like Shawn she operates in the area between folk, pop and singer-songwriter stuff and writes songs which settle itself like barbed hooks under your skin. She gets some help of Dan Tyack(pedal-steel), Sean Bendickson(drums), Jonathan Kingham(guitar,dobro) and Jason Bendickson(bass). Highlights are "Already gone", "Compromise", "Under a sky" and "With our hands". Recommended for the fans of Shawn Colvin and Lynn Miles www.ediecarey.com |