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| Kate Maki � �The sun will find us�(self-released) Another great americana cd from the former teacher. Ballads like �First Impression� and �Another storm�(reminds me of Lucinda Williams and Emmy Lou Harris) are varied with modest rootsrock songs like �One by one� and �Forever Blue� or a rootspop song like �Sweet Time�. Even R&B is present in �Someone Better� and �Mid March Blues�. Kate produced it herself with a little help of Dave Draves. She wrote all the songs and even dit the artwork. The result is startling. Very Recommended. www.katemaki.com |
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| Louis Ledford � �Reverie�(Waterbug wbg 60) In the nineties Louis lead the alt-country band USED CARLOTTA. He was noticed for his storytelling stories. He continues this on his solo-debut �Reverie�. Accompanied from local musicians like Rusty Farmer and Roger Wright. Songs about war(�Make it home�), the American civil war(�Belle Isle�) and 9/11(�September�), but also personal feelings and experiences. My highlights are �Lonesome Road�(a great acoustic guitar solo and a discrete pedalsteel in the background) and �Lately�(a song about frustration, addiction, anger and murder), which Townes Van Zandt could have written. �Reverie� has an intimate modest atmosphere, as if the band is playing on your frontporch. Recommended. www.louisledford.com |
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| Mike Alviano � �Radiate�(busted flat/inbetween records) On his second solo cd, Mike brings a mix of alt-country, rock and rootspop. �Karmalita� is a great ballad with some fine mandoline from Jeff Schneider. �Anymore�, �Everyman� and �If could find the words� could be called �CANADANIA�. �Better of us � is a very radiofriendly ballad. All through the cd you can smell some Springsteen and Band atmosphere. Other references are Ryan Adams and Tim Easton. www.mikealviano.com |
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| The Hickmen � �California Dreaming� (JustBobsRecords) The Hickmen called themselves after Johnny Hickman from the famous rootsrockband CRACKER. As a result Johnny felt so honoured that he played leadguitar on three songs. One could consider this cd a country-rock-protest against �progression�. As evidence listen to �Costco Socks�, which is a protest against the disappearing of the small local shops or on �San Bernadino Country Blues� where they act against drugsdealers and demoralization. �I gotta gun� is a satire against weapon owners. The band consists of Tim Allyn(vocals and bass), Micheal B. Finn(vocals,acoustic guitar,mandolin), Micheal C. Jones(vocals,acoustic and electric guitars,lap steel,banjo) and Alan Waddington(vocals,drums). www.thehickmen.com |
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| Reckless Kelly � �Wicked Twisted Road�(Sugar Hill Records) The best countryrock cd of the year 2005 until now. Their mix of acoustic country, countryrock, southern rock and r&b appeals to a large crowd of the alt-country movement. They are compared with people like Steve Earle(�Motel Cowboy Show�). You�ll find southern rock in �Sixgun�, twangy and rootsy countryrock in �My baby�s got a whole lot more�, bluesy rootsrock in �Wretched Again�, acoustic songwriting with country influences in �Wicked Twisted Road� and �Dogtown�, Irish country in �Seven Night In Ireland�. They close the cd with an instrumental version of the titletrack. The production was in the great hands of Ray Kennedy. Very Recommended. www.recklesskelly.com |