| OL ' YELLER/ NUZZLE/SMA 1235-2/ (****) "Nuzzle" is the second release from this Minneapolis alt.country-rock trio Ol' Yeller. They try to live from there music and they refuse to do anything but play music for living. This great album was recorded at guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Rick Mattson's Flowerpot studio, on an "old" one-inch 16 track Tascam. The rezults are purely magical. The band, former Glenrustles leader Mattson, drummer Keely Lane, and bassist/keyboardist/background vocalist "Diamond" Dale Kallman. This new album plays like a chronicle of the experiences they shared. "Nuzzle" includes 12 "Roots-pop" songs and takes us on a fascinating sonic journey. This trio knows how to make good music and they never bother you. Listen to this guys. |
| CARL CACHO/ SPARK/ BACK HOLLER MUSIC/ (*****) Carl Cacho is a well known Boston singer/songwriter. Many artists recorded his songs, including Jimmy Lafave, Stephanie Corby, Jack Hardy, Jemina James, and Kevin So. "Spark" futures 12 original songs with Rootsy, organic production that highlight Carl's disinctive tenor voice. He explores a wide variety of themes, circumstances and emotions throughout "Spark". "November 2000" is a song for Carl's friend Al Grierson, who died in a Texas flash flood, stands side by side with "One Step To Far" a rollicking, flirtatious duet with Kris Delmhorst. "Save Me A Seat" is a tribute to Bill Monroe with Ellis Paul singing harmony. "Bordertown" is a beautiful song with Jimmy Lafave lending a powerful vocal. Other guest musicians are Kevin So, Mark Erelli, Christopher Williams and more. "Spark" is a strong, beautiful acoustic album with great guitar playing, mandolin, dobro, fiddle, slide guitar and accordion. |
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| CHRIS RICHARDS/ JAM THE BREEZE/ TEN HIGH RANCH RECORDS/ (*****) Chris is one of many independent artists who made my day. Beautiful songs who remind me to guys like Bruce Robison, John Prine, Molly Maher and Lucinda Williams. "Jame The Breeze" is one of the best country-folk releases I have heard in awhile. The mix of instrume ts on Richards debuut is a fairly traditional recipe, from the mandolin lines of "Prairie Smoke" to the lilting acoustic slide od "Come Down" to the hovering accordion of "Tijuanan Lullaby". Rick Shea's (producer of Jame The Breeze) masterful pedal steel weaves its way trough the whole record. Other well known artists are Don Heffington(Emmylou Harris, Jayhawks, Lucinda Williams) on drums and percussion and David Jackson(Dillard & Clark, Jackson Brown) on bass, Keyboards and accordion, and a handfull of other great Los Angeles talent. "Jame The Breeze" is a small-budget but high recommended album for all Roots minded people. |
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| RICHARD KAUFMANN/COMMON SENCES/ RECORD CELLAR-071/ (****) Richard Kaufmann is a singer/songwriter who led Philadelphia's "Electric Love Muffin" in the late eighties. They made a few highly regarded long players of guitar based punk pop. The begin period of "alternative rock". In the early ninties Richard led the well known band "The Rolling Hayseeds". They recorded two "Alternative-country-rock" albums for Record Cellar. "Common Senses" is a very strong album with strong beautiful songwriting from Kaufmann, but maybe not enough country-twang. It's more pop-rock oriented music. |
| TRAINWRECK/ WRECKED/ HOMBRE RECORDS/ (****) As I'm writing this, there's a shower of hail outside, lucky that I'm inside listening to "Wrecked". It's Trainwreck's first CD and a cracker. The music is hard to pin-point but you could say it's a mixture of country, folk and rock. One cover (Townes v. Zandt's "Loretta"), 14 originals all written by J.D.Whittenburg, who seems to be a real storyteller. My favorite songs are "Mexico", "No Place To Go" and "Who Needs California". The latter stayed in my head for several weeks. The playing is splendid with a special note for Rob "The fiddler" Stave, who also plays mandolin. |
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