The Embers Still Burn for Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill
Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill offer a nostalgic look at music written in the past without comment. The music is not meta, cynical, or ironic, and that’s a plus.
Steve Horowitz
Steven Horowitz has a Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Iowa, where he continues to teach a three-credit online course on "Rock and Roll in America". He has written for many different popular and academic publications including American Music, Paste and the Icon. Horowitz is a firm believer in Paul Goodman's neofunctional perspective on culture and that Sam Cooke was right, a change is gonna come.
Nancy Harrow’s 1961 Debut Sounds Fresher Than Ever
Jazz singer Nancy Harrow’s vamping on many songs comes off as timeless. The high sonic quality makes the 65-year-old recording sound fresh.
Amy Irving Crafts a Surprising Take on Willie Nelson
Amy Irving may not have been able to release an LP like this if she weren’t a movie star, but she’s smart to cover the great Willie Nelson. She does him proud.
Mike Delevante Knows Waiting Is Its Own Reward
Mike Delevante is a craftsman. These songs are deceptively simple in their language, describing the interplay of thoughts and emotions one has being in the moment.
‘Jingle Jangle Morning’ Documents the Explosion of US Folk Rock
Although one could easily add more volumes to this compilation or even companions, this anthology presents lots of marvelous folk rock music.
Grey Delisle’s Fanciful Tales Can Tickle the Funny Bone
The Grey Album showcases Grey DeLisle’s ability to write and sing catchy ditties that flicker for attention. Her tales tickle the funny bone or make one sob.
Pug Johnson Tells Tales of Booze, Women, and Redemption
Texas country artist Pug Johnson mixes the styles of the Gulf Coast region (Tex-Mex, Cajun, swamp rock) with a surreal sensibility and a dash of pathos.
Sierra Hull Performs a Comfortable High Wire Act
Sierra Hull sees this LP as a balancing act. With one foot in old-time acoustic music and another in contemporary Americana, she doesn’t want to take a wrong step.
Sir Woman Find Love in the Great American R&B Songbook
The central theme of Sir Woman’s If It All Works Out is the primacy of love. The songs’ narrators make their way forward by finding love in all the right places.
Lonnie Johnson’s Guitar Genius Is the Star on ‘Blues & Ballads’
The re-release of Lonnie Johnson in 2025 suggests that audiences can still draw inspiration from the painful past with hope for the present and future.
Them Coulee Boys Bring 1970s Love to Their Country Rock
Them Coulee Boys’ folkie Americana songs would fit in during the early to mid-1970s when acts fused old-time country with contemporary rock to create a new sound.
Sean McConnell Reflects on Growing Older But Not Wiser
Sean McConnell poeticizes and philosophies from everyday personal experiences. What does it mean to be locked in our own skin?