Harris/Crowell join together finally, Mavericks return
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 – Long time friends Emmylou Harris finally joined forces to release "Old Yellow Moon," their first ever CD together. Bryan Ahern produced the dozen songs. While this may be the first time that Crowell and Harris have recorded as equals, Crowell was a member of Harri's Hot Band about three decades ago.
The Mavericks are back with "In Time," the band's first disc since reuniting and putting out "The Mavericks" in 2004. The disc contains 14 songs including a Spanish version of "Ven Hacia Mi (Come Unto Me)," sung in Spanish by Raul Malo.
Wayne Hancock goes for "Ride" out today on Bloodshot. He co-produced the music with Lloyd Maines. Hancock first burst onto the scene in 1995 with "Thunderstorms and Neon Signs."
Canadian-born, American-raised singer Jaida Dryer is out with her debut, "I Am Jaida Dreyer," produced by Tim McGraw.
More news
CD reviews
In Time
It only takes hearing a few notes of Back In Your Arms Again, the lead track from The Mavericks' first new studio in nearly a decade, to realize that that band has not lost a single step during its extended hiatus. Lead singer and primary songwriter Raul Malo's voice is powerful and velvety smooth throughout the recording, and the other band members complement Malo's distinctive vocals perfectly with a blend of sounds and styles that reflects the band's diverse influences. »»» |
Old Yellow Moon
The good news is that Emmylou Harris' voice is as beautiful as always. She coming up on her 66th birthday here in another month, but her mastery of a song is still as soft and supple as a warm summer breeze. So, too, is Rodney Crowell's voice in as fine form as ever.
Hanging Up My Heart is one example of Emmylou in particularly good voice, and there's some nice solo work, to boot. Black Caffeine has a distinct grittiness to it, and Dreaming My Dream is a pretty tune. »»» |
Trampoline
The Mavericks jump all over the musical roadmap on their musically diverse fifth album. If looking for a strictly country album, no dice. The disc incorporates a Latin/mambo sound ("Dance the Night Away," "Melbourne Mambo"), blues ("Tell Me Why"), and even a tinge of country ("I Should Know" and "Someone Should Tell Her").
But nothing is straightforward here musically as horns and the Nashville String Machine are incorporated throughout in what may be considered the next step beyond the band's »»» |
Editorial: Walking the talk –
When names like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon and the Hag are invoked, you're talking hard core country. These are the touchstones of country , the guys who made country music what it was and still is (or maybe can be). When these folks would sing about being down-and-out and the rough-and-tumble, they knew of what they were singing about. Fast forward a few years to the country singers of today. »»»
Concert Review: Music City goes (Boston) Pop(s) –
On the face of it, the idea of top shelf country songwriters coming up from Nashville to play with the Boston Pops may seem incongruous. The idea of the venerable Boston institution and fixture on the July 4 scene, playing patriotic songs doesn't have all that much to do with country.
The idea isn't without precedent, of course.... »»»
Concert Review: O'Donovan goes home –
Aiofe O'Donovan had plenty of reason to be filled with good cheer. This was a hometown gig, after all, and only three days before the release of her first full-length solo debut, "Fossils."
Joking that the audience was filled with people she knew from high school and her parents' friends, O'Donovan made it clear that Boston... »»»
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Some folks listening to Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison's new duet album, "Cheaters Game," may well exclaim, 'Well, it's about time!' after finally hearing these two talented country singer/songwriters recording music as a pair for the first time. Willis has built quite a following for her independently-minded feminine perspective, while Robison has written hits for the Dixie Chicks ( Travelin' Soldier) and Tim McGraw and Faith Hill ( Angry All the Time), as well as penning the ultimate Willie Nelson tribute, What Would Willie Do? and recording it as a solo act.
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Last fall, singer/songwriter Steve Forbert dropped the 14th studio album of his 35-year career, the impeccable "Over With You." Critics recognized the album as a return to the form Forbert displayed on his earliest works - 1978's stripped back and personal "Alive on Arrival" and 1979's more lushly produced and commercially accessible "Jackrabbit Slim" - but the fact is that Forbert has never strayed far from their basic folk/rock tenets.... »»»
Over the course of the past 20 years or so, Jim Lauderdale and Buddy Miller have both experienced a certain rise in their respective rootsy country profiles. Miller has become one of Nashville's hottest speed dial numbers, as an artist, a guitarist-for-hire (a role he has performed for Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris and Robert Plant, among others) and an intuitive producer (he's currently working with Executive Music Producer T Bone Burnett to provide the soundtrack for ABC's "Nashville" television series).... »»»
Still Fighting the War
Few artists exude pain in their voices the way Slaid Cleaves can, and there are moments during his strong new full-length, "Still Fighting the War," when he seems a little like the male equivalent to Lucinda Williams. With Rust Belt Fields, Cleaves speaks up for most anybody that's been laid low be America's recent recession, from those dealing with home foreclosure to the ones laid off from their jobs. »»» |
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