Never has anyone made spunky roots rock go down so easy like Robert Randolph and his Family Band. All that’s needed is a heapin’ helping of soul and, of course, maximal pedal steel guitar. There’s plenty of both on ‘Got Soul.’

There’s no let up in Shemekia Copeland found on ‘Outskirts of Love’; her hold on the Queen of the Blues crown is as firm as ever.

This Mid-Year Best of 2015 list also includes Boz Scaggs, Pops Staples, Papa Mali, Wes Montgomery, Robben Ford, the Word, Steve Earle and Beth Hart.

Robert Randolph helps set a new standard for improv gospel-jazz country blues supergroups. Because, yeah, they’re the only one.

Robben Ford’s new song is loose, truly collaborative — the opposite of those emailed digital confections so often dubbed “duets” these days.

With so many major releases typically timed go on sale to take advantage of the holiday shopping season, you’d think that most of the choicest music of any given year are records issued during the September-November timeframe. You May Also Like: Robben Ford with Keb Mo + Robert Randolph, “Justified”Read More

“I’m the only one who does what I do,” says Robert Randolph matter-of-factly, and anyone even only casually familiar with his music know he’s right. You May Also Like: Robert Randolph & the Family Band – Got Soul (2017) Marcus Randolph and My Peeples Peeple – Transplant (2017) The WordRead More

Robert Randolph and his Family Band are poised to follow up on that T-Bone Burnett-produced affair We Walk This Road (2010) with Lickety Split, a group of a dozen new recordings including nine new originals. You May Also Like: Robert Randolph & the Family Band – Got Soul (2017) MarcusRead More