Steve Earle, as is his way, gets beneath the bromides and the easy assumptions about the homeless, in a harrowing new song that digs out the hard-won scraps of remaining pride. You May Also Like: Steve Earle, “The Tennessee Kid” from Terraplane (2015): One Track Mind Chris Stamey, “Invisible” fromRead More

Even during the height of her early-1970s singer-songwriter successes, when the radio was shag-carpeted with Carole King songs, I never could get past the idea that another singer would have done better by those lyrics. You May Also Like: Brecker Brothers – ‘Live and Unreleased’ (2020) Boston’s Tom Scholz gotRead More

A deeply personal record, Ron Sexsmith’s Forever Endeavour is a cutely titled examination of what happens when an extremely gifted songwriter turns things inward in an almost overpowering fashion. You May Also Like: Ron Sexsmith, “Can’t Get My Act Together” from Carousel One (2015) Richard Turgeon, “Live Forever” (2020): OneRead More

Lisa Germano’s spare fragility, her whispery confidentiality, would come off as too precious if she didn’t pay such great attention to the craftsmanship of her writing. Instead, her new album has enough trenchant, note-perfect images to fill a good-sized lit mag You May Also Like: Lisa Germano’s ‘Happiness’ Broke OutRead More

Never quite at peace, with an uncomfortability in this world likely related to a chemical imbalance, Townes Van Zandt found small solaces in writing You May Also Like: Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes – Hearts of Stone (1978); Men Without Women: Live (2011)

With Escapement, London-based composer and performer Poppy Ackroyd provides a moving, immersive experience using little more than the bare necessities. You May Also Like: Frank Zappa – Dance Me This (2015) Kitty La Roar with Nick Shankland + Benet McLean, Oct. 8, 2015: Shows I’ll Never Forget

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVy-2U0bdls&w=560&h=315] Originally from the Northeast coast of Australia and now calling Texas her home, singer-songwriter Lisa Richards uncorks a bottle of confidence and darkness on Beating of the Sun. You May Also Like: Keith Richards, “Take It So Hard” from Talk Is Cheap (1988): One Track Mind Keith RichardsRead More

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cydDNQiLl5I&w=420&h=315] Last month we told you about an advance track by elemental Brit expat singer-songwriter David Philips. “A Sailor’s Song” gave much hope that the next album would be as good as his last one The Rooftop Recordings (2011). You May Also Like: David Philips – Get Along (2018)Read More

After exploring blues and roots music over her two previous albums, three-time Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading turns her muse toward jazzier themes on the forthcoming Starlight. Here’s an exclusive preview track! You May Also Like: Joan Baez – Gracias a la Vida (1974): Forgotten Series Joan Baez, Queen of FolkRead More

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I07zXXtc-d0&w=500&h=305] Though she has dabbled in everything from rock to jazz to pop, Eric McKeown’s new album — in a move perhaps indicative of the times — focuses on folky, protest songs. Not that there aren’t a few fun flourishes along the way. You May Also Like: Joni Mitchell’sRead More