Hal Horowitz

Bobbie Gentry_First Capitol photo shoot 1967

Review: Bobbie Gentry’s Double CD Distillation is the Perfect Introduction to Her Short but Influential Career

August 4, 2022 No Comments

Bobbie GentryThe Girl from Chickasaw County:Highlights from the Capitol Masters(Capitol Nashville)5 out of 5 stars If Bobbie Gentry never recorded anything other than her first single “Ode to Billie Joe” and later “Fancy,” her two biggest hits, she would still hold a significant place in country music history. But there was more, lots more. Enough More

Review: Little Feat’s Live Classic ‘Waiting For Columbus’ Gets A Big Overhaul

July 28, 2022 No Comments

Little FeatWaiting for Columbus:Super Deluxe Edition(Rhino)4 1/2 out of 5 stars Many of the most essential live albums were recorded when the artists were young, hungry, and ready to take their careers to the next level. Think The Allman Brothers Band at Fillmore East, Frampton Comes Alive, Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense, Bob Marley and More

Review: The Sadies’ ‘Colder Streams’ is the Last Album For Late Guitarist Dallas Good

July 21, 2022 No Comments

The Sadies | Colder Streams | (Yep Roc) 4 out of 5 stars Since guitarist, singer/songwriter, and co-founder of The Sadies—Dallas Good—passed in February 2022, his final studio appearance is tainted with a melancholy hue. You have to love the guy. He pens this album’s promotional material stating, “Colder Streams is, by far, the best More

Ben-Harper.-New-York-City-April-29-2022.-Photograph-by-©-Michael-Halsband-2022.-All-RIghts-Reserved_BP0A0787

Review: Ben Harper Returns with a Musical Gauntlet on ‘Bloodline Maintenance’

July 21, 2022 No Comments

Ben Harper | Bloodline Maintenance | (Chrysalis) 4 out of 5 stars Those disappointed in the extremely low-key, solo, instrumental acoustic nature of Ben Harper’s 2020 Winter Is for Lovers will be delighted to know that the singer/songwriter has returned in a big way. While his Innocent Criminals backing unit remains M.I.A. (he overdubs the More

Review: Bob Marley… With Strings Attached…

July 20, 2022 No Comments

Bob Marley & the Chineke! Orchestra Bob Marley & the Chineke! Orchestra(Island/UMe) 3 1/2 out of 5 stars It’s got to be a challenge for the marketing suits at UMe to keep devising innovative ways to re-sell Bob Marley’s durable and timeless catalog. After all, the albums have already been remastered and expanded, there is More

Review: Tami Neilson Captivates on Fifth Album, ‘Kingmaker’

July 16, 2022 No Comments

Tami Neilson Kingmaker (Outside Music) 4 out of 5 stars Anyone looking for an Adele or Lady Gaga-style diva in roots music can stop searching now. Tami Neilson fills those large cowboy boots, and more, on her fifth release since 2015. The pride of Auckland, New Zealand (by way of Canada), hasn’t abandoned her rockabilly More

Review: The Gabbard Brothers Create Energized Retro-Styled Music Without Outside Assistance

July 14, 2022 No Comments

The Gabbard Brothers | The Gabbard Brothers | (Dead Oceans/Karma Chief)3 1/2 out of 5 stars Pandemic, schmandemic… when you’re as talented as The Gabbard Brothers, you don’t need to include others, who may be infected, to help record your debut album. Just do it yourself. Better safe than sorry. Andrew and Zachary Gabbard More

Review: Lera Lynn Examines the Changes and Challenges of Motherhood on the Introspective ‘Something More Than Love’

July 13, 2022 No Comments

Lera LynnSomething More Than Love(Ruby Range)3 1/2 out of 5 stars With her pandemic album out of the way (the self-recorded, appropriately titled On My Own in 2020), it was time for art/pop/indie/folk singer/songwriter Lera Lynn to try something different. She didn’t have to look far for inspiration. The birth of her first child and More

Review: Soul/Blues Veteran Janiva Magness Describes Intimate Life Experiences on 16th Release

June 29, 2022 No Comments

Janiva MagnessHard to Kill(Fathead)4 out of 5 stars Somewhere between my office, the kitchen and the bedroom for nearly two years, I began completely questioning whether I was going to continue in the business of music, writes soul/blues Grammy-nominated singer Janiva Magness in the notes to this, her 16th album and first in three years. More

Review: G. Love Keeps The Blues/Hip-Hop Faith on the Frisky ‘Philadelphia Mississippi’

June 27, 2022 No Comments

G. LovePhiladelphia Mississippi(Philadelphonic Records/Thirty Tigers)3 1/2 out of 5 stars Blues music has been stretched, mutated, and pushed over the decades into a variety of styles. Infused with funk, jazz, soul, and of course rock, the genre has persevered through the talents of both traditionalists and artists that reformat and even reinvent its basic musical More

Review: Eric Clapton Plays ‘Nothing But The Blues’ on Long Awaited Reissue of 1994 Tour

June 27, 2022 No Comments

Eric ClaptonNothing but the Blues CD/DVD/Blue-Ray(Reprise)4 1/2 out of 5 stars There has never been any doubt about Eric Clapton’s genuine love of the blues. As far back as his short stint in the Yardbirds, a group he left because they were skewing too pop, he has flown his blues colors proudly. They informed, if More

Review: The Gun Club’s ‘Las Vegas Story’ Expanded/Remixed Reissue Shows Frontman Jeffrey Lee Pierce at His Best and Worst

June 21, 2022 No Comments

The Gun ClubThe Las Vegas Story (Super Deluxe)(Blixa Sounds)Original Album:4 out of 5 starsReissue: 3 out of 5 stars On the third studio album from The Gun Club, frontman/auteur Jeffrey Lee Pierce apparently wanted to move past the “punk-blues” tag that was somewhat accurately applied to the band’s first few releases. Bringing in a “name” More

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