Hal has been a professional music journalist since 1994, writing predominately about country, blues, Americana, roots rock and singer/songwriter genres for a variety of publications. He won the prestigious Keeping the Blues Alive award for journalism in 2009.
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
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
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
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
Jeff “Skunk” BaxterSpeed of Heat(BMG/Renew Records)3 1/2 out of 5 stars Press play on the opening track of legendary guitarist Skunk Baxter’s debut solo release and hear…bagpipes? A closer look at the credits clarifies that these are synthesized (could he not afford to pay a live piper?), but the point is made. What exactly is More
Prince and the RevolutionLive(Sony Music Entertainment)5 out of 5 stars Hello Syracuse and the world. My name is Prince and I have come to play with you, are the first words spoken when Prince and his band hit the stage on March 30, 1985 for what would be one of the final dates on his More
Elton JohnMadman Across the Water-50th Anniversary Reissue(UMe)5 out of 5 stars I actually think it’s the most American record we ever made, says Elton John’s lyricist Bernie Taupin in the introduction to the hard-bound 104-page book that comes with this lavish, “super deluxe” 50th-anniversary reissue of Madman Across the Water (November 1971). It’s an overview, More
Joanne Shaw Taylor | Blues From the Heart Live | (Keeping the Blues Alive)3 1/2 out of 5 stars Regardless of what you think of Joe Bonamassa and his seemingly endless stream of releases (and merch) under his own name and multiple side projects, the guitarist’s dedication to exposing new, veteran, or under-exposed artists is More
Michael Rault | Michael Rault | (Wick)4 out of 5 stars At one point not that long ago, singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/pop auteur Michael Rault might have been considered Canada’s best-kept secret. But since a move to California, he’s become America’s best-kept secret. Hopefully, after the release of this beautifully crafted batch of 10 alternately shimmering and frisky More
Angel OlsenBig Time(Jagjaguwar)4 out of 5 stars More than a decade into singer/songwriter Angel Olsen’s career, fans have come to expect intensely personal introspection and reflection in her work. After all, she initially recorded for the Bathetic Records label. Following Whole New Messin 2020, basically a solo reworking of most of the songs from the More
Fantastic NegritoWhite Jesus Black Problems(Storefront Records)4 out of 5 stars What’s this then? A 41-minute socio-political “visual album” (every track has an associated video) song cycle by a guy who has won three Best Contemporary Blues Album Grammy Awards but includes virtually no blues on this one? Bring it on. Xavier Dphrepaulezz (aka Fantastic Negrito) More
3.5 out of 5 starsHANDS (Mound Silver Records/Soundly Music) Many won’t recognize Wallis Bird’s name even though she has been creating challenging music since 2007. Perhaps album number seven will change that. The singer/songwriter was born in Ireland, lived in London, and is now based out of Berlin. She has released six studio albums, a live More
