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.
SUNNY WARANARCHIST GOSPEL(New West)3 1/2 out of 5 stars The road that led to folk singer Sunny War’s first high-profile indie release was tougher and fraught with more harrowing experiences than most deal with in a few lifetimes. Addicted to alcohol, meth, and heroin at a young age, and also homeless for a while, she More
Erik Vincent HueyAppalachian Gothic(The Orchard/Appalachian AF)4 1/2 out of 5 stars “Just can’t escape the Appalachian Blues,” Erik Vincent Huey growls on the opening track to his first solo album. And he should know. The one-time member of outlaw country rockers, The Surreal McCoys, grinds out 13 tunes whose lyrics reflect the obstacles and dead-end More
Jarrod DickensonBig Talk(Hooked Records)3 out of 5 stars The title of Nashville by way of New York City, and initially Texas, singer/songwriter Jarrod Dickenson’s third album encapsulates its lyrical slant. Between long-haul COVID, being dropped by his major label, and trying to reconcile the current divisive political situation, he has a lot to say. The More
Larry Campbell & Teresa WilliamsLive at Levon’s!(Royal Potato Family)4 out of 5 stars The exclamation point is appropriate. Levon Helm’s studio in Woodstock, New York is the perfect venue for the married duo of veteran multi-instrumentalist Larry Campbell (Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, and about a hundred others) and Teresa Williams to record a live album. More
NRBQTiddly Winks(Omnivore)4 out of 5 stars The often termed “definitive” lineup of NRBQ- Terry Adams, Joey Spampinato, Al Anderson, and Tom Ardolino—strikes again. This configuration began a run of classic studio recordings with All Hopped Up in 1977, continued with At Yankee Stadium in ’78 and the next year’s Kick Me Hard, then kept the More
JD ClaytonLong Way from Home(self-released)4 out of 5 stars Push play on the opening track of JD Clayton’s debut full length and the initial sound heard are birds chirping, then a softly strummed acoustic guitar. “Hello Good Mornin’” is an appropriate introduction to the Arkansas-based singer/songwriter’s first album. That simple yet honest expression continues through More
The ArcsElectrophonic Chronic(Easy Eye Sound)4 out of 5 stars Dan Auerbach may want to be part of a group approach for his Arcs side project, but it’s hard not to see that this collective is his baby. Since he co-writes the songs and sings them, he is almost as much a focal point here as More
Eddie 9VCapricorn(Ruf)3 1/2 out of 5 stars Some musicians need to travel thousands of miles to locate the area of their biggest influence. Atlanta’s Eddie 9V was lucky… he only had to drive a few hours to land in his. Macon, Georgia’s Capricorn Studios provided much of the raw musical material a young Brooks Mason, More
MÅNESKINRUSH!(Arista/Sony)4 out of 5 stars Considering the near-universal appeal of rock and roll, specifically from English-speaking countries like the US, Australia, and the UK, it’s frustrating that more acts from other countries don’t have a larger presence in the genre. Exceptions exist, but generally, there haven’t been many rock groups to break through to the More
Joe HenryAll the Eye Can See(earMUSIC)3 out of 5 stars In many respects, listening to a Joe Henry album is like watching an art-house film; usually a rewarding experience but absorbed and experienced at its own deliberate pace. That has been singer/songwriter/producer Henry’s direction for much of his 30-year career, although the approach has become More
WhitehorseI’m Not Crying, You’re Crying(Six Shooter Records)3 1/2 out of 5 stars Look no further than the album’s witty title or songs named “If the Loneliness Don’t Kill Me,” “Scared of Each Other,” and especially the evocative “I Might Get Over This (But I Won’t Stop Loving You”) to understand where married Canadian duo Whitehorse More
Ernie VincentOriginal Dap King(Cornelius Chapel)3 out of 5 stars “I’ve always been the kind of guy who likes to work in the background supporting others rather than drawing attention to myself,” says singer/guitarist Ernie Vincent in the promotional notes to this, his third album and first since 2012. The Louisiana-born and bred musician is looking More
