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.
Kendell MarvelCome On Sunshine(CmdShft)4 out of 5 stars Just one look at Kendall Marvel’s bald head, no-nonsense stare, long white Rip Van Winkle beard, and hulking, tougher than leather persona and it’s clear he’s serious about whatever it is he does. In this case, it’s making rugged, honest outlaw country inspired by the no-BS style More
Sunny SweeneyMarried Alone(Thirty Tigers)4 out of 5 stars Even when Texas singer/songwriter Sunny Sweeney was signed to major labels, she exhibited a feisty streak that didn’t entirely fit with the commercial radio sound her handlers likely wanted her to succeed in. That doesn’t lessen the quality of “From a Table Away,” her first smash from More
The Black AngelsWilderness of Mirrors(Partison Records)3 1/2 out of 5 stars Oh, by the way, which one’s Pink? is Pink Floyd’s classic scathing takedown of clueless record company executives in “Have a Cigar.” But concerning The Black Angels, the question might be rather …which one’s Syd? The reference is to Syd Barrett, Floyd’s founder and More
Nikki LaneDenim & Diamonds(New West)3 1/2 out of 5 stars As collaborations go, country-tinged Nikki Lane working with Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme and his band is up there with Jack White producing Loretta Lynn. That partnership created one of Lynn’s finest late career sets and the Homme/Lane pairing on this, the More
Rhett MillerThe Misfit(ATO)3 1/2 out of 5 stars Few artists can successfully juggle both individual careers and working with a band simultaneously. Rarer still are those who front outfits active for thirty years, and even less with groups whose membership has stayed unchanged for that time. That puts the prolific Rhett Miller nearly in a More
Jimmy HallReady Now(Keeping the Blues Alive)4 out of 5 stars It has been a long while, 15 years to be exact since ex-Wet Willie lead singer/saxist/harmonica player/frontman Jimmy Hall released a solo album. But that hasn’t stopped him from steady work as a sideman to acts as varied as Hank Williams Jr. and Jeff Beck More
Derek HokeElectric Mountain(3Sirens Music)4 1/2 out of 5 stars You don’t have to live in Nashville to know Derek Hoke….but it helps. The veteran singer/songwriter has been quietly releasing terrific, if decidedly under-the-radar, albums since 2009, but hasn’t seen much traction in the commercial sphere. However, as the host of East Nashville’s iconic club The More
Afghan WhigsHow Do You Burn?(Royal Cream/BMG)3 1/2 out of 5 stars Remember not so long ago when bands gathered together in a studio to create music with a joint sensibility? Where each member spurred on the others’ creativity like The Beatles tried when creating Let It Be? While the pandemic may not have squashed that More
GA-20Crackdown(Karma Chief/Colemine)4 out of 5 stars Two guitars, drums…go! That’s the mantra of blues rocking trio GA-20. With a few well-received albums in their catalog and enough road miles on their van for a dozen other acts, these guys are serious about taking electric blues back to its raw, unembellished roots. They are dug in More
Scone Cash PlayersBrooklyn to Brooklin(Daptone)3 1/2 out of 5 stars It’s hard to call the recent popularity of organ-based jam/jazz/soul band The Delvon Lamarr Trio a full-fledged revitalization of an organic keyboard-based sound popular in the ’60s and ’70s. Still, it bodes well for more acts to join Lamarr’s mostly instrumental club. While he has More
BlondieBlondie: Against the Odds 1974-1982(Ume/Numero Group)4 out of 5 stars Few would argue against Blondie as a group deserving a thorough recap of their eclectic and extensive career. Unfortunately, this isn’t it. As the title clearly states, these eight discs only cover the first part of the New York City band’s output, basically nine years More
Will HogeWings on My Shoes(EDLO Records/Soundly Music)3 1/2 out of 5 stars Singer/songwriter Will Hoge likes to tell stories. During a career spanning over two decades and eleven previous albums, he has told a lot of them. That doesn’t change on this, his 12th release, recorded during the (ongoing) pandemic. If anything, these tales are More
