Album Reviews

The Jigsaw Seen

Sacred cows have never been safe around The Jigsaw Seen. Making a moody, noisy art-rock squall of Henry Mancini’s “Baby Elephant Walk” for their 1996 album Shots in the Dark, … Read more

Isaiah Lightning

This fine album spans genres as wide as God’s creations, and that’s no accident. Blues, doo-wop, a cappella, folk, rock and, yes, gospel, this collection of sacred songs old and … Read more

Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado

Danish vocalist/guitarist Thorbjørn Risager’s octet might be the quintessential example of the Ruf Records theme, “Where the Blues Crosses Over.” This band continues, as the title says, to break down genre barriers, … Read more

Lowland Hum

Boy meets girl (by crashing a party in her apartment), then boy hears girl’s voice and asks her to collaborate on an album. Eventually, boy and girl marry. The sweet, … Read more

K Phillips

Add another great Texas singer/songwriter to your list. You may have missed his debut, 2012’s American Girls, which was quite good. This one has that same blend of literate lyrics … Read more

Strongman

Electric blues for this day and age. No Time Like Now is a love letter to the raw blues sound that musicians like Hamilton, Ontario’s Steve Strongman define. The legendary … Read more

Bill Scorzari

One of 2017’s best albums so far comes from New York-based Bill Scorzari, an unfamiliar name to me until now. This is Bill’s sophomore release. What a revelation! Assemble some … Read more

Pieta Brown

Bringing in a number of high profile guests can be a bit risky. After four consecutively strong albums, beginning with 2007’s Remembering the Sun, one of the most rewarding things … Read more

Sunny Sweeney

Opening an album with a drinking ballad called “Pass the Pain” takes guts. Safer to do it with a happy rocker. But this seriously real country album has plenty of … Read more