Miss Leslie - Between the Whiskey and the Wine

Miss Leslie & Her Juke-Jointers are back with their third album, Between the Whiskey and the Wine, and it is the best work they’ve done to date. There are a few faces missing from the original Juke-Jointer lineup, and a few new ones in the mix now, but this current […]

Carolina Chocolate Drops’ “Heritage” CD

The Carolina Chocolate Drops, an African-American old-time string band, got mojo that must be seen to be believed. Plugging in an electric guitar and making hopped-up kids scream is one thing, something a thousand rock ‘n’ rollers have done, but the Carolina Chocolate Drops can make a completely sober, seasoned, and slowly-graying audience go […]

Why They Shouldn’t Let John Carter Cash Handle His Daddy’s Songs

John Carter Cash and Compadre Records must have decided Johnny Cash’s memory and music weren’t worth respecting anymore. They were probably just thinking of easy profits when they decided to release 20 of Cash’s songs recorded on Sun records but remixed into a garbage-sounding album. I’ve had the questionable “pleasure” of listening to three samples […]

Alan Jackson - “Good Time” CD

I know more than a few Alan Jackson fans who were concerned that Alan’s previous album marked a permanent change of direction for him.  That album, produced by Alison Krauss, will likely prove to be the worst selling album in the Alan Jackson catalog so it is good to see that Good Time is a […]

“Dailey & Vincent” - Bluegrass CD

Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent, both veterans of years working with big-name bluegrass bands, have now teamed up to form a band of their own and have recently released their first album, the self-titled “Dailey & Vincent.”  Dailey is best known for the nine years he spent with Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, the band he […]

Hope Nunnery’s “Wilderness Lounge” CD

Music fans enjoy seemingly infinite variety and choice these days; the connectivity of the Web enables those who wish to dig the ability to find rare jewels. Well, here is a diamond for you: Hope Nunnery. Ms. Nunnery is an awesome performer who, amazingly, seems to have delivered her debut well into her […]

Kathy Mattea: Coal

Kathy Mattea digs deep into the history of coal-mining for her new album, Coal, and takes her career to new heights in doing so.
In a throwback to the 1970’s and 80’s, it’s a real “concept” album. It’s NOT country music for the Billboard charts except, possibly, in the first week, when sales of any great […]

Roger Wallace’s “It’s About Time”

Roger Wallace’s latest album could be described as a work full of soul & grit. It represents the “inner Roger” extremely well and it has a great, old-timey sound that I love. Doghouse bass, lap steel, fiddle and honkytonk piano are the perfect choices for this CD.
“It‘s About Time” (the album‘s title song) is a […]

Joni Harms’ “Cowgirl Dreams”

If you’re gonna listen to Joni Harms’ “Cowgirl Dreams”, my advice is to sit back, drop the reins, and enjoy the ride. Joni’s voice and writing skills are superior, and you can tell she knows and feels what she’s singin’ about. She ain’t a city slicker who pretends to be a cowgirl; she is a […]

Rooster Quantrell & The Border Raiders

Rooster Quantrell & The Border Raiders
Label: Stardust International
Released: 1998

Rooster Quantrell & The Border Raiders will take you on a trip back in time when good ol’ western swing was the Big Thing. Rooster has a real voice, and I like it. His piano skills are superb (he’s Mark Chesnutt’s piano player and background vocalist). The […]