Reviews

From the twin cities of Minnesota come this interesting trio who formed around five years ago. They are Isabel Dammann (violin), Krissy Bergmark (tabla), and llan Blanck (guitar). Along with guest Olivia Diercks (cello), the group has produced a very pleasant all-instrumental project that has its roots in tradition but is quite modern in approach….

Jim Lauderdale has earned his reputation as the consummate collaborator over the course of his career and his latest collaboration with bluegrass powerhouse The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys (PRB) banks as one of his best in his extensive 36 album discography.  The album is one of the best traditional bluegrass albums I have heard in a…

According to the accompanying press material, this Toronto-based band recorded an album’s worth of material, then set it aside because it lacked the live immediacy that the trio was after. Whatever John Showman (vocals and fiddle), Chris Coole (vocals and clawhammer banjo), and vocalist/upright bassist Max Malone missed on that first go-round, they certainly captured…

In the southern gospel tradition, High Fidelity proves that “church music” doesn’t have to be stodgy or sedate. “Music in My Soul” is a heaping helping of thigh-slapping, camp meeting music, with dinner on the grounds. It’s sure to bring out the listener’s inner Pentecostal. The opening track, “I’m Ready to Go” is a gleeful…

If you listen to Hammertowne’s latest album and then read that it’s the band’s fifth album in 10 years, you might wonder why you haven’t heard more of their work on the radio. You Can Learn A Lot From a Song comes in hot and doesn’t let up through the 10 song play list. This…

Chosen Road’s latest release, It Never Gets Old is a collection of soulful gospel tunes highlighted with wonderfully blended vocals and instrumentation. The group has been together for over a decade and produced a chart-topping album, Appalachian Christmas, last year. This reviewer was fortunate enough to review Water Grave a few years ago—an early, solidly…