Jade Jackson on “As You Run” and the Roots Rock Renaissance
If you’re wondering where to find the next Rosanne Cash, look no further than roots-rock artist Jade Jackson. In the late 1980s, Rosanne Cash and Bonnie Raitt had a string of radio hits, then their type of music unfortunately fell out of vogue. Now it’s making a comeback thanks to artists like Jackson and Aubrie […]
Deborah Stokol on “Stay Mine, Keens the Sailor” and Old Wives’ Tales
Deborah Stokol’s music occupies an interesting niche: the songs she writes are more than just folk songs or retellings of popular fables. Her music seeks to capture an oral tradition of storytelling that is deeply ingrained in the cultures that her music is inspired from. “Stay Mine, Keens the Sailor” from her latest album, Old […]
Steve Wynn’s “Simpler Than the Rain” is Sweet Country with an Unpredictable Edge
“Simpler Than the Rain” starts in an easy way with acoustic guitar, but after the band gently kicks in, the song’s warm and slightly loose playing is given an unusual tension as Steve Wynn starts singing. His edgy drawl’s DNA might be more likely to be heard in indie rock (and his work with The […]
Loss/Love/Loss: Radiohead’s “True Love Waits”
It’s December 5, 1995, and Radiohead have just closed their set at the Luna Theater in Brussels, Belgium with their newest single “Fake Plastic Trees.” Expectantly, the crowd awaits the encore that is surely coming. Having played most stage-worthy songs in their 2-record catalog, what breed of rabbit could they possibly pull from their hat […]
Tess Henley on “Not in the Mood,” Great Parents, and Dino
Singer-songwriter Tess Henley should consider changing her name to Dawn Henley because many of her songs have the world-weary sophistication of The Eagles’ frontman. Her new single “Not In The Mood” perfectly captures the relationship ennui that the other Henley often sang about. There’s no other way to say I need my space I’m just […]
Gracie Ray on “Love, Quarantine,” Noble Breakups, and Rio
I predict that L.A. indie pop artist Gracie Ray will be one of the most important voices of the next decade. Long after the one-trick-pony singers have come and gone, she’ll be writing and singing songs that compare favorably to all-time greats like Sade, Valerie Carter and Roberta Flack. Gracie’s unique vocal phrasing, jazzy chord […]
Retrospective Review: “The Jezebel Spirit” by Brian Eno and David Byrne
When you type “the jezebel spirit” into the YouTube search engine, without Brian Eno or David Byrne’s names attached to it, their song of the same name is only the sixth result. The previous five videos are from Christian sources, and they all patiently explain the concept of “the Jezebel spirit” without a hint of […]
Rue Delaney on A Faux Funeral and Her New EP
Both UK artist Rue Delaney and her label-mate Fauness have hypnotic voices that feel half-elfin – sorta like what Liv Tyler would have sounded like if she sang her lines in Lord of the Rings. Not only is Rue’s new single musically charming, but the lyrics are first-rate, too: Wipe the tears across my skin […]
Retrospective Review: Alice in Chains Unplug and Narrow a Chasm on “Brother”
April 10, 1996. As the lineup of anxiously excited fans gather outside of the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the conversations are all undoubtedly similar. “How do you think they’ll sound?” “How do you think he’ll sound?” It has, after all, been almost three years since anybody has heard or seen Alice in Chains perform live. […]
Fairhazel on “Comfort Inn” and the Wilson/Nilsson Connection
Fairhazel is a British-born artist now residing in L.A. whose music is reminiscent of two Southern Cal melodic geniuses: Brian Wilson and Harry Nilsson. His latest single “Comfort Inn” features a Wilson-esque tempo change – and last year’s “I Wanna Die With My Blue Jeans On” has an impish Nilsson-y charm. Fairhazel’s “Save The Planet!” […]
