Browsing Tag

Country Blues

Jack Cade – The Glitter Around Your Eyes: Achingly Affecting Americana

Posted on 21 February 2024
Bewilderland by Jack Cade and the Everyday Sinners

If you always turn to Cohen, Waits and Nick Cave for sonic solace, redirect your quest for sanctity toward Jack Cade’s folk-meets-alt-country LP, Bewilderland.

His gruff baritone notes against Helen Muggeridge’s glassy-with-soul harmonies create a heart-wrenchingly sentimental dynamic in the standout single, The Glitter Around Your Eyes. Like all of the most affecting love songs, the alchemic feat of Americana lyrically locks into the minute details of affection to elucidate how deep in the veins the affection runs.

Around the bluesy guitar bends, honkytonk piano keys that give the track a touch of the 70s and the roots-wrapped tones as a courtesy of the slide guitar, the two vocalists portray a hesitant yet fervent testament of passion which reaches the epitome of compelling. Slow dance to it, cry your heart out to it as you mourn lost loves, or make it a playlist staple; whatever you do, don’t pass up on this timelessly touching serenade from the UK-hailing conduit of candour.

The Glitter Around Your Eyes was officially released on January 26th; stream the single and Jack Cade’s seminal LP, Bewilderland, on Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ross Flora grappled with the melancholy of unfulfilled potential in ‘As the Crow Flies’

Posted on 25 November 2023
Ross Flora

Ross Flora’s EP, As the Crow Flies, is a poignant and reflective journey through the heart of country folk. Hailing from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Flora’s upbringing in a milieu rich with R&B and Bluegrass influences is palpably reflected in the acoustically adorned, stripped-back title single. His gruff, resonant timbres weave through the wistful yearning harmonies, creating a tapestry of sound that resonates deeply with anyone who has ever grappled with the melancholy of unfulfilled potential.

The lyrical tempo of As the Crow Flies is akin to a melodied spoken word sermon, imbued with regretful poetry. Flora’s background as an English major shines through in his lyrical craftsmanship, as he skilfully interweaves themes reminiscent of literary greats like Dickinson, Thoreau, and Whitman. The result is a narrative that is both deeply personal and universally relatable; Someone hand him a Grammy for the line “I’d be half the man I’d ought to be less than half the time”.

Ross Flora’s journey from the family farm to Nashville, performing over 4,000 shows and collaborating with acts like “Johnny T” Band and “Smoke n’ Guns,” has clearly honed his ability to capture the essence of southern rock and outlaw country. If you want to hear a heart poured out in melody, hit play on As the Crow Flies.

Stream the As the Crow Flies EP, which debuted on October 27 on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Get your recklessly raucous country rock fix with Tracy Inman’s latest single, I’m Drunk Again

Posted on 27 July 2023

When only boozy & bluesy tongue-in-cheek country rock will hit the spot, dig into the latest single, I’m Drunk Again, from the recklessly raucous singer-songwriter Tracy Inman.

From endearing accounts of encounters with bullfrogs to tales of hedonism that make Charles Bukowski sound like a lightweight to sing-along choruses and foot-stompin’ rhythmics, I’m Drunk Again delivers it all in one tidy, polished, and infectiously feel-good package.

Even though the country genre is proliferated with songs about whiskey, the St. Louis-hailing singer-songwriter still managed to pull something original out of the brown paper bag. I can only imagine how well I’m Drunk Again goes down in a live performance in crowded and bleary rooms.

Stream I’m Drunk Again on Spotify, or check out Tracy Inman via his official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Terry Blade warns even unconditional love has its limits in his Country-Blues single, ‘Won’t Be Around’

Posted on 6 January 2023

Two-time recipient of the Global Music Awards, Terry Blade, lined himself up for more prestigious accolades by recording his latest single, Won’t Be Around. The stripped-back simmering melting pot of Gospel-Esque Soul, Blues and Country commands your adoration from the first gravelled in feisty-fervour vocal note.

From there on out, the lyrics compel you to take stock of the protagonists in your life as you’re reminded that unconditional love always has its limits. With his voice commanding the soundscape, which paid homage to the roots of Americana with the minimalistic trickle of bluesy keys and strummed acoustic guitar notes, you’re left with no option but to be arrested.

During his career, which sheds light on his experience as a black gay artist, Terry Blade has picked up over 40 awards, And something tells us his glory days are far from behind him.

Won’t Be Around will officially release on January 6th. Hear it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Love Prevails in Mermaid Avenue’s Indie Alt-Country Single, Darkest Hour

Posted on 2 November 2022

Brisbane’s most amorous indie alt-country outfit, Mermaid Avenue, has testified to the redemptive propensities of love in their latest single, Darkest Hour, taken from their third album, which is due for release in 2023.

The crooned country twang with the heart-wrenchingly executed vibrato in the vocals beside the meandering blues of the guitars and flourishing piano motifs is a potent combination which amplifies the message in the uninhibitedly romantic lyricism to the nth degree.

What Mr Darcy is to literature, Mermaid Avenue is to the airwaves. Any fans of Trudy and the Romance will want to sink into the cinematic sincerity of this serenade time and time again. It’s not country as you’ve known it before; Mermaid Avenue could never be so assimilative in their autonomously scintillating style.

Darkest Hour is now available to stream via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The West Australian Alt-Country Singer-Songwriter, Siobhan Cotchin, Takes us to Tucson in Her Latest Ethereally Luminous Release

Posted on 27 February 2022

After garnering over 100k streams on Spotify with her 2020 single Do You Know What I Mean? Siobhan Cotchin has returned to the airwaves with her ethereally bluesy Americana single, Tucson. It will undoubtedly be a hit with fans of Big Thief, Angel Olsen and Bonny Light Horsemen.

The West Australian alt-country/rock singer-songwriter’s career has already taken off in Australia. Based on the luminous accordance of Tucson, paired with Cotchin’s determination to weave immersive introspective narratives, she has everything it takes to become an international country-rock icon. In a similar style to Kurt Vile, the award-winning artist caresses the roots of Americana while securing its place in the 21st-century. Her minimalist angular melodies fall into the cavernous production just as succinctly as the lyrics that allude to the subjective desolateness of Tucson.

Tuscon is now available to stream and purchase on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Grant Maloy Smith has shared their all too relatable Alt Country Folk single “Waiting for the Good Old Days Again” with the airwaves

Posted on 30 June 2020

We may not have heard any lockdown songs from Cat Stevens, but US artist Grant Maloy Smith has achieved the very same evocative effect as Wild World with his latest single “Waiting for the Good Old Days Again”.

The Alt Country Folk single shares the all too relatable emotion which has transpired from being left in stasis with the days bleeding into one another because there is nothing to set them apart. The soundscape certainly isn’t without its melancholy, but the stunning semi-orchestral instrumental arrangement makes it hard to slip into a morose state as your listening to the ethereal pull of the strings.

It really comes as no surprise that Grant Maloy Smith entered the Billboard charts with their previous releases. There is an incredibly nuanced and matured air to their latest single which can only come from an artist who has dedicated their life to their art.

You can check out the official music video for Waiting for the Good Old Days Again via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

”Barns, Babes, and Bourbon” is a story of Brandon Bing’s three favorite passions

Posted on 10 June 2020

Sometimes its best to keep life simple and just do what you know. This is certainly the attitude of Country and Western singer Brandon Bing. Big Hoss keeps things light and fun in his new single called ”Barns, Babes, and Bourbon”.

Taken off his latest EP- “The Florida Man”, ”Barns, Babes, and Bourbon” follows the same popular formula as his previous music to much success. If it ain’t broke, why fix it?

Florida native Brandon Bing knows what he likes and depicts this perfectly with descriptive lyrics and a happy-go-lucky attitude to life that makes him feel down to earth and likable. ”Barns, Babes, and Bourbon” is an American winner, due to the simple strategy of getting folks onto the dance floor, and enjoying the evening. Keeping things simple is something the world needs more of and Brandon is a perfect guide to this path.

Stream this song and more from Brandon Bing on his YouTube channel.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Jerry Impini – Good Time Woman: A Feel-Good Alt Country Playlist Essential

Posted on 12 March 2020

Alt-Country artist Jerry Impini released their latest single Good Time Woman on February 3rd, 2020 and placed a rhythmically accordant Jazz-infused earworm on the airwaves.

The single fuses a myriad of tonally-warm, timelessly-accessible genres together allowing Good Time Woman to resonate like nothing you’ve ever heard before. You’ll find everything from Soul, to Motown, to Folk Blues, to Jazz and Funk in Good Time Woman. Naturally, it’s an organic feel-good hit which won’t fail to leave you enamoured.

The vibrant popping melodies work in perfect synergy with Jerry Impini’s harmonically resonant vocals, making Good Time Woman the perfect aural pick me up to have on your playlists!

You can check out Jerry Impini’s latest single via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Becky and the Keys – Cold Water Creek: Soulfully Vintage Country Blues

Posted on 17 July 2019

Looking to delve into a vintage soundscape which will strip away the suffocating pressures of the 21st century? Granting you 2:26 minutes of indulgent aural escape is the latest single “Cold Water Creek” by the up and coming Northern Ireland-based artist Becky and the Keys.

Whatever you’re expecting from the soundscape from that description alone, throw away your preconceptions and prepare for Becky Baxter’s soulfully dominant vocals to bring a vivacious serving of Country Blues which may as well have come from the swamps of Tennessee.

Cold Water Creek is a timeless single which brings a stiff serving of the contemporary resonance, making sure that once you’ve heard the rich tones in the warm and full-bodied arrangement, there’s little chance of you forgetting them.

You’ll be able to listen to Cold Water Creek for yourselves from the date of release on July 26th, 2019.

Keep up to date with all of the artist’s latest releases via Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast