By Kyle McCraw For a little context, 1968 was the same year Neil Young left Buffalo Springfield and the year before the release of his first solo record. So, it should come as no shock that a little more than half of the songs here are from his Buffalo Springfield days (including “Mr. Soul,” and […]
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Kevin Costner & Modern West “Untold Truths” Universal South
By Kyle McCraw When I heard that Kevin Costner was releasing an album, I gotta admit, I was skeptical. It turns out Costner has been playing with Modern West member John Coinman since the late-80s. And that is exactly what this sounds like: a country rock album from the late-80s (For whatever reason, production-wise, the […]
The Wood Brothers “Loaded” Blue Note
by Kyle McCraw Every so often, you stumble upon an album that is immediately indispensable. Such was my experience first hearing The Wood Brothers’ debut, “Ways Not to Lose,” and I was worried that their follow-up, “Loaded” would not live up to my high expectations. In a sense, it didn’t because this feels less like […]
Hayes Carll “Trouble in Mind” Lost Highway
Kyle McCraw Houston singer/songwriter, Hayes Carll plays country music. Or, maybe you want to call it roots rock or Americana. If you need a specific comparison, Steve Earle’s not too far off. Whatever you call it, Carll delivers a solid set of songs on his first album for Lost Highway. His songs are about whiskey, […]
Randy Travis “Around the Bend” Warner Bros.
Kyle McCraw Randy Travis has spent the last nine years recording only gospel music, and “Around the Bend” marks his return to country. Fans should be happy, as this is a solid album throughout. And despite the overly slick production, Travis sounds relaxed, having fun with the material, including on his cover of Dylan’s “Don’t […]
Drive-By Truckers “Brighter than Creation’s Dark” New West
by Kyle McCraw One thing is clear: Drive-By Truckers is a band that believes in the album as a format. “Brighter than Creations Dark” is more than a collection of songs. They are songs that make sense together and flow into each other organically. After the soft, mournful “Two Daughters and a Beautiful Wife” has […]
