Red Guitar Music

News, reviews and more

  • Home
  • News
  • Album Reviews
  • Live Reviews
  • Features
    • The Baker's Dozen
    • Inside The Song
  • Interviews
  • Tour News
  • Contact
Drew Holcomb Souvenir cover art

Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors - Souvenir (Album Review)

March 13, 2017 by Rich Barnard in Album Reviews, Americana, Singer-Songwriter

Souvenir is their tenth album in just twelve years (a fairly impressive work-rate by anyone’s standards) but Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors remain relatively unknown outside the United States.  If you’re new to them and happen to like your American roots music passionate and delicate; strong and fragile; sweet and bitter all at once, then Souvenir is definitely, positively, absolutely going to be your bag.

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors last release - 2015’s rightly highly-praised Medicine - was an exquisite, near-perfect study in Americana, so it was always going to be tough to follow.  Wisely, Holcomb and Co. have chosen to innovate rather than recreate and, as a result, the leaner Souvenir is more diverse than its predecessor.  The band’s sound and character remains largely intact but there’s more sonic experimentation; a bolder approach to production and a broadening of horizons, with the rockers rocking harder and the ballads whispering closer.

Pic by Ashtin Paige

Pic by Ashtin Paige

The gently-strummed textbook Americana of opener 'The Morning Song' has all the magic of Ryan Adams at his very best with the added bonus of being bound together with Holcomb's pleasing David Gray-esque warble.  The song is an effortless-sounding instant classic, perfectly arranged with splashes of keyboards, guitars and percussion, all thoughtfully placed.  Aside from being irresistibly catchy and sway-inducing (I swayed, I challenge you not to) it is nothing short of a masterclass in production restraint - courtesy of Ian Fitchuk and Joe Pisapia, the team who were also responsible for Medicine.

Upbeat rocker 'California' notches up the pace, blasting in with electric guitars and harmonica.  Like a thousand other songs with the same title that came before it, it is a love-letter to The Golden State.  'Fight for Love' which follows continues the raucousness - all cacophonous drums and harmonica set to ‘howl’ this time - and was apparently recorded straight after the shock US election result.  No wonder, then, that there’s a kind of rage apparent in the heft of Holcomb's visceral, throaty delivery here.  There’s a chaos and rawness to these two tracks that just wasn’t present on the band’s previous release and is notoriously hard to capture in the studio environment.

The more intimate 'Rowdy Heart, Broken Wing' sees The Neighbors stripping things back and the song's drumlessness permits a welcome change in tone, as acoustic fingerpicking is left to drive things forward.  By contrast, the loop-like drums and blippy sampled harmonics of 'New Year' give the clever illusion of electronica.  This, for me, is the record's high point, keeping things interesting slap bang in the middle of things.  It helps, too, that the song that lies beneath is so beautifully drawn, mourning the passing of time and marking the ways in which some things never really change.

The piano-led 'Sometimes' has some subtly psychedelic touches (trippy filtered vocals and, delay-soaked drums) and, being penned by bassist Rich Brinsfield alone, feels very different from anything else on the record.  Guitarist and keyboard player Nathan Dugger also gets a solo writing credit on the unashamed old-school country ballad 'Yellow Rose of Santa Fe'.  With lashings of pedal steel, it’s a timeless slow-dancing vignette (see Country Songwriting Manual page 27: “fleeting yet powerful romantic encounter from the past, narrated wistfully”) and sees Holcomb delivering some choice lines: “She read me like the front page/And she loved me like a storm/Though she fixed me with her cold gaze/I’ve never seen a smile so warm.”  It’s cheese of course, but cheese of such quality is extremely hard to resist.

The jewel in the album’s crown is arguably the sad and beautiful closing number ‘Wild World’, led by Holcomb’s stark vocal and fingerpicked guitar, then joined ever-so-gently by Dugger’s piano.  Its simple, ageless message of love and tolerance is timely, particularly in present-day America but, of course, applies to all of us.  Souvenir is full of this hope and positivity and is a record that really deserves to have a long reach.  Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors are preaching unity already, as this album has such a wide stylistic appeal, but I think it’s high time they had even more converts to the cause.  At the risk of sounding cheesy myself, this is no tacky impulse purchase at the gift shop; it’s the kind of Souvenir you’ll cherish for years.

'Souvenir' will be released April 21st in the UK / Europe.

Review by Rich Barnard

Americana Reviews
The Speaker Wars (Album Review)
Album Reviews, Americana, Classic Rock, Country, Country Rock
The Speaker Wars (Album Review)
Album Reviews, Americana, Classic Rock, Country, Country Rock

Life is full of surprises. At a time when the majority of people would be content to retire, potter about in the garden, and leave new music to the young folks, erstwhile Heartbreakers drummer Stan Lynch is back with a new band and an impressive new record. The other surprise is that the Italian Frontiers label, usually the home of all things AOR and melodic hard rock, continues a welcome expansion into other musical realms. The Speaker Wars and Frontiers seem like unlikely bedfellows, but the label is to be commended for landing this particular release. More please.

Album Reviews, Americana, Classic Rock, Country, Country Rock
Jaywalkers - Move On
Album Reviews, Americana, Country
Jaywalkers - Move On
Album Reviews, Americana, Country

Jaywalkers first came to prominence via an appearance in the finals of the BBC Young Folk Awards in 2008. In the years since, the trio has built a solid following, effortlessly merging folk, country and bluegrass into their particular brand of English Americana via a combination of impressive musicianship, impeccable harmonies and a knack for identifying a good tune. Their latest album ‘Move On’, sensitively produced by Joe Rusby, is an impressive addition to their discography.

Album Reviews, Americana, Country
John Surge and The Haymakers - Maybe You Don't Know Me EP
Album Reviews, Alt-Country, Americana, Country
John Surge and The Haymakers - Maybe You Don't Know Me EP
Album Reviews, Alt-Country, Americana, Country

To quote John Surge, “These five songs represent a real cross-section of the music we make”. John is referencing a new EP aptly titled, ‘Maybe You Don’t Know Me’. The ‘Almost Time’ album from last year was well received, but Surge still had a host of material that wasn’t quite right for that record but worked well in his live set. A live set that had gotten John noticed on the LA country scene in the first place. Surge re-connected with highly regarded Texas producer Tommy Detamore  {Doug Sahm, Jim Lauderdale, Sunny Sweeney, Jesse Daniel} and reenlisted many of the ‘Almost Time’ crew including his right-hand Haymaker guitarist Randy Volin, plus Brennen Leigh on harmony vocals, Brad Fordham (Dave Alvin/Hayes Carll) on bass, Tom Lewis (Junior Brown/Raul Malo) on drums and Floyd Domino (Asleep at the Wheel, Merle Haggard) on keyboards.

Album Reviews, Alt-Country, Americana, Country
Fred Abbott and The Wild Unknown - Shining Under The Soot (Album Review)
Album Reviews, Americana, Classic Rock, Country Rock, Singer-Songwriter
Fred Abbott and The Wild Unknown - Shining Under The Soot (Album Review)
Album Reviews, Americana, Classic Rock, Country Rock, Singer-Songwriter

Fred Abbott may be better known to you as the guitarist from the much-loved and hard-to-pigeonhole band Noah & The Whale.  A popular live draw, their refreshing, inventive approach to songwriting and record-making set them apart from the crowd but ultimately the band split in 2015, with four albums to their name.  Abbott’s solo debut, Serious Poke, appeared shortly after, sporting a more straightforward, guitar-centred sound.  Eight years later - and having gained broad experience as a session musician and producer in between - Abbott has returned with Shining Under The Soot, a mature and beautifully crafted follow-up, brimming with energy and heart. 

Album Reviews, Americana, Classic Rock, Country Rock, Singer-Songwriter
Ledfoot and Ronni Le Tekrø - Limited Edition Lava Lamp (Album Review)
Album Reviews, Americana, Blues, Singer-Songwriter
Ledfoot and Ronni Le Tekrø - Limited Edition Lava Lamp (Album Review)
Album Reviews, Americana, Blues, Singer-Songwriter

Ledfoot aka Tim Scott McConnell and Ronni Le Tekrø seem, at first look, like an odd pair. Tim, born in Florida, has been based in Norway for many years, adopting the Ledfoot moniker in 2007 after a string of solo releases on major labels and as frontman of The Havalinas. Ronni Le Tekrø is best known as the guitarist in TNT, Norwegian rock royalty, enjoying considerable international success since their formation in 1982. The Norwegian connection would seem to be the cement here, and ‘Limited Edition Lava Lamp’ is their second record as a duo.

Album Reviews, Americana, Blues, Singer-Songwriter
Sam Outlaw - Popular Mechanics (Album Review)
80s, Album Reviews, Americana, Country, Singer-Songwriter
Sam Outlaw - Popular Mechanics (Album Review)
80s, Album Reviews, Americana, Country, Singer-Songwriter

The press release that accompanied ‘Popular Mechanics’ referenced Kenny Loggins, Tom Petty and Cyndi Lauper, all acts that have a home in my collection, so I was intrigued to hear what exactly Sam Outlaw had in mind on his new album. Listeners familiar with Outlaw and his impressive back catalogue might find the mention of Cyndi a tad incongruous as his previous records had received positive reviews for their take on the southern California country sound. As it turned out, I was pleased to find Outlaw might have taken a left turn, but he was far from lost.

80s, Album Reviews, Americana, Country, Singer-Songwriter
Jack Francis - Jack Francis (Album Review)
Album Reviews, Americana, Singer-Songwriter
Jack Francis - Jack Francis (Album Review)
Album Reviews, Americana, Singer-Songwriter

Listening to Jack Francis is a bit like getting reacquainted with an old friend. The Southampton troubadour has a knack with a melody and a transatlantic approach reminiscent of 70s songwriters such as The Band, Paul Simon and Van Morrison. The route to his self-titled album might have been a long and circuitous one, but the resulting record is a triumph that should crack a smile on the most stone-faced individual.

Album Reviews, Americana, Singer-Songwriter
Noah Guthrie - Blue Wall (Album Review)
Album Reviews, Alt-Country, Americana, Country, Country Rock, Singer-Songwriter
Noah Guthrie - Blue Wall (Album Review)
Album Reviews, Alt-Country, Americana, Country, Country Rock, Singer-Songwriter

In 2022 everybody and their dog is making a record which can be both a blessing and a curse (as the RGM inbox often reminds me). The upside to this situation is the myriad ways to discover new artists, which brings me to Noah Guthrie. Admittedly Noah Guthrie is hardly a new name, as watchers of reality TV talent shows will already be well aware (Guthrie reached the semi-final of America’s Got Talent in 2018) and even appeared in the final season of Glee. Neither of these events popped up on my radar, but late one night, lost down a rabbit hole of YouTube videos, I stumbled upon guitarist Rhett Shull preparing for a gig with a bloke named Noah Guthrie…

Album Reviews, Alt-Country, Americana, Country, Country Rock, Singer-Songwriter
John Hinshelwood - Called Back (the poems of Emily Dickinson) (Album Review)
Album Reviews, Americana, Bluegrass, Folk, Jazz
John Hinshelwood - Called Back (the poems of Emily Dickinson) (Album Review)
Album Reviews, Americana, Bluegrass, Folk, Jazz

For his sixth solo release Scottish singer and songwriter John Hinshelwood has taken a different approach to his craft inspired by the poems of Emily Dickinson (1830-1886). The reclusive Dickinson, who wrote almost 1800 poems during her lifetime, conducted most of her correspondence with the outside world via letter, especially after she retreated to her bedroom in later life. The sheer volume of Dickinson’s work was not discovered until after her death and she is now considered one of the finest American poets of her generation. John Hinshelwood readily admits that his connection to Dickinson was initially limited to a mention of her in a Paul Simon song, but the purchase of a volume of ‘Selected Poems’ would spark an interest that would become an obsession (in a good way).

Album Reviews, Americana, Bluegrass, Folk, Jazz
Jesse Terry - When We Wander (Album Review)
Album Reviews, Americana, Singer-Songwriter
Jesse Terry - When We Wander (Album Review)
Album Reviews, Americana, Singer-Songwriter

Jesse Terry is the kind of musician you could happily take home to meet your folks, safe in the knowledge that your imminent engagement would get their full endorsement. Your mother would ask, flushed, “is he too good to be true?” I don’t think there is anyone quite as clean-cut as Jesse Terry in the whole wide world of Americana. It’s just a pity for all you singletons that he is already married (to wife Jess – Jess, I know!) and has a young daughter. Unsurprisingly, then, family is at this record’s heart, as Jesse and Jess were raising their child on tour until being forced off the road by the pandemic. It’s the first time Terry has properly pulled over in a decade, having been a full-time troubadour with Jess by his side since 2010.

Album Reviews, Americana, Singer-Songwriter
M G Boulter - Clifftown (Album Review)
Album Reviews, Folk, Singer-Songwriter, Americana
M G Boulter - Clifftown (Album Review)
Album Reviews, Folk, Singer-Songwriter, Americana

As concepts for albums go, faded Essex seaside towns might not be the most likely choice but singer-songwriter M G Boulter has carefully hewn a hugely affecting set of songs from the rocks of Clifftown, a pseudonym for his beloved Southend-on-Sea. For those new to the name, Boulter has been making solo records since 2013, having cut his teeth in various bands and he’s now signed to the independent label Hudson Records, alongside Karine Polwart, Bellowhead and Jenny Sturgeon. With a vocal that is as vulnerable as Neil Young but as English as Nick Drake, M G Boulter has concentrated the promise of his first two records into an extremely accomplished third that marries his poetic lyrics with intricate (but unshowy) guitar playing.

Album Reviews, Folk, Singer-Songwriter, Americana
Amigo The Devil - Born Against (Album Review)
Album Reviews, Americana, Folk, Singer-Songwriter
Amigo The Devil - Born Against (Album Review)
Album Reviews, Americana, Folk, Singer-Songwriter

2018’s ‘Everything Is Fine’ was one of that year's finest releases and marked Danny Kiranos aka Amigo The Devil as one to watch. ‘Everything Is Fine' is a terrific record full of dark imagery unhindered by genre stereotypes. It might not be quite everyone’s cup of tea but if you like a good murder ballad delivered by a heavily bearded man with a banjo then ‘Everything Is Fine’ could well become your go-to album. As it turned out the album only told half the story as the RGM team found on our last but one pre lockdown night out in February of 2020. The Amigo The Devil live experience is something else entirely, ‘Everything Is Fine’ is a fantastic record but put ATD on a stage and the results are very special. In forty years of gig-going, I’ve rarely seen an artist connect with an audience in the same way as ATD. The subject matter might often be jet black but ATD is not without humour and his followers appreciate the honesty within and can relate to his grasp of the daily problems we all face, and how we deal with those problems that have, in many cases, been exaggerated by the world around us in 2021.

Album Reviews, Americana, Folk, Singer-Songwriter
March 13, 2017 /Rich Barnard
Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors
Album Reviews, Americana, Singer-Songwriter
  • Newer
  • Older
News RSS
Album Reviews RSS
Live Reviews RSS
Foreign Music CDJapan

Red Guitar Music is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.co.uk and affiliated sites.

Powered by Squarespace