Jack Tempchin - Learning To Dance (Album Review)

August 27, 2015 by David Vousden in Singer-Songwriter, Country, Pop

Veteran singer-songwriter Jack Tempchin will forever be linked to Eagles and his composition ‘Peaceful Easy Feeling’ which was instrumental in launching the early 70’s country rock movement into the mainstream. Tempchin continued to work with Eagles over the years on such classic tunes as ‘Already Gone’ and enjoyed continued success in collaboration with Glenn Frey when Frey embarked on his successful solo career. Tempchin has continued to work with Eagles and has credits on 'Hell Freezes Over' and 'Long Road Out Of Eden'.

RGM Review Round-up May 2015

May 14, 2015 by David Vousden in Americana, Country, Singer-Songwriter, Soul

Over the last few months Red Guitar Music has received a plethora of releases that we have been unable to give a full review due to the fact that there are only 24 hours in the day. With this in mind we thought an occasional round up of a few quality releases that you might have missed would be in order. So without further delay here are album reviews for Peter Blachley, Pi Jacobs and Brian Ashley Jones.

Andrew Combs- All These Dreams (Album Review)

January 16, 2015 by Rich Barnard in Country, Pop, Singer-Songwriter

When you hear the pure pop bliss of ‘Foolin’, the first single from All These Dreams, the vocal tics of Roy Orbison and the production tricks of Phil Spector are probably the first things that come to mind. Once you’ve stopped hitting repeat on that track and take in the whole album it’s clear that Andrew Combs in fact belongs to a much more contemporary, if rare, breed of singer-songwriter. He shares his careful songcraft with the likes of David Mead, Justin Rutledge and Joe Firstman; artists whose pursuit of the perfect song seems so immersive that none of the fashion and trends of the last forty years can ever be the slightest bit relevant.

Run Boy Run - Something To Someone (Album Review)

December 09, 2014 by David Vousden in Folk, Country, Americana, Album Reviews

Run Boy Run features brother and sister Matt Rolland (fiddle, guitar) and Grace Rolland (cello, vocals), sisters Bekah Sandoval Rolland (fiddle, vocals) and Jen Sandoval (mandolin, vocals) with bass player Jesse Allen completing the quintet. ‘Something To Someone’ is their second album and was recorded at Bear Creek Studios in Woodinville, WA with producers Ryan Hadlock (The Lumineers) and Jerry Streeter (Brandi Carlile). The band may call Tucson, Arizona home but their acoustic blend of Bluegrass, Folk and Americana seems firmly rooted some 2000 miles across country in the sounds of the Appalachian South and is a treat for fans of traditional American music.

Michelle Lewis - The Parts Of Us That Still Remain (Album Review)

November 24, 2014 by David Vousden in Folk, Pop, Country, Singer-Songwriter, Album Reviews

If may have taken a decade for Michelle Lewis to release her second full length album but some things are worth waiting for and ‘The Parts Of Us That Still Remain’ which was self-released earlier this year in the USA will finally see the light of day in Europe on December 1st, 2014. The album was recorded in North Chelmsford, MA and at the Paramount Recording Studios in Los Angeles owned by her long-time collaborator Anthony J. Resta who co-produced the album with Lewis.

Steelism - 615 to FAME Album Review

September 11, 2014 by David Vousden in Country, Instrumental

One of the great things about music is you never know what‘s around the next corner, or the next click in this age of technology. Steelism and their debut album ‘615 to FAME’ is one of those moments when one click revealed a gem.

Darkhorse - Let It Ride

August 26, 2014 by David Vousden in Country, Album Reviews, Country Rock

Canadian vocalist Paul Laine has had a long and varied career as a solo artist and in the rock act Shugaazer, but is probably best known for his time as frontman for Danger Danger. Laine took over from original singer Ted Poley and spent a decade with the band. After a period working on other projects at his studio he returned to the limelight in 2014 as frontman for Darkhorse and released the excellent ‘Let It Ride’ album.

Jamison Road - Let It Rain

August 25, 2014 by David Vousden in Country, Album Reviews, Country Rock

Jamison Road is a trio featuring Jennifer DePalma (vocals), Brent Duersch (guitar) and Laurie Heltsley (bass / backing vocals) and ‘Let It Rain’ is their second album. It was released Aug, 2014 on the Sojourn label in the USA. The album was recorded in Nashville with Larry Beaird at the desk and with some of the top Nashville session players including Dan Dugmore and Eddie Buyers.

Parker Millsap

August 23, 2014 by David Vousden in Country, Album Reviews, Alt-Country, Americana

Oklahoma native Parker Millsap at just 20 is, frankly, the real deal. Raised in the Pentecostal church by parents with a love of blues and country music this release is a sparse, desolate piece of work that owes much to his personal history and Oklahoma itself.

Ward Thomas - From Where We Stand.

August 20, 2014 by David Vousden in Country, Album Reviews

At the time of writing the top slot on the UK Country chart is held by Ward Thomas. The interesting, and surprising, thing about this is Ward Thomas is Catherine and Lizzy Ward Thomas, 20 year old sisters from Hampshire. With the renewed interest in the genre due to the hit TV show ‘Nashville’ and with the Country2Country festival bringing top USA acts to the UK it would seem to be an opportune time for UK acts to make a dash for the spotlight. Hopefully Ward Thomas will be one of many acts to strike whilst the iron is hot.