Category Archives: Album Reviews

Michael Bloomfield – From His Head To His Heart To His Hands

The late guitarist Michael Bloomfield’s name routinely appears on “best of” lists; the fact is, his musical legacy has never been served up in a proper collection – until now. And it took another musical legend to it. Al Kooper first crossed paths with Michael Bloomfield during Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 sessions: Kooper was on […]

Buffalo Killers – Ohio Grass

From Issue #79 of Hittin’ The Note magazine: my review of Buffalo Killers’ Ohio Grass album. (Click on the image to enlarge.) As always, many thanks to Hittin’ The Note publisher John Lynskey and the HTN crew!

Railroad Earth – Last Of The Outlaws

Last Of The Outlaws finds Railroad Earth in their twelfth year together, still discovering just what they’re made of – in the nicest of ways. Newest member Andrew Altman (who took over the bass duties from Johnny Grubb in 2010) has settled in nicely with a style that’s aggressive yet tasteful at the same time; […]

Hard Working Americans – Hard Working Americans

I bet I could make you smile just by listing off the members of the Hard Working Americans: Duane Trucks on drums, paired up with bass monster Dave Schools; Chad Staehly on keys laying it down alongside of Neal Casal on guitar; and Todd Snider out front on vocals. (Oh – and toss in cameos […]

Drive-By Truckers – Alabama Ass Whuppin’

From Issue #79 of Hittin’ The Note magazine: my review of the Drive-By Truckers’ live archival album Alabama Ass Whuppin’. (Click on the image to enlarge.)

Leo Welch – Sabougla Voices

Let’s ignore the story behind Leo Welch’s Sabougla Voices album for a moment and just talk about the tunes and nothing but the tunes. Here’s the deal, folks: if you like your blues raw and real and served up Mississippi downhome-style – slathered with gospel sauce – then you’re going to love this album. That’s […]

Chris Wilson – It’s Flamin’ Groovy!

Chris Wilson’s new It’s Flamin’ Groovy! belongs in the same category as Ronnie Wood’s I’ve Got My Own Album To Do or Ian McLagan’s Troublemaker: fine, fine solo albums by veteran rock ‘n’ rollers who have nothing to prove, playing music they love because … well … they frigging love it. Note that I would’ve […]

Quicksilver Messenger Service – Live At The Winterland Ballroom: December 1, 1973

Those with a basic grasp of Quicksilver Messenger Service history might hesitate to put an ear to this album if they’re fans of the late, great six-string John Cipollina – the master of tasteful-yet-untamed psychedelic guitar. But if they do, they’re missing out – big time. For although it’s true that the amazing Cipollina (along […]

Waydown Wailers – State Of The Union

Talk about making an entrance: the debut album from Canton, NY’s Waydown Wailers launches with all the majestic raggedy-assed ballsiness of an old Faces album. As “Mercy Mercy” begins, we join a shimmering guitar chord, already in process; everybody says hello: another guitar snarls and a barroom pi-any tinkles and cymbals start a’sizzling and a […]

Andy Revkin & Friends – A Very Fine Line

If left to my own devices, I’d probably use the word “sweet” about 37 times in writing this here review of singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Andy Revkin’s A Very Fine Line … because it is sweet. Not sugary, a-little’s-too-much sweet, but that savory/sweet like old Slim Chance albums; the kind of sweet that sounds as if it had […]