Three Chords and the Truth UK

www.luceromusic.com Memphis based roots rock band Lucero continue their association with Nashville operation Thirty Tigers with the release of their second album on this progressive platform. WHEN YOU FOUND ME follows in a similar vein to their 2018 outing when the horns synonymous with their hometown sound were eased out for a rawer rock 'n' roll feel. In line with AMONG THE GHOSTS finding new audiences the same could happen with this album that also features band frontman Ben Nichols shaping his writing from a deeper and more sensitive personal perspective. If the gravitational pull is for Lucero to float in the Americana ether then they will be in fine company as the feel from the new album is akin to those pioneers of alt-country who form a significant band within the broad umbrella of the ubiquitous genre.  While the writing subjects on Lucero's new record are strongly influenced by the tender moments of family placidity, there is still a harsh side to the vocals coupl...

  www.fortyelephantgang.com A memorable name is a useful starting point to draw folks in to checking out what you have to offer. By naming their band after an infamous group of female pickpockets from the Elephant and Castle, this East London based trio have secured the ideal starting point and are well equipped to warm those who take a punt on their brand of folk-inspired anglicised Americana music. NEXT TIME AROUND by Forty Elephant Gang is a debut offering of eleven tracks that bins the term potential and delivers a major hit straight from the off. Guitars and mandolin inspire the sound marshalled by Forty Elephant Gang who use the simple tools at their disposal to craft a mature brand of musicianship, whilst keeping an eager eye on serving up a catchy tune. The album mixes an ideal blend of gentle and rousing moments to give the listener a comprehensive peep into what they have to offer. Whether you are moved by the foot stomping mandolin-driven folk vibes of ' Jealousy' o...

  www.jackcade.com The music of Jack Cade emerges from an atmospheric mist of dry ice to create an instant impact upon the ears of a curious crowd. This crowd may or may not be unsuspecting, but some spadework is likely to be the order of the day to dig deep into the rich seam of an artist as distinctive as you are likely to come across on the roots circuit. Don't expect an easy ride if you fancy taking pot luck with a new artist, and this album is certainly not for the faint hearted. From the implied message in its title, THE DEATH THROES OF A JADED EMPIRE is a vehicle to lament on how things aren't really what they should be and maybe a spot of songwriting therapy can free the soul. Make no mistake this will be filed among the darker elements in your music collection, yet that corner can be awash with riches.  Beneath the power hammer vibes of Cade's pounding vocals lie a bunch of irresistible songs headed by the mesmerising ' The Amber Lights' , a song rapidly be...

www.giuliamillanta.com Another new year, another new name, and a welcome one to boot. TOMORROW IS A BIRD took a maiden flight back in October from its Austin home and now veers its path to a Euro destination with a focussed release on the old world - literally for exiled Italian Giulia Millanta. Whether you are a veteran of this artist's previous six albums or totally new like me, there is something to be enjoyed from the quirky edge that is etched into a hugely creative body of work.  Millanta is firmly embedded into the Austin music scene since moving there in 2012. A scene that prides itself on being inclusive, forward thinking and embracing a cultural aside. This comes across in the ten tracks on the album that are mainly self-written by an artist who adds the notch of being a recently published author to her repertoire. However it is the musical side of her creativity that is pushed to the fore here and succeeds as a captivating piece of work complete with an alternative twist...

  www.annaelizabethlaube.com While artists at the pinnacle of the market have the luxury of releasing a greatest hits album at an opportune moment, those further down the food chain have to be more creative when it comes to taking stock of a career and releasing something retrospective. Anna Elizabeth Laube is one such artist and no doubt hopes that ANNAMANIA is a conduit to a prosperous future. Regardless of their commercial status the songs chosen for this reflective collection of a recording career stretching back fifteen years are all 'hits' in an alternative universe where substance trumps style.  This is epitomised by Laube's standout song ' Sweet Boy From Minnesota ' which shone like a beacon when released on her self-titled album in 2015 and sits proudly as the opening piece on this collection. It is joined by two others from ANNA LAUBE (for keen observers released prior to the inclusion of the middle name to either formalise matters or make them grander)....

www.iambradcox.com Make no mistake Brad Cox is groomed for that high octane tub thumping stage moment when a powerful sound reverberates around an arena and remnants of country evaporate in a haze of rock, both in a soft and hardened fashion. There is also the ingredient designed to fuel a chase for that competitive buck harnessed by country radio and road mapped by an industry smart enough to tap into profitable trends. MY MIND'S PROJECTION is loaded upfront with these credentials, yet there is a subtle underpinning when you strip away the pretence. Cox is astute enough to pack the rump of this album with a hybrid sound that widens the expanse of influence. He excels at the sensitive country rock ballad and is determined enough to push his writing to the fore. Of course like any major label backed project the writing falls into the realms of the team approach, but you feel that Cox is in control and what you get is straight from his own heart and soul.  From the rich seam of a mod...

  www.gerryspehar.com You will have to travel far in 2021 to find a record with greater personal satisfaction for the artist than this impromptu EP by Colorado based troubadour Gerry Spehar. Releasing LADY LIBERTY to the world on January 20th, Inauguration Day, is also no coincidence, and eagle eyed fans can trace it back to track #1 on Spehar's 2018 album ANGER MANAGEMENT.  At that time, the now single term tenure of the 45th President was at its midpoint and Spehar's own anger management was successfully channelled into a good ole traditional protest album, one greeted with widespread approval by outlets whose boat is floated by such records. The opening track on that album was rather ironically titled ' Thank You Donald' , perhaps suggesting that the protest song market was about to receive a stimulus. Now on the date that the 46th President is sworn in, Spehar sparks a different tone on his latest record while still holding onto the theme of protest, although with a...

www.peachandquietmusic.com Peach & Quiet may appear as a new name with a debut album unveiled to the waiting world, but there are heaps of experience behind the facade which essentially functions as life partners duo Heather Read and Jonny Miller. As a first outing JUST BEYOND THE SHINE skips across the airwaves with a sense of purpose and cheery demeanour, whilst oozing with the class and structure of a seasoned operation. The album is a prime blend of luscious folk rock delicately decorated with a 60s sheen and some sincere country-folk in the tradition of that combo-genre's finest duets.  Two names that jumped out from the engine room of Peach & Quiet are Steve Dawson and Adam Dobres, both witnessed playing in the UK over the years - the former in conjunction with Birds of Chicago and the latter as a member of Ruth Moody's touring band. Indeed the multiple guitar parts that the pair likely added are an integral part of this album's appeal that hits you straight f...