2020 Album Reviews

Album Reviews


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Album Review: Jason Ringenberg - Rhinestoned

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  www.jasonringenberg.com You can't keep a good man down and Jason Ringenberg is one of the best of them. Boosted by the reception and satisfaction of his 2018 album STAND TALL, everybody's favourite cowpunk, witty, incisive, intelligent lyricist is back with another record as deep and broad as its predecessor. RHINESTONED is a passionate release depicting every inch the portrayal of Jason Ringenberg, namely historical curator, proud custodian of a style and blessed with a cavernous conscious. The starting point of this album may have been some of the leftovers of the previous record, but it has soon developed its own entity and matches up well with what Ringenberg has produced in a long career whether heading the Scorchers, playing up to the Farmer Jason moniker or just the plain solo act with something to offer.  This album has all the distinctive hallmarks of a Jason Ringenberg record from a vocal perspective as well as the routes chosen for the material. Of the four tracks...
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Album Review: Kevin Buckley - Big Spring

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  www.kevin-buckley.com The latest in a long line of albums getting a European release to co-exist alongside an earlier Stateside one is BIG SPRING by St.Louis-based multi music operator Kevin Buckley. To describe this dozen-strong offering as a fiddle feast pretty much hits the target, and if you are partial to this most pan-continental of instruments, then there are plenty of styles on offer to enjoy. Swing, bluegrass and traditional Irish folk music see Buckley expanding his repertoire on an album that truly feasts on a desire to frame a long standing passion. This is actually a debut solo release for a hugely experienced exponent of roots music and beyond. Band involvement and producing filled a lot of the time previously, but stepping out up front with a minimalist set up has shone a light on a raw talent. This has been mainly in the role of interpreting traditional tunes. It doesn't take a deep understanding of genre fiddle styles to detect the switch. Close you eyes and...
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Album Review: Annie Capps - How Can I Say This?

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  www.anniecapps.com If you enjoy diving into a deep lyrical pool, then the latest album from Annie Capps is a smart listener's delight. Taking a detour from her work with partner Rod, she plunges headlong into this stark and thoughtful solo project to deliver a dozen-strong collection. This presents HOW CAN I SAY THIS? as a body of personally driven songwriting of the highest calibre.  The notes inform a 40-strong cast of all women collaborators have assisted on this project, but you feel forever secure in the solo arms of a songwriter exploring life and nostalgia from numerous angles and experiences. The album plays out on a level plane with minimal highs and lows. A few more notable peaks may have boosted the impact for casual listeners, but sufficient elegance and guile puts the album firmly on the road to laudable acceptance. Truth or fiction are a creative writer's prerogative. We can only surmise the directions Capps takes throughout the songs here. She relies heavily o...
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