Jubu Smith – Jubu On the first listen, I came away with a soul-blues guitarist who lent a sizzling jazz guitar thread down his ax’s neck. This is evident in the opener “Hamster Wheel.” Why do I say this? Well, this isn’t the Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker & Robert Johnson blues guitar of the […] The post REVIEW: Jubu Smith “Jubu” appeared first on Americana Highways ..read more

Vote For Your Favorite Albums of July 2024 poll: Vote for three. Email us at americanahighways@gmail.com with “July poll” in the subject heading if we need to add your favorite to the list! Poll is open until the end of the day September 5.  Top winners will be featured in our playlists.   You can […] The post Vote For Your Favorite Albums of July 2024 poll appeared first on Americana Highways ..read more

Memphis Royal Brothers – Self-Titled This is an interesting release with multiple name performers who add to the curiosity that is this illuminating project. There are 8 tidy soulfully rendered pieces by varied award-winning vocalists on Memphis Royal Brothers – Self-Titled (Drops July 26/Royal Records/40:00) produced by Grammy-Award-winning Boo Mitchell with Richard Bolen. While the […] The post REVIEW: Memphis Royal Brothers – Self-Titled appeared first on Americana Highways ..read more

Drive-By Truckers – Southern Rock Opera – Deluxe Edition What’s past is prologue. – Shakespeare, The Tempest We go through reactionary phases in America, and we are most definitely deeply in one now. It’s hard to pinpoint the exact beginning of it – was it the Tea Party movement that began in 2009? Or a […] The post REVIEW: Drive-By Truckers “Southern Rock Opera” – Deluxe Edition appeared first on Americana Highways ..read more

JD Souther – You’re Only Lonely This veteran singer is a Detroit, Michigan guitarist/songwriter who always flew under the radar. He appeared as a backup singer or co-writer of songs on many major artist’s LPs through the years. He was present in 1988 at the Roy Orbison & Friends classic Black & White Night live […] The post REVIEW: JD Souther “You’re Only Lonely” appeared first on Americana Highways ..read more

Yarn – Born, Blessed, Grateful & Alive This is the first studio album in 8 years for the four-time Grammy nominee band from North Carolina. Their menu is primarily roots rock & features some guest musicians from accomplished bands such as Railroad Earth & the Infamous Stringdusters (not too shabby). There are 12 well-connected threads […] The post REVIEW: Yarn “Born, Blessed, Grateful & Alive” appeared first on Americana Highways ..read more

Stephen Jacques – Prayers For An Orange Cat This music is an interesting set of well-written & performed alt-rock love songs with generous touches of soul & folk with a post-punk vibe. Ten articulate Prayers For An Orange Cat (Drops July 26/Independent/34:56) were produced in Chicago by the late Steve Albini (Big Black) to ensure […] The post REVIEW: Stephen Jacques “Prayers For An Orange Cat” appeared first on Americana Highways ..read more

Jeff Crosby – Another Petal Falls Off the Rose There’s a surprising lack of Americana music from the interior Pacific Northwest. With its small towns, natural beauty and wide-open highways, you’d think Idaho and Montana would inspire the kind of soul-searching songs produced seemingly at will in the Deep South. So when an artist like […] The post REVIEW: Jeff Crosby “Another Petal Falls Off the Rose” appeared first on Americana Highways ..read more

Erin Ash Sullivan – Signposts and Marks I have to go through many CDs each week. Sometimes the choice is perfectly suited to the weather, the hour, or the atmosphere. I remember at 14 listening to Robin Ward’s “Wonderful Summer.” The penetrating voice & sad melody I knew would be carved in my memory. When […] The post REVIEW: Erin Ash Sullivan “Signposts and Marks” appeared first on Americana Highways ..read more

Marley Hale – By My Own Ways – 5-Song EP The songs on this debut touch on heavy themes. They cruise through self-loathing, self-acceptance & heartbreak with detours into avoidance & shame to an all-consuming longing. Not your average easy listening experience but…Marley Hale’s engaging. The Texas native grew up in California, moved back to […] The post REVIEW: Marley Hale “By My Own Ways” appeared first on Americana Highways ..read more