​Gary Nicholson (from the album Common Sense on Qualified Records) (By Lee Zimmerman) Gary Nicholson boasts the kind of credentials that only artists of the most hallowed status can claim. A two-time Grammy winner and member of the Songwriting Hall of Fame, his efforts extend to multiple musical genres, including Country, Blues, Pop, Rock, Folk, Bluegrass, and Americana. There have been over 700 recordings of his work, many written in collaboration with others. Over the past four decades, his songs have been covered by any number of icons — Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Bonnie Rait ..read more

the innocence mission (from the album Midwinter Swimmers on Bella Union) (by Lee Zimmerman) the innocence mission — the nom de plume for Karen and Don Petit — have always made music underpinned by tender trappings and an ethereal ambience. The couple’s new album,  , offers series of songs best suited for the morning after rather than the revelry of a festive night before. Nevertheless, the sheer beauty of the proceedings offers a unique luster that’s quietly comforting and consistently affecting as well.  The exquisite lyricism of the title track offers one of many ideal examples, an ..read more

​The Cowsills (from the album Global on Omnivore Records) (by Lee Zimmerman) To some folks — or for that matter, maybe most folks — The Cowsills may seem like an anachronism, a perky Pop band whose ‘60s hits — “The Rain, the Park and Other Things”, “Hair”, and “Indian Lake” in particular — established them not only as teeny bopper sensations, but as the starry-eyed template for the TV series “The Partridge Family”.  While that early image might have contradicted any impression that they were actually serious musicians, several of the band members went on to achieve a measure of success al ..read more

Chuck Prophet with Qiensave (from the album Wake the Dead available on Yep Roc Records)  Chuck Prophet is making pals in Central California. Makes sense as he’s a California musician, from his beginnings in Green on Red in Los Angeles, to spending much of the past decades in San Francisco. He’s been spinning a lot of Cumbia music as personal and medicinal listening, and a meeting with Cumbia band Qiensave out of Salinas, CA (a town he’s likely driven by a few hundred times) fostered a fertile musical meeting. The results of the get-together is  a solid combination of uplifting Cumbia ..read more

​The Coward Brothers (Elvis Costello and T-Bone Burnett) (from the album The Coward Brothers available on New West Records) (By Lee Zimmerman) Like The Traveling Wilburys, the fictitious band of brothers who provided the aegis for the super group consisting of George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty, The Coward Brothers are a nom-de-plume for Elvis Costello and T-Bone Burnett, outstanding artists each in his own right. They play the part on both stage and in the studio, subverting their actual identities in order to carry on their covert guise. The result is an epony ..read more

​Ben Chapman (from the album Downbeat available on Hippie Shack Records) (by Brian Rock) Nashville Singer/Songwriter Ben Chapman gets down on his debut album,  . The well-respected songwriter (with cuts by Shelby Lynne, Flatland Cavalry, The Steel Woods, and others,) finally steps from the sidelines into the spotlight. With a unique style that’s equal parts Guy Clark, Lowell George, and Chirs Robinson, Ben Chapman creates funky, down-home music that’s ideal for singing, stomping, or sipping along with on your back porch. A walking bass line introduces the title track as Chapman sings ..read more

​Eric Brace & Last Train Home (from the E.P. Used Songs for Sale available on Red Beet Records) (by Danny McCloskey) Becoming musical magicians, Eric Brace & Last Train Home have taken three band-favorite tracks, releasing a trio of tunes on the recent E.P.,  . Eric’s East Nashville neighbor, RobinAugust, steps to the microphone for a cover of Tommy Keene’s “Places That Are Gone”.   offers a true-to-the original-version of The Bee Gees 1967 hit “To Love Somebody” while Eric Brace and Last Train Home dapple the cut with Country Soul, adding roof-reaching guitar leads, war ..read more

​Father John Misty (from the album Mahashmashana available on SubPop Records) (by Lee Zimmerman) Joshua Michael Tillman, who operates under the ubiquitous handle of Father John Misty, might seem a somewhat elusive character, courtesy of a sardonic lyrical style and a musical approach that can easily veer from quirky Power Pop to a Nu-Folk regimen. Having originally gained his start as the drummer for Fleet Foxes, he went on to release eight albums under his birth name and another six under his adopted aegis over the course of the past dozen years. In the process, each became more exploratory a ..read more

​Lucinda Williams (from the album Lucinda Williams Sings The Beatles from Abbey Road​Nick Lowe (from the album Love Safari​Father John Misty (from the album Mahashmashana​Eric Brace & Last Train Home (from the E.P. Used Songs for Sale​Ben Chapman (from the album DownbeatChuck Prophet with Qiensave (from the album Wake the Dead​The Coward Brothers (Elvis Costello and T-Bone Burnett) (from the album The Coward Brothersthe innocence mission (from the album Midwinter Swimmers​The Cowsills (from the album Global​Gary Nicholson (from the album Common Sense Nick Lowe (from the ..read more

​Lucinda Williams (from the album Lucinda Williams Sings The Beatles from Abbey Road​Nick Lowe (from the album Love Safari​Father John Misty (from the album Mahashmashana​Eric Brace & Last Train Home (from the E.P. Used Songs for Sale​Ben Chapman (from the album DownbeatChuck Prophet with Qiensave (from the album Wake the Dead​The Coward Brothers (Elvis Costello and T-Bone Burnett) (from the album The Coward Brothersthe innocence mission (from the album Midwinter Swimmers​The Cowsills (from the album Global​Gary Nicholson (from the album Common Sense Lucinda Williams&nb ..read more