Reviews music

Gin, Chocolate & Bottle Rockets' debut full-length album features beautifully arranged three-part harmonies and well-conceived, grown-up songs that stick in your mind.

'Circle of Life' by Kinky Friedman is a great album from an amazing writer whose musical talents have been sorely missed. Here's hoping this marks the beginning of a Kinky renaissance.

'The Book of Arius - Act I' offers superb, gorgeous neoclassical music.

The 'Providence' EP emanates exquisite colors, captivating rhythms, and Ward’s enchanting voice. This is a beautifully wrought EP.

'Say Yeah!! Live at the Blue Nile' is tremendous. Water Seed certainly deliver the goods on this album.

'Shadowlands' is above average, combining roots-rock flavors, sometimes soothing, other times assertive, with Epp’s rasping vocal tones.

'Attractive Nuisance' is wonderfully superb, quite unlike anything extant.

Sister Speak’s forthcoming EP, 'The Stand,' is marvelous, magnificent, and matchless.

'About Joe' delivers tasty rock pop flavors, as well as Brendan McMahon’s smooth, powerful voice.

Some excellent big band recordings have come out recently, proving this storied and lively jazz subgenre continues to sizzle all these decades after the heydays of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Glenn Miller.