I’m a weird guy who fixates on things I can’t do a damn thing about. Lately, I’ve been wondering why it is that no record label can figure out a way to get Jerry Lee Lewis to put out a new record. I mean, it tortures me that the Killer is still out there poundin’ [...]

On the back of Duane Jarvis’ excellent album Far From Perfect, Lucinda Williams penned liner notes that read, “Imagine hanging out at CBGB’s, your back against the bar, shirt all soaked with sweat, a cold Shiner Bock in one hand, and a shot of Cuervo in the other.” That description, perhaps subbing a Pabst and [...]

Originally issued in the U.K. seven years ago on a tiny label while Prophet was on hiatus from the now-defunct Green On Red, Brother Aldo quickly disappeared despite receiving some outstanding reviews in the British press. But Velvel has wisely picked up the rights and issued it for the first time domestically, making it a [...]

Only 1,000 copies of this gorgeous package, containing demos and outtakes from Neal Casal’s previous releases, were pressed — which means that, like Casal’s excellent Zoo Records disc Fade Away Diamond Time and independent follow-up Rain, Wind & Speed, most people probably won’t get a chance to hear it. But it’s well worth seeking out. [...]

When Ronnie Lane passed away in June from complications of a nearly 20-year struggle with multiple sclerosis, a significant chunk of British rock ‘n’ roll went with him. As the heart and soul of mod pioneers the Small Faces, and then with Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood in the almost legendary Faces, Lane played a [...]

People tend to use the term “legend” a bit too loosely for my money, but if you needed an example of a true legend, look no further than ol’ Mr. Dixie Fried himself, Jim Dickinson. Known primarily as a producer of folks such as Ry Cooder (Boomer’s Story), Big Star (Sister Lovers), Alex Chilton (Like [...]

Few bands out there these days can comfortably move between the various genres of pop music and make it all come out sounding listenable. In fact, I can only think of three: NRBQ, the Young Fresh Fellows, and the Skeletons. Like the Q and the Fellows, The Skeletons are at ease whacking out country, funk, [...]

On Blue Rodeo’s Five Days In July album of a couple years back, the band consistently produced track after track of terrific country-flavored rock ‘n’ roll. A very successful, very talented quintet with platinum sales in their Canadian homeland, they’ve been trying to crack the States now for nearly a decade, issuing five albums that [...]