CD-Charts Position 271
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Cold Roses [VINYL]

CD-Charts > Music > Alt.Country
by: Ryan Adams & The Cardinals

Release Date May 16, 2005
Ryan Adams is an overblown egomaniac. Ryan Adams is an underrated musical genius. Most listeners of his music fall into those camps, and the debate lives on. But one thing cannot be denied: Adams is a very good musician, and his brand of whiskey-soaked alt-country is in good form in "Cold Roses."

The two-disc album not terribly new territory, with echoes of "Heartbreaker," albeit more subdued. And as the first of three scheduled albums this year, with his new band the Cardinals, hopefully "Cold Roses" representative of what Adams is going to stick to in future. It's certainly what he's good at.

The songs here tend towards bluesy, midtempo rock, with countryish guitars and solid drums. The Cardinals are definitely ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 272
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Black Cadillac

CD-Charts > Music > Alt.Country
by: Rosanne Cash

Release Date January 23, 2006
Surely it would stand to reason that an album whose lyrics chiefly concern the death of not only Rosanne Cash's parents (father Johnny Cash, mother Vivian Liberto) but her step-mother too (June Carter Cash) should be a miserable experience for the listener. Thankfully, Black Cadillac is anything but miserable or depressing but is ultimately uplifting and beautiful.

What will surprise many is the sheer breadth of styles Rosanne melts into the album; Burn Down This Town rocks out, whilst Radio Operator gives us a slice of rockabilly; World Unknown is a piano-driven epic whilst the horns in the rhythmic title track and the jazzy World Without Sound are no doubt a tip of the hat to the horns in Ring Of Fire.

In many ways this album ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 273
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These Flowers of Ours

CD-Charts > Music > Alt.Country
by: Asteroid No.4

Release Date September 15, 2008
Surely it would stand to reason that an album whose lyrics chiefly concern the death of not only Rosanne Cash's parents (father Johnny Cash, mother Vivian Liberto) but her step-mother too (June Carter Cash) should be a miserable experience for the listener. Thankfully, Black Cadillac is anything but miserable or depressing but is ultimately uplifting and beautiful.

What will surprise many is the sheer breadth of styles Rosanne melts into the album; Burn Down This Town rocks out, whilst Radio Operator gives us a slice of rockabilly; World Unknown is a piano-driven epic whilst the horns in the rhythmic title track and the jazzy World Without Sound are no doubt a tip of the hat to the horns in Ring Of Fire.

In many ways this album ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 274
Average Rating:

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The Complete Reprise Sessions

CD-Charts > Music > Alt.Country
by: Gram Parsons

Release Date June 26, 2006
I'd agree with T D Clifton's review elsewhere on this page entirely, but will add that despite quite a number of Parsons anthologies, there is still some seminal stuff unreleased:

Perhaps future compilers will acquire the three or four songs a prototype lineupm of the Burritos recorded while Parsons and Hillman were still in The Byrds. These sessions also featured Clarence White (who had played sessions with the Byrds and joined after Gram left) and Gene Parsons (no relation to Gram), who also joined The Byrds just before Chris Hillman left to join Gram in the 'Gilded Palace of Sin' Burritos. These recordings are especially important in the light of White's presence and the fact that Gene Parsons later joined the Burritos for 'Flying Again', ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 275
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Back to Me

CD-Charts > Music > Alt.Country
by: Kathleen Edwards

Release Date August 18, 2008
This must be about tenth unfamiliar artist whose CD I've bought on the basis of numerous gushing Amazon reviews who then turned out to be ordinary or even flat-out dull. There's nothing here folks. The songs are banal, expressed in lifeless (and often broken) verse, backed by forgettable melodies that are executed in little more than strumming. Booooring. The only reason this gets even two stars from me is because it isn't copy-protected in a way that makes it unplayable on most of my CD-players.

CD-Charts Position 276
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Mighty Joe Moon

CD-Charts > Music > Alt.Country
by: Grant Lee Buffalo

Release Date September 20, 1994
Grant Lee Buffalo do not break any great new musical ground with `Mighty Joe Moon', their second album, but singer/songwriter Grant Lee Phillips succeeds in leading his band through a set of impeccably played and produced Americana.

The sound is mostly semi-acoustic rock augmented with strings and organs but there is satisfying variety on the record; full-on rockers like `Lone Star Song' and `Sing Along' sit happily alongside quieter, more contemplative tracks like the lovely `Mockingbirds', 'Happiness' and the album's title track. Musicianship and melody are strong throughout but in my opinion the best tracks are where the band verge more towards the acoustic.

Grant Lee Phillips sings in a very earnest style and this will not be ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 277
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Ashgrove

CD-Charts > Music > Alt.Country
by: Dave Alvin

Release Date August 02, 2004
Dave Alvin writes evocative and intriguing short stories in song form - in same vein as Bruce Springsteen (and for that matter Woody Guthrie) except with a west coast sensibility. With this album he comes of age with consistently excellent crafted songs that remain fresh after repeated listening - this CD will take up a residency on your player! Dave Alvin is a melodically gifted songsmith and an accomplished electric guitar slinger, well respected amongst his peers, and worthy of far greater public aclaim. Buy this album and try get to one of his incendiary live shows with The Guilty Men if you can.

CD-Charts Position 278
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Tambourine

CD-Charts > Music > Alt.Country
by: Tift Merritt

Release Date August 23, 2004
This may be perceived as politically incorrect, so forgive me. Tift Merritt has one of those lovely faces that I do not associate with such a gutsy and grainy singing voice, but looks deceive! There is a hint of Britney in that look (no, I'm not blind!) but so much more beautiful.

However, beauty shouldn't sell albums, talent should - and this lady has it in abundance.

If you were to pidgeon-hole her, she would be seen as a modern country music singer, but there is so much more to her than that - blues, gospel, soul, r&b, rock, you name it, it's here and cooking!!!

In terms of the sound Ms Merritt creates, the menu here consists of reminders of Dusty Springfield, Van Morrison and Aretha Franklin to start with, then some touches of Jayhawks ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 279
Average Rating:

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Once upon a Christmas

CD-Charts > Music > Alt.Country
by: Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton

Release Date October 25, 1990
This is one of the best Christmas albums I have ever heard. There are songs on here to suit all ages from I believe in Santa Clause to Winter Wonderland for the kids to something for the adult listeners like Christmas To Remember. But they have also not forgotten the real reason behind Christmas when they sing Once Upon a Christmas. If you never buy any other Christmas album buy this one.

CD-Charts Position 280
Average Rating:

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Consider the Birds

CD-Charts > Music > Alt.Country
by: Woven Hand

Release Date October 04, 2004
This album is an astonishing piece of work.

I came to Woven Hand unlike many of the other fans who had followed the band's previous outing, 16 Horsepower; it was on a recommendation from a friend, alongside other acts such as Nick Cave and Tom Waits that I was already appreciating very much. What I would have done for a contemporary to either of those bands that could hold a candle to their work.

Woven Hand is not what I'd expected, given the company it was recommended to me in. I'm not sure if this is a common misconception, but Woven Hand is not of the same genre as either Cave or Waits. They are an altogether more dynamic act, weaving folk and eastern sound with more traditional rock palettes. There is a biblical undertone to the music - sometimes ... Read More: