Texas guitar slinger Ally Venable is back with her fourth album titled Heart Of Fire on Ruf Records. The album contains eleven tracks that feature originals by the singer, songwriter, and guitarist, as well as covers. The album was recorded at Blue Studio in Stantonville, Tennessee, with producer Jim Gaines. Venable speaks about the album, “On this album, I really wanted to create a tone of overcoming your struggles and persevering through them.” She further says, “My vision was to really spread a positive message of love.” She continues, “The world needs that right now.” Special guests include Rick Steff, [...]

Ace session guitarist Lyle Workman is releasing a new project titled Uncommon Measures. Workman’s studio, sideman, and film composing success were augmented by three well-received solo albums in the ’90s and early 2000s. However, with all that success, he had to put his own artistic visions on the backburner. “I absolutely love all the work I get to do with other artists and filmmakers,” he explains, “but sometimes you need to articulate your own thoughts and feelings as a writer, too. There’s a singular satisfaction that comes from creating something that’s a pure expression of yourself.” Workman [...]

Alex Hall is releasing his debut EP titled Six Strings. The Country singer and guitar slinger are joined by featured guitarists and vocalists on each track and include John Osborne, Brad Paisley, Vince Gill, Brad Tursi of Old Dominion, Tenille Townes Kassi Ashton. Co-produced by Alex, Pete Good, and AJ Babcock, the EP presents six tracks. Hall says, “It’s such an honor to play and sing alongside my friends and heroes on the Six Strings EP. I’m so proud of this body of music, and I can’t wait for the world to hear it!”

“Other End of the Phone” has a pop-country feel with a catchy figure in the guitar. [...]

Weezer is now releasing their fourteenth studio album called OK Human. Weezer is known for its big rock with pop-rock elements, Alternative rock, emo, and pop-punk. However, with OK Human, Weezer brings a new sound to the turntable with its inspiration in the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds. Weezer’s frontman Rivers Cuomo wrote the music at the piano, and the band spent the summer of Covid-19 in the studio along with a 38-piece orchestra. The masked recording sessions were all done using analog technology until the record was complete. The result is twelve songs packed with some of the best, most personal songs Cuomo has written in the last decade, all of [...]

Front Country is a Nashville based ensemble that is built on acoustic sounds and lush vocal harmonies. Front Country released their third album, Impossible World, on October 30, 2020. With a mix of roots rock, Americana, and pop, Front Country has a sound all of their own. On the album, the three present eleven handpicked songs recorded in Nashville. The songs are framed with male and female vocalists, buzzing vocal harmonies, Americana harmonic movements, and traditional country touches. The result is a fusion of styles that defies genre boundaries and claims a sound of its own.

“Miracle” has a soft pop-rock drum beat and a [...]

Joe Lovano is back with his Trio Tapestry on ECM records. The same line up joins Lovano as on the trio’s 2019 self-titled debut of Marilyn Crispell, piano, and Carmen Castaldi, drums. The new album is titled Garden of Expression, which is eight Lovano compositions, and continues the musical journey started in their first album. Produced by Manfred Eicher, the trio recorded at Auditorio Stelio Molo RSI in Lugano.

Trio Tapestry’s music has a long history of friendships and collaboration, and when the trio first played together, they performed all improvised music. Lovano states, “Our very first concert was without any [...]