Brandi Carlile’s fourth full length studio album, Bear Creek, is a departure from all three previous studio albums in a very, very good way. In contrast to the rock-operatic feel that that the most recent studio recording, Give up the Ghost, has, Bear Creek isn’t super-produced and has a much more intimate and down-to-earth feel....more

Not that there was a single doubt in my mind, but this album really is incredible. It comes about as close as you can get to capturing the brilliance that is a Brandi Carlile show (though I’m still holding my breath for a live DVD). Including the curtain call as a track on the album really gives you that feeling of actually being there in a fancy theatre with the soaring curtains on stage, the buzz of anticipation for what you know will be an awe-inspiring performance palpable in that cavernous space....more

Adele’s sophomore album 21, available on February 22nd in the US, is a great follow-up to her debut album, 19. If you’re already an Adele fan, I’m surely not telling you anything you don’t already know when I mention how full of soul and emotion her voice is. It completely belies her age – you’d think she’s experienced a lifetime of heartache and disappointment. You can just about feel the underlying resentment and hurt feelings oozing out of this album....more

Brooke Fraser’s latest album “Flags”, released on October 12, 2010, gripped me from the first few bars of the opening tune “Something in the Water”. It was like musical love at first sight – how is it that she hadn’t been on my radar before now? This Kiwi (that’s someone from New Zealand, if you weren’t aware) has been playing music in one form or another for most of her life....more

Lelia Broussard’s latest album, “Masquerade”, debuted on November 2, 2010. We had the good fortune of experiencing her performance of some of the album’s tunes live when we saw Lelia, Bess Rogers, and Allison Weiss at Birdy’s in September (see review here). We were impressed with her performance that night, but I think I’m even more impressed with this latest album. It’s a thoroughly solid representation of an artist who has definitively decided to “Shoot for the Moon” (pun obviously intended), and should have no problem getting there....more

Will Hoge’s latest EP, “The Living Room Sessions”, dropped just over a week ago on October 12th. This fantastic little album was recorded over just two days in Hoge’s living room and features acoustic versions of some favorites from his last LP, “The Wreckage”, as well as “All Night Long” from his 2003 LP . Will’s music tends to revolve around difficult relationship topics – either them coming to an end, the baggage the bad ones leave for people to carry around, or relationships that need to end but no one wants to say the words. If these songs are autobiographical at all, it seems that Hoge has had an emotionally draining love-life....more

This sophomore effort from Ripp has something for everyone. The style ranges from Rock n’Roll, to a country/bluegrass sound, to the acoustic Singer/Songwriter style – some have an almost Gospel sound to them. Andrew incorporates extremely insightful and intelligent lyrics throughout all of his songs on this album – you won’t only be able to rock out to his music, it’ll also make you think. Quite often, he weaves Christian messages and lyrics into his songs, whether Rock n’Roll or otherwise. ...more

I am, admittedly a new listener to Rogers’ music. I have experienced her brilliant showmanship as the guitarist for Ingrid Michaelson, which certainly proves her ability to embrace the melancholy but wrap it in humor. And as I sat and listened to Rogers’ new solo EP, I was reminded of why I love listening to this genre of music. It makes you stop and listen, brings to mind images of life’s bumps and bruises, and yet reminds you to not take yourself so seriously. I love it…it’s deeper....more

Ray LaMontagne is set to release his fourth studio album, "God Willin' and The Creek Don't Rise" on August 17th. This album was recorded with his studio band, The Pariah Dogs, over two week's time in LaMontagne's home in Massachusetts. The album, which has a distinctly un-studio feel , is Ray LaMontagne's first go at exclusively self-producing an album....more

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