Matt KeatingQuixoticKealon Records by Al Kaufman Matt Keating is what would happen if Crowded House’s Finn brothers wrote a bunch of songs and gave them to Lou Reed to sing. Quixotic is a bunch of nicely polished, somewhat dark pop songs delivered in a slighly flat vocal (although one that is often more melodious than […]
Kevin Devine is pop tunesmith in the realm of Michael Penn and Pete Yorn. His melodies are warm and infectious. His songs are clever, yet without an ounce of pretension. It is this fact that distinguishes him from the likes of Conor Oberst. Lately, he’s taken on a more political tone, releasing the 7" "Another […]
Bill MorriseyCome RunningTurn and Spin by Al Kaufman Bil Morrissey is a storyteller. His songs can be seen as well as heard. He sings of small people in small towns doing or thinking small things. The net result is also something small; in the same way that a polished diamond is also small. Morrisey’s songs […]
Clay CookThe Year I Grew Up by Al Kaufman If you know Georgia music you’ve heard Clay Cook. You may not have heard of him, but you’ve heard him. The multi-instrumentalist plays flute, saxophone,keyboards and guitar with the Southern rock Marshall Tucker Band. He was the original bass player for the country upstarts Sugarland. Before […]
Peter Bradley AdamsLeavetakingSarathan by Al Kaufman There is a place for quiet, contemplative music, and Peter Bradley Adams occupies that space quite well. Adams first gained minor notoriety, with Kat Maslich, as the lo-fi eastmountainsouth. The duo’s vocal harmonies landed them a deal with Dreamworks records, which then didn’t know what to do with them […]
The Coal MenBeauty Is the MomentCircle Back Music by Al Kaufman When the Counting Crows sold a gazillion copies of August and Everything After back in 1994, bands everywhere, but mostly from California, came out trying to ape their full, majestic, and somewhat whiney, sound. The most successful of these clone bands was probably Train. […]
Brooke FraserAlbertineWood and Bone by Al Kaufman Brooke Fraser wants to change the world with her music. On the back of her CD she lists organizations that help fight against modern day slavery, sexual exploitation, poor communities, and mental sufferage for young women. The title cut, "Albertine," is the name of a teenage girl she […]
Amos LeeLast Days of the LodgeBluenote/EMI by Al Kaufman Those who say music has no color have a new poster child in Amos Lee. Lee, who admits he has no idea what his ethnicity is, has the uncanny ability to encompass various syles of music, both black and white, effortlessly and seamlessly. For this, his […]
The GraduateAnhedoniaIcon MES by Al Kaufman Sometimes listening to music is a learning experience. Before coming across the Graduate’s Anhedonia, who would of honestly known that the title means "an inability to experience pleasure"? With such a moniker, one would expect some quite dour music, and the Springfield, Illinois quartet certainly do offer up a […]
Old 97’sBlame It on GravityNew West by Al Kaufman The word used to desccribe the Old 97’s last release, 2004’s Drag It Up, was "mature." That’s a nice way of saying that the band sounded a bit old and tired. At that point, most of the Texans in the band had moved to California […]
Roger Clyne and the PeacemakersTurbo OchoEmmajava Recordings by Al Kaufman Roger Clyne is everything that’s right with rock and roll. His first band, The Refreshments, put out two brilliant albums that were as hot, dusty, and diesel charged as the Arizona he calls home. When Clyne felt that the band was becomming a victim of […]
Sonia LeighRun and Surrender by Al Kaufman It’s not the least bit controversial to say that today’s country radio sucks. It’s full of cookie-cutter pseudo-cowboys and cowgirls who dress better than they sing, and sing better than they write. The music appeals to folks who think sitting behind the wheel of a fast car and […]
David Jacobs-StrainLiar’s Dayself-release by Al Kaufman Every generation needs its own hot shot blues guitarist. Some (Stevie Ray Vaughan) hold up better than others (Kenny Wayne Sheppard). David Jacobs-Strain released his first album at the tender age of 14. Eleven years and five albums later, the 24-year-old is still at it. On Liar’s Day, his […]
The Hot RodsSuper SportSuper Rock Records by Al Kaufman The Hot Rods are that type of band that, when they come to town, you best lock up your daughters and alcohol. Since they’re local, it is my civic duty to tell the good people of Atlanta to keep tabs on your liquor and women folk. […]
Rick BrantleyPrize Fight Lover Soul AuctioneerCarnival Recording Company by Al Kaufman It’s always good to set attainable goals. Rick Brantley realizes that in his song "Peace On Earth," when he spits out, "I don’t want peace on earth/ I just want to go home." But rest assured that whatever it is this Georgia native wants, […]
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