CD Reviews

Mary Chapin Carpenter
Personal History

Mary Chapin Carpenter returns with "Personal History," her first studio album of all-new material since 2020's brilliant "The Dirt and the Stars." As with that album, she records the new record - her 17th studio release - entirely live at Peter Gabriel's Real World ...

The Shootouts
Switchback

The core trio that comprises The Shootouts changes it up again on their fourth album, "Switchback." Having worked with producers Chuck Mead and Ray Benson, they now enlist Dan Knobler, who adds rock to their "Rust Belt" Americana sound, a stew of bluegrass, western swing and country. ...

The SteelDrivers
Outrun

Remarkably, the SteelDrivers' singular sound of bluegrass-country-blues has remained intact for 20 years despite losing four members, among them co-founders Chris Stapleton and and the late Mike Henderson. "Outrun," on the revived Sun Records label, represents their 20th anniversary, ...

Jedd Hughes
Night Shades

Australian-born Jedd Hughes built his reputation as a superb guitarist for Patty Loveless, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, the late Guy Clark and most notably for Rodney Crowell. "Night Shades" is just his third solo record. Hughes is genreless, playing everything from post-punk to crunchy rock, ...

Ashleigh Flynn & The Riveters
Good Morning Sunshine

The Portland, Ore.-based Ashleigh Flynn & The Riveters are an all-female band plying "rock and roll with twang." While most of these tracks present a dynamic, carefree approach, the band prides itself on messages of hope and resilience as they aim to uplift marginalized voices and bring unity. ...

Charley Crockett
Lonesome Drifter

Charlie Crockett is far from an overnight sensation. He's a grinder, having issued 14 independent albums before his major breakthrough in 2024, the Grammy-nominated "$10 Cowboy." He is unstoppable now, releasing "Lonesome Drifter," on a major label with acclaimed co-producer ...

Seldom Scene
Remains to be Scene

It's been 50 years since the landmark album "Live at the Cellar Door" from the 53-year running Seldom Scene. With multiple lineup turnover through the years, "Remains to Be Seen" has none of the original members from that historic effort. It's the band's first album ...

Jason Boland & The Stragglers
The Last Kings of Babylon

Twenty-five years on and with 11 studio albums, Oklahoma's Jason Boland & The Stragglers keep rolling. Tapping the iconic producer, Lloyd Maines, who produced their debut, the band cut "The Last Kings of Babylon" live in the studio in just two days. With its share of rave-ups, ...

Sierra Hull
A Tip Toe High Wire

Singer, songwriter and mandolinist Sierra Hull issued her first album in five years, her first independent release and the first with her touring band for "A Tip Toe HIgh Wire." Hull's touring band includes guitarist Shaun Richardson, fiddler Avery Merritt, bassist Erik Coveney and ...

JD Clayton
Blue Sky Sundays

Troubadour JD Clayton returned to his native Arkansas to cut "Blue Sky Sundays" with his working band with the results leading to signing with Rounder Records. It's a varied country rocker filled with jangling guitars and a '70s aesthetic. Nine songs clock in well under 40 minutes. ...

Joe Ely
Love + Freedom

Ever since Joe Ely released "Love in the Midst of Mayhem" during the pandemic in 202O, he's dug into his catalog to produce three more albums, the latest being "Love and Freedom," to hit just two days before his 78th birthday. His voice remains as strong as ever as Ely ...

Sierra Ferrell
Trail of Flowers (Deluxe)

Sierra Ferrell is the Queen of Americana, having picked up multiple awards at their 2024 Americana awards show, but one has to question whether this Deluxe Edition of "Trail of Flowers" is really necessary. It's not as if it's in need of remastering, and it only includes two new ...

Willow Avalon
Southern Bell Raisin' Hell

There's a trend emerging of adventurous female artists in country music, exemplified by the success of Sierra Ferrell, but also including new faces such as Willow Avalon; they're couched in traditional country sounds, but have their own contemporary spin on the style. ...

Ringo Starr
Look Up

Going out on a limb, Ringo Starr's "Look Up" will be one of the most significant country albums of 2025. It likely won't get much airplay on country radio, or win any CMA or ACM Awards, but it is terrific. After all, it's Ringo, ably guided by T Bone Burnett, who ...

Pure Prairie League
Back on Track

Not many bands endure for 54 years, let alone in the dated genre of country rock. Pure Prairie League (PPL), has outlasted most. So, after a nearly two-decade absence, we can relive the glorious sound of the '70s with PPL's return, "Back on Track." The band has understandably ...

Dwight Yoakam
Brighter Days

For his first album of original music since 2016, Dwight Yoakam does exactly nothing different, and thank goodness for that. One of country music's most consistent stylists, Yoakam's sound has always been a nod to the Bakersfield of Buck Owens, hardcore honky-tonk played by a swinging ...

Flatland Cavalry
Flatland Forever

Some may argue that Flatland Cavalry is a bit full of themselves by issuing this career retrospective after only 10 years on the circuit. Granted, they have been prolific with six full-length albums, multiple EPs and singles. Record contracts also often specify a certain number of albums in a given time period. ...

Jamey Johnson
Midnight Gasoline

The last time Jamey Johnson released a full length album of original songs, the original Ipad was only a few months old, and Instagram had not yet launched. Basically, a lifetime ago. Since 2010's "The Guitar Song," we've had a 2012 Hank Cochran tribute album, a Christmas EP and ...

Dolly Parton & Family
Smoky Mountain DNA - Family, Faith & Fables

Dolly Parton's "Smoky Mountain DNA - Family, Faith & Fables" is a sprawling project over three LPs that's five decades in the making. The recording will be accompanied by a forthcoming docuseries. We have 37 tracks here, and 20 family members who duet with Dolly over a ...

Kelsea Ballerini
Patterns

Even in an age where we're replete with great female singer/songwriters, Kelsea Ballerini goes to places that others wouldn't touch. It sure would burnish one's image to talk about popping bottles all night, versus admitting in a 2020 song ("club") that those places can make ...