CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Little Honey

CD-Charts > Music > Contemporary Folk
by: Lucinda Williams

Release Date October 14, 2008
Seeing and hearing Lucinda and her band perform live last year was my favorite concert experience of the whole year. Some of that live spontaneity and excitement comes across in her new recording, although it isn't quite as grand as her last album, West. I'm not complaining too much, though - it used to be so long between Lu albums, and now this one comes pretty soon after West. The new songs blend blues, country, gospel, and rock influences easily, into a typically gripping, hard-boiled LW concoction. Although Ms Williams is often lumped into the "alt country" category, she sure rocks out on songs such as "Real Love" and "Honey Bee." The band is fantastic throughout the recording -- I especially dug Chet Lyster's guitar work. The only ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Gossip In The Grain

CD-Charts > Music > Contemporary Folk
by: Ray LaMontagne

Release Date October 14, 2008
Ray's third album definitely takes his sound in a different, and more interesting direction. He obviously has no interest in impressing critics, and it comes across in this album. He just writes what he feels, and I frankly love it.

Trouble will always be my favorite album, but I certainly prefer Gossip in the Grain to Til the Sun Turns Black as it is more upbeat and utilizes sounds from many different genres. You can almost feel him channeling Cash and Ray Charles in a few songs.

Overall, the guy could sing the phone book and I would melt. Lucky for me, he actually sings good songs. I say buy it.

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Learn To Live

CD-Charts > Music > Contemporary Folk
by: Darius Rucker

Release Date September 16, 2008
I'm not a country music lover - and although this is pretty country - it's great. Doesn't really seem all that different than all of the great stuff from Hootie & the Blowfish. D.R. is totally awesome!

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

Way to Normal

CD-Charts > Music > Contemporary Folk
by: Ben Folds

Release Date September 30, 2008
This needs another review like ExxonMobil needs a tax break. But if you like Ben, you'll love it. If you think it's not as good as Songs for Silverman, then that's great--go listen to SFS and quit complaining.

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Day After Tomorrow

CD-Charts > Music > Contemporary Folk
by: Joan Baez

Release Date September 09, 2008
What a pleasure it is to sit with Joan Baez as she sings from her heart to mine. The songs are straight-forward and lovely, especially those by musician and producer Steve Earle. This is a poignant recording with Joan's aging but still so beautiful voice and subtle guitar.

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Gift Of Screws

CD-Charts > Music > Contemporary Folk
by: Lindsey Buckingham

Release Date September 16, 2008
Simply put a wonderful album that takes on an emotional journey. I felt it was easy to connect with these songs upon first listen. It just sucks you in. Its hard not to be taken into Lindsey's world, the picking is beautiful, and I bow down before him, in sincere admiration for his artistry.

Age has nothing to do with it, this is the Lindsey we have alway known, full of passion, and with killer tunes to match, but I dig this most because its his most rocking!

I wish you many more years of such emotionally engaging output, you are an inspiration.

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

Raising Sand

CD-Charts > Music > Contemporary Folk
from: Rounder

Release Date October 23, 2007
I haven't read enough about this album to know why these two ended up together (surely it's written up somewhere), but it is surprisingly an amazing collaboration. Someone gave the CD to me as a gift. I put it on and started cleaning the house, listening with half an ear. And somewhere on the album, I don't remember exactly where, I simply sat down and listened. And I didn't get up again for a while. It's like that. It stills you. It quiets you. It forces you to be aware.

Gone, Gone, Gone is my favorite song on the album, by the way. It's the song you'll play over and over in the car until you've reached your destination. And then, when you get to where you were going, you'll click it back again so that when you get in the car next time, the ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

Promised Land

CD-Charts > Music > Contemporary Folk
by: Dar Williams

Release Date September 09, 2008
I've been a fan of Dar's since the beginning. I purchased the Honesty Room before it was on Razor and Tie and I think her first three albums are some of the best albums of the nineties. However, unlike Diane Zeigler whose debut album came out around the same time as the Honesty Room and has remained consistent although not as prolific, Dar's work has gotten progressively less interesting. I still like it -- just not as much as I did.

I was excited when I read that she was working with producer Brad Wood and was going for a more pop sound on this record, but the results were more to the folk end of the spectrum. Don't get me wrong - I love folk music -- but this album was just not very interesting.

It's funny. When I got this record I popped ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

Somewhere

CD-Charts > Music > Contemporary Folk
by: Eva Cassidy

Release Date August 26, 2008
My disappointment with this CD began with the first cut - Coat of Many Colors -- which is such a lovely song and this artist made it completely dull with none of Dolly's childlike wonder. Very boring. The squeaking guitar strings on nearly every song were very distracting. I'm sorry but I just don't think she has a very good voice. Breathy and weak. I really don't think I'll be playing this CD again. Sorry.

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

Tennessee Pusher

CD-Charts > Music > Contemporary Folk
by: Old Crow Medicine Show

Release Date September 23, 2008
Old Crow Does what they do. It is the essence of the band not to give two hoots and a holler on what is expected and to give fine music and they have done that again. Oh, they sure have. This time they dug deeper in their heart and gave a little more of theirselves and I love it. I LOVE IT. Meth is a masterpeice. The Martin Luther King song is haunting and on par with Bobbie Jo Gentry's Ode to Billy Joe and how often does that Happen? HUMDINGER is a stomping, banjo slice of perfection. And its delicious to hear them sing , LOW DOWN HOOCHIE COOCHIE on Greatest Hustler of All. DONT MISS THIS WORK. Go to their MySpace and read what KETCH has to say about the Production of the album with Cowboy Jack Clement....and the others that were involved. This band is one of the most ... Read More: