Review: A great example of how critics are often not all right, when Jack Johnson dropped his third studio album, In Between Dreams, music writers the world over adopted partisan positions. Some believed this definitely was worthy of catapulting him from Pretty Famous Acoustic Surf Rock Guy Popular With People Who Went Travelling Post-Millennium, to global superstar. Other were pretty non-plussed.
Suffice to say, we all know who won in the end - Jack Johnson. In Between Dreams rocketed to high chart positions, reaching number one in Australia and the UK, and number two in America, returning to reclaim that US position upon reissue in 2013. One of the most familiar records of the last couple of decades, even if you've never actually owned a copy (partly the result of all the advertising licensing that has taken place), perhaps now is the time to rectify that ownership issue.
Review: Jamey Johnson's latest release marks a triumphant return after a 14-year absence, showcasing his skillful songwriting and emotional depth. Known for his country bluesy sound and thoughtful perspectives, Johnson delivers a collection of tracks that explore love, life and struggle with honesty and grit. The album features a blend of slow, mid-tempo tracks with moments of intensity, like the emotional 'Sober', which touches on his struggles with sobriety and '21 Guns', a heartfelt tribute to the troops. The upbeat 'Trudy', a cover of the Charlie Daniels classic, adds a fun, horn-driven moment to the album. Tracks like 'What a View' and 'Someday When I'm Old' demonstrate Johnson's knack for using perspective to tell compelling stories, while 'Saturday Night in New Orleans' and 'I'm Tired of It All' reflect his sharp observations of life's contradictions. Though the album's slower pace can feel repetitive at times, the strong performances and masterful songwriting make each song impactful. With guest appearances from Randy Houser and Chris Stapleton, Johnson proves he remains a force in country music, blending traditional sounds with modern sensibilities for a rewarding listening experience.
Review: Simon Joyner's first album of new material in two years. Following the devastating loss of his son, Owen, to an overdose in 2022, this deeply personal work explores the kaleidoscope of grief through raw confessions and imagined dialogues, offering an intimate window into Joyner's attempt to process the unthinkable. The album opens with field recordingsibirdsong that invites us into the elegies to comeiand closes with the hum of cicadas, a return to the world that continues, despite everything. Between these, Joyner confronts the complex emotions of regret, fear, shame and love. On tracks like 'My Lament' and 'I'm Taking You With Me', he offers gut-wrenching confessions, while the title track is a heartbroken ode infused with a fragile forgiveness. Joined by close friends and collaborators, including David Nance and James Schroeder, Joyner's sensitive arrangements elevate the raw honesty of his lyrics. Not just a powerful testament to loss but a reminder of the transformative power of art, creating beauty from sorrow.
The Biggest, Loudest, Hairiest Group of All (3:25)
Empty Bottles (3:16)
Femme Fatale (4:25)
No One Is There (4:27)
Frozen Warnings (4:59)
Janitor of Lunacy (5:47)
I'Il Be Your Mirror (2:52)
All Tomorrow's Parties (3:00)
Review: What you see before you ranks among the most mythologised live albums (n)ever released. Like the title suggests, it was originally recorded in 1972 at Parisian rock institution Le Bataclan, a legendary venue which would later gain notoriety after a group of armed gunmen opened fire on a crowd in 2015, killing 90 people. But that grisly recent history belies its status as one of the most respected concert halls in the French capital, and this not-quite-Velvet Underground show has contributed to that legacy. Showcasing the stop-you-dead qualities of Nico's staggering (and unique) vocal timbre, the surreal, immersive qualities of the Cale and Reed's legendary art-rock tones, this time capsule had been bootlegged and bootlegged until 2004, when it finally got an official release. Now it's back.
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.