Music
Twangorama, Twangorama (Independent)
At some point, most rock ’n’ roll fans—particularly guys—dabble in art rock. Like drugs, lots of tiny notes and odd time signatures are a phase you go through. If all […]
Mushroom with Eddie Gale, Joint Happening (Hyena Records)
The title and ’60s concert poster art suggest a vital component you’re to bring to the listening experience—one I passed on, which worked a little to Joint Happening’s disadvantage. Stoned, […]
Nicole Willis and the Soul Investigators, Keep Reachin’ Up (Light in the Attic Records)
When I first heard “If This Ain’t Love (Don’t Know What Is)” by Nicole Willis and the Soul Investigators, it was on a soul music sampler from Light in the […]
Al “Carnival Time” Johnson, Lower Ninth Ward Blues (Carnival Time/Polly Lee Records)
Al “Carnival Time” Johnson hasn’t been the most prolific of New Orleans’ musicians, releasing a song every 40 years or so. It took a hurricane and the loss of his […]
Ann Savoy and Her Sleepless Knights, If Dreams Come True (Memphis International Records)
If Dreams Come True presents Ann Savoy at her most relaxed and, consequently, most simply enjoyable. She isn’t flying a flag for Cajun music, nor is she holding the popular […]
Galactic, From the Corner to the Block (Anti- Records)
The well-publicized story about From the Corner to the Block is that rappers provide the vocals on the new Galactic album, describing the corner as a nexus of contemporary street […]
North Mississippi Allstars, Keep on Marchin’ (DVD) (Songs of the South); The Bangles, Return to Bangleonia (DVD) (Shout! Factory)
Live DVDs—why? I’m not sure how to use them. I understand the mechanics, but I’m not sure where the pleasure or art lies. Watching the show isn’t the same as […]
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Republic, June 13, 2007
When Black Rebel Motorcycle Club released its self-titled debut album seven years ago, only “Whatever Happened to My Rock ’n’ Roll” was a strong enough song to get me around […]
Mitch Landrieu
Cheerleader has to be a politician’s toughest role, and when you’re boosting local music, that means second-lining in a suit, often in contexts not conducive to second-lining. Louisiana Lieutenant Governor […]
Preservation, Inc.
A film starts with a hipster walking into Preservation Hall. He wears horned-rim glasses, thin hair on top and has a postage stamp of a beard. His sweater is black […]
