Paul Maged: Culture War

Paul Maged Culture War (Paul Maged) A single slicing guitar melody line and power chords inform Culture War’s quick snapping, the beginning tune of Paul Maged’s new album of the same name. “Simplicity” sees the first of what Maged can manage vocally, solid harmonies, and some excellent lead guitar work. Although I like “Culture War,” More...

Eric H. F. Law: Better AngelsÂ
Eric H. F. Law Better Angels (Grace Margin Music) Inspired by Peter, Paul, and Mary’s albums, Eric H. F. Law has been writing songs since the age of 14 about his immigrant experience in New York City. On his More...

Grapefruit Sound Lab: Eight Days Across America
Grapefruit Sound Lab Eight Days Across America (Howe Records) A drum machine bass drum pattern, danceable keys, and Sarah Naughton’s spoken and sung vocals on the kinetic “A Song About Freedom,” leads off More...

The smallest Creature: Magic Beans
The Smallest Creature Magic Beans (The smallest Creature) The smallest Creature is a quartet from Lamaca, a spot in sunny Cyprus. Drawing from sources like U2, Pearl Jam, and even classic bands like Black Sabbath, More...

Yes: The Royal Affair Tour (Live From Las Vegas)
Yes The Royal Affair Tour (Live From Las Vegas) (BMG Rights Management) You really can’t keep a good prog band down. The classic band Yes, currently consisting of Steve Howe, Alan White, Jay Schellen playing More...

David Thompson: the wall
David Thompson The Wall (Star Hermit) A piercing synth single line gets us into the mechanical beat of “time,” the frantic opener of David Thompson’s latest Ep the wall. He keeps up the arpeggiated beat More...

Mark Vickness: Interconnected
Mark Vickness Interconnected (Mark Vickness) Mark Vickness presents a finger-picked guitar instrumental album pretty much unlike anything you have ever heard. On his latest album, Interconnected, he enlists More...

Bruce Springsteen: Letter to You
Bruce Springsteen Letter to You (Columbia) There’s nothing wrong with taking very little time to record an album when you can do it like Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band have done it on their new album, Letter More...

Eric Anders/Mark O’Bitz: American Bardo
Eric Anders/Mark O’Bitz American Bardo (Baggage Room Records) Northern Californian singer-songwriter Eric Anders, and southern Californian guitarist-composer Mark O’Bitz, offer up their new twelve-song More...

Dan Tuffy:Â Letters of Gold
Dan Tuffy Letters of Gold (Smoked Recordings) Songwriter/storyteller/performer, Dan Tuffy’s Letters of Gold, gives us a specific off-beat sensibility, and the man’s unique vocal, wandering around bass, More...