New West Records

Buddy & Julie Miller: In The Throes [Album Review]

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Buddy & Julie MillerIn The ThroesNew West Records [2023] I’ve been wracking my mind trying to think of another married couple that have recorded together with the same sympatico and creativity that I hear when ace Americana guitarist and sideman Buddy Miller records with his songwriter wife Julie Miller. Of course, there was Richard and … Read more

The Bad Ends: The Power And The Glory [Album Review]

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The Bad EndsThe Power And The GloryNew West Records [2023] According to their bio, three of the guys in this so-called Athens, GA super-group formed while they were picking up their kids from school, or something like that. In a music town best known as the breeding ground for R.E.M., as well as the B-52’s, … Read more

Steve Earle & The Dukes: Jerry Jeff [Album Review]

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Steve Earle & The DukesJerry JeffNew West Records [2022] Steve Earle remembers playing the Sand Mountain Coffee House in Houston, TX, when just starting out. He says there was a mural on the club’s back wall with the painted faces of Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, and Jerry Jeff Walker; he could see the mural … Read more

North Mississippi Allstars: Set Sail [Album Review]

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North Mississippi AllstarsSet SailNew West Records [2022] For brothers Luther Dickinson, who played with the Black Crowes from 2007 – ’11, and Cody Dickinson, the core of the North Mississippi Allstars, making music is best when it’s a family affair. Speaking of themselves as second generation musicians, they are the sons of Memphis musician and … Read more

Lilly Hiatt: Lately [Album Review]

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Lilly HiattLatelyNew West Records [2021] Nashville singer/songwriter Lilly Hiatt had the misfortune to release her last album, the Lincoln Parish (formerly of Cage the Elephant) produced Walking Proof, in March of 2020 just as the country was shutting down due to the pandemic. It was the kind of record you’d have expected the alt country/Americana … Read more

Pokey LaFarge: In The Blossom Of Their Shade [Album Review]

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Pokey LaFargeIn The Blossom Of Their ShadeNew West Records [2021] Anyone familiar with the work of Pokey LaFarge will tell you that his music is deeply rooted in the music of the past, think the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s, before rock got to rolling, when pop on the radio mingled jazz, country and lots of … Read more

The Wild Feathers: Alvarado [Album Review]

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The Wild FeathersAlvaradoNew West Records [2021] As Nashville’s Wild Feathers entered their second decade as a band, they were more or less forced to pause and reflect on their early successes, like when their 2013 Jay Joyce produced debut rose to number one on the Billboard magazine’s Heatseeker’s chart of up-and-coming acts, and the band’s … Read more

T. Hardy Morris: The Digital Age Of Rome [Album Review]

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T. Hardy Morris The Digital Age Of RomeNew West/Normaltown Records [2021] Sometimes an artist or musician taps a universal theme of love, hope, or purpose that transcends the everyday, and feels relevant in any context in which it is experienced because it’s not specific to any event or era. Classic rock songs may suggest a … Read more

Los Lobos: Native Sons [Album Review]

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Los Lobos Native SonsNew West Records [2021]   When a band that’s been around just two years short of half a century puts out an album of covers, you might be tempted to think they were creatively running on fumes, about to run out of gas. But when Los Lobos creates an album celebrating the … Read more

The Wallflowers: Exit Wounds [Album Review]

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The Wallflowers Exit WoundsNew West Records [2021] By the time Jakob Dylan stepped into the studio with his band The Wallflowers to record Bringing Down the Horse, the band’s breakthrough 1996 sophomore album, it was more than obvious that he’d been studying the classics. But it was more complicated and interesting than simple lineage, the … Read more

John Hiatt With The Jerry Douglas Band: Leftover Feelings [Album Review]

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John Hiatt With The Jerry Douglas Band Leftover FeelingsNew West Records [2021] It’s hard with a songwriter like John Hiatt, who seems to wear his heart on his sleeve, to imagine that on his 24th album he’d still have Leftover Feelings. On songs like “I Stood Up,” which describes him coming to sobriety, or “Your … Read more

T. Hardy Morris – “The Digital Age Of Rome” [Video]

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T. Hardy Morris is set to return with The Digital Age of Rome on June 25th via the New West Records imprint Normaltown Records. The 10-song set was produced by Adam Landry (Deer Tick, Rayland Baxter) and mixed by engineer Nate Nelson. It follows the Diamond Rugs and Dead Confederate member’s 2018 acclaimed Dude, The … Read more

Aaron Lee Tasjan: Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan! [Album Review]

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Aaron Lee Tasjan Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!New West Records [2021] To get a sense for the vast musical inspirations that fuel Aaron Lee Tasjan’s eclectic pop style, expressed across the 11 strong tracks of his fourth full-length album Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan! you just have to consider the list of artists he’s collaborated with in one way … Read more

Steve Earle & The Dukes: J.T. [Album Review]

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Steve Earle & The Dukes J.T.New West Records [2021] Steve Earle, one of the founding fathers of Outlaw Country and Americana, has gotten awfully good at something he likely never hoped to be known for. Especially this time. Back in 2009, Earle released Townes, a tribute to his friend and mentor, Townes Van Zandt, who … Read more

The Texas Gentlemen: Floor It!!! [Album Review]

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The Texas Gentlemen Floor It!!!New West Records [2020] The first time I listened to The Texas Gentlemen’s newest release, Floor It!!!, I had a flashback to the summer of 1979. Something in the masterful instrumental prowess in the individual players and the band’s penchant for genre bending moves through funk, country swing, Dixieland jazz, and … Read more

Steve Earle & The Dukes: Ghosts Of West Virginia [Album Review]

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Steve Earle & The Dukes Ghosts of West VirginiaNew West Records [2020] In 2010, the worst mining disaster in American history happened at the Upper Big Branch coal mine in West Virginia, killing 29 miners in the explosion. Early this Spring, an Off-Broadway play telling the story of the victims and their families titled “Coal … Read more

Lilly Hiatt: Walking Proof [Album Review]

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Lilly Hiatt Walking ProofNew West Records [2020] Nashville singer/songwriter Lilly Hiatt has known most of her existence that life is rarely just one thing. On her fourth album’s title track, she sings “I could tell you that it’s easy/but that wouldn’t be the truth/if you ever need to call me, well you know that’s walking … Read more

Dan Luke And The Raid: Out Of The Blue [Album Review]

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Dan Luke And The Raid Out Of The Blue New West Records [2019] Album Review: I knew I wanted to review the debut album by Dan Luke and the Raid when I first caught their “Exoskeleton” video in a random moment online. Something about these twenty year olds having their way with a couple piñatas … Read more

Justin Townes Earle: The Saint Of Lost Causes [Album Review]

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Justin Townes Earle The Saint Of Lost Causes New West Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Justin Townes Earle produces a country songwriting tour de force on his eighth album, The Saint of Lost Causes. Album Review: The Saint of Lost Causes, the eighth album from singer/songwriter Justin Townes Earle, is such a solid example from … Read more

Steve Earle & The Dukes: Guy [Album Review]

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Steve Earle & The Dukes Guy New West Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Like his previous tribute to Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle serves up a collection of Guy Clark songs that celebrate his songwriting catalog. Album Review: Given the current state of popular country music, it should surprise us that what gets labeled Outlaw … Read more

Luther Dickinson And Sisters Of The Strawberry Moon: Solstice [Album Review]

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Luther Dickinson and Sisters of the Strawberry Moon Solstice New West Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Luther Dickinson brings together some up & coming female folk/rock singers, who collaborate for a long weekend, singing each other’s songs and the result is a delight. Album Review: As Luther Dickinson describes it, Solstice came together like a … Read more

John Hiatt: The Eclipse Sessions [Album Review]

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John Hiatt The Eclipse Sessions New West Records [2018] Fire Note Says: On his 23rd album, The Eclipse Sessions, continues putting the stories of our lives, loves and families in accessible roots rock Americana. Album Review: In the opening lines of the opening song of John Hiatt’s 23rd album may tell the tale of the … Read more

Richard Thompson: 13 Rivers [Album Review]

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Richard Thompson 13 Rivers New West Records [2018] Fire Note Says: At 69, Richard Thompson, one of the world’s best songwriters as well as one or rock’s greatest guitarists, brings it altogether again on “13 Rivers,” one of the very best albums of his long and storied career. Album Review: Who knew there would be … Read more

The Friday Fire Track: Ron Gallo – “Always Elsewhere”

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Stardust Birthday Party is the follow up to Ron Gallo’s debut album, Heavy Meta, which was a fantastic garage rock album that we missed out on in 2017. Well, we are not missing this one as Gallo storms back with today’s Friday Fire Track, “Always Elsewhere.” The track is from Stardust Birthday Party which is out October 5, 2018 via New West Records.

Gallo’s energy sounds like a modern Talking Heads as the track has a very pop backbone under its excited guitar playing and call out type vocal delivery. The song just has all the components to make your Friday better!

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New West Records