of typically high quality, but not the solo albums his established cult expected. Those fans can now rejoice, because on Sweet Warrior Thompson roars back with his first electric set of originals since 2003, and it's a winner. As the disc's title implies, he revisits the familiar territory of love as a battlefield in these 14 originals. The concept is emphasized by a liner photo of the singer/songwriter in army gear and camouflage flanked by two beautiful women planting kisses on either cheek. Supported by longtime backing cohorts, the guitarist adds to his six-string talents with occasional mandolin, autoharp, accordion, and even organ, all used as icing on a cake of tunes that further refine his established style. Perhaps the most startling...  (less)

use also includes electric guitar, flute, piano, and quite possibly a kitchen sink. Stylistically, son , merengue, and paseo rhythms are all checked. Vives's pleasant, almost giddy voice--most often concerned with expressions of love--infuses the material with a celebratory feel, and while his tentative foray into English language lyrics on "Carito" makes a strong case for sticking with Spanish, Vives nevertheless acquits himself well, particularly on the vivid, call-to-arms anthem "Papadió." This is electrified Colombian folk at its most electrifying. --Kim Hughes  (less)

philosophical "Seems So Real," and the rock-bottom despair in his cover of Peter Case's "Cold Trail Blues" all suggest that the virtuosic fingerpicker and evocatively smoky vocalist has reached a point in his life where he's pondering the biggest issues of mortality, a perspective that informs the complex relationship in "Father's Day." Not all of the material is that introspective, as the uptempo, electric rock of "Diplomacy" is as sardonic as Randy Newman, while "Origin of the Species" encapsulates Adam and Eve, Charles Darwin, and intelligent design. Smither also pays homage to two seminal influences, transforming Bob Dylan's "Visions of Johanna" into an acoustic, accordion-laced waltz and reviving Lightnin' Hopkins's version of the tradit...  (less)

rock 'n' roll on another rousing collection of standards & original material. Once Bitten Records. 2002.  (less)

followed her. The band, paced by the bubbly electric and slide work of Nick Forster, lays down steady folk blues, and even dabbles in Cajun and tough Magic Sam soul. The most striking performance, Steve Goodman's "Looking For Trouble," features just acoustic guitar, accordion, and O'Brien's slow- burning voice. The pieces are in place for a great interpretive work-- including a sumptuous version of Lucinda Williams's "Big Red Sun Blues" plus John Hiatt and Randy Newman covers--but the result is closer to an unexceptional Bonnie Raitt offering. Good, but not quite a revelation. --Roy Francis Kasten  (less)

John Abbey - bass, Tony Dale - drums, June Shellene - piano, Jim Dewan - bouzouki, Bob Long - organ, Dirk Urban - accordion, Bob Egan - pedal steel, Michael Favreau - clarinet, Victor Sanders - electric guitar, and guest vocalists.  (less)

have managed to add a new kick to an old tradition on their album Year of the Dog . Silly Wizard's Phil Cunningham, who produced the album and added some accordion, helped Wolfstone retain the springy lilt of Celtic dance music even as they added more power to their punch. Unfortunately, the impact of this hybrid sound is at times blunted by the overreaching songwriting of singer Ivan Drever and fiddler Dave Chisholm, who too often adopt the unfocused bombast of such prog-rock bands as Yes and Jethro Tull. On Drever's rousing political anthem, "The Brave Foot Soldiers," however, and on Cunningham's lively instrumental medley, "The Double Rise," Wolfstone display the potential to cross over from folk to pop--and back aga...  (less)

headlong into the accordion, electric guitar, bass, and drums of an almost punk-rock ethic not dissimilar to the popular "wedding music" style of Bulgaria made famous by Ivo Papasov and Yuri Yunakov. Some songs hang in the acoustic mode with just the old instruments and voices, but most take the electric party approach and all are both strangely remote and traditional and yet revved up for a good time at the local dance hall or party. This is village music from a living, breathing village, not a look to a pastoral past that probably never existed anyway. Play it loud . --Louis Gibson  (less)

of folk, roots, blues, country and bluegrass. Sleeper was produced by Terence and Dennis Hrbek and features performances by Jim Allen on guitar, mandolin & accordion, Dan Bonis on dobro, lap steel & 12 string slide, Cadence Carroll on djembe & Charlie karp on electric guitar.  (less)

acoustic guitar, vocals, banjo), Jeff Clemetson (electric and upright bass), John Morales (drums, percussion, vocals), Matt Mitchell (keys, B3, accordion, harmonica, vocals), and Steve Kessler (fiddle). Ten Mile Tide has been touring nationally for over five years, fueled by grassroots support from their file-sharing success. TMT has been nominated for a Jammy for New Groove of the Year, selected as the New Groove of the Month by Jambands.com, and selected as a finalist in Relix magazine's Jamoff Competition. TMT puts on a high-energy, danceable, fun show while still focusing on songwriting, harmonies, and melody. Things are ramping up after release of their new album Riverstone on Oct. 3, 2...  (less)

folk and soul with plenty of electric and acoustic guitars, a solid rhythm section and touches of sax, viola and accordion. One of Lavi's personal favorites , a song that finds immediate acceptance with her live audience is Terri's Garden, written for her younger sister. Solace, a listener favorite with a seductive slide guitar and an infections roots rock feel is described wryly by Lavi as "an upbeat song about depression." Other favorites are Leaves - co-written with Walt Wittman, Emily Lies, a true story and Josette, another true story. If you are into Sarah McLaughlin, Sheryl Crow, Counting Crows, Train, and Bonnie Rait you will love this CD. Having toured all over the country before getting pregant with her first child, Inside the ...  (less)

for the loss of the horse farms and traditions of the bands home of Lexington, Kentucky to the witty pop of the song , Now. The bands sound is reminiscent of folk bands such as Buffalo Springfield or Fairport Convention.With five singers,the harmonies are a high point. Davidson's accordion is perfectly matched with Eric Chapmans electric guitar. This folk definitely rocks!  (less)

more than one hundred and fifty recordings between them. Since the sixties the two have been in demand as performers, session musicians, songwriters and producers. They have worked with the likes of John Hammond Jr., Leon Redbone, Blind John Davis and in 1993 were the first Canadian act ever invited to the prestigious Chicago Blues Festival. With "Sixteen Shades of Blue" the Whiteley Brothers have covered all the blues bases, from the contemporary urban sound of "Stop Running" to the humorous ragtime of "Mr. Weatherman" to the jug band arrangement of "Doing Something Right." Chris and Ken play with style and skill on over twenty instruments, including acoustic and electric guitar, piano, trumpet, mandolin, harmonica and accordion. The album features...  (less)

rent tohe movie and play the soundtrack along with it, or just listen to the music. It stands on it's own and is delightfully unique and original.  (less)

and folk settings, this collection of songs combines Johnny Tillman Smith and Michael Dane Hager's complementary songwriting skills and Aldoush Alpanian's typically attentive production. Sky Cafe puts forth an acoustic/electric sound that is the ideal background for Michael's plaintive outcry and Johnny's forceful, soulful vocals. The result is a thoughtful and introspective effort that is sure to please. Instrumentation: Vocals, Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Bass, Sax, Drums, Harmonica, Keyboards, Accordion, Violin, Percussion, Tabla, Dumbak/Daf.  (less)