The linebacker with all-American good looks flexes his muscle in ballads and anthems alike, demonstrating a solid versatility over the course of the EP’s five tracks. Opener “Can’t Forget About You” is built around a standard pop-country hook, anchored by a rock earnestness and Adams’ rich, powerful voice. “Miss Me Whiskey” is a more interesting […]
guitar
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Roots radical
Bill Kirchen Bill Kirchen is a man of many titles. Some people call him one of the “founding fathers of Americana”; others, “Titan of the Telecaster.” He helped pioneer the Americana movement, as well as the “twangcore” and “dieselbilly” scenes. Many know him as the lighting-in-a-bottle guitarist behind country rock’s Commander Cody and His Lost […]
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Good Morning Grizzly — The Dirty EP
The band’s influences range from baroque post-rock, à la Explosions in the Sky, to more alternative metal sounds like A Perfect Circle or Chevelle, even approaching emo/screamo territory when guitarist/vocalist Tyler Slemp unleashes his fervent howl. For some — particularly those offended by Muse-meets-Dashboard-style inflection — Slemp’s voice might be a deal-breaker. Thankfully, he proves […]
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SXSW 2013: Zach Winters / Parker Millsap
The Norman man’s voice is a high, yearning one, perfect for injecting a sense of longing into a tune. He also had three female vocalists with him, and their vocals added a unique dimension to Winters’ sound. A drummer, hand percussionist, bassist and electric guitarist filled out the rest of the band, which gave Winters’ […]
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Matt Stansberry & the Romance — Let’s Brighten It Up
The brilliant new nine-player band brings all sorts of new layers to the formula. Stansberry’s melodies are good enough to stand on their own; the backing vocals, horn section and keys add another dimension to his sound. The title track bridges the gap between ’50s pop and soul, beaming like sunshine with a good amount […]
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Foreign Home — How Strange the Night
From the sounds of it, that’s a place where Tulsa outfit Foreign Home would like to call home. Its debut album, How Strange the Night, is big, layered, engrossing and just enough offbeat to not reside firmly in the mainstream. That can be a death trap for some bands who drown in that wall of […]
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David lean
Singer-songwriter David Ramirez needs only an acoustic guitar to perform his heartrending tunes. Since he can fit all his gear in the front seat of a sedan, his tour expenses are low, meaning he can tour often. But living on the road ensures some gigs will be out of the ordinary. “I was at this […]
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Sleigh Bells — Reign of Terror
This stuff combines all my dirtiest, guilty-pleasure pop secrets into a single, distinct sound with a stylistic aesthetic to match (captured by the awesome bloodstained Keds album art). In fact, for funsies, why don’t we run through that checklist of cheesy things I love?• ’60s girl-group vocals from a super-hot lady? Yup.• Drippy Rick Springfield […]
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Nutrocker
Trans-Siberian Orchestra guitarist Al Pitrelli has been a good boy this year. But for the guy who’s been the prog-rock Santa Claus to more than 8 million concert attendees since 1999, his gifts come in the forms of fan art, charity and the inseparable intertwining with American holiday culture that powers TSO’s merry sleigh of […]
Posted inMusic
Nutrocker
Trans-Siberian Orchestra guitarist Al Pitrelli has been a good boy this year. But for the guy who’s been the prog-rock Santa Claus to more than 8 million concert attendees since 1999, his gifts come in the forms of fan art, charity and the inseparable intertwining with American holiday culture that powers TSO’s merry sleigh of […]