Author Archives: VocalsOnTop

250 word album review: Tyler Childers – Live on Red Barn Radio I & II

Posted on August 28, 2018 by VocalsOnTop

Album reviews are usually just vaulted comparisons and the really good ones avoid that trap. There are good reasons for saying “sounds like…” in a review and no tricks will be pulled here because the best way to represent what … Continue reading →

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250 word album review: Under The Big Oak Tree – The Ark

Posted on August 21, 2018 by VocalsOnTop

Under The Big Oak Tree is already well established as one of the finer bluegrass outfits in the Midwest and with their third album release they show they are still growing as a group. Literally and figuratively that is, they … Continue reading →

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Album at a glance: Timmy Milner – Fall Risk

Posted on August 20, 2018 by VocalsOnTop

Timmy Milner’s deeply personal journal that is “Fall Risk” is at its best when he shoots straight down the middle. The best example is the simple yet elegant “Feeling Human” that sounds like a a David Bowie tune with its … Continue reading →

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250 word album review: Lucero – Among The Ghosts

Posted on August 14, 2018 by VocalsOnTop

  Lucero returns with more of what makes Lucero great. Honest, heartfelt lyrics bedded in whiskey soaked guitar licks with Ben Nichols signature rasp. The band doesn’t do anything here they’ve never done before but they are doing it as … Continue reading →

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250 word album review: Elias Black – Reclamation

Posted on August 7, 2018 by VocalsOnTop

  Elias Black’s “Reclamation” is a muscley industrial rock album that keeps hooks in mind but still keeps things heavy. The vocals are clear and on top of a mix of guitars and a thumping rhythm section, the singing is … Continue reading →

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250 word album review: The Tillers -The Tillers

Posted on July 31, 2018 by VocalsOnTop

The Tillers new record is filled with fiery bluegrass, aggressive flat picking and howling fiddle. The songs here rarely take a downshift in tempo from the opening song on. The closing number “Another Postcard” takes a deep breath after a … Continue reading →

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250 word album review: Stone Blind – Devils, Liars & Fools

Posted on July 24, 2018 by VocalsOnTop

Stone Blind pays tribute to heavy low-end rock with their debut album. This bare bones band makes a lot of noise with limited instrumentation by making the most of them. The low-end of bass and drums power the songs while … Continue reading →

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250 word album review: The Hold Steady – The Stove & The Toaster

Posted on July 17, 2018 by VocalsOnTop

  The opening line “Let’s just say they owe me a favor…” is probably about as good as Springsteen’s “They blew up the chicken man in Philly last night…” The line leads to a typically twisted Craig Finn penned tale … Continue reading →

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Courtney Barnett at The Truman in Kansas City 7/18/18

Posted on July 15, 2018 by VocalsOnTop

WHO’S PLAYING?  Courtney Barnett (Melbourne, Australia) & Vagabon (New York) WHAT TO EXPECT?  Jagged new rock and roll by the queen of slacker rock. Courtney Barnett currently has the future of rock and roll on her shoulders. at one time Nirvana … Continue reading →

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Concert Review: Jenny Lewis and The Cactus Blossoms at The Truman in Kansas City, MO 7/10/18

Posted on July 12, 2018 by VocalsOnTop

The prospect of a Jenny Lewis show only gets more intriguing with time. She has carefully built her body of musical work to be interestingly diverse. By doing this she has eluded monotony and really keeps her sound fresh. With … Continue reading →

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