Country
Premiere: Tony Harrah – Unicorns album stream
Everything changed for singer-songwriter Tony Harrah about year ago when his wife, and mother of his three children, suddenly passed away. The result of that is a new record, titled Unicorns – the name of the eulogy he gave at her funeral, and we’re delighted to premiere it here on Backseat Mafia. Although written partly …
Album Review: Gena Rose Bruce – Can’t Make You Love Me
Since covering her single ‘Blazing Radio’ back in 2014, we here at Backseat Mafia have keenly followed the career of Melbourne’s Gena Rose Bruce and it is with great joy to declare her debut album, ‘Can’t Make You Love Me’, a promise strongly delivered. There can be no doubt that Bruce’s style has matured and …
Album Review: Bruce Springsteen – Western Stars
Let’s not beat about the bush: this is … alright. It’s got all the elements of a Bruce Springsteen: well-worn faces and expressions, like favourite jeans; stories that are going to ring burnished bells; characters who will make listeners smile and sigh. But they don’t get beyond that; their impact is, for the most part, …
Track: Bruce Springsteen – Hello Sunshine, plus new album news
Bruce Springsteen has announced that his first new studio album in five years (and his 19th in total), Western Stars, is to be released on June 14th, via Columbia Records. From it, he has released the first glimpse of the record, a track called ‘Hello Sunshine’. Influenced by California pop record from the 60’s and …
Album Review: Larkin Poe – Venom & Faith
Larkin Poe have brought the music of their roots bang up to date on progressive third album ‘Venom & Faith’. Larkin Poe, aka Atlanta-born sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell, have spent the last eight years releasing music that continues to surpass all expectations. From their ‘Band For All Seasons’ series of four EPs (one for …
Live Review: Handsome Family – Plug Sheffield 19.03.2018
Poor Rennie Sparks. Snowed in the previous day at a carvery somewhere outside Barnsley, only to find that the rearranged gig was in Britain’s coldest venue. She shuffled onstage a good 15 minutes ahead of Brett and the others, to plug in an electric heater and stand folornly defrosting in her emergency purchase Asda coat …
Album Review: First Aid Kit “Ruins”
It’s amazing to find Swedish country folk duo First Aid Kit already releasing their fourth album and between releasing fascinatingly authentic Americana-drenched albums, they’ve conquered the world, cracking the US market and even appearing as regular guests on Graham Norton’s A-list chat show. “Ruins” finds them in a reflective mood, opening with moody “Behind Blue …
Album Review: Deer Tick – Volume 1 and Volume 2
Acclaimed roots-rock-americana-country-folk-acoustic-boundary-breakers Deer Tick have released their first new material in four years via Partisan Records. The good news for fans is that they have released not just one, but two new records. This is not a double album either, these are two separate collections of original material (Volume 1 and Volume 2), both recorded …
Not Forgotten: Marty Robbins – More Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs
Such is the high regard that 1959’s Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs is held, that the fact that the late great Marty Robbins released another 43 albums in his lifetime (and a further two posthumously) is often overlooked.Perhaps inevitably, the snappily titled More Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs, is not dissimilar to Robbin’s best known …
Track: Jesse Jo Stark – Driftwood
With the combination of a peacefully constructed composition and lyrics that show elements of a country inspired noir tale; ‘Driftwood’ by Jesse Jo Stark is an equally haunting and captivating song to listen to. Wonderfully performed with an excellent use of subtlety, it focuses on telling its story through an almost euphoric haze that feels …