The following pages are some of my favorite pieces taken from my days freelancing for AllMusic.com. I wrote almost 200 reviews and bios for them over the course of a few years. These are links to additional posts over at the home site: Toad the Wet Sprocket – Dulcinea Jeb Loy Nichols – Just What …
Sonically, Steady On is a triumph, with its emotional intimacy captured with smooth precision. Vocally, Colvin’s tender, sometimes whisper-like performances are astonishing and haunting, provocative and seductive all at once.
Amy Ray has a message. She always has. But as half of the Indigo Girls, she was a bit more measured, reserved, and polite, if you will. Still, she wants to be heard and what she has to say on Stag is very much worth listening to.
As debut albums by young bands go, Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars is nearly flawless. With a slight southern twinge in her voice, the 23-year-old Brickell churned out brilliant lyrics and captivating vocal performances, backed by the solid and innovative players that comprised the original New Bos — Kenny Withrow, Brad Houser, John Bush, and …