Category Archives: folk

Review: Brian Dewan – Words of Wisdom

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Label: Eschatone Records Released: November 13, 2007 Clearly, some novelty records are just silly and others are, at least on some level, actually quite serious. Words of Wisdom is certainly of the more serious variety. That’s not to say that it isn’t light-hearted, just that it has a real purpose. Brian Dewan apparently found these songs in old schoolbooks, garage… Read more »

Review: Paul Robeson – On My Journey: Paul Robeson’s Independent Recordings / Pete Seeger – American Favorite Ballads, Vol. 5

   Label: Smithsonian Folkways Released: August 28, 2007 (Paul Robeson) & October 9, 2007 (Pete Seeger) On the surface, these two albums have little in common. But I happened to put them both on my iPod, and by hearing each artist’s songs randomly mixed with Primal Scream and Pedro the Lion and Picastro (it was a “p” kind of week), I… Read more »

Review: The New Dress – Where Our Failures Are

Label: Red Leader Records Released: October (?), 2007 One of the best recent trends in punk rock is the burgeoning punk/folk (or punk/roots or punk/country) movement. While this may seem to have its roots in bands like Uncle Tupelo and the Violent Femmes, that’s only partially true. Bands like This Bike is a Pipe Bomb and the amazing though little… Read more »

Flogging Molly in the Studio and the Return of Matt Hensley

Flogging is currently cutting tracks for their new album expected in early 2008. They spent the pre-production period and are recording in Dave King’s native Ireland. The band is really excited about the new material, new album and the return of their brother in arms. Long time accordion player and gentleman, Matt Hensley has re-joined the band after leaving in… Read more »

Review: Various Artists – Down Home Saturday Night

Label: Smithsonian Folkways Recordings Released: July 31, 2007 As the liner notes describe, all across the country on a Saturday night music and good times go hand in hand and always have. American roots music, from bluegrass to zydeco, has been an influence on modern music as well as a vital part of life for many, many people. It’s the… Read more »