New Orleans Review Archives
Review of The Coffee Shop Chronicles : Part 2
Review of: David Lummis
The Coffee Shop Chronicles of New Orleans, Part 2: The Last Beaucoeur by David Lummis takes place on a single day, Friday August 26, read more...
Locked Down
Review of: Dr. John
(Nonesuch) The Black Keys' guitarist Dan Auerbach produced Dr. John's latest studio release Locked Down. Dr. John and Auerbach wrote the ten originals on this album together. It's an read more...
This Wheel's On Fire
Review of: Levon Helm & Stephen Davis
(William Morrow & Company) "It's a wicked life But what the hell, Everybody's got to eat." --"Goin' To Acapulco"
The Last of the Pascagoula: A Review
Review of: Rebecca Meredith
Rebecca Meredith's first published novel The Last of the Pascagoula read more...
Dirt Floor
Review of: Chris Whitley
(Messenger Records) Chris Whitley's 1998 release Dirt Floor counts as his 4th studio album. Besides his debut disc--Living With The Law--Dirt read more...
Bobby Charles
Review of: Bobby Charles
(Rhino) Released in 1972 on Bearsville Records, Bobby Charles features musical guests such as Dr. John, Neil Young's longtime read more...
Introducing Hope Waits
Review of: Hope Waits
(Spann Records) Born in Mornroe, Louisiana, Hope Waits endured a childhood of poverty, alcholisom and neglect. She left home at 15, moved to South Carolina and began singing in church choirs. Early on, Hope developed a love for Billie Holiday. Her mother was brutally read more...
In Light
Review of: Givers
(Glassnote Entertainment) Louisiana has always prided itself on its cultural gumbo. Its historical mixture of French, Spanish, African, and Italian combined with its connection to America give it a unique sensibility to say the least. Louisiana and New Orleans read more...
Whatever You Want (featuring Cody Dickinson)
Review of: Olga Wilhelmine Munding
(219 Records) Olga Wilhelmine Munding's latest release, Whatever You Want, was written with the
The Lost Cause Minstrels
Review of: Grayson Capps
(Royal Potato Family Records) The Lost Cause Minstrels is Grayson Capps' fifth studio album. After Rott N Roll, Capps dissolved his group The Stumpknockers and formed The Lost Cause Minstrels. This new read more...
Blues Babe
Review of: Olga Wilhelmine Munding
(219 Records) Blues Babe represents Olga's first solo release. There are no guest musicians on this recording--just the songwriter and her instrument. On Blues read more...
The Other Side Of Midnight: Live In New Orleans
Review of: Galactic
(Anti-Records) Recorded during a sold out show at Tipitina's in October 2010, The Other Side Of Midnight: Live In New Orleans captures Galactic at their zenith. The New Orleans group formed in 1994, and made a lot of friends and fans along the way--especially in New read more...
I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive
Review of: Steve Earle
(New West Records) Produced by T-Bone Burnett, 11 original Steve Earle songs comprise I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive. Earle read more...
Western Ballad
Review of: Shannon McNally
(Sacred Sumac Records) Western Ballad, Shannon McNally's 6th studio album, was recorded in New Orleans over the last year and a half. McNally's 2009 read more...
Medicine
Review of: Tab Benoit
(Telarc) Tab Benoit's career is like a racehorse that sneaks up on the pack from the outside. He's been quietly building an impressive catalog of music for the last two decades, and Medicine might be his best yet. Benoit came along in the early 90s at read more...
American Nomad
Review of: The Apache Relay
(Nomadic/Thirty Tigers) As the Apache Relay's follow up to their critically lauded debut, American Nomad has been widely anticipated by many people who identified this band as one to watch. The previous album by this Nashville-based ensemble was produced by read more...
When The Women Come Out To Dance
Review of: Elmore Leonard
(Harper Paperbacks) Born in New Orleans during 1925, Elmore Leonard ranks as one of America’s finest writers. His family soon moved from the Crescent City to Detroit when he was a child, and Leonard never moved away from the Motor City. Author of 45 novels, Leonard read more...
Black Dub
Review of: Black Dub
(Jive) Daniel Lanois, best known for his production work with Bob Dylan, Willie read more...
New Orleans Jokerman
Review of: The Last Waltz Ensemble
(Raymond Records) The Last Waltz Ensemble formed in 2004. This Atlanta band plays the music of Bob Dylan &
RIYEL----Eclectic and Kreyol Jazz
Review of: RIYEL (Ken Watters, Andre Atkins, Yves Abel)
Summit Records, April 2010 Released internationally on April 13, 2010, Riyel’s first album is an overview of read more...
The Coffee Shop Chronicles of New Orleans
Review of: David Lummis
Truth & Salvage Company
Review of: Truth & Salvage Company
Silver Arrow Records The rare collection of songwriters in Truth And Salvage Company originates from Atlanta, New Orleans, Tupelo and Ohio, read more...
Burning Angel
Review of: James Lee Burke
Burning Angel James Lee Burke Hyperion Books By James Calemine James Lee Burke’s Burning Angel revolves around detective Dave Robicheaux. AA attending read more...
Piety Street
Review of: John Scofield
(Emarcy) John Scofield has had a long career in music having showcased his excellent guitar playing in diverse settings ranging from making music with Miles Davis to Medeski, Martin and Wood. His guitar playing throughout his decades-long run of albums read more...
In The Electric Mist
Review of: Bertrand Tavenier
In the Electric Mist Bertrand Tavenier Image Entertainment By James Calemine Based on the James Lee Burke novel, In the Electric Mist With Confederate Dead, this read more...
I'm That Way
Review of: Beth McKee
Is it something in the water? Something in the land? People can analyze all they want, but Southerners have a different relationship to music than others. Beth McKee is prime example number one. This Jackson, MS girl has toughed it out as a musician with a career read more...
Baby, You Can Get Your Gun!
Review of: Snooks Eaglin
Baby, You Can Get Your Gun! Snooks Eaglin Hepcat Records By James Calemine Born in New Orleans in 1939, this legendary blind guitarist died in February 2009. He began his recording career in 1958. He operated as Allen Toussaint’s lead read more...
Moodoo
Review of: Porter, Batiste and Stoltz featuring Page McConnell
(Highsteppin’ Productions) Moodoo is the new live album by Porter, Batiste and Stoltz, otherwise known as PBS. The group is made up of New Orleans funk legends George Porter Jr., bass player for read more...
Homage Au Passe
Review of: Pine Leaf Boys
Homage Au Passe Pine Leaf Boys Lionsgate Music By James Calemine The Pine Leaf Boys’ latest CD, Homage Au Passé, is nominated for a Grammy. However, the album does not hit the streets for another several weeks. Since read more...
Rott-N-Roll
Review of: Grayson Capps & The Stumpknockers
Rott-N-Roll Grayson Capps & The Stumpknockers Hyena Records By James Calemine Rott-N-Roll, Grayson Capps’ third disc, sounds like gut-bucket, read more...
Two Men With The Blues
Review of: Willie Nelson & Wynton Marsalis
Two Men With The Blues Willie Nelson & Wynton Marsalis Angel Records By James Calemine Recorded in 2007 at the Lincoln Center when Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis read more...
From The Reach
Review of: Sonny Landreth
Sonny Landreth From The Reach Landfall Records Sonny Landreth returns with his first record in 5 years. With his deep catalog of work both as a solo artist and a collaborator/contributor to others (
City That Care Forgot
Review of: Dr. John
City That Care Forgot Dr. John 429 Records By James Calemine Dr. John’s latest disc, City That Care Forgot, proves an essential volume in his prestigious discography. These songs contain more of a cultural-political read more...
Margie Joseph
Review of: Margie Joseph
Margie Joseph Margie Joseph Collector’s Choice Music By James Calemine This 1973 Atlantic Records self-titled debut brought high expectations of Margie Joseph, a Mississippi native whose voice reminded folks of her Atlantic read more...
Darius Goes West
Review of: Logan Smalley
“Something’s gonna happen like…Just spark the whole world,” exclaims Darius, the star of the award-winning independent documentary feature film Darius Goes West (DGW), 2007. read more...
Live At the Avalon Ballroom 1969
Review of: Gram Parsons With The Flying Burrito Brothers
Live At The Avalon Ballroom 1969 Gram Parsons with The Flying Burrito Brothers Amoeba Records By James Calemine If you're reading this review, chances are you've heard of
Song of America
Review of: Various Artists
Song of America Various Artists 31 Tigers Records By James Calemine This 50-song, 3 CD collection tells the story of America through songs from the year 1492 through modern times. Song of America contains a diverse line-up of artists read more...
Blues From The Gutter
Review of: Champion Jack Dupree
Blues From The Gutter Champion Jack Dupree Atlantic Records By James Calemine ...One from the vaults... Orphaned at an early age, Champion Jack Dupree grew up in New Orleans. Dupree spent most of his time in the mean streets and music joints read more...
Hurricane Season
Review of: Neal Thompson
Hurricane Season by Neal Thompson Free Press Author Neal Thompson has tapped read more...
Red Dirt Marijuana & Other Tastes
Review of: Terry Southern
Red Dirt Marijuana & Other Tastes Terry Southern Citadel Underground By read more...
Jesus Out To Sea
Review of: James Lee Burke
Jesus Out To Sea James Lee Burke Simon & Schuster By James read more...
Atlanta Twelve String
Review of: Blind Willie McTell
Atlanta Twelve String Blind Willie McTell Atlantic Records By James Calemine Perhaps the most gifted of all blues artists, Blind Willie McTell ranks as a seminal figure in American music. Born in Thomson, Georgia, in May of 1898 (some say 1901); McTell's read more...
Portraits and Songs From the Roots of America
Review of: Various Artists
Enclosed within the new Music Maker book titled Portraits and Songs From the Roots of America rests a CD featuring 22 different Music Maker artists. This collection reveals some of the country’s most neglected Southern musicians who remain pioneers and vital sources read more...
Loose Strings
Review of: Carlo Nuccio
Carlo Nuccio Loose Strings Monkey Hill Records Carlo Nuccio has been kicking around New Orleans for over a decade serving as the drummer in residence for the roots rock scene in the Crescent City. Some might recall him from the Continental Drifter's read more...