By James Calemine I wrote this review in 2012 when Sweeten The Distance was released, and right before I interviewed Neal Casal for the first time. I just watched the moving tribute to Neal that transpired on September 25, 2019, "There’s A Reward: A Celebration of the...
Gentle Spirit was recorded on analog and released on vinyl as a double album.
By James Calemine Neal Casal stands as a musical journeyman. He released his tenth solo album titled Sweeten The Distance on April 10. The collection captures Casal’s resonating songwriting, soulfulness and musicianship. Recently, Casal recorded with Vetiver, The...
These close-to-the-bone stories reveal lives of trailblazers on the chitlin circuit involving a coordinated tour of sawdust ballrooms, dice parlors, juke joints and neighborhood bars throughout the south and beyond.
By James Calemine James Lee Burke’s Burning Angel revolves around detective Dave Robicheaux. AA attending Robicheaux not only struggles with his wicked Vietnam days, alcoholism and daily police work, but a gang of ex-Black-Ops members coming to New Iberia, Louisiana,...
Larry Brown’s Facing The Music contains ten short stories. Published in 1988, Facing The Music counts as the first book the late Mississippi writer published. These stories serve as a prelude to Brown’s later work. At the time this book was published, Brown worked as...
By James Calemine “You can either be true to your art, or be a good public relations man,” Neil Young said years ago. Le Noise finds Ol’ Shakey continuing to pursue his ruthless vision. Produced and recorded by fellow Canadian Daniel Lanois in his home studio, Le...
"Don't go to any trouble You know I won't be here long." --Glen Campbell Glen Campbell was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s during the recording sessions for his last album, Ghost on the Canvas. Campbell crafted this collection as a farewell, followed by one final tour....
Sisters of the South contains 13 songs performed by 12 different female Music Maker artists. Every song on this memorable compilation pays for the price of purchase—a tax deduction. The Branchette’s “I Know I’ve Been Changed” emits a golden sound of a Sunday morning...
By James Calemine Released in 1972 on Bearsville Records, Bobby Charles features musical guests such as Dr. John, Neil Young’s longtime pedal steel player Ben Keith, guitarist Amos Garrett and saxophonist David Sanborn as well as Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel...