November 2021

Tenpenny is really enjoying life right now, not long after the release of ‘Midtown Diaries’ he returns with his Christmas record, ‘Naughty List’. The album has that upbeat, country-rock vibe to it that we’ve come to know and love from Tenpenny. It features a good mix of originals and classics starting with the fun-loving ‘Neon Christmas’ written by Tenpenny, Lindsay Rimes and Matt Rogers. It’s a great start to the record which sees Tenpenny’s vocals at their strongest. It starts as it means to go on as a smile instantly spreads across your face. His rendition of ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ is imaginative whilst ‘Joy to the World’ offers a very contemporary vision of the classic carol. However, it’s the songs he’s penned himself that set this apart from other Christmas albums, the title track has so much style, the melodies so rhythmical whilst ‘Snow Angels’ with it’s ballad feel has a strong chorus. A brilliant addition to every country fans Christmas collection.  

The singer-songwriter and violinist has carved a unique sound on her new album ‘Awake’. She really plays to her strengths with the effective use of the violin which adds to and compliments each song. With a lovely tone to her voice she tells unique and sometimes haunting stories with her beautiful melodies taking you on a journey throughout the record. Highlights come in the form of ‘Offspring’ which features a lovely arrangement and production. ‘Threshold’ also offers a production that matches the lyrical content, a sense of freedom oozing from the soundscapes she creates. Her songwriting feels authentic yet with a hint of mystery such as in the song ‘Ragged Queen’. Throughout the record though, it is her voice I marvel at, particularly on the title track, ‘Awake’. She exhibits such control, it’s flawless throughout. This may be one of the best folk albums you’ll hear all year. Oreen is a very talented lady. 

Internet sensations, The Longest Johns are about to release their major label debut proving that nautical folk is here to stay. The album is filled with a mix of traditional songs and originals, all set to an authentic instrumentation and sung with beautiful harmonies. From the sombre ‘Wayfaring Stranger’ to the rousing acappella ‘Don’t Forget Your Old Shipmate’ it is the harmonies they create that really make this record stand out. Their friendship over the years is obvious with how well their voices gel together. Despite the traditional songs and their accompanying sound, the boys still manage to put their own identity onto each and every track. The closing number, the comedic ‘Beer Is Great’ has an element of musical theatre about it, it transports you to a tavern somewhere, images of sailors sloshing their tankers of beer about in joyful song fill your head. To summarise, this is a really unique album in a niche area of the market but I have every faith they’ll succeed! 

Turner’s signature vocals shine on this record as he tells of the true meaning of Christmas on ‘King Size Manger’. A good mix of classics and originals ensue on the 11 track album. ‘Soldiers Gift’ is an unusual Christmas song, finding an angle that is rarely heard, the ballad in 6/8 time tugs on your heartstrings. What follows is the classic ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ which features the whole of the Turner family, a lovely song for them to share and a reminder of the importance of family and togetherness at Christmas time. His renditions of classic songs like ‘The First Nowell’ and ‘Silent Night, Holy Night’ are heartfelt and sincere in their delivery whilst ‘Joy to the World’ with Rhonda Vincent is upbeat with the drum helping the track to shuffle along. The arrangement is inventive and country to the hilt. Definitely an album to deck the halls to!    

Lu’s Jukebox is a six-volume series of mostly full-band performances recorded live at Ray Kennedy’s Room & Board Studio in Nashville, TN. Each volume features a themed set of songs by other artists curated by the multi-Grammy award winner, this one features 60’s country classics! She’s made some brilliant selections in the form of ‘Make the World Go Away’ and ‘Gentle on My Mind’ and makes them her own with her laid-back vocal style yet has stayed true to the original instrumentation of that era with the use of pedal steel. The stand-out track comes in the form of Buck Owens ‘Together Again’ there is a frailty within her voice as she fills her delivery with emotion.  It’s another strong record in this series which has been an interesting and exciting project from Williams. 

The 13-track album from Liverpudlian singer-songwriter John Jenkins is packed with powerful tracks. Jenkins vocals, as soft and smooth as caramel, deliver well written lyrics addressing regret and broken dreams. Though it might sound sad, there is plenty to smile about as the record transports you through these emotions, from the gentle production to the stories and characters Jenkins creates. The imagery is clear on the tragic ‘The Last Train From Baltimore,’ but Jenkins voice is soothing as he reflects on these events. A sonic shift occurs on ‘The Wrong Side of Sadness’ as a more rousing production ensues. He is joined by Alison Benson on ‘Strangers on a Train’, the production is stripped back giving the pairs delicate vocals room to deliver their message. ‘If You Can’t Forgive, You Can’t Love’ is a fantastic record that, for all it’s regret and sorrow, delivers an important message of forgiveness and freedom. Jenkins proves to be one to watch with both his vocals and songwriting on point for this album. 

As a mainstream country music fan, I was surprised I enjoyed this album as much as I did. This latest record comes after a difficult couple of years for Felix but he’s channeled his trials and tribulations into his songwriting, taking this record to some dark places at times. With the theme of driving, he recalls ghosts and coping mechanisms of the past as he tries to deal with losing his Dad. With cinematic and hypnotic soundscapes as a backdrop, the album plays host to thought-provoking lyrics and inspiring melodies, focus song ‘Let Your Love Rain Down On Me’ is an example of this. Another favourite comes in the form of ‘Think I’m Alright Now’, featuring laid-back percussion, the song focuses on the emergence of hope – a light in the dark, so to speak. Felix’s baritone voice is the centrepiece of the whole record. There is a clear evolution for Curse of Lono on this third album but the trajectory of the band looks promising.