Top Picks Archives - Page 5 of 34

Review: Abbie Mac – Dead Inside

Leave a Comment / Top Picks / Rebecca Morpeth-Spayne

Everything started off well for Mac on this track, with a big, semi-epic mix that melded seamlessly with her voice. The guitar lines are almost blended completely into the mix, so that they are nearly imperceptible, but they still add a shimmer here and there at the end of each line. Another victim of the crime that is slightly repetitive lines, the lyrics are so lost in the wall of sound that it’s hard to hear exactly what Mac is saying (although, that could be our bad hearing). Strangely, the single has some of that special Eurovision sheen to it – inexplicably listenable, despite the fact we have no idea what is happening. To read more exclusive articles and latest news, see our last issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on: Instagram: @Maverick.mag Twitter: @Maverick_mag Facebook: Maverick Magazine Media Contact Hannah Larvin, Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@maverick-country.com

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Review: The Fargo Railroad Co. – Time & Grace

Leave a Comment / Top Picks / Rebecca Morpeth-Spayne

There’s something deeply comforting about listening to musicians you feel are a safe pair of hands. Never an awkward note placement or an uncomfortable line, to put it simply, The Fargo Railroad Co. are reliable, they’re talented instrumentalists and they write songs that make you want to sing along. The album’s best tracks are probably ‘Hard Work’, with its rock ‘n’ roll sound, the subdued guitar that is freed to the phrase of “let it go!” and ‘Moving On’, which perfectly encapsulates what it’s like to break up with someone and see them, well, moving on. There’s a bit of cheek to the track, not only with the harmonica but also the meta-nod to playing in a band. What more could you possibly ask for? To read more exclusive articles and latest news, see our last issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on: Instagram: @Maverick.mag Twitter: @Maverick_mag Facebook: Maverick Magazine Media Contact Hannah Larvin, Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@maverick-country.com

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Review: Erin Duvall – One By One

Leave a Comment / Top Picks / Rebecca Morpeth-Spayne

This track sways too into the lane of musical theatre for us. It would be a good musical theatre song! As the Texas native singer-songwriter is clearly influenced by the likes of Janis Joplin and Shania Twain, with the rock and blues sound coming together with gospel elements. Vocally, Duvall is undeniably talented, but the backing vocals on the chorus take a little shine off her edge that she could – or should – make the most of. The track has many great elements, such as the blues guitar and Duvall herself, but could have perhaps used a little more editing to make it shimmer in the way we suspect Duvall wanted it to. To read more exclusive articles and latest news, see our last issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on: Instagram: @Maverick.mag Twitter: @Maverick_mag Facebook: Maverick Magazine Media Contact Hannah Larvin, Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@maverick-country.com

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Review: Mason Ramsey – Here All Day

Leave a Comment / Top Picks / Rebecca Morpeth-Spayne

Mason Ramsey is far away from where he started. A solidified country music star is born! This track takes cues from boyfriend country, but doesn’t go too pop or creepy (as is often the case). There’s not much to say about the track sonically, the most impressive aspect is Ramsey’s voice, which is still audibly youthful. The vocals lend into the cute ballad style and it’s interesting to hear how Ramsey is finding his sound in the grand scope of country music. Overall, the song is a sweet ode to love. Not at all offensive but perhaps not the most adventurous output by Ramsey, it will be sure to delight some and fall somewhere in the middle for others. To read more exclusive articles and latest news, see our last issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on: Instagram: @Maverick.mag Twitter: @Maverick_mag Facebook: Maverick Magazine Media Contact Hannah Larvin, Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@maverick-country.com

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Review: Carter Faith – Man

Leave a Comment / Top Picks / Rebecca Morpeth-Spayne

Taking that old adage ‘this is a man’s world’ and turning it on its head, Carter Faith smashes through country music with this. It’s an epic track, that subverts stereotypes by claiming that Faith is ‘man enough for the both of us’, it’s actually a little bit of a surprise when we realised this is a breakup track halfway through. We were so absorbed in Faith’s powerful vocal and the muted downward guitar strokes that it almost slipped by. Building into an appropriately loud and catchy chorus that isn’t without vocal difficulty, it’s impressive that Faith can go from the quiet instrumentation of the verses to the heavier backing of the chorus without any change in the quality of her voice. More straight country than her usual country/pop blend, Faith shows that she can impress with a track that focuses in on genre. To read more exclusive articles and latest news, see our last issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on: Instagram: @Maverick.mag Twitter: @Maverick_mag Facebook: Maverick Magazine Media Contact Hannah Larvin, Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@maverick-country.com

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Review: Little Lore – Seven Stories Part Two

Leave a Comment / Top Picks / Rebecca Morpeth-Spayne

When we reviewed the first portion of this album, we were spellbound by her Tricia Duffy’s ability to highlight unique perspectives with her songwriting and it’s no different with the second part. The stripped-down production still adds to each track, most notably ‘Little Pieces’, which magnifies every small detail to create an uncomfortable atmosphere that feels all at once too close and too far away to see. The choice to end this second part on the upbeat, ironic and funny ‘It Would Be Easier To Miss You If You’d Died’ feels like the cherry on top of a delicious Little Lore sundae. The track plays with humour and also hits emotionally, a trick that is the envy of many a writer. More like a dreamscape than a reality, ‘Seven Stories Part Two’ ticks all of our boxes and the isolated guitar parts on the tracks only makes it better. To read more exclusive articles and latest news, see our last issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on: Instagram: @Maverick.mag Twitter: @Maverick_mag Facebook: Maverick Magazine Media Contact Hannah Larvin, Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@maverick-country.com

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Review: Nolan McKelvey – Forward

Leave a Comment / Top Picks / Rebecca Morpeth-Spayne

Twenty five years of making music shows on the record by McKelvey. An accomplished singer and songwriter, McKelvey’s flag has been firmly planted in Americana with this release. Although it can feel a little slow in places, the mastery of lyricism that McKelvey has been honing for his entire career is clear. The instrumentation is also well balanced, with violin shining through on ‘Pretending’ to lend a hand to the dark, sad story that McKelvey sets out in the lyrics. There’s fun to be found on the record, too, with ‘Tears In The Devils’ the instrumentation feels more jolly and upbeat, contrasting with McKelvey’s storied voice and the story he tells of tragedy. If you’re a fan of songs that mismatch happy backing tracks with sad lyricism, this is a song you need to listen to urgently. A touch of bluesy folk about the whole record keeps it from being too mellow and makes it an enjoyable listen the whole way through. To read more exclusive articles and latest news, see our last issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on: Instagram: @Maverick.mag Twitter: @Maverick_mag Facebook: Maverick Magazine Media Contact Hannah Larvin, Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@maverick-country.com

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Review: C. Daniel Boling – New Old Friends with Tom Paxton

Leave a Comment / Top Picks / Rebecca Morpeth-Spayne

On a complete album on co-writes, Boling shines as the main man in charge. If Daniel Boling tells you to ‘Get A Life’, he knows what he’s talking about. A cheeky opener to this album, the bluegrass and folk sound across this album give it an airy but still impactful feeling as its combined with the lyrics. There are slower moments on the record with the romantic ‘How Did You Know’, which encapsulates that feeling of being an awkward teenager sending anonymous Valentine’s cards (or maybe that’s just us). The line ‘I went ass over teacup’ from ‘Bear Spray And Barbwire’ might be our favourite wordplay of the year so far. The writing is really the focus of Boling’s work here, every song is crafted and designed so that the lyrics can dazzle. It’s storytelling to the max, imagery dances across the mind upon listening and the album sways from happy to sad, love to loss from track to track with certain feet. To read more exclusive articles and latest news, see our last issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on: Instagram: @Maverick.mag Twitter: @Maverick_mag Facebook: Maverick Magazine Media Contact Hannah Larvin, Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@maverick-country.com

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Review: Hank Woji – Highways, Gamblers, Devils and Dreams

Leave a Comment / Top Picks / Rebecca Morpeth-Spayne

Anyone who loves traditional music will want to hear this album by Woji. The writing feels effortlessly country, keeping to the themes laid out in the title. The opener, ‘Don’t Look Back’, draws the listener in, with apt observations accompanied by soft acoustic guitar and wailing twangs, the track feels like a breath of fresh air. Woji only builds on that sentiment as the album unfolds. The music might not be urgent, but it wasn’t trying to be. It’s comfortable, heart-warming Americana/country, like bowl of soup on a cold day, there’s something familiar but still uplifting about Woji’s voice. The sentiment is only magnified by the use of a female harmony on tracks like ‘Chasin’ My Headlights Again’. When Woji steps into blues and even gospel, the album proves itself to not be one-note but a deep swim in the waters of Americana. A highlight is ‘El Sonador (The Dreamer)’, which shows Latin influence used to it’s advantage as Woji spins a necessary tale of immigration and expectation. To read more exclusive articles and latest news, see our last issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on: Instagram: @Maverick.mag Twitter: @Maverick_mag Facebook: Maverick Magazine Media Contact Hannah Larvin, Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@maverick-country.com

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Review: The Redhill Valleys – Steady The Wheel

Leave a Comment / Top Picks / Rebecca Morpeth-Spayne

With rock influences, Redhill Valleys combine roots guitar with crashing drums and perfect harmonies on this track. A little is left to be desired lyrically, as the song does fall ever so tentatively into the ‘too much repetition’ category, but overall the band comes together to create a track that stands out among the rest of the Americana and country music that’s on the radio right now. The bands typical 70s nostalgia drips off the track and makes sure that anyone who hankers for a time gone by are satisfied by the power chords and it’s easy to see why the band is so acclaimed as musicians, with each instrument falling into a place that feels comfortably skilled. To read more exclusive articles and latest news, see our last issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on: Instagram: @Maverick.mag Twitter: @Maverick_mag Facebook: Maverick Magazine Media Contact Hannah Larvin, Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@maverick-country.com

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