CORIN RAYMOND – THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A SMALL TIME

 

Listening to Corin Raymond’s latest cd brought a smile to my face and reminded me of John Prine back in the seventies. Corin alternates optimistic cheerful songs(Paid to party, Stealing my heart, There will always be a small time) with more melancholy songs(Blue mermaid dress, I wish I was in love, If wishes were horses). The music ranges from acoustic to semi-acoustic and some Tex-mex influences(Micheline, Leftover tears). (The Lonely one) (think Roy Orbison) could have been a great hit in jukebox times. The picking is brilliant with people like David Baxter(guitar), Sean Cotton(guitar), Treasa Levasseur(accordion), etc.

 

There’s no filler on this cd. Words fail me to describe the greatness of this musical project. This cd is highly recommended.

 

Score : 10/10

 

http://www.myspace.com/corinraymond

 

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/corinraymond

 

 

SLEEPY DRIVER – STEADY NOW – BLACK BELL PRODUCTIONS

 

Although Steady Now consists of 3 Americana songs(Where You Are, Only Water, North Dakota) , driven by the pedal steel of guest player Dave Palmer, Sleepy Driver is essential a rock band. Comparisons with compatriot bands Blue Rodeo and slices of Skydiggers and Blackie and the Rodeo Kings are obvious.

 

Some songs are radio friendly(Like A Weapon, And The Gravediggers  Says), others have a Steve Miller band vibe (Get Right With The Lord, Architects).

 

Responsible for all these melodic songs is Peter Hicks, who wrote all the songs and also co-produced the cd.

 

Sleepy Driver has established itself with Steady Now on the Rockscene and created great expectations for the future.

score : 8/10

 

www.sleepydriver.ca

www.myspace.com/sleepydriver05

 

CRAIG BANCOFF - EDEN - SWEETIE RECORDS

 

Imagine yourself by the side of the river and the sun is shining and no clouds in the sky, that’s the way I felt listening to Craig’s cd. The songs are entertaining and warm. You can hear influences of the Jayhawks and the folkier side of Crowded House. Craig is helped by people like Tom Hampton(mandolin,pedalsteel,banjo), Matty Muir(drums), Adam Winokur(bass), Mike Frank(piano,Hammond) and Shelley Weiss(violin).

Craig is the right example how good Americana should sound.

Score : 8/10

http://www.craigbancoff.com

www.myspace.com/craigbancoff

www.cdbaby.com/Artist/CraigBancoff

PAUL INMAN – SONGS OF THE BROKEN EARTH

 

MOJAVE MOON RECORDS

 

In his latest cd folk,pop, country and blues merge together in one great Americana writ. His influences lie in the folk-rock of the seventies. He plays many string instruments and keyboards Many of his songs deal with love or the lack of it. “Railroadin’ Days” reminds me of the great Dutch-Canadian singer-songwriter Ad Vanderveen.  “(Oh Mercy, Look At) The Way She Moves” is a beatlesinspired song and very radiofriendly. “Black Snake Crawlin’” is bluesy singer-songwriterstuff with a nice harmonica. “Jenny Roe” is one of the love songs accompanied with a brilliant steel guitar. “Annabelle Lee” is a piano-driven love song. “Cities of the world” is one of the more rockier songs. “Girl”, “Baby Ramble Down”, “In The Eyes Of Maribel” and “Isle Of Skye” are slow guitar-driven love songs, while “Down In The Vale Of Old Avalon” is a piano-driven song. “I Got No Money” is a slow bluesy rockin' song. The cd ends with “I Still Want To Ramble” about a restless man who still hasn’t found his home.(again great instrumentation). Finally I must mention a  great interpretation of Woody Guthrie’s “More Pretty Girls Than One”

Score : 8/10

www.paulinman.net

www.myspace.com/paulinmansdelivery 

CARRIE WADE – THE OLD WAYS

 

Carrie’s music is an amalgam of country, rock and folk with some psychedelic elements thrown in the mix. All this gives the music a very “seventies feeling”.  It’s hard to believe that this is a debut cd as this sounds so mature and her voice is ideal for this kind of  Americana. Her voice reminds me of other great singers like Mary Chapin Carpenter, Tift Merritt, Lucinda Williams and Patty Griffin. All the songs are written by Carrie herself.

 

Although all songs are worth listening to(no filler), some songs excel like :

 

“Needles in the waves” with some great pedal steel playing from Marty Rifkin

 

“American Boys “ with some great dobro

 

“ In a world that goes wrong” again with great pedal steel playing from Marty Rifkin

 

Very recommended

 

Score : 9/10

 

www.myspace.com/carriewade

 

www.carriewade.com

THE FIVE AND DIMERS – QUARTER OF A TANK

 

If I had a porch the five and dimers would be the band playing there.  They play on their debut cd a very fine sort of Americana, very entertaining, with lots of country and folk elements.  Most of the songs are mid-tempo except for 3 ballads(Quarter of a Tank, Restless Angel  and Drunken Smile) with great lapsteel playing from Pete Klein. Also the fiddling of Matt McGibany is very impressive. Other members of the band are Matt Taul on vocals and rhythm guitar, Adam Peipert on banjo, John  Masinelli on bass and Jeff Walker on drums.

 

It’s hard to mention highlights because all songs are so great. If you can see these guys live, don’t hesitate and buy their cd.

  

Highly  recommended

 

Score : 9/10

 

www.myspace.com/fiveanddimers

 

www.thefiveanddimers.com