New Orleans’ based Conor Donohue is that kid who colors outside of the lines, showing us something beautiful in all the mess. Stray Dogs revels in the unexpected, dabbling in Americana, rock’n’roll, electronica, and pop — all in the service of a fierce self-expression. Donohue chronicles his life living with chronic pain — and searching for peace — on this eclectic collection. Each song is a jewel all of its own, with dense lyrics and probing instrumentation that proves Donohue expects nothing less than the best of himself — and that we should all expect as much from life, no matter the obstacles thrown at us.
Ear Milk Reviews Megan Brickwood’s New Album
Megan Brickwood‘s inaugural album, All the Same, is a captivating addition to the Americana genre. Produced by Ryan Hadlock (known for his work with The Lumineers and Brandi Carlile) at the esteemed Bear Creek Studio in Washington, the album ingeniously blends traditional folk elements with Brickwood’s contemporary artistry, creating a sound that is both familiar and refreshingly new.
The centerpiece of All the Same is its lead single, “Broken in the Middle,” which pays homage to Joan Baez while carving out its distinctive sonic niche. Brickwood’s evocative vocals, reminiscent of folk’s heyday, are complemented by vintage instrumentation and unconventional studio techniques, including using a shot glass for percussive effects.
More than just a collection of songs, ‘All the Same’ is a personal odyssey for Brickwood. The nine tracks beautifully chronicle her journey of self-discovery as she departed from Los Angeles, returned to her Northern California roots, and eventually found solace in the Pacific Northwest. Each composition’s geographical and emotional transformation is palpable, inviting the audience to share her experiences. The title track, “All the Same,” is a fascinating, fingerpicked ballad influenced by Nick Drake, while “Nothing New” introduces a politically charged undertone, enhancing the album’s versatility and allure.
Dancing About Architecture Reviews Megan Brickwood’s New Album
We seem to live in a musical world where everyone is looking for the next sound, where there seems to be a desire to dismiss what has gone before as old and no longer fit for purpose, where there is only one direction—forward, with no backward glance or acknowledgment of what has gone before allowed.
That is never so obvious, surprisingly, as in the contemporary folk scene. For a sound built on such fine traditions and iconic sounds, it seems that almost all modern practitioners of the style can’t wait to “indie it up” or to “folktronic the hell out of it”. Remember, you only know what you’ve got once it’s gone, so maybe don’t be in such a rush to move on.
Megan Brickwood is well aware of what she’s got, and All The Same’s opening title track is the sound of her inspired by and infused in the genre’s classic blend of timeless tradition and 60s revival, the sort of thing that convincingly sounds like a long-lost Joni Mitchell or Sandy Denny number.
American Songwriter Interviews Shawna Virago
One could use many words to describe Shawna Virago. She’s a singer/songwriter, filmmaker, artist, trailblazer, activist, and much more. One of the first openly transgender artists, Virago has been recording, touring, and performing as her authentic self since the early ‘90s. So “courageous” would be another fitting modifier. However, those who take time to speak with her would also add “humble” “insightful” and “optimistic” to that list of descriptors.
Earlier this fall, Virago sat down with American Songwriter to discuss her new album, her history in the music scene, and more.
Shawna Virago on Being Trans in the Music Industry
As mentioned above, Shawna Virago has been openly trans since the early ‘90s. So, we asked her for her perspective on how things have changed for trans and queer musicians over the last three decades.
Read more…
No Transmission Reviews Conor Donohue’s New Album
New Orleans-based Conor Donohue has a penchant for eschewing specific genre classification, dealing instead in a smorgasbord of pop, indie, rock, electronic, and country, all basted in a vague Americanaesque vibe. The songs on his third album, Stray Dogs, appear to be from a storied life, one keen on picking up observations and redigesting them into an art form. The execution here appeals to the everyperson, with relatable lyrics that play with cliches both earnestly and ironically. There’s also a communal essence to proceedings, with long-time collaborators Tyler Ross on lap steel, Ron Wiltrout on drums, and George Barraeis on bass fleshing out Donohue’s folkish yarns.
Producers Joel T. Hamilton and Emily Eck also add to the project in numerous ways. Hamilton’s relationship with Donohue goes back to 2011, when the pair penned “Elephants”, a track they’ve revisited on, Stray Dogs, thirteen years later, producing a dreamy psychedelic folk song that’s as innocently fun as it is shaker-heavy. It’s a well-intentioned song (“We take our mistakes and turn them into love”), and its positive mood shines through. Eck, on the other hand, lends sonic trickery via reversed Wurlitzer on “Shape Of Your Hand”, a saccharine tune (“I’ll always love you through thick and thin”) that redeems itself with a jovial jauntiness, exotic slide guitar, and Eck’s hallucinogenic keys.
Americana UK Reviews Laura Zarougian’s New Double Single
Laura Zarougian was one of our discoveries of last year, with some great songs and now here she is again with a couple of singles, what we might have called in the past a double A-sided release, ‘New Used Car‘ and ‘Double-Sided.’ The two songs deliberatley display differnt sides of her character – folky balladerr and stomping rocker, we’ve gone for stomping rocker today.
Laura Zarougian is an Armenian-American singer-songwriter based in New York’s Hudson Valley. She calls her music “Armenian Cowgirl,” since it blends Americana and roots music with subtle influences from her Middle Eastern heritage. Born into a family of refugees and immigrants from the Middle East, Zarougian grew up steeped in Armenian folk traditions. However, it was the American folk tradition that captured her heart, with influences ranging from Joni Mitchell and Tom Rush to Joan Baez. She says that “Armenian folk songs, much like the American folk tradition, are strongly linked to the land – the mountains, trees, and birds. These are places that we can’t return to, except through the memories within the music. Songs preserve a place, a moment, or a feeling, in a relatable way.” Looking ahead, Zarougian hints at incorporating more traditional Armenian instruments into her music. “Down the line, I hope to incorporate oud, douduk, zurna, and other Armenian and Middle Eastern instruments in my music,” she says. Sounds good.