<article class="post-16932 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail category-home-page-features tag-no-depression entry" aria-label="No Depression Reviews Nick Gusman and the Coyotes’ New Album" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/CreativeWork"><header class="entry-header"><h2 class="entry-title" itemprop="headline"><a class="entry-title-link" rel="bookmark" href="https://sweetheartpr.com/no-depression-reviews-nick-gusman-and-the-coyotes-new-album/">No Depression Reviews Nick Gusman and the Coyotes’ New Album</a></h2>
<p class="entry-meta"><time class="entry-time" itemprop="datePublished" datetime="2024-12-05T13:10:00-06:00">December 5, 2024</time></p></header><div class="entry-content" itemprop="text">
<p>Nick Gusman & The Coyotes don’t do half measures, as evidenced by their barnstorming third album, <em>Lifting Heavy Things,</em> which has all the markings of a soon-to-be critical and commercial breakthrough. By the time the LP’s second track, “Sound of A Broken Heart” has finished, the band have already placed themselves firmly in the lineage of greats like Lucero, Springsteen, and Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit. </p><p>Like those acts, the band here demonstrate a preternatural knack for packaging knotty emotions and uncomfortable truths into unpretentious couplets that cut to the heart of the matter (“And I’m looking for the pain again / Because it’s something I know”). “Broken Heart,” like many of the songs that follow, rushes to big, anthemic climaxes where fiddle, drums, and guitar crescendo into a cacophony. But such dramatic moments (and <em>Lifting Heavy Things </em>has no shortage of them) never feel unearned or forced – there’s a dynamism, sincerity and rawness to the band’s expression that proves reliably winning.</p><p>Like Springsteen and Isbell, Gusman & co are big believers in the character portrait – sketching various personalities who at their very best have a wider story to tell about America in 2024. Across these 10 tracks, we meet a charismatic sex worker in the “Tokyo Hotel,” the fast-living eponymous character of “Slow Down Katie,” an injured refugee seeking the “American Dream,” and a strung-out “Trucker” going down in an epic police chase. All these characters (and many more) act as stand-ins for different parts of the nation’s wounded psyche – disillusionment with once-accepted truths, a strained but resilient belief in the country’s stated promise, and reckless abandon committed under the false pretense of invincibility. It all adds up to an immensely powerful songwriting statement.</p><p><a href="https://www.nodepression.com/album-reviews/album-review-nick-gusman-and-the-coyotes-lifting-heavy-things/" title="">Read more…</a></p><p></p>
</div><footer class="entry-footer"><p class="entry-meta"><span class="entry-categories">Filed Under: <a href="https://sweetheartpr.com/category/home-page-features/" rel="category tag">HOME PAGE FEATURES</a></span> </p></footer></article><article class="post-16940 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail category-home-page-features tag-the-big-takeover entry" aria-label="The Big Takeover Reviews Noah Smith’s New EP" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/CreativeWork"><header class="entry-header"><h2 class="entry-title" itemprop="headline"><a class="entry-title-link" rel="bookmark" href="https://sweetheartpr.com/the-big-takeover-reviews-noah-smiths-new-ep/">The Big Takeover Reviews Noah Smith’s New EP</a></h2>
<p class="entry-meta"><time class="entry-time" itemprop="datePublished" datetime="2024-11-16T17:25:00-06:00">November 16, 2024</time></p></header><div class="entry-content" itemprop="text">
<p>In the modern world, we have become all too accustomed to listening to music that has been produced to within an inch of its life, songs that have been pieced together from numerous takes and additional sonic add-ons. It might sound impressive, in that shiny sort of way that appeals to musical magpies, but does it sound honest and authentic enough for the more discerning musical aficionado? Probably not.</p><p>If you are after the real deal, look no further than this new six-tracker from <strong>Noah Smith</strong>. <em>Cavaliers Into Cadillacs</em> is the sound of a live band in the studio, capturing the same energy, edge, feel, and authenticity as they would if they were on stage entertaining the masses. It ain’t a live album, but it’s not far off.</p><p>Noah Smith seems to flit through any genres – country, rock, folk, Americana – never stopping long enough to get tied down in any one in particular, always taking the best of what each has to offer before moving on.</p><p><a href="https://bigtakeover.com/recordings/noah-smith-cavaliers-into-cadillacs-alternator-records" title="">Read more…</a></p><p></p>
</div><footer class="entry-footer"><p class="entry-meta"><span class="entry-categories">Filed Under: <a href="https://sweetheartpr.com/category/home-page-features/" rel="category tag">HOME PAGE FEATURES</a></span> </p></footer></article><article class="post-16945 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail category-home-page-features tag-americana-highways entry" aria-label="Americana Highways Reviews Noah Smith’s New EP" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/CreativeWork"><header class="entry-header"><h2 class="entry-title" itemprop="headline"><a class="entry-title-link" rel="bookmark" href="https://sweetheartpr.com/americana-highways-reviews-noah-smiths-new-ep/">Americana Highways Reviews Noah Smith’s New EP</a></h2>
<p class="entry-meta"><time class="entry-time" itemprop="datePublished" datetime="2024-11-11T17:35:00-06:00">November 11, 2024</time></p></header><div class="entry-content" itemprop="text">
<p>This 6-song EP starts off with intense musicality & Noah has a splendid strong vocal that’s absorbing & well-recorded if not a little hot. But the drums are resounding & thud along with the guitar that purrs along like a diesel on the opening song “Don’t Break My Fall.”</p><p>There’s nothing new production or song-wise but that doesn’t always have to be the aim when the performance is genuinely saturated with enthusiasm & badass bass thumping that makes the listen a pleasure. Even the lighter moments in the showcase are blended well.</p><p>Cincinnati, Ohio singer-songwriter Noah Smith has a high-gear set of music that is neither wholly country-inflected nor rock n’ roll raw. It’s simply an enriched singer-songwriter set locked into a tight rhythmic flex tied together with finesse like the colors that adorn & hang from a well-muscled wrestler’s arms. All percolating on <em>Cavaliers Into Cadillacs</em> EP (Drops Nov 15/Independent).</p><p><a href="https://americanahighways.org/2024/11/11/review-noah-smith-cavaliers-into-cadillacs-ep/" title="">Read more…</a></p>
</div><footer class="entry-footer"><p class="entry-meta"><span class="entry-categories">Filed Under: <a href="https://sweetheartpr.com/category/home-page-features/" rel="category tag">HOME PAGE FEATURES</a></span> </p></footer></article><article class="post-16985 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail category-home-page-features tag-adobe-teardrops entry" aria-label="Adobe & Teardrops Lists Conor Donohue’s Album as Best Americana" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/CreativeWork"><header class="entry-header"><h2 class="entry-title" itemprop="headline"><a class="entry-title-link" rel="bookmark" href="https://sweetheartpr.com/adobe-teardrops-lists-conor-donohues-album-as-best-americana/">Adobe & Teardrops Lists Conor Donohue’s Album as Best Americana</a></h2>
<p class="entry-meta"><time class="entry-time" itemprop="datePublished" datetime="2024-10-25T17:12:00-05:00">October 25, 2024</time></p></header><div class="entry-content" itemprop="text">
<p>New Orleans’ based Conor Donohue is that kid who colors outside of the lines, showing us something beautiful in all the mess. <em>Stray Dogs </em>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.</p><p><a href="https://adobeandteardrops.com/2024/10/the-best-americana-of-october-25-2024-christopher-lockett-norma-macdonald-kyle-kimbrell-and-more.html" title="">Read more…</a></p>
</div><footer class="entry-footer"><p class="entry-meta"><span class="entry-categories">Filed Under: <a href="https://sweetheartpr.com/category/home-page-features/" rel="category tag">HOME PAGE FEATURES</a></span> </p></footer></article><article class="post-16991 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail category-home-page-features tag-ear-milk entry" aria-label="Ear Milk Reviews Megan Brickwood’s New Album" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/CreativeWork"><header class="entry-header"><h2 class="entry-title" itemprop="headline"><a class="entry-title-link" rel="bookmark" href="https://sweetheartpr.com/ear-milk-reviews-megan-brickwoods-new-album/">Ear Milk Reviews Megan Brickwood’s New Album</a></h2>
<p class="entry-meta"><time class="entry-time" itemprop="datePublished" datetime="2024-10-19T17:38:00-05:00">October 19, 2024</time></p></header><div class="entry-content" itemprop="text">
<p><strong>Megan Brickwood</strong>‘s inaugural album, <em>All the Same</em>, 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.</p><p>The centerpiece of <em>All the Same</em> 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.</p><p>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.</p><p><a href="https://earmilk.com/2024/10/19/megan-brickwood-paves-new-roads-in-americana-with-debut-album-all-the-same/" title="">Read more…</a></p>
</div><footer class="entry-footer"><p class="entry-meta"><span class="entry-categories">Filed Under: <a href="https://sweetheartpr.com/category/home-page-features/" rel="category tag">HOME PAGE FEATURES</a></span> </p></footer></article><article class="post-16989 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail category-home-page-features tag-dancing-about-architecture entry" aria-label="Dancing About Architecture Reviews Megan Brickwood’s New Album" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/CreativeWork"><header class="entry-header"><h2 class="entry-title" itemprop="headline"><a class="entry-title-link" rel="bookmark" href="https://sweetheartpr.com/dancing-about-architecture-reviews-megan-brickwoods-new-album/">Dancing About Architecture Reviews Megan Brickwood’s New Album</a></h2>
<p class="entry-meta"><time class="entry-time" itemprop="datePublished" datetime="2024-10-18T17:31:00-05:00">October 18, 2024</time></p></header><div class="entry-content" itemprop="text">
<p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p><a href="https://dancing-about-architecture.com/all-the-same-megan-brickwood-reviewed-by-dave-franklin/" title="">Read more…</a></p>
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