Olav Larsen & The Alabama Rodeo Stars
Love’s Come To Town

By Eric Thom

Who would believe that the pure alt-country leanings of this disc — embracing Gram Parsons, early Byrds, Neil Young and Hank Williams — could stem from a Norwegian-based African-American and his all-Scandinavian band? Who knew that five guys named Sven could assault banjos, pedal steel, dobros, fiddles and accordions as authentically as their American counterparts to create an 11-track debut with every bit as much heart as their idols? There’s nothing mechanical going on here — this disc goes beyond hero worship and imitation. These musicians play with as much verve and conviction as any of their American influences. The best tracks include “May the Sun Always Shine,” which showcases the delicate backing vocals of female singer Mazz Swift, while the rollicking “You Can Call Me Baby” provides an able demonstration of the band’s instrumental prowess. Olav (vocals and harp) is clearly the pivot point and a mercurial talent to watch. He and his difficult-to-pronounce band members’ names may never become household words but the fact that Norway has spawned something so genuine is a welcome surprise. Seeking this record out is its own reward. (Hyena)

Paul MacLeod - Bright Eyes Fade
It’s been six years since MacLeod’s Hawksley Workman-produced previous album Close And Play, so it’s not surprising that the Kitchener, ON native’s return to the solo spotlight is a well-crafted sample of the best material MacLeod accumulated during that time, which included stints with the S ...Read More
Bowerbirds - Hymns for a Dark Horse
Bruce Springsteen with the Sessions Band - Live in Dublin
Candye Kane - Guitar’d and Feathered
Carolyn Mark - Nothing Is Free
Colin Hay - Are You Looking At Me?
Dave Shultz and The Skyline - Sinner’s Gold
Fairport Convention - Sense of Occasion
Guy Clark - Best Of The Sugar Hill Years
The Irish Descendants - Southern Shore
James McMurtry - Best of the Sugar Hill Years
Jason Isbell - Siren Of The Ditch
Jerry Lee Lewis - Last Man Standing Live
Jimmy Lafave - Cimarron Manifesto
Johnny Max Band - A Lesson I’ve Learned
Mannish Boys - Big Plans
Mark Olson - The Salvation Blues
Megan Hamilton - How We Think About Light
Mendoza Line - 30 Year Low
Minnie Driver - Seastories
Nathan - Key Principles
Nick Drake - Family Tree
Pearlene - For Western Violence And Brief Sensuality
The Pines - Sparrows In The Bell
Richard Thompson - Sweet Warrior
The Roches - Moonswept
Sinead O’Connor - Theology
The Traveling Wilburys - Collection
The United Steel Workers Of Montreal - Kerosene & Coal
The fourth iteration of Calgary's Sled Island feels like a coming of age, with the annual event becoming a destination on the Canadian festival landscape alongside NXNE and Pop Montreal. The organizers have a knack for scoring scheduling coups (year one featured Boredoms, Cat Power and Spoon), and w... Full Review
In the middle of an open field, you can hear music from everywhere, particularly the DJ stage situated in the centre. Almost 200 bands have gathered here to play on seven stages, each only about 100 metres from the next, causing sound to bleed all over. For veteran music fans, it's a familiar scene: scantily clad women offer Red Bull and vodka, dreadlocked white hippies entrance themselves with their spin-dancing, and if you don't like a given band, more options are only an aimless wander away.... Read More
In truth, the first spin of Burning Love's debut full-length didn't yield the anticipated reactions. Expecting something in the same raw, combative vein as their demo/EP, Songs For Burning Lovers, while still wonderfully rough, seemingly lacked its predecessors' overt rabidity and stampeding ... Full Review
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