Mike Hollon

Irving Park

Self-Released, 2025

9/10

Listen to Irving Park

The singer-songwriter Mike Hollon brings his midwest roots to these songs about looking back so you can look ahead to a better tomorrow, and he’s got some excellent help with him for the authentic 11 tracks.

The intricate guitar and Dan Metzner’s punchy drums open the warm spirit of “1000 Days” and “Letting Go” follows with Mitch Benson’s playful bass and soulful singing adding much to the sincerity.

Landing in the middle, the darker mood of “Fool No More” builds into a scrappy and firm bout, while the title track is a frisky, dance floor album highlight that’s got plenty of rhythm and energy.

Closer to the end, the thick and hazy “Downhill Slide” makes great use of Jeremiah Weir’s well timed keys, and “Blue Mountain Spring” exits with a meticulous, guitar instrumental that has Hollon showcasing his inimitable playing.

Hollon now calls Asheville, NC home, and the lush moments certainly point towards the mountainous area, where the subtle use of Kyle Carlson’s trumpet and Hollon’s harmonica and auxiliary percussion add even more intrigue.

Travels well with: Robert Stoner- American Dream; Fox Run Five- Holding Out Hope

Various Artists

Make Something Happen: A Tribute To The Flashcubes

Big Stir, 2025

10/10

Listen to Make Something Happen: A Tribute To The Flashcubes

The power pop Hall of Famers The Flashcubes bring us 3 of their biggest hits and 21 new covers from similarly great bands that do justice to the legendary rockers who are still active with the original line up.

The Flashcubes starts the festivities with the powerful, jangly and melodic “Reminisce”, and it isn’t long until Graham Parker and Mike Gent treat us to the gritty and warm spirit of “Pathetic”.

Further along, The Kennedys put a fresh coat of paint on the harmonic and percussively strong “Walking Through The Park”, while The Peppermint Kicks toss in the summery and upbeat rock of “Muscle Beach”.

Moving close to the end, The Flashcubes return with the layered and dreamy “If These Hands”, and The Spongetones exit the record with the frisky retro-rock of “Nothing Really Matters When You’re Young”.

Even if you’ve somehow never heard of The Flashcubes don’t worry; as long as names like Cheap Trick, The Raspberries, The Kinks and The Beatles perk your ears up, you’re going to love this.

Travels well with: Crossword Smiles- Consequences + Detours; The Spongetones- The 40th Anniversary Concert… And Beyond

Selken

The Winds

Kite Stripe, 2025

9/10

Listen to The Winds

The recording moniker of Heather Styka, as Selken the Chicago songwriter pens 10 songs of pop, alt-rock and indie-rock ideas.

The warm and dreamy spirt of “Perseids” starts with Styka’s inviting voice alongside gentle melodies and firm drumming, and the title track follows with Jake Hawrylak’s flowing drums that suit the colorful and poetic delivery.

“Working Doubles” and “Continental Drift” land in the middle. The former benefits from JG Shadid’s cozy keys that align with eloquent singing, while the latter is an intimate duet that unfolds with much beauty in its heartfelt and rich presence.

Getting close to the end, “People In Love” tugs on the heartstrings via the sweet singing and ambience, and “Peggy Lee” exits with sophisticated piano and relatable storytelling.

Styka employs synth and cathartic moments, which adds to the sonic appeal that stems off her solo folk albums with meticulous layers and an unclassifiable atmosphere.

Travels well with: Megan Bee- Fiction; Fox Run Five- Holding Out Hope

Don Arbor

Hope Is Hard To Kill

Self-Released, 2025

9/10

Listen to Hope Is Hard To Kill

The guitarist and vocalist Don Arbor is joined by quite a few friends for these authentic and timeless songs that touch on dreams, observations, love and loss.

“Lost” starts the listen with Arbor’s smooth voice and Kevin Hayes’ punchy drumming that suits the soaring guitar licks, and “Paradise Is Burning” follows with Mads Tolling’s stirring violin and Jill Suttie’s gentle harmony vocals amid much elegance and grace.

Closer to the middle, “Lost And Found Saloon” benefits from John Mader’s gentle drumming, John R. Burr’s colorful keys and Arbor’s poetic pipes, while “Losing You Gets Harder Every Time” offer a cozy duet via Suttie’s pretty voice and Tal Morri’ melodic guitar playing.

Getting closer to the end, the lively rocker “Age Of Information” allows for Curtis Ohlson’s playful bass to complement Morris’ meticulous guitar in a crunchy climate, and “Christmas On Mars” exits with some grit alongside the scrappy rhythm section and processed vocals.

Somewhere between folk, Americana, roots and gold old fashioned rock’n’roll, Arbor pens tunes you won’t soon forget, and here we’re treated to 12 of them.

Travels well with: Wesley Hanna- Magnolia; Marty Cooper- American Portraits

Laurie Christman

Running With Horses

Navona, 2025

8/10

Listen to Running With Horses

The inimitable composer Laurie Christman pens songs that surround both love and loss, where orchestral works fleshed out by the esteemed London Symphony Orchestra and award-winning conductor Robert Ziegler are present.

The elegant “Rolling Fields” opens with the stirring strings radiating tremendous beauty and grace, and the title track follows with the dreamy winds and soaring strings interacting via a cinematic appeal.

“Sylvan Suite” and “Meadow Suite” land in the middle. The former offers 3 movements of animated and melodic gestures, while the latter is rich with layers and lush songwriting that’s equal parts heartfelt and adventurous.

Arriving late, “Wedding Suite” is indeed a romantic moment of dreamy and intimate playing, and “Winds Blowing” exits with well timed percussion and soft versus firm bouts.

An emotional body of work that embraces meticulous, orchestral dynamics, there is plenty of passion, power and expressiveness to absorb.

Travels well with: Reza Vali- The Darkness Of Fury; The Han(한/恨) And Heung(흥/興) Odyssey: Global Sounds Of Resilience & Joy

Michael Ragonese

Chasing Calm

Self-Released, 2025

9/10

Listen to Chasing Calm

This 3rd album from the pianist/composer Michael Ragonese sees him joined by Walter Smith III, Luca Alemanno and JongKuk Kim for the meticulous jazz tracks.

“Shadows” opens the listen with much attention to mood, where the adventurous keys are met with Smith’s soulful tenor sax, and “Alone Together” follows with Alemanno’s intricate bass playing that suits Kim’s frisky drumming via the textured climate.

The title track and “Nocturne For Memory” land in the middle. The former is a cautious bout of timeless songwriting that escalates into a lively album highlight, while the latter offers a busy moment of rich layers and lively sax playing amid the warm rhythm section.

Residing close to the end, “Portrait For A Mirror”, which was written by Alemanno, rumbles playfully and comes with intimate moments, and “Flow” exits with all the player’s inestimable front and center.

An introspective, lyrical, rhythmically substantial and improvisation friendly effort, Ragonese and company cover a lot of ideas, influences and techniques across 8 exciting tunes.

Travels well with: Stephen Philip Harvey Jazz Orchestra- Multiversal: Live At Bop Stop; JC Sanford’s EQ- Denki

Brightwork Ensemble

My Dancing Sweetheart-Just Songs

Microfest, 2025

9/10

Listen to My Dancing Sweetheart-Just Songs

The award-winning outfit Brightwork Ensemble treat us to world premiere selections by Ben Johnston, Bill Alves and Helmut Oehring, where Stacey Fraser, Aron Kallay, Nick Terry and Shalini Vijayan are in fine form.

Johnston’s “Calamity Jane” opens with Fraser’s expressive pipes that suit the folkish cowboy delivery that enlists animated strings from Vijayan.

“Ma Mie Qui Danse”, also by Johnston, follows, and benefits from the lively keys thanks to Kally and Fraser’s colorful pipes that illustrate an impressive range, while Alves’ “Time Resonances” unfolds with a dreamy ambience that’s cinematic.

Alves’ “A Sonatina” and Oehring’s “Die Stille stürtzt” exit the listen. The former blends Donna Walker’s narration with Fraser’s soaring voice amid Kally’s mesmerizing piano, and the latter finishes with just Fraser’s intimate vocals that tug on the heartstrings.

Nick Terry’s percussion is unpredictable and engaging too, as Brightwork Ensemble sure do put a modern spin on classical sounds, where tonality and intonation are utilized like a refined science.

Travels well with: Janet Axelrod- Act One; Sharon Isbin- Romántico

Duo Réflections

La Tregua

Filibusta, 2025

9/10

Listen to La Tregua

The French duo of Sylvain Rey and Leandro López-Nussa, as Duo Réflections the pair bring us 9 originals that are well thought out.

“Aube” opens with a mesmerizing climate, where the soft keys and warm guitar meet an an intimate intersection, and the title track follows with strong attention to mood thanks to the lively keys and ambient guitar.

“Zythum” and “Fo’ Blue” land in the middle. The former focuses on Rey’s meticulous key progressions with much color, while the latter is an animated and groove filled album highlight.

Arriving closer to the end, “Bobado” carries a distinct rhythm via its adventurous delivery, and “L’ami de Rasputin” exits with dancing keys and harmonic guitar playing.

An exciting and daring leap for the two, especially considering that their debut was all covers, Rey and López-Nussa build off a template of grooves, harmonics and improvisation for a raw and textured performance captured on analog tape.

Travels well with: Andorra- III; Filippo Dall’Asta- The Hot Club Of Tenerife

Various Artists

The Han(한/恨) And Heung(흥/興) Odyssey: Global Sounds Of Resilience & Joy

Albany, 2025

8/10

Listen to The Han(한/恨) And Heung(흥/興) Odyssey: Global Sounds Of Resilience & Joy

An album of Korean concepts, Cecilia Kang’s inimitable clarinet is joined by Angela Park’s piano and the Wanyun (WYHD) ensemble for 10 tracks by 10 different composers.

“Arirang Madrigal”, by Haeyun Kim, opens with the soothing wind from Kang that interacts with soft singing and a dreamy ambience, and “Echoes of Hahoe - A Masked Reverie” follows and pairs the intricate flute with Park’s firm keys via the gentle versus dense gestures of the SiHyun Uhm piece.

Texu Kim’s animated “Sweet, Savory and Spicy!!” lands in the middle and illustrates a playful nature thanks to the unpredictable clarinet and bouncy keys, while “Do the waters stutter?”, by Kalaisan Kalaichelvan, is strong on ambience due to the cryptic keys and unpredictable wind.

“Poetree” and “Ballade” exit the listen. The former, by Haeyun Kim, employs the lush qualities of the Wanyun (WYHD) ensemble, and the latter finishes with a heartfelt demeanor and much elegance courtesy of Sangjin Kim’s vision.

Han represents sorrow, grief, individual pain and collective trauma, and hueng stands for joy, vitality, and radiance. Kang’s playing embraces these ideas and their place in humanity with tremendous skill and it makes for a sonically intriguing and cultured body of work.

Travels well with: Trace Johnson- Works For Cello; Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra- Convergence

Various Artists

Chilling, Thrilling Hooks And Haunted Harmonies: The Big Stir Records Halloween Grimore

Big Stir, 2025

9/10

Listen to Chilling, Thrilling Hooks And Haunted Harmonies: The Big Stir Records Halloween Grimore

A spooky collection of tunes from the excellent roster of Big Stir Records, we get to enjoy the sounds of the ‘60s and on across these 41 festive tracks.

Librarians With Hickey’s brings us the first track, where “Ghoul You Want” showcases their crisp power-pop ways with plenty of melodies, and Sparkle*Jets UK continues the theme with retro ideas populating the songwriting of “Eyeball Eater (From Outer Space)”.

Further along, The Armoires contribute “Full-On Witch Mode”, where ambience and grace enter the harmonic climate, while “Frankie’s Back”, by Shplang, uses thick guitars and crisp drumming that isn’t short on grit.

Getting closer to the end, Blake Jones & The Trike Shop offer us “Halloween Wind”, which enlists nostalgic songwriting to the eerie moments, and The Strawberry Alarm Clock’s “Monsters” is the last formal song and recruits soaring guitar solos and dreamy versus creepy singing.

In between many of the songs are segments by The Pepper’s Ghost Players, who keep the theme going with plenty of chilling and ominous vignettes.

It certainly doesn’t need to be October to enjoy this compilation, and it’s a great way to introduce yourself to the glowing roster of the one of the best record labels that exists today.

Travels well with: The Spongetones- The 40th Anniversary Concert… And Beyond; Splitsville- Mobtown

Craig Taborn/Nels Cline/Marcus Gilmore

Trio Of Bloom

Pyroclastic, 2025

9/10

Listen to Trio Of Bloom

Craig Taborn, Nels Cline and Marcus Gilmore each have impressive resumes, and here they meet for the first time for an unclassifiable 11 jazz-ish tunes.

Gilmore’s frisky drumming opens with “Nightwhistlers”, where an ambience of mystery enters amid Cline’s guitar manipulation, and “Unreal Light” follows with a softness that eventually gets a bit more animated via some post-rock gestures.

In the middle, “Diana” allows for Taborn’s meticulous keys to radiate a heartfelt mood, while “Eye Shadow Eye” blends the atmospheric backdrop with swift keys and hushed drums for a dreamy spirit.

“Bend It” and “Gone Bust” exit the listen. The former is a stylish version of jazz that unfolds with a hint of prog-rock, and the latter brings density and more firm dynamics between the trio thanks to the meticulous noise.

The talent that exists between these 3 is unparalleled, and that’s quite apparent across these sonically engaging and multi-dimensional jazz tracks that we won’t soon forget.

Travels well with: Free Country- Liberty Now!; Noah Haidu- Standards III

Williamson Branch

Southern Sunshine

Pinecastle, 2025

9/10

Listen to Southern Sunshine

The family band Williamson Branch return with another 12 tracks of their signature harmonies and uplifting bluegrass vision.

The harmonic spirit of the title track starts with Carl Jackson’s flowing banjo and pretty singing guiding the rural ambience, and “Come On Sunshine” follows with Melody Williamson’s radiant fiddle and Caroline Williamson’s mandolin adding much warmth.

Landing in the middle, “Firehawk” benefits from Alan Bibey’s mandolin and Kadence Williamson Reynolds’ u-bass via the meticulous string interaction, while “Kentucky Highway” enlists Kristen Scott Benson agile banjo that suits the intimate mood.

Residing closer to the end, “I Have You” allows for Kevin Williamson’s voice to shine via the heartfelt and soft presence, and “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” exits with a bluegrass spin on the classic tune that’s playful and upbeat.

There’s really no bad place to start in Williamson Branch’s catalog, and this one illuminates their abilities in hard driving instrumentals as well as stirring balladry, and the exceptional guests won’t go unnoticed either.

Travels well with: Danny Burns- Southern Sky; Danny Paisley- Bluegrass State Of Mind

Bryan Schumann & The Sunshapes

Heart & Horizon

Boreal Bard, 2025

9/10

Listen to Heart & Horizon

The Minnesota artist Bryan Schumann pulls from pop, folk, indie-rock, electronic and even classical for these 9 diverse and memorable tracks.

The warm acoustic strumming of “Open Road” starts with breathy vocals and elegant strings that make an immediate impression, and “By Your Side” follows with rich horns and cozy singing in a dreamy climate.

Moving into the middle, “Do Ya Wanna” is a playful moment that uses punchy drumming and pop ideas, while “Questions” recruits firm strings and a lush approach that’s emotive and cinematic.

Near the end, the frisky “Ruby” is a love letter to Schumann’s cat, and “Lost Light” exits with a tense and textured demeanor that’s intricate and engaging.

An effort that’s never short on melodies or dance floor ready bouts, Schumann and his company from across the globe make for timeless and worldly songwriting.

Travels well with: Ævn- Tides; Graybeat- Special Characters

Michael Torke

Last

Ecstatic, 2025

9/10

Listen to Last

The always impressive composer Michael Torke pens an album for solo violin and string orchestra, where 12 miniature slow movements are fleshed out with superb attention to detail.

“Last Fall” opens with the East Coast Chamber Orchestra’s stirring presence alongside Siwoo Kim’s heartfelt violin playing, and “Last Winter” follows with playful string plucking that radiates a sense of wonder and awe.

In the middle, “Last Year” comes with a poetic ambience via the intimate violin and lush background strings, while “Last Month” finds a chilling place to reside thanks to Kim’s meticulous fingers and the strategic cello playing.

Inching closer to the end, “Last Thursday” offers an emotive and mesmerizing album highlight that speaks volumes with no words, and “Last Sunday” exits with a friskiness that’s isn’t short on grace and cautious string interaction, too.

The truly stunning performance from Kim and the chamber orchestra won’t go unappreciated here, and thematically the songs remind us to live in the moment but also respond to the past.

Travels well with: Michael Torke- Time; Miró Quartet- Ginastera String Quartets

Phil Haynes & Free Country

Liberty Now!

Corner Store Jazz, 2025

9/10

Listen to Liberty Now!

The ‘Jazz-Grass’ string outfit Free Country return for their first work in over a decade, and it has Phil Haynes, Hank Roberts, Jim Yanda and Drew Gress in fine form across the 26 socially conscious tracks.

The cozy spirit of “Situation Ethics” starts the listen with Yanda’s warm guitar amid Gress’ playfully plucked bass, and it isn’t long until “Higgens” spends 7 minutes impressing us with its strong attention to mood and Haynes’ cautious drumming.

Further along, “Next Of Kin” makes great use of Robert’s hazy cello prowess via the ambience and grace, while “Dawn On The Gladys Marrie” pairs the meticulous bass with Roberts’ expressive singing for the gentle and heartfelt exit to disc 1.

The 2nd disc is full of creative interpretations. The quartet turn “Revolution” into a frisky, rural rocker that’s got an infectious energy, and much later on “What A Wonderful World” enlists spoken word and a stirring dreaminess into the poetic and soothing take on the classic tune.

Free Country released their debut in 1997, and since then all the members have stayed busy with their own composing. The songs here touch on folk, Americana, roots, jazz and bluegrass, where no lack of grooves, atmospheric and inimitable dynamics make this a triumphant return.

Travels well with: Phil Haynes- Transition(s); Phil Haynes- Return To Electric

The High Society New Orleans Jazz Band

Live At Birdland

Turtle Bay, 2025

9/10

Listen to Live At Birdland

A live album that pulls from sets on August 22 and 29, 2024, the 7 piece outfit The High Society New Orleans Jazz Band brings us plenty of energy, soul and improvisation.

“Flee As A Bird/Oh, Didn’t He Ramble!” starts the music with a hazy delivery, before the animated horns enter alongside Tom Abbot’s bright clarinet, and “Here Comes The Hot Tamale Man” follows with Conal Fowkes’ playful keys amid Brian Nalepka’s lively bass.

“Ace In The Hole” and “Shreveport Stomp” land in the middle. The former blends Harvey Tibbs’ rich trombone with Simon Wettenhall’s strategic trumpet, while the latter carries an infectious energy that will get you on the dance floor immediately.

Close to the end, “High Society” is a busy yet meticulous moment of traditional jazz that makes great use of Josh Dunn’s banjo, and “When I Leave The World Behind” exits with a bit more restraint but that’s no less impactful, as plenty of solos enter the timeless landscape.

Fowkes, Wettenhall and Nalepka all take turns on vocals, and the sound quality is as great as the execution, where we’re treated to an exciting and joyous burst of jazz that will always be relevant.

Travels well with: Ira B. Liss Big Band Jazz Machine- Unexpected Guests; The Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra- Mixed Bag

Briscoe

Heat Of July

ATO, 2025

10/10

Listen to Heat Of July

The Austin duo Briscoe put together an impressive cast for these 12 authentic tunes that were penned while Philip Lupton and Truett Heintzelman were touring all over North America.

The warm strumming of “Saving Grace” opens with a gripping and rich rootsy flavor that uses banjo strategically, and “Arizona Shining” follows with bright keys and cozy melodies surrounding the swift Americana.

Close to the middle, “Escudilla” is a soft moment of gentle intimacy via the crisp drumming and poetic storytelling, while “Blues Eyes And Red Wine” blends the spirited harmonica into a soaring and melodic album highlight that you’ll be singing along to immediately.

Further on, “Flashlights In The Canyon” resides in darker territory that’s strong on atmosphere, and “Is This Where” exits with a bare and sincere bout of heartfelt songwriting.

Lupton and Heintzelman both play many instruments and sing here, as they flesh out a folk-rock album that’s glossy and memorable from beginning to end.

Travels well with: Jenny Owen Youngs- Avalanche; Peter One- Come Back To Me

Linda Dachtyl

Full Steam Ahead

Chicken Coup, 2025

8/10

Listen to Full Steam Ahead

The B3 organ player and percussionist Linda Dachtyl is joined by Don Hales, Cary Dachtyl, Mark Donavan, Ben Huntoon and Pat Ankrom for these 10 genre skipping tracks.

The infectious energy of “Illumination” opens the record with Huntoon’s bright trumpet alongside the frisky rhythm section and Dachtyl’s glowing keys, and “The Outsider” follows with Hales’ spirited guitar that suits the playful organ and frisky rhythm.

The title track and “Lava Lamp Suite” land in the middle. The former uses Cary Dachtyl’s scrappy drumming amid lively keys and stylish guitar lines, while the latter is calmer moment of grooves and rich song craft.

Getting close to the end, “Think Of One” recruits Donavan’s meticulous sax playing to complement the timeless jazz climate, and “April In Paris” exits with booming keys, soulful tenor sax and crisp drumming that makes an indelible impression.

A really well done effort of originals and covers, Dachtyl and company inject blues, funk and fusion ideas into this top notch jazz organ listen.

Travels well with: Hannah Gill- Spooky Jazz Vol. 3; Emma Hedrick- Newcomer

Danny Burns

Southern Sky

Bonfire, 2025

9/10

Listen to Southern Sky

The roots artist and Irish born Danny Burns brings us 9 new tracks of his timeless bluegrass and Celtic storytelling that recruits some serious talent.

The warm spirit of “Blue Ridge Blue” opens the listen with Burns’ cozy voice alongside Sam Bush’s lush mandolin and Matt Menefee’s fluid banjo, and “Brother Wind” follows Ethan Burkhardt’s skilled upright bass adding much sophistication to the heartfelt delivery.

Entering the middle, “Lips On Fire” welcomes Cecilia Castleman’s lovely pipes to Josh Methany’s colorful dobro via the emotive landscape, while “Keep Your Distance” benefits from Jerry Roe’s animated drums and Cody Kilby’s melodic guitar for the sing-alongs and authentic energy.

Deeper still, “Does My Ring Burn Your Finger” allows for Billy Contreras’ meticulous fiddle and strings to complement the dynamic album highlight, and the title track exits with Tim O’Brien’s alluring voice and octave mandolin which suits the vulnerable finish.

A top notch bluegrass effort that balances grit and grace, Burns enlists some excellent talent and it further solidifies his place as one of the best in modern roots sounds.

Travels well with: Danny Paisley- Bluegrass State Of Mind; Ashleigh Graham- I’ll Just Drive

Thobbe Englund

Hail To The Priest

Metalville, 2019

8/10

Listen to Hail To The Priest

A tribute album to the almighty Judas Priest, Thobbe Englund, who many will know as the former guitarist of Finnish metalheads Sabaton, reworks some deeper cuts from Halford and company on this raging listen.

“The Sentinel” gets the album off to a classic metal start with strong riffage, as raw yet melodic vocals flow with the powerful, thundering rhythm section, and “The Ripper” follows with a vocally expressive tune where some high notes are hit as the music is a bit more tame, but no less gripping.

The middle of the album brings us the chugging intensity of the darker spirited “Immortal Sin”, a Halford tune from his time in Fight, while “Burn In Hell” gets eerie and mysterious in all the best ways. The album highlight resides here, as the thumping “Desert Plains” recruits a stadium rock delivery that reminds us of all the things we love about Priest’s guitar work.

Near the end, “Into The Pit”, another Fight tune, recruits a jackhammer, thrash template that’s certainly mosh friendly, and “I’m A Rocker” ends the album with power and melody in a way that brings to mind all the ‘80s metal giants with fluid guitar solos and loud choruses.

Thankfully, Thobbe doesn’t try to imitate Halford and instead puts his own spin on the covers, and while nothing here is better than the original, it’s all damn great, unleashed fiercely and recorded with top notch quality.

Travels well with: Iron Maiden- Powerslave; Megadeth- Rust In Peace