Folk Rock
Top 5 Covers of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide”
The tale of Fleetwood Mac (the Reader’s Digest version, anyway) can be told in two parts. There’s the blues rock version of the band, which featured a revolving-door of guitarists and gradually transitioned into softer rock over several records, and then there’s the pop powerhouse the band became famous as once guitarist-singer Lindsey Buckingham and vocalist Stevie Nicks joined for the outfit’s self-titled 1975 record. It’s the landmark album that would give the band its first huge success in America and result in several fan favorites like “Rhiannon” and “Landslide”. The album began a string of records lasting into the late ’80s, including Rumours in ’77, where the group, despite plenty of inner turmoil, could seemingly do no wrong musically. [embedded content] Though not originally a si...
The Sword’s J.D. Cronise Talks New Compilations, Bootlegging Rare Clutch Tracks, and His Band’s Future
Modern stoner rock owes a major debt to The Sword. Formed in 2003 in Austin, the band’s propensity for Black Sabbath-influenced doom and desert grooves predated the subculture that suddenly emerged from the stoner rock scene in the 2010s. Suddenly, remote fans of bands like Sleep and Electric Wizard were connected by the familiar churning sounds of these bands. The Sword played a vital role in this movement, with their 2006 debut album, Age of Winters, and its lead single, the now legendary “Freya”, cementing their place in doom metal lore. It was a time of resurgence for classic rock, a new era of teenagers were discovering Led Zeppelin and Sabbath, and “Freya” garnered The Sword a cult audience of eager rock fans. Their music even reached Lars Ulrich of Metallica, who would eventually ta...
Willie Nelson Releases New Album First Rose of Spring: Stream
Willie Nelson has officially released his new album, First Rose of Spring. After a slight delay due to the ongoing pandemic, the album is available to stream below via Apple Music and Spotify. First Rose of Spring is Nelson’s 70th album to date (!) and follows his Grammy-winning record Ride Me Back Home from 2019. Out of the 11 songs on his new album, three are reinterpretations of tracks originally written by Chris Stapleton (“Our Song”), Toby Keith (“Don’t Let the Old Man In”), and Billy Joe Shaver (“We Are The Cowboys”). Since pushing back the release of his new record, Nelson has been busying performing at livestream benefit concerts, penning a collaborative memoir with his sibling Bobbie Nelson, blazing it on 4/20 with “Come and Toke It”, and celebrating his 87th birthday safely at ho...
Neil Young Steps Out Onto the Porch, Covers Bob Dylan for Latest Fireside Session: Watch
A few weeks after releasing his long “lost” album Homegrown, Neil Young is back with the latest edition of his Fireside Sessions. After playing at every fire pit and fireplace in his Colorado home over the first four episodes, the folk icon took to the barn for the most recent entry. Now, Young steps out onto his front porch — and into his personal teepee — for Fireside Session No. 6. With his wife Daryl Hannah behind the camera, Young delivered a set of politically pertinent songs from throughout his storied catalog. He opened with “Alabama” from Harvest before going into the Decade rarity “Campaigner”, his first time playing the song since 2008. He also dusted off the enduring Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young protest song “Ohio”, as well as the terribly...
Jeff Tweedy Proposes Industry-Wide Donation to Black Lives Matter Organizations
As protests against police brutality following George Floyd’s death continue, Jeff Tweedy has penned an essay calling for the music industry at large to donate to Black Lives Matter. The Wilco frontman shared his thoughts in a lengthy Instagram post today, writing, “Thousands of us committing to a reparations initiative could change our business and the world we live in.” It’s not an exaggeration to say the modern music industry was built almost entirely on Black art. Tweedy begins his essay by acknowledging so and explaining how no single artist could “come close to paying the debt we owe to the Black originators of our modern music.” As such, he calls for an “industry-wide plan” hat allows songwriters and musicians to direct a percentage of their “writer’s share” revenue to organizations...
Bob Dylan Releases New Album Rough and Rowdy Ways: Stream
Bob Dylan returns today with Rough and Rowdy Ways, the legendary bard’s first collection of new music in eight years. Stream the record in full below via Apple Music and Spotify. The 10-track effort is Dylan’s first album of original material since 2012’s Tempest. In the interim, he’s released three collections of classic Americana songs: the Frank Sinatra covers albums Shadows in the Night (2015) and Fallen Angels (2016), along with the triple-album Triplicate (2017). The new effort was previewed with a handful of singles: “False Prophet”, “I Contain Multitudes”, and “Murder Most Foul”. Clocking in at 17 minutes, the latter song has the distinction of being Dylan’s first-ever No. 1 single on the Billboard charts. In addition to his frequent members of his backing band, Dyla...
Neil Young Finally Releases “Lost” Album Homegrown: Stream
After 45 years, Neil Young has finally unearthed his long-lost album Homegrown. Stream it below via Apple Music or Spotify. Homegrown was recorded between June 1974 and January 1975 with a studio band featuring Levon Helm, Ben Keith, Karl T. Himmel, Tim Drummond, Stan Szelest, and Robbie Robertson. Emmylou Harris also makes an appearance. The largely acoustic project addressed Young’s tumultuous relationship with actress Carrie Snodgress — though it proved to be too emotional to release at the time. “I apologize. This album Homegrown should have been there for you a couple of years after Harvest,” the folk rock legend said in a statement. “It’s the sad side of a love affair. The damage done. The heartache. I just couldn’t listen to it,” added Young. “I wanted to move on. So ...
Live from Here Canceled Amid COVID-19 Budget Cuts
Live from Here with Chris Thile, the variety program that replaced the famed A Prairie Home Companion, has been canceled by the Minnesota Public Radio amid budget cuts related to COVID-19. After over 50 years of broadcasting, the original Peabody-winning A Prairie Home Companion was re-branded as Live from Here in 2017 after MPR canceled its contract with original host, Garrison Keillor, following accusations of inappropriate behavior. Chris Thile, who had taken over hosting duties in 2016, changed the name to Live from Here shortly after Keillor’s firing. During its short-lived time, Live from Here welcomed guest musicians such as Paul Simon, Jeff Tweedy, Father John Misty, Neko Case, and Norah Jones, as well as Sufjan Stevens, Courtney Barnett, and Trey Anastasio. It aired every Sun...
Bill Murray, Kacey Musgraves, Sturgill Simpson & More Participate in John Prine Tribute: Video + Setlist
On Thursday night, dozens of musicians and celebrities gathered to celebrate the life and music of the late John Prine. Put together by Prine’s family, the star-studded livestream “Picture Show: A Tribute Celebrating John Prine” is available to replay below until Sunday, June 14th. The two-hour virtual event featured appearances from Prine’s widow, Fiona Whelan Prine, as well as their sons, Jack and Tommy, who played “Paradise”. Members of Prine’s longtime backing band — Kenneth Blevins, David Jacques, Fats Kaplin, Jason Wilber —also participated, performing “Far from Me” with Sara Watkins, “Unwed Fathers” with Kelsey Waldon, and “Illegal Smile” with Todd Snider. Other performances came from Kacey Musgraves (“Spanish Pipedream” and “Burn One with John Prine”), Jason Isbell and Amanda Shire...
Bob Dylan Reveals Rough and Rowdy Ways Tracklist
Bob Dylan has unveiled the track list for his forthcoming new studio album, Rough and Rowdy Ways, which due out June 19th via Columbia Records. The great bard revealed all 10 tracks in a folksy video on his Instagram account. As expected, the tracklist album features previously released singles: “False Prophet”, “I Contain Multitudes”, and, yes, the 17-minute closer “Murder Most Foul”. As previously reported, the album marks his first release of entirely new material in eight years (specifically, 2012’s Tempest). Sadly, he won’t be able to support the album until likely next year as he recently canceled his planned tour. Watch the announcement below, and pre-order your copy of the album here. Editors’ Picks Rough and Rowdy Ways Tracklist:01. I Contain Multitudes02. False Prophet03. M...
John Prine “Picture Show” Livestream to Feature Sturgill Simpson, Kacey Musgraves, Bill Murray & More
The life and legacy of John Prine will be celebrated later this week with a star-studded livestream tribute concert. Presented by the folk legend’s own family, “Picture Show” promises appearances from Sturgill Simpson, Kacey Musgraves, Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires, My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James, Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, Bonnie Raitt, and Brandi Carlile. Also included on the lineup are Eric Church, Sara Watkins, Kurt Vile, Vince Gill, Margo Price, Courtney Marie Andrews, Fiona Whelan Prine, Jack Prine, Tommy Prine, John Paul White, and The Secret Sisters. Additionally, Prine’s own longtime backing band — that’s Kenneth Blevins, David Jacques, Fats Kaplin, Jason Wilber — is participating. The virtual event will also be “attended” by actors and TV personalities such as Bill Mu...
Yusuf / Cat Stevens Re-Records Tea for the Tillerman in Celebration of Its 50th Anniversary
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Yusuf / Cat Stevens’ classic album Tea for the Tillerman. To celebrate, he’s re-recorded the album in full. Fittingly titled Tea for the Tillerman², this new version is due out September 18th. All 11 original Tea for the Tillerman songs appear on this forthcoming update, including fan favorites like “Where Do the Children Play?”, “Hard Headed Woman”, and “Father and Son”. While Yusuf sought to retain the spirit of these 1970-era tracks, many of them — such as “Wild World” and “Longer Boats” — were given surprising makeovers; the latter cut, for instance, features rapper Brother Ali. In an interview with Apple Music, Yusuf said he wanted to re-work the album to better reflect how he feels in 2020. He explained, “The truth is I sat down with ...
