John Prine was a late discovery for me – but some of his songs and lyrics have become some of my favourite ever. It was so desperately sad to hear the news of his passing this morning. I don’t think there has ever been a more desperate or more telling line than this found in his early classic Sam Stone, the poignant and unflinchingly bleak tale … Continue reading RIP John Prine
Damien Jurado recently announced details of his new album What’s New, Tomboy? which sees him stepping back into a more fleshed out sound with his voice and rhythm section at the fore. it is a collection of songs that exude the inviting warmth of a lone porch light gleaming amidst the disorienting darkness. On latest single Alice Hyatt, the sparse instrumental elements add a deeper … Continue reading Damien Jurado – Alice Hyatt
Well what can you do in troubling times? Bury your head? Hide? Carry on as normally as possible? IDK… In other news Sea Wolf has released an excellent new track Break It Down, lifted from upcoming album Through A Dark Wood, which is due for release on 20th March via Dangerbird Records. Through A Dark Wood explores themes surrounding relationships, loss, the magnitude of current … Continue reading Sea Wolf – Break It Down
Steve Earle & The Dukes will release new album Ghosts of West Virginia on 22nd May via New West Records. The album centres on the Upper Big Branch coal mine explosion that killed twenty-nine men in that state in 2010, making it one of the worst mining disasters in American history. Investigations revealed hundreds of safety violations, as well as attempts to cover them up, and … Continue reading Steve Earle & The Dukes – Devil Put The Coal In The Ground
Choctaw-American musician and songwriter Samantha Crain has shared a live performance video for her latest single, An Echo. The track is from her forthcoming album, A Small Death, out 1st May via Ramseur Records/Thirty Tigers and Real Kind Records/Communion Records. The new record finds the Oklahoma-based artist confronting decades of grief, trauma, and an incapacitating physical pain which left the singer home in bed and barely … Continue reading Samantha Crain – An Echo
Sea Wolf has announced his first new album in six years, Through A Dark Wood will see the light of day on the 20th March via Dangerbird Records. The album is a raw, contemplative album that explores the complex feelings surrounding relationships, loss, the magnitude of current events, and ultimately the process of finding hope through it all. Frontman Alex Brown Church’s carefully crafted lyrics … Continue reading Sea Wolf – New Album & Fear of Failure Video
M. Ward has shared Unreal City, the second single from his latest album, Migration Stories, to be released on 3rd April via Anti Records. Inspired by stories of human migration, these songs have their origins in pictures from newspaper and television reports, stories told by friends and tales from Ward’s own family history. With languid vocals over an uptempo rhythm, the new single searches for peace … Continue reading M. Ward – Unreal City
Just picked this up off our Soundcloud feed (which is pretty crappy nowadays so God knows what they’ve done to it). Anyway, stalwart Atlanta based underground garage rockers Black Lips will release new album Sing… in a World that’s Falling Apart via Fire Records at the end of this week. We’re told the twelve-song collection marks the quintet’s most pronounced dalliance with country music yet, … Continue reading Black Lips – Rumbler
Chris T Popper has been with MM from the very first post. Every year he produces his own list of favourite tunes and here are his selections for 2019. This year he was helped by Stan the greyhound. Next year I’m hoping we get Stan’s choices… 10. She Keeps Bees – Kinship Never got bored of that opening drum groove. Backed up by Jessica … Continue reading Mad Mackerel’s Best of 2019: Chris T Popper’s Top Ten Tunes
And here we have the final part of our favourite tunes of 2019… Discover and enjoy. 25 UV Race – Mr Blame A brash, unapologetic race through proto-punk stomp and malodorous glam-punk aesthetics. 24 Lonesome Shack – The City is a Desert Anchored by an insistent country blues refrain that has a touch of something primal about it, and sounds like it could … Continue reading Mad Mackerel’s Best Songs of 2019 (Part 3)
The Mad Mackerel 