Album Reviews

MIKE ETHAN MESSICK How Close We Came www.mikeethanmessick.com First, a disclaimer is in order. If you’re a regular reader of Lone Star Music Magazine, and pay …

RICH O’TOOLE American Kid PTO Records This may be odd timing for a review of an album that’s been up for sale for a couple …

CHRIS STAPLETON From A Room: Volume 1 Mercury Nashville If you were updating the authoritative history of modern country music to reflect the last couple …

JOHN MORELAND Big Bad Luv 4AD By his own admission, when John Moreland wrote his breakthrough second solo album, 2013’s In the Throes, his sole …

JASON EADY Jason Eady Thirty Tigers Why exactly Jason Eady opted for the old “self-titled” conceit here is a bit of a head-scratcher. This is the …

Bruce Robison Bruce Robison & the Back Porch Band www.brucerobison.com “Wanna punch that one from the bong hit on?” That little nugget of studio chatter — …

JEFF WHITEHEAD Blue Notes www.jeffwhiteheadmusic.com Among the younger crop of Austin singer-songwriters, Jeff Whitehead eased out of his former sideman role to take the mic …

RODNEY CROWELL Close Ties New West Sixteen years on from the release of his career-rebooting The Houston Kid, Rodney Crowell’s second wind has now been …

SHINYRIBS “I Got Your Medicine” www.shinyribs.org When Austin music vet Kevin Russell — best known for his long tenure as co-frontman of the charmingly eclectic the …

RUTHIE FOSTER Joy Comes Back Blue Corn Music As valid and tempting to break out as they may seem anytime she puts out a new …