Americana – The Cosmic Clash

Album Review: Willie Nelson gives songs new life with First Rose of Spring

July 20, 2020 Scott Rollins 3887 Views album review, Americana, Billy Joe Shaver, Clint Eastwood, country music, new music, outlaw country, Toby Keith, Willie Nelson

The First Rose of Spring is Willie Nelson’s seventieth album. That is 70, seven-zero. Let that sink in a minute. The sheer volume of Nelson’s creative output is staggering. The record was released or “dropped” as the kids say, July 3, just before Nelson’s annual Fourth of July Picnic which was live-streamed this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You would think there isn’t anything new to say about Willie Nelson. You would think there isn’t anything new and good enough that Nelson could sing. You’d be wrong on both counts.

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Album Review: Sophomore effort Public Life by Joshua Lee Turner out August 7

June 29, 2020 Scott Rollins 1451 Views Americana, Carson McKee, Josh Turner, Joshua Turner, new music, singer, songwriter, The Other Favorites

While some of you may have binge-watched your new favorite shows on NetFlix, laid off your diet or shared protest posts on social media, Joshua Lee Turner wrote, recorded, produced, engineered, and accompanied himself on a new recording. Public Life is an intellectual exercise in eclectic beauty, refusing to classify itself into any single genre.

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Album Review: An essay on Dylan in context of new record Rough and Rowdy Ways

June 24, 2020 Scott Rollins 681 Views album, Americana, Bob Dylan, classic rock, Jimmy Reed, new music, Review, rock n roll, Rough and Rowdy Ways, songwriter

In light of the fantastic new Bob Dylan album, Rough and Rowdy Ways which was released last week, I‘ve wondered if everything if everything that can be said about Bob Dylan, has already been said? Honestly, what else is there to discuss? Dylan just “is” Dylan. I think the hardest part of being an artist is having “experts” and “critics” compare and dissect your work, stretch it out and lay it down against your last.

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Album Review: Homegrown released by Neil Young 45 years later

June 22, 2020 Scott Rollins 515 Views acoustic, album, Americana, Cameron Crowe, Homegrown, Merle Haggard, Neil Young, new music, Review, songwriter, Townes Van Zandt, Willie Nelson

While I am not one to fall into regret, I do enjoy exploring the road less traveled. That turn you didn’t take, the zig when you should have zagged, the song no one else recorded, or the B-side the DJ never flipped. I love discovering “new old music” as exemplified on Neil Young’s record Homegrown which was released last week; 45 years after it was recorded.

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Album review: Reina del Cid’s Morse Code record is a lesson in songwriting

December 12, 2019 Greg Ackerman 1478 Views album, Americana, folk music, folk rock, new music, Reina del Cid, Review, singer, songrwriter

Reina Del Cid has released a new album, Morse Code and it is nothing less than an impressive and intellectual exercise of masterful songwriting and musicianship. The record actually dropped back on October 4 with a release show in Minneapolis and I’m finally able to file an album review. Been chomping at the bit to share it with you.

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Live music review: Legendary singer Rodney Crowell kicked off tour in Houston

August 29, 2019 Scott Rollins 868 Views Americana, concert, country music, Houston, live music, Rodney Crowell, singer, songwrtier, Texas, The Heights, Tour

The Heights Theatre on 19th Street in Houston was the setting on August 15 for legendary singer Rodney Crowell to kick off his tour supporting his fantastic new album Texas. Nestled in the Northwest quarter of the 610 Loop, in “The Heights” neighborhood of Houston, the Spanish Mission-style structure was built in the 1920s as the neighborhood movie house.

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Album preview: upcoming Rodney Crowell record Texas highlights songcraft

July 11, 2019 Scott Rollins 475 Views album review, Americana, country, Guy Clark, Lyle Lovett, Rodney Crowell, Scott Rollins, songwriter, Steve Earle, The Cosmic Clash, Willie Nelson

My favorite songwriter, however, is Rodney Crowell. His new record, TEXAS is phenomenal. A true work of art. The record is due out August 15. Crowell will be performing in support of the record launch on that same day at The Heights Theater in Houston.

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Album review: Latest Willie Nelson album is an instant classic

July 3, 2019 Scott Rollins 1410 Views album, Americana, Billy Joel, country music, Guy Clark, Lukas Nelson, outlaw country, Review, singer, songwriter, Willie Nelson

Outlaw country music pioneer Willie Nelson has perhaps been a greater influence on American music than any other singer, songwriter, or musician in history. At 86 he appears just as relevant today as anytime in his career.

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Live music review: Precocious Reina del Cid and The Other Favorites in Houston

June 10, 2019 Scott Rollins 817 Views Americana, Firehouse Saloon, folk, live music, Reina del Cid, Review, singer, songwriter, The Other Favorites, Tonni Lindgren

Readers may remember, last May I wrote of two musical acts that have been running a 21st century grass roots campaign via YouTube and various social media; Reina del Cid and The Other Favorites.

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