Mike Davies

The Unconquerable past is an album that grows on you the more you listen,  the message is clear,  while the past may seem to be unconquerable, that’s no reason to give up the fight.

Exposed and honest, Weber has regrets but no apologies for who he is, for what drives him, for the heartache in his wake, in the search of making the music in his head. It’s a high price, but this album repays every wounded moment in full.

There are, undoubtedly, many out there who, like Joseph back in 1973, remain ignorant of Phil Ochs and for whom, as the notes say, this will afford a nudge forward. That it also happens to be one of Joseph’s finest albums is an added bonus.

Landry’s fifth solo album is described as “reflections and thoughts on the collective hallucination that is America”…it’s a hugely accomplished and at times troubling album that has already earned its place in “Best of” year-end lists.

Mike Davies shares his Top Ten albums of 2019 including Emily Mae Winters, Luke Jackson, Caroline Spence, Allison Moorer, Danny Schmidt, Daria Kulesh, Rachel Harrington and more.

Having taken a four-year break from her own material, Catherine MacLellan returns with an album containing life-affirming philosophical sentiment, compassion, understanding and wisdom.

In 1971, despondent about the state of America, torn apart by hatred, suffering, and injustice under the divisive policies of Richard Nixon, Marvin Gaye created his greatest work, an album for and about those times. Second Sight is May Erlewine’s  ‘What’s Goin’ On’.

Confronting the demons, celebrating her mother but recognising that her troubled father, Allison Moorer has emerged into the light, bringing with her the finest music of her career to date.

Thirty Pounds of Bone and Philip Reeder board Girl Emily, a 1974 fishing boat to perform nine new arrangements of traditional fishing/maritime songs, as the skipper and his mate go about their business of fishing.

Band Together cuts across Americana genres but maintains a cohesive sound and identity with melodies and choruses designed to fire up any crowd – a terrific album.

Come On Up To The House: Women Sing Waits features some great highlights from the likes of Iris DeMent, Courtney Marie Andrews and Rosanne Cash who doesn’t just knock it out of the park, but the entire state.

Utah trio 3hattrio dip into the well for this live album which celebrates the 100th anniversary of Zion National Park, culminating in a haunting paean to the power of the landscape and a terrific culmination of a remarkable live experience.