Crisper Roots

<p>Reviews of two new release country, blues, Americana, roots reggae, cajun, gospel, soul, zydeco, bluegrass etc albums by Crispin Sartwell, long-time yet wildly fresh critic and…expert on beauty. </p>

Creative Outburst: On the Great Jesse Welles

Send us a text Jesse Welles, whose LP 'Hells Welles' I covered last year, is in an amazing patch of creativity, and has a new album, MIDDLE.

02-24
22:56

Championship Week!: the Doohickeys and Jason Eady

Send us a text Crisper Roots is back for season 2! With the Doohickeys' hilarious ALL HAT NO CATTLE and Jason Eady's lovely MISSISSIPPI, UNPLUGGED. The gutsiest country song ever recorded: I Don't Give a Damn About Football

01-25
22:12

Top Ten 2024

Send us a text Last episode of Season 1. Out of 90, more or less. (1) Samory I, Strength (2) Jesse Welles, Hell's Welles (3) Fiona Boyes, Ramblified (4) Stephanie Lambring, Hypocrite (5) Jerron Paxton, Things Done Changed (6) Elizabeth King, Soul Provider (7) Leslie Stevens, eponymous (8) The Franklin County Trucking Company, The Death-Defying Adventures of (9) Wyly Bigger, Broken Telephone (10) BadNews Barnes, Bad News Travels Fast

12-01
34:54

Saddest Man in Texas (or Oxfordshire): Hudson Westbrook and Ags Connolly

Send us a text Hudson Westbrook's eponymous EP and Ags Connolly's YOUR PAL SLIM: SONGS OF JAMES HAND

11-23
20:29

Instruments of Construction: Tyler Ray Miniard and the Doohickeys

Send us a text Two fine EPs: Tyler Ray Miniard, THE COUNTY LINE and the Doohickeys, CAN'T BEAT MY OLD BEATER

11-19
18:58

Singin' Songwriters: John R. Miller and Forest Sun

Send us a text Two good late-year albums! John R. Miller, FIRESIDE SESSIONS VOL 1 and Forest Sun, NO FINISH LINE. No it's not "I'll meet you at the bar" on "America I Love You." It's "I'll meet you at the mall."

11-10
20:50

Rodeo Literature: Tyler Halverson and Corb Lund

Send us a text Two unusual 'Western' items: Tyler Halverson's WESTERN AMERIJUANA (pt 2) and Corb Lund's stunning EL VIEJO (deluxe edition)

11-04
21:34

History Lesson: Eric Bibb and Lone Justice

Send us a text Bluesman Eric Bibb's beautiful IN THE REAL WORLD and the late-arriving greatest record of cowpunk, VIVA LONE JUSTICE. I meant to say, re Bibb: J.B. Lenoir.

10-26
24:57

Vulnerable Revival: Joy Oladokun and Jerron Paxton

Send us a text Tradition and innovation from the great young bluesman Jerron Paxton and the budding folk-pop star Joy Oladokun.

10-21
24:54

Not Too Polished: Gurf Morlix and Chris Acker

Send us a text Lovely albums by two guys who with outsider personae: Gurf Morlix, IN LOVE AT ZERO DEGREES and Chris Acker, FAMOUS LUNCH Sorry, I kept saying "Bill Bruckner". Bill Buckner!

10-13
22:14

Business Plan: Franklin County Trucking Company and Darrin Bradbury

Send us a text Fine new records this week from Franklin County Trucking Company (THE DEATH-DEFYING ADVENTURES OF) and Darrin Bradbury (FREEMAN'S TV REPAIR SHOP)

10-05
21:46

Anti-Authoritarian Roots: Embla and the Karidotters and Jack Barksdale

Send us a text Two surreal and beautifully-played political roots albums: Embla and the Karidotters' LP OFF LEASH and Jack Barksdale's EP OUT OF ORDER.

09-17
25:53

My Coolass Aunt: Hannah Juanita and Sunny Sweeney

Send us a text Great new items by the lovely but asskicking songbirds Sunny Sweeney (STILL PROVOKED) and Hannah Juanita (TENNESSEE SONGBIRD)

08-31
21:55

Fifty-Year Gap: Elizabeth King and Jontavious Willis

Send us a text Reviews of fine and original albums by 77-year-old Elizabeth King, a gospel singer from Memphis, and 27-year-old Jontavious Willis, bluesman from West Georgia.

08-18
20:04

Conceptual Country by Layla Tucker and Karen Jonas

Send us a text Two quite interesting conceptual projects and two very fine singers: Karen Jonas, THE RISE AND FALL OF AMERICAN KITSCH and Layla Tucker, HOLD MY COAT (reissue from 2022?, songs of Merle Haggard)

08-11
27:33

You Need Therapy. Music Therapy: Mike Montrey Band and Evan McMillian

Send us a text Two lovely and humble albums, out this week: Evan McMillian, FOR A DREAMER and the Mike Montrey Band, LOVE, TIME, AND MORTALITY

08-03
18:13

Fresh Developments in Blues Harmonica: Son of Dave and Big Harp George

Send us a text Wild, eclectic, yet bluesy harmonica and excellent singing and writing: Big Harp George, COOKING WITH GAS and Son of Dave, A FLAT CITY Column from '22: https://www.splicetoday.com/music/lucian-satan-son-of-dave-and-the-future-of-blues-harp

07-27
25:09

What is This, '94? Zach Top and Elijah Ocean

Send us a text Great trad country from singer/guitar player Zach Top, COLD BEER AND COUNTRY MUSIC (a little late getting to this one, out in March I think), and fine country songwriting from Elijah Ocean, LOSER'S HOLIDAY

07-21
21:30

Cover Me: William Michael Morgan and the Little Roy and Lizzie Show

Send us a text Reviews of two new albums of covers: paradigm country singer William Michael Morgan, COUNTRY CLASSICS VOL. 1 and bluegrass from rowdy, godly multi-instrumentalists The Little Roy and Lizzie Show, ALL FOR THE LOVE OF SUNSHINE

07-14
24:31

What is America?: Jesse Welles and Josh Morningstar

Send us a text Writer writer writer. Amazing political folk and blues by Jesse Welles, HELLS WELLES and fine folky country Josh Morningstar, JOSH MORNINGSTAR

07-08
22:01

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