Guitarist Ronnie Earl recorded the majority of the instrumental release I Feel Like Goin' On live in the studio with no overdubbing. As one of the best contemporary blues guitarists around, Earl naturally shows off his prowess on these 11 cuts, with sturdy assistance from Dave Limina on piano/organ, Jimmy Mouradian on bass, Lorne Entress on drums, and special guest guitarist José Alvares. On the whole, I Feel Like Goin' On is tight, passionate, and gritty, especially on the soul-blues of "Hey José," "Blues for Otis Rush," "Howlin' for My Darlin'," and "Travelin' Heavy." While the majority of the album is uptempo, Earl does slow down the pace on the beautiful ballad "Donna" and the traditional gospel-flavored "Mary Don't You Weep," featuring the only vocal appearance on the disc, by the Silver Leaf Gospel Singers.

On their essential new album, The Quireboys amazed themselves. "The new music has surpassed all of expectations" admitted long-term guitarist Guy Griffin. “It’s the most diverse album we’ve ever done” added fellow six-stringer Paul Guerin. And for a band celebrating its 35th Anniversary in 2019 that’s saying something. Amazing Disgrace is the sixth Quireboys’ album in seven years but quality over quantity remains the mantra. Eleven typically frank and familiarly evocative rock and roll classics soundtrack a band at the peak of its creative powers.

Sharing the Covers is a clever title from a clever band - a band clever enough to not allow themselves to succumb to their wittiness anywhere on this light and lively collection of other people's songs. Casting their net wide, the quartet cover contemporaries and classics, modern and vintage tunes in equal measure, their choices continually telegraphing their good taste. Happily, their execution demonstrates their skill. Although Chatham County Line doesn't reinterpret many of the songs - even a nimble reading of the Ventures' "Walk-Don't Run" doesn't turn the tune inside-out - they nevertheless imprint these largely familiar tunes with their personality. Witness their version of Tom Petty's "You Don't Know How It Feels"…

Several years in the making, vocalist Greta Matassa's 6th recording for Origin is a loving assemblage of her quintet's best material in recent years. A documentation of the work she and her wonderful band have developed on stage over countless performances, and dedicated to her late father James Goehle. A painter and jazz lover, Goehle's faith in and enthusiastic support of his daughter's talents as a teen, inspired and sustained her career in music. The painting on the cover is his portrait of Greta's mother. Greta has been a dominate fixture on Northwest stages for decades and with more recent touring, including sold out dates at New York's Dizzy's Club, and tours of Russia, Singapore, Hawaii, and Japan, Greta's sound is continually reaching new audiences.

A few short years ago, John Mailander was known for his work in bluegrass music here in San Diego in numerous band projects. The fiddler got together with some stellar friends for a solo CD in 2014, Walking Distance, recorded in Massachusetts, then he relocated to Nashville. He has remained an in-demand studio recording artist, and his new album is Forecast.

Fantastic reimagining of classic Metallica tracks by the great classic rivetheads, Die Krupps. Of course, what some of these other reviews fail to acknowledge is that you need to enter into this CD with an open mind…