Mark Johnson

AUK’s Chain Gang: Nick Lowe “Cruel To Be Kind”

February 17, 2020 Mark Johnson 0

More cruelty this week, from Americana royalty Nick Lowe, but from over four decades ago, when this was always on TOTP and it was seen as power pop. Endless chains could come from this, bands – […]

Cave Flowers “Cave Flowers” (Hard Bark Records, 2020)

February 14, 2020 Mark Johnson 0

Opening your first album, first track with the classic one beat drum thump straight into a fast guitar lick may be generic, but it’s a surefire announcement of arrival and intent, and done as well as […]

Elijah Ocean “Back To The Lander” (New Wheel Music, 2019)

February 5, 2020 Mark Johnson 0

From sea to shining sea, Elijah Ocean certainly thinks America is beautiful. Also poignant and filled with as much longing as hope. For his ninth album he takes a different direction, and reflects on the country […]

Drew Danburry “Danburry 2003 – 2018” (Independent, 2019)

December 10, 2019 Mark Johnson 0

When a super prolific songwriter has to cull their catalogue for a career compilation, leaving most of their carefully fashioned pieces on an effective second class pile, it must irk. Drew Danburry’s task of reducing his […]

Anthony D’Amato “Five Songs From New Orleans” EP (Elk, 2019)

November 28, 2019 Mark Johnson 0

A true ‘does what it says on the tin’ record, this EP comes steeped in the sounds and spirit of The Big Easy. New Jersey native Anthony D’Amato is one of those artists that always seem […]

Stamping on the passion: Why AI written PR is a bad thing for music

September 21, 2026 2

If a music writer opens ten press releases this month, they’ll spot something odd. They all sound like the same person wrote them. Not because the artists share a publicist, or because there’s a house style […]

Carla Gover and Friends “Williams Branch is Hard to Find”

September 21, 2026 0

A cycle of Appalachian folk songs from writer and activist Si Kahn, subtitled Songs for Strong Kentucky Women The subtitle for this album is “Si Kahn’s Songs for Strong Kentucky Women”. Si Kahn is one of […]

Ad for American Beauty album 5th December 1970

For the Sake of the Song: Grateful Dead “High Time”