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Our latest posts
  • [ August 5, 2026 ] Can’t Live With It, Can’t Live Without It: Tom Waits Can't Live with it, Can't Live without it
  • [ August 5, 2026 ] Paul McClure “The Good And The Bad Of It” Album Reviews
  • [ August 5, 2026 ] Artists with Hearts of Gold contribute to two more albums of Neil Young covers News
  • [ August 5, 2026 ] Greg Freeman announces new album and UK dates News
  • [ August 5, 2026 ] All-star line-up for Bob Harris event announced for Royal Albert Hall in December News
HomeAuthorsMD Spenser

Articles by MD Spenser

Album Reviews

Wayne Graham “Joy” (K&F Records, 2018)

November 16, 2018 MD Spenser 0
This album, which falls on the country rock side of Americana, is darn near irresistible. First things first: Wayne Graham is not a person – it’s the name of a four-piece band from Kentucky led by two […]
Album Reviews

Eliza Gilkyson “Secularia” (Red House Records, 2018)

October 16, 2018 MD Spenser 0
This might be the album that America needs to hear now more than any other. Musically, it is gorgeous folk/americana enhanced by a stellar cast of supporting musicians. Lyrically, it is by turns meditative, moving, uplifting […]
Album Reviews

Leland & the Silver Wells “Leland & the Silver Wells” (Independent, 2018)

September 11, 2018 MD Spenser 0
This lovely album of poetic music can seem portentous at first, but its depth and beauty reveal themselves on repeated listens. The tone is set by the opening track, ‘We Dissolve,’ which features almost orchestral instrumentation underpinned […]
Album Reviews

Rayland Baxter “Wide Awake” (ATO Records, 2018)

August 6, 2018 MD Spenser 0
This album is wonderful musically, if somewhat inscrutable lyrically – at least initially. To write these 10 songs, Baxter set himself up alone in an abandoned rubber band factory in Kentucky, covered the windows, slept on […]
Album Reviews

Ash Mountain “Boom” (Independent, 2018)

July 16, 2018 MD Spenser 0
This three-song EP by the Mancunian band Ash Mountain is marked by music that is highly enjoyable but hardly original. It’s filled with jangly guitars somewhat reminiscent of The Byrds, and all three tracks sound similar. The […]

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our latest posts

Can’t Live With It, Can’t Live Without It: Tom Waits

Can't Live with it, Can't Live without it
August 5, 2026 2

Paul McClure “The Good And The Bad Of It”

Album Reviews
August 5, 2026 0

Artists with Hearts of Gold contribute to two more albums of Neil Young covers

News
August 5, 2026 0

Greg Freeman announces new album and UK dates

News
August 5, 2026 0

All-star line-up for Bob Harris event announced for Royal Albert Hall in December

News
August 5, 2026 0
Can't Live with it, Can't Live without it

Can’t Live With It, Can’t Live Without It: Tom Waits

August 5, 2026 2
The musical influence of Tom Waits over the last seven decades has spanned far beyond what one might define as americana. His deep, gravely voice, has been described as having been soaked in a vat of […]
Album Reviews

Paul McClure “The Good And The Bad Of It”

August 5, 2026 0
The Rutland Troubadour returns for album number four. Paul McClure, on his fourth album, decided to go to pastures new and left the rural north and travelled south to East Sussex and the fine Bex-Pop Studios […]
News

Artists with Hearts of Gold contribute to two more albums of Neil Young covers

August 5, 2026 0
Includes tracks from My Morning Jacket, Lucinda Williams and MJ Lenderman among others. Cinema Music Group, Killphonic Records, and City Slang have announced Heart of Gold: The Songs of Neil Young, Vol. 2 – Out of […]

  • Can’t Live With It, Can’t Live Without It: Tom Waits
  • Paul McClure “The Good And The Bad Of It”
  • Artists with Hearts of Gold contribute to two more albums of Neil Young covers
  • Greg Freeman announces new album and UK dates
  • All-star line-up for Bob Harris event announced for Royal Albert Hall in December
  • Live Review: Lachlan Bryan and The Wildes + Riley Catherall, The Town Hall, Kirton in Lindsey – 25th July 2026
  • Clayton Denwood “Looking for a Road”
  • Ferris & Sylvester “The Game” – going back to the beginning
  • Video: Inland Isle “White Collar Breakdown” – a dark fantasy about AI
  • Video Interview: Aaron Lee Tasjan on “Get Over It, Underdog” and Todd Snider
Billy Bragg Bob Dylan Bruce Springsteen Chuck Prophet Courtney Marie Andrews Dean Owens Drive By Truckers Emmylou Harris Jason Isbell Johnny Cash John Prine Lucinda Williams Margo Price Neil Young Peter Bruntnell Robert Vincent Ryan Adams Steve Earle Sturgill Simpson The Band The Byrds The Delines Tom Petty Wilco Willie Nelson
  • Graeme Tait: Lol. Sorry, Alan, I knew as soon as I'd chosen to cover Tom Waits for this feature you'd be a…
  • Alan Peatfield: OK, Graeme - just one observation ... the obvious one. "As a songwriter he is right up there; on the…
  • Graeme Tait: Hi Alan. Glad you approve. It was an excellent gig.

Latest interviews

Interviews

Video Interview: Aaron Lee Tasjan on “Get Over It, Underdog” and Todd Snider

August 4, 2026 0
Nashville East resident Aaron Lee Tasjan has long been a favourite of Americana UK, and with 12 albums to his name, including his latest Get Over It, Underdog, and approaching 40, he is no longer the […]
Interviews

Video Interview: American Aquarium’s BJ Barham finds “New Ways To Lose”

July 29, 2026 0
American Aquarium appear to be on a creative roll with their latest album, New Ways To Lose, getting great reviews even though it is their twentieth album in as many years. Added to this is the […]
Interviews

Interview: David Keenan on inspiration, optimism and telling stories

July 28, 2026 0
“Radiate a smile if we’re only here for a short while / no we don’t want to miss a day / cus there’s so much we must do,” sings David Keenan on Radiate a Smile, four […]

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Album Reviews

Mike Plume “Lonesome Stretch Of Highway” (Royalty Records, 2020)

May 22, 2020 0
Mike Plume “is a true alt-country legend in Canada, with a dozen releases since his debut in 1993,” according to his press. Having not encountered him before ‘Lonesome Stretch Of Highway’ comes as a pleasant discovery […]
Ken Newman
Videos

Video: Ken Newman “Talk to You”

June 24, 2022 0
Ken Newman leaps out of the gate with a shuffling bluesy drum beat that launches him into a cutting commentary of society’s relationship with social media.  Necks bent forward, faces illuminated by a small screen, most […]
Album Reviews

Watkins Family Hour “Watkins Family Hour – Vol II”

August 22, 2022 1
New album is an exceptional sampler of the best of Americana. This is only the Watkins Family Hour’s third album, but it is no journeyman effort. This is the work of virtuosos. Watkins Family Hour is […]

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