CD Review: Carrington MacDuffie's 'Only An Angel'

Carrington MacDuffie
Only An Angel
Pointy Head Records

New York-native, Carrington MacDuffie, brings a sense of Americana folk with bluesy, poetic, and lyrical tunes with intimate sensibilities and playful vocal calisthenics. The folksy tunes possess a slight alt-rock and country connotation, but the primary sound is largely folksy blues. The ballad-esque, "Hot Sun Of The Summer," is a groovy tune with sparkling instrumentation and alt-folk arrangements with a voice akin to Shawn Colvin and Lucinda Williams. "Red Eye" opens with a plaintive acoustic guitar melody and smoky vocal line. There are country and folk strings with swishy percussion. "Stand Below Heaven" is an alt-folk, roots-inspired tune with guitar, drums, and reverberating B3 sounds. Carrington gets serious on "My Favorite Place In Texas" with galloping drums, metallic drones, and heartfelt vocals spacious and delicate. The country-esque tune is quite poetic and very enjoyable. In fact, the entire EP is enjoyable and worth a listen or two. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Kathy Muir's 'Far From Entirely'

Kathy Muir
Far From Entirely
Self-Release

The Scottish folk-pop singer, Kathy Muir, adds a talented repertoire of country-pop guitar songs with an equal element of roots, blues, and rock. With a voice like Bonnie Raitt, Shawn Colvin, and Stevie Nicks, Kathy comes through with flying colors and equally-airborne riffs. "Fairytale Lies" is a fitting song with Stevie Nicks' signature all over it, but it is inherently Kathy Muir all the way. The steel, slide guitar opening matches the upbeat tambourine and percussion kit with a rhythmic voice and catchy melody. "You Surround Me" opens with a pensive piano melody with accompanying strings that do not include percussion until mid-song. The song is void of vocals, but it is reminiscent of a lighter incarnation of something from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. "Heaven In Your Eyes" is a folksy song with a bluesy presence and chilling percussion, guitars, and vocals. "Sweet and Easy" is a breezy, folk song with light pop elements that are jazzy and easy to listen to. Throughout the entire album, Kathy's vocals do not contain a Scottish accent and the musical arrangements resemble North American productions. Overall, the music is varied, folksy, bluesy, and a pleasure to listen to. ~ Matthew Forss  

CD Review: Caroline Herring's 'Camilla'

Caroline Herring
Camilla
Signature Sounds

The Southern folk/blues/pop style of Mississippi-native and Georgia resident, Caroline Herring, is nostalgic, historical, and thought-provoking. The folk repertoire consists of acoustic guitar and vocals by Caroline, as well as Steven Sheehan on acoustic guitar, Fats Kaplin on pedal steel, fiddle, and banjo, Bryan Owings on drums and chains, and Bryn Davies on upright bass. The serene fiddle and sweet vocals on "Black Mountain Lullaby" are especially inviting. Though, the banjo really gets a workout on "Fireflies." The vocals are reminiscent of Mary Chapin Carpenter, Shawn Colvin, Heidi Talbot, and Karine Polwart. The vocal "Traveling Shoes" is void of any instrumentation.  The album art represents an artistic presence of simplistic domesticity and equality issues commonplace in the 1960s. At any rate, the scintillating folk guitar and instrumentation is full of good things. Fans of the aforementioned artists will add Caroline Herring's new release to their collection without any reservations. ~ Matthew Forss