The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter catches the Idaho musician in the midst of a radical transformation. While last year's The Animal Years had Ritter thinking about the state of the nation, his latest offering finds him pining for Joan of Arc, Calamity Jane and Florence Nightingale, all of whom seem to be stuck together in the belly of a whale, a la Jonah. He also manages to squeeze in a few admiring words about ladies¹ underwear‹and that¹s well before Ritter, backed by drums, bass and organ and cacophony, arrives at a rollicking chorus you might be able sing along with if you¹re quick enough to get all the words. - (Read more)

Protest music of American singer/songwriter Paul Messanella - (Read more)

Patrick Dodd provides us with well-crafted music of relevance in these times of a crumbling empire. Patrick does not shy away from politics or controversial topics. His style is eclectic--folk/ballads to rock. Performances include solo, duo, and full folk/rock band Small Revolutions. What you will find in common from one track to another is that Patrick writes "social justice" music. From the living room to the front lines of the resistance, Patrick's music is intended to educate, motivate, and empower the masses to stand up and resist injustices such as poverty, war, racism, sexism and environmental destruction. - (Read more)

I began recording the first album in the summer of 2003. For help I enlisted the engineering talents of Matt Humes of Surrounded by Commas fame. After about six months of endless and often drunken recording sessions, it was completed. The ghost track that can be heard at the end of the first Sandbaby album is the recorded product of the barbeque which marked the completion of these sessions. - (Read more)

Far away in the murky backwaters of the musical mainstream Sprenger/Egeri have spent innumerable Wednesday evenings to create lingering songs about life, love and everything. As one critic writes: "This is the kind of music you would like to hear even if your lover did not call for days or if your cat was run over by a car. All the songs, even the more philosophical ones, will put you in a good mood. Your fingers will snap, your hips move, your feet tap, you will hum the catching melodies before you even notice it, and you may enjoy the humorous tinge of most of the lyrics. Equally great to accompany a relaxing bath or an orgy of chopping up veggies for a meal." - (Read more)