Tarpaper Sky, Rodney Crowell

reviewed by Louis R. Carlozo in the November 26, 2014 issue

Rodney Crowell, longtime guitarist for Emmylou Harris, hit songwriter for Waylon Jennings and the Oak Ridge Boys, demonstrates artistic integrity here, refusing to cave to country-pop trends. Nothing here is calculated; the album was recorded live in a studio. From the sensuous, steady-rolling “Fever on the Bayou” (complete with a verse sung in French) to the rockabilly-tinged, heartfelt prayer “Jesus Talk to Mama,” Crowell shows off a wide lyrical and stylistic range:

This review appears in the November 26, 2014 issue.

Louis R. Carlozo

Louis R. Carlozo is a music producer in Chicago.

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Against killing children

We have become a society of people who cannot prevent our own children from being killed in their classrooms—and who do not much mind the killing of other people’s children by weapons of war.

by Wendell Berry