Beginning in 2025, Bluesky Bullet Points is now Album Review Roundup, with new LPs and EPs reviewed every Monday.
Mon Rovîa
Act 4: Atonement [EP]
Lovely and unassuming contemporary folk compositions elevated by his clear, pure singing. As a collection, the abbreviated EP length and consistently mellow tempo and dynamics make this feel a bit more slight than it would otherwise.
Trey Lewis
Livin’ Left to Do [EP]
Marginal talent continues to churn out material– this follows a 2024 full-length, also poor– that lives down to most stereotypes of modern radio country, with little evidence he can recapture notoriety or attention of 2020’s sleaze epic, “Dicked Down in Dallas.”
Nolan Taylor
Nolan Taylor
Unfairly, I expected a Zach Bryan knock-off. Instead, Taylor’s a far better singer who isn’t afraid of an actual hook, melody, or genre signifier. Country radio would fare well to swap Smith, Zeiders, other Nickelback-inspired acts for this talented upstart. A solid debut.
Early James
Medium Raw
Strongest collection of songs yet from this interesting, idiosyncratic songwriter, but those songs are rarely done any real favors by producer Auerbach’s played-out notions of authenticity. James works hard here to overcome tiresome old-timey blues, country tropes.
Ringo Starr
Look Up
Love the idea of Ringo in Americana Elder Statesman mode, but the execution here is lacking. Burnett’s production is, predictably, too safe, and some of the songwriting wouldn’t have gotten out of the studio if not for the names attached.
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