Summer 2025 Short Takes Brief Reviews
The Wildwoods "Dear Meadowlark" 2025
The Wildwoods mine the sweet spot that exists somewhere between folk, Americana and bluegrass with their fourth full-length release, Dear Meadowlark. The group features the husband and wife duo of Noah Gose
on guitars and Chloe Gose on violin, with longtime friend Andrew Vaggalis on upright bass. The three combine for some remarkable vocal harmonies as they are joined by three fellow musicians on percussion, cello
and organ. The opening acapella title track is so intimately recorded that you can actually hear the singers breathing. The following 10 tracks, all penned by Noah Gose, feature the joyous lilt of "Sweet Niobrara,"
the sweet and pure upfront vocals of Chloe Gose on "Poster Child" and the band's trademark folk Americana on "Hideaway." Chloe's isolated vocals are pure ear candy as she moves effortlessly into and out of
harmonizing. Instrumentally, Noah Gose's slinky guitar sweetens "Rabbit Hill" and Chloe's violin stands out on "Dear Stranger." Mellow yet energizing, this pleasant collection will transport your mind and soul
to a good place that's pure and natural -- and very much in touch with what makes the world go round.
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Fred Kraus
Annagail "Live at Seven Steps Up" 2025
Annagail is the acoustic duo of Jared and Jennifer Adams. They waste no time on this live recording asserting their harmonic credentials in the first few seconds of the opener "In Time" with stratospheric harmonies
which light up your limbic system with a tingle. Hailing from Grand Rapids, Michigan, on this recording Live at Seven Steps Up their paired acoustics and voices are backed by a full band giving the music an energetic
notch up from standard singer-songwriter fare. Still, they seem to shine best when at their most hold-your-breath minimal with solo guitars and voices before the band kicks in. The venue Seven Steps Up was a famed
listening room near Grand Rapids which had an 11-year run under the discriminating ears of founders Gary and Michelle Hanks. I know from personal experience that it was a venue which kindled up some very personal
performances by somehow magically connecting audience and performer… and Annagail was obviously a beneficiary with this performance also.
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Alan Fark
Andrey Lebedintsev "Tales of Strings II" 2025
After many years exploring and creating music that ranged from rock to atmospheric electronic synth based tracks, Andrey Lebedintsev returned to instrumental classical guitar releasing Tales of Strings (2024).
Tales of Strings II is once again just Lebedintsev on his classical guitar, however, this collection of original compositions demonstrates a more adventurous, more expressive approach to performance and composition.
His touch and tone are superb throughout creating a lithe and airy quality on "Serenity," "Adventure Awaits," and the exquisite "Fireflies," as well as my favorite "Everblue," a sweet magical melody expressing joy and
serenity in a lullaby fashion. From the rapid tremolo of "On the Road," reminiscent of Francisco Tárreg's "Recjuerdos de la Alhambra," to the Celtic rhythm and structure of "Navel of the Earth, " Lebedintsev's ability
to fuse traditional classical music and other genres with innovation and verve is a delightful, albeit brief, 22 minutes of sonic delight.
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James Filkins
Nathan McEuen "My One and Only" 2025
There's something in us that just loves a love song. (Just ask Paul McCartney.) And it's true, we can't get enough of 'em. Love is endlessly fascinating, maddeningly frustrating and oh-so singularly human.
Singer/songwriter and guitarist Nathan McEuen ably turns on his love light in his five-track collection, My One and Only. McEuen, the son of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band founder John McEuen, pours his soul into
the title track ballad, which he wrote for his wife, the love of his life: "I'll give you everything I can, every way I know / to show you how your love saved me." Backed by guitar and piano, McEwen provides as
heartfelt and sincere ode as there is. He follows that with "Lately," another sweet emotion-tugger that's intoxicated with love. The three remaining tracks change it up a bit, with the bossa nova of "Beautiful Night,"
the bluesy "Up to No Good" with its slide guitar and sly smile, and the syncopated pop of "Sticks and Stones." McEuen composed or co-composed all five songs, teaming up with legendary guitarist Mason Williams
("Classical Gas") for the title track. McEuen's work brings to mind some of the fine work of David Gates and Bread, which is not a bad thing at all to be reminded of.
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Fred Kraus