https://acousticguitar.com lessons, music to play, and how-tos for all guitarists Mon, 01 Jul 2024 15:31:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://i0.wp.com/acousticguitar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/AG_Favicon.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 https://acousticguitar.com 32 32 103806923 https://acousticguitar.com/review-imaginational-anthem-vol-xiii-songs-of-bruce-cockburn/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-imaginational-anthem-vol-xiii-songs-of-bruce-cockburn/#respond Fri, 05 Jul 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=144970 Compiled by indie star James Toth, this collection is the unlikeliest of tribute albums, recasting Cockburn for a younger, hipper audience.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-imaginational-anthem-vol-xiii-songs-of-bruce-cockburn/feed/ 0 144970 https://acousticguitar.com/review-willie-nelson-bluegrass/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-willie-nelson-bluegrass/#respond Wed, 03 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=143130 Nelson and friends put a bluegrass shine on a dozen of his original compositions on this new studio album.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-willie-nelson-bluegrass/feed/ 0 143130 https://acousticguitar.com/review-adrian-holovatys-playful-and-precise-melodic-guitar-music/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-adrian-holovatys-playful-and-precise-melodic-guitar-music/#respond Tue, 12 Dec 2023 21:55:14 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=142982 Holovaty’s “first proper album” comprises ten instrumentals that celebrate his love for melody, improvisation, Chet Atkins, the Beatles, and Django Reinhardt.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-adrian-holovatys-playful-and-precise-melodic-guitar-music/feed/ 0 142982 https://acousticguitar.com/review-tom-heymans-24th-street-blues-paints-an-unflinching-musical-portrait-of-san-franciscos-mission-district/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-tom-heymans-24th-street-blues-paints-an-unflinching-musical-portrait-of-san-franciscos-mission-district/#respond Mon, 11 Dec 2023 18:04:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=142944 Heyman’s real-life character studies are the barflies, bohemians, hustlers, junkies, and unhoused families that line the streets.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-tom-heymans-24th-street-blues-paints-an-unflinching-musical-portrait-of-san-franciscos-mission-district/feed/ 0 142944 https://acousticguitar.com/review-mark-leggett-creates-a-timeless-world-of-his-own-on-folktown/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-mark-leggett-creates-a-timeless-world-of-his-own-on-folktown/#respond Mon, 06 Nov 2023 21:47:54 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=142536 Leggett has become a master of tones and textures, of perfectly matching instruments and moods, of using tunings to create distinct, sonically rich backgrounds.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-mark-leggett-creates-a-timeless-world-of-his-own-on-folktown/feed/ 0 142536 https://acousticguitar.com/review-rick-deitrick-the-unguitarist-documents-a-lifetime-of-musical-wanderings/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-rick-deitrick-the-unguitarist-documents-a-lifetime-of-musical-wanderings/#comments Wed, 27 Sep 2023 21:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=142122 Dig into 50 years of other-worldly guitar explorations from this unorthodox instrumentalist]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-rick-deitrick-the-unguitarist-documents-a-lifetime-of-musical-wanderings/feed/ 1 142122 https://acousticguitar.com/hiroya-tsukamoto-little-river-canyon/ Tue, 27 Jun 2023 18:40:58 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=139522 Compared to 2021’s ‘Window to the World,’ ‘Little River Canyon’ feels simpler, without the former’s loops or pedals, recorded live in the studio with only one guitar.]]> 139522 https://acousticguitar.com/evocative-music-from-a-unique-instrument-on-debashish-bhattacharyas-the-sound-of-the-soul/ Tue, 06 Jun 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=139537 Bhattacharya plays his self-designed chaturangui with equal parts passion and precision on this tribute to his mentor, Ali Akbar Khan]]> 139537 https://acousticguitar.com/powerful-doc-watson-tribute-i-am-a-pilgrim/ https://acousticguitar.com/powerful-doc-watson-tribute-i-am-a-pilgrim/#respond Tue, 23 May 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=138606 Diverse roster of artists reinforces the wide musical influence of the legendary guitarist.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/powerful-doc-watson-tribute-i-am-a-pilgrim/feed/ 0 138606 https://acousticguitar.com/dennis-cuylan-rings-of-juniper-review/ https://acousticguitar.com/dennis-cuylan-rings-of-juniper-review/#respond Tue, 16 May 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=136123 The soundscapes on ‘Rings of Juniper’ are increasingly complex, their palettes more varied, their themes more ambitious than Cuylan's previous works.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/dennis-cuylan-rings-of-juniper-review/feed/ 0 136123 https://acousticguitar.com/joe-henry-and-friends-collaborate-on-the-enigmatic-but-satisfying-all-the-eye-can-see/ https://acousticguitar.com/joe-henry-and-friends-collaborate-on-the-enigmatic-but-satisfying-all-the-eye-can-see/#respond Tue, 21 Mar 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=136103 The songs on Joe Henry’s latest album 'All the Eye Can See' refuse to give up their mysteries, the melodies wandering like question marks with the lyrics threading a thin line between knowing and unknowing.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/joe-henry-and-friends-collaborate-on-the-enigmatic-but-satisfying-all-the-eye-can-see/feed/ 0 136103 https://acousticguitar.com/veteran-minnesota-string-band-trampled-by-turtles-is-still-getting-better-on-alpenglow/ https://acousticguitar.com/veteran-minnesota-string-band-trampled-by-turtles-is-still-getting-better-on-alpenglow/#respond Tue, 14 Mar 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=135393 Alpenglow is Trampled By Turtles' best-sounding album, filled with a sonic richness that keeps these songs driving forward.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/veteran-minnesota-string-band-trampled-by-turtles-is-still-getting-better-on-alpenglow/feed/ 0 135393 https://acousticguitar.com/the-elijah-mclaughlin-ensemble-second-album/ https://acousticguitar.com/the-elijah-mclaughlin-ensemble-second-album/#respond Tue, 28 Feb 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=135346 A testimonial to the power of first takes, in-studio improvisation, and the post-pandemic persistence of nature and art.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/the-elijah-mclaughlin-ensemble-second-album/feed/ 0 135346 https://acousticguitar.com/john-moreland-birds-in-the-ceiling-review/ https://acousticguitar.com/john-moreland-birds-in-the-ceiling-review/#respond Wed, 18 Jan 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=134520 The spareness of Birds in the Ceiling frees John Moreland to dig deeper into the darkness of these songs, to focus on a life where death is the only certainty.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/john-moreland-birds-in-the-ceiling-review/feed/ 0 134520 https://acousticguitar.com/the-slocan-ramblers-up-the-hill-and-through-the-fog-review/ https://acousticguitar.com/the-slocan-ramblers-up-the-hill-and-through-the-fog-review/#respond Tue, 03 Jan 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=133303 On Up the Hill and Through the Fog, the Slocan Ramblers make a clean break from their folk-trad past and establishing three distinctive voices to make the group greater than the sum of its parts.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/the-slocan-ramblers-up-the-hill-and-through-the-fog-review/feed/ 0 133303 https://acousticguitar.com/joe-robinson-explores-new-directions-on-the-eclectic-the-prize/ https://acousticguitar.com/joe-robinson-explores-new-directions-on-the-eclectic-the-prize/#respond Tue, 20 Dec 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=134111 With his 7th full-length album, The Prize, Joe Robinson is reaching for the biggest prize of all: writing songs that are as good as his guitar playing.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/joe-robinson-explores-new-directions-on-the-eclectic-the-prize/feed/ 0 134111 https://acousticguitar.com/mary-gauthier-dark-enough-to-see-the-stars-review/ https://acousticguitar.com/mary-gauthier-dark-enough-to-see-the-stars-review/#respond Tue, 06 Dec 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=133301 Dark Enough to See the Stars is what we call a happy album for Mary Gauthier—the happiest album in her career, recorded at the happiest time in her life. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/mary-gauthier-dark-enough-to-see-the-stars-review/feed/ 0 133301 https://acousticguitar.com/billy-strings-me-and-dad-review/ https://acousticguitar.com/billy-strings-me-and-dad-review/#comments Tue, 29 Nov 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=134502 Billy Strings' Me/And/Dad is a happily unlikely outcome for father and son, a chance to record an album rooted so deeply in memory and gratitude, addiction and recovery. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/billy-strings-me-and-dad-review/feed/ 1 134502 https://acousticguitar.com/mississippi-ghosts-haunt-the-deep-blues-of-ryan-lee-crosby-on-winter-hill-blues/ https://acousticguitar.com/mississippi-ghosts-haunt-the-deep-blues-of-ryan-lee-crosby-on-winter-hill-blues/#respond Tue, 22 Nov 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=132622 Winter Hill Blues is Ryan Lee Crosby's strongest work yet, alternating between hard-droning blues on electric guitar and softer, brooding blues on acoustic guitars.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/mississippi-ghosts-haunt-the-deep-blues-of-ryan-lee-crosby-on-winter-hill-blues/feed/ 0 132622 https://acousticguitar.com/peter-rowan-calling-you-from-my-mountain/ https://acousticguitar.com/peter-rowan-calling-you-from-my-mountain/#respond Tue, 18 Oct 2022 15:58:05 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=132588 There's a lived-in clarity to these songs: Over and over, Rowan bridges the distance between bluegrass tradition and Buddhist practice. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/peter-rowan-calling-you-from-my-mountain/feed/ 0 132588 https://acousticguitar.com/folk-jazz-and-classical-meet-in-woody-harris-return-to-recording-on-bluish-and-edgework/ https://acousticguitar.com/folk-jazz-and-classical-meet-in-woody-harris-return-to-recording-on-bluish-and-edgework/#respond Tue, 24 May 2022 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=128921 With the EPs Bluish and Edgework, guitarist Woody Harris has released his first new music in 42 years, and it’s a lifetime away from the folk albums he recorded in his 20s. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/folk-jazz-and-classical-meet-in-woody-harris-return-to-recording-on-bluish-and-edgework/feed/ 0 128921 https://acousticguitar.com/time-reveals-changes-in-son-houses-approach-on-forever-on-my-mind-a-live-recording-from-1964/ https://acousticguitar.com/time-reveals-changes-in-son-houses-approach-on-forever-on-my-mind-a-live-recording-from-1964/#respond Tue, 03 May 2022 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=128898 The 8 performances on Forever on my Mind, recorded live at Wabash College in 1964, are so different, they force us to rethink everything we know we about him. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/time-reveals-changes-in-son-houses-approach-on-forever-on-my-mind-a-live-recording-from-1964/feed/ 0 128898 https://acousticguitar.com/trevor-gordon-hall-crafts-expressive-instrumentals-from-a-variety-of-guitars-on-this-beautiful-chaos/ https://acousticguitar.com/trevor-gordon-hall-crafts-expressive-instrumentals-from-a-variety-of-guitars-on-this-beautiful-chaos/#respond Tue, 08 Mar 2022 18:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=128887 Using six guitars—a nylon-string crossover, a baritone, a Portuguese viola amarantina, steel-string acoustics, and an electric—Hall switches between solo and multitracking and different tunings. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/trevor-gordon-hall-crafts-expressive-instrumentals-from-a-variety-of-guitars-on-this-beautiful-chaos/feed/ 0 128887 https://acousticguitar.com/aoife-odonovans-age-of-apathy-is-an-introspective-album-completely-of-its-time/ https://acousticguitar.com/aoife-odonovans-age-of-apathy-is-an-introspective-album-completely-of-its-time/#respond Tue, 15 Feb 2022 17:51:11 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=127744 Aoife O’Donovan's Age of Apathy is a different kind of pandemic album: engaged, ambitious, expansive.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/aoife-odonovans-age-of-apathy-is-an-introspective-album-completely-of-its-time/feed/ 0 127744 https://acousticguitar.com/paul-thorn-never-too-late-to-call/ https://acousticguitar.com/paul-thorn-never-too-late-to-call/#respond Tue, 14 Dec 2021 18:45:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=126971 There’s no one else like Paul Thorn, a walking contradiction with an honest sense of his shortcomings, an insistent moral compass, and a healthy dose of country funk.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/paul-thorn-never-too-late-to-call/feed/ 0 126971