Outlaw country three years before RCA named it

There may never have been as iconoclastic a country artist as David Allan Coe. Though his rejection of Nashville norms drew parallels with the outlaw movement, he always seemed a notch wilder and less predictable than Waylon, Willie and the boys. Reared largely in reform schools and prisons through his…

The Pistol Annies' Ashley Monroe shines brightly in the solo spotlight

As part of the Pistol Annies, Ashley Monroe's star power was obscured by the outsized shine of her bandmate, Miranda Lambert. Though the Annies share lead vocals, they present themselves as a trio, with only Lambert's fame standing out individually. But stepping out for her…

Second in a six-EP series features a new song, a remake and a cover

After a less-than-satisfying engagement with his last record label, Marshall Crenshaw’s taking his music straight to the people. Funded through a Kickstarter campaign, Crenshaw’s developed a subscription project that will turn out a series of six three-song 10” vinyl EPs, each featuring a new song, a…

Modern-rock with roots in the '70s

This Provo, UT quartet has a modern rock sound that usually suggests the The Shins, but the A-side, "I Won't See You," of their new EP is sweetly rooted in the 1970s soft-rock hits of Fleetwood Mac, Andrew Gold and others. The song's melody and harmonies are warm and comforting, and it's not until the song…