Craft Buck

American master blues vocalist William Crawford, better known as Willie Buck, was born in 1937 in the small town of Houston, Mississippi. When he was a boy, he spent most of his time working at a local paper mill making $5 during the day and honing his voice by night.

Merge continues its 20th anniversary festivities with a comp of non-label artists– Bright Eyes, Shins, New Pornos– covering songs from its catalog.
Merge Records doesn't look its age. Originally formed as an outlet for Superchunk material, the Durham, N.C.-based label has grown into an indie institution, but only gradually– year by year, release by release. It never allied itself with a scene or a sound, so the mind doesn't automatically tether it to a specific place or time, the way Sub Pop, despite its strong roster this decade, will be most closely associated with Seattle in the late 1980s and early 90s. So it's hard to believe Merge is already 20 years old, an occasion the label is marking with a big birthday bash– the five-day XX Merge fest in July– and a subscription-only series of commemorative retrospectives and remixes. Perhaps the most intriguing party favor is Score! Twenty Years of Merge Records: The Covers, a choppy but oddly endearing compilation that enlists 20 non-Merge acts to cover Merge songs.

George Highfill may not have the same name recognition as, say, George Strait, but he's definitely punching in the same weight class when it comes to delivering a country song. His latest album, "Thank A Trucker," is a testament to his immense talent and unwavering dedication to the craft. This collection of original songs is a delightful throwback to the purest form of country and western music, capturing the essence of the genre with authenticity and passion. Indeed, if the 11 songs on “Thank a Trucker” don’t give you a Pavlovian craving for a cold beer and a dance floor, you might want to check your pulse because you just might be dead.

Abuzz with activity, camp R.E.M. is suddenly alive with the sound of music, with singer Michael Stipe readying his first solo album for a 2023 release.