Trouble Boys

Backstreet Boys At the height of a commercial teen pop explosion in the late '90s, the Backstreet Boys emerged at the top of the boy band pack alongside friendly rivals *NSYNC, quickly trailed by a crop of imitators. Their hybrid of R&B balladry, hip-hop, and dance pop initially found its greatest audience in Canada and Europe, while success in their native land didn't follow until mainstream pop hit it big on radio and MTV in America. Early singles "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" and "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" were their first platinum hits, rising into the Top Four of the U.S. singles chart. Benefiting from the strength of their harmony vocals and balance of heartfelt ballads with propulsive dance anthems, their third album, 1999's Millennium (home to their worldwide smash "I Want It That Way"), topped the charts and was certified multi-platinum across the globe, while follow-up Black & Blue extended their reign. In the 2000s, they took steps away from the Max Martin hitmaking sound that shot them to stardom, maturing with their fan base via adult contemporary pop on the reinventive Never Gone (2005), Unbreakable (2007), and This Is Us (2009).

During their last tour Scouting For Girls played to more people than they’ve ever played to before. They were celebrating ten years since they first released their 2007 self-titled debut, a record that went on to become triple platinum and birthed the generation-bridging anthems of ‘She’s So Lovely’, ‘Elvis Ain’t Dead’ and ‘Heartbeat’. 2017’s accompanying ‘Ten Add Ten’ record bundled that now-classic debut with ten new songs, proving that the band’s joy, energy and ability to write an instantly catchy chorus hadn’t gone anywhere.

After winning The International Bluegrass Music Association’s 2018 Emerging Artist of the year Award, the Po’ Ramblin Boys came to Rounder Records for their third album Toil, Tears & Trouble, where they’ve made a diverse track list sound like The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys and no one else. The album boasts a fuller sound, thanks in part to engineering by Gary Paczosa (whose credits include Dolly Parton and Alison Krauss) as well as the addition of fiddler Laura Orshaw. Performances sparkle throughout the album’s twelve tracks, showcasing why the band has not only energized fans of the traditional bluegrass sound, but younger fans of progressive string band music as well.

If there's one subject that's truly a cornerstone of not only country music but also blues and R&B, it's Bad Boys - the ones who took that short but fatal step from the wrong side of the tracks to the wrong side of the law and wound up either in jail, on the run, or six feet under. On this splendid 2CD compilation, you'll discover a wide selection of them. The boys may be bad, but the songs are anything but!

Despite the danger, there are some definite pluses to undercover agent Zak Langston’s current alias as a mechanic slash low-life criminal. He doesn’t have to shave regularly or keep his hair military short. He gets to ride a damn fine Harley. And then there’s the sweet, sexy lady next door who likes to sneak peeks at his butt. Yeah, that was a major plus.

A stunning collection of artists and performances celebrate the timeless music of legendary gospel bluesman Blind Willie Johnson. From Derek Trucks’ and Susan Tedeschi’s reverent reading of Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning to Lucinda Williams’ slide guitar-fueled lament in Nobody’s Fault But Mine, from Luther Dickinson’s spirited take on Bye And Bye I’m Going To See The King (with The Rising Star Fife & Drum Band) to Tom Waits’ virtual embodiment of Johnson himself on The Soul Of A Man and John The Revelator, this record is packed with incomparable recordings that speak as much to the greatness of the performers as they do the enduring legacy of Blind Willie Johnson. Featuring Tom Waits, Lucinda Williams, Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi, Cowboy Junkies, The Blind Boys Of Alabama, Sinéad O'Connor, Luther Dickinson, Maria McKee and Rickie Lee Jones.

For many years to come, race will continue to be a source of controversy and conflict in American society.