Stephen has put together a feature we like to call Brief Reviews which covers the following artist this week: Lori Michaels, Danny Barnes, Claude Diamond and Jamie Stillway.

“The Lilac
Testament” by Lori Michaels (Mother West)—This is her debut, and she
has some impressive things going for her. 
She wrote all the songs and plays a bunch of instruments.  Former Wings’ member Steve Holley drums, and
the instrumentation includes—one of my favorites—pedal steel.  Despite bright spots, “The Lilac Testament”
didn’t wear well.  I thought, “Maybe I’m
a snob because the songs are a little too ‘poppy’ for my usual taste.”  So I turned the album over to friends who
unashamedly listen to mainstream country—and they disliked this CD from the
start.  Lacks soul.  2 bottle caps.  Try another producer, Lori. 
You’ve got the talent.

“Get
Myself Together” by Danny Barnes (Terminus)—A former member of the Bad
Livers, described on his website as 
“Texas avant-hillbilly visionaries,” this is a quirky record from a guy
who strikes me as reveling in his quirkiness to the point of overkill.  Each track listened to on a stand-alone
basis probably works, except for a pointless cover of Jagger/Richards’
“Sympathy for the Devil.”  Barnes seems
to be continually “winking” at the microphone. 
Annoying.  Get over yourself,
Danny!  2 ¾ bottle caps.

“Highway
of Life” by Claude Diamond (Vettset)—This
is the second effort from Diamond, who is pushing 70.  His first release got a lot of attention, and this one should
too.  His voice is weathered but not
phony, and his songs are straightforward, and so is the playing.  If mainstream country radio sounded as good
as this, there would be no alt.country.  3 3/4 bottle caps.  Stay
healthy, Claude!  The world needs more
of your music!

“Mell of a Hess” by Jamie Stillway (Self-released)—This is
the debut for this Portland, Oregon-based guitarist.  What’s not to like? 
Pleasant instrumental acoustic sounds mixing classical, jazz and
what-have-you.  A good one to market
through Starbucks, and I mean that as a compliment!  Sip some java, read the travel section, and listen to Stillway. The
problem these instrumental albums have, however, is they are difficult to
distinguish from one another. 
Nonetheless, you’ll enjoy “Mell of a Hess” if you like this kind of
stuff.  I do.  3 ¾ bottle caps.  Hey
Jamie, hope you’ll tour the East Coast some day!