Paul Barr
Paul Barr is a former Readings Carlton music specialist
Review — 20 Oct 2016
Let Love Rule by Archie Roach
It’s been a while since we’ve had some new music from Archie Roach, if you exclude last year’s expanded edition of Charcoal Lane. Roach has been through a lot…
Review — 27 Jul 2015
The Gospel Album by Gurrumul
The Gospel Album is the third proper solo album from the Elcho Island-based Indigenous singer Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu. Gurrumul’s self-titled album from 2008 was a surprise breakthrough and one of…
Review — 18 May 2015
The Traveling Kind by Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell
These long-time friends and musical cohorts have waited three years to follow their long-promised and award-winning duet project Old Yellow Moon. The Traveling Kind is another beautifully produced (Joe…
Review — 22 Mar 2015
Deeper South by Shane Howard
Deeper South is Shane Howard’s latest album and a beautifully recorded, crowd-funded affair. This album is a high water mark for Howard, combining poetry, blues, country, celtic and folk with…
Review — 22 Jul 2014
Remedy by Old Crow Medicine Show
Virginian string band Old Crow Medicine Show have a fearsome live reputation, but it’s one that has never quite translated to disc. Previous albums have been good but uneven. No…
Review — 22 Jul 2014
Common Ground: Dave Alvin & Phil Alvin Play and Sing The Songs of Big Bill Broonzy
American bluesman Big Bill Broonzy may not be revered as much as Robert Johnson but his influence remains. His 300-plus songs and acoustic guitar style influenced the likes of Muddy…
Review — 25 Jun 2014
Folk Singer: Volume 1 by Willie Watson
Don’t let the cover and title of this album put you off. The black-and-white cover art depicts Willie Watson smoking a pipe and wearing dark sunglasses, an acoustic guitar slung…
Review — 25 Jun 2014
Tin Star by Lindi Ortega
Lindi Ortega hails from Toronto, Canada and is a fast-rising star on the modern country scene. Tin Star is the third album from this songbird, who now calls Nashville home…
Review — 25 May 2014
Zoom by Rachid Taha
Rachid Taha, born in Algeria but who spent his formative years in France, has made a string of very good albums combining North African sounds with Western-style rock. His last…
Review — 5 May 2014
Winter Pick by Justin Bernasconi
I’d heard really good things in advance about Winter Pick and I’m pleased to say it’s more impressive and even more diverse than what I expected. Singer–songwriter and guitar picker…