Hal Horowitz

Music Journalist at Freelance

Freelance music journalist for American Songwriter @amersongwriter, Creative Loafing @cl_atl, Blues Music Magazine, Holler @hollercountry, All Music Guide/more.

Featured in: Favicon

flipboard.com Favicon

vanityfair.com Favicon

usmagazine.com Favicon

americansongwriter.com Favicon

newsbreak.com Favicon

creativeloafing.com Favicon

holler.country Favicon

bluesmusicstore.com Favicon

msn.com

thecreekfm.com + 1 more

Articles

Review: Paul Thorn Delivers Message About How to Live Life on ‘Life is Just a Vapor’

3 weeks ago | americansongwriter.com | Hal Horowitz

RATING CHART:1 note – Pass1.5 notes – Mediocre2 notes – Average2.5 notes – Above Average3 notes – Good3.5 notes – Great4 notes – Excellent4.5 notes – Exceptional5 notes – ClassicAmericana didn’t even have a name when roots singer/songwriter Paul Thorn released his 1997 debut. Since then, the Tupelo, Mississippi native, ex-prizefighter, and skydiver, has released about a dozen more albums.
Review: Jason Boland & The Stragglers Effortlessly Raise the Bar with ‘The Last Kings of Babylon”

3 weeks ago | americansongwriter.com | Hal Horowitz

RATING CHART:1 note – Pass1.5 notes – Mediocre2 notes – Average2.5 notes – Above Average3 notes – Good3.5 notes – Great4 notes – Excellent4.5 notes – Exceptional5 notes – ClassicThe eleventh album from the Oklahoma-born and raised Red Dirt country rockers Jason Boland and his Stragglers bookends a quarter century of their career. Boland rejoins with high-profile country producer Lloyd Maines, who helmed his Pearl Snaps debut (1999).
The Haunting Story Behind Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit"

2 months ago | americansongwriter.com | Hal Horowitz

The legacy of protest songs is rich, deep, and musically diverse. There are tunes in almost any genre that, over the decades, carry the socio-political messages of the times and, often frustratingly, remain relevant today. From Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan to Bob Marley, the Staple Singers, and even Beyonce, these typically transcend the era in which they were initially popular.
Review: Steve Hill ‘Hanging On a String’

Nov 7, 2024 | rockandbluesmuse.com | Hal Horowitz |Martine Ehrenclou

By Hal HorowitzIt would have been logical for Canadian blues rocking guitarist Steve Hill to gather a few like-minded musicians to tear through a set of mostly original tunes as his supporting players urged him on. Which is what he did after the release of his 1997 debut. But that was too easy.
beabadoobee Is In It For the Long Haul with 'This is How Tomorrow Moves'

Oct 28, 2024 | americansongwriter.com | Hal Horowitz

RATING CHART:1 note – Pass1.5 notes – Mediocre2 notes – Average2.5 notes – Above Average3 notes – Good3.5 notes – Great4 notes – Excellent4.5 notes – Exceptional5 notes – ClassicSlayer, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond, Kanye West, Donovan, Black Sabbath, and ZZ Top. Those wildly disparate artists have little in common other than producer Rick Rubin, who was associated with some of their influential releases. Add beabadoobee to the list.
Review: Amos Lee Nudges Lyrical and Vocal Boundaries on ‘Transmissions’

Aug 21, 2024 | americansongwriter.com | Hal Horowitz

RATING CHART:1 note – Pass1.5 notes – Mediocre2 notes – Average2.5 notes – Above Average3 notes – Good3.5 notes – Great4 notes – Excellent4.5 notes – Exceptional5 notes – ClassicThis is singer/songwriter Amos Lee’s first new material in two years, but he’s been busy. He released albums covering the songs of two of his influences—Americana icon Lucinda Williams and jazz legend Chet Baker—allowing him time to craft the dozen new tunes on Transmissions.
Morgan Wade Expertly Articulates Complex Feelings on 'Obsessed'

Aug 14, 2024 | americansongwriter.com | Hal Horowitz

RATING CHART:1 note – Pass1.5 notes – Mediocre2 notes – Average2.5 notes – Above Average3 notes – Good3.5 notes – Great4 notes – Excellent4.5 notes – Exceptional5 notes – Classic By now, it’s clear that even though the heavily tattooed Morgan Wade might look like she fronts a death metal band, the truth is far different. The Nashville-by-way-of-Virginia singer/songwriter/Americana artist has created a remarkably successful career in just four years.
Review: Megan Moroney Strikes Gold a Second Time with ‘Am I Okay’

Aug 2, 2024 | americansongwriter.com | Hal Horowitz

RATING CHART:1 note – Pass1.5 notes – Mediocre2 notes – Average2.5 notes – Above Average3 notes – Good3.5 notes – Great4 notes – Excellent4.5 notes – Exceptional5 notes – ClassicWhen Megan Moroney changed her college degree from accounting to music, the financial industry’s loss was country pop’s gain.
The Groundbreaking Story Behind the “Theme From Shaft” by Isaac Hayes

Aug 1, 2024 | americansongwriter.com | Hal Horowitz

“Theme From Shaft”Written by Isaac HayesRight on. Can ya dig it? Shut your mouth… Sound like the early ‘70s? You’re daaaamn right! Those by-now iconic words are some of the few, mostly spoken, lyrics to Isaac Hayes’ 1971 No. 1-charting title track to the motion picture considered one of the first and best examples of the “Blaxploitation” genre.
Review: Crowded House Leaves You Wanting More on “Gravity Stairs”

Jul 9, 2024 | americansongwriter.com | Hal Horowitz

RATING CHART:1 note – Pass1.5 notes – Mediocre2 notes – Average2.5 notes – Above Average3 notes – Good3.5 – notes Great4 notes – Excellent4.5 notes – Exceptional5 notes – ClassicIt has been confusing to follow the erratic history of Crowded House. The Australian/New Zealand band has disbanded and reformed multiple times since its still-fresh eponymous debut album appeared in 1986. But their most recent overhaul in 2021 seems to be sticking.