Highway Queens

This blog focuses on reviewing fresh albums by female artists in genres like Americana, country, folk, and indie. However, we are open to exploring any genre as long as the music is captivating. You can also look forward to live concert reviews, articles highlighting classic albums—like my ongoing project to review all of Dolly Parton’s solo studio albums in the order they were released since 2018—and various music opinion pieces.

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Album Review: Lola Kirke - Trailblazer

2 weeks ago | highwayqueens.com | Michelle Lindsey |Lola Kirke

After releasing a fantastic EP called ‘Country Curious’ last year, Lola Kirke followed that up with a book of personal essays called ‘Wild West Village’ which explored her upbringing and life in a bohemian family. By moving to Nashville and leaning towards country music she’s been walking a different path than might be expected from your typical artsy New Yorker. “I don’t want to fit in anymore,” she said in a recent interview.
Album Review: Brandi Carlile & Elton John - Who Believes in Angels?

2 weeks ago | highwayqueens.com | Michelle Lindsey

After bringing Tanya Tucker and Joni Mitchell back from the dead, Brandi Carlile has done it again. This time she has revived Elton John, who after a triumphant Glastonbury had declared himself exhausted and retired (from touring anyway). Here with Brandi’s help, he sings using every ounce of what voice he has left and sounds like a man reborn. But this isn’t an Elton John album produced by Brandi Carlile.
Album Review: Brooke Combe - Dancing at the Edge of the World

2 weeks ago | highwayqueens.com | Michelle Lindsey

I’m always looking for great new soul albums and was delighted to find this recent release from Scotland’s Brooke Combe. Recorded mainly live and produced by James Skelly of the Coral, there’s something quite special about ‘Dancing at the Edge of the World.’Beginning with ‘This Town’ she takes to the city streets, dancing, getting free of the rules and the small town she’s from, sounding like she’s world weary and yet carefree at the same time.
Album Review: Japanese Breakfast - For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women)

3 weeks ago | highwayqueens.com | Michelle Lindsey

The word melancholy originated as a way to describe a state of deep sadness and introspection, where despair lives for no particular reason at all – such a place where poets and artists have long enjoyed living. Singer Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast, found the title of her new album ‘For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women) in a short story by John Cheever, and thought the tongue in cheek humour of the idea was appealing.
Women & Country Music Take Centre Stage in ‘Wild Rose’

1 month ago | highwayqueens.com | Michelle Lindsey

This week I was lucky enough to see a preview of the new stage musical version of ‘Wild Rose’ at the Lyceum theatre in Edinburgh. Originally a heartfelt film starring Jessie Buckley (which I reviewed a few years back) the story has been lovingly adapted for the stage by its Scottish writer Nicole Taylor.
Album Review: Caylee Hammack - Bed of Roses

1 month ago | highwayqueens.com | Michelle Lindsey

Caylee Hammack first came to my attention when she sang with Miranda Lambert and friends on a fun cover of ‘Fooled Around and Fell in Love’. She then was part of Ashley McBryde’s underrated Lindeville album, bringing a touch of glamour to the songs about small town life. With her red hair and fiery voice Caylee has set herself apart from the other mainstream country music singers and this new album ‘Bed of Roses’ showcases her talents beautifully.
Album Review: Nadia Reid - Enter Now Brightness

1 month ago | highwayqueens.com | Michelle Lindsey |Nadia Reid

Five years after her last album Nadia Reid is in a different place now, literally. She moved to the UK from her native New Zealand and became a mother. Enter Now Brightness reflects the changes in her life, bringing a fresh and lighter feel to her music. Nadia’s best song ‘Oh Canada’ was about seeking something, somewhere different, about how escape can be transformative. This new album feels like she’s found that place of she was searching for.
Album Review: Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory

2 months ago | highwayqueens.com | Michelle Lindsey |Sharon Van Etten

After the glorious achievement of producing two epic modern classics in ‘Seventeen’ and ‘Like We Used To’ Sharon Van Etten’s last album was more understated, hazy and, for me, a little bit of a let down overall. After regrouping Sharon decided to try something new for this project – working collaboratively with her band on the songwriting and vision for the first time.
Emmylou Harris’s Discography - Pieces of the Sky (1975)

2 months ago | highwayqueens.com | Michelle Lindsey |Emmylou Harris

Released fifty years ago this week, ‘Pieces of the Sky’ is the album that launched Emmylou Harris’s career. She has often referred to it as her ‘debut’, attempting to gloss over her first failed release ‘Gliding Bird’. After that album bombed she gave birth to her first child, got divorced and eventually moved back home to live with her parents. Still the musical flame that burned inside of her refused to die.
Album Review: Lilly Hiatt - Forever

2 months ago | highwayqueens.com | Michelle Lindsey |Lilly Hiatt

Lilly Hiatt’s last two albums were released during the pandemic and like many other artists at the time, she felt the negative affect of not being able to tour or promote her music in the way she wanted to. During her last few years off the road she’s got married, adopted a dog, bought a house and installed a home studio where she began songwriting in a different, more immediate way.