(Riptone Records)

Richard Ruane, Beth Duquette and Mitch Barron have performed music together and separately as members of various bands, including Feast or Famine, Sundog, The Hibernators and Wild Branch. While I can claim only a passing familiarity with these ensembles, their coming together as the acoustic trio Bread & Bones strikes me as inevitable. Their dynamic perfectly suits their rootsy bluegrass sound.... Read more

The evening was ripe with promise as I strolled into Club Metronome, with notebook and pen in hand, and positioned myself discreetly on the club's beautifully refurbished floor to catch tri-state trio The Mathematicians. I'd been hearing great things about the band over the past couple of years, and hoped they were true.... Read more

(Self-released, CD)

Shawn Grady’s My Baby Makes Magic, recorded locally a year ago, features two songs employing the concept of magic as a central metaphor. On the simply titled “Magic,” it represents the narrator’s cunning and prowess:... Read more

(Self-released, CD)

Emerging from the vital local punk/hardcore/emo scene, Maneuvers released their debut EP, Soothing Sounds of Sirens, earlier this year. At six tracks totaling over 26 minutes, the disc is anything but brisk. The band apparently aspires to an epic, stadium sound along the lines of that produced by Led Zeppelin. While they fall short of this aspiration, their record does hold promise.... Read more

(Listen Here! Records, CD)... Read more

(Self released, CD)

Featuring a plethora of talent from such notable local and regional acts as The Lazybirds, John Brown’s Body, Black Sea Quartet, Balkanica and Sambatucada, the sophomore release from Burlington’s mind-bending Latin-jazz collective Guagua arrives this month with considerable expectations. For the most part, Psychotropical delivers.... Read more

(Self-released, CD)

Because We’re Low, from Burlington punkers Y69, is humbly presented as a burned CD. Handwritten, two-tone album art and credits — band members Glenn, Greg and Chris are listed by first name only — contribute to the sense of informality. Though initially underwhelming, the bare-bones aesthetic suits the music, which similarly eschews any over-thinking.... Read more

(Self-released, CD)

Ryan Power is one of a handful of Burlington musicians who embodies our humble city’s musical character and spirit. An extremely gifted and versatile musician, Power is not only proficient on several instruments, he plays them all with a refined nuance. These skills, along with his enviable songwriting ability, have led to the creation of yet another essential Ryan Power recording.... Read more

(Self-released, CD)

Loud Pipes (Save Lives), the latest album from Vermont Celtic rockers Prydein, comprises both traditional and original pieces. Some are instrumental, while others showcase the vocal stylings of guitarist Aron Garceau.... Read more

(Rainbow Quartz Records, CD)... Read more