Dan Kening

Duke Robillard Band Turn It Around (Rounder) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR) 1/2 Although he recently replaced Jimmie Vaughan in the Fabulous Thunderbirds, six-string ace Duke Robillard continues his string of fine solo albums....

Adam Schmitt World So Bright (Reprise) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR) 1/2 Champaign`s Adam Schmitt plays one-man band on his debut album, emerging with a joyous celebration of tuneful pop that features more hooks...

Sue Medley Sue Medley (Mercury) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR) Blessed with a husky, powerhouse voice, Canadian singer-songwriter Sue Medley straddles several genres on her debut: a mainstream rock-oriented style laced with blues and...

Horse Flies Gravity Dance (MCA) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR) Too many bands these days are ''quirky'' just for the sake of it. Much like Talking Heads in its early days, the Horse Flies...

Dave Specter & Barkin` Bill Smith Bluebird Blues (Delmark) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR) At first glance, Dave Specter and Barkin` Bill Smith seem like an odd pair. Guitarist Specter is a 27-year-old from...

Big Dish Satellites (East West) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR) 1/2 Scotland is a hotbed of new musical talent of late, with the Soup Dragons, Del Amitri and Deacon Blue, among others. Now add...

Two Nice Girls Chloe Liked Olivia (Rough Trade) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR) Perhaps the best capsule description of Austin, Texas`s Two Nice Girls-who are actually a quartet-is a ''better playing and singing lesbian...

Maura O`Connell A Real Life Story (Warner) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR) Irish singer Maura O`Connell combines a gorgeous, supple voice with an impeccable taste in material on ''A Real Life Story.'' And with...

Nick Robertson Bullet Proof Boy (Charisma) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR) 1/2 He may not be the second coming of Van Morrison, but 26-year-old Scottish singer-songwriter Nick Robertson unleashes his own appealing brand of...

Vala Cupp One Thing on My Mind (Chameleon/Dali) (STAR) If you saw blues patriarch John Lee Hooker at last year`s Chicago Blues Festival, you also saw one of his latest...