Parker Millsap is a very interesting US artist, who is blending different genres to his very signature sound. On 9th April 2021, he is releasing his fifth studio album. I was really curious about Be Here Instead.
Parker Millsap – About The Artist
Parker Milsap was born in Oklahoma on 26th February 1993 and grew up in the 6,000 people town Purcell in that state, South of Oklahoma city. He is a singer-songwriter, who is mixing influences of country, blues and rock to a very characteristic style of music. He is active as a musician since the age of 19, when he debuted with his album Palisade. While this album did not lead to noticeable commercial impact, he lead the US Americana charts with his next two ones, a self-titled album in 2014 and The Very Last Day in 2016. The latter album was also nominated as the Americana Album of the Year.
Parker Millsap – Be Here Instead – Track by Track
The twelve song album lasts 39 minutes.
1. Rolling
The album starts with Rolling, in which organ sounds and squeaky guitar riffs are the key melodic elements. They are even more present than Parker Millsap’s vocals in my point of view. I am rather mixed about this one – but I have to say that its about my least favorite track of the album overall.
2. The Real Thing
I can’t stand a poor connection
Can’t hold your hand through the screen
I don’t want your reflection
I just want the real thing
The second track, which is also the first single release in running order, is a song I can much better relate to. Millsap’s vocals are more present and the guitar melody lines are very clear to the listener as well. Love to listen to this one.
3. Vulnerable
Vulnerable is one of my favorite songs. The range of background sounds from swirling to melodic is fascinating. The vocal side of the track is also rather melodic, but also very gentle and… vulnerable. Nice one.
4. It Was You
Who held me when I was aching?
Who dried the tears I bled?
Who was it when I was shaking
That sat by the bed
Their hand on my head?
Snipping finger-alike rhythm and rather straight piano sound are the instrumental elements, before the lyrics are supported by a much wider arrangement of songs. This leads to a very powerful song with a quite powerful touch.
5. In Between
Very different sound in the fifth sound: Parker Millsap is going for the acoustic guitar and puts a very intimate ballad on the album. The song feels a lot like folk music to me and is a really nice listen.
6. Dammit
The permanent guitar riffs and the partially screaming vocals by Parker Millsap give Damnit a rocking touch. The song feels very angry and is definitely a nice contrast to the songs on the album so far.
7. Empty
Empty is a rather slow track with piano backgrounds and decent rhythm. It thus feels a bit like a synth pop ballad with a touch of blues to me. Sounds weird? I cannot argue against that thought.
I’ll say it simply
I have been draining
I am empty
But now it’s raining
Undoubtedly, though, the atmosphere suits to the story of the song.
8. Now Here
Parker Millsap is writing very emotional and direct lyrics. This leads to a very unobstructed atmopshere between the artist and the listener. Now Here is the perfect example to that. It feels like a story, like a movie with good backing sounds and a good soundtrack. Enjoy it.
9. In Your Eyes
The song is again dominated by Millsap’s voice, which is this time supported by some female background voices. In Your Eyes song has a certain rock touch again, but stays in the comfort song of the album. Depending on your perspective, this may be postive – you know what you get – or negative – the variation is limited.
10. Passing Through
In the introduction, I stated that Parker Millsap’s music is also having a country and blues influence. The bemused Passing Through is a nice example for that. I especially like his vocal performance on this song.
11. Always
The second last song of the album is the very melodic Always, which is driven by an uplifting melody. One of my favorite tracks of the album, which almost feels a classic recording from good old music times.
12. Being Alive
Being Alive is again having these compact, returning guitar riffs as the key melodic element.
If you’re hearing you are feeling
If you’re fearing you’re not healing
Tell me what more
Can you ask for?
You have arrived
Tell me what more
Are you here for
Than being alive?
Nice finisher.
Parker Millsap – Be Here Instead – Spotify
This is the Parker Millsap album on Spotify:
Parker Millsap – Be Here Instead – My View
Be Here Instead is one of these albums which are extremely hard to rate for me. There is no doubt about the musical quality, but the Parker Millsap sound is just a very special one. Either you like this signature way of doing music – or it is likely hard for you to listen to a full album. Personally, I am very glad that the album has some slightly different sounds in the finale of songs. Otherwise, it would have been hard for me to follow as well.
Superb 2021 Travel Reviews
Here are all my travel reviews released in 2021, which got a rating better than 4.5:

The Berlin Tränenpalast (“Palace of Tears”)
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Flying Norlandair from Akureyri (AEY) (not) to Grimsey (GRY)
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High Tea at At.mosphere Burj Khalifa Dubai
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Delta Hotels by Marriott Toronto
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Iceland Road F347 (Kerlingarfjallavegur) and Hveradalir
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Scala Museum Milan
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HC Ambri-Piotta at Gotthard-Arena (Gottardo Arena)
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Aurora Reykjavik
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Schlossbergbahn Graz
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Car Rental Review – Hertz Helsinki Airport (HEL)
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ME Hotel Dubai
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Car Rental Review – Blue Car Keflavik Airport (KEF) – Dacia Duster 4WD
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Doge’s Palace Venice
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Expo 2020 in Dubai – My General Overview
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Hilton Berlin
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Hotel Alpina Wellness & Spa (Kössen)
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Leonardo Hotel Düsseldorf Airport (Ratingen)
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Flying With Lübeck Air
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Auto & Traktor Museum Bodensee (Lake Constance)
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Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ)
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Museum Luciano Pavarotti House
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Myvatn – Natural Thermal Pool in Northern Iceland
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Hampton by Hilton Warsaw City Centre
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Auschwitz Concentration Camp
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Car Rental Review – Hertz Salzburg Airport (SZG) – Mercedes GLE 350d
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Schleusenpark Waltrop-Henrichenburg – History of Naval Locks
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Saga Lounge Kefklavik (KEF)
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Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum
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Sharjah Aquarium
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One Hour Spree Cruise in Berlin with BWSG
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Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport
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German Oil Museum Wietze
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Sky Lagoon Reykjavic / Kopavogur
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Hyatt Regency Cologne
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European Hansa Museum Lübeck
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Hotel Nord (Guardamiglio, Lombardy)
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Lübeck Airport (LBC)
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Mercure Hotel Hannover City
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Dutch Freedom Museum (Groesbeek)
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IntercityHotel Hamburg Main Station
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The Myth of Germania – A Berlin Underground Exhibition
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Moxy Cologne Bonn Airport
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InterContinental Dubai Festival City – One Bedroom Suite
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German Rail Lounge / DB Lounge Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
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MyWellness Cologne – Renting a Private Spa Experience
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The View At The Palm (Dubai)
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Novotel Suites Hannover City
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IntercityHotel Saarbruecken
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(Licence Free) Boat Rental at Seashore Boats (Santa Ponsa, Mallorca)
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Pullman Sharjah
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Crumlin Road Gaol Belfast
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National Monument Camp Vught
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Naturwildpark Granat (Haltern am See, Germany)
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ESO Supernova Munich – Garching
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Bergisches Museum for Mining, Craft & Trade Bensberg
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Emsflower – A Gardening Giant & Adventure Park
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Flying the PAD Aviation Embraer Phenom 300
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Stiegl-Brauwelt Salzburg – A Brewery Museum
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Resistance Museum Amsterdam
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German Customs Museum Hamburg
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Etihad Museum Dubai
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Lufthansa Business Lounge Berlin/Brandenburg (BER) during Covid-19
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German Movie Museum Frankfurt
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Lyon Air Museum Santa Ana
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Singapore Zoo
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Henry B. Plant Museum Tampa
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Schloss Burg – a Gem in Bergisches Land
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Riding the Dubai Ferry
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Jurong Bird Park (Singapore)
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Salzburg Panorama Museum
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Markus Wasmeier Open Air Museum
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Heineken Experience Amsterdam
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Dubai Garden Glow
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Royal Delft Museum
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Conrad Hotel London St. James
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taku Dining Box in Cologne – Gourmet Food at Home
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Obersalzberg Documentation Center
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Siku & Audi-Museum Höing (Stadtlohn, Germany)
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The Dutch Museumkaart – One Year of Culture and History (almost) for free in the Netherlands
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Aviodrome Lelystad (Netherlands)
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Santa Catalina (Royal Hideaway Hotel) Las Palmas, Grand Canary
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2021 Top Pick! Media Reviews
Here are all my 2021 released Media Reviews, which lead to a Top Pick! rating:

Spell Songs – Spell Songs II: Let The Light In
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Johannes Scheurich – Mehr Davon
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Al Lewis – Moving On Moving Past EP
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Emma Longard – Quieter Pt. 2 EP
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Incredible Pack – Time For Decisions
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Hämatom – Die Liebe ist Tot
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Lordi – Lordiversity (Full Box Review)
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Lordi – Humanimals (from: Lordiversity)
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Roxette – Joyride (30th Anniversary Edition)
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Nick Walker – It’s All South From Here EP
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Lucinda Williams – Have Yourself A Rockin’ Little Christmas (Lu’s Jukebox Vol. 5)
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Wade Bowen – Where Phones Don’t Work EP
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Alex Diehl – Die Songs, die ich nie schreiben wollte EP
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Gov’t Mule – Heavy Load Blues
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Michael Patrick Kelly – B.O.A.T.S
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Dieter Hallervorden – 80 plus
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Greyhound George Band – Get Up And Walk!
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AHI – Prospect
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Michael Heppes – Achtung Leben
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Running Wild – Blood on Blood
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Emily Scott Robinson – American Siren
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Skinny Lister – A Matter of Life and Love
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Dave Hause – Blood Harmony
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Elton John – The Lockdown Sessions
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Alcatrazz – V
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Ryan Hurd – Pelago
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MEDLZ – (das) Läuft bei uns Vol. 2
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Tom Morello – The Atlas Underground Fire
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Toby Keith – Peso In My Pocket
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Santiano – Wenn die Kälte Kommt
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Roland Kaiser – Weihnachtszeit
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The Record Company – Play Loud
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Naraka – In Tenebris
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Paule – Wunderschön unperfekt
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Break Point – The Story of the “Indian Express”
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Logan Mize – Welcome To Prairieville
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Billy Strings – Renewal
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Nox Holloway – If Only The World Didn’t Spin So Much EP
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Mickey Guyton – Remember Her Name
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Wolfgang Petry – Auf das Leben
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Adrian Sutherland – When The Magic Hits
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Saint City Orchestra – Unified
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Charley Crockett – Music City USA
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Peter Maffay – So Weit
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Billy Idol – The Roadside EP
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Rage – Resurrection Day
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The Vaccines – Back In Love City
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Samantha Fish – Faster
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Riddy Arman – Riddy Arman
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Ashland Craft – Travelin’ Kind
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Echo Bloom – Wake
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Danko Jones – Power Trio
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Freakstorm – Storm Inside My Heart
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Beatrice Egli – Alles Was Du Brauchst
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Ray Wilson – The Weight Of Man
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Kool & The Gang – Perfect Union
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James McMurtry – The Horses And The Hounds
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Annie Chops – Level Up
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Jayne Denham – Wanted
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The Killers – Pressure Machine
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Clare Dunn – In This Kind Of Light EP
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Perlregen – Drei
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Chris Young – Famous Friends
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Laci Kaye Booth – Laci Kaye Booth
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Jim Lauderdale – Hope
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Grizfolk – Grizfolk
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Ryan Kinder – Room To Dream
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Clay Walker – Texas To Tennessee
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Los Lobos – Native Sons
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Jolina Carl – Mexican Overdrive
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Ida Mae – Click Click Domino
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Sarah Straub – Tacheles EP
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Gary Kemp – INSOLO
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Eliza Shaddad – The Woman You Want
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Helge Schneider – Die Reaktion – The Last Jazz Vol. II
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Lauren Jenkins – Miles On Me, Part 1 EP
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The Wallflowers – Exit Wounds
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LANCO – Honky-Tonk Hippies EP
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Riley Green – Behind The Bar EP
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Kat Eaton – Talk To Me
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Gary Allan – Ruthless
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Meghan Patrick – Heart On My Glass
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Buckcherry – Hellbound
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Razz – Might Delete Later EP
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Jim “Kimo” West – Ka Honua Maluhia (Peaceful World)
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Helloween – Helloween
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pez – All Lowercase EP
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Karlie Apriori – Seelenpassagier EP
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Kylie Morgan – Love, Kylie EP
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Joe Bonamassa – Now Serving: Royal Tea Live From The Ryman
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Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real – A Few Stars Apart
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Anchors & Hearts – Guns Against Liberty
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Black River Delta – Shakin’
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SILVER LAKE by Esa Holopainen – SILVER LAKE by Esa Holopainen
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Blackberry Smoke – You Hear Georgia
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Pop Evil – Versatile
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Blake Shelton – Body Laguage
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Noah Levi – Indigo EP
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Allison Russell – Outside Child
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Kicker Dibs – Vagabund
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Jesse Keith Whitley – Breakin’ Ground
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Dillon Carmichael – Hot Beer EP
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Levara – Levara
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The Steel Woods – All Of Your Stones
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Emma Moore – the table EP
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Emma Longard – Quieter Pt. 1 EP
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Sing meinen Song – Das Tauschkonzert Vol. 8
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Durch & Durch – Nice Aber Nutzlos
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Wincent Weiss – Vielleicht Irgendwann
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Thomas Rhett – Country Again: Side A
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Priscilla Block – Priscilla Block EP
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Klee – Trotzalledem
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Robert John Hope – Plasticine Heart
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Elvie Shane – County Roads EP
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Fury in the Slaughterhouse – now
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Diane Weigmann – Die Wahrheit liegt irgendwo dazwischen
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Eric Church – Soul
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Eric Church – &
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Eric Church – Heart
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Brett Kissel – What Is Life?
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Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band – Dance Songs For The Hard Times
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Jon Randall – Neon Texas EP
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Canaan Smith – High Country Sound
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The Fratellis – Half Drunk Under A Full Moon
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Tyler Braden – What Do They Know EP
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Adrian Smith & Richie Kotzen – Smith / Kotzen
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The Dust Coda – Mojo Skyline
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Silent Winter – Empire of Sins
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Billy Lockett – Reflections EP
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Ego Kill Talent – The Dance Between Extremes
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Thunder – All The Right Noises
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Blutengel – Fountain of Destiny
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Chez Kane – Chez Kane
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Bad Temper Joe – One Can Wreck It All
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Pete Murray – The Night EP
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Dreamshade – A Pale Blue Dot
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Kaylee Bell – The Red EP (EP)
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Hayden Joseph – Different
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Nino de Angelo – Gesegnet und Verflucht
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Willie Nelson – That’s Life
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Alice Cooper – Detroit Stories
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Cassadra Jenkins – An Overview On Phenomenal Nature EP
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Carly Pearce – 29 EP
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Lainey Wilson – Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’
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Tobacco Rd Band – Worth Fighting For
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Sonor Teutonicus – Morgenrot
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Korpiklaani – Jylhä
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Aaron Lee Tasjan – Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!
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Jake Hoot – Love Out Of Time EP
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Jimmy Weber – Black & Blue Heart
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Willie Jones – Right Now
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Bow Anderson – New Wave EP
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Chelsea Berman – Can You Just Not EP
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The Dead Daisies – Holy Ground
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Petric – Flashbacks
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John Diva & The Rockets Of Love – American Amadeus
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Aaron Watson – American Soul
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Understanding Train Station – A Podcast on Living Abroad and Cultural Differences
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