Album Reviews

The Whiskey Charmers “On The Run” – Print Review in Lust for Life Magazine (Leading Dutch National Music Mag) – 12/17/22

December 20, 2022 — Leave a comment

(Translated from Dutch)

Singer/guitarist Carrie Shepard and guitarist Lawrence Daversa hail from Detroit and together form The Whiskey Charmers, a duo that draws inspiration from the alternative country variant. Music that leans heavily on indie pop, but which still has an unmistakable country feeling. Carrie and  Lawrence have already released three albums, but On The Run is my first introduction to the music of these passionate musicians. They write beautiful songs with a melancholic undertone and witty lyrics.

Carrie seems to have a penchant for wide-brimmed stetsons and fancy cowboy boots, but she’s anything but a classic country singer. All the talents of this remarkable duo seem to come together in The Devil’s Rodeo: a touching love song, almost a country martyr, in which Daversa split the stars from heaven with his guitar. As far as I’m concerned, the great strength of The Whiskey Charmers lies in these kinds of simple songs. And with that, the two do add something to the alternative country genre

-Harry De Jong – Lust for Life Magazine 12/17/22

The Whiskey Charmers – “On The Run” – review by Ken Capobianco, Boston Globe freelancer and veteran music critic

December 5, 2022 — Quote — Leave a comment

“On the Run is a sharply executed and evocative set of Americana rock filled with superbly arranged songs about the struggle to find connections, a sense of home, and a center in a ghost town of a world. Carrie Shepard is a smart songwriter with a keen eye for emotional details and hints of melancholy and yearning in her voice. Fine guitarist Lawrence Daversa punctuates and powers the songs with taut, lucid leads that serve the songs instead of overwhelming them. With a solid rhythm section anchoring things, The Whiskey Charmers have delivered a confident, cohesive record that should place them on the map of Americana rock and bring new listeners to the fold.” – Ken Capobianco, Boston Globe freelancer and veteran music critic.

Floorshime Zipper Boots!

October 12, 2017 — Leave a comment

Many thanks to Flooshime Zipper Boots for the great mini-review of our new album!

“The Valley is the sophomore album from Detroit band The Whiskey Charmers. The eleven tracks flawlessly blend blues rock, alt-country and folk rock into a masterful album that is sultry, swinging, heavy when it should be and intimate at all times. This is a band unafraid to show their grasp of somewhat arcane styles, by dragging them into a modern interpretation that works from start to finish. Highlighted by strong vocals and musicianship, this album is a must have. Stream and buy The Valley at the following link.” – Floorshime Zipper Boots – 10/5/2017

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Album Review by Frank Gutch Jr – No Depression

August 25, 2017 — Leave a comment

Many thanks to Frank Gutch Jr. for the great review of our new album “The Valley” in the music journal No Depression. Excerpt below. You can read the full review here.

“You know, writing reviews can sometimes be a chore, the occasional five-song EP hard to get through, but The Valley left me wanting more. In fact, the ender (“Warnings”) has me stopped in my tracks. It is reminiscent of a song I have heard many times and holds a very special place in my heart but I’ll be damned if I can remember who did it. What I do remember is that it had a major impact on me when I heard it and that I played the hell out of it for a long time. No worries. It will come to me and “Warnings” will suffice for now, but, damn, I wish I could remember. If only to compare what I consider excellent tunes.” – Frank Gutch Jr, No Depression – August 24, 2017

Album Review – The New York Daily

August 21, 2017 — Leave a comment

Many thanks to The New York Daily for the great review of our new album! Excerpts below. You can read the full review here.

“…Dark country band the Whiskey Charmers made a big splash with their 2015 debut album. Their new one, The Valley – streaming at Bandcamp – takes their Lynchian twang and shuffle and raises the energy: this is much more of a blue-flame electric rock record…. “Been looking for you lately on my lawn…been looking for you in the back of my car,” Shepard muses in the swaying, melancholy Red Wine. The album’s most epic track is Coal, a majestically gloomy, metaphorically bristling anthem that could be the Dream Syndicate at their countriest, capped off by a searing, careening Daversa solo. The album winds up with Warnings, an Americana-pop song in Halloween disguise. You have been warned: this band is going places. Catch them now before it costs you big bucks at a venue like Bowery Ballroom.” – The New York Music Daily, August 18, 2017

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American Roots UK Review

August 16, 2017 — Leave a comment

Many thanks to Mike Morrison for the great review of our new album “The Valley”! Check out an excerpt from the review below. You can read the full article here.

This is their second album and to my ears, whilst their debut was excellent, this recording leaves it a little in the shade, having pretty much defined their style on this album that has the subtlety of artists such as the Cowboy Junkies but with greater depth, textures and variety. The band consists of Carrie Shepard, who handles all lead vocals and acoustic guitar and Lawrence Daversa who plays electric and acoustic guitars, steel guitar and harmony vocals and shows incredible restraint in his inventive guitar playing, knowing that less notes often equate to more in creating an atmosphere of great depth and quality….Just two albums in to their recording career and I genuinely list the Whiskey Charmers as one of my favourite 21st century bands. – Mike Morrison, American Roots UK 8.15.17

Twangri-La Review

April 16, 2017 — Leave a comment

Many thanks to Twangri La for this great review of our new album!

“The Valley is a keeper for sure. I know, there have been a lot of keepers this year. Don’t blame me because this has been a banner year for Americana and roots music so far. We are the beneficiaries of all this talent. Put The Whiskey Charmers on the list.” – Twangri-La 4/14/17

Three Chords and The Truth UK Review

April 16, 2017 — Leave a comment

Many thanks to Three Chords and The Truth UK for the great review of our new album!

“For a touch of expansive escapism there is no finer place to transport your mind than in the world of The Whiskey Charmers. In a dreamy haze of romanticised roaming THE VALLEY leads you on a mystical journey that frees suburbanites from any remnants of mundane reality. This is the duo’s brand new album and is a highly anticipated follow up to their self-titled debut release in 2015. The Whiskey Charmers have a core line up of Carrie Shepard and Lawrence Daversa, hail from Detroit Michigan and are the key architects of a record successful in luring any mind wandering admirer of Americana music.”

– Three Chords and The Truth UK – April 12th, 2017

ALT ROOT TOP TEN SONGS OF THE WEEK!

April 16, 2017 — Leave a comment

Many thanks to Alternative Root Magazine for including “The Valley” in the ALT ROOT TOP TEN SONGS OF THE WEEK FOR SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 2017!

08 The Valley – The Whiskey Charmers (from the album The Valley)

“The Whiskey Charmers are sending shadows back into the murky swamp as they make a stand on the title track from the recent release, The Valley. The Detroit, Michgan-based band pound out a warning to the hidden menace creeping up “The Valley” on their second album release. – Alternate Root Magazine 4/15/17

Listen and buy “The Valley” by The Whiskey Charmers from AMAZON or iTunes

The Horn!

October 10, 2015 — Leave a comment

Many thanks to The Horn in Austin, Texas for the short and sweet review of our album! Full link here.

“With a band name like the Whiskey Charmers, you may half expect to hear a group of rowdy young Irish guys, but definitely not the soothing voice of Carrie Shepard, one half of the duo that also includes Lawrence Daversa. Their self-titled debut finds the Detroit twosome playing soft Americana with a country twang, and it’s every bit as understated and beautiful as can be. Smooth and dark, like whiskey itself, Shepard and Daversa combine bluesy guitar riffs with subdued harmonies and a bit of an old fashioned soul. “Vampire” is mysterious with just the right amount of menace, and “Neon Motel Room” is mischievous and bright. Shepard’s vocals are so complemented by Daversa’s fiery electric guitar playing, adding a haunting dimension to something that might otherwise be light and pretty.”

– Maeri Ferguson, The Horn – October 8, 2015