WEB EXCLUSIVE: 2007 Critics Poll Individual Ballots

“The pen is mightier than the sword. That’s pertinent to me. Whoever said that, though, they’re probably dead.”
— MALCOLM HOLCOMBE

ON THE COVER: Shelby Lynne. Photograph by Brydget Carrillo.

FRONT PORCH
Hello Stranger; Box Full Of Letters; Field Reportings; Farther Along.

MVP — supporting musicians
Mickey Raphael by Joe Nick Patoski

MIKED — live reviews
John Mellencamp, Los Lobos in Des Moines, IA; Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello in Iowa City, IA; Neil Young, Pegi Young in St. Louis, MO; Old Town School Of Folk Music’s 50th Anniversary Concert in Chicago, IL; Swell Season, Martha Wainwright in Seattle, WA; Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks in Ligonier, PA; Tenth Anniversary Tribute to Rainer’s Inner Flame in Tucson, AZ.

TOWN & COUNTRY — brief regional features
Steeldrivers (Nashville, TN); Seth Walker (Austin, TX); Amanda Shaw (New Orleans, LA); Jonas Fjeld (Drammen, Norway); Ha Ha Tonka (Springfield, MO); Macon Greyson (Dallas, TX).

THE LONG WAY AROUND — extended features
Otis Taylor by Edd Hurt
Band Of Horses by Kurt B. Reighley
5th Annual No Depression Critics’ Poll
Shelby Lynne by Bill Friskics-Warren
Malcolm Holcombe by Peter Cooper

NOT FADE AWAY — reissues
Preservation Hall Jazz Band; City Of Dreams: A Collection Of New Orleans Music; Gram Parsons & the Flying Burrito Brothers; Robyn Hitchcock; John Work III; Peter Holsapple & Chris Stamey; Accelerators.

WAXED — reviews
Drive-By Truckers; Blind Boys Of Alabama; Marah; Jason Miles; The Harlem Experiment; Lurrie Bell; Blue Rodeo; Jesse Dayton & Brennen Leigh; Rhonda Vincent; Cat Power; Allison Moorer; Lizz Wright; I’m Not There soundtrack; North Mississippi Allstars; Eric Taylor; Jens Lekman; Dan Wilson; Liam Finn; Tim Krekel Orchestra; Brave Combo; Reverend Organdrum; Grayson Capps; Birdie Busch; Jennifer Niceley; Owen Temple; Sunshone Still; Tripwires; Whigs; Robin & Linda Williams; Mountain Heart; Regina Hexaphone; Anna Egge; Namoli Brennet; Corinne West; Dollar Store; Jon Shain; Tommy Alverson; Bill Staines; Glossary.

BACK PORCH
Film At 11; Bound; Screen Door.