Recorded in record time - six days - in the Spring of 2008 with Austin, Texas friend & renowned Grammy-nominated producer/engineer Mark Hallman (Ani DiFranco, Shawn Colvin, Gretchen Peters & Carole King amongst others) nestled in a cozy house on the outskirts of Austin, Texas - Christene Ledoux's highly anticipated latest full-length CD, "dust 'n' branches ... songs from a wanderer" has arrived!

The newest addition to the Gotee Records family, Stephanie Smith, seems to be a perfect fit for the label's diverse line-up of artists. Smith's upbeat pop/rock style is perfectly crafted to reach a young audience of teens and tweens as well as garner some serious radio play. Smith's debut, Not Afraid, could position her as Christian music's newest breakout star.

Country singer-songwriter Shane Nicholson delivers an impressive solo effort in the shape of Familiar Ghosts. A collection of easy-listening ballads and love songs backed up by Shane’s captivating voice, finger-picking guitar grooves and the odd wail on the harmonica.

The 'where's he been hiding?' act for many on this year's series of 'Other Voices', Cork's Mick Flannery has built up a following the best way: word of mouth. After this, many more will be talking and listening and maybe he'll get his own episode of 'Other Voices' - he certainly has the songs for it.

Baby Blue Paper, the title of the album comes from a fan-mail Jill recieved a few years ago. It was written on baby blue paper by an 11-year-old girl. She wrote a touching letter telling Jill that her mother passed away twelve days earlier. From that day Jill and she has been friends and they keep in touch almost every week.

By the sound of it, Tim Mahoney, who has spent the better part of a decade cultivating his sound, hasn't wasted his time. Stay/Leave is pure radio-ready pop-rock of the highest order - it's the sort of record that should propel Mahoney and his backing ensemble through to the proverbial "big time."

Singer/songwriter Danny O'Keefe began his musical career in the Minnesota coffeehouse scene in the 1960's In 1969, a meeting with Buffalo Springfield manager Charles Greene led to a telephone audition with Ahmet Ertegun, President of Atlantic Records, resulting in O'Keefe's first record deal.

Catie Curtis is here with Sweet Life. On this album even in heartbreak Curtis finds reason for optimism. She espouses realism with hope but without being overly sentimental or cheesy. The title cut “Sweet Life” and then “Happy.” The titles alone make you feel better and the music will get you tapping your toes. The thing about this album is the lyrics and the music are both encouraging.

The name may ring a bell, as Cas Haley was featured on the 2007 installment of the hit NBC series “America’s Got Talent,” but don’t hold that against him. He took home runner-up honors and if his debut album is any indication, America did a pretty good job of gauging his talent. With a sound that is one part Brett Dennen and two parts Bob Marley, Haley and his band Woodbelly use well placed horn lines and fine guitar work to accentuate the island beats that these Texas natives have mastered.

Tragic events inspire Butch Walker to make his best album to date. When we last touched base with Walker in 2006, he was busy critiquing Hollywood from the inside, through the eyes of a country boy and rock n’ roller embroiled in the glitzy, sordid surreality of LA’s elite party scene.

The Chymes of Freedom, from the Pacific Northwest, carry on the 1960's folk-rock sounds of The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, The Jefferson Airplane, Flying Burrito Brothers and more. The band sparkles electric, with a ringing 12-string Rickenbacker, beautiful melodies and lush harmonies. The songs are thought provoking poetic pieces of a Dylanesque style.

“I get tired of hearing that a song is ‘too country’ or ‘too serious,” says Rory Feek, one-half of the husband-and-wife duo Joey+Rory. “Let’s stop guessing what people want to hear, and let the fans make up their own minds. I bet we’ll all be surprised what we find out.” Rory’s simple words amplify what you’re about to hear on Joey+Rory’s debut album “The Life Of A Song.” Quite simply, it’s one of the best albums that you are likely to hear, quite possibly the rest of this decade.

The explicit lyrics of gay singer-songwriter/actor Jay Brannan will doubtless have the moral majority in his native America up in arms. Although winding up the Christian right is very admirable, there is plenty on his debut album to warrant further investigation by those of a less delicate and blinkered nature.

Born of the prostitutes, alcoholics, vagrants, and drifters that inhabit the music of Grayson Capps and the Stumpknockers, the term Rott 'N' Roll; as well as the title of his latest album, is a reflection of the style of music they create. The Southern soul, mixed with back-country stomp, and spiced with road-house blues, brings out a down home American appeal.