Oakley Hall

Oakley Hall is a good-natured band from the countryside of Brooklyn, New York. And on their self-titled Bulb debut, they offer a collection of rambling honky-tonk that exists refreshingly out-of-frame, eager to rollick in the genre's bleary, heartbroken roots, but curious enough about the clang and call of the city to work in plenty of amplification and screechy organ amidst their banjos, fiddles, and pedal steel. Don't say "alt-country"-- it makes me picture J. Mascis sporting Kiefer Sutherland's moustache from The Cowboy Way. But you're welcome to order another Genesee and stretch out on the old church pew in the corner. pitchforkmedia

Second Guessing (10 out of 10) – BEST ALBUM OF THE MONTH Amish

Jam much? This is some awesome country music by a couple of Brooklyn rock pros who just go and stick a psychedelic banjo freakout solo in the middle of a country song about a sad drunkard like it’s no big deal. Throw in some gung-ho harmonies reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac singing “The Chain,” and you’ve got yourself an epic country-rock jammer that makes me wish I was way more stoned than I am right now (which is actually pretty stoned). [KELLY AMNER] VICE Magazine Feb 2006