Mike Farris - The Night Cumberland Came Alive

I'm not sure why the May floods that hit Nashville in May of this year did not seem to grasp the nation's attention like other recent natural disasters did. There was a lot of press attention, but it seems that the lack of hurricane force winds made the story less captivating. However, the people who lost homes and loved ones in the flood were as devastated as Katrina victims.

Mike Farris (The former front man of Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies) decided he would rectify the situation with a benefit EP. The Night Cumberland Came Alive,  is a Gospel recording done at the Downtown Presbyterian Church. This historic Church is the same venue Patty Griffin recorded her recent Gospel project. Farris is no stranger to Gospel, having won a Dove award for his most recent album Shout!  Proceeds will be used to help the flood victims.

The guest list is impressive featuring, Sam Bush, Kenny Vaughan (Marty Stuart), Ketch Secor and Gill Landry from Old Crow Medicine Show and Byron House. The opening title track is a wake up call to our own mortality, "I will remember the night the Cumberland came alive. It should remind you that you were born to die." Howver, the shock of the tragedy, is balanced by the call for hope and restoration provided by the song  "Dear Lazrus". Combine Farris' vocal styling with the all-star musicians contributing to the project and you have a donation worth making.

Jon Langford - Old Devils

Is it possible for the leader of bands like the Waco Brothers andhe Mekons to become introspective, and produce an album that results in something beyond the live music bar bash that characterizes every Waco Brothers show? The simple answer is yes. Langford is also a very accomplished outsider artist, maybe his visual art is bleeding into his songwriting.

The Rootsy Punk is still there, but there is also an introspective biography embedded in the album. There are autobiographical tracks and stories of other characters, who seem to exhibit traits and faults that he sees in himself. Dare I say the album is Folk with Pumk undertones. That description seems as oxymoronic as James Taylor spitting on his audience in a Sid Vicious type rage. In reality, that is what Jon Langford's  audience is presented with on Old Devils

Why are the words so poignant this time around? Only Langford can answer that for himself. However, no matter who you are or what your vocation, there comes a time when you must mature from being an innovator to a mentor. This is an uncomfortable task for some people. Langford seems to be straddling the fence himself. If so, that is a shame because Jon Langford is the type of multi-faceted creative genius that young artists should seek out. Maybe we could start a petition to get him on the next "Dancing with the Stars." In fact, what could get him more recognition than doing the tango while grabbing the ass of some forgotten actress. If nothing else, Jon Langford could make reality TV worth watching.

Jon Langford Website

Marty Stuart - Ghost Train , The Studio B Sessions

The new Marty Stuart release, Ghost Train , The Studio B Sessions, has everything a real Country album should have. The album was recorded at the famed RCA Studio B in Nashville. The studio was designed in the 50's by Chet Atkins and quickly became the Country Capital's premier recording venue. In fact, It would be easier to make a list of the "Nashville Sound" era artists that did not record there than a list of the ones that did. Marty Stuart has always played the role of being a bridge from the past to the present. He works hard to keep the traditional styles of Americana vibrant, even in the current Idol winner tuned hillbilly world of Country Music. Along the way he has been able to buck the trend and record some big hits of his own.

On Ghost Train  he decided to include as many of the styles and themes of traditional Country as possible. Of course there is the unmistakable influence of his former father-in-law, Johnny Cash. In fact, the executioner's tale, "Hangman", was co-written with Cash shortly before the Man in Black passed away. Ghost Train begins with the outlaw Honky-Tonk of "Branded", then follows it up with a Rockabilly number, "Country Boy Rock". The most emotional song is the heheartbreak ballad "Driftin' Apart". When Stuart sings "I'm a stranger in your world now and it's driving me out of my mind", you feel the pain of a love torn apart over time. Along the way he even works in a Bluegrass tune and themes such as the plight of the working man. It is as if Stuart is on a missionary's journey to preserve the history of Americana Music. Hopefully, he wins a lot of converts along the way.

Check out Stuarts newest venture:
The TV network RFD-TV

Hayshaker

I have to admit bias on this one. When a band can have lyrics like, "Second thoughts have occurred. I feel like a gigantic turd. Walking barefoot like a hooker at 3 in the morning," I can't give it a bad review. The truth is these boys from Georgia have unleashed a great album. The band is unsigned and primarily a local phenomenon. I have a feeling that is all about to change. In spite of the lyrics above (from the song "Swamp County") this is no novelty act. Hayshaker is for real. 
They mix a sound that is at times Country, but with a twist. They know how to use power chord licks with abandon. Lead singer CC Rider has a voice that sounds as if it should be singing Indie Rock instead of Roots Rock. Female vocalist Laurie Rider rounds out the bands sound, which is hard to categorize. The best way to describe Hayshaker is "Kick-Ass" Country. The steel guitar haunts the music of the album, which is also a part of their uniqueness. Lyrically the band is at times humorous, but they are more often deep and impactful. They have a talent of mixing sarcasm with truth. It is time to jump on the bandwagon while it still has room. I have a feeling there will be a second deck on the bandwagon before too long.

MySpace

Video: Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - "Paris"

Darrel Scott In Robert Plant's New Super Group

Acclaimed musician and songwriter Darrell Scott has been tapped to join Robert Plant’s new project, Band of Joy, whose tour begins tomorrow in Memphis, TN. The super group, which includes Plant and Scott alongside Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller, Byron House and Marco Giovino, will embark on a series of tour dates this summer. An album featuring this line-up will be released later this year on Rounder Records.


How about that for a lineup. Can't wait for the Album. If you have heard his latest release A crooked Road you know why he is part of this all-star lineup.

Donna Ulisse to be featured on Sirius XM

Bluegrass singer Donna Ulisse is the featured artist this week on the Sirius XM show Track by Track hosted by Kyle Cantrell on the Bluegrass Junction channel. Ulisse will be chatting about her current release “Holy Waters”, a bluegrass gospel collection of thirteen songs of which she wrote or co-wrote twelve. Ulisse has often referred to the recording as her own “soul journey”.


There are two remaining dates to catch her. I am apologetically late on this news.
Sunday, July 25, 2010 /11 :00 a.m. eastern time

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 /midnight eastern time.

Twistable Turnable Man - Shel Silverstein Tribute

I must admit that I am sick of tribute albums. There is noone left it seems that hasn't had a tribute album done in there name. In fact, I am waiting for a tribute album to tribute albums. Better yet, I would love to see a tribute album to a band that hasn't even formed yet. Conceptually, every possible interpretation to pay tribute to an artists's work has been done.

Now that the above sermon is over it is time to be a hypocrite. Conceptually, Twistable Turnable Man is notthing original. However, it was done by Bobby Bare Jr. who knew and loved Silverstein well. More so, the freindhip between his father and Silverstein goes back to the early 60's. It is this generational perspective of Silverstein's songwriting that makes this album work. Both old and new artists contribute to the album. Further, if anyone is deserving of homage it is Shel Silverstein. He was a songwriter, cartoonist and poet for Playboy and paradoxically a noted writer of Children's books.

Who better than icons like Ray Price, Kris Kristofferson and John Prine could be included on this album. In fact, Price has recorded Silverstien's songs a couple of times in his career. Noone collaborated with hime like Bobby Bare, and his version of the "The Living Legend" may be the best song of the entire project.

Now we move from the legendary to the more current younger artists. Bobby Bare Jr. made some good choices for this group. after all a Country record is not a Country record without My Morning Jacket (WTF)!  Actually, they have a heavy roots music influence and their opener "Lullabies, Legends and Lies" competes with Bobby Bare for the best song on the album. However, songs by Andrew Bird, Dr. Dog, Sarah Jarosz and Black Francis provide interpretations that make the songs take on a new life. In between the new and the old are contributions by Lucinda Williams and Nanci Griffith. The campy song "Boy Named Sue" originally recorded by Johnny Cash, could only have been recorded by one contemporary artist. Bare Jr. knew this and chose Todd Snider. Snider does a version of the song that would make the Man in Black himself proud.

For more on Silverstein see the source of all knowledge: Wikipedia

Truth and Salvage Co. - Full album stream

 

Truth $ Salvage company have just released their debut album, produced by Chris Robinson of Black Crowes. Their influences are obvious, but they are combined in a way that preserves originality. You will find Classic Rock and Roll, Southern Rock and Outlaw Country. They have four singers who contribute. 

RIYL if you like Band of Heathens

Truth and Salvage Full Album Stream

Susan Cowsill - Lighthouse

From the beginning track "Dragonfly," Susan Cowsill recalls days when she was a kid and youth was full of hope. This uptempo rock song sets a positive mood for the album. Cowsill seems to have recaptures the innocence of youth on lighthouse. The irony of all of this, is the fact her life has recently been full of tragedy. First the New Orleans native was dispersed by Katrina. Then her two brothers and former musical partners Bill and Barry Cowsill died. 

You have to wonder what has driven her to emerge from such a situation with so much hope. When she sings, "I never break but I bend and I'm gonna live it to the sweet bitter end" you can feel she means in the music. On lighthouse her hope is fueled by a strong will and determination. She is not buying into naive hope, but it is a real hope rebirthed from tragedy. Instead of turning bitter she is ready to put the top down on the convertible and drive into the future.

The sounds of this album hearken back to her days in the Continental Drifters. Fans who have missed the Continental Drifters like I have will definitely want to add this to their collection. 

Mary Gauthier - The Foundling

Mary Gauthier has a new album The Foundling. I don't normally recommend albums this dark. It is painful to listen to at times. However, being orphaned and spending years looking for your birth mother is also painful.

This autobiographical project comes from the heart. I also hope it was a healing process for Gauthier. This is not music you will hear at a Tony Robbins seminar. It is just a real story about real hurt that goes on everyday all over the country. Maybe this can help us not to insulate ourselves. Maybe that is part of us that Gauthier wants to reach.

mysppace

Alejandro Escovedo - Street Songs of Love.

Alejandro Escovedo will be releasing Street Songs of  Love on June 29th, which is the day after my birthday. I think he planned it that way. At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it. What better birthday present is there than a new Alejandro release. There are no secrets here. It is pretty obvious what the songs are about, but as would be expected Escovedo takes an unconventional approach to the subject. Sometimes the approach is poignant and sometimes alarming but it is done Alejandro style. This record has at its' core R&B undertones yet still gets edgy and showcases his punk roots at times.

Do you like guests? Is Bruce Springsteen big enough for you? The "Boss" contributes vocals on "Faith" one of the more edgy songs on the album. His primary songwriting partner is Friend and cohort Chuck Prophet, who co-wrote about half of the songs on Street Songs of Love. As you would expect the arrangements are crisp. In short, the loyal cult like fans of Alejandro will love this one.

Check out a live cut:

Video : Willie Nelson - Man with the Blues

From the just released album Country Music.
Produced by T-Bone Burnett

iTunes

Crooked Still / Infamous Stringdusters

Two of the best young Newgrass groups have new albums.

Crooked Still - will release Some Strange Country on May 18th on Signature Sounds. They are certainly a genre bending groups always, but they rise to a new level on this. The album is beautifully arranged,lyrically infused with both spiritual and earthly wisdom, and as always the musicianship demands accolades. Heavyweights Tim O'brien and Ricky Skaggs lend a hand. In fact, "I'm Troubled" which features O'brien may be the best track. Crooked Still is no longer emerging. With the release of Some Strange Country hey have arrived.

The infamous Stringdusters - Will release Things that Fly on Tuesday. On this release they move even more toward the progressive side of the Bluegrass spectrum. The breadth of their musical palate is increasing. With this release they have created a masterpiece. Check out the EPK below.

Jason and the Scorchers - Halcyon Days

For all of you youngsters out there who love the history of alt-country, the first fact to know is that Uncle Tupelo started it all. Wrong Answer!!!! Before there was something called alt-country, there were many in the field. Rank & File (an early Alejandro Escovedo project), X was heavily roots influenced, The Blasters just to name a few. However, in my mind (which was clouded with Beer during this period)there is one band who created what later became alt-country. At the time it was referred to as Cow-Punk. Who cares what it was called then or now, Jason & the Scorchers fused Country with Rock in a way nobody had before. Jason was the panache and the voice and Warner Hodges raging guitar licks were the soul. Everyone who came to see them had kickin' party they could almost remember. The energy in a Scorchers show could power a third world country.

My life changed in 1984 when I first heard Lost and Found. They dominated the college bar scene of the 80s. They began to grow in popularity and even played with Dylan. However, label troubles, sickness and rehab (the big three for all rock bands)eventually put them on hiatus. However, with the success of the alt-country sound, which they basically created, they came back with an excellent album A Blazing Grace in 1993.

Fast forward to 2010, two years after receiving a lifetime achievement award from the AMA, they release Halcyon Days. It is their first new release in almost 15 years. Guess what folks? They've still got it. It is a more mature sound but still has everything you would expect of the Scorchers. So go out and get yourself a history lesson. It appears they intend to finish what they started.

Here's one from 1984

Patty Griffin - Downtown Church

Patty Griffin has just released her new album Downtown Church. The album was brilliantly produced by Buddy Miller and has an excellent supporting cast. On this album Griffin captures the soul of the traditional African-American Church, as well as the beauty of more traditional hymns. The mix of songs on this album capture a spirit of forgiveness that is truly the central message of Christianity. These songs don't have anything to do with the exclusive legalism of the mainstream American Church. Instead there is a soothing redemption given.

I don't care what your affiliation, songs like "little Fire," which features Emmylou Harris, will warm you deep in your soul (even if you don't believe in one). She reinterprets classic Gospel songs and hymns like "Tear This Building Down" and "All Creatures of Our God and King." Buddy and Julie Miller both join her on this project. On "Never Grow Old" Buddy's voice adds an authentic roughness to complement the softness of Griffin's voice. Downtown Church offers no condemnation, just beauty, soul and hope.

Austin Collins - Wrong Control

Austin Collins is an artist on the rise. His previous release Roses are Black received a lot of critical praise. With the release of Wrong Control on March 2nd, music fans will no doubt take notice. Along with his band the Rainbirds, Collins is delivering a more rocking twist to accompany his excellent songwriting.

The album begins with the broken love of "Just the Same." On this song Collins declares "A rose by any other name is just a flower in the rain. She was born to hold your dreams back by strain." On the title cut we get a glimpse of what he feels gets in the way of Love's happiness, "you always said that choice was a device in a disguise. Place you bets and leave because the heartache's in the details." It seems we can reinvent what is good about a relationship into something entirely different. Then there is "The Island," which uses seemingly incongruent metaphors to bring it all together in a hopeful way.

All of these conceptual twists and turns have an underlying edgy beat that moves them along. The groove is consistent among the songs, but it is not monotonous. There is an undertone to the music that makes it one of those albums you can play over and over again. Give it a try. I bet you'll listen more than once.

Elliot Randall & The Deadmen - Caffeine and Gasoline

Elliot Randall, along with his band The Deadmen, has released his sophomore album Caffeine and Gasoline. It is a decidedly more Country affair than his previous effort. What hasn’t changed is the depth of the songwriting. A full band, The Deadmen, have a lot to do with the diversity of styles. However, the main influence is producer David Simon-Baker, who has worked with Jackie Greene and The Mother Hips. There is a blend of Country, Rock and troubadour songwriting that reflect Randall’s influences and South Carolina upbringing. He may be based in San Francisco but his influences range from coast to coast. Common themes are love on the mend and love gone wrong.

The way Randall pours out the soul of his protagonists is a manner exhibited by more seasoned songwriters. Randall will no doubt go from a popular regional Northern California artist to a true touring songwriter. He has recently opened for Junior Brown, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Hayes Carll and The Steve Miller Band. The diversity of this album should firmly establish him in the Americana landscape. There is no sophomore slump. In fact, it appears there are even better things to come.

Beautiful Loser Society - The Long Slow decline

Following up their brilliant effort Aim Low, The Beautiful Loser Society delivers a somewhat lighter effort. Don't get me wrong the album is haunted by a similar cast of characters as the previous release. They even take you on a highway ride with Lucifer. That's right ol' scratch himself is on "Highway 666 South." Also on "The long slow decline 'Elvis is in the building.' The song is "Elvis, The King," which captures the King in his young cool style as well as sequined jumpsuit Elvis.

As I said, much of the characters are unchanged. Like the Honky Tonk anthem "Shade Tree Mechanic" (which could easily be about a particular uncle of mine), "Rich folks spend their time countin' money and the poor spend their time gettin' drunk. Whose to say what is worse what's a blessing what's a curse but old Billy is just shit out of luck." A dark character on the album is the "Suicide Trucker." One touching romantic ballad shows the beauty of the one relationship you can count on in "Good 'ol Dog." "Hot Rod Daddy" combines guitar work that could be mistaken for Dick Dale with a Rockabilly back beat.

Straight from Colorado to your ears "The Beautiful Loser Society" is a social club I want to join. The initiation fee is only a 12 pack and the will to drink it. Long Slow Decline is a more Country affair than its predecessor. So put the sawdust on the floor. I'm ready to go.

MySpace

January 12 - Release Highlights

While not a complete list here a a couple of releases I am excited about:

Ray Wylie Hubbard - A. Enlightenment, B. Endarkment (Hint: There Is No C) (Bordello) Here is an excerpt from the press release. (I'm sure it will be the dark but entertaining effprt we expet from him.)

Ray Wylie Hubbard will release A. Enlightenment B. Endarkenment (Hint: There is no C) on January 12, 2010 on Bordello Records with marketing and distribution provided by Thirty Tigers/RED. The album was produced by Hubbard with help from George Reiff. With a keen eye for observation and a wise man's knowledge, Ray Wylie Hubbard composes and performs a dozen songs that couldn't spring from anywhere else but out of his fertile rock and roll bluesy poet-in-the-blistering-heat southern noggin. "I like to look at both enlightenment and endarkenment," he declares. "I feel comfortable observing each." A. Enlightenment
B. Endarkenment demonstrates the kind of talent that every great songwriter yearns for. Throughout the album, his focus remains on the song- constructing and performing stories set to music that resonate in a way that is completely his own.

Vampire Weekend - Contra - The best new indie band of 2008. This should have the quirkiness and understated World Music influences fo there previous release.

Cousins:

The Top Two

Though I put Band of Heathens number one, it was really a tie with Buddy andf Julie Miller. The tiebreaker was the addiction to BOH I developed this year. It was my heaviest rotation. The different styles nd tempo made it fresh no matter how much I listened to it.

Buddy and Julie put out an emotional portrait of simpler times and the pain of true love. It's power and outstanding songwriting are undenible. More importantly the arrangement and intrumentation of eac song underscore the emotion of the lyrics.

No. & M. Ward Hold Time

Since numbers 3-7 on my best of list have been covered previously, I am going to forgo posting on them. However, number 7, M. Ward - Hold Time, did not get the coverage it deserved here on AWT, even though it is high on my list. The album is simultaneously, Folk, Indie and Americana. The sound is wispy but not too ethereal. Just listen to the duet with Lucinda Williams, which is a cover of Hank Williams "Oh Lonesome Me." He captures all the pain of the original but makes it uniquely his own. The album is permeated with passion and exhibits clever lyricism.

Check out this ACL performance

8) Charlie Robison 9) Sam Bush 10) Grant Langston

Sam Bush and Grant Langston have previous reviews here on AWT. Coming in at number 8 Charlie Robison rates higher than both. Beautiful Day is both a kiss off to Emily, his Dixie Chick ex-wife, and an embrace of new found freedom. It has three main ingredients heartache, piss and vinegar. It also has an awesome cover of Bobby Bare Jr.'s "Nothin' Better to Do."

Numbers 11 and 12: Lucero and Wrinkle Neck Mules

12) Wrinkle Neck Mules - Readers of AWT know how much I love the Mules so I will just point you to my Previous Post. Now on to ...

11) Lucero-1372 Overton Park - This band has building something great for almost ten years. With 1372 Overton Park, they created the perfect record that blends their Drive-By-Truckers meets The Replacemenrts sound and the perfect amount of hometown Memphis R&B.

The best of 2009

The Winner is...
Tis the season... The best of lists are coming out in force. So I am going to get ahead of the curve. This year is particularly interesting if you want to check out the top "Twang" lists. Keep your eye on Twangville for a collaborative list for those of us in the Posse, as well as individual lists. The best best of list will be The Bird List, but there will be more on this later. For now let's just focus on my humble list here on AWT.

In my mid-year list, Buddy and Julie were on top, but they have been replaced by Band of Heathens in the final list. This was actually a close call and was decided by addiction. Once I listened to the first song, One Foot in the Ether became audio crack. Other new entries into the top ten are Roseanne Cash, Two Tons of Steel, Sam Bush and Grant Langston. Enough banter the list is below and then I will spend the remainder of the year writing individual posts on my top 12. (Sort of a twelve days of Christmas with no turtle doves.)

1 Band of Heathens - One foot in the Ether
2 Buddy & Julie Miller - Written in Chalk
3 Roseanne Cash - The List
4 Ryan Bingham and the Dead Horses - Roadhouse Sun
5 Roman Candle - Oh Tall Tree in the Ear
6 Two Tons of Steel - Not That Lucky
7 M. Ward - Hold Time
8 Charlie Robison - Beautiful Day
9 Sam Bush - Circles Around Me
10 Grant Langston - Stand Up Man
11 Lucero - 1372 Overton Park
12 Wrinkle Neck Mules - Let the Lead Fly
13 Monsters of Folk - Self Titles
14 Wilco - The Album
15 Slaid Cleaves - Everything You Love Will be Taken Away
16 Justin Townes Earle - Midnight at the Movies
17 Stephen Kellog and the Sixers - The Bear
18 Brendan Benson - My Old Familiar Friend
19 Sarah Jarosz - Song Up in Her Head
20 Sarah Borges & the Broken Singles - The Stars are Out
21 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Speed of Life
22 Elvis Costello - Secret, Profane and Sugarcane
23 Guy Clark - Sometimes the Song Writes You
24 Scott Miller & the Commonwealth - For Cryin' Out Loud
25 Hill Country Review - Self Titled
26 Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band - Outer South
27 The Gourds - Haymaker!
28 Donna Ulisse - Walk this Mountain Down
29 Bottle Rockets - Lean Forward
30 The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love
31 Bob Dylan - Together Through Life
32 Chuck Prophet - Let Freedom Ring
33 Derek Trucks - Already Free
34 The Flatlanders - Hills and Valleys
35 Dallas Wayne - I'll Take the Fifth
36 Red Stick Ramblers - My Suitcase is Always Packed
37 Chuck Mead - Journeyman's Wager
38 Bruce Springsteen - Working on a Dream
39 Gina Villalobos - Days on Their Side
40 Cracker - Sunshine in the Land of Milk and Honey
41 Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit - Self Titled
42 Kieran Kane - Somewhere Beyond the Roses
43 Radney Foster Revival
44 Mindy Smith - Stupid Love
45 Mark Olson & Gary Louris - Ready for the Flood
46 Dave Matthews Band - Big Whiskey and the Gru Grux King
47 Pter Holsapple and Chris Stamey - Here and Now
48 Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
49 Sara Watkins - Self Titled
50 Dierks Bentley - Feel that Fire