Mary Gauthier - Between Daylight and Dark

When you think of the great storyteller songwriters certain names come to mind. Names like, Guy Clark, Joe Ely, Robert Earl Keen, Townes Van Zandt, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Jeff Walker and Chris Knight just to name a few. These people have one thing in common. They are all men. I have news for these gentlemen. The doors to the "old boys club" have been busted down and Mary Gauthier has just ordered a round for the house.

The best story songs, though often tragic, can be redemptive and healing to the listeners as they get lost in the narrative of the song. While the listeners may not directly relate to the extremity of the situations in which the characters on Between Daylight and Dark exist, they can still find plenty of common ground among less extreme but common circumstances in their own life. Sadness and tough circumstances come into contact with everyone at some point. Some people have more than their fair share of heartache.

The brokenness that scatters the landscape of this album is offset by characters who maintain some form dignity in their circumstances. Out of their sadness hope begins to grow. For example, "Last of the Hobo Kings" sings of the life of a man who was part of the train hopping sub-culture that no longer exists. Gauthier seems to suggest that the end of the Hobo era points to a greater loss of spirit and adventure in our country. She points to the wisdom that the hobo gained in his travels by saying he "knew how his nation was doing by the size of a sidewalk cigarette butt." "Thanksgiving" follows a grandmother taking her grandchild to see her father in prison on Thanksgiving. Growth is seen in "I Ain't Leavin." In this song the main character decides to stay and fight for a relationship when previously she would run away. "Broken on the inside is what I used to say. Then I'd pack my bags raise a white flag and drive away. I thought that's what made me strong, but I was young and I was wrong."

Every song on this Lost Highway release has similar impact. She wrote or co-wrote all the songs on the album. My favorite collaboration on the album is "Snakebit," which she co-wrote with Hayes Carll. Joe Henry produced the album and kept things simple and understated in a way that lets Gauthier shine in a way that makes this the best release of her career.

Listen to the Full Album Stream

This review also appears on: Twangville

Classic Uncle tupelo

A couple of Classic Uncle Tupelo Videos were linked on Nine Bullets:

Releases September 25th

There are a number of good releases slated for Sept. 25th but here are a just a few I am most excited about:

Bettye LaVette with Drive-By-Truckers - Scene of the Crime. Recorded at the vaunted Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The combination of Lavette's soul and the Truckers' grit is a recipe for success.
Click to Hear Samples


Billy Joe Shaver - Everybody's Brother. This album was produced by John Carter Cash. From the samples I have heard, he did a nice job of adding production value without taking away Shaver's live feel.

Video of "Get Thee Behind Me Satan" with John Anderson:


Iron & Wine - The Shepherds Dog. Judging by the first single, "Boy with a Coin," Sam Beam is at again with his atmospheric folk music and transcendent lyrics.
Stream at Sub-Pop

Pieta Brown - Remember the Sun. Read my previous review to see what i thought of this mesmerizing release by the daughter of Greg Brown.

Under the Radar: Oakley Hall & Alberta Cross

There are a couple of recent releases by Indie rock bands that have a significant Americana Alt-country influence. I am referring to Oakley Hall’s I’ll Follow You on Merge records and Alberta Cross' The Thief and the Heartbreaker a seven song EP on Geffen records.

Oakley Hall was formed in 2002 by Pat Sullivan, who plays guitar and sings vocals. After going through a few lineup changes, the Brooklyn based band has settled on a combination that gives them a very tight electrical sound with heavy fiddle in the mix. Female vocalist Rachel Cox completes the lineup. The vocal interplay between Sullivan and Cox is reminiscent of John Doe and Exene Cervenka of X. The songs range from Countrified Indie Rock like, “Rue the Blue”, the psychedelic influenced title cut “I’ll Follow You,” and even the chamber pop intro of “First Frist.” While the album shows the alt-country influences of Son Volt, Old 97’s and others; Oakley Hall has their own formula that really works. Fresh off a tour with Bright Eyes, Oakley Hall may not be under the radar too much longer.
Stream the Album

London based Alberta Cross is the brainchild of songwriters Peter Ericson Stakee and Terry Wolfers. The EP The thief and the Heartbreaker was released on september 11th. They have a clear Americana influence. Influences of Blues, Folk, Gospel and Country abound. However, they mis these influences with atmospherics not unlike the Shins or the Decemberists. The result is something that sounds very original and will almost certainly lead to bigger and better things.

Check them out on myspace: http://www.blogger.com/MySpace

Check out the video to "Hard Breaks"

Settin' the Woods on Fire: This Week's Charts

This is a weekly feature in which I post on AWT the top albums and debuts in the airplay charts from Americana Music Assoc., XM Cross Country and FMQB Non-Commercial Adult Alternative chart. Links to all of these charts are found to the right in the AWT favorite links list.

Americana Music Association - Airplay Week of Sept. 3rd
1) Subdudes - Street Symphony
2) Kelly Willis - Translated from Love
3) Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger
4) Lyle Lovet and His Large Band - It's Not Big It's Large
5) Doug Spartz - The One Who's Leaving
6) Gourds - Noble Creatures
7) Kane Welch Kaplin - Kane Welch Kaplin
8) Walt Wilkins and the Mystiqueros - Diamonds in the Sun
9) Lori McKenna - Unglamorous
10) Terri Hendrix - The Spiritual Kind

Debuts
11) Steve Earle - Washington Square Serenade
34) Jason Eady - Wild Eyed Serenade

XM Ch.12 Cross Country - Cross Checking week of Sept. 3rd
1) The Gourds - Noble Creatures
2) Kelly Willis - Translated from Love
3) Jason Isbell - Sirens of the Ditch
4) Blackie & the Rodeo Kings - Let's frolic
5) Kevin Deal - Roll
6) Various Artists - Wounded Heart of America Songs of Tom Russell
7) Walt Wilkins and the Mystiqueros - Diamonds in the Sun
8) Richard Thompson - Sweet Warior
9) Terri Hendrix - The Spiritual Kind
10) Subdudes - Street Symphony

Debuts
None

FMQB AAA Non-Commercial - Airplay Week of Sept. 3rd
1) Ben Harper - Lifetime
2) Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquest
3) Subdudes - Street Symphony
4) Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklight
5) SPOON - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
6) RYAN ADAMS - Easy Tiger
7) Over the Rhine - Trumpet Child
8) New Pornographers - Challengers
9) Lyle Lovet and His Large Band - It's Not Big It's Large
10) Toots and the Maytals - Light Your Light

Debuts
11) Steve Earle - Washington Square Serenade
25) Mark Knopfler - Kill to Get Blood

Twang Nation exposes Big Label Fraud

Twang Nation has posted a link to a Wall Street Journal article that exposes a major label scam that makes music pirates look like saints. They tried to create buz about one of their signed artist artists bypassing him off as an unsigned artist on YouTube. Are the big labels so hard up for record sales. Apparently they are. Well in my opinion the major labels made thir bed and now they need to sleep in it. In this case it is Hollywod records owned by none other than Disney. I am so glad they got exposed.

http://www.twangnation.com/2007/09/07/more-big-label-idiocy/

See the story from WSJ online video:

Teddy Thompson - Up Front and Down Low

Teddy Thompson's new album Up Front & Down Low is a self-produced collection of classic country covers released by Verve Records. Thompson is a folk singer by trade and birthright. He is the son of legends Richard and Linda Thompson. Teddy says his parents raised him on country music. He says, "it's the music that is closest to my heart." Even in these genre bending days, country cover albums can often go awry even turning into parody. But Thompson's love of country music is apparent. He respects the songs as he interprets them. He uses string arrangements on most of the songs that add a richness to the traditional tunes. He doesn't simply re-record the songs and he also doesn't throw tradition away in his revisions. These are all versions the original creators would approve.

He does songs like George Jones' "She thinks I Still Care," Ernest Tubb's "Walking the Floor Over You," Merle Haggard's "(My Friends are Gonna be) Strangers" and a Lesser known Dolly Parton song "My Blue Tears." He also has one original tune "Down Low." Guests on the album include Greg Leisz on Pedal Steel and Dobro. Guest vocals include Iris Dement, Tift Merrit and Jenni Muldaur. Thompson is a crooner who can sing with Nashville's best and the musicianship and arrangement of the album are superb. If you love the classic Country Country this is one to own. If you don't then by this album and you will learn to love it.

Listen to Teddy sing George Jones:




Check out his interview on CMT:
http://www.cmt.com/news/articles/1568447/20070828/thompson_teddy.jhtml

This review also posted on: http://twangville.com

Highlights of Upcoming Releases

Sept. 11th :

Joe Henry - Civilians

Supposedly more stripped down than his previous efforts this album I am hearing is an instant classic. Scott Register of Reg's Coffeehouse and the Coalitoin of Indepndent Music Stores says it is incredible and played great song off of it this morning on his show.

http://www.joehenrylovesyoumadly.com/listen.php

Oakley Hall - I Will Follow You

One of my favorite releases back in early 2006 was their album Second Guessing. This is their debut on Merge Records. It was produced by Peter Katis (The National, Interpol). Stream it on the Merge records site.

http://www.mergerecords.com/index.php

Sept. 18th
Mary Gauthier - Between Daylight and Dark

Gauthier just keeps getting better I am sure this one will not disappoint.

Jim Lauderdale - Bluegrass Diaries

Supposedly Lauderdale is going to release 3 albums in the next year. This is the first of the three. It was debuted on XM14 Bluegrass Junction to rave reviews. 2008 already looks like a good year.

Stream blue Mule Below:

http://www.yeproc.com/upload/media/view_media.php?id=499

Peter Case: I wish I was there

I have received 2 Voice Mails in the last week from friends going to the Peter Case show at The Nick, which is going on as I write. Too bad I am out of town. Have a good time gang. Sorry I couldn't join you. Bummer!!!

Best of 2007 a Video Companaion

Here is some video to go along with some newer entries into my Best of 2007 List:

First is a promotional video for giant Bear:


Here is some video of Grace Potter from LA. Tom over at Twangville is responsible for turning me on to her:


Eilen Jewell live at the Lizard Lounge:


The Derailers doing Buck Owens:


Brandi Carlile Video of "The Story:"


Okervil River on Conan:

Best of 2007

This is My updated Best of 2007. Wilco is still #1. The highest debuts are Peter Case at #14, Giant Bear at #23 and Josh Rouse at #24. I expanded the list to 50 this time but it will get no longer for the rest of the year. Things are going to have to start coming off with any further additions. Also, as usual, I did some rearranging based on further reflection. I finally got the Brandi Carlile album so it is a late entry to the list at #40. However, even in a year full of great releases by female singer songwriters it deserved a spot. Lyle Lovett released this week. However, I have only listened to part of the album so it will wait until next month. Enjoy the list and feel free to tell me how you agree or disagree. Also, make no hesitation to trash me or my intelligence in any way you see fit. I'm used to it.

1) Wilco - "Sky Blue Sky"
2) Patty Griffin - "Children Running Through"
3) White Stripes - "Icky Thump"
4) Kelly Willis - "Translated From Love"
5) Wrinkle Neck Mules - "Wicks Have Met"
6) Jason Isbell - "Sirens of the Ditch"
7) Assembly of Dust - "Recollection"
8) Kane, Welch, Kaplin - Kane Welch Kaplin
9) Hackensaw Boys - "Look Out"
10) The Shins - "Wincing the Night Away"
11) Ryan Adams - "Easy Tiger"
12) John Doe - "A year in the Wilderness"
13) Son Volt - "The Search"
14) Peter Case - "Let Us Now Praise Sleepy John"
15) The Broken West - "I Can't Go on I'll Go on"
16) Elliot Randall - "Take the Fall"
17) The Basement - "Illicit Hugs and Playground Thugs"
18) Paul McCartney - " Memory Almost Full"
19) Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles - "Diamonds in the Dark"
20) Kim Richey - "Chinese Boxes"
21) King Wilkie - "Low Country Suite"
22) Modest Mouse - "We Were Dead Before he Ship Ever Sank"
23) Giant Bear - "Giant Bear"
24) Josh Rouse - "Country Mouse, City house"
25) Feist - "The Reminder"
26) Olav Larsen and the Alabama Rodeo Stars - "Loves' Com to Town"
27) Elizabeth Cook - "Balls"
28) Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - "This is Somewhere"
29) Willy Mason - "If the Ocean Gets Rough"
30) Dale Watson - "From the Cradle to the Grave"
31) Spoon - "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga"
32) The Gourds - "Noble Creatures"
33) The National - "Boxer"
34) Charlie Louvin - "Charlie Louvin"
35) Infamous Stringdusters - "Fork in the Road"
36) Nathan - "Key Principles"
37) Adam Hood - "Different Groove"
38) Steep Canyon Rangers - "Lovin' Pretty Women"
39) Rocky Votolato - "The Brag and Cuss"
40) Brandi Carlile - "The Story"
41) Eilen Jewell - "Letters from Sinners and Strangers"
42) Pela - "Anytown Graffiti"
43) Joe Ely - "Happy Song from Rattlesnake Gulch"
44) Cadillac Sky - "Blind Man Walking"
45) Martin Sexton - "Seeds"
46) The Derailers - "Under the Influence of Buck"
47) Piets Brown - "Remember the Sun
48) Two Cow Garage - "Three"
49) Okervil River - "The Stage Names"
50) Hoots & Hellmouth- "Hoots & Hellmouth"

Settin' the Woods on Fire: This Week's Charts

This is a weekly feature in which I post on AWT the top albums and debuts in the airplay charts from Americana Music Assoc., XM Cross Country and FMQB Non-Commercial Adult Alternative chart. Links to all of these charts are found to the right in the AWT favorite links list.

Americana Music Association - Airplay Week of August 20th
1) Kelly Willis - Translated from Love
2) Subdudes - Street Symphony
3) Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger
4) Doug Spartz - The One Who's Leaving
5) Gourds - Noble Creatures
6) Marty Stuart - Anthology of Duets
7) Walt Wilkins and the Mystiqueros - Diamonds in the Sun
8) Terri Hendrix - The Spiritual Kind
9) Lori McKenna - Unglamorous
10) Jason Isbell - Sirens of the Ditch

Debuts
28) Kevin Deal - Roll
32) Peter Case - Let Us Now Praise Sleepy John
36) Lyle Lovet and His Large Band - It's Not Big It's Large
40) Mike Farris - Salvation in Lights

XM Ch.12 Cross Country - Cross Checking week of August 20th
1) Various Artists - Just One More: A Tribute to Larry Brown
2) Kelly Willis - Translated from Love
3) Blackie & the Rodeo Kings - Let's frolic
4) Antsy McClain and the Trailer Park Troubadors- Trailercana
5) Kevin Deal - Roll
6) The Gourds - Noble Creatures
7) Various Artists - Anchored in Love
8) Jason Isbell - Sirens of the Ditch
9) Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger
10) Hackensaw Boys - Look Out!

Debuts
48) West Coast Grand - West Coast Grand
48) Dollar Store - Money Music
50) Jason Eady - Wild Eyed Serenade

FMQB AAA Non-Commercial - Airplay Week of August 20th
1) RYAN ADAMS - Easy Tiger
2) SPOON - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
3) Ben Harper - Lifetime
4) Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquest
5) Subdudes - Street Symphony
6) SUZANNE VEGA - Beauty and Crime
7) Crowded House - Time on Earth
8) Over the Rhine - Trumpet Child
9) Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
10) GRACE POTTER - This is Somewhere

Debuts
20) New Pornographers - Challengers
21) Peter Case - Let Us Now Praise Sleepy John

Jason Isbell Live: Sloss Furnace Birmingham, AL

Jason Isbell put on a great show at the Stokin' the Fire Barbecue Festival in Birmingham this weekend. The festival was held at Sloss Furnace, which can be a challenge for a sound tech. For those unfamiliar with the venue it is a big metal roofed and walled structure with a stage in front of an old blast furnace. It has nice atmosphere and is a big part of the history of the Birmingham area. However, all that metal does tend to create a little reverb; but in this case it wasn't too bad. Something about Southern Rock and Barbecue that just goes together. Isbell mostly played songs from his solo effort Sirens of the Ditch. However he also mixed in a few Drive By Trucker classics he penned, including a great version of "Outfit" one of my favorite Truckers mid-tempo songs.

Isbell's band the 400 Unit do a nice job channelling the Southern Rock ethos. No doubt about it, when they rock it is a full on assault. However, they also do well on the slower tunes which show Isbell's songwriter side. For example, "Dress Blues," which is one of the most moving songs I've heard in years, was great live like it is on the album. My favorite song of the evening was "Try" which was one of those aforementioned full on assaults. For the closer they played the crowd pleaser "Jailbreak," a cover of the Thin Lizzy tune that the Truckers have made part of their live performances.

Check out the link below to My Music Birmingham for almost 12 min of high quality video shot
that evening starting out with the "Try":
http://www.myfoxal.com/myfox/pages/Entertainment/Detail?contentId=4179685&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=7.3.1

Settin' the Woods on Fire: This Week's Charts

This is a weekly feature in which I post on AWT the top albums and debuts in the airplay charts from Americana Music Assoc., XM Cross Country and FMQB Non-Commercial Adult Alternative chart. Links to all of these charts are found to the right in the AWT favorite links list.

Americana Music Association - Airplay Week of August 13th
1) Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger
2) Kelly Willis - Translated from Love
3) Subdudes - Street Symphony
4) Marty Stuart - Anthology of Duets
5) Doug Spartz - The One Who's Leaving
6) Gourds - Noble Creatures
7) Terri Hendrix - The Spiritual Kind
8) Adrienne Young - Room to Grow
9) Eilen Jewell - Letters from Sinners and Strangers
10) Walt Wilkins and the Mystiqueros - Diamonds in the Sun

Debuts
20) Derailers - Under the Influence of Buck
35) Sam Baker - Pretty World
38) Kim Richey - Chinese Boxes
39) Various Artists - Wounded Heart of America - Tom Russell Songs
40) Red Meat - We Never Close

XM Ch.12 Cross Country - Cross Checking week of August 13th
1) Jason Isbell - Sirens of the Ditch
2) Kelly Willis - Translated from Love
3) Various Artists - Anchored in Love
4) Swampdawamp - Swampdawamp
5) Blackie & the Rodeo Kings - Let's frolic
6) Antsy McClain and the Trailer Park Troubadors- Trailercana
7) Kevin Deal - Roll
8) Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger
9) Richard March - Levee Road
10) Jeffrey Halford & the Healers - Broken Chord

Debuts
31) Various Artists - Wounded Heart of America - Tom Russell Songs
42) Eliza Gilkyson - Your Town Tonight
44) The Melroys - Walls Will Fall
45) Brad Colerick - Lines in the Dirt
46) Red Meat - We Never Close
47) Teddy Thompson - Up Front & Down Low
48) Sam Baker - Pretty World


FMQB AAA Non-Commercial - Airplay Week of August 13th
1) RYAN ADAMS - Easy Tiger
2) SPOON - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
3) Subdudes - Street Symphony
4) SUZANNE VEGA - Beauty and Crime
5) Crowded House - Time on Earth
6) GRACE POTTER - This is Somewhere
7) Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquest
8) Ben Harper - Lifetime
9) WHITE STRIPES - Icky Thump
10) KT Tunstall - Drastic Fantastic

Debuts
22) Fionn Reagan - The End of history
24) Jason Isbell - Sirens of the Ditch
25) Josh Rouse - Country House City Mouse

New Blog: The Gobblers Knob

Just found this new blog. It focuses on Americana, Texas music real country etc. If you like AWT and the other blog I write for, Twangville, this one is one you will enjoy also.

http://www.thegobblersknob.com/

Under the Radar: Giant Bear

Giant Bear just released there self-titled album on August 14th and it will rank up there with Elliot Randall as one my surprise favorites of the year. They are an Americana outfit with Indie Rock sensibilities. Based in Memphis the Commercial Appeal says they are "somewhere between cowboy noir and the best band to ever play on a front porch." The Source Weekly in Eugene, OR calls it "Orchestral Funk-a-Billy." I call it awesome. These guys could follow Lucero's rise from Memphis to the Alt.Country circuit.

The album starts out with the line "There are no honky tonks left in Nashville" musing about the current state of Music City from the perspective of a guy who "Wants to drink the old time way." The album also has the coolest cover since The Gourds did "Gin 'n Juice." They do a quirky Americana version of "Head Like a Hole" by Nine Inch Nails. Some of the songs are dark like "Devil in the Wall" - "There was blood on your wrist and a Bible on your reading list. I tried to fix you with my towel. You clenched your fist and woke me with a growl." Mostly though, the album is an upbeat good time. Also, Luther Dickinson from North Mississippi All-Stars contributes slide guitar on the album to give it the local Memphis "Street Cred."

The album is streaming for free on: http://redwaxmusic.net/ check it out for sure!

This review also appears on: http://twangville.com

Kieran Kane, Kevin Welch, Fats Kaplin - Kane Welch Kaplin

Kieran Kane, Kevin Welch, Fats Kaplin will be releasing a new album on September 11, the album is self titled Kane Welch Kaplin. Not exactly a creative title but after the first listen it is obvious they spent their time making the album not naming it. Their previous album Lost John Dean went number one on the Americana charts. So they have a lot to live up to and they succeed. In fact, I expect the new album will also spend some time at number one.

Like the last album this album is very rootsy with heavy folk, blues and gospel leanings. This time however they have added a fourth member. Fortunately they did not have to rename the band because it is Kieran's son Lucas Kane on percussion. Kane and Welch's history from Dead Reckoning Records allows them to mesh together even though their voices seem contrasting. It is the songwriting that is the glue that holds things together. If the songwriting adds cohesion, then Kaplin's musicianship gives the record its soul. Apparently Kaplin has a tendency to work whatever instruments that happen to be lying around into songs. That tendency gives the album its improvisational feel.

The songs come at you from a lot of different directions. There are Blues and Gospel numbers as well as story songs that weave a tapestry that is a little darker than their previous work. For example, "Dark Boogie # 7" is a spoken word folktale that goes inside the head of a mentally ill murderer. A more uplifting song is the closer "What are They Doing in Heaven Today," which was put on the album because all three have lost their moms in the last few years.

Sample the songs at:
http://compassrecords.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=520

This review als appears on: http://twangville.com

Michael McDermott & Pieta Brown upcoming releases

Well Folks, I am back from another round of R&R and I wanted to let you know about One Little Indian Records out of San Francisco, which has two upcoming Singer-songwriter releases that I feel are worth noting. The first on August 28th is Michael McDermott's Noise from Words. McDermott is a Chicago based Songwriter. Musically, the album is fairly standard singer-songwriter fare. Lyrically McDermoot is a poetic and powerful voice. His songs are candid and deal with regret ("Mess of Things") but also redemption ("Tread Lightly"). In "No Words" he expresses hope when he declares "The night has come undone and the world has just begun" He also has a famous fan in writer Stephen King who calls McDermott "the greatest undiscovered rock & roll talent of the last 20 years."

Download the free MP3 below:

http//www.onelittleindian-us.com/freemp3/mcdermott_freemp3/

For my local Birmingham readers Pieta Brown is even more interesting. Her new album Remember the Sun releases on September 25th. She is the daughter of well known Grammy nominated folk singer Greg Brown. After being born in Iowa she and her mother moved here to Birmingham. While growing up in Birmingham Pieta began writing poetry and composing songs for the piano. Her exposure to traditional folk music shows through. However, her gift for composition is really shown with each successive listen to the album. What at first seems very simple is beautifully composed and lands her somewhere between traditional folk and more contemporary female songwriters. The music is rooted in tradition while exploring new boundaries. She is totally mesmerizing!

Download the free MP3 below:

http://www.onelittleindian-us.com/freemp3/pieta_freemp3b/

Deadstring Brothers to Release New Album

According to The 9513 The Deadstring Brothers will be releasing their new album on Bloodshot on October 9th. The Album will be titled Silver Mountain and I am definitely looking forward to it.

Check out this and other news:
http://www.the9513.com/brad-paisley-vs-kellie-pickler-you-be-the-judge/

Settin' the Woods on Fire: This Week's Charts

This is a weekly feature in which I post on AWT the top albums and debuts in the airplay charts from Americana Music Assoc., XM Cross Country and FMQB Non-Commercial Adult Alternative chart. Links to all of these charts are found to the right in the AWT favorite links list.

Americana Music Association - Airplay Week of July 30th
1) Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger
2) Kelly Willis - Translated from Love
3) Marty Stuart - Anthology of Duets
4) Doug Spartz - The One Who's Leaving
5) Sarah Borges and The Broken Singles - Diamonds in the Dark
6) Subdudes - Street Sympho
7) Adrienne Young - Room to Grow
8) Jimmy Lafave - Cimmaron Manifesto
9) Eilen Jewell - Letters from Sinners and Strangers
10) Gourds - Noble Creatures
Debuts
24) Teddy Thompson - Up Front Down Low

XM Ch.12 Cross Country - Cross Checking week of July 30th
1) Various Artists - Anchored in Love
2) Various Artists - Just One More A tribute to Larry Brown
3) Jeffery Halford and the Healers - Broken Chord
4) Swampdawamp - Swampdawamp
5) Peter Berwick - Ain't No Train Outta Nashville
6) Avett Brother - Emotionalisn
7) Jeff Finlin - Angel in Disguise
8) Kelly Willis - Translated from Love
9) Antsy McClain and the Trailer Park Troubadors- Trailercana
10) Jimmy Lafave - Cimmaron Manifesto

Debuts
None

FMQB AAA Non-Commercial - Airplay Week of July 30th
1) RYAN ADAMS - Easy Tiger
2) SPOON - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
3) SUZANNE VEGA - Beauty and Crime
4) Subdudes - Street Symphony
5) Crowded House - Time on Earth
6) GRACE POTTER - This is Somewhere
7) WILCO - Sky Blue Sky
8) WHITE STRIPES - Icky Thump
9) FEIST - The Reminder
10) Ben Harper - Lifetime

Debuts
None

Under The Radar: 8/7/07

Here are a few artists I have come across lately that I think have potential to be much bigger in the future:

The first is Intensive Care an Indie Rock band out of Montreal. They have the atmospherics not uncommon to other Indie bands; but these guys also understand the importance of a good Rock hook as well. Their self released EP is available through iTunes and CDBaby. Check out the MP3s below:
http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/5/29/1124526/2-Break_Me_Up_Machine.mp3%20http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/5/29/1124526/3-dls.mp3
Here is a Youtube video


Next is The Mountain Pearls. Their sel-released debut is very lo-fi rough edged Roots Music that sounds like a hillbilly version of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. This is toe tappin' front porch music.

Check them out on EMUGGA:
VISIT
The Mountain Pearls



Also, The Steep Canyon Rangers winner of the IBMA energing artist award for 2006 are coming out with their new record Lovin' Pretty Women on Rebel Records August 14th. If you like traditional Bluegrass you don't want to miss this one. Below is a video biography of the band:

Josh Rouse - Country Mouse, City House

The new Josh Rouse album Country Mouse, City House is more city than country and it is also great. What else do you expect from Rouse. This album is very Jazz influenced in the vein of his Under the Cold Blue Stars release. "Sweetie" and "Hollywood Bass Player" will be the fan favorites but the coolest song on the Album is "Pilgrim" which I swear had to be produced from the grave by Miles Davis.

See the video for "Hollywood Bass Player" and a live acoustic version of "Sweetie." Also there is an interview done on the DL on AOL Music.

Emuga Launches

The folks over at AmericanaRoots.com have launched a social networking site for Americana and alt-country artists and fans it is called emugga.com. It is sort of a MySpace for the world of Americana. I have joined. I hope it takes off and I encourage you all to join.

Check it out:
http://emugga.com

Putumayo Presents - Americana

Whenever someone puts together a compilation CD choosing the songs can be difficult. When the compilation is of something like Americana Music, the very definition of which is elusive at best, the job is near impossible. If anyone could do it Putumayo, who has developed an entire international catalog of impossible compilations over the years, can. This compilation of 12 songs, which I outline below, was well chosen. In truth the songs lean more to the "Alt" side of Americana than the "Roots" side. However, to criticize Putumayo for this would be nitpicking.

Here is a listing of the song with a word on each. 1) Robinella - "Down the Mountain" provides a nice mix of Jazz and Old Time. 2) Mulehead - "Frankie Lee" was an odd selection considering they are not even together any more and were a flash in the pan at best. However, the song is a good example of alt-country so it works well. After all, picking the right songs is more important than the artists when putting together a compilation. 3) The Little Willies - "It's Not You It's me" has a real juke joint feel to it. 4) Robert Earl Keen - "Ride" has twin dobro slide guitars played in traditional blues fashion. If that does not impress nothing will. 5) Eliza Lynn - "Sing a New Song" see the video below and you will understand. 6)OCMS - "Wagon Wheel" an old timey feel provided by the young men in Old Crow. 7) Chip Taylor & Carrie Rodriguez- "Sweet Tequila Blues" a mix of old and new. 8) Tim O'Brien- "House of the Risin Sun" a lesson by the professor of Americana. 9) Alison Brown - "Deep Gap" features Brown on guitar and with more tradition than Jazz. 10) Terri Hendrix - "A Prayer for My Friends" her distinctive voice is a good example of the powerful female voices that are so important to the Americana scene. 11) Josh Ritter- "Harrisburg" there is no Americana album complete without a story song. 12) Ruthie Foster - "Hole in My Pocket" last but not least a Gospel singer.

Check out the web site:
http://www.putumayo.com/en/catalog_item.php?album_id=243

Eliza Lynn Video:

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Best of 2007

**UPDATED 8-1-2007**
Due to a Blogger glich 16 items got deleted when I posted. This is the corrected list. However, the list still only includes releases through July 14th.
This is My updated Best of 2007. Wilco is still #1. The highest debuts are Kelly Willis at #4, Jason Isbell at #6 and Ryan Adams at #10. I expanded the list to 40 this time and dropped 5 from the previous list. My apologies to anyone offended the list was getting to big. Also, as usual, I did some rearranging based on further reflection. Reviews are coming for Kelly Willis and Elliot Randall who debuted at #14. Another notable debut is Spoon at #25. Enjoy the list and feel free to tell me how you agree or disagree. Also, make no hesitation to trash me or my intelligence in any way you see fit. I'm used to it.

1) Wilco - "Sky Blue Sky"
2) Patty Griffin - "Children Running Through"
3) White Stripes - "Icky Thump"
4) Kelly Willis - "Translated From Love"
5) Wrinkle Neck Mules - "Wicks Have Met"
6) Jason Isbell - "Sirens of the Ditch"
7) Assembly of Dust - "Recollection"
8) Hackensaw Boys - "Look Out"
9) The Shins - "Wincing the Night Away"
10) Ryan Adams - "Easy Tiger"
11) John Doe - "A year in the Wilderness"
12) Son Volt - "The Search"
13) The Broken West - "I Can't Go on I'll Go on"
14) Elliot Randall - "Take the Fall"
15) The Basement - "Illicit Hugs and Playground Thugs"
16) Paul McCartney - " Memory Almost Full"
17) Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles - "Diamonds in the Dark"
18) Kim Richey - "Chinese Boxes"
19) King Wilkie - "Low Country Suite"
20) Modest Mouse - "We Were Dead Before he Ship Ever Sank"
21) Feist - "The Reminder"
22) Olav Larsen and the Alabama Rodeo Stars - "Loves' Com to Town"
23) Elizabeth Cook - "Balls"
24) Willy Mason - "If the Ocean Gets Rough"
25) Dale Watson - "From the Cradle to the Grave"
26) Spoon - "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga"
27) The National - "Boxer"
28) Charlie Louvin - "Charlie Louvin"
29) Infamous Stringdusters - "Fork in the Road"
30) Nathan - "Key Principles"
31) Adam Hood - "Different Groove"
32) Elizabeth Cook - "Balls"
33) Rocky Votolato - "The Brag and Cuss"
34) Pela - "Anytown Graffiti"
35) Joe Ely - "Happy Song from Rattlesnake Gulch"
36) Cadillac Sky - "Blind Man Walking"
37) Martin Sexton - "Seeds"
38) Two Cow Garage - "Three"
39) The Gourds - "Noble Creatures"
40) Hoots & Hellmouth- "Hoots & Hellmouth"