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Jann
Browne is a longtime member of the Southern California roots community. She of
the sassy vocals and partner Matt Barnes (guitar), along with Jay Dee Maness,
Larry Mitchell, Bill Bryson are joined by Duane Jarvis, Scott Joss, Chris Gaffney
and more on the tribute to the legendary Bakersfield country singer. Tracks:Love's
Gonna Live There / Before You Go / Excuse Me (I Think I've Got A Heartache) /
Play Together Again, Again / I Don't Care / Think of Me / Loose Talk / Hot Dog
/ Sweethearts In Heaven / Waitin' In Your Welfare Line / Playgirl (Plan B Records)
Little
Pink is the vehicle through which singer/ songwriter/ bandleader Mary Battiata
uses her experiences as a journalist and war correspondent to chart the perils
and redemptions of lost love and the midlife crossing. The album, with title taken
from Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay 'Experience,' has the sonic subtlety of the Cowboy
Junkies' most ethereal efforts. Battiata is joined by Philip Stevenson, Ben Peeler,
and a slew of DC-area roots-rock vets. -- Jeff Weiss, Miles of Music (Night World)
The
Boston Metro said, "Lorntell's rock constitution lies somewhere between the
alt-country angels of Whiskeytown and the power-pop crush of The Replacements."
While there are tinges of North Carolina's favorite Whiskeytown, this 2006 release
falls into the propulsive roots-rock sound of vintage Replacements. Jesse Perkins
vocals reveal a grief and weariness but also an optimism. Lead guitarist Edward
Taylor channels the spirit of Bob Stinson. This hook-filled record rocks. -- Jeff
Weiss, Miles of Music (self-released)
Bill
Noonan cut his Americana teeth in North Carolina's Rank Outsiders. Vocally Noonan
sounds like a less-nasally Tom Petty while his songs paint pictures of the changing
rural South all delivered in an understated Southern rock. Dubbed "Carolina
roots rock," Noonan delivers a 12 song set of wins, losses and personal triumphs.
-- Jeff Weiss, Miles of Music (Timberline Media)
Signed/Numbered
limited edition CD of 2000! June 2005 Graham Parker and the Figgs rolled into
Chicago for the last show of their tour. 103 Degrees in June documents that night
when the music takes over, when the crowd and the band feed off one another and
no one minds being soaked to the skin. Hot? Hell yes, it was hot. GP and the boys
were in top form from their tour and they tore through killer versions of songs
covering the length of GP's legendary career. Track Listings: Don't Get Excited/Soul
Shoes/Stick to Me/Vanity Press/Nothing's Gonna Pull It Apart/If It Ever Stops
Rainin'/Bad Chardonnay/Dislocated Life/Brand New Book/Local girls/Pourin' It All
Out/Hotel Chambermaid/The Raid/Hold Back The Night/There's Nothing On The Radio/Saturday
Night Is Dead. (Bloodshot)
Chicago-based
multi-instrumentalist and lyricist Andrew Bird picked up his first violin at the
age of 4. Actually, it was a Cracker Jack box with a ruler taped to it, and the
first of his many Suzuki music lessons involved simply bowing to the teacher and
going home. He spent his formative years soaking up classical repertoire completely
by ear so when it came time for a restless teen-ager to make the jump to Hungarian
Gypsy music, early jazz, country blues, south Indian etc., it wasn't such a giant
leap. It's fitting that now, though classically trained, he has instead opted
to play his violin in a most unconventional manner, accompanying himself on glockenspiel
and guitar, adding singing and whistling to the equation, and becoming a pop songwriter
in the process. Armchair Apocrypha was recorded mainly in Minneapolis at Crazy
Beast Studios (Ben Durrant) and Third Ear Studios (Tom Herbers). A cast of collaborators
was drawn from the surrounding music scene: Drummer and keyboard player Martin
Dosh, singer Haley Bonar, bassist Chris Morrissey, and multi-instrumentalist Jeremy
Ylvisaker (who, along with Dosh, now features in Andrew's live lineup) added their
talents to the album, which was mixed at the famed, haunted Pachyderm Studios
in Cannon Falls, Minnesota. It is an album that sums up where Andrew's career
has taken him, yet is completely very much of his artistic present. (Fat Possum)
The
Perfect face is Arthur Dodge's fifth release but the first without his longtime
backing band the Horsefeathers. Incredible songwriting combined with a warm and
direct vocal delivery over a perfect blend of acoustic guitar, pedal steel, banjo,
electric piano and stand up bass. Fans of Bruce Springsteen's "Nebraska,"
early Tom Waits and Kris Kristofferson will find much to like here. Guests include
Adrianne Verhoeven, formerly of The Anniversary and currently touring with Orenda
Fink, and Eric Mardis from Split Lip Rayfield. (Remedy Records)
Last
Of The Breed is a two disc, 22 song collection of newly recorded versions of country
classics by three of the genres most important and inflential artist. Last Of
The Breed was recorded in Nashville and produced by the extraordinary Fred Foster,
who also produced Nelson's You Don't Know ME: The Songs OF Cindy Walker. Some
of Nashville's finest were brought in for these sessions including steel guitar
legend Buddy Emmons and renowned fiddler Johnny Gimble. Beautiful backing vocals
were provided by the Jordanaires. Last Of The Breed has the sound and feel of
a classic album in a very natural way. (Lost Highways)
For
the first time the darker, more poetic highlights of Porter Wagoner's astounding
career have been compiled on CD. Includes many tracks that have never before been
on CD. Deluxe collectors 16 page package featuring original LP artwork and exclusive
liner notes. All tracks have been remastered in 2006 from the original master
tapes! Features a stunning, spine tingling duet with Dolly Parton! Compiled by
noted musician (Snog, Soma, Black Lung) and film composer (The Hard Word etc.)
David Thrussell. Track Listing: Out Of The Silence/The Rubber Room/George Leroy
Chickashea/Cassie/Fairchild/Indian Creek/Lonely Comin' Down/Bones/Jim Johnson/Lonelyville/My
Many Hurried Southern Trips/As Simple As I Am/Woman Hungry/First Mrs Jones/The
Cold Hard Facts Of Life/Shopworn/Julie/The Caroll County Accident/Let Me In/Wino/The
Bottom Of The Bottle/Nothing Between/Crumbs From Another Man's Table/He's Alone
Again Tonight/Life Rides The Train/Little Boy's Prayer/My Last Two Tens/The Party
- Dolly Parton/Moments In Meditation. (Omni) 
The
double album contains 14 new songs plus an 83-minute DVD featuring interviews,
recording sessions and more. No More Beautiful World circles around choice and
accountability and how individuals truly can affect change in their own lives,
as well as others - for better or for worse. Even its title suggests a glass is
half-empty/-full perspective and Clyne wrote many of the songs to encourage personal
introspection. From the pop goodness of "Hello New Day" to the straight-ahead
"Maybe We Should Fall in Love," to the edgy "Andale," he continues
to weave the song mastery that ensures that words are never wasted. (Emmajava
Recordings) 
"If
The Ocean Gets Rough continues Willy's worldview of underclass realism. These
are well-travelled songs with dust behind their ears. Written on tour and recorded
with his family in a small no frills studio only adds to the image of cottage
industry 'keeping it real'. His mum even steps up on backing vocal duties. There's
no major change here in either instrumentation (still acoustic) or song matter
(quirky tales of small town/big themes). Fans of Bright Eyes, The Magic Numbers
and M Wardshould pay attention..." --Andy Petch-Jex, musicomh.com (Astralwerks)
A
raw, modern record of thirteen stellar songs that feels like a celebration of
life. Jesse writes about struggles and smiles; about finding ways to "keep
on keeping on" with the lyrically intimate slice of life and detail he's
known for, while covering a larger palate. He conveys happiness and sadness in
the same note, using both electric guitars and acoustics, modern keyboards and
acoustic piano, power driven drums and happy jangly percussions with driving bass
lines and big voice choruses. This is the 3rd album from the New York native and
features guest appearances from Ryan Adams, Chris Shifflett [Foo Fighters], Josh
Homme [Queens of the Stone Age] and Bruce Springsteen plus an intimate acoustic
version of The Replacements' 'Bastards of Young'. (Adeline Records)
Produced
by Gerald Boyd, Dollar Theatre Movie consists of 13 original songs, all of which
were written or co-written by Drew. Each track is an insight into his musical
evolution over the last two years. The earthy arrangements and passionate lyrics
of Dollar Theatre Movie represent a sound that is distinctly Kennedy's. With influences
ranging as wide as Johnny Cash and Guy Clark to Ben Folds and Ryan Adams, the
music rises as a loose cooperative between sounds that all share a common root
system sewn deep within the American soil. With lyrics that show thought and intelligence,
and hooks that command attention, Dollar Theatre Movie proves to be a highly satisfying
ride, from the opening note to the rolling of the credits. Kelly Willis guests.
(Sustain) 
Drums
And Guns is the eighth full-length from Minnesota's Low, and their second for
Sub Pop. While these songs feature new elements (looped vocals, drum machines,
etc.), and are thoroughly, radiantly contemporary, they remain undeniably Low's.
Jack Pereira, from harmoniummusic.com wrote, "... lyrically the album has
countless highlights, the musical quality is turned up quite a few notches here
in comparison to other Low albums. The quiet aesthetic remains, but songs like
"Sandinista" and "Always Fade" are much busier, and the endless
carousel of sounds create a hectic background for the fraught lyrics. Despite
this seeming chaos, the muted nature of the music gives it a serene beauty, much
like the lyrics: scathing yet artistic. (Sub Pop)
Vandaveer
is Mark Charles Heidinger. Mark Charles. In recent seasons (and in future seasons,
no doubt) Mark Charles traversed the mighty American highways spreading golden
pop rock cheer and debauchery as principle singer, songwriter, hand-clapper, and
chorus-yelper for The Apparitions. Where The Apparitions cast five hearty votes
for bombast, electricity, and drums, Vandaveer steers left, detouring through
the quieter side of song doing his very best to learn what makes an acoustic guitar
the worldÍs finest storytelling machine.
"Eclectic
enough to cover both Tom Waits ("Heart of a Saturday Night") and Paul
Westerberg (the touching "Skyway" has never sounded more lovely) without
feeling forced, Mary Karlzen keeps both feet firmly in the folk-rock Americana
that has always defined her work. Her girlish voice shifts between Juliana Hatfield,
Beth Orton and Jewel, finding the innocence and longing in personal songs that
are almost always sung in the first person. She's a singer/songwriter in the tradition
of John Hiatt and early Joni Mitchell, serious and smart with an unerring eye
for detail in her lyrics. Wanderlust Diaries is bookended by stripped-down tunes
where Karlzen is joined only by John Deaderick's spartan piano. But the disc is
dominated by strummy band tracks played with finesse by, among others, E Street
Band bassist Garry Talent and ex-Wilco drummer Ken Coomer. Karlzen's acoustic
guitar focuses the sound, and producer/multi-instrumentalist Jansen Press adds
just enough instruments and frills to underscore the singer's lyrics without ever
overwhelming them." -- Hal Horowitz, All Music Guide (Dualtone) 
For
their fifth full-length (and first with Touch And Go), the band met up with Brendan
Canty (Fugazi) to iron out a new set of anthems that arrive with a confident and
outspoken immediacy. Some songs evoke the melodic spirit of Andy Partridge, Ray
Davies, and "ArgyBargy"-era Squeeze, while others clink glasses with
The Pogues, while still others find Ted taking his falsetto in new directions
with vocals that caress each composition with the greatest delicacy and grace.
Along with the punk sound and energy found in the group's previous works, this
record finds soul, funk, and R&B injected into the mix. (Touch & Go Records)
Featuring
ex-Jesus And Mary Chain luminaries Jim Reid, William Reid and Ben Lurie with Jim
and William's sister Linda on vocals, Sister Vanilla's Little Pop Rock is an exhilaratingly
fresh pop record which also serves as a timely reminder of just how essential
the seminal group from East Kilbride actually were. There can be no doubt that
the song-writing on Little Pop Rock incorporates many elements that will be familiar
to Mary Chain fans, but to focus solely on the input of the estranged Reid brothers
would be a disservice to the vocals of their sister Linda. If the reconvening
of Jim and William on the same album (since The Jesus And Mary Chain's final offering
Munki in 1998) is some cause for celebration, it's the sheer strength of Little
Pop Rock, the allure of Linda's vocals and how angry, reflective and urgent the
songs sound that should have you throwing an all-out street party. (Chemikal Underground
Records) 
While
this album is their debut on Lizard King Records, The Pierces have had two previous
albums via major labels. However, with this record, the two sisters have begun
a new musical chapter with a more eclectic, fever-induced gypsy sound which can
only be specially brewed in Manhattan's Lower East Side. "The Pierces are
perfectly in keeping with the Bright-Eyes-led folking up of New York. Disturbingly
attractive sisters, Catherine and Allison are genuinely talented" - NME.
(Lizzard King Records) 
Bobby
Bare is, in some ways, a deceptive artist. His smooth, beguiling baritone and
accomplished Countrypolitan productions sometimes tend to overshadow the fact
that he is an artist of immense substance. Two of his most impressive country-concept
albums are presented here, restored and remastered from the original RCA Victor
master tapes, with a number of rare extra tracks. "A Bird Named Yesterday"
was originally issued in 1967 and is, quite simply, stunning. "Somebody Bought
My Old Hometown" is probably the closest Nashville has ever come to an anti-corporate
diatribe and "They Covered Up the Old Swimming Hole" is a rant against
the urban sprawl disguised as charming hick nostalgia. Most tracks make their
first appearance on CD including a number of very rare "45" only cuts!
A mighty and compelling collection. First time on CD! Deluxe collectors 16 page
full color package featuring original LP artwork and exclusive liner notes. All
tracks are remastered 2006 from the original master tapes! Compiled by noted musician
(Snog, Soma, Black Lung) and film composer (The Hard Word etc.) David Thrussell.
Track Listing: A Bird Named Yesterday/Recitation/Somebody Bought My Old Home Town/Recitation/Ode
To The Little Brown Shack Out Back/Recitation/The Day The Saw Mill Closed Down/Recitation/The
Air Conditioner Song/Recitation/I've Got A Thing About Trains/Recitation/The Old
Gang's Gone/Recitation/They Covered Up The Old Swimming Hole/The Church In The
Wildwood/A Bird Named Yesterday (Chorus Only)/Passin' Through/You Can't Stop The
Wild Wind From Blowing/Got Leavin' On Her Mind/The Long Black Veil/Heaven Help
My Soul/Talk Me Some Sense/It Ain't Me Babe/All The Good Times Are Past And Gone/What
Color (Is A Man)/A Little Bit Later On Down The Line/Salt Lake City/(For A While)
We Helped Each Other Out/When I've Learned/Sandy's Crying Again/When Am I Ever
Gonna Settle Down/Don't Do Like I Done Son/The Law Is For The Protection Of The
People/If There's Not A Hell (There Ought To Be/The Town That Broke My Heart.(Omni)
These
are the original 1960's recordings for the Monument label of renowned folklorist
Jimmy Driftwood sometimes known as Jimmie Driftwood). Covered by everybody from
Johnny Cash (on his sublime "American Recordings" album) to Johnny Horton
(his #1 hit "Battle Of New Orleans") amongst many others. Remastered
and presented here for the first time on CD. First time on CD! Deluxe collectors
16 page full color package featuring original LP artwork and exclusive liner notes.
All tracks are remastered 2006 from the original master tapes! Compiled by noted
musician (Snog, Soma, Black Lung) and film composer (The Hard Word etc.) David
Thrussell. (Omni)
Track
Listing: Intro/Mr. Bojangles/Ripplin' Waters/American Dream/Make A Little Magic/Fire
In The Sky/Dance Little Jean/Long Hard Road (The Sharecropper's Dream)/High Horse/Modern
Day Romance/Partners, Brothers And Friends/Stand A Little Rain. (Wea)
We
Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank is a new chapter in Modest Mouse's career
with the new infusion of Johnny Marr (The Smiths) and the extra percussion muscle
brought by Plummer and Peloso. Produced by Good News... helmer Dennis Herring.
(Sony)
Track
Listing: 1982/On the Other Hand/Diggin' up Bones/Forever and Ever, Amen/Too Gone
Too Long/I Told You So/Deeper Than the Holler/It's Just a Matter of Time/Hard
Rock Bottom of Your Heart/Look Heart, No Hands. (Wea)
Abattoir
Blues Tour features songs from critically acclaimed 2004 double album Abattoir
Blues / The Lyre OF Arpheus, plus an array of classic material from the band's
repertoire. The 2 CDs contain live recordings from various dates on the 2004 "Abattoir
Blues" tour. The 2 DVDs contain footage from two live concerts: first disc
taken from one of the bands' 3 sold out "Abattoir Blues" concerts at
London's Brixton Academy (November 11th 2004); second disc offers excerpts from
London's Hammersmith Apollo show filmed during 2003 "Nocturama" tour.
The DVDs also include all the promotional videos from the last two albums, plus
special bonus behind the scenes footage of the "Bring It On" video.
(Mute)
"Making straight-ahead rock isn`t rocket science. It`s breaking into the
lab, mixing the contents of a couple test tubes, and trying not to blow shit up.
And it`s the kind of science that singer/songwriter/drummer Terry Anderson has
been excelling at for close to 30 years, with co-starring roles in various North
Carolina bands and three strong solo releases to his credit. These days he leads
his own Olympic Ass-Kickin` Team, whose consistently entertaining debut combines
the southern-fried Face-isms of the Georgia Satellites, the pile-driving rock
of Rockpile, and the scruffy heart of midtempo NRBQ - three reference points that
Anderson comes by honestly. He plays with ex-Satellite Dan Baird in the Yayhoos.
He frequently writes with former NRBQer Al Anderson (their collaboration "You
Know Me" shines here.) And well, he really likes Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe."
- No Depression Magazine, Nov, 2005 (Doublenaught)
Culled
from material recorded between `90 - `93, these songs are finally seeing commercial
release for the first time. There are a couple of tracks featuring the Georgia
Satellites lineup circa Salvation And Sin; the rest of the tunes here come from
the Love Songs and Buffalo Nickel sessions. There`s a great variety of rowdy and
rockin` material here, and Dan`s included some extensive liner notes detailing
how these tunes came about and their various paths to the storage shelf. (Jerkin`
Crocus UK) 
Songwriter/bassist/lead vocalist Jay Murphree is the key figure in Atlanta, GA`s
"Country Rock `n` Roll Hitmakers" The Bluejays. Murphree`s voice combines
the smoothness and charm of Chris Isaak with the honky-tonk flair of Buck Owens.
The tunes fit somewhere in that bit of comparative signposting as well as the
band offer up a healthy 15-track (presumably culled from a hundred) set of smooth
rockin` twang. Hints of rockabilly, desert rock `n` roll and Tex-Mex emerge from
these fine tunes, which, in fairness, include a few written and performed by the
other talented members of the quartet. Their understated retro quality is rounded
out with classic country songwriting, ensuring a good time - and a few heartbroken
ones too - from start to finish. -- Robinson, Miles Of Music (Hithouse Records)
That warm `n` fuzzy feeling for Frog Holler around here has just been officially
upgraded to hot `n` fiery with the arrival of Haywire. Darren Schlappich leads
this Pennsylvanian group with an amiable tone and lyrical smarts that`ll both
wend their way into your head and heart. With your complete approval of course.
The band manages to sound both natural and clever through this melody-wise collection
of twangy alt. country-pop, roots-rock and folksy acoustic tunes. Twisting on
minor with a smoldering sonic edge, Haywire was produced by Brian McTear (The
Bigger Lovers, matt pond PA, The Trouble With Sweeney). Along with engineer and
co-producer Amy Morrissey (Marissa Nadler), McTear captures the band from one
sublime moment to the next; one notable (of many) is the punchy roots-rock gem
"Sight Unseen" with its irresistible mantra at the end, "If I told
you sight unseen the future`s bright would you believe me?" The answer is
undoubtedly yes!! Through four LPs and an EP, the band has proved to be infallible,
and Haywire has, despite its title, is in perfectly good working order. -- Robinson,
Miles Of Music (ZoBird) 
Mic Harrison & The Highscore bring the fun back into truck driving country.
This album kicks off with the energetic `Mighty Good Wine` and continues down
the party highway. Push Me On Home is a departure from his pop-influenced past.
The High Score bring a muscular country rock sound that compliment Harrison`s
whiskey-soaked voice. Together they`ve created a hard hitting collection of sing-along
drinking songs. Turn it up, head out on the highway, roll down the windows and
sing it out. That way you can join the fun the band is clearly having. -- Jeff
Weiss, Miles of Music (Self-Released) 
Candylion'
is the new solo album from Gruff Rhys. It is a mesmerising journey into the mind
of one of our most talented singers and songwriters. It seems fitting therefore
that insight into the workings behind the album come straight from the man himself…"
The cornerstones of this record became the soft vocal sound of Psychocandy-era
The Jesus and Mary Chain coupled with the sonic sweetshop of daisy age hip hop.
Coincidently I had been listening and dancing hard during this period to a lot
of my parents' old 1960's and 70's Welsh language pop, folksploitation and progressive
rock 7 inches whilst helping Finders Keepers Records compile an album of the period
which was called 'Welsh Rare Beat'. With all these pieces of my past swimming
around my brain I dropped a lot of slow-mo solo acoustic numbers and built up
a bedrock of varied sounds, inviting my friend Owen over to add double bass, and
Lisa Jen from the band 9bach - who comes from my home town and shares my Bethesda
accent - to sing." (Team Love)
The Decemberists: A Practical
Handbook includes the band's November 4, 2005 concert at Portland's Roseland Theater
in its entirety, as well as a documentary about the band called "Paris Before
the War" and the videos for "The Tain", "The Bachelor and
the Bride", "16 Military Wives", "The Soldiering Life",
and "Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect". (Kill Rock Stars)
It's the Comedy Central Roast
of William Shatner. Watch as he's feted by comics and co-stars alike, ranging
from Andy Dick, Greg Giraldo, Patton Oswalt, and Fred Willard to fellow "trekkers"
George Takei and Nichelle Nichols. Whether it's Jeffrey Ross lambasting Shatner's
overacting or Sarah Silverman and Jimmy Kimmel regretting their choice of a certain
"Shatner-endorsed" travel company, you won't want to miss one Shatner-skewering
minute! (Comedy Central)
Beverly Keel, Middle Tennessee
State University professor wrote on the book jacket, "The Country Music Reader
is a wonderful collection of portraits of the poets, pioneers, and troubadours
in country and bluegrass music and reveals the personal thoughts and histories
of these creators that are so often overlooked in the fast-paced music industry."
The 20 essays in this collection, edited by Randy Rudder, are authored by notables
Peter Cooper, Bill DeMain, Bill Friskics-Warren, Chet Flippo, Geoffrey Himes and
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