NEW RELEASES 04.01.08 |
TOC
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It's A Cracker ! |
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IT'S
A CRACKER! IT'S
A CRACKER!
SAM
MELLON & THE SKYLARKS BUTCH
RYAN BAND PATTY
HURST SHIFTER BRENDON
JAMES WRIGHT & THE WRONGS |
Dave
Insley may have left Arizona for Austin, but he hasn`t let the neon flame he carries
for vintage honky-tonk dim. With a reedy baritone recalling early Willie Nelson
(vibrato and all), Insley`s delivery and material make him less of a singer, more
of a storyteller. And he is capable of telling a fully-formed tale in less than
four minutes ("Geneva," "Exit 93"). His backing band, The
Careless Smokers, provide the Bakersfield-inspired instrumental foundation for
Insley. Several songs feature hints of modern jangle-pop like the bouncy "Waitin`
Where She Hides" and "Beating Ya Down." There are also whimsical
touches - such as the jaw harp and glockenspiel on "Everything`s Broken Again"
- that nicely underscore the lyrical content. Insley isn`t afraid to go back to
the country catalogue. His intriguing choices are performed admirably. On Johnny
Darrell`s "Come See What`s Left Of Your Man," he comes across with the
sly charm of early Roger Miller. He puts his own deft touches on "Ol` What`s
Her Name." A solid, engaging recording. -- Linda Daily Paulson, countrystandardtime.com
Art
springs from personal hardship? Frequently. Especially on 'Past Life Crashing."
Herring spent the last several years of his life tearing himself down, picking
himself up, making an unreleased version of this record, and repeating the process.
Andy Riggs wrote on Americana-UK.com, "It’s a superb record full of
regret, looking back, looking forward and a record that asks for one more last
chance." His mix of ballads and up-tempo rockers meld with his wrenching
melodies do not hide his disquieting search for redemption. His third CD may be
his best but it was emotionally costly. Let's hope he can get right and make music
this good again without hitting bottom a few times in the process. -- Jeff Weiss,
Miles of Music (self-released)
Americana-UK.com's
Dave Cowling described Fournier's style as, "... mixture of John Fogerty
and Jim White. Underneath the bluster there is a genuine eye for detail and storytelling
that doesn’t get in the way of a decent riff." Three records into his
late-starting career Joe Fournier has refined -- if you can actually "refined"
for a guy who sings with a voice that is as much a holler as it is singing --
his style. The songs are detailed stories about unfolding events. Sometimes hilarious,
sometimes heartbreaking but always rocking. He is very much an America heartland
rocker, even if he hails from the Eastern edges of Canada, compiling a collection
of songs that are infectious and immediately memorable. Joyously sing along with
Joe even while his stories are breaking your heart. -- Jeff Weiss, Miles of Music
(Junkyard Dog)New Releases |
BLACK
KEYS
SUN
KIL MOON
SANDRINE
THAT'LL
FLAT GIT IT 26
|
Last
year, Gnarls Barkley's sound scientist, Brian "Danger Mouse" Burton,
asked the Black Keys to write songs for an album by Ike Turner. When Turner died
in December, so did the project, but its ideas took root. Burton was drafted to
produce the next album by the group from Akron, Ohio, and the result is the Keys'
most multicolored set: A psychedelic hybrid of vintage Southern R&B, brutish
British Invasion rock, and country blues that calls to mind race-blurring Seventies
badasses like Jim Ford and Tony Joe White. That's great for the Keys, who are
often obscured by the shadow of fellow Midwestern drums-and-guitar duo the White
Stripes. Sure, minimalist stompers like "I Got Mine" and "Remember
When (Side B)," all raw rock riffs and cymbal sizzles, echo early Jack 'n'
Meg. But "Psychotic Girl" is something else, with its banjo opening
and spook-house choir. Ditto the Memphis soul of "Lies" and "Oceans
and Streams," which show vocalist Dan Auerbach as a first-rate updater of
old-school tradition. Note to Amy Winehouse: Book these dudes for a collaboration.
-- Will Hermes, rollingstone.com (Nonesuch)
Matthew
Ryan has two moods: sad and angry. Sometimes you get both in the same song. You
get more of the same on this album, but with a sympathetic and sloppy band backing
him up. And what you end up with is a Replacements album with a very literate
singer/songwriter. Nothing against Paul Westerberg, but he never quoted the great
World War I soldier/poet Wilfrid Owen. - Andy Whitman, Paste
'April'
is Sun Kil Moon's first original record since the acclaimed 2003 debut 'Ghosts
Of The Great Highway.' 11 songs at almost 74 minutes, "April" is a collection
of songs recorded between March and August 2007 in San Francisco (Hyde Street
Studios) and Seattle (Well Recording). In the spirit of Sun Kil Moon's 'Ghosts'
and 'Tiny Cities,' Mark Kozelek was joined by the same players as before, including
drummer Anthony Koutsos (Red House Painters), bassist Geoff Stanfield (Black Lab),
violist Michi Aceret, and percussionist David Revelli. "April" also
finds Mark in the company of guest vocalists Bonnie Prince Billy, Ben Gibbard
(Death Cab For Cutie), and Eric Pollard (Retribution Gospel Choir).
2008
sees the release of Keep It Simple, the 35th album which Van Morrison has produced
himself. Morrison's first new album of new material since 2005, and the first
in several years in which he penned all 11 songs specifically for one album. On
this new record, Morrison honours all his varied influences - jazz, folk, blues,
Ulster Scots, country, soul and gospel (even making uniquely innovative use of
the mighty ukulele) - at times melding them all together at once in his own signature
sound. Keep It Simple does not boast the big horns or string arrangements of some
of Morrison's previous work. What it does feature are gorgeous songs rich with
emotion, depth and beauty. Van has journeyed far and wide since his early days
in Belfast but inevitably, the man Bob Geldof called "the one true genius
in Irish music" has invariably come back to the philosophy summed up in the
title of his new record. (Lost Highway)
Robyn
Hitchcock has taken time out from working with The Venus 3 to compile an exclusive
album, "Shadow Cat", for London's premier oddball label Sartorial Records.
This collection of previously unreleased material from the Hitchcock vaults dates
from 1993- 1999, providing the missing link between the A&M and the Warner
Bros years. "Shadow Cat" is essential for those who have followed Robyn
from his early days in The Soft Boys through his long, strange solo career. (Sartorial)
CD+DVD
that features a 64-page book and the Vincent Moon film 6 Days (which includes
behind-the-scenes footage and performance pieces of various songs on the album)
plus two bonus tracks "Red Head Walking" and "Airliner."
Muse
staged two massive sold-out performances at 90,000-seat Wembley Stadium in London
in June, 2008. The best performances from those concerts, as well as bonus backstage
footage, are presented on the CD/DVD set HAARP. Tracks: Disc: 1 Knights Of Cydonia
/ Hysteria / Supermassive Black Hole / Map Of The Problematique / Butterflies
And Hurricanes / Invincible / Starlight / Time Is Running Out / New Born / Unintended
/ Microcuts / Stockholm Syndrome / Take A Bow / Disc: 2 Knights Of Cydonia / Hysteria
/ Supermassive Black Hole / Map Of The Problematique / Butterflies And Hurricanes
/ Hoodoo / Apocalypse Please / Feeling Good / Invincible / Starlight / Time Is
Running Out / New Born / Soldiers Poem / Unintended / Blackout / Plug In Baby
/ Stockholm Syndrome / Take A Bow 
'The
album was recorded by Malcolm Burns at his studio located within proximity to
Woodstock, NY. Sandrine's comforting rich voice shines over her deep seeded hooks,
here and there echoing many of the great pop and soul pieces of the past. The
songs reveal someone who has tasted of both life's bitter and its' sweet, with
charming melodies punching holes in the dark with the light, all the time gaining
ground on recapturing that which is good. Counting fifteen tracks, Dark Fades
Into The Light covers some ground, including the soulful slow groove of "Immortal,"
the Dusty Springfieldesque "Love and Pain," the mysterious city hump
of "Inertia," the coffee table romance of "Red Shoes," and
many more. One of my current favorites is "Deep Freeze," equipped with
a strong rhythm section working a melody line quite reminiscent of Lionel Richie's
"All Night Long." Despite the album title, it isn't always so clear
whether the sun is rising or setting on Dark Fades Into The Light, but rest assured
the golden mass is always in sight.' -- parasitesandsycophants.blogspot.com
Whittled
down to a trio, the South Austin Jug Band's sound hasn't changed as much as matured.
Nearly gone is the happy bluegrass replaced by an introspective feel that was
always there, just not in the quantity presented on third release Strange Invitation.
For inspiration, singer/guitarist James Hyland, multi-instrumentalist Brian Beken,
and Dennis Ludiker, mandolin and fiddle, moved to the Chelsea Hotel in New York
City, where Arthur C. Clarke wrote 2001: A Space Odyssey and Sid and Nancy spent
their last days. SAJB must have caught the bohemian vibe, as tunes developed there,
"Neutral Ground" and "Wheatfield With Crows," recall the acoustic
side of the Grateful Dead, easygoing and supremely melodic. They engage the stoner
side of Beck by covering "Jack-Ass," stealing his lyric for the album
title. There's no sluggishness, just superb musicianship, enticing songsmithing,
and, still, no jug. -- Jim Caligiuri, Austin Chronicle
The
Rolling Stones `Shine A Light' is the soundtrack to director Martin Scorsese's
film of the same name, which documents The Rolling Stones' performances at New
York's Beacon Theatre on October 29 and November 1, 2006. With special guests
Buddy Guy, White Stripes' Jack White and Christina Aguilera joining the Stones
onstage, the Oscar-winning director captures an extraordinary performance from
the band.
Fallout
Records presents Fred Neil's early collected singles. As the author of standards
including "The Dolphins," "Everybody's Talkin'" and "Other
Side To This Life," Fred Neil needs no introduction to music fans. But before
becoming a folksinger and profound influence on Bob Dylan, Tim Buckley, John Sebastian
and others, he worked as a jobbing singer, songwriter and session musician around
New York. His early songs were recorded by artists including Buddy Holly and Roy
Orbison, but his own six pop and rockabilly singles, released between 1957 and
1961, sold in tiny quantities and have rarely been heard since. They are gathered
here for the first time ever, offering a fascinating and historically important
insight into one of the most celebrated singer-songwriters of all time. (Fallout
Records)
Concentrating
on songs that Randy wrote between 1962-1969, this 26 track set acquaints the listener
with the original or early versions of songs that have passed into the realms
of standards ("I Think It's Going To Rain Today", "Mama Told Me
(Not to Come)" and more. "On Vine Street" also features many recordings
of songs from Randy's early days as a staff writer at Metric Music that have never
been reissued before in any format. Several of these appear here in stereo for
the first time, too.The tracks are: The Biggest Night Of Her Life - Harpers Bizzare,
Simon Smith And The Amazing Dancing Bear - The Alan Price Set, Mama Told Me Not
To Come - Eric Burdon & The Animals, Have You Seen My Baby - Fats Domino,
Old Kentucky Home - The Beau Brummels, So Long Dad - Nilsson, Love Story - Rick
Nelson, Vine Street (Intro: Black Jack David) - Van Dyke Parks, I'll Be Home -
Lorraine Elisson, I Think It's Going To Rain Today - Dusty Springfield, I Don't
Want To Hear It Anymore - Scott Walker (first issued as by The Walker Brothers),
I've Been Wrong Before - Cilla Black, Take Me Away - Jackie Deshannon, Happy New
Year - Beverly, Baby, Don't Look Down - Billy Storm, Friday Night - The O'Jays,
Big Brother - Calvin Grayson, Nobody Needs Your Love - Gene Pitney, Just One Smile
- The Tokens, I Can't Remember Ever Loving You - Tammy Grimes, While The City
Sleeps - Irma Thomas, Take Her - Frankie Laine, Love Is Blind - Erma Franklin,
Somebody's Waiting - Gene McDaniels, Looking For Me - Vic Dana, They Tell Me It's
Summer - The Fleetwoods. (Ace)
The
compilation is neatly divided between two eras of the studio/label. Disc one (the
60's) features rare and unissued garage and psychedelic singles and early studio
experiments of Big Star's Alex Chilton and Chris Bell. Disc two (the 70s) examines
the Stax era and beyond, with selections from Cargoe and the Hot Dogs and no less
than 14 rare or unissued Big Star related cuts, most of which have not been on
CD before. Artists include: The Avengers, Tommy Hoehn, The Wallabies, Christmas
Future, Rock City, Lawson & Four More. 
When
his classic Outlander LP failed to break through in 1970, Welsh singer-songwriter
Meic Stevens' major label days were over. Gwymon ("Seaweed"), his legendary
second LP, was recorded on his own terms in London in the summer of 1972, and
highlights his pop sensibilities, with folk and blues influences also to the fore.
It was only released in Wales in a tiny pressing, and has barely been heard since.
Shortly after its recording, Meic moved to France, where he spent much of the
rest of the decade in exile. The album makes its long-awaited CD debut here, complete
with two bonus tracks, a detailed booklet featuring rare photos and an introduction
from the man himself, making it an essential purchase for all fans of psychedelic
singer-songwriting. (Sunbeam)
Lydia
Mendoza was the first Queen of Tejano Music, with a recording career that began
in 1928 and lasted more than 60 years. Known as "La Alondra de la Frontera"
(the Lark of the Border), Lydia was revered as a voice of the working class and
a masterful interpreter of songs. She was the first Texan to receive the National
Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship, and was awarded the National
Medal of Arts in 1999 by President Bill Clinton. She passed away in December 2007,
after a long and varied career. The Best of Lydia Mendoza is a collection of her
best recordings chosen by Chris Strachwitz, Arhoolie Records founder and president,
and dear friend of Lydia Mendoza. The accompanying booklet will contain many rare
photographs, song transcriptions, lyric translations, and extensive notes. (Arhoolie)
Rarely
Issued 'comeback' recordings by A.P. & Sara Carter and their children Jeanette
and Joe. 57 tracks featuring many of their biggest songs, and a number of gospel
tunes. Contains A.P. Carter's final recordings. Expertly remastered 10 page booklet
with notes by Pat Harrison. (JSP)
15
previously unreleased songs together with the ultra-rare late '60s promo-only
single, Look Again. For the first time ever, the original version of Bobby Womack's
Harry Hippie, as well as other undiscovered classics like I'll Be Ahead If I Can
Quit While I'm Behind and Point Of No Return. Contains previously unpublished
photos personally supplied by Jim Ford. (Bear Family)
Now
Bear Family gathers together all of his 'concept' LPs for Capitol 1968 -- 1976,
plus the 'live' LPs... plus the LPs by Haggard's band, the Strangers. The third
and final box set in Bear Family’s documentation of Merle Haggard's Capitol
recordings includes all of these ‘concepts.’ The box includes the Jimmie
Rodgers tribute double album from 1968 and the Bob Wills tribute album from 1970
for which Haggard reunited many ofWills‘s original Texas Playboys. There
are three exciting live albums, including one of the best selling country albums
of all time, 'Okie From Muskogee--Live In Muskogee, Oklahoma.' There is the ambitious
'Land Of Many Churches' gospel project, for which Haggard recorded revival-style
gospel music in backwoods Baptist churches, San Quentin, a Nashville rescue mission
and a California Pentecostal church. (Bear Family)
Contains
96 tracks with a playing time of 212:32 minutes and a 100 page booklet in a 3
CD digipak package! Contains every Starday recording -- previously issued or unissued
-- by Texas honky tonk legend Frankie Miller, including alternate takes, including
the giant 1959 hit Blackland Farmer. Contains more than two dozen previously unissued
Starday demos,false-starts, and original session chatter plus many other songs
never available on CD. Includes a wealth of vintage photographs and clippings,
newly researched biography, and complete discography. (Bear Family)
The
very best of Ronnie's rock 'n' roll recordings for Quality and Roulette. The all-time
wildest rock 'n' roll from the golden era. In 1958, he commenced a recording career
which has lasted for 50 years. His very first rockabilly recordings for Quality
Records of Toronto are contained here. Includes a previously unissued rockabilly
gem from 1958. Contains the very first recordings by The Band. Hawkins has always
surrounded himself with the very best musicians and the accompanying booklet explains
how his group, The Hawks, gradually evolved into the five man lineup which included
Robbie Robertson and Levon Helm. Many rare photos and an updated session discography.
(Bear Family)
Contains
171 tracks with a playing time of 242:49 minutes and a hard cover book in a 6
CD LP size box. The follow-up to Bear Family's 8-CD box 'Ricky Nelson -- The American
Dream.' Contains every Decca recording from 1963-1969, including every hit, every
single, every LP. Includes worldwide hits like String Along, Fools Rush In, For
You, The Very Thought Of You, and Rick's best-selling Dylan interpretation She
Belongs To Me. Massive hardcover book written by award-winning journalist Todd
Everett. Full discography, and many unpublished photos including some from Rick's
uncle! Fabulous musicianship from James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey, Clarence
White of the Byrds, and Randy Meisner of the Eagles. (Bear Family)
Contains
32 tracks with a playing time of 76:30 minutes and a 36 page booklet. Godfather
of rockabilly and king of the honky tonks, Webb Pierce was the biggest country
star of the 1950s! His look alone defined hillbilly glitz and glamor! Bear Family
features an exclusive compilation of uptempo songs from Pierce’s earlier
years. The 32 performances on this 'Gonna Shake This Shack Tonight' collection
cover eleven years (1949-1959) and three labels, Four Star, Pacemaker and Decca.
Highlights include Pierce’s rarely-heard rockabilly version of Teen Age Boogie,
with a rawer arrangement, previously only issued in England in 1956. A new essay
writen by Rich Kienzle. (Bear Family)
This
box contains a wealth of American music, plus a couple of jewels--Django Reinhardt's
"Nuages" and Jimmy Cliff's "The Harder They Come"--from beyond
these shores. Here are 100 songs commemorating Willie Nelson's incredible journey
by going full circle. "When I've Sang My Last Hillbilly Song," leading
off Disc One, was recorded in 1954 or '55; it is reprised on Disc Four's final
track, updated in 2007. Between those years Nelson, a Depression era kid who grew
up dirt poor in Abbott, Texas, became one of the world's most recognizable figures,
in the music/entertainment business or otherwise. One Hell Of A Ride is, quite
simply, the most all-encompassing Nelson retrospective ever assembled. (Sony)
The
Creole Belles are distinguished by the high-energy, traditional fiddle style of
Delilah, who has been playing Cajun music for the 27 years, and has studied with
many of the great Cajun and Creole musicians including Denis McGee, Canray Fontenot
& Alphonse "Bois Sec" Ardoin, Dewey Balfa, and Michael Doucet. In
1995, she joined with accordionist Maureen Karpan and established musicians Karen
Leigh and Karen Celia Heil to bring the traditional sounds of Creole music to
Cajun and zydeco fans in the Bay Area. With fiddle and accordion fronting the
band and upright bass, rubboard and guitar providing solid rhythm, they entertain
crowds with traditional, down home Cajun and Creole dance music. Creole Belles,
featuring guest artist Andrew Carriere, is their first album. (Arhoolie)
A
unique compilation specially selected by cat lovers for cat lovers. We have 24
slinky tracks from the late 50s to the mid 60s with a chic mix of rhythm &
blues, jazz, folk and soul, but with a difference, they are all about, you guessed
it, cats! The tracks are: Three Cool Cats - The Coasters, Cleo - Rene Hall, Kitty
Kat - Paul Ott, El Pussy Cat - Mongo Santamaria, Cat Hop - The Dodgers, The Siamese
Cat Song - Lu Ann Simms, Alley Cat - David Thorne, Cat Nip - Dave "baby"
Cortez, Sweet Pussycat - The James Morgan Duo, Leave My Kitten Alone - Little
Willie John, Sneakin' Up On You - Peggy Lee, The Cat - Eddie & Ernie, What's
New Pussycat - Tom Jones, Walkin' My Cat Named Dog - Norma Tanega, The Cat - Jimmy
Smith, The Cat Came Back - Sonny James, Love Kitten - Noreen Corcocan, House Cat
- The Romancers, The Kitty Kat Song - Lee Dorsey, That Darn Cat - Buddy Greco,
Let's Do The Cat - Jamie Ross Kenny Rice & Leo's Five, If You Play With Cats
- Charles Brown, Rooftop Singers - Tom Cat, Top Cat Theme - Top Cat Orchestra
& Chorus. (Ace Records)
The
album spans over 10 years and includes music from b-sides and rarities recorded
between 1995 and 2007. It also features three previously unreleased tracks: "Stephen
Stephen," written for and originally performed on Stephen Colbert's The Colbert
Report; "The Apples in stereo Theme Song," recorded for the band's website;
and the highly anticipated "Dreams," a previously unfinished track from
1997's Tone Soul Evolution.
Assembled
on this CD is some of the greatest names in 1950s and 60s country, and some of
their biggest Billboard Hot 100 hits of the period, which include some of country
music's most beloved songs of all time. As well as making the Hot 100, all except
two of our inclusions made the Billboard Country Top 10, with the vast majority
of them peaking within the top 5. The tracks are: Honky Tonk Man - Johnny Horton,
Fraulein - Bobby Helms, Caribbean - Mitchell Torok, Don't Take Your Guns To Town
- Johnny Cash, Why I'm Walkin' - Stonewall Jackson, Geisha Girl - Hank Locklin,
I Can't Stop Loving You - Don Gibson, Alone With You - Faron Young, A Fallen Star
- Jimmy Newman, Invitation To The Blues - Ray Price, Tender Years - George Jones,
Blue Boy - Jim Reeves, Mom And Dad's Waltz - Patti Page Tennessee Stud - Eddy
Arnold, My Last Date (With You) - Skeeter Davis, San Antonio Rose - Floyd Cramer,
Don't Worry - Marty Robbins, I'll Have Another Cup Of Coffee (Then I'll Go) -
Claude Gray, The Comancheros - Claude King, She's Got You - Patsy Cline, Shame
On Me - Bobby Bare. (Ace)
Bollywood
Steel Guitar is the most comprehensive collection to date of steel guitar pop
instrumental music from India. All 21 tracks featured here were film hits from
1962-1986 and all the masters of the steel guitar sound from the period are represented:
Van Shipley, Kazi Aniruddha, S. Hazarasingh, Sunil Ganguly, and Charanjit Singh.
An entirely different approach that rocks, swings, and grooves through some of
India's most beloved film tunes, the electric steel guitar as lead instrument
transforms the already infectious melodies into a multitude of higher sound dimensions.
This CD was compiled and carefully selected from rare LPs over several years by
Stuart Ellis. Here are some excerpts from his liner notes: "The term 'Bollywood'
originally referred to Bombay's (now known as Mumbai) Hindi language film industry.
Although there are a number of other studios that produce films in other languages,
more recently the definition has been expanded in the West to describe pretty
much all films produced on the sub-continent. But where in most countries a film's
soundtrack would merely be used as a promotional tool for the film, in India,
film music has become an industry unto itself with playback singers and dance
numbers. The music is just as important as the film and lives on long after the
film has left the theaters. These songs are, for the most part, the pop music
of India. As with most popular music, other artists sometimes recorded cover versions
of these songs. Of these musicians, a small number specialized in instrumental
arrangements and created what could be called the elevator music of India. While
there were a few who used the harmonium or 'mouth organ,' the most popular instrument
used in these 'instrumental favorites' was the steel guitar." 
The
29 songs that Robert Johnson recorded in various Texas hotel rooms in 1936 and
1937 are amongst the most significant and influential works in the history of
blues music. It was thus very appropriate that it was to these landmark songs
that Peter Green turned when recording the two albums which have done so much
to re-launch his career, 1998’s “The Robert Johnson Songbook” and
2000’s 'Hot Foot Powder'. These records showed a real return to form for
the founder of Fleetwood Mac and one of the greatest ever white blues guitarists.
The first justifiably won him a prestigious W.C.Handy Award from the Blues Foundation
and the second saw his Splinter Group joined by such blues legends as Buddy Guy,
Otis Rush, Dr John, Hubert Sumlin and Joe Louis Walker. The first 2 discs of this
set comprise recordings of all Robert Johnson’s songs while the 3rd disc
contains Johnson’s own recordings of the songs which made him a legend. So
fans will now have the opportunity to listen to the original blues sorcerer alongside
one of his most talented apprentices. (Snapper UK)
The
series started in 1992 and now we're up to 26 volumes of all-time classic rockabilly
organized by label. This time, it's the 4 Star label out of California which started
in 1945 and was still going strong in the rockabilly era. Several all-time bona-fide
rockabilly classics made their first appearance on the label… like Sammy
Masters' Pink Cadillac and Carl Belew's 24 Hour Night. The liner notes are written
by award winning journalist Colin Escott. (Bear Family)
Contains
33 tracks with a playing time of 79:29 minutes and a 36 page booklet. His death
in November of 2007 refocused attention on his honky-tonk/western-swing hybrid.
33 of Hank's hottest honky tonkers from Capitol, inclusive Rockin' In The Congo.
Seven songs from his greatest LP, 'Songs For Rounders. Sidemen include hot shot
country guitar country legends like Merle Travis and Joe Maphis. (Bear Family)Back In Stock |
IT'S
A CRACKER!
|
New
York-based chanteuse Liz Tormes, on her stunning debut, presents a downbeat mix
of Gothic Americana - beautiful, yet slightly dark. There are a few solid roots
pop tunes to swing the mood upward on this mostly mid-tempo collection of acoustic
based songs. Yet a prevailing melancholy in her voice threads Limelight with magnetic
warmth and honest appeal. The Village Voice says, "Nashville-transplant Tormes
plays a rich, reverb-soaked guitar-based garage rock, and comes across like a
melt of Aimee Mann and Margo Timmins, but this is not to suggest she is an imitation.
Powerful, haunting and rich, she is one to watch." We peg her for a fair
middle between Neko Case and Kathleen Edwards. Special guests include Teddy Thompson
and Ollabelle`s Amy Helm, both helping out with vocals. (Velour)
Honky-tonker
Dave Insley has been called "One of Arizona`s most original and authentic
country voices" by Dean Bonzani of Flagstaff Live. His warm drawl certainly
has a classic tone and attitude. At times, hints of Willie Nelson creep through
as he delivers this hearty set of tunes that are mostly honky-tonk friendly gems,
though they venture into other territories at times. Insley stirs it up with the
Stones-y Southern rocker "Laid To Waste" just before seasoning things
with the Southwestern flavor of "Maricopa Mountains", a wonderful duet
with Rosie Flores. And of course, "Cowboy Lullaby" sounds much as the
title suggests. A key member of dark alt. country hell raisers Trophy Husbands,
Insley is joined on Call Me Lonesome by many great friends including Rick Shea
(Dave Alvin Band), Ron Rutowski (Glen Campbell Band), Danny White (Roger Clyne
& The Peacemakers), Steve Larson (The Peacemakers), PH Naffah (Refreshments,
The Peacemakers), Mario Moreno (Forbidden Pigs), Diana Lee and Chris Gough. (self-released)
The
follow-up to last year`s critically acclaimed Dave Insley debut, Call Me Lonesome,
finds Insley collaborating with CML alums Rick Shea (Dave Alvin Band), Rosie Flores,
PH Naffah (Peacemakers), Diana Lee and Chris Gough, along with newcomers Amanda
Cunningham, Pat Johnson and Dave Gleason, for a ten-song love letter called Here
With You Tonight. Dave`s unique songwriting and deep, rich baritone have earned
him a reputation as one of the Southwest`s most original artists. And Here With
You Tonight provides further evidence that the reputation is deserved. Effortlessly
blending country, swing, folk and gospel, Insley shines a light and treks into
the dark corners of the heart, and narrates the journey with ironic detachment.
(D.I.R.) New LPs |
BLACK
KEYS ALSO
ON CD: |
DVDs | ||
BEST
OF FLATT & SCRUGGS TV 5
|
The
release of the "Best of the Flatt & Scruggs TV Show" volumes 5 and
6 follows up on the hugely successful reception in the retail marketplace of volumes
1 through 4, released in 2007. As with the earlier volumes, the "Best Of
The Flatt and Scruggs TV Show" volumes 5 and 6 will consist of live music
performances by Flatt & Scruggs with their group the Foggy Mountain Boys from
a never before available TV show filmed in their prime performing years in the
1950s and early 1960s. Flatt & Scruggs are two of the founding fathers of
bluegrass music and their names are legendary to any fan of bluegrass. 
The
release of the "Best of the Flatt & Scruggs TV Show" volumes 5 and
6 follows up on the hugely successful reception in the retail marketplace of volumes
1 through 4, released in 2007. As with the earlier volumes, the "Best Of
The Flatt and Scruggs TV Show" volumes 5 and 6 will consist of live music
performances by Flatt & Scruggs with their group the Foggy Mountain Boys from
a never before available TV show filmed in their prime performing years in the
1950s and early 1960s. Flatt & Scruggs are two of the founding fathers of
bluegrass music and their names are legendary to any fan of bluegrass. 
The
Clash are punk rock legends who helped define the genre at the tail end of the
1970s. This documentary on the group transports viewers back to those heady days,
and also talks to a number of key figures in their story, such as original member
Terry Chimes and former road manager Johnny Green. (Classic Rock Legends)
On
September 11 and 12, 2007, singer/songwriter/guitarist Ani DiFranco played two
sold-out shows before a hometown audience in Buffalo, New York. What made those
nights so special wasn't just the music--because that's always special at an Ani
show--but the fact that she was playing the inaugural shows in her very own venue,
a downtown church once slated for demolition that has been beautifully restored
as a state-of-the-art music hall and newly renamed "Babeville." Ani
took the opportunity to fashion a two-night retrospective of sorts, performing
songs from every stage of her fabled career in breathtaking new arrangements with
her latest touring band; Allison Miller on drums, Todd Sickafoose on upright bass
and Mike Dillon on vibes and percussion. The spirit of celebration was in the
air, and energy in the room--both onstage and in the audience--was extraordinary.
An
exhaustive documentary exploration of one of history's most important, socially
conscious folk singers, This Machine Kills fascists combines rare documentary
footage of Guthrie's era with interviews from the artist's friends and family.
Weighing in are Pete Seeger, Guthrie's son Arlo and daughter Nora, his friend
Jimmy Longhi, and a panel of experts. The program outlines the concerns of the
times through Guthrie's music, tracing the origins and meanings of such songs
as "Pastures of Plenty," "Pretty Boy Floyd," and "This
Land is Your Land." (Snapper UK)March 2008 Releases |
Upcoming Releases |
COLIN
MELOY
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Peace,
Love & BBQ features some of the most stirring performances of Marcia's career.
Singing the praises of simple virtues in the funky title track, working the Crescent
City strut of "Party Town" or coming to grips with the devastation of
Hurricane Katrina in the deeply moving ballad 'Where Do You Go?' Marcia galvanizes
this record with soul-touching vocals and her always killer piano playing. Dr.
John and Tracy Nelson guest. (Alligator)
Hayes
Carll released the best Americana album of 2005 in Little Rock. Carll claimed
at the time that all the good songs about Texas were already written, but that
Arkansas was fertile new territory. And he was right. Trouble in Mind, the followup
that arrives on Lost Highway Records April 8th, is worth the three-year wait.
There’s the usual colorful cast of characters -- drunkards, roustabouts,
country singers -- some of them all rolled into one autobiographical sonic package.
There’s a great cover of Tom Waits’ 'I Don’t Wanna Grow Up.' There
are gut-wrenching ballads like 'Faulkner Street' and some great southern fried
boogie, courtesy of guitar duelists Will Kimbrough and Georgia Satellites alum
Dan Baird. Best of all there’s the hilariously vengeful 'She Left Me For
Jesus,' a good ol’ boy’s plot to get back at the man who stole his formerly
fun-loving woman. 'If I ever find Jesus,' Carll avows, 'I’m gonna kick his
ass.' There’s about forty-five minutes of asskicking here, all of it of the
good, stomping musical variety. -- Andy Whitehead, Paste (Lost Highway)
With
Iron & Diamonds, Eric and Leigh have taken their rightful place on the American
jukebox. The Gibsons have made a conscious effort to co-write most of the songs
on this album. By using their own band and a single microphone for their duet
vocals, you hear exactly what you hear in a live show: a tight ensemble that plays
to the song, toneful and nuanced lead and duet harmonies, and songs that can move
you to tears or to the dance floor. (Sugar Hill)
A
fourteen-song set documenting The Decemberists' lead singer/songwriter's 2006
solo tour. Meloy was heralded by Rolling Stone as "a master of improbable
juxtaposition: arcane, detailed fictions of star-crossed passion and avenging
bloodshed dressed up in indie rock jangle, la-de-da choruses, and vintage prog-rock
bombast" in a review of The Decemberists' show in NY's Central Park last
spring. By contrast, the live solo album presents him in a stripped down, acoustic
setting. Of the thirteen Meloy originals, two are previously unreleased compositions,
"Dracula's Daughter" and "Wonder". Along the way, he employs
snippets of songs from The Smiths, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, and REM. The collection
also captures ample between-song banter. Tracks: Devil's Elbow / We Both Go Down
Together / "Evoking a Campfire Singalong" / The Gymnast High Above the
Ground / Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect > Dreams / Dracula's Daughter / Wonder
/ "A Brief Introduction to Shirley Collins" / Barbara Allen / The Engine
Driver / On The Bus Mall / "A Skull, a Ship, and a Sheep" / California
One/Youth and Beauty Brigade > Ask / The Bachelor and the Bride / A Cautionary
Song / Red Right Ankle / Bandit Queen Payment Options |
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