NEW RELEASES 04.08.08 |
TOC
|
It's A Cracker ! |
|
|
IT'S
A CRACKER!
BUTCH
RYAN BAND PATTY
HURST SHIFTER |
When
is the blessing of a nomination for an interntionally acclaimed award the moment
when you realize the business of music isn't for you? Gwil Owen had that moment.
After being nominated for an Oscar with Allison Moorer, Owen concluded he wanted
to make music for himself. That was 1999. The title of Owen's 2008 release "Gravy"
speaks of how he views this album. Made outside of the machinations of Nashville,
outside of the desire to achieve stardom and notice, Owen has put together a loose,
stylistically diverse and uplifting album. Tired of introspective shoe-gazing
songwriters? Gwil's the guy for you. Besides the title track, he charms with Faith,
Peace & Love and the always popular Don't Break Funky On Me. Gravy is a man
releasing himself from the machine and not only coming out whole, but also coming
out happy. -- Jeff Weiss, Miles of Music (Rambler Records)
Roy
Davis wrings emotion from his voice as if he learned the "how-to" from
Neil Young. For Davis, hitting the notes are less important than the feeling.
Jon Nolan's production places Davis' ragged voice to ride atop the country-rock
laments most closely resembling the sound of Wilco's A.M. Davis' outstanding debut
Grey Town showcased an artist with tumult. Fortunately, for the listeners it sounds
like he hasn't personally worked much out yet. -- Jeff Weiss, Miles of Music (self-released)New Releases |
HAYES
CARLL
COLIN
MELOY
|
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) 
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)
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)
"In
every lick and harmony, these guys take the long view of the music they love,
from its traditional roots in the southern mountains, to the first classic ensembles
of Bill Monroe, Jim & Jesse, and the Stanley Brothers, to the newgrass revolution
ignited by Crowe's band, The New South." - from the liner notes by Scott
Alarik
2008
two CD set containing the very best of his BBC Concert performances, recorded
between 1988-1991 during the tours to promote Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark and
Midnight Stroll. Robert Cray is one of the few blues artists who managed to cultivate
a mainstream following in the 1980s and 1990s. In the course of a long-running
career that began in the 1970s, he uniquely blended elements of Rhythm and Blues,
Pop, and traditional Blues to win fans to a more contemporary Blues sound. He
has to date, received five Grammy Awards for his innovative style.
Nick
Cave at 50 seems as relaxed as any retired gent. But he works harder than ever
too, last year alone producing the soundtrack (with Warren Ellis) to Andrew Dominik's
epic deconstruction of the Jesse James myth and fronting the magnificently puerile
Grinderman.. . Cave always did have a funny side. Even in his hysterical big-haired
pomp, his self-conscious invocation of Elvis played up the King's absurd side.
His cover of Leonard Cohen's already knowing Tower of Song may well be the most
lugubrious performance ever committed to tape. . . But Dig Lazarus, Dig!!!, unbelievably
the Bad Seeds' fourteenth studio album, sustains a level of casual insouciance
throughout that makes it a career standout. . . This record is ... fun, 11 well-resolved
songs that effectively refine a trademark sound. The catchy, clanging We Call
Upon the Author .. the Stooges-quoting Today's Lesson relies on jaunty handclaps
rather than raw power. . . Lie Down Here (& Be My Girl) attempts to marry
Cave's own classic Deanna and the crude Sixties anthems of lusty farm boys the
Troggs (ie, it's perfect), while the churning title track turns Lazarus into Larry
and tells a picaresque tale of a man who might not have requested resurrection.
. Experienced Cave watchers though will be most intrigued by the elegant two-chord
chug of the closing More News From Nowhere, in which he references old characters
and collaborators in a spot of light self-mythologising. -- Steve Jelbert. timesonline.co.uk
(Anti-) 
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 
"..Mining
the original 28 sides cut by the band, that featured [Bill] Monroe, Lester Flatt,
Earl Scruggs, Chubby Wise and Howard Watts, Skaggs selected 12 songs ranging from
the well-known 'Bluegrass Breakdown' and 'Little Cabin Home On The Hil' to lesser
known gems like 'Goin' Back To Old Kentucky' and 'Toy Heart.' . . . For this tribute,
Skaggs forgoes note-for-note re-creations and as is to be expected, Skaggs and
his band do a masterful job of bringing these classics to life. . . . The album
is a great album in and of itself, but it also serves as a great starting point
for anyone interested in digging deeper into the bluegrass tradition." --
C. Eric Banister, countrystandardtime.com (Skaggs Family)
Kathy
Mattea grew up in West Virginia; both of her grandfathers were coal miners and
her mother worked for the United Mine Workers. After 12 miners died in the Sago
mine explosion in 2006, she resolved to make an album of the coal-mining songs
she had been stockpiling for years. "Coal" combines the mountain string-band
sound of her roots with the studio polish of her Nashville stardom far better
than might be expected. . .Mattea adds a precision and warmth that make it easier
to enter this rich but hard-to-get-at musical vein. -- Geoffrey Himes, Washington
Post 
One
of The Wood Brothers is Chris Wood (of Medeski, Martin & Wood), but Loaded
is an album of songs, rather than instrumental jams. The duo's primary vocalist
is other brother Oliver, who sings a lot like the weary Robbie Robertson of The
Band. Coincidently (or not) The Wood Brothers also have a Dylan connection, as
this disc includes a cover of Bob's 'Buckets of Rain'. A better cover song, however,
is this pair's version of Jimi Hendrix's 'Angel', which is given an acoustic reggae
treatment and features extra vocals from Amos Lee. One other special guest is
Frazey Ford (of The Be Good Tanyas) who lends her vocal help to 'Don't Look Back'.
The blues obviously had a large influence on this disc, as these siblings cover
the traditional 'Make Me Down a Pallet on Your Floor' and work up a fine head
of bluesy steam with 'Pray Enough', which is especially fueled by producer John
Medeski's powerful organ. Best of all, there's not even the hint of compressed
fiber on this disc because Loaded is built with beautiful, all-natural wood. --
Dan MacIntosh, popmatters.com (Blue Note)
A
two-disc CD/DVD featuring previously unreleased tracks from an eclectic group
of artists who've shared their music in order to support the good works of the
Energy Action Coalition. The EAC is made up of over 40 organizations from the
US and Canada, founded and led by youth to help support and strengthen the clean
energy movement in North America. They're currently working on the Campus Climate
Challenge, which has committed over 450 college campuses to go climate neutral.
They're also responsible for Power Shift, the largest youth gathering and lobby
day on climate change in the history of the US. All profits from this release
will support EAC's efforts. Artists on this comp include The Appletrees, Feist,
Muse, Of Montreal, Pete Yorn, Bloc Party, Deerhoof, Satori, and many more.
Like
all brilliant, beautifully rendered albums, American Babies' new release washes
over you with wit, wisdom and tenderness. For the self-titled debut . . . Philadelphia-bred
front man and songwriter Tom Hamilton has combined his urbane mindset with the
country music of his childhood, creating work that places him alongside career
artists like Ryan Adams, Conor Oberst, and Jeff Tweedy. ... At the time Hamilton
started writing acoustic roots material like the titled track, "American
Babies," he was far from home. He'd been writing, performing, and enjoying
a swell of critical acclaim with his band Brothers Past - yielding a wellspring
of positive notices that could possibly have been his ticket to the big time.
But his heart wasn't entirely in the process as it stood. "For some time,
I had wanted to get more into the music I grew up on." ... Which is exactly
what he did. He returned to the Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash records
his dad made him listen to as a kid, but heard them differently this time. The
sounds inspired him wholeheartedly and he began writing in a similar vein. . .
Hamilton is a top-rate songwriter. And with the accompaniment of bassist/brother
Jim Hamilton and drummer Joe Russo, and Guitarist Scott Metzger, American Babies
has developed into something extraordinary. - kyndmusic.com (Sci-Fidelity)
Tracks:
Can't Beat the Kid / It's Mighty Crazy / I Hate to See You Go / Groovin' Time
/ Diddley Daddy / Help Me / South Bound Blues / Statesborough Blues / Terraplane
Blues / Chattanooga Choo Choo / Screamin' and Cryin' / Rag Mama / Drop Down Mama
(Acadia) 
Their
newest effort offers nine new tracks of absolute symphonic loveliness. Fueled
by mutual heartache, spectral visions, grandiose baroque fantasies, and their
undying fondness for one another's brains, Miss M and Petra Haden have truly outdone
themselves. Layering vocals, violin, viola, and accordion in ways that will utterly
enchant and intrigue the listener, this is a true labor of love that defies as
many genres as it is influenced by. (File Under Music)
Their
third full-length is a lush, largely electric affair, rich with the rural textures
that pepper releases from the band's Omaha contemporaries. Neva Dinova have continually
evolved their melancholic sound, making masterful use of counterbalanced melodies
and poetic lyricism. This is their most fluid and realized effort to date. (Saddle
Creek)
Jim's
eponymous second album is one of the most expansive pop records you'll hear this
year. His music has always been a melee of different styles and influences, and
this album sees him delving more into his electronic side and going further with
melody and vocals than before. Look for him at SXSW. "Noir's elaborately
multi-tracked recordings make his gentle bitching irresistible. He writes killer
songs" - Blender. (Barsuk)
Rafael
is considered to be one of the most natural interpreters of Woody Guthrie's songs
and has been a featured performer at the annual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival in
Woody's hometown of Okemah, OK since its inception a decade ago. This CD is the
largest set of contemporary recordings of Guthrie songs and includes five previously
unpublished Guthrie lyrics set to new music by Joel, with special guest appearances
by Arlo Guthrie, Jackson Browne, Jennifer Warnes, and Van Dyke Parks. (Inside
Recordings)
A
collection of songs taken from demos from his debut "Salesmen And Racists",
and alternate versions of songs from "Sparkle In The Finish" and "We
Belong To The Staggering Evening", as well as a previously unreleased title
track, and the poignant cancer anthem, "Dragonflies". This release continues
Reilly's prolific assault with images of characters in a conflicted middle America:
patriotic doubt, the celebration of life and death, high school girls in summer
dresses, and more theoretical assassination attempts. "...quirky lyrics...packed
with droll one-liners" - Spin. "...swaggering, street poet charisma"
- Philadelphia Inquirer. "...incredibly infectious melodies and hook-laden
sing-along choruses" - allmusic.com (Rock Ridge Music)
"It'S
possible, but hardly common, for a singer-songwriter to sound echoes of Bob Dylan,
Bruce Springsteen, Gram Parsons, Elvis Costello and Paul Westerberg, all of which
Jackie Greene does on his fifth album... The hard part, which Greene seems to
pull off so effortlessly, is triggering those echoes without sacrificing an authentic
voice of his own. That may be one meaning of the album's title: Greene seems comfortable
acknowledging the ghosts of pop music past, perhaps because he's in thrall to
none of them. The San Francisco-based musician opens the album advising the listener,
" California is the place to be, but I should warn you about the things I've
seen." He proceeds to reel off one fascinating, detail-rich tale or morality
play after another. Somehow, as literate as his lyrics can read, they never sound
academic, rarely self-conscious. . . He's a skilled multi-instrumentalist and
has been a virtual one-man band on previous albums, but this time he's assembled
a crack team of Americana/roots music specialists to support him, among them Los
Lobos' David Hidalgo and Steve Berlin, drummer Pete Thomas, bassist Davey Farragher
and steel guitarist par excellence Greg Leisz... Greene's songs span the basest
impulses of lust and revenge to the noblest spiritual aspirations -- everything
that defines what it means to be human. And nary a ghost in sight." -- Randy
Lewis, Los Angeles Times
Their
first album since 2002's "Title TK". By turns goofy, groovy, melancholy,
strung-out, catchy, atmospheric, and at times, impossibly lovely, "Mountain
Battles" underlines that Kim Deal is a songwriter and musician of rare intuition.
Her songs move from offhand charm to emotional truth with casual grace, balancing
scuffed-up noise against fraught silence; timeless structures against strange
new shapes. And throughout is Kim's unique voice - languid, urgent, bruised, and
beautiful. "Mountain Battles" captures all the bittersweet electricity
of classic Breeders records like "Pod" and "Last Splash",
and still manages to break new ground. Deluxe 28-page booklet. (4AD)
Their
first album since 2002's "Title TK". By turns goofy, groovy, melancholy,
strung-out, catchy, atmospheric, and at times, impossibly lovely, "Mountain
Battles" underlines that Kim Deal is a songwriter and musician of rare intuition.
Her songs move from offhand charm to emotional truth with casual grace, balancing
scuffed-up noise against fraught silence; timeless structures against strange
new shapes. And throughout is Kim's unique voice - languid, urgent, bruised, and
beautiful. "Mountain Battles" captures all the bittersweet electricity
of classic Breeders records like "Pod" and "Last Splash",
and still manages to break new ground. Deluxe 28-page booklet. (4AD)
The
Felice Brothers' self-titled American debut is a collection of songs originally
recorded to sell to make ends meet on the streets of New York. The band made these
"field recordings" wherever they could: an abandoned cafeteria, a broken
down school bus, a chicken coop, a derailed train, and under a bridge. In these
tales of murder, pathos, lust, and love, you'll find an honest new brand of American
storytelling and song. "Scruffy and scratched Americana that recalls Townes
Van Zandt, Guy Clark, and early Springsteen" - Time Out London. "The
Felice Brothers' Catskills folk is rough around the edges and intoxicating. Ryan
Adams, eat your heart out" - Metroland / Best Of 2007. "Backwoods Americana
is all the rage, but this band of brothers is a cut above the rest" - The
Sun UK (4 stars).
The
follow-up to their 2005 release, "Cuts Across The Land". "Leila
Moss, whose voice seems to hold some kind of Bjorkesque urgency and Icelandic
guttural angst, is a proper lady of rock, a la Harry, Sioux, or Hynde...something
we need amongst the tiny 'angry' indiepixiemen of today" - Clash. "'Neptune'
is choc-a-block with tracks so deadly they could slaughter, not only from 30 paces,
but while blindfolded" - NME. (Artist First)
This
is Peter Moren's (of Peter Bjorn & John) highly anticipated first solo record.
It features a more acoustic, low-key side of Peter than fans of 2007's ubiquitous
indie anthem "Young Folks" are used to hearing. Built around the basic
foundation of Peter and his guitar, the album has a distinctly homemade feel that
feeds from the folk singer-songwriter tradition but still incorporates strings,
synths, vibraphones, percussion, a musical saw, and even a drum machine or two.
(Quarterstick)Back In Stock |
The
serverthat handles our sound files was downlast Thursday when we sent the e-mail.
We didn't want last week's Crackers to get overlooked because they are all really
good and worth hearing. We list them as back in stock so you don't overlook them. IT'S
A CRACKER!
|
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
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 |
|
DVDs | ||
FARM
AID: 20TH ANNIVERSARY
|
This
20th anniversary edition offers a superstar lineup that includes Kenny Chesney,
Dave Matthews, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Willie Nelson, Arlo Guthrie, Wilco,
Widespread Panic, Buddy Guy/John Mayer, Los Lonely Boys, Susan Tedeschi, Kate
Voegele, Shannon Brown, Supersuckers, Kathleen Edwards, and Emmylou Harris. (Image)April 2008 Releases |
|
Upcoming Releases |
|
Payment Options |
|