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Buva,
the nom-de-solo project of Tom Wolfe, draws on the soft(er) pop of a bygone era,
combining moments of Beach Boys harmonies and Beatles pre-Revolver pop without
sounding sentimental or maudlin. The occasional strings reminds of the best moments
of ELO. This isn't to say Buva lacks its own identity. Wolfe has combined all
of those influences into a sun-kissed collection of pop that reaches back, but
pushes the soft(er) pop style forward. -- Jeff Weiss, Miles of Music (hi fi in
motion records)
"With
the self-released album Through Side One, the Linemen have raised the bar for
the St. Louis country scene — and they've done so without sinking into predictable
punk attitude, all-too-familiar rockabilly fashions or the winking, hiccupping
twang-core that plays well in south-city dives but is as far from the emotional
core of country as the Wichita lineman is from home. [Kevin] Butterfield's warm,
supple tenor — with a fine high register, like a young Don Gibson or a less-uptight
George Strait — caresses original songs of regret, towns that barely exist,
losses without second chances and the comforting smell of smoke and whiskey. .
. Whatever their inspiration, the Linemen have found a way to make the classic
forms and style of country music resonate emotionally, even seriously, which is
enough to distinguish them from an overcrowded roots scene."
Recorded
live at the Down Home, Johnson City TN. December 7,8,and 9th,2006. Track Listing:
I Made a Mess of This Town/Amtrak Cresent/Angels Dwell/Jody/Eight Miles Per Gallon/Arianne/It
Didn't Take Too Long/Only Everything/Dear Sarah/Freedom's a Stranger/Still People
Are Moving/On a Roll/Wild Things/Intro/For Jack Tymon/Drunk All Around This Town/Spike/Hawks
and Doves/Goddamn the Sun/Is There Room on the Cross?. (Sugar Hill Records) 
After
his foray into old school country with 2004's "Cut 'N Shoot", legendary
singer/songwriter/guitarist/producer Morlix explores a darker, more rock-oriented
vibe with this record. Recorded after a year in which he lost several people close
to him, the theme of death and dying surfaces on several tracks. His trademark
dark humor, however, tempers the sadness and makes "Diamonds And Dust"
a unique listening experience. In addition to his originals, Morlix includes a
cover of Dylan's "With God On Our Side", a song as timely today as it
was when it was written 44 years ago. This is another unique and brilliant chapter
in Morlix's uniquely brilliant career. (Blue Corn) 
A
swirling, euphonious record, at times bursting with bombastic confidence and country
swagger, and at others loose-limbed and mesmeric. If "I'm Wide Awake..."
was the "New York City album", then "Cassadaga" is "the
America album", in which Conor Oberst chronicles his travels around the country
and articulates his sense of history in the landscape. Oberst's impassioned prose
is still recognizable in every track, but the songs are rich with elaborate production,
cinema-sized orchestration, and at times, sprawling, almost psychedelic atmospherics.
(Saddle Creek) 
Their
third full-length is equal parts rock, Americana, pop, and country. "Limbeck"
proves that these four former punk rockers from Orange County and Milwaukee have
finally grown into their cowboy boots and crafted a disc that everyone from The
Bamboozle to Bonnaroo can appreciate. "This California indie band works a
terrain similar to that of the Old 97's, who helped invent a more upbeat, carefree
alt-country" - Rolling Stone. For fans of The Format, Wilco, The Replacements,
The Beach Boys. (Doghouse)
"Nathan's
delightful third album "Key Principles" delivers homeliness with a sleeping
hard edge that lurks beneath. Their honest lyrics, scrumptious harmonies, and
quirky arrangements travel along the same line as other independent artists such
as Sufjan Stevens and Nina Nastasia, full of simple delights and wonder sung to
the backdrop of killer tunes...The entire album effortlessly switches style, from
the thigh-slappin rootsy "Scarecow", to the bubble-gum murder-ballad
of "Daffodils", which sounds very sweet, but is probably laced with
hemlock. One of the album's highlights is "The Wind", a melancholic
song about yearning...All in all, "Key Principles" is a genuine sparkling
gem of an album, and is well worth your hard earned cash for a copy." --
Sian Claire Owen, americana-uk.com (Nettwerk)
Hailed
by the Guardian as 'alt-country heroes' and by Americana-uk.com as 'Britain's
finest country rockers', The Redlands Palomino Company return with their second
release 'Take Me Home'. As their acclaimed 2004 debut 'By The Time You Hear This…'
showed, they're one of the few UK bands who can credibly and convincingly blend
their Americana influences with a contemporary British edge. Maverick Magazine
exclaims "A fabulous mix of sassy country, raucous rock and weepy ballads…
Gram & Emmylou eat your heart out". (Laughing Outlaw) 
"Perhaps
the greatest compliment that can be paid to Remember The River is that while its
Americana/alt country credentials stand comparison with Uncle Tupelo, The Jayhawks
et al it reaches even further back. Halfway, Australia's premier alt country outfit,
have, in their follow up to the marvellous Farewell To The Fainthearted - a hard
act to follow - rekindled memories of Fables/Reckoning/Green REM. The band shows
the same freedom of spirit, subtle shades and infinite possibilities that Athens'
finest did in their young artistic heyday. To categorise Remember The River is
to miss the point, the album doesn't cross genres it ignores them. While Remember
The River certainly owes allegiance to alt country, with its hooky melodies and
catchy riffs, it's not defined by it. The superbly intelligent lyrics delivered
by co-vocalists Johnny Busby and Chris Dale take the band's music into college
rock, as much as it does country, alt or otherwise." -- Michael Mee, NET
RHYTHMS (Laughing Outlaw) 
The
EP featuring a remix of "Satellite," a handful of outtakes from the
Ganging Up On The Sun sessions plus two new covers- the early 80's hit "Total
Eclipse Of The Heart" and The Beatles' "The Two Of Us." Track Listings:
Satellite/G Major/Rise & Shine/Timothy Leary/I'm Through/ Satellite (Astronauts
Mix)/Two Of Us (live @ KCRW)/Total Eclipse of the Heart (live @ The State Theater
Portland, ME). (Wea) 
Listening
to Laura Veirs is like looking up into the night sky and suddenly witnessing a
meteor shower: there's something startling and magical, both intimate and awesome,
about her songs. The nature-obsessed images Veirs conjures up and the mesmerizing
sound she creates are as indelible as the blaze of shooting stars. "Saltbreakers",
her third album release in three years, is her most beautifully realized band-oriented
disc yet. Produced by Tucker Martine (the Decemberists, Built To Spill), it is
by turns haunting, playful, tender and fierce, embracing everything from machine-driven
beats (the single 'Don't Lose Yourself') to angelic gospel choirs ('To The Country')
to fuzzed-out guitars and driving alt-rock rhythms ('Phantom Mountain'). (Nonsuch)
This
is the follow-up to Goldrush's 2005 US debut "Ozona". Hailing from Oxford,
England, these five musicians can best be described as Flaming Lips meets Grandaddy
and Wilco. Combining the classic elements of indie rock folk with swirling, fuzzed-out
guitars make Goldrush a band that relies on equal parts old and new. (Better Looking
Records) 
Soulful
songwriter Cliff Eberhardt delivers 12 new original songs on his first CD in 5
years The High Above and the Down Below. Showcasing his heavy jazz and pop influences,
Cliff reinvents himself on this new collection. (Red House Records)
Bart Crow describes their sound as 'a unique blend of country & rock with
a lot of heart & soul." "I love the music and stories of my heroes,
Ronnie Van Zant, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash, and I just do my best to do
what they did, be real -- that's all." With songs that intertwine and weave
stories that walk the line between redemption and despair, Bart Crow writes songs
from the heart that leave you wondering, was singing about me, or drawing off
of his own emotions on life, love, & friends. (Smith Entertainment)
This is Stoney LaRue's 2nd release. He is a singer, songwriter and is part of
the "Red Dirt" music movement (songwriting style centerted around Stillwater,
OK). Track Listings: Down In Flames/Solid Gone/Idabel Blues/One Chord Song/Feet
Don't Touch The Ground/Let Me Hold You/Texas Moon/Goin' Down The Road/Walk Away/Forever
Young (Featuring Three Piece Choir). (Smith Music Group) 
There's No Home is the second full-length formal release from Jana Hunter. Recorded
over two consecutive weeks in Fall 2006 at a friend's home in Houston, TX (known
locally as "Feagan House"), the album features Hunter writing, playing
and producing throughout. As extroverted as Hunter's previous release Blank Unstaring
Heirs of Doom was introverted, There's No Home focuses on community involvement.
While Hunter plays most of the instruments herself, she's aided and abetted here
by her brother John (Inoculist, Dethro Skull), John Adams (Fatal Flying Guilloteens)
and Matt Brownlie (Bring Back the Guns), among others. (Gnomosongs) 
By 1986, Freddie Steady Krc had already been playing British Invasion-rooted rock
and roll all over Texas for years. It only made sense to him that he should turn
the tables while living in London for most of that year and take his own special
brand of Texas music all over Britain. The Texan with a rock and roll soul embraced
his country roots with this classic album. Freddie Steady's own brand of high
lonesome country soul incorporates the Tex Mex of his Austin home and the Cajun
roots of his native Southeast Texas with a band comprised of renowned Brit pub
rockers. The re-release is enhanced by four lost bonus tracks recorded in Texas
with Butch Hancock, Jimmy Dale Gilmore, Floyd Domino and Alvin Crow amongst others.
All these musical categories are just pieces of the Freddie Steady puzzle. (Steadyboy
Records) 
US reissue of Buckner`s 1995 debut featuring five bonus tracks recorded during
the Bloomed sessions but unavailable until now. An alt-country classic even if
Buckner would hate hearing us use that "A" word to describe his music.
(Slow River) 
In the world of micro music genres, Kamikaze Hearts fall into the generic sounding
category of Indie Folk. This band from upstate New York, though, have created
something significantly more complicated and interesting. Take multi-part harmonies
that remind of the way Crosby, Stills & Nash meshed their individually interesting
voices into something greater. But Kamikaze's Heart's harmonies, while gorgeous,
come out much more somber. Take REM, circa Fables of the Reconstruction, and make
them acoustic. There is a weathered feeling to these tales of commonplace existence.
Kamikaze Hearts have made one of those very rare records that grows more intriguing
with every spin. -- Jeff Weiss. Miles of Music (Collar City Records) 
Ramsay Midwood`s music is lo-fi, bluesy, and pure. Midwood`s haunting presence
summons an in-tune Tom Waits without the clang, or a more energetic Leon Redbone.
The all-star band, including Randy Weeks, drummer Don Heffington (who also serves
as producer), Kip Boardman, Phil Parlapiano, and Greg Liesz provide an earthy
and honest foundation for Midwood`s stream-of-consciousness tales. Honest, weird
and true, Midwood view of Americana sounds like no one else, but is also firmly
rooted in the history of American folk music. -- Jeff Weiss, Miles of Music (Farmwire
Music) 
For The Wicked was largely recorded in a one-room, stove-heated cabin in rural
Vermont. The confines give the music a warmth and richness that is balanced by
Robin MacArthur`s Aimee Mann/Margo Timmins-like vocals and husband Tyler Gibbons`s
mellow Beck-like sounds. Add in a touch... just a touch.. of Casio to bring the
temperature down a bit and you have an intimate folk-indie rock album is a subtle,
beautiful pleasure. -- Jeff Weiss, Miles of Music (Poorly Bird) 
Darren Smith removes himself temporarily from the long running Seattle based alt.
country group Straw Dogs so that he might explore his own melancholic sense of
self through song. Last Drive, which features many current members of the Dogs`
rhythm section, is a contemplative effort that incorporates the rural charm of
bluegrass and the easy feel of contemporary pop Americana. Smith`s warm, mellow
vocal tone sees each song through with "eyes-closed, straight-from-the-heart"
sincerity, capped off with a sense of yearning. A sad beauty permeates the 10
song set, the slow waltz of "Ghost" winning best of show in the melancholy
category. "Back With The Bottle" choogles along, but sharp detailing
of a family`s struggle with a son`s disappointing and heartbreaking return to
addiction anchors the song with impending tragedy. But there`s no lack of spirit
in Smith`s easy way; his songs are unhurried, but vibrant, allowing a sense of
hope to emerge. One hopes the last drive, in Darren Smith`s case, is the one back
to a cozy home. -- Robinson, Miles Of Music (Crafty Records)
Jim Musser wrote in the Iowa City Press-Citizen, "...this Iowa City-based
group actualizes -- even extrapolates -- that particular brand of lush, often-psychedelic
dream-pop (along with sonic references to myriad early-`80s UK underground denizens
plus sweet traces of country-rock) while maintaining a discernable group sound....
(Dan) Maloney`s graceful melodic gifts and intimate, breathy vocals simply never
fail to hit the mark on this tour-de-force, and his gifted cohorts supply it all
with a rich, shimmering soundscape. Bottom line, "Seeds of Devastation"
is a triumph in every way." 
Paula
Frazer resurrects Tarnation...and the results are mesmerizing. This band had a
good bit of success in underground circles before Frazer eventually dissolved
the group and concentrated on her solo recordings. But after writing a bunch of
new tunes that reminded her of her former band, Paula opted to release Now It`s
Time under the band`s name as well as her own... This eleven track album features
moody, personal, slightly distant soft pop tunes...all of which sound like forgotten
classics. The arrangements are precise and appropriate...and Paula`s vocals are
exceedingly perfect from start to finish. Although released very early in the
year, Now It`s Time is bound to be one of the best albums of 2007. Highly recommended.
(Rating: 5+++) -- www.babysue.com (Birdman)| Alt Country | Americana Music | Bluegrass Music | Country Bluegrass | Folk Music Folk Rock | Roots Rock | Singer Songwriter | Sitemap |