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The
challenge with Last Man's Tucker was for McDonald to step away from his comfort
zone of band-based power pop, putting himself upfront. Accompanied by an acoustic
guitar and, maybe a harmony vocal, McDonald easily steps into the role of solo
troubadour. His rich, reedy voice chiming acoustic guitar, unobstructed production
and introspective songs, reveals a more personal side than his efforts with his
previous outfits P76 and Jericho. McDonald felt this batch of songs lent itself
to a solo effort. He was, indeed, correct as the result is a gorgeous acoustic
pop record. -- Jeff Weiss, Miles of Music (self-released) 
D. Mulligan's music captures the expanse but subtle lushness of his Arizona roots.
Mulligan immediately wins you over with his observational lyrics. His hushed voice
is pensive, maybe even sad. The music is rich and thick, but never overwhelms
the singing. The songs might reference local Arizona landmarks, but the themes
are universal. A stellar debut album for late nights. Tim Bluhm produced featuring
members of Court & Spark, The Mother Hips, and Jackie Green's band. -- Jeff
Weiss, Miles of Music (self released)
Superlatives fail to justly describe the voice of Linda Thompson. Steely yet vulnerable,
comforting yet haunting, Thompson's singing is never less than riveting, and has
played a crucial role in some of the most powerful, influential music of the past
thirty years. On Versatile Heart, only her third solo album, Thompson demonstrates
that, in addition to being an incomparable interpreter, she is an equally astonishing
songwriter - stitching traditional British Isles music and more contemporary influences
into a sound that is expressive and direct, yet timeless. From the brass-flecked
acoustic pop of the title track to the cool rockabilly of "Do Your Best for
Rock 'n Roll," her writing forms the core of Versatile Heart. Other writers
represented on Versatile Heart include Thompson's son Teddy, daughter Kamila,
Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan, and Rufus Wainwright, who contributes the devastating
"Beauty," performed as a duet with Antony. (Rounder)
Loaded with trans-fats, soaked in cheap hops, and good for you in that way you
know ain't no damn good for you. Given that Dollar Store's self-titled debut album
(2004) was widely described as a slab of greasy roots rock, Money Music should
be labeled "extra-greasy," which is to say, extra good, so keep the
sonic Wet-Naps handy, you're gonna need them. The album was recorded in two days
and sounds like what the sessions were--four musicians, thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Guitarist Tex Schmidt's leads (think of the ragged energy of the Replacements
combined with Scotty Moore's cool) and Waco Brother Alan Doughty's manic bass
are anchored by Joe Camirillo (Hushdrops) hitting the drums with straight forward
authority. The simple, effective set up of a good rock band. Vocally, "Deano"
Schlabowske seems to have hit the sweet spot between his gruff beginnings in his
noise-pop outfit Wreck and the more anarchic, roadhouse-informed style he adopted
in the Waco Brothers. (Bloodshot)
Following
the critically acclaimed 'On Leaving' album, Nina Nastasia returns with a stunning
collaborative album with Jim White, the peerless drummer of beloved Australian
instrumental trio, Dirty Three. Stripped back yet further for Nina to just a two-piece
(drums, guitar, vocal), this is a fantastically focused record - a taut, raw document
of two incredible musicians in deep dialogue, exploring the boundaries of songform
to find a rare and striking complement. (Fat Cat)
The
album's 12 songs prove once again that this singer-songwriter stay-at-home mom
is the real deal; an authentic artist whose "fearless musical snapshots lay
bare the realities of small-town life while clinging to the hope of better days,"
as one Nashville reviewer put it. McKenna recorded the album over a series of
two- and three-day sessions in Nashville last April brought out a mesmerizing
blend of rock, folk, and country textures to the songs. (WEA)
Scenechronized,
in its way, it's a tribute to the Scene's past as much as it is a statement about
the present. You'll find two songs recorded by the Country Gentlemen along with
one song written by John Duffey and recorded early on by the Seldom Scene. There's
not one but two Paul Craft songs (Craft contributed such gems as "Keep Me
From Blowing Away" and "Through the Bottom of the Glass" to earlier
Scene releases). There's one called "Sad Old Train" that's an explicit
tribute to "Old Train," a beloved number from the Scene's repertoire.
And once again going outside the usual bluegrass lines, there's a Dylan song,
a John Fogerty song, a Duane Allman song, as well as a more traditional Stanley
Brothers tune. (Sugar Hill)
"The
Steep Canyon Rangers dig even deeper into a traditional bluegrass sound on Lovin'
Pretty Women, but with a sophisticated twist. It's an album filled with the vim
and vigor of a band in love with making music. The Rangers have written their
own material since they first started jamming together in a stairwell on the campus
of UNC. The group is blessed with artistic vision, a gift for songwriting and
an intense desire to create their own unique sound. That's why the Rangers have
been able to honor the bluegrass masters who came before them while nudging the
genre forward in new and exciting ways." -- cybergrass.com (Rebel Records)
Released
in 2004, 'mercy' was characterized in Mojo as having a deceptive simplicity and
insouciance that at times recalls John Prine. Mercy, Bakers first recording, features
Jessi Colter and Walt Wilkins. (Blue Limestone) 
Five
long years after his debut disc, My Perfect World (which was ushered in to the
world by Doug Sahm shortly before he passed), Texas singer/songwriter Ed Burleson
reveals The Cold Hard Truth. The space in between has been filled with much touring
and festival work, entertaining with his strong country and honky-tonk material.
A festival recording of Burleson performing his version of Loudon Wainwright III`s
"Dead Skunk" gained popularity on a Dallas radio station, so he included
that here alongside his Buck Owens tribute, "All Bucked Up", and the
bluegrass-infused title-track. (Palo Duro) 
My
Perfect World (Reissue) According to legend, Burleson was told by Texas fiddle
player Alvin Crowe that country radio would never touch Burleson's music because
it was too country. Burleson's music is a throwback to what Country music used
to be -- heartfelt and honest, not glossy and poppy. "It's the purest-sounding
country I've heard in a long time, sort of like if a 25-year-old Ray Price popped
up today." -- Chet Flippo, BILLBOARD (Palo Duro) 
"To
Be Loved travels even further along Moore's musical journey into the mystical
realm of what No Depression describes as his "lush pop and soul tapestries."
It's an album that can truly be described as timeless, mixing in an almost yin/yang
fashion both contemporary and classic sonic experimentalism and musical eclecticism
alongside the finest flavors from the rock and pop lexicon. Something of a song
cycle, it lyrically visits those places where love finds us and takes us as well
as where it is lost and found. Atop a rock solid foundation of gifted song craftsmanship
and eloquent, emotive lyricism, Moore fashions a panorama of musical moods and
soundscapes ranging from spectral beauty to almost punk-ish rock energy, touching
on and even mixing together many places in between..." -- clatterhead.com
(Justice) 
Track
Listings: I Want To See The Lights Bright Tonight/Hard Luck Stories/Night Comes
In/Morris Medley/Heart Needs A Home/Why Don't You Love Me/Now Be Thankful/Jet
Plane In A Rocking Chair/Streets Of Paradise/For Shame Of Doing Wrong/Calvary
Cross/Hokey Pokey/Things You Gave Me/It'll Be Me/Together Again. (UMVD Import)
Library
Book Of The World marks a refinement of the political ideals practiced by Nabacon's
former band, the infamous anarchist collective Chumbawamba. Channeling the revolutionary
fire of a proud lineage of conscientious agitators, Nobacon describes his role
on the album as that of a "psychic medium plugged into the mainline of human
history, hearing voices from present ghouls and future ghosts as well." The
result is both a self-contained manifesto and companion to Smart Lies, Secret
Wars and Climate Revolt, a history and current affairs book Nobacon is currently
writing. On Library Book Of The World, his first solo album in over two decades,
Nobacon dredges up a motley crew of shipmates in the Pine Valley Cosmonauts and
embarks on a long-distance voyage through the wreckage of history, setting a course
for a future in which contemporary society crumbles about us. The veritable rogue's
gallery that is the Pine Valley Cosmonauts -- old friends and fellow pint-hoisters
Jon Langford (Mekons, Waco Brothers), Alan Doughty (Jesus Jones, Waco Brothers),
multi-instrumenalist John Rice, drummer Dan Massey and accordionist Pat Brennan
-- joins Nobacon to kick up menacing refrains, ushering in the extinction of heedless
environmental degradation and the multi-tentacled kraken of globalism. (Bloodshot)
John
Renbourn is one of the fathers of contemporary British Folk Music and one of the
finest acoustic finger style players. During a career spanning more than 40 years,
Renbourn has pursued a remarkable musical path, on his own or with many others
including Pentangle, Stefan Grossman and others. This is the first compilation
to fully anthologize that career with 38 tracks over 2 CDs. (Castle) 
Eisley
make some of the downright prettiest, and strangest, pop of the 2000s. Guitar
pop-rock, yet layered; romantic, yet quirky; uplifting, yet melancholy, Eisley
boasts an unexpected depth and breadth for a family group led by two singing sisters.
The DVD in the CX package includes eight songs from the band's Ventura, CA, concert,
the Memories video and a 30-minute The Making Of Combinations video piece.(Reprise)
Good
News is the first Rounder Records release from singer, songwriter, and vocalist
Charlie Sizemore, an artist much respected and loved in the world of bluegrass
for both his musical talents and his unshakeable yet immensely likeable integrity.
His reputation as "The Real Deal" is based equally on his considerable
musical talents and his resolute commitment to doing things the right way, and
has only added luster to his place as one of the finest bluegrass artists of his
generation. Soulful and heartfelt, Charlie Sizemore's singing is capable of bringing
a new level of emotion and insight to songs new and old. An equally powerful writer,
Sizemore's compositions have been recorded by Ralph Stanley, Jimmy Martin, and
Doyle Lawson. His first new album in five years, Good News is compelling proof
that Sizemore is his own best interpreter - and that Good News is always worth
waiting for. (Rounder)
Track
Listing: Jim Mills - Pick Along/The Infamous Stringdusters - Starry Night/Dolly
Parton - I'm Gonna Sleep With One Eye Open/Marty Stuart (feat. Doc Watson) - Blue
Railroad Train/Ronnie Bowman - Left This Country Boy (Sittin' All Alone)/Sam Bush
- Howlin' At The Moon/Yonder Mountain String Band - Classic Situation/Bryan Sutton
- High Heel Shoe/The Duhks - Dance Hall Girls/Bozeemon Boogie/Tim O'Brien (feat.
Del McCoury) - When I Paint My Masterpiece/Chris Thile - Wayside (Back In Time)/Nickel
Creek - Tomorrow Is A Long Time/Nashville Bluegrass Band - Rockin' Chair Money/The
Gibson Brothers - I Got A Woman/Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver - Back In My Baby's
Arms Again/Jerry Douglas (feat. Alison Krauss) - I Don't Believe You've Met My
Baby/Ricky Skaggs - I'll Stay Around. (Sugar Hill) 
Fred Dellar raved in Mojo Magazine about Jon Byrd. ""...His vocal sound--
a touch of Haggard here and a smear of Willie there-- is wonderfully dated, old
Opry and much the better for it. His original songs, such as Jackknife and Reputation,
sound like old friends." Jon Weisberger confirmed Deller's sentiment in The
Nashville Scene, "Hard work, solid chops and wry charm have already earned
Tele slinger Jon Byrd a sterling reputation on the honky-tonk side of Nashville's
Americana community, but even those familiar with his work to date are likely
to find Byrd's Auto Parts' debut, self-titled CD an elegant surprise. Four originals,
including the wistfully humorous, steady-rollin' opener, "Jackknife,"
show off his sinewy writing skills, while the entire set justifies the relaxed
self-confidence of his vocals
Robert
Gordon put a fist through the heart of the music industry with his 1977 hit Red
Hot," knocking down disco queens, would-be punks, and new wave wannabes with
his no-holds-barred take on hot-rodded rockabilly. Now, reunited with legendary
guitar ace Chris Spedding for the first time in 20 years, Robert is back to spread
the gospel and jolt the world again with It s Now Or Never. For this adult-sized
dose of wild rhythm they have gone directly to ground zero and have cherry-picked
their favorite Elvis Presley tunes, just in time for the 30th anniversary of Elvis'
death. To really shake things up, Robert and Chris are backed up by no less than
Elvis' mighty Jordanaires! From rippers like Lawdy Miss Clawdy and My Baby Left
Me through a stirring reading of Peace In the Valley, It s Now Or Never mines
the depths of Elvis oeuvre without the smack of ironic revisionism that has been
the hallmark of lesser talents. (Ryko)
The Bangles make a triumphant return to their hometown of L.A. with their first-ever
concert DVD, recorded live September 2000 at the House of Blues in Hollywood.
The queens of power pop pull out all of their hits and early fan favorites. Extras
include acoustic performances, candid interview with the band about their storied
history, and a photo gallery with rare and never-before-seen photos. Track Listing:
Hazy Shade Of Winter/ Live/If She Knew What She Wants/Between the Two/The Rain
Song/Manic Monday/Here Right Now/September Gurls/Going Down To Liverpool/I Will
Take Care Of You/ Get the Girl/In Your Room, Stealing Rosemary/Angels Don't Fall
In Love/Hero Takes a Fall/Walk Like an Egyptian/Pushin' Too Hard/Eternal Flame/Manic
Monday/Ride the Ride. (Shout Factory!)
This DVD was recorded live at the Big Room at the Sierra Nevada Brewery on August
30, 2006. Bonus material includes live interview segments with Sam and extra video
featuring Emmylou Harris and Buddy Miller.Track Listing: Mahavishnu Mountain Boys/Howlin'
At the Moon/Puppies 'N Knapsacks/Eight More Miles To Louisville/Ridin' That Bluegrass
Train/Whisper My Name/On the Road/I Wanna Do Right/The River's Gonna Run/Spirit
Is the Journey/Ballad For a Soldier/Bringing In the Georgia Mail/ Back In the
Goodle Days/New Country/Laps In Seven/Girl Of the North Country/The River's Gonna
Run (feat. Harris & Miller). (Sugar Hill) 
The long awaited Kids In The Hall television pilot that launched five seasons
of the groundbreaking and brilliant sketch comedy series is here on DVD!Kids In
The Hall are a groundbreaking troupe that altered the face of popular culture.
Written by and starring Dave Foley (NewsRadio), Bruce McCulloch (Stealing Harvard),
Kevin McDonald (That 70s Show), Mark McKinney (Saturday Night Live), and Scott
Thompson (The Larry Sanders Show). (Media Link)
Doug Stanhope spews his own brand of moral outrage in an unmatched style that
borders on self-destruction. Nothing is sacred, no subject off-limits and most
importantly nothing is contrived. From critically acclaimed appearances at the
Edinburgh Fringe Festival to regular appearances on The Howard Stern Show, Stanhope
always shows an intelligence and brutal honesty in his comedy, no mater how viciously
graphic or unsettling the material may be. Taped live at the Gotham Comedy Club,
this appearance is an unflinching look at one of the few voices left standing
in the dark, punk-rock underbelly of stand-up comedy. (Image)| Alt Country | Americana Music | Bluegrass Music | Country Bluegrass | Folk Music Folk Rock | Roots Rock | Singer Songwriter | Sitemap |