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Elliot
Randall glides through his songs like a smooth, aged whiskey. Whether he is burning
slowly, or the band is at full throttle, Take the Fall is, easily, one of the
best independent releases of 2007. There are elements of Ryan Adams and Thad Cockrell.
The band cooks like a rocking Flying Burrito Brothers. Randall follows the show-biz
adage of "leave 'em wanting more." Every one of the 10 tracks on this
album is a winner. This young man from San Francisco is one to watch. -- Jeff
Weiss, Miles of Music (self-released)
Greg Brown's Yellow Dog album is a live recording of his August 2005 performance
at the Peterson Auditorium in Ishpeming, Michigan. It's a raw, reverent commentary
on the times we live in and a testament to the artist's love for the wild lands
and waters of the Upper Peninsula. All proceeds for the album will go to the Yellow
Dog Watershed Preserve, an organization dedicated to protecting the Yellow Dog
River. Michael Mee, americana-uk.com calls Brown "... one of a rare breed
of musician who automatically make you want to believe in what he is saying, you
find yourself naturally hanging on to every word. Much of that is undoubtedly
down to a solid, honest voice that begins somewhere around his bootstraps but
its also down to the clarity and intelligence of his lyrics, Conesville Slough
for one burrows its way into your soul while Oily Boys would sit neatly in the
fiery and casutic section of Steve Earle's library, however gently told, it's
still a devastating denouncement. These are no frills, bitingly honest moments."
Track Listing:Intro/Cold + Dark + Wet/Dream Cafe/Better Days/Conesville Slough/Oily
Boys/All of Those Things/Canned Goods/"Pitchin' In..."/Laughing River/Please
Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone.(Earthwork Music)
Over
the clatter of piano and strum of an electric guitar that opens his fourth studio
album, Josh Ritter leaps into rapid-fire lyrics that reference Joan of Arc, Calamity
Jane and Florence Nightingale, all of whom seem to be struck together in the belly
of a whale. As the follow-up to last year's critically acclaimed album The Animal
Years, The Historical Conquests Of Josh Ritter is his most adventurous, fresh,
and freewheeling work to date. A first run, limited edition of The Historical
Conquests Of Josh Ritter features an exclusive 4-track bonus CD. Available while
supplies last. (RCA)
The
final coda for the acclaimed pop band chronicles the messy breakup of Tim Bracy
and Shannon McArdle's marriage and artistic collaboration. 30 Years Low is brutally
honest, funny in a "I can't believe what I just heard" way, and deeply
painful. Following on classic breakup albums, like Richard and Linda Thompson's
Shoot Out The Lights, Bracy and McArdle are seemingly more in touch with the hurt
and anger than the Thompson. That just means it is less unbearably painful than
Shoot. The mini-album puts a period to the end of a long, sometimes glorious,
sometimes ramshackle band who always found a way to touch your heart while rocking
the rest of you. -- Jeff Weiss, Miles of Music (Glurp)
Tom Russell has long been recognized as a compelling songwriter. Over the years
many of his peers recorded his work. This compilation grabs a representative cross
section of that work while showcasing Russell's songwriting talent. Additionally.
Russell contributes three tracks to the compilation. Track
listing: Johnny Cash - Veteran's Day / Dave Alvin - Blue Wing / Joe Ely - Gallo
del Cielo / Iris Dement - Acres of Corn / Dave Van Ronk - The Outcaste / Laurie
Lewis - Manzanar/ Doug Sahm - St Olav's Gate / Suzy Bogguss - Outbound Plane /
Ian Tyson & Nanci Griffith - Canadian Whiskey / Doug Sahm - Haley's Comet
/ Jerry Jeff Walker - Navajo Rug / Ramblin' Jack Elliott - The Sky Above / Lawrence
Ferlinghetti - Stealing Electricity / Eliza Gilkyson - Walking on the Moon / Barrence
Whitfield & Tom Russell - The Cuban Sandwich / Tom Russell - Who's Gonna Build
Your Wall? / Tom Russell - Home Before Dark / Tom Russell - The Death of Jimmy
Martin (Hightone)
"(Four Stars) On his fourth solo outing, ex-Freewheelers frontman Russell
sings in a fallen choirboy's tenor redolent of misspent youth, lessons learned
and a stoic acceptance of loss - like Alex Chilton on one of his least cynical
days. Songs with Beatlesque surfaces and dark interiors trace the well-worn path
from self-inflicted and romantic pain to hard-earned redemption, but Russell's
puppy-dog genuineness and the empathetically understated playing and production
of Ethan Johns (Ryan Adams, Ray LaMontagne, Kings Of Leon), keep things righteously
real throughout... " -- Bud Scoppa, Uncut (Adrenaline Music)
Few songwriters have experienced and expressed the sinking depths and uplifting
optimism of humanity like Dondero, and his ability to shine a light on the human
condition is inspiring. "Simple Love" is a poignant collection of songs
woven with sentimentality, contempt, humor, and lust. Veering away from the acoustic
folk arrangements of previous albums this record broadens its instrumental library
and tackles much darker subjects of loss, lost love, and death. A collection of
literate, impressionistic, folk-blues mini-epics. (Team Love)
"Written over ten weeks of isolation painting a house in rural Texas, the
subject matters are clearly personal and introspective. He contemplates shifting
ideas of utopia ("Perfect String"), self-image ("Bad Man"),
and faith ("Humility") with earthy wit and a poet's eye. "If You
Name A Thing It Dies" is at once simple and complicated, a lesson in Zen
semantics and discovery. "That song is in halves," says Nelson in his
album notes. "I state two completely opposite statements, and I believe them
both to be true." The album also bears the stamp of longtime Nelson collaborator,
guitarist and producer "Scrappy" Jud Newcomb." -- Nick Zaino, optimisticcurmudgeon.blogspot.com
(Freedom)
After
touring on the back of their twisted non-retrospective "Punk Rock" in
2004, The Mekons picked up their instruments and lost themselves far beyond the
beaten path in the wilds of the English countryside. Removed from the restraints
of conventional studio technology, they navigate an undulating sonic landscape
of lavish melodies, mantric chants, and shimmering acoustic experimentation. This
is their first new material in five years since 2002's critically acclaimed "OOOH!"
The fourth album is airier, more spacious, and more relaxed than its jackhammer
predecessors. In general, Carl Newman`s songwriting is slightly more scrutable
this time around; his lyrics still ring with wry perception and political metaphor,
but they betray some of the magnanimity that comes with new love.
Little Mo McCoury, the engaging children's bluegrass album from Ronnie McCoury
and the Del McCoury Band, has been a long time coming. "It's something I've
been wanting to do for a long time," says Ronnie, "probably since my
first child was born, and he's nine now!" Yet whether they're bluegrass fans
or simply parents in search of a fresh, energetic collection of songs for their
children, listeners-and, more importantly, their kids-are sure to agree that it
was worth the wait. From timeless favorites like "This Old Man" and
"I've Been Working On The Railroad" to bluegrass classics like "Jimmy
Brown The Newsboy" and "Going Ape Over You" and contemporary songs
like Randy Newman's "You've Got A Friend In Me" (from Toy Story) and
Bob Dylan's "Man Gave Names To All The Animals," Little Mo' McCoury
is an introduction to bluegrass that reaches out to new generations of children
without ever talking down to them. (McCoury Music) 
"Because Rilo Kiley's More Adventurous was a triumph of the well-made narrative
song, its markedly terser and beatier follow-up, which is also the band's true
major-label debut, will be accused of sellout. Instead, it's yet more adventurous,
a prosperous band's challenge to its comfortable cult. Always too cute for serious
indie cred, Jenny Lewis slips four songs about dangerous sex in which she herself
might be indulging -- right now, in her pretty prosperity -- into music that's
defined rather than just decorated by its stylistic flirtations. Repetitive if
not wordless refrains pop up everywhere, one in Spanish with a Latin beat; here
a soul horn section, there a Fleetwood Mac homage, there a synth outro and almost
nowhere much guitar-band alt-rock. The emotions aren't as detailed as in the past,
but they're no less intense...4 STARS" -- Robert Christgau, rollingstone.com
(Wea)
Patrick worked with several producers and mixers on Everyone's In Everyone , including
Dave Trumfio (Wilco), Rob Schnapf (Elliot Smith, Beck) and David Bianco (Tom Petty)
in Los Angeles and Chris Stamey (Whiskeytown) in North Carolina. The result is
a collection of songs that is introspective and evocative, with eloquent lyrics
and timeless themes. "Paste Magazine" praises Patrick's sound as "richly
personal and marked by poetic depth without being cloying" continuing, "Park
distinguishes himself as a natural talent, a maker of earnest songs, an artist
with staying power." (Curb Appeal Records)
"The holy run of The Waterboys' 1980s albums - The Waterboys, A Pagan Place,
This Is the Sea and Fisherman's Blues - couldn't last forever. However, Mike Scott
has somehow rediscovered his touch. Book of Lightning is almost a fusion of their
"big music" and Celtic swing, Steve Wickham's evocative violin recalling
the loftier heights of Fisherman's Blues. However, there's a new humour, with
Scott poking fun at the weary public image of him as residing at the top of a
mountain with Pan at one side and Arthur Guinness at the other, unleashing a succession
of killer one-liners. Crucially, he is again writing songs that feel like they
have been handed to him from a crack in the clouds...5 STARS" -- Dave Simpson,
guardian.co.uk (Decca)
Luke Temple first hit the indie scene in 2005 with his full-length debut Hold
a Match for a Gasoline World, a sweet acoustic-based album that triggered immediate
comparisons to Elliot Smith and Jeff Buckley. With his second release Snowbeast,
Temple has turned his sound inside-out, most notably replacing cozy acoustic guitars
with chilly analog synths. Predictable, no. Fascinating, yes indeed. Temple is
a true modern renaissance man; classically trained painter and self-taught singer-songwriter.
(Mill Pond)
Mentor Tormentor is the follow-up to the band's critically-acclaimed 2004 release
Treble & Tremble, which garnered considerable praise from Entertainment Weekly,
Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Interview Magazine,
among many others. Mentor Tormentor was written and produced by Aaron Espinoza
and Ariana Murray at The Ship, the band? studio in Eagle Rock, CA, and mixed by
Dave Trumfio at Kingsize Soundlabs in Los Angeles. Recording in their own studio
gave Espinoza, Ariana Murray and Joel Graves the luxury to write, record and shape
Mentor Tormentor at their own pace, working with drummers Scott McPherson and
Russell Pollard. From countless songs and takes, the record began to take form
in late 2006. The final 15-track line-up of songs is the band's strongest and
most collaborative work to date. (Shout Factory) 
Lester Raww from Arkansas fled to San Francisco to form The Pine Box Boys. Les
reinvents the old murder ballads his mother used to sing him into a genre-shattering
blend of bluegrass and rock that has been dubbed "Darkgrass" and "Horrorbilly".
Upon returning from their recent European tour, The Pine Box Boys spent four days
in the studio with The Alien Overlord recording Stab! These are what the boys
call their "bar songs." They opted for a lean production, trying to
capture the sound of a loud, angry acoustic band bent on killing. As with 2005's
Arkansas Killing Time, this album takes a whimsical look at murder and misery
in a backwoods-y style. Although the songs have clearly been dragged, like a bloody
sack, through some very tall bluegrass, they are unmistakably original. (Hi Horse
Records)
The Pine Box Boys' first album, originally released in 2005. "Murder ballads
one after the other and, not halfway through, enough to make you queasy. Especially
the indelible little number "The Beauty In Her Face", which goes as
far into the mind of a serial killer as anyone needs to. You know how it's going
to end before the first verse does, and you spend the rest of the song trying
to make it come out differently." - Greil Marcus, Interview magazine. (Hi
Horse Records)
On The Trumpet Child, producer Brad Jones tapped the broken-bottle-strewn back
alleyways of Nashville for an arresting array of horn, woodwind and string players
to festoon the trademark simplicity of Over The Rhine, and the result is a juicy
informally-epic pop album unlike any other you're likely to hear this year. (Great
Speckled Dog)
Country and pop iconoclast Lee Hazlewood's second album for MGM came out in 1966
and, like the previous "The Very Special World Of" album, adds Billy
Strange's Western movie classic-styled orchestration to the usual mix of rock,
country, cowboy music and folk. Includes such gems like "The Girls In Paris",
"After Six" and "Old Man And His Guitar". Contains new detailed
liner notes. (Water)
Recorded in 1967 but shelved at the time and then only released in Germany some
twenty years later, this would have been the third solo album for MGM from country
music's first true idiosyncratic genius. Hazlewood's unique blend of country,
pop, jazz, folk and blues can be found here but with songs that are even slighty
more off-the-wall than usual, perhaps explaining the reluctance on the part of
MGM to release the record. The most outsider record from country music's legendary
outsider artist. Classic. (Water)
One of the true idiosyncratic geniuses of pop and country music, Lee Hazlewood
recorded this, his fourth solo record, in 1966. "The Very Special World Of
Lee Hazlewood" features Hazlewood's unique combination of pop, country, lounge
and folk complimented by his singular vocal delivery and off-kilter story songs.
This is Hazlewood's first release for the MGM label and is widely regarded as
one of his best solo albums. Includes his version of the classic "These Boots
Are Made For Walking." Contains new detailed liner notes. (Water)
"The concert film A Night at the Family Dog captures an evening of music
performed in September of 1970 at the Family Dog Ballroom in San Francisco. Three
of the leading bands of the era - Santana, The Grateful Dead, and Jefferson Airplane
- perform both individually and in a jam sessions together at the end of the event.
The seven song set list includes "Sour Sacrifice," "China Cat Sunflower,"
and "Eskimo Blue Day." -- allmusic.com (Eagle Vision)
Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Summer of Love with this limited edition
4 DVD set that features some of the most beloved bands from that summer. Included
are Jefferson Airplane: Fly Jefferson Airplane - vintage performances from 1965-73
with new interviews from almost all the band members and others; Big Brother &
The Holding Company With Janis Joplin: Nine Hundred Nights - the story of the
band; Canned Heat: Live At Montreux - live in 1973 with guest appearance by Clarence
"Gatemouth" Brown; and The Doors: Live in Europe 1968 - filmed during
performances in London, Stockholm, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam and narrated by Paul
Kantner and Grace Slick. (Eagle Vision)| Alt Country | Americana Music | Bluegrass Music | Country Bluegrass | Folk Music Folk Rock | Roots Rock | Singer Songwriter | Sitemap |