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Radio station KNON in Dallas, TX wrote, "Mark Jungers with his solid Midwestern
roots has an ability to put perfect little pictures of life and all its many detours
and dead ends into songs. He's like that really funny friend with those great
stories except he sings them." Jungers and The Whistling Mules create a warm,
no-frills backing for Jungers' clever songwriting. This is top notch meat-and-potatoes
roots rock, solid from beginning to end. -- Jeff Weiss, Miles of Music (American
Rural Records)
There is a sensuality and passion when Colleen McFarland's smoky voice flows forth.
Michael McCall wrote in The Nashville Scene, "Like Buddy Miller or Lucinda
Williams, McFarland infuses the blues into her mid-tempo roots-rock tunes, giving
them a gritty feel and for-the-ages mysticism that keeps her lyrics from falling
into the self-obsessive indulgence of many other singer-songwriters." McFarland's
"Beautiful Lie" is a smoldering gem. Fans of Patty Griffin will be thrilled
with this release. -- Jeff Weiss, Miles of Music (self-released)
Scott
Orr has an admitted obsession with working the song until he is 100% happy with
it. Going it alone as producer and recording the bulk of the album at home has
resulted in a warm, touching, sometimes beautiful, album. Orr's terrific sense
of melody is balanced by the willingness to let the songs breath. With a Matthew
Ryan-like rasp, without Ryan's angst, Orr's vocals add texture to the simple but
elegant production. His songwriting is personal, topical and observational as
he takes on lost love, social justice, and personal pain. Miles from Today provides
vivid snapshots of life but doesn't suffocate you with the message. -- Jeff Weiss,
Miles of Music (self-released)
"That's
the fast track." That lyric from the album's second track "Fast Track"
rolls over and over, propelled by guitar over-drive, harmony-rich vocals and a
muscular rhythm section. It speaks to the power of the album. The Slider Pines
have taken style cues from early 80s Power Pop and College Rock without sounding
like a cliche. Every song is a hook-filled three-minute gem. Fans of the Replacements,
Plimsouls, The Records and every other band from that era that knew how to rock
and also got you humming along will love Road Avenue Railroad. -- Jeff Weiss,
Miles of Music (Wire To Ear Recordings)
Bettye
Lavette and Drive-By Truckers collaborate on this one-of-a-kind record filled
with mini-dramas about life, love and survival. The Scene Of The Crime is a blistering
mix of anguished soul & greasy rock & roll, laced with the swampy guitars,
Spooner Oldham's slippery Wurlitzer piano and Bettye's razor sharp voice in the
forefront. Produced by Dave Barbe, Patterson Hood & Bettye LaVette, the disc
was recorded in Muscle Shoals, AL. (Anti)
Reunion
Tour is another superb tome from indie rock's most singular narrators, The Weakerthans.
The new album was recorded after-hours above a closed factory in the cold Canadian
spring, weaving the frontier loneliness of the environment into rich lyrical yarns
four years in the making. Songs such as "Sun in an Empty Room" and "Civil
Twilight" tell of individual journeys with a melancholic empathy that Paste
magazine has described as "songs of brutal beauty, little rock n roll vignettes
that perfectly capture the malaise of the peculiar, disorienting times in which
we live." (Anti)
Sam
Beam has confessed to finding spiritual inspiration in Tom Waits' pièce
de résistance, Swordfishtrombones, an album with which Waits upended his
previous strategies and forged a new musical language for himself. Recorded by
Sam with the assistance of longtime producer Brian Deck and engineer Colin Studebaker,
The Shepherd's Dog succeeds in accomplishing a similar cathartic recasting of
the artist's intentions. The arrangements here are kaleidoscopic and rich. `White
Tooth Man` rocks with a desperate, menacing intensity while `Boy with a Coin,`
the album's first single, is darkly playful with a handclap hook tumbling under
its cascading melody. The whole album breathes. Its seductive rhythms percolate
and undulate, from the Psych-Bhangra-redux of `Pagan Angel and a Borrowed Car`
to the album's last dance -- a waltz -- `Flightless Bird, American Mouth.` Compositionally,
it is Iron and Wine's most ambitious and accomplished recording to date. It's
also the most satisfying. (Sub Pop)
After
an extremely rare three year break from recording, Steve Earle is back, with Washington
Square Serenade, an album of new music his first for New West Records. The longtime
Nashville (via Texas) resident, Earle has called New York City home for the past
year and this will be his first release produced in the city. Recorded at New
York's legendary Electric Lady Studios, the introspective album, inspired by NYC
is Earle's first produced by John King of The Dust Brothers (Beck, The Rolling
Stones, Beastie Boys). The DELUXE CD/DVD version includes bonus artwork, plus
an exclusive documentary about the inspiration behind "Washington Square
Serenade," including a walking tour of Greenwich Village with Steve and noted
journalist Mark Jacobson (New West).
Recorded
in Topanga Canyon in the Santa Monica mountains. Neil Young lived there while
recording "After The Gold Rush" and the area has also been home to Emmylou
Harris, Taj Mahal, Joni Mitchell, Mick Fleetwood, and members of The Doors. Those
ghosts inhabit the sound and vibe of these recording sessions. Banhart's whole
"freak folk" tag is gone, replaced with this classic, gorgeous rock
album. Some songs are fragile and solipsistic, others have a pronounced tropicalia
influence, and still others are wildly electric and epic. The deluxe version of
the album includes a 60 page perfect bound book. Each page contains original artwork
in mixed media, watercolor and ink along with exclusive new photos of Devendra
and his extended family, friends and band mates. Intended as a special piece of
art for his dearest fans, the book will only be available as a limited edition
this Fall. (XL Recordings)
Producer
John Carter Cash, son of Shaver'ss pal Johnny Cash, added his own studio polish
to the project, while capturing all the rowdy energy of Shaver'ss live performances.
The songs on Everybody'ss Brother deal with love, loss, mortality and the hereafter,
all viewed from Shaver'ss unique spiritual perspective. Get Thee Behind Me Satan
opens the album with a bang. John Anderson trades off on lead vocals and adds
his harmonies to the chorus on the bluesy rocker.Other guests on the album include
Marty Stuart, Tanya Tucker, Kris Kristofferson, Bill Miller, and Randy Scruggs.
The album'ss final track is a late 1970s duet with Johnny Cash on You Just Can'st
Beat Jesus Christ. It was produced by Cowboy Jack Clement and features a 15-year-old
Eddy Shaver playing smoking guitar. (Compadre)
'It's
a masterful album filled with a sequence of evocative threads that provide a window
into Pieta's world. There's the warm familiarity of countryfied opener ''Rollin
Down The Track'', the irresistible guitar-filled catchiness of ''Sonic Boom'',
the bluesy poignancy of ''West Monroe'' and the lilting refrain and pared-down
simplicity of the title track. Simmering underneath them all is Brown's exceptional
talent honed to perfection by [Bo] Ramsey's stellar production.' -- Serena Kutchinsky
bbc.co.uk (One Little Indian)
Icons
from the world of rock, blues, reggae, pop and country music have joined together
to salute the genius of legendary piano man Fats Domino for this double CD set,
Goin' Home: A Tribute To Fats Domino, a benefit for the Tipitina's Foundation.
Track Listing Disc 1: Ain't That A Shame (John Lennon)/I'm Walkin' (Tom Petty
& The Heartbreakers)/Goin' Home (B.B. King with Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk)/Blueberry
Hill (Elton John)/My Girl Josephine (Taj Mahal and The New Orleans Social Club)/Every
Night About This Time (The Dirty Dozen Brass Band with Joss Stone and Buddy Guy)/I
Want To Walk You Home (Paul McCartney featuring Allen Toussaint)/Whole Lotta Loving
(Lenny Kravitz with Rebirth Brass Band, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews,
Fred Wesley, Pee Wee Ellis and Maceo Parker) /Don't Leave Me This Way (Dr. John)/I'm
In Love Again / All By Myself (Bonnie Raitt and Jon Cleary)/Please Don't Leave
Me (Art Neville)/Going To The River (Robbie Robertson with Galactic)/Blue Monday
(Randy Newman)/It Keeps Rainin' (Robert Plant with Lil' Band o' Gold)/One Night
(of Sin) (Corinne Bailey Rae). Track Listing Disc 2: Walking To New Orleans (Neil
Young)/Valley of Tears (Robert Plant and The Soweto Gospel Choir)/My Bllue Heaven
(Norah Jones)/Honey Chile (Lucinda Williams)/Rising Sun (Marc Broussard featuring
Sam Bush)/When I See You (Olu Dara and The Natchezippi Band featuring Donald Harrison,
Jr.)/Be My Guest (Ben Harper with The Skatalites)/Let The Four Winds Blow (Toots
& The Maytals)/I Hear You Knockin' (Willie Nelson)/I Just Can't Get New Orleans
Off My Mind (Irma Thomas and Marcia Ball)/Don't Blame It On Me (Bruce Hornsby)/I'm
Gonna Be A Wheel Someday (Herbie Hancock with George Porter, Jr., Zigaboo Modeliste
and Renard Poche)/The Fat Man (Los Lobos)/So Long (Big Chief Monk Boudreaux with
Galactic)/When The Saints Go Marching In (Preservation Hall Jazz Band with Walter
"Wolfman" Washington and Theresa Andersson). (Vanguard)
Two
years in the making, this fund-raising CD created by Appleseed Recordings and
the national Give US Your Poor organization at UMass Boston’s McCormack Graduate
School brings together established musicians, socially committed actors and currently
or previously homeless musicians in a collection of mostly exclusive new recordings
that address the ongoing crisis of homelessness in America. 
The
straight ahead, dry, crunchy, roots rock that explodes from this disc is honest
and passionate. From lazy slow burners sewn up with understated pedal steel ("Girl
Of My Dreams"), to dusty and driven mid-tempo rockers that remind you what
a good tube amp sounds like ("Found"), there is a width and breadth
to their delivery. Songs like "Forget You (Try To)" bust out with the
fervor of a classic Replacements rocker. Overall, a solid recording of what sounds
like a rocking club band working out the dynamic highs and lows of their Ohio
experience. Track Listing:Wait/Youngstown, The City of/Forget You (try to)*/Been
So Long/Farmtown/Found/River/Girl of My Dreams/Burn/All Sins Forgiven/Goodbye
(alt.)/Greenhorne**/Big Enough**/Pick Me Up**/Swallow Your Pride**/How It Ends**.(Suburban
Home)
This
is Raul Malo's first solo Christmas album, which features Raul's beautiful and
unique interpretations of beloved holiday tunes. Some songs are distinctly stylized,
some traditional, others sung with a hint of humor, but all very nostalgic. Track
Listing:Marshmallow World/Not So Merry Christmas/Jingle Bells/Silent Night/Santa
Claus Is Back In Town/White Christmas/I'll Be Home For Christmas/Blue Christmas/Silver
Bells/Feliz Navidad/Hidden track: Winter Wonderland. (New Door Records)
Ricky
Skaggs and The Whites have collected more than enough trophies over their individual
careers to fill up each of their mantels. They've worked with everyone from Emmylou
Harris to Bruce Hornsby, yet they've never recorded an entire album together.
Finally, after years of blending their voices from the living room to the stage,
Ricky Skaggs and The Whites have teamed up on their first collaborative album,
Salt of the Earth a gospel collection that promises to be worth the wait. (Skaggs
Family)
Named
after the address of New York's much-loved Joe's Pub, Lafayette is the acclaimed
songwriter's first official live album and an on-record invitation into her other
world, the stage, where she spends more than half of every year knocking 'em dead
nightly. Over 13 tracks, Lafayette captures the energy and musicality of McKeown
as a bandleader and entertainer extraordinaire. Recorded in January of 2007.Track
Listing:. ...the Band Takes the Stage!/Thanks For the Boogie Ride/To the Stars/You
Were Right About Everything/Fast As I Can/Melody/James!/We Are More/Lullaby In
3/4/You, Sailor/Slung-Lo /Blackbirds/ ...the Band Says 'Thank You And Goodnight!'.(Signature
Sounds)
Nick
Luca is frontman for this band and has recorded and played with the likes of Calexico,
Howe Gelb, Devotchka, and Neko Case, but forget all that. On his last CD, "Sick
Of Love", Luca moved the band's sound to rock territory and now they're sporting
a more driving, guitar-based sound. On this release, they also worked with legendary
producer Sean Slade (Radiohead, Hole, The Pixies, Dresden Dolls) who brings a
new perspective to the talented group. (Funzalo Records)
Much
of the material from Shine was inspired by Joni's passion to save the environment.
The 10 new tracks resonate on the level of her all-time classic work. (Hear Music)
Wolfgang's
Big Night Out," the seventh studio album from The Brian Setzer Orchestra,
puts a rock and swing twist on classical music. Mainly instrumental, the record
takes classical works from composers such as Beethoven, Mozart, Rossini, Wagner,
and Mendelssohn. (Surfdog)
Recorded
Live at the historic Ryman Auditorium 1963-1967. Track Listing: Come On In And
Make Yourself At Home/A Satisfied Mind/ Country Music Has Gone To Town/ I Thought
I Heard You Call My Name, /What Would You Do? If Jesus Came To Your House/Life
Of The Party, /Another Day Another Dollar/Be Careful Of Stones That You Throw/I've
Enjoyed As Much Of This As I Can Stand/I'll Go Down Swinging/Green, Green Grass
Of Home/I'm Gonna Feed You Now/Skid Row Joe/Company's Comin' (Time Life Records)
In
Our Nature", José González' second album, sees González
coming into his own as a songwriter - with songs that are as instantly accessible
as they are brimming with darkness and brooding intensity. "I like playing
with symbolism," says González. "On this album I've wanted to
bring out the primitive aspects of human beings." In addition to González
on guitar and vocals are Erik Bodin, percussion and Yukimi Nagamo, backing vocals.(Mute)
On
Coming Down Anders sings about his two great loves, his wife and New Orleans.
The new CD find Anders in a sparse setting that showcases the songwriting. One
of the highlights of the CD is the song Katrina. Anders and his family moved backed
to New Orleans six weeks after the devastating hurricane. (M.C. Records)
From
pubs to arenas, from dance halls to county fairs, the name Kevin Fowler always
means a full house and cheering crowds. With his CD Bring It On, Kevin delivers
100% Texan country with style. (Equity Music Group)
Throughout
the storied life and career of American musical icon Willie Nelson, his sister,
Bobbie has been right next to him, playing the piano that is as essential to his
musical style as "Trigger," his well-worn Martin guitar. Now Bobbie
Nelson moves into the spotlight at stage center with her debut solo album "Audiobiography"
on Justice Records. The 12-song album features Bobbie Nelson playing solo piano
versions of some of her favorite songs from throughout her life and begins and
ends with two new songs written by Willie Nelson, who joins his sister on guitar
and vocals. (Justice)
Over
the course of six acclaimed albums, Matt Pond has composed a world of poetic characters
and bittersweet melodies. Each release presents a new emotional arc, drawing fans
in closer with personal lyrics and endearing hooks. "Last Light" offers
the most dynamic glimpse of this world yet. Set against Matt's pastoral imagery,
this collection of songs follows a path from hopeless longing to the hope of new
love - exploring all the delicate twists, turns, rifts, and revelations in between.
(Altitude Records)
It`s
been a long time since the release of his solo debut, the 7-track live mini-album
The Leaves Fall Upside Down. However, the onetime leader of The Pinetops has made
the wait so very much worthwhile. Jeffrey Dean Foster`s songs for Million Star
Hotel carry the rootsy charm of those on The Pinetops` Don Dixon produced gem,
Above Ground And Vertical, yet are rock-charged to perfection. Sliding between
moments of organic, raw beauty and volt-fueled passion, Foster runs a course through
dark emotional checkpoints, each one seemingly wrought with disappointment, yet
seeded with hope. "Don`t Listen To Me" is a sorrowful piano driven number
that shows hints of Brian Wilson and Neil Young; with "Milk And Honey"
even more so, recalling Harvest era Young. But Foster`s vulnerability and honesty
carry these tunes, which are, in and of themselves, magnetic. Co-producing with
Foster are Brian Landrum (Black Eyed Dog), who provides mostly drums and some
keys throughout, and Mitch Easter, who adds pedal-steel and guitar on several
tracks. Dixon returns on bass and guitar for a couple of tunes as well. Special
note is given to Lynn Blakey (Let`s Active, Glory Fountain, Tres Chicas) for some
stunning harmony vocals on a couple of tracks. The album`s title essentially describes
being homeless and sleeping under the endless night sky, but this is a guy who
you want to know assuredly has roof over his head and some solid recognition as
songwriter. Million Star Hotel should certify that. -- Robinson, Miles Of Music
(Angel Skull) 
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) 
Utah
Carol`s Grant Birkenbeuel and JinJa Davis create ethereal soundscape songs that
are simultaneously enchanting and creepy. The duo`s soft and seductive harmonies
create a dreamscape world -- children`s stories for adults -- that initially provide
comfort like the scent of baking bread in mom`s kitchen. After you get past the
pretty surface themes of heartache, sabotage, obsession and hope waft out. This
mix of the hypnotic aspects of shoegaze pop, the sensuality of whispering Don
Gibson, and the small-town-life-is-ok-until-you-look-closer aspect of David Lynch
film making gives Utah Carol its unique, engaging and, sometimes, creepy appeal.
-- Jeff Weiss, Miles of Music (Stomping Ground) 
The
Wyatts deliver a boozy romp through nitro-fueled honky tonk gathering "the
classic sadness of classic country." Stephen Siegel, from the Tucson Weekly,
wrote. "The Wyatts reach way back to when country and rock were virtually
the same thing -- their songs are country in their subject matter and style, but
strip away the slide guitar, twang, cowboy hats and boots, and at the core is
a good old-fashioned rock `n` roll." -- Jeff Weiss, Miles of Music (Self
Release) 
"This
debut release will definitely put The Wyatts on the map of roots rock bands. Their
CD is a blend of country rock and pop rock music delivered with a fresh flavor
served up by The Wyatts. The players and the vocal performances are outstanding.
This band will put more heat into the dance halls and clubs of Arizona. An excellent
debut!" - The Roots Music Report, San Marcos, Texas (Self Release) 
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