|
Post by LS on Aug 11, 2005 22:54:57 GMT -5
Also out on 8/16/05:
THIS IS AMERICANA VOL. 2 - Various (NARM Recordings/Ryko)
This Is Americana Vol. 2 is a limited-edition charity compilation that features new and previously unreleased tracks from 20 popular and critically acclaimed Americana artists. Proceeds from this very reasonably priced compilation ($1.98) will benefit the NARM (National Association of Recording Merchandisers) Scholarship Fund.
Track Listing: Sarah Borges - "Daniel Lee" Clem Snide - "Fill Me With Your Light" Julie Lee - "Stillhouse Road" Jitterbug Thompson - "Fool" Kathleen Edwards -"Back To Me" Robert Earl Keen - "The Great Hank" Holly Williams - "Man In The Making" John Doe (w/Dave Alvin & Veronica Jane) - "Mama Don't" Amy Speace - "Step Out Of The Shade" Hacienda Brothers - "Walkin' On My Dreams" Caitlin Cary & Thad Cockrell - "Party Time" The Greencards - "Time" Robin Ella - "Break It Down Baby" Eric Bibb (w/Ruthie Foster) - "Troubadour" Adrienne Young - "My Love Will Keep" Maria McKee - "Turn Away" Jackie Greene - "About Cell Block #9" Michelle Shocked - "How You Play The Game" Rodney Crowell - "The Obscenity Prayer" Mary Gauthier - "I Drink"
_________________________________________
HANDS ACROSS THE WATER: A BENEFIT FOT THE CHILDREN OF THE TSUNAMI - Various (Compass)
Hands Across The Water: A Benefit For The Children Of The Tsunami features many great Americana artists and their Irish counterparts. The project is produced by musicians Andrea Zonn and John Cutliff.
Track Listing: Darrell Scott w/Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Oisin McAuley & Paul Rodden - "This Beggar's Heart" Jim Lauderdale w/Maura O'Connell - "This World's Family" Karen Matheson w/Donald Shaw, The Duhks & Bryan Sutton - "A Fond Kiss" Jon Randall w/Máirtín O'Connor & Alison Brown - "Get Through It" Tim O'Brien w/Lúnasa - "Fair And Tender Ladies" Sharon Shannon w/Jackson Brown - "Man Of Constant Sorrow" Solas w/Mindy Smith - "Reason Land" John & Fiona Prine w/Dermot Byrne - "Til A Tear Becomes A Rose" Beth Nielsen Chapman w/Christina Quinn, Bonnie Raitt, Michael McGoldrick & Donald Shaw - "Be Still My Soul" Paul Brady w/Rodney Crowell - "40 Shades Of Green" Blue Merle w/Pauline Scanlon - "Part Of Your History" Altan w/Vince Gill - "Let's Heal" Cerys Matthews w/John Jorgenson & Stuart Duncan - "An Occasional Song" Andrea Zonn w/Flook & Bill Shanley - "Standing Still" John Cowan w/The Brock McGuire Band - "Cumberland Plateau" Jerry Douglas w/Ciaran Tourish - "In The Sweet By And By"
|
|
|
Post by Mr._Shooter on Aug 29, 2005 22:21:36 GMT -5
Brad Paisley's "Time Well Wasted" gets a big thumbs-up from this listener. I heard the whole album through over on CMT and I have to say that the guy continues to hit home runs, even though I expect something much less than that every time out of the box. So much for expectations. Jaded, I guess. Anyhow, Brad actually trots out a falsetto on more than one of these tracks, which surprisingly works. The best tracks are "Alcohol", which is an anthem as far as I'm concerned, "Rainin' You," which is an extraordinarily acoustic ballad, and "She's Everything," which is a power ballad done right (take note, all contemporaries of Mr. Paisley). IMHO, we're lucky to have Brad making the charts these days.
|
|
|
Post by LS on Sept 19, 2005 1:17:36 GMT -5
Ok I totally forgot this one... THE best one he's done in years and it's a dang good thing for those that had the hits with the songs that he passed on them. And the new version of He Stopped Loving Her Today... now I can actually live with the song!! ;D Hits I Missed...And One I Didn't George Jones (Bandit Records) Release date- 9/13/05 It's an interesting concept: George Jones, still the gold standard for country singers after nearly half a century, finally recording material submitted to and rejected by him from the '60s through the '90s--songs that would go on to become hits for others. Superbly produced by Keith Stegall, Jones masterfully tackles Willie Nelson's "Funny How Time Slips Away"; Randy Travis's "On the Other Hand"; "Detroit City," the Mel Tillis composition that became Bobby Bare's signature tune; and Merle Haggard's "Today I Started Loving You Again." A new version of Hank Williams Jr.'s "The Blues Man" with a cameo from Dolly Parton is reflective and thoughtful. Jones does equally well with "Too Cold at Home," the introductory hit for his friend Mark Chesnutt. While the remake of his own 1981 landmark hit "He Stopped Loving Her Today" is austere and dignified, the biggest surprises are finding Jones had first crack at Henson Cargill's socially relevant 1968 ballad "Skip a Rope" and "Pass Me By," Johnny Rodriguez's 1972 debut hit. Jones's brief notes on each tune provide some interesting hindsight perspectives. --Rich Kienzle Track List: 1. Funny How Time Slips Away 2. Detroit City 3. The Blues Man- (featuring Dolly Parton) 4. Here In The Real World 5. If You're Gonna Do Me Wrong 6. Today I Started Loving You Again 7. On The Other Hand 8. Pass Me By 9. Skip A Rope 10. Too Cold At Home 11. Busted 12. He Stopped Loving Her Today
|
|
|
Post by Mr._Shooter on Sept 21, 2005 0:05:41 GMT -5
This will be a fascinating listen, I'm sure. Especially in light of your "He Stopped Loving Her Today" comment, LS. I know how much you don't like GJ's initial cut. The overall concept of this album points out how essential George is to country music...and the world of popular music as a whole. He can take songs he discarded the first time around and make them his own. Astonishing.
|
|
DRL
Full Member
Posts: 495
|
Post by DRL on Sept 22, 2005 18:09:06 GMT -5
Cross Canadian Ragweed's new album, Garage, will hit stores on October 4.
|
|
|
Post by LS on Sept 25, 2005 21:52:42 GMT -5
Cross Canadian Ragweed's new album, Garage, will hit stores on October 4. Listening party over on CMT. Those boys from oklahoma sure have come a long way from Live At The Wormy Dog ;D ... CRANK it UP- one kickass album...a killer tribute to Dimebag (!!) and a scorching cover of Who Do You Love...Sister, When It All Goes Down, Blues For You, SS 10, Lighthouse Keeper--- 21st century Skynyrd/Outlaws in all it's glory...
|
|
|
Post by LS on Sept 26, 2005 0:09:47 GMT -5
UPDATEThe following previously mentioned albums have had their release dates bumped back: Bob Will's Texas Playboys:Salute To Bob's 100th Birthday- Various Artists (Smith Entertainment) Bumped from 9/13 to 12/27 Hank Williams III- Straight To Hell (Curb) Bumped from 9/13 to 10/25 <as if that comes as any shock > Bobby Bare- The Moon Was Blue (Dualtone) Bumped from 10/4 to 11/1
|
|
|
Post by LS on Sept 26, 2005 0:40:03 GMT -5
This will be a fascinating listen, I'm sure. Especially in light of your "He Stopped Loving Her Today" comment, LS. I know how much you don't like GJ's initial cut. The overall concept of this album points out how essential George is to country music...and the world of popular music as a whole. He can take songs he discarded the first time around and make them his own. Astonishing. Shooter...I'd say it's about as close as you could come to a masterpiece. In my never so humble opinion ;D I believe he's just recorded the definitive version of Funny How Time Slips Away- that one is a sheer masterpiece. Right on it's heels as a very close 2nd is The Blues Man (and I didn't think anyone could outdo Alan Jackson's version!!)...Since I don't watch CMT- I go to the site to watch and listen to what <little CMT-wise > does interest me and they have his video for it there...very, very well done, very fitting and the result is very poignant. Skip A Rope was a surprise for me- it's not a song I could envision him doing...but he does a great job, although on that one I do prefer the original better. Same with Detroit City and If You're Gonna Do Me Wrong- George easily nails 'em both and makes 'em his own, but I do still personally prefer Bobby Bare's and Vern Gosdin's respective hit versions. But then again- could I say that if George had done 'em first?? Without a doubt though- he gives AJ, Randy Travis and Chesnutt a definite run for their money and equals their versions. Busted is another one that seemed to come from out of left field...but in outstanding fashion, he makes that one uniquely all his own...a completely different reading than Ray Charles, Faron Young, Cash, Waylon, Conlee and everyone else who's ever done it. I think Johnny Rodriguez is very lucky he passed on Pass Me By because IMO he totally buries Johnny's version- and since that was Johnny's very first hit- without it, who knows how things might have played out for Johnny. And I like his rendition of Today I Started Loving You Again better than the Hags!! And last but not least...he's even managed to trump himself!! For whatever it's worth...another astounding album is Bobby Bare's upcoming release The Moon Was Blue...it's an absolute stunner and he sounds incredible. His cover of Tommy Edwards' It's All In The Game easily matches the greatness of the original. Are You Sincere is breathtaking...I Am An Island, Love Letters, Everybody's Talkin', Yesterday When I Was Young...the whole thing's just amazing. The track list for that one is: 1. Are You Sincere 2. I Am An Island 3. Everybody's Talkin' 4. Yesterday When I Was Young 5. Love Letters In The Sand 6. Ballad Of Lucy Jordan, The 7. My Heart Cries For You 8. It's All In The Game 9. Shine On Harvest Moon 10. Am I That Easy To Forget 11. Fellow Travelers Though it's not out until 11/1, songs clips for the entire album are already up on most of the major music retail sites (Amazon, CD Universe, Tower, etc). Also- you can click the following link to hear the full length tracks of the following songs: Are You Sincere Yesterday When I Was Young Am I That Easy To Forget Fellow Travelerswww.dualtone.com/ecard/bare/bare_flash.php#...Or click on the following link for free downloads the following songs: Are You Sincere Am I That Easy To Forgetfree.dualtone.com/index2.phpI'm also impressed with Dean Miller's Platinum...a nice mix of traditional, good, well written and well done contemporary, and a few Waylon-esue 'outlaw' style songs. Music Executive is a riot- I laughed myself silly, his cover of his dad's I've Been A Long Time Leaving totally smokes...and somebody really ought to send Whiskey Wings to Mr. Strait. Ah- what a year...Jerry Reed, Eddy Arnold, Bobby Bare, George Jones...all proving they're still very much in the game...and for at least this brief moment in time- all seems right in the world of country music.
|
|
|
Post by Mr._Shooter on Sept 26, 2005 21:12:22 GMT -5
LS, on the strength of your ringing endorsement, I scooted on over to CMT to take a listen to GJ's "The Blues Man." All I can say is, MASTERFUL! I too thought AJ's interpretation was definitive. GJ's cut absolutely, positively, ridiculously blows the doors of AJ's splendid rendition - and the video (amazingly) does justice to a song that really needs no visual demonstration. George's voice breaks and warbles (appropriately) exactly where AJ's cannot, and that's not only a testament to George's age and age-induced vocal limitations...it's also an indication of a masterful reading of the LYRICS. So many artists cut songs to fill out a "stone country" or "pop country" bent - in other words, the lyrics and notes oftentimes say one thing (maybe even something brilliant) while the vocal interprepration is insipid, or mainstream, or labored, or slick, or any other pejorative you can come up with. Dolly did a great job as well. Her approach was (thankfully) unadorned - she allowed George to shine. That being said, I can't help but imagine Tammy dueting on THIS particular song. ;D
|
|
|
Post by Mr._Shooter on Oct 18, 2005 21:45:58 GMT -5
Although I haven't picked up the album yet (simply too much going on), I've heard the Gary Allan single "Best I Ever Had" a couple of times of now. It's from his Tough All Over album. Given Allan's back history - his wife's suicide and all - this single resounds as an intimate and personal tribute. As such, it serves as additional evidence of Gary Allan's wonderfully insipired and personal approach to his career. I'd liken him to Dwight Yoakam, which is a good thing. ;D
|
|
|
Post by Mr._Shooter on Nov 18, 2005 0:28:52 GMT -5
Sorry 'bout the multiple posts in a row, but I guess I'm the only one who's listening to (and posting about)what's new out there. Anyhow, Clint Black has come out with an album that I actually can get behind. A stone cold honky-tonkin' album, no less. "Drinkin' Songs & Other Logic" is the first Clint album in recent memory that actually consistently sounds like the Clint of old. No country-pop fluff (did his wife come down with laryngitis?). No bilge-water, run-of-the-mill stuff. Clint finally cut an album that isn't meant for modern country radio (which is, of course, yet another sad commentary on the state of today's country radio). Prime cuts include "Rainbow in the Rain", a fine barn-burner with a lyrical message, "Thinkin' of You," one of the best country songs Clint's cut in some time, and "Go It Alone", a splendid waltz that recalls that Clint was once the king of country dancehalls. I guess Clint finally got my memo.
|
|
|
Post by LS on Nov 19, 2005 2:22:52 GMT -5
Sorry 'bout the multiple posts in a row, but I guess I'm the only one who's listening to (and posting about)what's new out there. Shooter- I've had longer strings of multiple posts...personally- I see absolutely nothing wrong with talking to oneself...I do it all the time ;D Seriously though- it's comforting to see someone's still keeping the home fire burning. I've been listening to be sure...it's just that I've been totally overwhelmed for the last several weeks...and then just when I got a little breathing room- wound up getting slammed to the ground this past week with the latest 'bug du jour' going around. Catch up time... The George Jones video...what you said is kind of the whole point- and the one Nashville and the music industry as a whole misses. With age comes wisdom...or at least life experience. I mean...Leanne Rimes did give a technically amazing vocal rendition of "Blue"- I'll give her that, but did a 13 year-old seriously have the first inkling- the slightest experience- of what she was singing about?? No, and despite technical virtuosity- the result was emotionally bankrupt. That said, Jones' rendition of the song masterfully speaks for itself- the man literally lived the song...the video is just a perfect example of how videos should work- it served to add an emotionally powerful dimension to an already emotionally powerful song. On Gary Allan...I have to admit I heard the single "Best I Ever Had" before the album came out and knowing the tragic story behind the song- try as I might, I just didn't care for the 'song' (though not the sentiment behind it)...which kind of made me feel bad because I can't think of a Gary Allan song I didn't like up to that point. The rest of the album I can get behind though and it lives up to what I've come to expect from him over the years...and I really do admire his strength and courage to put it all out there for the world to see. On Clint...I'd been pushing that one around for a while- I just didn't have the courage to listen to it...and groan again. When I finally did get around to it- imagine my surprise that someone actually does read a Shooter memo!! ;D There are a couple of songs that miss the mark- but to be fair, it's not due to the fact they're that insipid popish claptrap he's been recording for the past several years...they're country songs- just not my cup of tea. My personal picks are "Heartache," ( twin fiddles- yee-haw!! ) "I Don't Wanna Tell You" and "Code Of The West." I'm still being dazzled by Bobby Bare's album- I love that album to death. And Merle's new one Chicago Wind's really good...aside from 2 honky tonkers, very mellow though- he does a really beautiful rendition of Willie's (already beautiful rendition of) "It Will Always Be." And of course there's a few non-country releases that I've been very taken with as well...
|
|
|
Post by Mr._Shooter on Nov 19, 2005 21:51:52 GMT -5
LS, the thing about talkin' to myself is, I can't BILL anyone for it. ;D Seriously, you should know that I've definitely been stoking the old home fires of late - so much good music of late, so little time! And some of it's been mainstream! E.g., Tracy Lawrence's "Then and Now." A splendid compilation of Tracy's greatest radio hits, it includes "If I Don't Make It Back," which is a touching, nay heartbreaking, contribution to the increasingly tiresome "we're at war, let's be patriotic" genre. Tracy triumphs where others (dare I name them) have brow-beaten. I've worn out Brad Paisley's "Time Well Wasted." As far as I'm concerned, Brad can stand on a stage with AJ and Strait as artists who consistently produce contemporary-sounding yet solidly grounded country songs. On another front, I've found myself intrigued by the music of Sugarland. Jennifer Nettles' lead vocals are something to marvel at - they sound sincerely and wonderfully Southern, but are they an affectation? That is, is she just another Gretchen Wilson? The jury's out, but I am enjoying many cuts on "Twice the Speed of Life." Speaking about juries being out, Trisha Yearwood's new one, "Jasper County," boasts moments of brilliance - "Georgia Rain" is probably one of her best cuts ever, notwithstanding Garth's minimal presence - but has too many insipid cuts, reminding that Yearwood always, in my mind, was on a par with Martina McBride (i.e., all voice, no lyrical sense). Speaking of Bobby Bare, LS, I listened to his new one over on CMT. There were George Jones moments aplenty - when Bobby's voice lent new credence and conviction to songs that I had written off as insipid or otherwise irrelevant. It's to our benefit that artists of a certain age have enough still left in their tanks to put out albums that are worthy of a listen not simply out of pity (or sympathy) but because they have something to say musically or lyrically.
|
|
|
Post by LS on Dec 7, 2005 0:16:45 GMT -5
LS, the thing about talkin' to myself is, I can't BILL anyone for it. ;D Seriously, you should know that I've definitely been stoking the old home fires of late - so much good music of late, so little time! Surely Shooter- you could write it off as a loss...or perhaps even as some pro bono work. ;D But yep- it's been a pretty fruitful year... musically speaking. I don't have Tracy's...with the exception of that last <inexplicable> clunker he put out on Dreamworks , I already own all of his albums and I'm not one to buy into greatest hits albums for a couple of new songs. And try as I might- despite the urging of many people going way back to another place and time - I'm sorry but I've just never 'gotten' Paisley. He's a fine instrumentalist I can agree on that...it's just that as a performer- he's 'white noise' to me...nothing about him or his material stands out and grabs me. Maybe it's because he's never developed a personality??...I don't know. Sugarland too...I do like Jennifer's voice well enough...maybe it was all the 'pre-signing' hype, so my expectations were high...but there again, their material just hasn't grabbed me. Ah and Trisha. That's a real tragedy. I adore her voice...but with the exception of a rare song here and there- I really dislike her choice of material. I wouldn't put her in the same category as Martina though, for the simple fact that Martina seems to have graduated from the Whitney Houston/Mariah Carey School of Oversinging...and they do it for no other reason than because they can and seem to have no clue as to the fine art of nuance- that often less is much more. Trisha can but rarely chooses to bludgeon with the big notes and instead has a fine command of nuance. As far as Trisha goes- I sincerely wish she'd find better material...Maybe if she took more of a cue from Bonnie Raitt- she might finally be on to something. That said...now I'll put in a plug for some local boys. ;D I'm pleased to report that one of my very favorite local bands, The Doc Marshalls released their first full length album earlier this year...and I've been enjoying the heck out of it ;D ...(and it's been doing very well on the Americana charts too ). They're from Brooklyn and they do a mix of honky tonk and traditional Cajun fare (I do love the honky tonk- but like so many others- I totally adore their Cajun stuff!!). They played a benefit to raise money for Katrina relief several weeks ago, and were the only non-New Orleans performers on the bill...and anyone unfamiliar with them would have never known it- they played their Cajun French patois fare to perfection. You can sample the album (and download the songs of their previous EP) on their website www.docmarshalls.comThe other one I'm really high on is Pork McElhinny who hails from PA. A bit more contemporary- I would say overall his sound is probably most comparable to someone like Charlie Robison. His latest single Hardwood Floor is one of the best songs I've heard all year. You can sample clips on his website www.porkm.com I think CMT only presented 3 cuts off the album (in addition to a 'bonus' performance of his old hit Streets Of Baltimore)- and they were different than the album versions. I have to disagree with you though on any of the songs he chose for the album as being "insipid or otherwise irrelevant." Well maybe with the exception of Love Letters In The Sand- which has never been a particular favorite of mine (though it never bothered me one way or the other), but he does deliver a really nice folksy rendition. Shine On Harvest Moon was a rather startling out of left field choice- but he performs such a different rendition of it and I fell in love with it immediately. I'd never heard Shel Silverstein's Ballad Of Lucy Jordan before- but once again Bobby masterfully interprets yet another Silverstein masterpiece...and pretty much all the other songs he chose are among personal favorites of mine.
|
|
|
Post by Mr._Shooter on Jan 30, 2006 1:13:12 GMT -5
Wow, it's been quiet around here. I've been a culprit, I admit, but, wow! Anyhow, I saw George Strait, Tracy Lawrence and Miranda Lambert live in Worcester, MA this past Saturday (been wanting to catch George in these parts, since he's as elusive as a plumber on a cold night). Great show. Best of the bunch? Tracy Lawrence, without a doubt. "Paint Me a Birmingham" brought down the house, while "If I Don't Make it Back" put the crowd into a respectful (if not misty-eyed) hush. A younger person in the crowd wondered aloud, in awe, "where did this guy come from?" I said, son, Tracy Lawrence has been a country legend longer than you've been walking. ;D Miranda Lambert rocked the joint, which, as you might expect, didn't go over so well with some older Strait fans. Still, she was well received overall - IMHO, she's better than Gretchen Wilson. As for George, the man was a smooth as silk...as expected. Naturally, he showcased his most recent album, "Somewhere Down in Texas." These songs play better live than on the disc - you truly believe that he's saluting his home state. "You'll Be There," the autobiographical song that had roots in the death of George's child years ago, proved an emotional ballad - many around me were in tears, a tribute not only to the lyrics, but also George's performance. At bottom, George put on a show that would make any fan of traditional country music proud - he time and again paid tribute to the Ace in a Hole Band, pointing out the artistry of, among others, Gene Elders (fiddle) and Mike Daily (steel guitar).
|
|