This new record from Rancho Deluxe should go a long way in separating the band from their Californian alt-country brethren. True Freedom is the band’s second album and features a sterling cast of supporting characters including Don Heffington on drums and Skip Edwards on piano.
“Maintenance Man” may be the first time in song that the lonely janitor get his due. It’s an odd litle ode to the working man but it works due in part to the layers of guitar, mandolin, pedal steel, bass and drums.
You can order this July release a little early here now.
These are a couple half-written posts from the last month. I never had the gumption or the wherewithal to fine tune them individually. So I added them altogether for a nice little group post. Enjoy.
This record, The Sun Is always Brighter, by Joshua James has been kicking around for a year or so. Due to his popularity, tour dates opening for some pretty fine artists (Justin Townes Earle, Lex Land and The Swell Season) and great press it will be be remixed and reissued on CD and vinyl in June.
Annie Keating is a NYC based Americana artist who has been compared to Lucinda Williams and Gillian Welch. But her slow tempo, often langorious alt-country is more in the realm of Mary Gauthier. Her vocal delivery always traverses the same range as well…it’s like a low growl. Her new record is called Belmont and is available here.
The title track shows why this genre is perfectly suited to nostalgic songs about growing up, growing old and remembering it all like it was just yesterday.
Matt’s recently moved from the West coast to NYC and I wonder if that move has influenced this new batch of songs. On “Don’t Let Me Out” there’s a bit more to the production (including a dissonant accordion) than just the acoustic guitar of the past. I’m really looking forward to this new record from Matt Bauer.
It’s a rainy, dreary day here in Chicago and what better way to spend it than with the Baroque English folk of Nick Hudson. Nick Hudson’s new record, The Elegy, is out on Kiddiepunk Records in June.
On the song “Atlantic Dash” Nick hits just one note: somber. But listening to some of the other songs that are streaming on MySpace show an experimental side to this artist that’s not apparent from this one song.
“Real” publications do it, so why not Songs:Illinois? Here’s a letter to the editor, music blog style, with links to live shows from Mark Jungers, Scott Nolan and Danny Schmidt. Thanks to Chad for sending this along.
Hey man-
Got a bunch of links and info for you, that you may or may not know.
Saw your post on the new Adam Carroll record. It’s great. It was produced by Scott Nolan (who wrote the song “Bad Liver and a Broken Heart’ on Hayes’ new record), and recorded in Mark Junger’s garage, and engineered by Jungers, who might have helped out with some of the production too, not sure.
Here’s one of my favorite shows that I went to in 2007: Mark Jungers, with Scott Nolan and Adam. Adam plays, for the first time ever live (i think), Oklahoma Hustler and Hi-Fi Love, and perhaps the funniest version of “Werewolves of London” i’ve ever heard. Mark’s cover of “Powderfinger”, with Scott Nolan on lead, is however, one of the best cover versions I’ve heard.
If you don’t know Scott Nolan, check him out. He’s got a bunch of videos on YouTube. He and Joanna Miller play as a duo, and get a sound that sounds like a 5 piece band.
Also, a buddy of mine (who taped the above show also), recently taped Danny Schmidt, and Danny played a bunch of new ones. Thought you might want to check that out:
Danny Scmidt (Flac) (listen for Danny’s great new song about globalization)
Lastly, I discovered The Lonelyhearts through your site. Really really dig their tunes. Don’t know if you knew or not, but their first band has a ton of downloads available at www.rustbeltmusic.com
Figured I’d gotten enough stuff from your site that I should share a bit.
I’m not completely sold on all the young newgrassy bands (how `bout you?). Crooked Still, The Duhks and others just leave me a little cold. The music is pristine and shiny, but at times lacks the passion of less acclaimed and even less purely talented groups.
One of the most acclaimed young groups that stradle this line between polished bluegrass and down to earth country is Nashville’s Infamous Stringdusters. They’ll be releasing their new record on Sugar Hill In June. The guys in the `Dusters can certainly play, and that, along with their age and scruffy appearance, are a few of the reasons the band is treated more like a jam band than a bluegrass band on the road.
So here’s “You Can’t Handle The Truth” from the sophomore long player from the Infamous Stringdusters. Compare and contrast with the Hayman, Watkins, Trout and Lee song below.
What perfect timing. Here’s an example of an English band playing traditional American music just for kicks around the kitchen table. Hayman, Watkins, Trout and Lee is the name of Darren Hayman’s bluegrass inspired americana group. Darren Hayman is the former front man for the English cult pop group Hefner. So this will receive a wider release than your “typical” London bluegrass band; it’ll be out on Fortuna POP! via Cargo and iTunes on May 6 (today!).
They literally recorded this around the kitchen table in Darren’s flat. It’s probably a purist’s nightmare and is no doubt riddled with miscues and off key singing. But there’s something to this. The lyrics are original and address topics that are more relevant cold Appalachian winters and/or moonshine stills. So again compare this with the song above and see what you think.
Buy it now here. Here’s the song “Sly and the Family Stone”
This morning there appeared a horrible article in CNET about music blogs. It was filled with inaccuracies, misspellings (Lilly ?! Allen) and downright silliness. Idolator has already taken them to task but I can’t help to point out a few things as well.
First off, this quote - “we pick up the phone and bring original reporting” - by a Rolling Stone staffer about how Rolling Stone with it’s use of the common phone has blogs beat is just classic. I picture an intern or an old geezer with a typewriter, cigar and a rotary phone trying to call Man Man to get an update on the new record. Ironically the guys from Man Man have just abandoned phone use and gone all digital.
Secondly, for an article supposedly about Music Blogs its interesting to note he doesn’t speak with nary a one. None of the people he interviews writes a “real” blog in my opinion. This is not sour grapes I don’t care that he didn’t rush to my doorstep for a quote or two but I do care that he didn’t talk to StG, IGIF, MOKB, GvB etc etc. Maybe none of those guys were sitting by the phone either.
Finally, and maybe I’m wrong about this one, but the dude from Rolling stone is quoted as saying “”I wouldn’t call what they do as writing,” - is that even good grammar? If so it’s awkward at best.
P.S. This article was neither spell checked nor fact checked. And that’s part of the beauty of blogs. If RS even wanted to counteract this post it’d take `em 6weeks, a lot of phone calls (I generally don’t pick up) and a handful of interns. And we’d all be on to the next great band.
I’ve got a couple kids. And they drive me crazy. The most recent incident was a bad fall at the park by my 3 year old resulting in 4 stitches just millimeters from his right eye. Then one day this weekend both kids cried and tantrumed off and on all morning (mostly on). But all of that is quickly forgotten with a hug, a shared book, or a single that makes it out of the infield at t-ball.
Because of my kids I can relate to Lisa Cerbone’s new song for her daughter “Mia Noelle”. The lines in here that strike home about kids are “we have fallen under your spell” and “making friends with everyone”. That’s the truth about little kids.
Lisa’s new record is called We Were All Together and is the first for her in over seven years. Lisa has worked extensively with Mark Kozelek in the past, although on this record she collaborates with some of Baltimore’s finest musicians.
I was introduced to Lisa on a lullaby sampler put out by La Blogotheque. The songs on the new record can be thought of as lullaby’s as well. They’re mostly soft with gentle fingerpicking and subtle instrumentation. Lisa’s voice is stunning and haunting in equal quantities. You can buy this here now at Amazon.
I’m still liking everything I hear from Russian Red, Cable & Tweed mostly agrees but questions her choice of Cyndi Lauper covers.
3Hive expounds on the Joe Pug phenomena (fyi Joe will be performing at the next Songs:Illinois House Concert on June 6 - email me if you’re interested in attending).
The fiendishly good blog Anyone’s Guess has some lofi folk from Nathan Moomah.
Quarterlifeparty has 2 songs from the Wye Oak spinoff Noble Lake.
When I first wrote about Heather Waters and her 2004 record Shadow Of You I was impressed by it’s subtlety and it’s quiet moments of desperation. Heather’s brand new record, Propeller, has gone in a completely different direction. Now instead of being compared to Gillian Welch or Lucinda Williams her new material can more closely be compared to Canadian singer Holly Cole or even L.A. darling Aimee Mann.
It’s a pretty radical shift for Heather. Pedal steel has been replaced by B3 organ, acoustic guitars by electric and brushed drums by a heavy beat. This has been a conscious effort on Heather’s part which she elaborates on in the bio section of her website.
“I don’t want to be restricted by genre, or at least, people’s perceptions of what genre is,” Waters states, adding, “I live in Los Angeles. I’m married to a rock drummer. We own a pit bull named Rosebud. I don’t drive a truck and I haven’t ridden a horse or lived on a farm in ages. I might say “howdy,” but there’s more to me than that and I think the music should reflect that.”
I already have a Honky-Tonk Friday and an occasional Bluegrass Tuesday and I should rightly add an Austin Thursday. Austin is the hub of all things Americana, folk and alt-country. And Band Of Heathens have risen to the top of that heap. This is not just me blowing smoke but the whole town of Austin agrees as the group was named best new band in Austin in 2007.
This group of disparate singer-songwriters (Colin Brooke, Ed Jurdi, Gordy Quist, Seth Whitney and John Chipman) began playing a casual weekly gig together that quickly turned into the “it” show in town. So they decided to combine talents, come up with a name and work together as a band.
Their debut record is due out soon produced by Ray Wylie Hubbard with special guests Patty Griffin, Gurf Morlix and Stephen Bruton.
“Jackson Station” is the type of soaring anthem that probably goes over pretty well in the bars along Sixth Street. But it’s also nuanced enough to be just right for Songs:Illinois. I like that you get two distinct vocalists as well as Bandesque harmonies throughout. Lyrically the song is filled with iconic images of trains, funerals and gin whiskey.
Canadian singer-songwriter Adam Puddington, formerly of the alt-country group the Gutheries, has his new solo CD Back In Town (HaySale Records) scheduled for release in June. If you like atmospheric alt-country where the pedal steel murmurs instead of screams, and where the honky-tonk vocals and lyrics are replaced with something more thoughtful and sincere, than the new record will be for you.
The song “Deer In The Headlights” hits all these notes and more. The electric guitar shimmers, the pedal steel is a subtle accent, and Adam’s soothing voice a perfect instrument for his haunting lyrics.
I’ve been a big fan of Joshua Marcus since I first heard his yearning, plaintive vocals, his resonating banjo and his updated Appalachian mountain music. His new record, Reverse The Charges, is out in May on Contraphonic and High Two Records. He’s collaborated with a bunch of other artists to make this record and that shows on the one teaser track.
On “So Low So Love So Long” there are beautiful and ethereal backing vocals, an eerie electric saw/Theremin sound, and his trusty banjo and voice. It’s a great introduction to this artist and the upcoming record.
It’s been a while since any twee pop has found it’s way onto Songs:Illinois so it’s fitting that the band that brings it back is the band that also gave us one of the most popular posts ever. I guess it didn’t hurt that the song from that post was devilishly dirty. Cars Can Be Blue is the band that got us thinking about Twee again this morning as they are about to release their new record Doubly Unbeatable.
The new record comes out on Happy Happy Birthday To Me on June 10 but can be pre-ordered now here. From the two songs below it seems like the band’s material may be a bit more mature as it deals with relationships and how to make them work. But they still can’t write a straightforward song. On “Sun Blows Up” Becky sings/screams that she’ll love her boyfriend `til the sun blows up and on “Coattails” she name drops Sebadoh, Pitchfork, and press releases in a song about an annoying band member she meets in her town.
It should come as no surprise to the fans of Bright Eyes that the Connor Oberst label Team Love is re-issueing Simon Joyner’s classic lp-only release The Cowardly Traveller Pays His Toll. Simon was clearly a big influence on Oberst and vice versa. John Peel famously played this release in its entirety, that was the second and last time John Peel played a record all the way through.
Here’s the song “Javelin” (dig the analog hiss in the background).
The Scottish blog 17 Seconds goes on a tear in support of Jason McNiff’s new album, even going as far as to say jason’s music should be picked up by the British public. From my past experiences with Jason McNiff’s music I’d say that view might even be too parochial.
The always fabulous Fabulist has the more traditional London folk of Robin Grey.
Despite the recent Sup Pop release of her new record, I haven’t heard enough about or by Sera Cahoone. False 45th rectifies that with this nice post on the record and tour.
The Daily Growl has two slightly less morose than usual songs from the new Tindersticks record.
Obscure Sound has a nice writeup on the current twofer from Will Johnson.
The Late Greats has the whimsical (and wordy) pop of Christa Couture.
A Limerick Ox has something different from a band called Old Believers.
Last week I admitted that The Lounge Lizards introduced me to jazz. Now I have another startling admission to make. Dwight Yoakam was my first real introduction to country. Not George Jones or Hank Williams or even Johnny Cash. Still it was a pretty good introduction since Dwight’s songs were often stunning works of songwriting and musically he emulated that classic Bakersfield Sound. I still get goosebumps listening to these songs.
“Oklahoma Gypsy Shuffler”, off the new record by Texas singer-songwriter Adam Carroll, has plenty of honky but not a lot of tonk. Adam doesn’t play the hard country that we usually feature on honky-tonk Friday. But this song embodies the spirit of honky-tonk as well as any we’ve ever posted.
The song is about a loner who roams the land getting into and out of trouble, both mortal and of the soul. With lines like “drivin’ down the west coast highway”, “songs out the window was all he had to lose” (can’t you just picture the songs floating out the window?), “cuttin’ heads on the chitlin’ circuit”, and “snorting cocaine off a buck knife” Oklahoma Gypsy Shuffler is as timeless as the Oklahoma dust bowl and the howling winds of West Texas.
Buy the new record, Old Town Rock N Roll, here or here at Lone Star Music.
I don’t know how The Starlings do it. They’re about to head out in their van for a 6 month tour of the country. That may sound like a good idea when you have major label backing and a swanky tour bus, but for The Starlings they’ll be traveling more lofi. Lofi like their blend of acoustic country and folk.
The band’s brand new record is called Marveling The While and features the harmonizing vocals of Joy Mills and Tom Parker. It’s the follow up to the 2006 debut Songbook which KEXP touted as one of the best records coming out of the pacific Northwest. The new song “Geraldine” can be added to that long list of songs in the music canon with titles based on a woman’s name. The story is of a wandering, lost soul of a woman for whom the journey was as important as the places she wound up. Buy Marveling The Whilehere. Check out their extensive tour dates here to see if you can catch them live at your local watering hole or coffeehouse.
One of the objects of our affection, Austin singer-songwiter Dana Falconberry, has a new single out. The song’s available at all the likely places. But the video is available here now.
Two interesting things to note about the song/video. One is that the song’s theme is paranoia about love; it seems to equate love to something more dangerous like stalking or fear. I imagine that from a woman’s perspective it often does feel a bit like that. And two, in the video many of Dana’s actions (like when she shakes the telephone or later picks up a hammer) are synced up to the percussion in the song.
I liked what I heard from Stephen Clair’s last record. I wrote about it here and still find his songs a pleasure to hear when they pop up on shuffle. The Stephen Clair I’m familiar with was stripped down NYC folk but there’s a new(ish) Stephen Clair in Town . A Stephen Clair who has absorbed the sounds and styles of Austin where he recorded his new record. The songs are now accented with pedal steel and violin but the lyrics remain insightful and adult (adult in a good way, not “adult” like in Adult Alternative).
The new record is called What Luck and to be on the safe side I’m writing about what I figure is the title track “Lucky As Can Be”. It the type of song I’m drawn to as it takes a look at life through the eyes of a struggling performer who hasn’t reached the top but is happy with his life. Someone who realizes his music is important but also someone who realizes that there’s more to life than trying to achieve some unattainable (and undesirable) amount of fame.
The NYC record release party is on May 22 at Banjo Jim’s but all you out-of-towners can celebrate on your own after you buy What Luck at CDBABY here.
It would almost be impossible for me not to post the music of Joe Pug. He fits the Songs:Illinois demographic so well it’s like some computer program spat him out. He’s young, he’s just releasing his debut, he writes poetic songs, he lives in Chicago (for goodness sake), is clearly influenced by Dylan/
Young/Springsteen and has a record release show coming up at Schubas.
His debut EP is called Nation Of Heat and is being released on May 13. I’m sure you can pick one up at the Schubas show on the 3rd however.
On both the songs below Joe eschews verse/chorus/verse and instead lets loose a barrage of stream of consciousness that somehow is devoid of pretension and cliche.
I’m going to follow up MOKB’s exclusive Gary Louris video with one of my own. Here’s Gary performing the title track from his solo lp True Blue at Southern Theater in Minneapolis. The sound, video, performance and song are all superb.
Glad you found me at my new url. Songs:Illinois is committed to writing about music that is under-appreciated and unique. I've found that the music I write about shares a couple of traits. And they are: lyrical integrity, musically diverse, and written/performed by compelling characters.
Most songs found here are free and legal and have been provided by either the artist or label. If for some reason you'd like to have a song removed, please email me at cbonnell (at) gmail.com.
