Instead The Forest Rose To Sing is the new record from Austin singer-songwriter and poet Danny Schmidt. I add that “poet” tag to separate Danny from the hundreds of singer songwriters and folk artists toiling away in near obscurity whose songs never rise above the mundane and ordinary. As I (and others) have said before Danny is one of the great songwriters working today. Add to that the fact that he plays guitar effortlessly and jawdroppingly well makes anything he does potentially great.

The new record has several songs that will stand the test of time and others that are sleepers that will grow more potent with age. On the new record Danny tackles the question and value of money on several songs. For instance “Better Off Broke”, with it’s lyrics of “You’re better off broke with soup in your belly. Than sittin’ there hungry round a pot of gold”, addresses the age old question of whether money will make you happy. That same theme pops up again on the bank robbery gone bad tale of misfortune “Two Timing Bank Robbers Lament”. Money on a global stage comes into play on one of my favorite songs on the record in “Southland Street”. It’s the story of the rise of industry in the US complete with it’s fall after production moves south and then east. I know that sounds a little dry but the song is at once deeply personal and at the same time universal.

The emotional heart of the record has got to be “Grandpa Built Bridges”. As Danny describes it this is a song on how our urban and technologically advanced culture no longer is in touch with ancient cultures and the ways those cultures dealt with death and dying. Here’s a stanza or two (all of the lyrics as well as a short description of each song can be found here):

Grampa buried dignity when he got old
Like a killer and child now for seven long years
But he wets his own britches if he’s not told
But he used to build bridges, they would light em up at night

Grampa built bridges, they were delicate webs
With ridges and valleys joined hand in hand
When Grandma went empty the last of her days
He told her she’d come and could go with grace

Instead… is out on March 10 on Red House Records and can be pre-ordered here now through Amazon. Danny Schmidt’s official showcase is at The Driskill Hotel on Thursday, March 19.

Here’s one of the sleepers on the new record. It came to life with incredible force this weekend at the house concert we hosted with Danny Schmidt and Pokey Lafarge.

Firestorm

Bonus:
Southland Street (live at Cactus Club)

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For me, and with my particular tastes, I’m comfortable saying that the new record by Austin-based singer-songwriter Danny Schmidt is the best of the new year. By now Danny’s got a recognizable and distinctive vocal delivery and I love it. His songs are as literate, and can be as funny and clever, as anyone else in the songwriting racket today.

I’ve written about his upcoming record, Grey Sheep, here, but frankly I did so too early. His record has a Feb. 19 release date and at the time of my initial mention there was nowhere to pick up this great CD. But now there is. Buy it here via his label, Waterbug, now.

“Company of Friends” with it’s simple message of friendship being the most important force in life has quickly become one of my favorite Danny Schmidt songs. If there was any justice in this world (and if the song could be encapsulated in a 30 second clip) “Company of Friends” would be all over Grey’s Anatomy or playing during the end credits of the next big romantic comedy out of Hollywood.

Company of Friends

Bonus

Drawing Board

Joia Wood is the featured female vocal on this song. Paul Curreri (aka Mr. Devon Sproule) did wonders with a production job that at times is simple and lets the playing come through, and at other times is a little bit more atmospheric, which is well suited to the lyrics.

Bonus “cover” song from Paul Curreri and Devon Sproule from the free online ep – Valentine Duets

All The Best (John Prine “cover”)

I have no intention of providing timely folk/alt-country/americana news. You’ll very rarely hear about tour dates, Letterman appearances or anything of the sort. I’m sure there’s some place better to get that kind of info. But I would like to share this news story about Danny Schmidt. At last night’s house concert with Rachel Ries, Anais Mitchell and Hayward Williams (yes! it was awesome) Danny’s name came up and immediately a complete stranger to me said she thought “Stained Glass” was a perfect song. I quickly agreed and have always thought so myself. In fact I compared it to Greg Brown’s near perfect song “The Poet’s Game”. And that’s where the bit of news comes in to play.

See, Danny’ Schmidt has just been signed to Red House Records, which has been home to Greg Brown for the past 25 years. His new record will be out on March 10. And that’s something to be thankful for. Here’s a recent live recording of “Stained Glass” plus “Leaves Are Burning” from 2008′s Little Grey Sheep.

Stained Glass (live in Netherlands 11/10)

Leaves Are Burning

P.S. Swedesplease has the bizarre circus/cabaret blues of the band Francis. The song is “Bad To The Bone”.