songs:illinois

I try to write about real rock `n roll as much as possible on Songs:Illinois but despite all the talk about a resurgence of rock (a la Jack White and others) I don’t find a lot of bands of this ilk that I want to write about. Terry Anderson and Olympic Ass-Kickin Team is one that I do. Terry has played with and written songs for various Dan Baird enterprises as well as for the Yayhoos (everyone’s favorite super group, right?).

The band’s new record is called National Champions and I’m told it moves from one bar band rocker to the next. “Pow`Ful `Merka” lets loose with scuzzy guitar licks and cheesy organ fills but at the same time takes a close look at the declining American culture.

National Champions can be pre-ordered now through the band’s label Doublenaught Records here.

Pow`Ful `Merka

Bonus back catalog:

Hi `N Dry
Thunderbird

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One of the nice things about a post about Terry Anderson is that I can revisit and at least repost songs from labelmates The Cartridge Family. I loved these guys when I first posted about them here.

Alone, I’m a Loser
Shine Like a Botle

Fred Prellberg’s new record Ten Pennies Make A Dime is unapolagetically retro. Each song can be traced back to it’s influences which extend to rockabilly, Springsteen or the 6 minutes of hard rock of the track below. Ten Pennies is the follow up to Fred’s much lauded (in Europe anyway) debut Last Of The Rock Stars.

This record seems only to be available at Village Records here.

No Man’s Land

So I’m still recovering from SXSW. I got into Chicago late last night. My SXSW was kind of an anti-SXSW experience. I didn’t see any of the hyped or buzzed bands. Not Duffy, or She and Him, or any band with the word “Fuck” in the name (that one was difficult – they were everywhere). I didn’t make it to any blogger parties (although I did peak in to the Stereogum/Paste/NPR event to see Emmy the Great play with Lightspeed Champion).

What I did do/see was wonderful. The list of artists includes Danny Schmidt, Sam Baker, Walt Wilkins, Anna Egge, Caroline Herring, The Pines, Gurf Morlix, Carrie Elkin, The Theater Fire, Chuck Prophet, Nels Andrews, AJ Schultz and David Dondero. Many of these I saw on Saturday at a marathon house concert outside of town. I have photo’s that I may upload today or tomorrow.

But today’s a new day and a new day means a new artist to write (and get excited) about. I came across Jim Stanson’s new record on a European Americana chart. His new record Heart Full of Fire was the only one on the list by a self-released artist. I think you know I have a fondness for rock `n roll. Simple, straightforward rock shaped by decades of exposure to The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and The Faces. And that’s what you get with Jim.

You’ll hear all of those influences on the title track. Purchase Jim Stanson’s new record here. The new record also features the above mentioned Gurf Morlix and Austinite “Scrappy” Jud Newcomb.

Heart Full Of Fire

(Editor’s note: Hey I’m back from Mexico. Did you miss me? My inbox is full with invitations and comeons to countless day/evening parties down in Austin for SXSW. So today’s post will continue to honor that fine music city with new music from favorite (adopted?) son Bob Schneider. Pictures from Mexico after the jump.)

Like Frank Orrall in Chicago, David Byrne in NYC or Prince In Detroit; Bob Schneider used to be the king of Austin. His band Ugly Americans were once the toast of the town and any band or solo project he was affiliated with was sure to be a popular success (but usually a flop with the critics).

His new record is a complete DIY affair that may confound his mass appeal but improve his stead with the critics. From what I’ve heard it’s a hodge-podge of styles incorporating numerous instruments, a range of styles and some studio gimmickery. The title song however is just Bob and guitar doing a droning blues.

When the Sun Breaks Down On the Moon

Mexico vacation pictures:

You’ve got to be either pretty ballsy or just plain great as a band to compare yourself to The Rolling Stones, Big Star, The Faces or current bands like Drive-By Truckers and Wilco. But that’s just what the The Cartridge Family has done with the description of the band on their homepage. The band’s new record, Shine Like a Bottle, was released yesterday and is being distributed nationally by Burnside Distribution and is for sale now on CDBaby here.

The song “American West” fulfills the promise of the description above by combining big bruising power chords with an anthemic chorus of “there’s a hole in the soul of rock `n’ roll and you know it just ain’t right”.

I can’t say yet if they live up to their idols, but I wonder once these idols are gone who is going to fill the American rock `n’ roll vacuum? Who can possibly replace the likes of Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, NRBQ, Bruce Springsteen, Levon Helm or even the gigantic, iconic artists like The Eagles or John Cougar Mellencamp? No matter how much you despise these last two, they at least spoke to the American population’s need for simple rock `n’ roll, performed with a modicum of humility, and a great deal of gung-ho American hutzpa.

While I love Wilco, I think their music is too obtuse for the general population and let’s face it groups like Drive-By Truckers, The Bottle Rockets or The Damnwells will never cross over, no matter how hard we wish they would. I don’t have an answer, do you? Maybe this idea of American rock `n’ roll is just another part of a history that is doomed not to be repeated.

The Cartridge Family give it their best though; I wish that were enough. Don’t blame the band or the music for it’s (relative) commercial failings, but instead blame the American populous grown complacent and fat on the likes of American Idol and Hannah Montana, blame the radio programmers whose hands are tied by corporate policies and blame the media who are more concerned with the dating habits/drug problems/sex appeal of modern rock stars than with the actual music they produce. Rant over. Buy the record. Make a difference.

American West

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I was always impressed with Bishop Allen’s ability to release an ep a month (btw I was also impressed with the music blogs that kept up with and updated us each and every month). Patty Hurst Shifter is not attempting anything as grandiose as an ep a month but they are in the middle of releasing a trilogy of ep’s. Their second ep release will be Coma La Grava and will be released Feb. 15. Here’s one song from it that hints at it’s possibly poppier sound.

Promiscuous