There were a lot of songs from 2012 that I enjoyed, but not a lot of albums.  Maybe because I can only listen to so much new music without getting jaded or maybe it is still a time for singles.  Or maybe, just maybe, I didn’t hear your favorite record yet and haven’t been converted.  All of my top [...] more »

by Todd Mathis

Don McLeese’s new book entitled Dwight Yoakam: A Thousand Miles from Nowhere, and released by University of Texas Press, gives an almost academic look at Dwight’s recording career and rise to stardom. While the book isn’t exactly a chapter to chapter account of each release or milestone, it is pretty close, leaning a bit heavier [...] more »

by Todd Mathis

About a year ago, (or longer…time escapes me) I had the pleasure of catching John Fullbright play a show with Sam Baker and Natalia Zukerman at a local club here in Columbia, South Carolina. I’d never heard of Fullbright, but I enjoyed his songs as much or more than Baker’s, the reason I’d came to [...] more »

by Todd Mathis

There’s a Charleston, South Carolina band that goes by the moniker Company, not to be confused with the Brooklyn band of the early 2000’s of the same name. (Or the cover band that also apparently plays in Charleston called “The Company Band.”) Unlike the folkier rock of the Brooklyn band, the Charleston collective focuses on [...] more »

by Todd Mathis

Opening with the raucous “Nothing Is The News” (featuring an excellent rambling lead guitar) I immediate thought that Jurardo had taken a cue from Neil Young’s Crazy Horse adventures, or his own I Break Chairs days, but, as I soon found out, that only lasts for one track. “Life Away from the Garden,” the second [...] more »

by Todd Mathis

There were tons of releases in 2011 and I am sure I only listened to a fraction of them.  I always have a hard time narrowing down my top 5 or so choices, and then I always have a hard time coming up with a full list of 25.  Here’s my top 15 of the [...] more »

by Todd Mathis

At this time of year, we all like to sit back, reflect, and look at what we are thankful for.  Most people around my neck of the woods cite family, freedom, friends, etc., and while I am very thankful for all of those, I’m also pretty thankful for a few musicians that seem to pop [...] more »

by Todd Mathis

Butch Walker’s latest release, Drinking With Strangers, opens with the catchy…wait, this isn’t a record… it’s a book. Sorry, I get into a pattern here. Co-Authored with Matt Diehl, this funny tale of Walker’s love/hate relationship with the music industry is pretty much summed up nicely by Walker when he describes his 20 plus career [...] more »

by Todd Mathis

I honestly didn’t know what to expect when the new Felice Brothers album, Celebration, Florida, arrived in my mailbox. I’d been a fan of the tune “Frankie’s Gun” a few years back on their self-titled release, but that was really about as far as it went. I had failed to hear their 2009 release and [...] more »

by Todd Mathis

Savannah Georgia’s The Train Wrecks’ recently released sophomore disc entitled Saddle Up is an alt-country effort that hits all the right spots. Opening with the Cash-inspired “Tennessee Mare” and featuring one of the tightest rhythm sections this side of the Mason-Dixon line in Markus Kuhlmann and Eric Dunn, along with singer Jason Bible’s rusty vocals [...] more »

by Todd Mathis

I realize Mr. Mayer included the tune “Fuck You” (or “Forget You” for you pop radio listeners out there) in his Best of 2010, but I was a little late to the party, as usual, and just got a copy of The Lady Killer a couple of weeks ago. I have to say I wasn’t [...] more »

by Todd Mathis

So folks, I made this easy for you. 20 songs, a little over an hour, it all fits on one CD, and it is promised to delight. Some of my favorite tunes from the past year. Cheers. This Fucking Job / Drive By Truckers Swollen But Not the Same / Bobby Bare Jr. Hurricane J [...] more »

by Todd Mathis

While listening to the latest release from South Carolina’s The Restoration, one almost wishes there was a novel accompanying the disc. While I’m guessing that one does in fact exist, it may never leave the mind of brainchild Daniel Machado. Not the whole novel, anyway. Many pieces and parts of it are scattered throughout, but [...] more »

by Todd Mathis

So, for the last couple of weeks I’ve been riding around with Lissie in the car. And no matter how hard I try, I can’t get past second base. Sorry, I meant the second track. I’m not sure if it’s the pounding bass or the hooky repeating guitar line or the chorus that sticks in [...] more »

by Todd Mathis

So here it is halfway through 2010 and I’m in (mostly) a rock and roll mood. Here’s what has been blasting my speakers of late: The Hold Steady/Heaven is Whenever: The band just keeps getting better with each release still kickin’ out the positive jams with more conviction and enthusiasm as ever. And there are [...] more »

by Todd Mathis