Twangville


Country

Mayer’s Playlist for August 2010, Part 1

ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: You Go Your Way, by Amy Correia It’s hard not to get lost in Amy Correia’s latest release, You Go Your Way. The story-telling quality of her songwriting, matched with some diverse and engaging instrumentation, conjures up images of a musical from the classic age of Broadway. “Love Changes Everything” is [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

Green Corn Revival – Say You’re A Sinner

GCR back cover

Never underestimate the imagery a good audio track can create. Fifteen seconds into the opening song of Green Corn Revival’s first full length effort, Say You’re A Sinner, all I could think about were Sergio Leone’s spaghetti westerns. Part One, as the track is called, is an avant garde country number with soaring background harmonies [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

Ray Lamontagne – God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise

Ray Lamontagne’s latest project might be the most un-Lamontagne album he has done, thus far, even though it’s the first album he has produced for his own self. God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise, his fourth studio LP, was recorded in Lamontagne’s New England cabin with the help of his country, soul-brothers, the Pariah [...] more »

by Kelly Dearmore

Mayer’s Playlist for June & July 2010, Part 2

ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: Joe Hill’s Ashes, by Otis Gibbs Gibbs is one of the most distinctive voices in Americana, both for the integrity in his songwriting and the authenticity of his voice. While some may find both a bit gruff, it gives his music a realism that can’t be doubted. Most songs are built [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

The Back Row Baptists – Broken Hearts & Bad Decisions

Back Row Baptists

If Hunter Thompson were still alive, I think he’d like The Back Row Baptists. First off, you know he’d identify with the attitude of their namesakes, the heathens-in-the-house-of-god thing. More to the point about the music, though, Broken Hearts & Bad Decisions is a dark record. It’s about drinking and driving (although not necessarily together), [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

Twistable, Turnable Man – Shel Silverstein Tribute

I must admit that I am sick of tribute albums. There is no one left it seems that hasn’t had a tribute album done in their name. In fact, I am waiting for a tribute album to tribute albums. Better yet, I would love to see a tribute album to a band that hasn’t even [...] more »

by Chip Frazier

Merle Haggard, with Kris Kristofferson – Live at Mountain Winery

MerleHaggardJun09

Sometimes you just can’t make this stuff up. There we were, all 1800 of us, singing along with Joan Baez, that darling of the counterculture, “We don’t let our hair grow long and shaggy, like the hippies out in San Francisco do. And I’m proud to be an Okie from Muskogee.” The occasion was the [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

Shippin’ Up to Boston: A Special Playlist

Bruce-Fenway

I’m fortunate to live in a city that appreciates and supports great music. Here are a few of my current favorites. Banks of the Mississippi, Jenee Hastead (from the self-released Hollow Bones) “Baby, if we could go to the banks of the Mississippi, watch out I’ll float your body out to sea,” sings Halstead in [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

The Sadies – Darker Circles

For Dark Circles (Yep Roc) the first studio album since 2007, The Sadies once again enlisted the help of Jayhawk co-leader Gary Louris to produce. And, they also employed their signature melange of tight, Bakersfield electrified country, psychedelia, and jamming surf rock. While the Toronto foursome, led by brother Dallas and Travis Good, has racked [...] more »

by Kelly Dearmore

Old Settler’s Music Festival – 2010

Bearfoot At the Campground

As the first night of this year’s Old Settler’s Music Festival was just swinging into high gear, the Infamous Stringdusters took the stage.  Andy Falco marched up to the microphone and said, “Wow, feels like we’ve been cooped up all winter”.  That pretty well captured the moment.  They then launched into a version of the [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

Carrie Rodriguez – Love and Circumstance

promo1

Lots of people have covered the Hank classics.  The Carrie Rodriguez version of I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry, on her latest record Love and Circumstance, ranks right up there with the best of them.  With Carrie on mandolin and Bill Frisell on guitar, there’s a richness to the instrumental that complements Carrie’s vocals and [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood

Tumbledown into Punk Country

l_08ac6ce5f0b049c68e554848b68b14fd

There are still many a music fan out there that doesnt quite get where the roads of punk and country or folk meet. For those that do “get it”, it isnt hard to draw a straight line that connects the spirits of Woody Guthrie and Joe Strummer. While the sonics of the two genres can [...] more »

by Kelly Dearmore

The Drive-By Truckers – The Big To-Do

2008_0509_Drive-By-Truckers

At Twangville, the Drive-By Truckers carry a lot of weight. In fact, in the post-modern, post-alt-country (whatever) era of Indie rock, they are like superstars to some. Not like in the “Oh my god, what is Britney wearing” kind of way but rather in the anticipation that comes for some in a new record. It [...] more »

by Jeff McMahon

Win Big: Preservation Hall Jazz Band & Friends

Last week we profiled the recent tribute to New Orleans’ Preservation Hall. Recorded over the past year in New Orleans historic landmark, the album features the legendary jazz band performing with artists ranging from Tom Waits to Jason Isbell to Brandi Carlile. Did I say win big? I meant really big. Thanks to our friends [...] more »

by Mayer Danzig

Great American Taxi – Reckless Habits

Reckless Habits cover

If you’re a fan of 70′s country rock, you’ll feel right at home with the latest release from Great American Taxi, Reckless Habits.  Vince Herman, the leader of Taxi, was also a founder of Leftover Salmon, and the jam band roots are noticeably.  But what really comes through is a homage to the early pioneers [...] more »

by Shawn Underwood