Acoustic version of “Byrdgirl”; the first single from Matthew’s new album “Sunshine Lies” available August 26th, 2008. MATTHEW SWEET, Sunshine Lies (Shout! Factory) Official Site | MySpace Long awaited, long anticipated return to grace from one of the most gifted singer/songwriters from the 90s. Its hard not to look at this album with high expectations but [...] more »

Mon, Aug 25, 2008 | 1 Comment

Minneapolis has a storied musical history. Luminaries such as Bob Dylan, Prince, The Replacements and even The Hold Steady have some sort of link to that chilly region. After listening to Cop Light Parade by the Minneapolis band, High on Stress, I can’t help but feel they have done their regional, musical ancestors [...] more »

Sat, Aug 23, 2008 | 0 Comments

For some artists, just being in one band is not enough. The creative juices run free with these folks and they crave the outlets for release. Put Albert Hammond, Jr. in this category. Not content with a new release every two to three years with the Strokes, Hammond has just released his second [...] more »

Thu, Aug 21, 2008 | 7 Comments

Donavon Frankenreiter, “Life, Love & Laughter” DONAVON FRANKENREITER, Pass It Around (Lost Highway) Official Site | MySpace | Samples (Amazon) What can I say? I’m a sucker for jangly surf rock. The Laguna Beach musician recruits Ben Harper (”Pass It Around”), G. Love (”Sing a Song”) and Grant Lee Phillips (”Mansions in the Sand”) among others [...] more »

Tue, Aug 19, 2008 | 2 Comments

Residents of Twangville rejoice: here comes the Rock Show! The Hold Steady and The Drive-By Truckers have joined forces to bring you what should be the tour of the year. The “Rock and Roll Means Well Tour” is coming to a theater near you this fall. In the meantime, see a [...] more »

Tue, Aug 19, 2008 | 2 Comments

News that 2/3rds of the Australian band Wolfmother “resigned due to longstanding frictions” reminded me of this classic interview with Mike Patton, the idiosyncratic American musician and former lead singer of Faith No More. Oh, in case you were worried, Singer/guitarist Andrew Stockdale plans to find new musicians and soldier on. more »

Mon, Aug 18, 2008 | 1 Comment

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Thu, Aug 14, 2008 | 1 Comment

“It was kind of like this Clash meets the Everly Brothers meets Waylon Jennings somehow,” says Alejandro Escovedo to describe his old band Rank & File. Escovedo chronicles the band in “Chip N’ Tony,” an ode to former bandmates Chip and Tony Kinman on his latest release Real Animal. In the first of two exclusive [...] more »

Tue, Aug 12, 2008 | 2 Comments

The residents of Twangville have spoken! Here are some of your favorites from the first half of the year. The Band of Heathens, The Band of Heathens Hayes Carll, Trouble In Mind Drive-By Truckers, Brighter Than Creation’s Dark Justin Townes Earle, The Good Life Kathleen Edwards, Asking for Flowers Elbow, Seldom Seen Kid Eleven Hundred Springs, Country Jam Alejandro Escovedo, Real Animal Fleet [...] more »

Wed, Aug 06, 2008 | 2 Comments

More video goodness this month. We kick things off with two of my favorite songs this summer, Little Jackie’s “The World Should Revolve Around Me” and the Hold Steady’s “Sequestered in Memphis.” Keep on moving and you’ll see a special video from Alex Woodard and live performances from Love Pyschedelico, the Baseball Project, [...] more »

Sat, Aug 02, 2008 | 0 Comments

ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: Stay Positive, by The Hold Steady When Craig Finn preaches, “our psalms are sing-along songs,” in the opening track of their latest release, he might as well have revealed the band’s musical mission. Whereas previous albums have focused on the characters living in Finn’s imagination, this go-around spotlights the rock anthems [...] more »

Thu, Jul 31, 2008 | 3 Comments

ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: Low on Cash, Rich in Love, by Eric Lindell Northern California musician Eric Lindell has found a spiritual home in New Orleans and it inhabits every corner of his latest release. Opener “Lay Back Down” eases you in with a breezy R&B feel before giving way to tracks like the bluesy [...] more »

Tue, Jul 29, 2008 | 1 Comment

Taylor Hollingsworth live @ Bottletree in Birmingham, AL. “Assasinate the President” TAYLOR HOLLINGSWORTH, Bad Little Kitty (Mass) Official Site | MySpace | MP3* Every song reminds me of someone different yet the album retains an amazing level of consistency. Listen for comparisons to Spoon, The Ramones, Guided by Voices, The [...] more »

Mon, Jul 28, 2008 | 8 Comments

We at Twangville have been fortunate to hear some great music in the first half of ’08. I polled the crew on their favorites are here are the results: Todd: Hayes Carll, Trouble in Mind (read more) Chip: Drive-By Truckers, Brighter Than Creation’s Dark (read more on this album and Chip’s full list) Tom: [...] more »

Mon, Jul 14, 2008 | 14 Comments

The Hold Steady performs “Sequestered in Memphis” on Letterman. HOLD STEADY, Stay Positive (Vagrant) Official Site | MySpace | Samples (Amazon) A highly anticipated follow up to 2006’s ‘Boys and Girls in America’. Craig Finn and crew continue to deliver madly brilliant songs and lyrics building on the style the E Street Band [...] more »

Sun, Jul 13, 2008 | 4 Comments