SHOVELS & ROPE, Busted Jukebox: Volume 1 beats out LESLIE WEST, Soundcheck as your favorite for the week of November 20, 2015. Poll Results New Holiday Releases Did we miss something? If you feel a new release is missing from our current poll, please let us know in the comments. Readers’ Top 25 – Fall […]
Readers’ Pick: Best Album of 2015 Nominations
Beginning now, we’re taking your nomination to supplement our Readers’ Pick: Best Album of 2015 poll. The rules: You get one nomination — choose wisely. If you mention more than one, we’ll only take your first mention. Nominate by adding a comment to this post. It has to be a full length album– no EPs. That usually means more than 7 […]
Peace, Twang, and Turkey Grease: A Thanksgiving Toast 2015
Well, here we are. Ten years into the existence of Twangville, something I started while living with friends when my family and I were looking for a new home. It’s been quite a ride. For those new to Twangville, welcome. For those that have been with us for some portion of these ten years, thank […]
Eric Bibb & JJ Milteau – Lead Belly’s Gold
Huddie Ledbetter, aka “Lead Belly,” wrote some of the most familiar folk and blues songs of our musical heritage. Discovered by father and son folklorists John and Alan Lomax in 1933 while an inmate in Louisiana’s infamous Angola prison farm,  Lead Belly’s music was a critical link in popularizing folk and blues and, eventually, lead to […]
Mayer’s Playlist for November 2015, Part 2
Life’s a Bell, Langhorne Slim (from the Dualtone Records release The Spirit Moves) The pride (at least I think) of Langhorne, PA is back with his best album yet. He still has one foot planted in the Americana realm – a banjo plays subtly yet persistently across many of songs here – yet his sound […]
Monday Morning Video – Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats
There’s been, well, a bit of buzz around Nathaniel Rateliff. His recent Boston appearance was initially booked into a small club with a 240-person capacity but was moved to a room that holds more than 1,000. Even then, the show sold out quickly. The buzz is well-deserved as Rateliff and the band put on a […]
Readers’ Pick: First Comes the Night by Chris Isaak
CHRIS ISAAK, First Comes The Night beats out BUCK OWENS, Buck ‘Em, Vol. 2 as your favorite for the week of November 13, 2015. Poll Results New Releases Did we miss something? If you feel a new release is missing from our current poll, please let us know in the comments. Readers’ Top 25 – […]
Mayer’s Playlist for November 2015, Part 1
Wonderin’ Where, Joe Ely (from the Rack ‘Em Records release Panhandle Rambler) Joe Ely is a one of the great American musical storytellers. His latest album finds him in a rather reflective mood, casting a thoughtful eye on the characters and landscape of his beloved Texas. Whether he is painting a picture of the lonesome […]
The Nouveaux Honkies – Blues For Country
Somewhere around the middle of the Natchez Trace Parkway, halfway between the (in)famous crossroads of Clarksdale, MS, and Nashville, home of The Grand Old Opry and the Ryman, lays the spiritual home of The Nouveaux Honkies. Â That’s where you’re halfway between blues and country. Â Those two genres aren’t always too related, but Hank Williams, for […]
Monday Morning Video – Paris and Allen Toussaint
Music is – and should be – about joy and bringing people together. Even the sad songs. Friday’s events in Paris were heartbreaking and our thoughts go out to those who were affected by the attacks at the Eagles of Death Metal concert and throughout Paris. The week began with the sad passing of the […]