“Stop the bus and turn the radio up high!” wails Grace Potter on the second track of the band’s third full length album titled This is Somewhere. This is exactly what you’ll want to do when you hear this song playing in whatever your version of a bus is. Grace Potter & The Nocturnals hail […]
Prince + More, Album Previews
Prince, Planet Earth (Full CD) Whether you want to call him Prince, “The Artist Formerly Known as Prince”, “Symbol” or TAFKAP one thing is certain, he’s the King of Rock & Soul and well deserving of a prominent mention even in a town known for twang. Never one to shy away from controversy, Prince made […]
The Gourds – Noble Creatures
By now we know what to expect from The Gourds. Noble Creatures fortunately delivers The Gourds full package, quirky hook laden roots music that mixes tradition with foot stompin’ contemporary jams. Of course this is all delivered with the requisite humor. After all, this is the band that managed to fuse Compton and Appalachia when […]
Josh Rouse + More, Album Previews
Josh Rouse, Country Mouse, City House (Full CD) Josh Rouse has been a Twangville favorite for some time now. Of course, we’re partial to his Nashville release, but there’s not much to dislike about any of his many songs to date. Like Ryan Adams, Rouse keeps making music and never looks back. The songs and […]
Twangville “Best Yet in Aught-Seven” Contest
It’s not too late to enter the Twangville Best Yet in 2007 Contest! Add a comment to this post with the album and artist, along with an optional description of why your Twangville neighbors might enjoy it. You’ll find the comment form at the bottom of this page. Since things are always more fun when […]
Mayer’s Playlist for June 2007, A Video Companion
Another month, another playlist. Enjoy live and performance videos from the Mooney Suzuki, John Doe, Sarah Borges Chris Knight, Patty Griffin and Glen Hansard. As a special bonus, I’ve included a John Doe live performance of “Fourth of July.”
Richard Shindell – South of Delia
(My humble vote for “Best yet in ’07”) You’ve heard of the “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon?” I prefer the “Six Degrees of Richard Thompson.” As a nascent Folk-Rock fan, I took a gamble on a little album called Shoot Out the Lights, and the floodgates opened. From producer Joe Boyd, I followed a breadcrumb […]
The Basement – Illicit Hugs and Playground Thugs
The Basement generated a lot of hype among the UK press before they released their first album. Early singles hinted at something special and they generated quite a following among fans. For some reason the buzz has been a little slower to build in the US, but they have released their first US CD on […]
Mayer’s Playlist for June 2007
THE ALBUM OF THE MONTH: It was a tough month for the Album of the Month… in a positive way. I couldn’t decide on a single album so this month we get two! A Year in the Wilderness, by John Doe John Doe may be one of the most under-appreciated songwriters of the day. Musically […]
Kim Richey: Chinese Boxes
It has been almost five years since Kim Richey released a new album. Clocking in at 33 minutes, Chinese Boxes is worth the wait. The short length of the album is appropriate for the conceptual simplicity of the lyrics. The imagery Richey uses in her lyrics allow her to provide the listener a conceptual framework […]