You know what they say about 20th records…….well actually you probably don’t, because few artists ever reach that particular milestone. Well John Hiatt has always had a way of making the difficult look easy. His career now spans 40 years and includes a Lifetime Achievement Award for songwriting from the Americana Music Association, a couple […]
Mayer’s Playlist from July 2011
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: Not So Loud: An Acoustic Evening, by The Bottle Rockets I don’t know why, but I’ve always hedged when considering the Bottle Rockets as an acoustic outfit. It makes no sense, I know, given that the band is so well travelled on the Americana road. Sure, I love the backporch feel […]
Kelsey Waldon – Anybody’s Darlin’
Like the aunt that you only see at Christmas, some people put out a vibe that’s fun to be around. Â Same thing with some records. Â My case in point is the second release from Nashville-based singer-songwriter Kelsey Waldon, Anybody’s Darlin’. Â I’ve listened to this record half a dozen times now and I can’t really put […]
Listen Up: Rave On Buddy Holly
When Buddy Holly died in a tragic plane crash in 1959, the world lost a tremendous musical talent. Only 22, Holly demonstrates a depth of talent rivaled by few in rock history. As important, he inspired generations of rock artists who now return the favor with a wide-ranged tribute to the rock legend. The sheer […]
Readers’ Pick: Gillian Welch, “The Harrow & The Harvestâ€
READERS PICK: JUNE 2011 Twangville readers picked Gillian Welch‘s The Harrow & The Harvest as their favorite album of June 2011. A harrow is a heavy, machine-size rake that drags over plowed land to remove weeds and break up lumps of earth and clay. There’s no doubt careful thought was put into the title of […]
Nick 13
By now, surely it’s no secret that country and punk go together about as good as peanut butter and chocolate. And typically, when these two classic American forms of music are welded together, the result seems to resemble a harder, thrashing product. Of course, the overall ethos attached to artists that practice either style in […]
Regretfully Overlooked in 2010
It’s just too hard to listen to every album that gets released in a given year. I certainly can’t. What that means is a handful of good recordings escaped me until this year. Fortunately, it’s never too late to discover good music. Here’s a few recommendations in case you missed them too. JAMES MADDOCK, Sunrise […]
Mayer’s Picks: The Best of 2011, So Far (The Albums)
Here, in no particular order, are some of my favorites from 2011. Here’s to more great music in the back half! HERE WE REST, JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT Isbell continues to mature as a songwriter, exploring the more soulful and acoustic side of his Alabama music heritage. Which isn’t to say that he […]
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals Live at Ives Park (06.27.11)
It’s been 5 years since I first saw Grace Potter & the Nocturnals in concert. The 5 years has seen a lot of changes to the band, a couple of line-up changes, a couple of records, a slew of major festival appearances, and practical stardom thanks to appearances on VH1 and the Ellen DeGeneres show. […]
Tom’s Picks: Best of Spring 2011
Top 10 JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT, Here We Rest [★★★★/4.455] His third album since parting ways with the Drive-by Truckers and second with band The 400 Unit. The album title, Here We Rest, takes it’s name from the original Alabama state motto. Like his former band, Isbell continually pays homage to his home […]