Juliana Hatfield & Frank Smith, Sittin’ in a Tree (Full CD) Unfortunately Sittin’ in a Tree is only an EP, but I love the sweet buttery sound of Juliana Hatfield layered on top of formerly Boston, now Austin-based alt-country outfit Frank Smith. Check out EP track “A Beer and a Shot”. Even better, be sure […]
Loudon Wainwright & More, Album Previews
Loudon Wainwright III, Strange Weirdos: Music from and Inspired by the film Knocked Up (Full CD) Don’t let the fact that Loudon Wainwright‘s new album is tied to a movie deter you. Strange Weirdos found its way onto the Knocked Up soundtrack through director and diehard Wainwright fan Judd Apatow. Much of the album’s material […]
Wilco & More, Album Previews
Wilco, ‘Sky Blue Sky’ With hints of Southern California folk-rock reminiscient of the Eagles, Wilco is back with its sixth studio album. I may be alone in this thinking, but I’m relieved to hear less ‘experimentation’ in this release. With the exception of a few songs, 2004’s A Ghost is Born was not for me. […]
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club & More, Album Previews
BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB, Baby 81 (RCA) Now this is my kinda week! Make a note of it, the first week of May 2007 brought guitars in full effect. Leading the pack we’ve got Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Dinosaur Jr. (oh yeeah, they’re back!), Patty Hurst Shifter and even Miranda Lambert can rock it when […]
Patti Smith & More, Album Previews
PATTI SMITH, Twelve (Sony) I’m not really quite sure what to think of Patti Smith’s eleventh full length album titled, Twelve. On the one hand, its just another long time rocker making an album of other people’s hits. On the other hand, its Patti Smith and she rocks. Regardless, she was recently inducted into the […]
Joseph Arthur & More, Album Previews
Joseph Arthur and the Lonely Astronauts, Let’s Just Be (Lonely Astronaut) Recored over a three week period concluding their Fall 2006 tour, this is the first of two albums expected this year paring down the 80 or so tracks captured during these sessions. File under: alternative, indie, rock. WORTH MENTION: Nine Inch Nails, Year Zero […]
Bright Eyes & More, Album Previews
Bright Eyes, Cassadaga (Saddle Creek) Under normal circumstances, Connor Oberst aka Bright Eyes is the kind of guy I want to chaperone to the gym. Aside from his tender heart, his music is generally hit or miss for me. For many others (including one of my all time favorites, Michael Stipe), he is highly revered. […]
Ted Leo & More, Album Previews
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Living With the Living (Touch & Go Records) If I’m telling the full truth, Jesse Malin would have been my pick of the week if I could locate a full album stream. The good news is that Ted Leo and the Pharmacists are more than second best. Fans of Spoon […]
Son Volt & More, Album Previews
Son Volt, The Search (Legacy) Their previous release, Okemah and the Melody of Riot, landed at #3 on my top ten list of 2005. Its fair to say I’m biased when talking about Son Volt. Jay Farrar and Mike Heidorn created Son Volt out of the ashes of Uncle Tupelo who along with Whiskeytown should […]
Southern Culture on the Skids, Album Preview
Southern Culture on the Skids, Countrypolitan Favorites (Yep Roc) I got the opportunity to see SCOTS last year in San Francisco for the first time. They are fantastic live. I got hit by a flying piece of fried chicken and I loved it. I don’t know much about the new album but I expect it […]