From “Carried To Dust” – out on Quarterstick Records (9/09/08). CALEXICO, Carried To Dust (Touch & Go) Official Site | MySpace | Samples (Amazon) One of the best blends of Mexican and Texas/Arizona soundscapes you’ll hear, Calexico is back. This is classic convertible Ford Mustang driving through the desert music. Picture giant cacti zooming by […]
Moonlighters Extraordinaire: Results Are In
With all due respect to all the excellent comments of moonlighting band members (see below for the full list), the best of the bunch went unmentioned. To wit I submit Steven Van Zandt. After building a reputation as a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, Van Zandt unleashed his criminally-overlooked solo debut, Men Without […]
Bruce Robison + More, Releases 9/2
Bruce Robison performing “She Don’t Care” at Scholz Beer Garte, Austin 8-13-08 BRUCE ROBISON, The New World (Premium) Official Site | MySpace | Samples (Amazon) The most disappointing thing about this album is that there are only ten tracks. This is perhaps a countrier version of something Peter Case would put together which makes it […]
Matthew Sweet + More, Releases 8/26
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 […]
Donavon Frankenreiter + More, Releases 8/19
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 […]
Drive-By Truckers vs. The Hold Steady
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 small taste of what’s […]
Wolfmother No More?
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.
Exclusive: Alejandro Escovedo Still Talking
Murry Hammond + More, Releases 8/12
Old 97’s Gruene Hall Murry Hammond Valentine MURRY HAMMOND, I Don’t Know Where I’m Going But I’m On My Way (self) MySpace Already a key player on one of the best albums of the year (Blame It On Gravity) as the bassist for the Old 97’s, Hammond takes a more spiritual route with his solo […]