With the passing of one year and the start of another, we at Twangville relish the opportunity to reflect on our favorite music of the past year. Over the next week I’ll be highlighting my favorite albums and songs from 2007, culminating with a preview of some highly anticipated 2008 releases. We start with the […]
Happy New Year 2008
I woke up this morning, and none of the news was good Death machines were rumblin’ ‘cross the ground where Jesus stood And the man on my TV told me that it had always been that way And there was nothing anyone could do or say And I almost listened to him Yeah, I almost […]
Mayer’s Playlist for November/December, part 2
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: The Scene of the Crime, by Bettye Lavette Detroit’s Bettye LaVette wastes no time in making a statement on her latest release. “I’ve been this way too long to change now,” she declares with a voice that leaves no room for negotiation, “you’re going to have to take me like I […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Nov/Dec (part 1), a Video Companion
The first of a two-parter kicks off with minimalist performances from Gary Lightbody and Lisa Hannigan (The Cake Sale) and Dan Wilson. Chuck Prophet kicks it up a notch before ceding the floor to Marc Cohn, Levon Helm, The Avett Brothers, Sharon Jones and the Daptones and House & Parish. We finish up with additional […]
Mayer’s Playlist for November/December, part 1
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: The Cake Sale, by The Cake Sale When Brian Crosby and Paul Noonan of Ireland’s Bell X1 were inspired to create a benefit album for Oxfam’s Make Trade Fair campaign, they formed the collective known as The Cake Sale. Friends ranging from Nick Seymour (Crowded House) and Nina Persson (The Cardigans) […]
Happy Holidays 2007
Ron Block of Union Station Finishing Production of Album by Mandolin Prodigy
As Allison Krauss tours with Robert Plant in Spring of 2008 members of Union Station are going to be working on various projects. One of these projects is currently under way. Ron Block is working on production of an album by 15 year old Bluegrass Mandolin prodigy Sierra Hull. The album will be released in […]
Mayer’s Playlist for October 2007, A Video Companion
My, my, my, where has the time gone. Here it is nearly mid-December and I’m just posting the October Video Companion. Was it worth the wait? You be the judge. We open and close this month with Justin Currie, first a special profile then a recent live performance of “If I Ever Loved You,” a […]
Beth Whitney + More, Album Previews
Beth Whitney, Leave Your Shoes (Partial CD) [MySpace] At this point in the year there’s less new music to talk about. Its that time for the record companies to start releasing the records that they know we’ll buy for the holiday season like our beloved Christmas albums and “best of” records for our friends and […]
Mayer’s Playlist for September 2007
THE ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Goodbye Blue Monday, by Jeremy Fisher Canada’s Fisher is a fresh voice on the scene with a sound that falls somewhere between folk and acoustic pop. The opening track “Scar That Never Heals” recalls Simon & Garfunkel’s “Me & Julio Down by the Schoolyard” and Simon-esque songwriting percolates throughout the […]