An original demo of “I Walk the Line.†Early recordings with Sam Phillips. A solo acoustic version of Leadbelly’s “Goodnight Irene.†If one every wanted to understand why Johnny Cash is a legend, this collection of 57 tracks from speaks volumes. Cash had a voice that commanded authority. The demos captured here – more than […]
Susan James – Highways, Ghosts, Hearts and Home
Susan James has gained a lot of well known fans over the last few years. Bob Weir and Rob Wassrerman heard her, and asked her to open for Ratdog. She has also opened for for Son Volt, Rufus Wainright, Richard Thompson and Lindsey Buckingham among others. She has been playing guitar since she was eight. […]
Carrie Rodriguez and Ben Kyle – We Still Love Our Country
Every now and then you get a reminder you can’t judge a book by it’s cover. Â I downloaded the Carrie Rodriguez/Ben Kyle collaboration, We Still Love Our Country, with a little trepidation. Â I’m thinking, are they going to try to outdo Toby Keith by gushing on an entire album? Â Never fear, it should really be […]
Wanda Jackson – The Party Ain’t Over
Experiencing Wanda Jackson’s latest album, The Party Ain’t Over, with collaborator and producer Jack White, is a little bit like riding a modern roller coaster. Â Your brain tells you it’s safe, you can see it’s in good working order, it’s not at all dangerous; but when you get off the ride your palms are still […]
Olin & The Moon – Footsteps
It’s been said by many, including myself, that tons of alt-country records sound the same, and those are the records that give weight to the arguments that alt-country, roots-rock or whatever it’s called, is a dying art-form. Here’s the thing: Sadly, that is the case for the bad, bland records that suffer from a lack […]
Kelly’s Top 20 for 2010!
OK, here’s the deal. 2010 was an interesting year for music, and in turn, my Top 20 list reflects that, I think. There are some of the albums that aren’t from your typical “Twangy” acts mixed in with bands that are absolute Twangville favorites. Some albums are higher up than you may see on other […]
Shawn’s Picks: Best Music Of 2010
It’s been a good year of music. At this point I’m just piling on, but here’s what I heard this year that was the best of the best. Top Ten Albums of 2010 Justin Townes Earle – Harlem River Blues. Â Somehow managing to combine the spirit of Woody Guthrie with the soul of Memphis, it […]
Kathryn Caine – Down Home Girl
Ever notice there aren’t many female-oriented songs about not being tied down? I’m sure there are, but they don’t come to mind like Free Bird or Ramblin’ Man. I suppose Thelma & Louise gives the XX perspective for the movie genre, but what about something you can sing along to? Kathryn Caine, on her latest […]
Turnpike Troubadours – Diamonds & Gasoline
Busting out of Oklahoma, The Turnpike Troubadours are here to breathe new life into what is too often a stale environment in the world of Red Dirt music. Sure, this quintet does their fair share of rocking out, why wouldn’t they? It’s the added country (shocking!) dimensions of their tunes that lend the album, and […]
The Old 97’s – The Grand Theatre, Volume One.
Much noise has been made over the past decade as we have seen bands that reveled in roots-rock rowdiness polish their tones a bit and venture into the waters of pop and even experimental sounds. Of course, for every Wilco, there’s a band like Son Volt – a band that has stayed the country-rock course. […]