I posted my list of favorite from the first half of 2016 back in June (here and here). Rather than replicate that list for my full year review, consider this a continuation — the best songs from the second half of the year. Stay Gold, Butch Walker (from the Dangerbird Records release Stay Gold) My […]
Win Big – Steve Earle’s “Guitar Town” (with a bonus live album)!
Here’s your chance to win a copy of the Steve Earle Guitar Town 30th Anniversary Collection. Read on for details! There are few artists whose careers can be described as a musical journey. Steve Earle is one of them. Over his more than 30 year – and nearly 20 album – career he has taken […]
Reckless Kelly – Sunset Motel
Reckless Kelly is releasing their ninth album, “Sunset Motelâ€, on September 23rd. Even more significant, they are doing so as they log their 20th year as a band. It is a rare achievement for any band to make it this far. For Reckless Kelly it is even more significant given the transition of the industry […]
Boo Ray – Sea Of Lights
After listening for the first time to Boo Ray’s latest record, Sea Of Lights, I went to his web site. Â He compared his approach to making a record to like being on a dirt track race team. Â Damn. Â To anyone who’s ever done that, it says all that needs to be said about a work […]
The Twangville 2016 Release Preview, Back Half Edition
We’ve already been treated to a number of great new albums in 2016. Read on for some releases expected in the back half of the year. What albums, whether on this list or not, are you most excited to hear? REAL by LYDIA LOVELESS(19 August on Bloodshot Records) It’s hard to believe that it has […]
Merle Haggard Remembered
The interwebs are, understandably, full of posts with people’s favorite Merle Haggard songs after the legend passed away on Wednesday. Â You could certainly do a lot worse than spending time listening to your favorites all over again, and maybe venturing out into a few you aren’t familiar with. But there’s a lot more we owe […]
Mayer’s Playlist for February 2016, Part 2
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH Meridian Rising by Paul Burch Paul Burch is a musician’s musician in the truest sense of the word. Admired by peers (who regularly lend their talents to his recordings), he is also ambitious with his musical exploration. Case in point – his latest release is a fictionalized take on the life […]
The Lonesome Band – Running Alone
I used to have a friend who referred to himself as a redneck libertarian. Â He didn’t much like people who drank wine, but felt people should be able to make, and consume, as much beer and whisky as they wanted without the government taxing it. Â He’s no longer with us, but I think he would […]
Dwight Yoakam CD Giveaway!!!
The kind folks over at Yoakam’s digital marketing team (Girlilla) have sent us a copy of Dwight’s latest Second Hand Heart to give away to one lucky Twangville denizen. It’s definitely a killer album. I’ve see advance clips with things such as “Best album from Dwight in years!†etc. etc., but I’m kind of the […]
Chip’s Best of 2014
As usual it was a tough year to pick the top albums. This year was particularly tough; in that there were a number of top notch releases, but no clear standouts. Thus the conundrum, how to separate albums that are all deserving and uniquely their own. Here is an attempt to rank my top ten. […]