We at Twangville have been fortunate to hear some great music in the first half of ’08. I polled the crew on their favorites are here are the results: Todd: Hayes Carll, Trouble in Mind (read more) Chip: Drive-By Truckers, Brighter Than Creation’s Dark (read more on this album and Chip’s full list) Tom: Old […]
Hold Steady + More, Releases 7/15
The Hold Steady performs “Sequestered in Memphis” on Letterman. HOLD STEADY, Stay Positive (Vagrant) Official Site | MySpace | Samples (Amazon) A highly anticipated follow up to 2006’s ‘Boys and Girls in America’. Craig Finn and crew continue to deliver madly brilliant songs and lyrics building on the style the E Street Band made so […]
Mayer’s Playlist for May/June 2008, A Video Companion #2
Part two of this video companion features live performances from Hayes Carll, Paddy Casey, Reckless Kelly, Todd Thibaud and John Hiatt plus a powerhouse cover of AC/DC’s “Back in Black” by Danielia Cotton. We wrap up this installment with a video from Jabe and Baltimore’s Splitsville with our pick from the archives.
The Swingin’ Medallions
I first became familiar with the Swingin’ Medallions when I bought the Rhino Nuggets boxed set, a continuation of the infamous ’75 double LP with liner notes by Lenny Kaye, guitar player for the Patti Smith group. The box was filled with one-hit wonders and obscure R&R trail blazers I had never heard off. Though […]
3827Mayer’s Playlist for May/June 2008, Part 2
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: Saving Grace, by Scott Kempner Long-time Dictator and former Del-Lord Kempner steps out for only his second solo album of a nearly 35 year career. The first thing you’ll notice is the musical efficiency throughout the album. Kempner clearly understands that restraint can often unearth a stronger power within the song. […]
Anthony DaCosta-Abbie Gardner “Better Nights-Better Days”
Ryan Adams. Gillian Welch & David Rawlings. Conor Oberst. Cory Branan. These are names that are thrown around a lot when you are talking about modern day singer-songwriters. What if I told you there may be someone not just like them, but better? Anthony DaCosta might just be. About 3 hours ago, my brother handed […]
Mayer’s Playlist for May/June 2008, A Video Companion #1
There was so much good stuff this go-around that the video companion will arrive in two parts. Up first is live footage from Chris Mills, James McMurtry, Bob Walkenhorst, Joe Pug and Hifi Handgrenades. Plus we’ve got videos from Paddy Casey and KaiserCartel. Rounding things out is Reckless Kelly with a special live cover of […]
Mayer’s Playlist for May/June 2008, Part 1
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: Living in the Aftermath, by Chris Mills Brooklyn-by-way-of-Chicago musician Chris Mills is a pop classicist. Spend time with Aftermath and you’ll hear a guy well versed in retro-1960’s pop but with a proper contemporary attitude. His latest release takes the production richness of his 2005 orchestra-backed “The Wall to Wall Sessions” […]
The Real Return of Matthew Sweet
About 18 months ago I wrote an optimistic piece about the potential return of 1990’s power pop master Matthew Sweet. weet had recently posted a a medley of new songs being considered for the album, all rich with the boisterous guitars and pop melodies that made 1991’s Girlfriend so magnificent. Fast-forward, or slow-forward as the […]
Albert Hammond Jr. + More, Releases 7/8
Albert Hammond, “101” from previous release ‘Yours to Keep’. ALBERT HAMMOND JR., Como Te Llama (RCA/RED) Official Site | MySpace | Samples (Amazon) Better known as the rhythm guitarist of The Strokes, Albert Hammond, Jr. didn’t get nearly enough notice for his stellar 2006 release ‘Yours to Keep’ featuring a slammin’ single called ‘101’. Both […]