The title about says it all. Later this summer Matthew Ryan will officially release I Recall Standing As Though Nothing Could Fall. And as the definition of “release” continues to get blurry, you can purchase a digital download of the full release now. Buy it here. And as a special bonus, here’s a stripped down […]
Listen Up: Joey’s Song
I’ve always taken a mixed view of benefit compilations. Yet there’s something special about this one. On first listen I was immediately struck by the consistent feel of the song selection. Every track is heartfelt and uplifting, undoubtedly reflecting the spirit of Joey Gomoll, the young boy who inspired this collection. Among my favorite tracks […]
Best Albums of 2010, Tom’s Picks
Here are my favorite albums of 2010 of everything I listened to. As usual, my tastes are all over the map as you can clearly see. You’ll see some long time favorites like Eli “Paperboy” Reed, Justin Townes Earle, Hold Steady, and Ray Lamontagne in my top 10 but also pay close attention to some […]
Readers’ Picks: Best Albums of 2010 (Plus a Giveaway)
Twangville readers rallied to give Paul Thorn‘s ‘Pimps and Preachers’ an overwhelming victory for album of the year. An interesting fact about the album is that Thorn himself painted the album cover. He painted the preacher to be his father and the pimp to be his uncle. You don’t have to look much further to […]
Matthew Ryan on New Year’s Day
What better way to start the year then some new music from Matthew Ryan. Here is Like New Year’s Day, his just-released collaboration with Nashville duo Hammock. Lyrics and additional info here. Happy New Year everyone!
Mayer’s Picks: Best Albums of 2010 Video Companion
I gotta say, I’m really impressed with the videos that I found to accompany my Best of 2010 playlist. Things kick off with a Peter Wolf and Shelby Lynne rehearsing their duet on “Tragedy” from Wolf’s incredible release. The performance is so powerful it defies description. Next up is Joe Pug demonstrating his captivating showmanship […]
Tom’s Picks: Best Songs of 2010, a Playlist and Video Companion
If I limited selections from my favorite albums of the year to as many as I could fit on a CD it would look something like this. The journey starts with the always energetic Eli “Paperboy” Reed. Somewhere in the middle you hear the genius songwriting by Caleb Stine and Justin Townes Earle. All to […]
Mayer’s Picks: Best Albums of 2010
#1. JOE PUG, Messenger (Lightning Rod) Pug may only be in his mid 20’s, but his songs reflect a timeless musical wisdom. A folk troubadour in the truest sense, he is equally skilled tackling social and political topics as he is at exploring the politics of romance. A powerful new musical voice has emerged. (Twangville […]
Listen Up & Win Big: Matthew Ryan
As good as last year’s electric Dear Lover was, this year’s acoustic companion is even better. The sparse arrangements showcase the tenderness and vulnerability of Ryan’s lyrics without losing any of the intensity. The hushed whisper of “The World Is†illuminates the songs frailty, making Ryan’s quiet optimism that much more evocative. “The world is […]
Best Albums of 2009, Tom’s Picks
Well, here they are. My Top 25 albums of 2009. Last year I chose The Hold Steady’s ‘Stay Positive’ as album of the year. That album tied the Drive-by Truckers for numero uno according to the Twangville Posse. This year, I’m thrilled to say that the Posse agrees with me once again. The Album of […]