Here are some of my favorites from the Summer. Best of Summer 2011 OLD 97S, The Grand Theatre, Vol. 2 [★★★★/4.308] This is side two of last year’s full length originally conceived of as a double album. The band says that releasing with time in between afforded them time to adjust the songs and add […]
SXSW 2011: The Video Companion
I got a bit carried away with the videos, compiling 26 great videos captured live at SXSW. Not surprisingly, we kick things off with the performance that introduced me to Maxim Ludwig & the Santa Fe Seven. From there, a three-fer from Alejandro Escovedo’s special Sunday night gig at the legendary Continental Club. We’ve got […]
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 […]
Top 10 for 2010
In most years, the best part of undertaking the task of creating a best of list, is highlighting the emerging artists that were unearthed. That was not the case in 2010. It was a year of the tried and true. It was like the pair of worn out jeans you can’t replace, because they are […]
Win Big: Old 97’s Visit The Grand Theatre
So Old 97s are back with another alt country gem (see Kelly’s take here). To celebrate the new release, we are giving away a copy of The Grand Theatre, Volume One. Here’s how to win: Earlier this year, the band released a 4-song ep of cover tunes called Mimeograph (see the Twangville review here). It […]
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. […]
Mayer’s Playlist for June & July 2010, Part 1
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: See You On the Moon, by Tift Merritt I suppose that Merritt could sing the alphabet and I’d listen. There is such a genuine quality to her voice, an infectious spirit. It is a spirit that shines through her music despite the dark overtones of her latest release. “Engine to Turn” […]
More of Tom’s Favorites of 2008, a Video Companion
Selected favorites from some of my favorite albums of the year. Also, some superlatives: Best Alternative Album: THE HOLD STEADY, Stay Positive (Vagrant) Best Alt-Country Album: OLD 97S, Blame It On Gravity (New West) Best Emerging Artist: GLOSSARY, The Better Angels of Our Nature (Undertow) Best Country Album: RECKLESS KELLY, Bulletproof (Yep Roc) Best R&B/Soul […]
Best Albums of 2008, Tom’s Picks
These are my favorite albums of 2008. As always, these only reflect music that I was able to afford or otherwise get my grubby hands on. Regretfully, the lastest from Ryan Adams & The Cardinals, Marc Broussard, Ray Lamontagne, Amos Lee, and Butch Walker among dozens of others kept a distance. #1. THE HOLD STEADY, […]
Reckless Kelly,’s “Bulletproof”, Readers’ Choice Album of the Year
Its that time of year again where we start to see “the lists” start appearing regarding everyone’s favorite this and that from the course of the year. We here at the Twangville will have some lists of our own starting to appear over the coming days and weeks. We thought we’d kick it off with […]