Earl Harvin Trio...that's right a little jazz fer ya

Okay, so when I was in college (best year of my life...kidding...about the best part business, not about the only being there for a year...that part is true) I was a dj at our radio station. I went to The University of North Texas and for those of you that don't know (all of you) it's a very famous jazz school. Long story short, it was a jazz radio station. No cool kid rock and roll, just shitty contemporary jazz and big bands. It was okay, I'm not complaining, but every once in a while there would be a legitimately great moment that made it worth it. This song is definitely the highlight of that time period. Earl Harvin is a drummer and he was fairly highly regarded in the live music scene around town for being innovative and fun to watch. The real treat in this song is the banjo, proving once again that the instrument is a gift from God and completely undeserving of cruel Deliverance references.

Earl Harvin Trio- Lily

buy this here

a personal message

Okay, so I frustrate a lot of people from time to time. I can be a very trying person to be friends with...I know this. I had one of those moments today when I was talking to someone and this song popped up on the old "party shuffle" play. This came off an Irish compilation and actually had a lot of great tracks on it. This goes out to people who love me. God bless.

Darren Hanlon- Don't Stop

buy it here

Steve Goodman

I've been listening to a lot of this guy recently and fairly astounded by his ability to adapt and tell a story on stage. Most known as a songwriter (penning "City of New Orleans" and "You Never Even Call Me By My Name" to name a few), he made his bread performing constantly...and you can really tell. He sometimes borders on novelty, but don't let that detract...it's his honest humor and midwestern dryness that can take you by surprise. Though the quality varies, his live recordings are all well worth their coin, often with just Steve and his guitar. A tribute disc was also recently released on cd that's worthy of a spin or two.

Steve Goodman- Vegamatic

buy it here

Billy's myspace project

My good friend Bill Bungeroth (who gets a lot of attention around here) is rolling out a song a day on his myspace page for your listening pleasure. Oh, and they're all pretty good too. Bill and I used to live together so these songs really take me back to those days. Normally when you live with musicians a.) they aren't very good and b.) that gets annoying. This was obviously not the case with Mr. Bungeroth. These are the songs that would literally score my dreams for the time I lived in the front bedroom at World Headquarters. Thanks for the tunes, Bill...here's to many more.

Bill Bungeroth- Fancy Lamp

also, dig his excellent band City Electric

Mule TRAAAAAAAAAIN! (GETONYERE!)

So this is Tennessee Ernie Ford and he's most known for the song "Sixteen Tons" but this little ditty is also on his greatest hits collection and it's such a beautiful trip to weirdsville that I have to post it. My friend Michael and I were listening to records one day when he came up with a "you gotta hear this" moment. He puts this song on and instantly we're both acting the song out. Actually, we're not really acting the song out so much as we're imagining what it would've been like to be in the studio when ole Ernie did his thang. Priceless. Some things we noticed...check the adlibs after the whip-cracks (I'll skin you rawhide! I believe is one...though they're indiscernible. Also, the contempt when he talks about bringing the settlers their pills. Very strange. And, of course, the wildly modulating voice. This guy was apparently a radio announcer before he got into music and this song is a good example of what radio announcers dreamed about back in the day. Also, apparently all radio announcers had to look like Errol Flynn.

Tennessee Ernie Ford- Mule Train

buy it here

What I Really Mean...

Robert Earl Keen is the kind of guy that likes to put out live albums. That's good because he happens to put on a great show. His last, Live at the Ryman, was sort of panned...at least in all the reviews I read. That's definitely unfair, because this is a great set of songs and a top-notch band including Danny Barnes on banjo throughout. The recording itself is also fantastic and it's nice to hear REK rocking it at the mother church. Here's one of my favorite songs (from the album and ever)

Robert Earl Keen- What I Really Mean

buy it here

Old Crow and this Big Iron World

I'm nearly all recovered from the ridiculous weekend I had in Chicago with Devin and my fellow Straights. We all drank too much and hung out and dressed in drag and raised some money for the cause, you got me? At any rate, these guys came up on multiple occassions so for everyone's benefit I'll post them. The first album that was released nationally from these boys came out on the same day as Kanye West's The College Dropout. I remember my roommate and good friend Bill and I went to Tower Records at midnight on that Monday/Tuesday, he picked up Kanye and I picked out Old Crow Medicine Show. I had no idea that both records would be as important as they were...but I did wonder which one I would be listening to longer. You win, Old Crow. The new album is called Big Iron World and it's just as good if not better.

Old Crow Medicine Show- I Hear Them All

Buy it here

City Electric

I know I've talked about my buddy Bill before, but I should mention that his band is playing this Saturday in Chicago so if you're there and you want to see a fantastic group of musicians who couldn't be better at living and doing what they do, then...go see them silly!

myspace has some of their songs

forgive me pretty baby

this one definitely fits into the "country enough" category for me. oh, and I love Tom Waits. This song is essentially the world I live in, right at the woods' edge, just near where the tracks cut through, looking on to the party as it winds down in the middle of the night. It's much better out there. Quieter too.

Tom Waits- The Long Way Home

buy it here

18 wheels of love

Yep, it's another DBT post but whatever they're amazing. I had kind of a low day and felt generally kinda slumpy and then I recieved a very nice e-mail and it made me smile and think of this song.
Sometimes love is like a truck. A really big truck. Hope everyone is having a good week.

Drive By Truckers- 18 Wheels of Love

buy it here

brief post

feeling a little sentimental tonight...this is Kelly Willis with "Time Has Told Me"

Kelly Willis- Time Has Told Me

buy it here

in no condition

my mind is fried tonight so I'm in no state to post any significant commentary or insight on anything. instead, I'll let Lyle do the philosophizin' with this little bit of country zen.

Lyle Lovett- The Truck Song

buy it here

sometimes songs are too much

Goodbye. I hate that word. I hate saying it, and most of the time I just don't. That pisses a lot of people off. While that's understandable, it doesn't make me feel bad about the way I am...I'd just much prefer to never have to really say goodbye to anyone. Doesn't everybody? Yes. Deep down. Right? So, I feel like I'm going through some real heavy stuff right now personally and that always ends up being projected on anything I'm doing, saying, writing, or--as it happens--listening to. Patterson Hood's songs always resonate with me (in fact, all of the 'Truckers do), but this one is particularly like me. For such a rough and tumble, hard drinkin', hard livin' and tourin' group they sure have a boatload of elegant songs. And how bout that bass line?
A perfect "drinking alone" song. But then...I guess I have a lot of those.

Drive By Truckers- Goodbye

buy it here

I get lonely...I get down...

First of all, this has been my favorite album for the last couple of months. I always forget about posting it because I listen to it so much I guess I just figured that I had before. The Gourds are most known for their bluegrass cover of "Gin and Juice" always (inexplicably) mislabeled as Phish. While they share the same stoner/jambandy vibe at times (just check out the picture...pretty sure they live in that van...still in the Jewel years...yeeeeiiikes), these guys are so much weirder. I mean, you can't even make out any of the words, and when you do it makes little logical sense. But when taken together with the music it's abstract art. You get it. That's what's so fantastic about this song in particular. It's heartbreaking and full of hope. This has definitely been my song of late. And God bless Texas.

The Gourds- Pill Bug Blues

buy their music here (get them out of the van)

Carrie Rodriguez

I really enjoyed the last few records she made with Chip Taylor, but always felt like they were lacking something...just falling a little short somehow. This, Carrie's first solo record, sounds fantastic and--for some reason--has stuck with me longer than her collaborations. At any rate, here's the track, "50's French Movie" which has this great groove to it and a sax out of nowhere. I had a roommate who at one point was completely obssessed with classic French film. If Carrie came over to hang out, this is the song she'd write about Bill. God Bless Mr. Bungeroth, I miss you buddy.

Carrie Rodriguez- 50's French Movie

buy the album here.

New York City

Many of you may know that I live in Manhattan, an island that, per square mile, probably has the least amount of country listeners, lovers, or just plain observers in the entire nation. Way to go Landon. I went to eat tonight at one of the two country bars that I know of in the city and they couldn't even get through three standard country radio tunes without throwing a Bon Jovi or Dave Matthews song in the mix. Irritating. But the barbeque was good and they do serve sweet tea, so a boy can hardly complain. At any rate, this Gram Parson's song has been running through my brain lately and I thought I'd share it with my two readers. This is BR-549 covering "Big Mouth Blues" and it's live. Lord knows, New York City's got a lot to do with it.

BR-549- Big Mouth Blues

buy the album here

Bruce Robison

So I was just home in Texas for a few days and found out that this man released a new cd a while ago...apparently back in April. He's one of my favorite songwriters (penning "Angry All the Time" "Travelling Soldier" "Desperately" etc) so when he releases a new batch of songs, it's an event. There's a tenderness in his music that is utterly uncommon. His music resonates deep. A true craftsman.

Buy the cd here.

Bruce's website.

Bruce Robison- All Over But the Cryin'

Enough Rope

Chris Knight draws a lot of Steve Earle comparisons, and it's pretty obvious why. His new cd is called "Enough Rope" and I've been listening to it non-stop since I got it a few days ago. There hasn't really been an album like this in a while. I'd put it right up there with DBT's Decoration Day. Very true southern music.

here's Enough Rope

buy it here

Lately

It's Devin and the Straights and the song's called "Lately"
God Bless.

Devin and the Straights- Lately



read about them here

Bill Bungeroth and some other guy (it's me)

Bill and I played at Uncommon Ground last night supporting Steph Bowlin. It was a lot of fun and I hope do it again very soon. Here's a few songs from the show.

Smithsonia

Kill Devil Hills

Highway

I Love You Anyway

Bill's in an awesome band, City Electric, that rocks people's faces off, so if you don't like your face, head to Martyr's this Friday (1/27) and see them hit it like a champion.

Quentin Hirsley

Quentin's a good friend and a pretty amazing songwriter. The first thing that stands out about him (besides his incredible hair--jealousy's a bitch) is his wonderfully rich voice. He's such an expressive singer, espescially with the dusty, sparse blues that he plays. Click here to be his friend and get show updates.

Quentin Hirsley- Cellar Door

Okay...stop what you're doing...

This is reeeeeediculous. And I have a high tolerance for this kind of thing. I was aware of this song about a month ago when my sister mentioned it...and it was silly and dumb, a little out there but it's Trace Adkins so whatever.
BUT THIS VIDEO is stoopid, straight up. Turn it on and watch the train wreck. Not only are they grossly misinformed by trying to play it like it's a rap video (from, like, '97)...but the song is "remixed" for some reason to be a club track, or...something. First it wants to be hip hop, then it moves to house music (circa '94 this time). It's like looking at Yahoo from 1996, like WHAA?

watch at your peril

a little of the hip hop

Country hip hop is not a new idea...and I'm not talking about about Cowboy Troy. Folks like Buck 65 and Jim White and Tim Fite have been rocking like that for a bit. I like Battlestar America (NOTE: the band now goes by B-Star) because they're really focused on the political element of what they're trying to do and it's very immediate, yet old timey feeling. Basically it calls to mind a bunch of time travelling aliens putting on a touring medicine show with an agenda for social change all around the dustbowl in the thirties. Like Steinbeck and Bradbury got busssssaaaaaay, yeah!

Battlestar- Out There Laughing

Buy at cdbaby

Devin and the Straights

I've always said that there should be an openly gay country singer in this world (Kenny Chesney, I cast a suspiscious eye towards you), and now not only have my wishes come true, but I'm in his band. Come check us out if you can at Town Hall Pub on Halsted every other Tuesday this month. Free. Here's Devin, sans band.

Devin- Raindrops and Teardrops

Goodnight Moon

This is a Will Kimbrough song--and his version is good--but I know it from Jack Ingram's Electric album. There's something very alive about this recording. Everything's just a little too hot but it's still so quiet, and you can hear him pull back from the mic in his yells at everything around him. It's a very lonely song. But that's country.

Jack Ingram- Goodnight Moon

buy it here

the Kinkster

Kinky Friedman is a country singer, a mystery author AND he's running for Texas governor this year. Through more than twenty-five years of music and writing, Kinky managed to become an icon of both Texas and Texans in New York City (for better or worse). He and his band The Texas Jewboys also own the honor of having filmed the only episode of Austin City Limits deemed too offensive to air. It's still shelved. Free the Jewboys! And Kinky for governor.

Kinky Friedman- People Who Read People

buy Kinky's music and books

Townes Van Zandt

Hey, if you're in Chicago you should check out this documentary on singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt. More than just his songs (which are amazing), his personality and the mythos surrounding him are more than enough reason to check it out. It's also getting good reviews if that means anything to doc goers. Most of these cuts are off of, in my opinion, his finest album "Live at the Old Quarter" which was recorded in Houston in the early seventies.

Townes Van Zandt- Be Here To Love Me

Townes Van Zandt- Talking Thunderbird Blues

Townes Van Zandt- Don't You Take it Too Bad

buy here

God bless you Mr. Keith

Just when I thought country couldn't get any better or more insightful, along comes another pearl from Toby Keith. Cuz we all know he goes to work and punches a clock day in, day out.
Surely the soundtrack of your life.

Toby Keith- Get Drunk and Be Somebody


Buy here

TEXAS

the Longhorns play USC tonight in the Rose Bowl and I just got back to Chicago after spending the holidays with my family in Houston so here's some Texas folks for everybody...it's not all country but it's all badass.

Blaze Foley- Election Day

Robert Earl Keen- Song for Kathy

Reverend Horton Heat- Livin' on the Edge of Houston

buy REK here
buy RHH here
buy Blaze Foley here