Cartoon Gold

Drive By Truckers have a new album out and it's pretty fantastic. Recorded at the same time as their last, they split the songs into the more rock and roll tunes and the more country tinged songs. This album consists of those country influenced numbers, taking particular inspiration from Alabama singer Eddie Hinton. The whole record is great and I do prefer it to their last outing, but in particular Mike Cooley is once again absolutely spot on with his lyrics.

I saw the title "Cartoon Gold" and thought it was a little strange, even for the Truckers. Then came the line in the song

tending bar in LA after dark must be like mining cartoon gold/
rocks that won't cooperate and tools that drive you crazy must get old

WHAT? For whatever reason that turn of phrase hit me like a two by four. Also, it's not even the best line in the song. Congrats, Cooley, you've blown my mind again.

Buy it on Amazon

BACK

Hope you're ready for some sweet stuff because my country music ramblings are coming back in full force. Yeah, there's a lot of bad stuff out there, but let's not focus on that. Instead, let's tell ourselves that country and Americana music is the only thing we have left as an identity. No big deal, right?

follow me!

landon kirksey has a new site and that's where most of the posting will happen for now. I'll still be updating thunderstorms, but with less regularity (if that's even possible).

http://fancycomedy.com

Devin.

Just one of those nights where I'm thinking about the past, I guess. Fondly, of course. Wistful...I think it's called wistful.
This is the first song I heard that Devin had recorded and it's a Mariah Carey cover. Of course it is.

Devin (of Devin and the Straights) - My All

buy Devin and the Straights here

new Old 97's, same Old 97's

Which is a good thing. I haven't been able to spend a lot of time with this new record but on the first couple of play-thrus it seems instantly familiar. Like a bar you used to get drunk at a lot and--even though you've moved away and don't really get out as much anymore--you could still find your way to the bathroom and the ATM with you eyes closed.

Man, I miss Town Hall Pub.

Old 97's - No Baby I

buy it here

Okay Willie...

Kenny Chesney? Seriously? I mean we all know that Willie will work with just about anybody and has shown downright fearlessness in both his song selection and producer choice over the years, but Kenny Chesney? Okay Willie...okay...whatever you say.
Here he covers Randy Newman, Guy Clark and Kris Kristofferson--which on paper sounds great, but the best tracks on this record are Nelson three contributions. The production is slick and some of the marketing choices slicker, but in the end it's still Willie and no one could possibly argue that.

Willie Nelson - You Don't Think I'm Funny Anymore

buy it here.

Eleven Hunderd Springs

I'm admittedly late on this band. I've known about them for a while now, but hadn't gotten around to listening to a record until just recently. While normally lumped in with other Texas music acts--a label that no band should be ashamed of--this is decidedly more country and, though I don't like using the word...throwback. That is not to say they are novelty or traditionalist, or any other bullshit label that is invariably applied to No Depression bands. They are a country band, and having been in a fairly different kind of country band myself--one that some could qualify as outlaw...some states anyway--I love to hear a band that can only be described simply as a country band. Great sound, great songs.

Eleven Hundred Springs - See You in The Next Life

buy it here.