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.

Brighter Than Creation's Dark

I've been a huge Drive By Truckers fan for a long time now, as clearly evidenced by this blog. Their newest album, which was released in January, ranks among their finest. Not an easy task considering the departure of singer/songwriter Jason Isbell.

Isbell left an indelible mark on the albums, namely the title track on Decoration Day and another track on that great record, "Outfit." He released a solid solo effort last year and I'm sure he has more stories to tell.

The new Truckers record, however, is Mike Cooley's for the taking. Sure, bassist Shonna Tucker contributes songs for the first time and does a fine job, but it's Cooley who quietly places himself front and center through nothing more than the skill of his songcraft. Whether it's the straight ahead rock of "3 Dimes Down" or the straight ahead country of "Lisa's Birthday" or the simple poetry of "Check Out Time in Vegas," Cooley really hits the nail on the head here.

But to single him out as the standout is slightly misleading given how great this record is...and it really is a record as a whole. It stands as a whole and holds up all the way through, the old fashioned way. Buy this thing now.

Buy it here.

Devin and the Straights on iTunes

That's right, my former band and brothers in arms are releasing a cd nice and proper-like this Saturday night at (where else?) Town Hall Pub in Chicago. If you're in or around town, please come by and celebrate with everyone. I love these people like family and Devin is the legitimate real deal. What's more, you can now get your Devin and the Straights fix direct from Apple on iTunes.


buy it on iTunes

Henson Cargill, a very well traveled man

I heard Henson Cargill on some compilation (or it could have been another blog), featuring three songs from this collection of recordings on Monument Records. At any rate this guy is a treasure. He sang about political and social taboos directly and without fear. All within the framework of the popular country of the time, or Countrypolitan. I'll post on him several times I'm sure, but I just wanted to get this song out there. It's not really one of the more socially conscious songs, but it is a great take on the happy breakup/bad love song. He's okay with her being gone, yet he thinks he's still in love. Brilliant.
Great chicken-pickin' as well.

Henson Cargill - The Most Uncomplicated Goodbye I've Ever Heard

buy it here

This ain't Dallas

Dontcha know all of that is on TV!?

Hank Williams Jr. - This Ain't Dallas

buy it here

Hank Williams is a GHOST!!!!

Country music has always had a soft spot for southern gothic. Whether it be Porter Wagoner's downright strange recordings in the 60s/70s (more on those later) or just plain old murder ballads, the darker side of country is one that folks don't always immediately think about. I started thinking about this after Alan Jackson's "Midnight in Montgomery" came up on my shuffle. The song is about seeing the ghost of Hank Williams (as spoonfed to you at the end of the song, almost as if to say, 'did you get it?')...an experience that more than a few others have shared. At first listen this song appears just to be a mid nineties update of "The Ride," but if you listen closer, it's just a full on rip off of "The Ride." I mean that in the best possible way. With all the stereotyping country music endures, it's nice to have another topic to sing about other than drinking, women, and general blue-collarness.
What better subject than hard drinking, womanizing, blue-collar sangin' GHOSTS?

Alan Jackson - Midnight in Montgomery

David Allan Coe - The Ride

buy them here and here

Joe Ely and his Bonfire of Roadmaps

I don't know why I was so late getting on the boat for this one, but I just picked up a copy of Joe Ely's book Bonfire of Roadmaps. I read a bit of it when it came out, but I guess I figured that I'd wait for paperback...yeah...I couldn't hold out, obviously. It's a beautiful record of life on the road. It's written in free verse which doesn't limit the action to concrete ideas or straightforward narrative. The blend of abstract concepts and direct journaling make for a very engrossing and real read.
Here's a track from Live Shots, recorded in England in 1980 when he and his band were opening for The Clash.

Joe Ely - Long Snake Moan

buy it here

Cher by way of Devin, Just Like Jesse James

When you think of country, you think of several things. Cher may not be the first thing, but in this case it's worth it.
I was in Chicago over the weekend to play with a band that I love and helped to start called Devin and the Straights. It's always a pleasure to play with everyone and I can honestly say it's the best thing that I've been a part of, but it's an extremely special thing when I get some time to just play songs with Devin. Were were on his back porch in the Andersonville neighborhood when we recorded this Cher cover. He messes up the words in the middle but it doesn't really matter because he sounds great. I'm on harmonica.

Devin (of Devin and the Straights) - Just Like Jesse James

nobody wants to go to the moon anymore

Kelly Willis released a new album a couple of weeks ago and while everyone has been talking about her cover of Iggy Pop's "Success, " it's the first track that really hooked me.
Wonderful guitar, building progression, and finally--of course--Kelly. It's like a crunchy marshmallow.
I don't know what that means, so you'll just have to listen to it to understand.

Kelly Willis- Nobody Wants To Go To The Moon Anymore

buy it here

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