New Folk/Country/Bluegrass
I'm combining a couple different complex genres with this one- which i fear will result in just skimming the surface instead of jumping into it, but we'll try. I am consciously leaving Pop-Country out of this one though. Pop Country is my guilty pleasure and will get its own entry :) To be fair though, it was the electric guitar in Keith Urban's early hit "Where the Blacktop Ends" that first grabbed my attention towards country in general. No matter how you feel about the genre of country, hearing that song's guitar mixed in with a twangy voice and violin was a pinnacle step in the journey towards this blog entry. Kind of like that first time you tasted coffee and it wasn't quite as bitter and gross as you had remembered. Or wine for that matter. Country can be an acquired taste and as you get more used to it, you'll dive deeper into it. in summary, GIVE IT A CHANCE :)
But i digress....
In a last minute scramble to find some new songs to write about, I was a little surprised at Itunes' top 10 Folk songs. On the list were Closer to Fire by the indigo girls, Cat's in the Cradle by Harry Chapin, and two different Gordon lightfoot songs! What?! Please tell me there is newer stuff than this?! Then i realized that the majority of people downloading Folk songs were most likely my dad and his generation of Jim Croce fans. I love me some jim croce, but want to focus on new stuff. So, after a long intro, here are some of my favorite songs that fall into the all encompassing genre cluster of NEW Folk/Country and bluegrass. (the old stuff will come another time. cause it's some of the best)
old crow medicine show: "Wagon Wheel"
This one honestly takes the cake and is deserving of the title spot. I listened to this song ENDLESSLY this summer and had the privelage to visit many of the cities listed in the song with a great group of friends. (Roanoke VA- Johnson City, TN- Raleigh, NC- the Cumberland Gap, etc) This band has a fun history- they were playing on the street in front of the Grand Ol Opry and were asked weeks later to play inside on the stage. They got a standing ovation that time. The sound is gritty and grainy- almost to the point that if you close your eyes you can be swept away to the '20's, with black and white images of dust blowing across the plains, speeding through your mind. But don't be mistaken, they're definitely new age- almost a punk aspect to the jug band Folk genre. They sing about addiction in "Cocaine blues" and getting sober in "goodbye booze." Both appropriately titled eh? I'm also a HUGE fan of "Lonesome Road Blues." I hum it constantly. "CC Rider" and "Worried Mary" are also good. If you listen to anything i say in this blog, this is it. Buy the aforementioned songs please.
The Weepies "Gotta Have You"
Another gem that i discovered this summer and listened to endlessly with my fellow roadtrippers. This one also falls into the Folk category. Simply stated, this song is soft. It flows in a way that even the hardest of souls can't help but tenderize a little. The harmony is complex but as smooth as any Simon & Garfunkel comparison. Lyrically, this song can't help but make the listener think about a loved one- past or present. I first heard of the Weepies from the latest edition of Paste. It was one of those songs that i heard once and bought the entire cd without doing any other listening. Although sometimes risky, it paid off in this instance. Personally my favorite track off the album is "World Spins Madly On." I prefer when the guy sings and the lady sings harmony. It's solid. On their website there is a neat story of how these two met. Basically the guy went to a bar and was pumped to see that the girl was playing cause he had heard of her. The girl was playing a gig in a bar and was stoked to see the guy standing in the crowd cause she had heard him play. They spent the rest of the night writing songs. ha.
Iron and Wine w/ Calexico: Album: In the Reins
Don't really know if this is Folk or not, but it's going there for now. I'll write of this again i'm sure but i can not emphasize enough that you need to buy this album. I'll buy it for you in fact! It's perfect for a long drive, mood music, cooking a meal, riding a bike, shoveling snow, making out, whatever.... It's an album that you can put on repeat and never really know if you've listened to the whole album already- when in fact it's played half a dozen times. For humor, try to sing the opera part in "He Lays in the Reins"
Big Smith: "Trash"
Now this band is from the hills. That being said, they did play at my cousin's rehearsal dinner. Ha, that sounds even more country. Regardless- I'm proud of this one and am fairly certain that you haven't heard of Big Smith (unless you're from Springfield). I chose to focus on "Trash" because i love its lyrics and think that it's a good starter song to help get into them. The driving bass line drags along the jaw harp, mandolin and trailing vocal slurs- all of which can deter a sensitive country ear :) Lyrically, I love that they refer to their home town area(branson, huckleberry ridge, etc) and include lines like "don't call me trash till you've slept in my trailer" and the opening line of "I ain't white bread, i'm wheat bread, I don't make much money, but i'm well feed." The "singing senator" would be John Ashcroft. I also recommend that you try out "ponce de Leon", "12 3 speed oscillating fan" and "dance dance dance" They also do a variation of the classic "long black veil". And for those of you that automatically think they're a bunch of hicks- i think two if not three of the band members have doctorates, and a couple others have master's.
Dixie Chicks- Ready to Make Nice
To be honest, i really didn't get into the whole controversy with the Dixie Chicks after lead singer Natalie Maines made her comments about Pres Bush. It was big news though. And after watching the trailer to the new doc "Shut Up and Sing" the whole thing understandably gave the Dixie Chicks enough inspiration to sing with the tone found in "Ready to Make Nice". This song has emotion. No way around it. The lyrics, the building nature, the explosive layered vocals, the stacato heart pounding drumming at the songs climax... All that being said, the string section's drawn out accompaniment at 2:30 really is the glue that makes it all stick together. Regardless of your political affiliation, put that aside, let this song take you away.
loretta lynn- "Portland Oregon"
This song is the oldest one on today's list, but given the length of her career, it's brand spankin new. The album Van Lear Rose came out in April of 2004 under the helm of producer Jack White, of all people, who also sings on this track. Jack White's style in general is to take only a couple takes at the song recording. If you can't get it in a couple takes, then its not as real. Much like how Clint Eastwood directs. And with talent like loretta, i think you're pretty safe to use that strategy. Portland Oregon is a fun song. It's not the loretta lynn you're grandma listened to 40 years ago. Needless to say, every time i listen to this song i want to go try a "sloe gin fizz."
truckstop honeymoon- Waffle House Booth
This one isn't on Itunes so check out (www.truckstophoneymoon.com). Got this one from my friend Naomi and many thanks for that. This band is just fun. Waffle House includes lyrics like "when you said you liked me, i knew it was the truth- we got kicked out of the waffle house for makin out in the booth" I mean come on! That's golden! I'm also a big fan of "Johnny & June" off the same album. My favorite song though is one that i don't know the title too. My best guess is that its "My Automobile" off of the album Christmas in Ocala. Basically, it's this long tirade of why the wife won't let her husband drive her truck. Lines like "i ain't lettin you drive my truck, i ain't letting you behind the wheel, you drink too much, you ride the clutch and you don't care how i feel" make you feel like you're in the back seat of the "car" listening to this quarrel. If you're interested, i'll send you these songs. They're kinda hard to get.
citizen cope
OK, so this is more of the Folk genre. I've been singing Citizen Cope's praises for a couple years now and highly recommend him. To me, he's got an incomparable voice. Although i've read a number of reviews that try to place him and end up referring to a billion different styles. I think that's dumb. I don't know who wrote it, but it's off of the Itunes review- and i think its dead on. Especially the reference to "Bullet and a Target" which is my favorite song of his. This is what they wrote: "When a singer/songwriter fights the big record label- in this case Dreamworks- because the label doesn't understand the artist's vision, then buys back a record so he can fin someone else who cares enough to release it, it's
admirable and has 'this must be good' allure for sure.... The timely "people want to bomb us" number "Bullet and a Target" number is the album's centerpiece single; it presents a shock-value laundry lsit of depressing situations, Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire" for the Dave Matthew's generation" I also recommend "sun's gonna rise" "sideways" and "let the drummer kick"
brett dennen "Ain't no Reason"
Just found this one on Itunes- and it was a free one, so hurry up and get it while you can. Acoustic guitar opens the song up with a soft picking. Add in a appropriately loud bass line and building drum sequence and eventually an warlitzer'esque organ and you've got a good ass song. Lyrically he sings of despair and relatively gloomy situations but in the chorus rescues us with the hope that "love will come set me free. i know it will. love will come set me free" I checked out some of the other songs on the album and really liked a couple songs, but wasn't captivated enough to buy the whole album. I did buy "She's mine" and "There is so much more" and am very pleased with them.
Damien Rice: Grey Room
If you don't know Damien Rice, chances are that you actually do. The movie Closer brought his song "The Blower's Daughter" to a forefront. People either love him or hate him. I know both- and can frankly agree with both. At times he's very powerful and moving for me. Other times i think his haunting style of vocals and acoustic blend is depressing if not annoying. I think this is an adaptation, but the sentiment is the same- but Jules affectionately refers to it as music that will make you depressed if you're not already- and if you are depressed it'll make you slit your wrists. :) although strong- there's a little truth in there. BUT i digress. Grey Room is off of his new album "9". Per course for Damien and the critics, i've read reviews both praising and lambasting the album. Personally i really like Grey Room.
lori mckenna- stealing kisses
Itunes lists Lori as country. It's a little fuzzy for me- at least on this song, which admittedly is the only one i've listened to. She kind of reminds me of a calm Miranda Lambert.
Lastly, ANY Nickel Creek stuff. They're recently disbanded, so enjoy their new'ish album "Why Should the Fire Die" I recommend "When in Rome" and "Doubting Thomas" "Jealous of the Moon" is a good one too.
If you're local- i suggest checking out the band Stealin Strings. Good name, better music.
I know there is a lot that i've missed, but this seems to be a little taste. and i'm too lazy right now to put in the links for you. it'll come later. And please write something back if you agree or disagree with me! PEACE!
-timm-
Genre's to come: (but not in any order)
POP country/bluegrass :)
OLD time music- Country/Bluegrass
But i digress....
In a last minute scramble to find some new songs to write about, I was a little surprised at Itunes' top 10 Folk songs. On the list were Closer to Fire by the indigo girls, Cat's in the Cradle by Harry Chapin, and two different Gordon lightfoot songs! What?! Please tell me there is newer stuff than this?! Then i realized that the majority of people downloading Folk songs were most likely my dad and his generation of Jim Croce fans. I love me some jim croce, but want to focus on new stuff. So, after a long intro, here are some of my favorite songs that fall into the all encompassing genre cluster of NEW Folk/Country and bluegrass. (the old stuff will come another time. cause it's some of the best)
old crow medicine show: "Wagon Wheel"
This one honestly takes the cake and is deserving of the title spot. I listened to this song ENDLESSLY this summer and had the privelage to visit many of the cities listed in the song with a great group of friends. (Roanoke VA- Johnson City, TN- Raleigh, NC- the Cumberland Gap, etc) This band has a fun history- they were playing on the street in front of the Grand Ol Opry and were asked weeks later to play inside on the stage. They got a standing ovation that time. The sound is gritty and grainy- almost to the point that if you close your eyes you can be swept away to the '20's, with black and white images of dust blowing across the plains, speeding through your mind. But don't be mistaken, they're definitely new age- almost a punk aspect to the jug band Folk genre. They sing about addiction in "Cocaine blues" and getting sober in "goodbye booze." Both appropriately titled eh? I'm also a HUGE fan of "Lonesome Road Blues." I hum it constantly. "CC Rider" and "Worried Mary" are also good. If you listen to anything i say in this blog, this is it. Buy the aforementioned songs please.
The Weepies "Gotta Have You"
Another gem that i discovered this summer and listened to endlessly with my fellow roadtrippers. This one also falls into the Folk category. Simply stated, this song is soft. It flows in a way that even the hardest of souls can't help but tenderize a little. The harmony is complex but as smooth as any Simon & Garfunkel comparison. Lyrically, this song can't help but make the listener think about a loved one- past or present. I first heard of the Weepies from the latest edition of Paste. It was one of those songs that i heard once and bought the entire cd without doing any other listening. Although sometimes risky, it paid off in this instance. Personally my favorite track off the album is "World Spins Madly On." I prefer when the guy sings and the lady sings harmony. It's solid. On their website there is a neat story of how these two met. Basically the guy went to a bar and was pumped to see that the girl was playing cause he had heard of her. The girl was playing a gig in a bar and was stoked to see the guy standing in the crowd cause she had heard him play. They spent the rest of the night writing songs. ha.
Iron and Wine w/ Calexico: Album: In the Reins
Don't really know if this is Folk or not, but it's going there for now. I'll write of this again i'm sure but i can not emphasize enough that you need to buy this album. I'll buy it for you in fact! It's perfect for a long drive, mood music, cooking a meal, riding a bike, shoveling snow, making out, whatever.... It's an album that you can put on repeat and never really know if you've listened to the whole album already- when in fact it's played half a dozen times. For humor, try to sing the opera part in "He Lays in the Reins"
Big Smith: "Trash"
Now this band is from the hills. That being said, they did play at my cousin's rehearsal dinner. Ha, that sounds even more country. Regardless- I'm proud of this one and am fairly certain that you haven't heard of Big Smith (unless you're from Springfield). I chose to focus on "Trash" because i love its lyrics and think that it's a good starter song to help get into them. The driving bass line drags along the jaw harp, mandolin and trailing vocal slurs- all of which can deter a sensitive country ear :) Lyrically, I love that they refer to their home town area(branson, huckleberry ridge, etc) and include lines like "don't call me trash till you've slept in my trailer" and the opening line of "I ain't white bread, i'm wheat bread, I don't make much money, but i'm well feed." The "singing senator" would be John Ashcroft. I also recommend that you try out "ponce de Leon", "12 3 speed oscillating fan" and "dance dance dance" They also do a variation of the classic "long black veil". And for those of you that automatically think they're a bunch of hicks- i think two if not three of the band members have doctorates, and a couple others have master's.
Dixie Chicks- Ready to Make Nice
To be honest, i really didn't get into the whole controversy with the Dixie Chicks after lead singer Natalie Maines made her comments about Pres Bush. It was big news though. And after watching the trailer to the new doc "Shut Up and Sing" the whole thing understandably gave the Dixie Chicks enough inspiration to sing with the tone found in "Ready to Make Nice". This song has emotion. No way around it. The lyrics, the building nature, the explosive layered vocals, the stacato heart pounding drumming at the songs climax... All that being said, the string section's drawn out accompaniment at 2:30 really is the glue that makes it all stick together. Regardless of your political affiliation, put that aside, let this song take you away.
loretta lynn- "Portland Oregon"
This song is the oldest one on today's list, but given the length of her career, it's brand spankin new. The album Van Lear Rose came out in April of 2004 under the helm of producer Jack White, of all people, who also sings on this track. Jack White's style in general is to take only a couple takes at the song recording. If you can't get it in a couple takes, then its not as real. Much like how Clint Eastwood directs. And with talent like loretta, i think you're pretty safe to use that strategy. Portland Oregon is a fun song. It's not the loretta lynn you're grandma listened to 40 years ago. Needless to say, every time i listen to this song i want to go try a "sloe gin fizz."
truckstop honeymoon- Waffle House Booth
This one isn't on Itunes so check out (www.truckstophoneymoon.com). Got this one from my friend Naomi and many thanks for that. This band is just fun. Waffle House includes lyrics like "when you said you liked me, i knew it was the truth- we got kicked out of the waffle house for makin out in the booth" I mean come on! That's golden! I'm also a big fan of "Johnny & June" off the same album. My favorite song though is one that i don't know the title too. My best guess is that its "My Automobile" off of the album Christmas in Ocala. Basically, it's this long tirade of why the wife won't let her husband drive her truck. Lines like "i ain't lettin you drive my truck, i ain't letting you behind the wheel, you drink too much, you ride the clutch and you don't care how i feel" make you feel like you're in the back seat of the "car" listening to this quarrel. If you're interested, i'll send you these songs. They're kinda hard to get.
citizen cope
OK, so this is more of the Folk genre. I've been singing Citizen Cope's praises for a couple years now and highly recommend him. To me, he's got an incomparable voice. Although i've read a number of reviews that try to place him and end up referring to a billion different styles. I think that's dumb. I don't know who wrote it, but it's off of the Itunes review- and i think its dead on. Especially the reference to "Bullet and a Target" which is my favorite song of his. This is what they wrote: "When a singer/songwriter fights the big record label- in this case Dreamworks- because the label doesn't understand the artist's vision, then buys back a record so he can fin someone else who cares enough to release it, it's
admirable and has 'this must be good' allure for sure.... The timely "people want to bomb us" number "Bullet and a Target" number is the album's centerpiece single; it presents a shock-value laundry lsit of depressing situations, Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire" for the Dave Matthew's generation" I also recommend "sun's gonna rise" "sideways" and "let the drummer kick"
brett dennen "Ain't no Reason"
Just found this one on Itunes- and it was a free one, so hurry up and get it while you can. Acoustic guitar opens the song up with a soft picking. Add in a appropriately loud bass line and building drum sequence and eventually an warlitzer'esque organ and you've got a good ass song. Lyrically he sings of despair and relatively gloomy situations but in the chorus rescues us with the hope that "love will come set me free. i know it will. love will come set me free" I checked out some of the other songs on the album and really liked a couple songs, but wasn't captivated enough to buy the whole album. I did buy "She's mine" and "There is so much more" and am very pleased with them.
Damien Rice: Grey Room
If you don't know Damien Rice, chances are that you actually do. The movie Closer brought his song "The Blower's Daughter" to a forefront. People either love him or hate him. I know both- and can frankly agree with both. At times he's very powerful and moving for me. Other times i think his haunting style of vocals and acoustic blend is depressing if not annoying. I think this is an adaptation, but the sentiment is the same- but Jules affectionately refers to it as music that will make you depressed if you're not already- and if you are depressed it'll make you slit your wrists. :) although strong- there's a little truth in there. BUT i digress. Grey Room is off of his new album "9". Per course for Damien and the critics, i've read reviews both praising and lambasting the album. Personally i really like Grey Room.
lori mckenna- stealing kisses
Itunes lists Lori as country. It's a little fuzzy for me- at least on this song, which admittedly is the only one i've listened to. She kind of reminds me of a calm Miranda Lambert.
Lastly, ANY Nickel Creek stuff. They're recently disbanded, so enjoy their new'ish album "Why Should the Fire Die" I recommend "When in Rome" and "Doubting Thomas" "Jealous of the Moon" is a good one too.
If you're local- i suggest checking out the band Stealin Strings. Good name, better music.
I know there is a lot that i've missed, but this seems to be a little taste. and i'm too lazy right now to put in the links for you. it'll come later. And please write something back if you agree or disagree with me! PEACE!
-timm-
Genre's to come: (but not in any order)
POP country/bluegrass :)
OLD time music- Country/Bluegrass
Friday, December 1, 2006
