ROUTES & BRANCHES
January 21, 2012
Scott Foley

This week's strongest Colorado debut comes via John Statz, who falls gracefully in line with The Pines and Kelly Pardekooper in pegging Bo Ramsey to produce his Old Fashioned.  From a bit further southwest, we begin our exploration of the debut offering from California's Far West.  Likewise promising is the first glimpse into the forthcoming Lucero release.

Our Best Thing Ever for the week drops upon us from Up North, where Elliott BROOD finally get around to sending their great new effort to the US (it came out late September in Canada).  Always fond of mandolins and harmony, the trio strap on their electric guitars for their 4th CD.  Their own website states as much, "... the album showcases a more amped up Elliott BROOD that will put the knell to the 'death country' tag that described their early work. Now, the roof-raising rhythm stomp and mandolin collides with luscious harmonies, piano and, for the first time, electric guitar in a mix Casey admits is 'loud, heavy and rock 'n' roll'."  Days Into Years was reportedly inspired in part by a tour of World War I battlefields, specifically, "the invasion of Juno Beach by Canadian soldiers on June 6, 1944".  While it's far less dry than your typical Canadian history lesson, it's especially heartening to hear a band that ventures farther afield than songs about relational dysfunction ... 

Remember, please, to tune into my Thursday Morning Mix, from 10 until noon on KRFC.  While I haven't been posting my playlists, suffice to say that they tend to feature more of a stylistic range than R&B.  Last Thursday, f'rinstance, I featured new trax from the Shins, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Laura Gibson and Ben Kweller.  It's the perfect outlet for one with my limited musical attention span ...


*  Hayes Carll, "Beaumont"  Trouble In Mind  (Lost Hwy, 08)
*  HoneyHoney, "I Don't Mind"  Billy Jack  (Lost Hwy, 11)
*  Damn Quails, "Another Story"  Down the Hatch  (598, 11)
*  Whitehorse, "I'm On Fire"  Whitehorse  (Six Shooter, 11)
*  Have Gun Will Travel, "Time Machine"  Mergers & Acquisitions  (Suburban Home, 11)
*  John Statz, "Distance"  Old Fashioned  (Yer Bird, 12)
*  Nanci Griffith, "Southbound Train"  Flyer  (Elektra, 94)
^  Elliott BROOD, "Lindsay"  Days Into Years  (Paper Bag, 11)
*  Deep Dark Woods, "Back Alley Blues"  Place I Left Behind  (Sugar Hill, 11)
*  James McMurtry, "Cold Dog Soup"  This One's For Him  (Icehouse, 12)
*  Oakhurst, "Barrel"  Barrel  (Self, 12)
*  William Elliott Whitmore, "Old Devils"  Animals In the Dark  (Anti, 09)
*  Lucero, "Sometimes"  Women and Work  (ATO, 12)
*  Far West, "Bitter Drunk and Cold"  Far West  (Wooden Tapes, 11)
*  Boca Chica, "Do Right Woman"  Get Out Of Sin City  (Self, 11)
*  Chris Castle, "All Kinds Of Time"  Last Bird Home  (Dirtsandwich, 12)
*  Halden Wofford & the Hi-Beams, "Best Of All Possible Worlds"  Live @Hodi's  (Self, 12)
*  Lincoln Durham, "Love Letters"  Shovel vs the Howling Bones  (Rayburn, 12)
*  Chris Knight, "Rural Route"  Enough Rope  (Drifter's Church, 06)
*  Gretchen Peters, "Dark Angel"  Hello Cruel World  (Scarlet Letter, 12)
*  First Aid Kit, "Emmylou"  Lion's Roar  (Wichita, 12)
*  Kelly Pardekooper, "Mommy Was a Punk Rock Queen"  Yonder  (Leisure Time, 11)
*  Tin Horn Prayer, "Wretch"  Get Busy Dying  (Suburban Home, 10)
*  Darrell Scott, "It Must Be Sunday"  Long Ride Home  (Full Light, 12)
*  Sons Of Bill, "Santa Ana Winds"  Sirens  (Self, 12)
*  Orbo & the Longshots, "High Grass Dog"  Prairie Sun  (Blue Mood, 12)
*  Bottle Rockets, "Bar's On Fire"  Brand New Year  (New West, 99)

ROUTES & BRANCHES
January 14, 2012
Scott Foley

Some prime debuts this week from a couple Big Names.  The first peek at Justin Townes Earle's forthcoming album.  A look at Darrell Scott's fine Long Ride Home.  Even a stellar single from Virginia's Sons of Bill.  So what do I focus on this week?  Chris Castle.

Who?  While he's apparently been a Nashville writer since his teen years, and has self-released a couple lo-fi albums, Last Bird Home marks Castle's first widely-available CD.  I could focus on the fact that it was recorded at Levon Helm's Woodstock, NY farm, or that his unreal band includes Larry Campbell, Garth Hudson and Tommy Ramone (?!).  But Chris Castle's quiet songs speak eloquently for themselves.  His words bring to mind Slaid Cleaves, Mando Saenz or Rod Picott;  smart and original with a sure way with a turn of phrase.  All this, and he looks like an awkward 15 year old (he's actually 35). 

Incidentally, those rumors about me are true.  I'll be carrying a couple new hours in addition to my usual R&B.  From 10am-12 noon on Thursdays I'll be doing a Morning Mix of roots and indie musics.  Stream me live online at http://www.krfcfm.org


*  Jim White, "Infinite Mind"  Where It Hits You  (Yep Roc, 12)
*  David Eugene Edwards, "Wayfaring Stranger"  Searching For the Wrong Eyed Jesus  (Luaka, 05)
*  Delicate Cutters, "Be Sweet"  Some Creatures  (Skybucket, 11)
*  James Low Western Front, "Whiskey Farmer"  Whiskey Farmer  (Union Made, 12)
*  Halden Wofford & the Hi Beams, "ABC (live)"  Live At Hodi's  (Self, 12)
*  Joe Pug, "Nation Of Heat (live)"  Live At Lincoln Hall  (Self, 11)
*  Wood Brothers, "When I Was Young"  Smoke Ring Halo  (Self, 11)
*  Townes Van Zandt, "For the Sake Of a Song (live)"  Live At the Old Quarter  (Tomato, 04)
*  Longest Day Of the Year, "Radio Low"  Turn Into the Ground  (Mulewax, 12)
*  Blitzen Trapper, "Taking It Easy"  American Goldwing  (Sub Pop, 11)
*  Sons Of Bill, "Santa Ana Winds"  Sirens  (Self, 12)
*  Amelia White, "Skeleton Key"  Beautiful & Wild  (Self, 12)
*  Flatlanders, "Now It's Now Again"  Now Again  (New West, 02)
*  Slim Cessna's Auto Club, "United Longmont"  Rare Recordings Vol 2  (AltTentacles, 11)
*  Pines, "Rise Up and Be Lonely"  Dark So Gold  (Red House, 12)
*  Gretchen Peters, "Paradise Found"  Hello Cruel World  (Self, 12)
*  Snake Wagon, "You Had To Be There Talkin' Blues"  Have Fun With ...  (Self, 11)
*  Low Anthem w/Emmylou Harris, "To Ohio"  Smart Flesh  (Nonesuch, 11)
*  Jay Bennett, "Junior"  Replace You + 5  (Ryko, 06)
*  Oakhurst, "Hallelu"  Barrel  (Self, 12)
^  Chris Castle, "Both Ends Of a Gun"  Last Bird Home  (Dirtsandwich, 12)
*  Justin Townes Earle, "Nothings Gonna Change"  Nothing's Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now  (Bloodshot, 12)
*  Fred Eaglesmith, "Cemetery Road"  6 Volts  (Self, 11)
*  Mary Gauthier, "Camelot Motel"  Filth & Fire  (Signature Sounds, 02)
*  Darrell Scott, "Hopkinsville"  Long Ride Home  (Full Light, 12)
*  Kevin Gordon, "Gloryland"  Gloryland  (Self, 12)

ROUTES & BRANCHES
January 7, 2011
Scott Foley

We bring to a close our series of backward glances at the year that was with an Episode focusing on my favorite songs of 2011.  It's a much easier list for me to assemble than last week's albums list; either a song is worthy or it's not, whereas an album typically features a dozen or so cuts of varying appeal.  I enjoyed Israel Nash Gripka's Barn Doors record enough, but it didn't appear on last week's list, even though the song "Drown" tops this year's collection of favorite songs.  This, despite a curious video which depicts Gripka and co. tracking a yeti ...  Look it up.  For 2011, only 7 out of 20 of the CDs which spawned my favorite tunes were represented on my albums list. 

Other interesting factoids:  fully one-quarter of the artists below hail from Oregon, as opposed to one representative from Colorado.  I find this more interesting than significant, owing perhaps to the fact that my musical ears were raised in The Beaver State. 

Fortunately, nobody has developed a fool-proof formula that will predict which music will resonate with me from year to year.  Is there a commonality to be found among the yeti-riffic mandolin of Gripka's "Drown", the soul-stirring southern R&B of Alabama Shakes, the driving take-no-prisoners "punkabilly" of the Von Ehrics, and Lindi Ortega's sweet and sultry country-leaning americana?  Other than the fact that I exhausted my weekly allowance for hyphens in the previous sentence?  File it all under the heading, "The Very Best Of Americana, Alt.country and Roots Music" as far as I'm concerned, but I'm proud of the diversity in this list. 

Finally, my favorite lyric of the last 365 days stems from my second favorite song:  Unfazed by pain, unfazed by love, unfazed by rain that won't let up / Unfazed by debts I'll never pay, unfazed by blonde hair turning grey / Unfazed by dreams we left behind, unfazed by jokes there's no punch line / Unfazed by death she's my blushing bride, unfazed by living until I die ...  The bridge to a song that strikes me as one long sigh, a direct glance into the pleasures and pains of a middle-aged life.  All of a sudden, many of us are nearer to 50 than to 40, with so much to celebrate, a fair amount to regret, and more hope than anything else.  At the end of 2011, we're blessed by something as simple as music: 

We can dance all night if we fill up the juke / Fill up the juke, fill up the juke, fill up the juke ...


My Favorite Songs of 2011

1)  Israel Nash Gripka, "Drown"  Barn Doors & Concrete Floors  (Ing, 3/29)
2)  Dolorean, "Unfazed"  The Unfazed  (Partisan, 1/18)
3)  Kasey Anderson & the Honkies, "Exit Ghost"  Heart Of a Dog  (Red River, 2/15)
4)  Blitzen Trapper, "Love the Way You Walk Away"  American Goldwing  (Sub Pop, 9/13)
5)  Alabama Shakes, "You Ain't Alone"  Alabama Shakes EP  (Self, 9/13)
6)  Hayes Carll, "KMAG YOYO"  KMAG YOYO (& Other American Stories)  (Lost Hwy, 2/15)

7)  Buddy & Julie Miller, "God's Wing'ed Horse"  Majestic Silver Strings  (New West, 3/01)
8)  Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside, "Danger"  Dirty Radio  (Partisan, 5/23)
9)  Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, "Codeine"  Here We Rest  (Lightning Rod, 4/12)
10) Duke & the King, "Shaky"  Duke & the King  (Silva Oak, 8/16)
11) Von Ehrics, "Last Of the Working Slobs"  Two Foot Stomp  (Lucky Buck, 4/12)
12) Frank Turner, "Peggy Sang the Blues"  England Keep My Bones  (Epitaph, 6/03)
13) Lydia Loveless, "Can't Change Me"  Indestructible Machine  (Bloodshot, 9/13)
14) Lindi Ortega, "When All the Stars Align"  Little Red Boots  (Last Gang, 6/07)
15) Blind Pilot, "Keep You Right"  We Are the Tide  (Expunged, 9/13)
16) Graham Wilkinson, "Two Days Today"  Best Of Times  (Sleeveless, 8/23)

17) Slithering Beast, "Fool Out Of You"  Delicious  (Self, 6/22)
18) Patti Fiasco, "Nobody's Girl"  Patti Fiasco  (Self, 6/22)
19) Austin Lucas, "Darkness Out Of Me"  New Home In the Old World  (Last Chance, 4/01)
20) JD Malone & the Experts, "Just Like New"  Avalon  (Self, 7/12)

ROUTES & BRANCHES
December 31, 2011
Scott Foley

My highlight for 2011 would have to be the glorious rebirth of Routes & Branches.  Having masqueraded for a couple years under the Thursday Morning Mix moniker, KRFC's late-summer restructuring gave me the opportunity to brush off the ashes and rise again all phoenix-like.  While I feel I've been fumbling around of late,  it makes my heart happy to occupy Saturday evening once again. 

Plus, there's the matter of all the great music that was released in 2011, from stuff like Decemberists and Dolorean in the dawning days of January to the one glorious week of October that heralded the release of Deep Dark Woods, Ryan Adams, Great American Taxi and Glossary.  It's a generous time for those of us that revel in new music, with nearly every day producing a welcome discovery online, a new song, a new album, even a new artist.  Regrettably, listening to more music can muddy the waters when it comes to whittling a year down to just 20 selections. 

But it's been done, and I feel generally good about the results.  What isn't on the final list?  Lucinda, Steve Earle, Gillian, Buddy, Old 97s, Kasey Chambers, Dave Alvin, Ry Cooder, Gourds and more more more.  And even worthy Colorado acts like Patti Fiasco, Lizzie Huffman and Turn 4 were turned away owing to no room at the inn.  My final moment of panic happened as I passed Berthoud on my way north this afternoon.  Only three women on the list!? 

Nevertheless, Lydia Loveless was an obvious #1 soon after I previewed the album, reminding me of the most fearless days of early alt.country.  The early days of the Bloodshot records label when the edges were sharp and bordering on dangerous.  The label wisely included a "radio friendly" copy along with the profanity riddled original copy, with only the latter living in my player because sometimes it's just wonderful to hear such a beautiful voice sling profanity so eloquently. 

Next Episode, I'll proffer my favorite songs of the year coming to an end as I type.  I love what I do, and Routes & Branches thrives under the pressure of more eagerly listening ears.  Please bring a friend. 


My Favorite CDs of 2011

1)  Lydia Loveless, Indestructible Machine  (Bloodshot, 9/13)
2)  Blitzen Trapper, American Goldwing  (Sub Pop, 9/13)
3)  Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, Here We Rest  (Lightning Rod, 4/12)
4)  Decemberists, King Is Dead / Long Live the King / iTunes Session  (Capitol, 1/14 and 10/28)
5)  Deep Dark Woods, Place I Left Behind  (Sugar Hill, 10/14)
6)  Dolorean, The Unfazed  (Partisan, 1/18)
7)  Hayes Carll, KMAG YOYO (and Other American Stories)  (Lost Hwy, 2/15)
8)  Great American Taxi, Paradise Lost  (Self, 10/11)
9)  Jayhawks, Mockingbird Time  (Rounder, 9/20)
10) Glossary, Long Live All Of Us  (Undertow, 10/02)
11) Roadside Graves, We Can Take Care Of Ourselves  (Autumn Tone, 7/19)
12) Emmylou Harris, Hard Bargain  (Nonesuch, 4/22)
13) Kasey Anderson & the Honkies, Heart Of a Dog  (Red River, 2/15)
14) Dawes, Nothing Is Wrong  (ATO, 6/07)
15) Ryan Adams, Ashes & Fire  (Pax Americana, 10/11)
16) Girls Guns & Glory, Sweet Nothings  (Lonesome Day, 8/30)
17) Drive-By Truckers, Go-Go Boots  (ATO, 2/15)
18) Low Anthem, Smart Flesh  (Nonesuch, 2/21)
19) Frank Turner, England Keep My Bones  (Epitaph, 6/06)
20) Amanda Shires, Carrying Lightning  (Silver Knife, 5/03)

ROUTES & BRANCHES
Christmas Eve 2011
Scott Foley (with Madeleine, Logan and Gabriel)

God bless us, every one!  As has been the case for five wonderful years, my children joined me in the studio this Episode, bringing in tow a holiday song of their choosing.  The rest is all my fault, culled from hours of combing the internet(s) for worthy new trax of the season. 

To quote the immortal George Bailey, "Merry Christmas, movie house! Merry Christmas, Emporium! Merry Christmas, you wonderful old Building and Loan!" 

And if he were here, George would also remind us of next week's Episode, wherein I will declare for all to hear my favorite albums for 2011. 

*  Ray Charles, "Spirit Of Christmas"  Spirit Of Christmas  (Rhino, 85)
*  Grace Potter, "Naughty Naughty Children"  internet single  (Self, 11)
*  Lyle Lovett, "Baby It's Cold Outside"  Songs For the Season  (UMG, 11)
*  Opie Gone Bad w/Jim Dalton, "It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas"  Opie Gone Christmas  (Self, 11)
*  David Wax Museum, "La Rama"  My Favorite Gifts  (Ramseur, 11)
*  My Morning Jacket, "Christmas Must Be Tonight"  iTunes Session  (ATO, 11)
*  She & Him, "I'll Be Home For Christmas"  Very She & Him Christmas  (Merge, 11)
*  Lindi Ortega, "Christmas Eve With You"  Tennessee Christmas  (Last Gang, 11)
M  Tom Lehrer, "Christmas Carol"  Songs & More Songs  (Rhino, 97)
*  Oh Starling, "Hark"  Noel  (Self, 11)
*  Sunny Sweeney, "One More Christmas Beer"  internet single  (Self, 11)
*  Scott Miller, "Star Of Bethlehem"  Christmas Gift  (FAY, 10)
*  Two Tons Of Steel, "If We Make It Through December"  Tangled In Tinsel  (Self, 11)
*  Over the Rhine, "White Horse"  Snow Angels  (Great Speckled Dog, 07)
*  Kasey Chambers, "Christmas Time"  Kasey Chambers Poppa Bill & the Little Hillbillies  (Liberation, 09)
*  Diamond Rugs, "Christmas In a Chinese Restaurant"  internet single  (Partisan, 12)
*  John Cowan, "Let's Make a Baby King"  Comfort & Joy  (E1, 09)
L  Trans-Siberian Orchestra, "Christmas Canon"  Christmas Attic  (Atlantic, 98)
*  Beta Radio, "Song the Season Brings"  Song the Season Brings  (Self, 11)
*  Lissie, "2000 Miles"  Live At Shepherd's Bush Empire  (PID, 11)
*  Resentments, "I Hate Christmas"  Resentment  (Freedom, 04)
*  Decemberists, "Please Daddy Don't Get Drunk"  Alternative Rock Xmas  (Capitol, 07)
*  Gretchen Peters, "Song For a Winter's Night"  Northern Lights  (Scarlet Letter, 08)
G  Spyro Gyra, "Carol Of the Bells"  Night Before Christmas  (Heads Up, 08)
*  Holly Golightly, "Christmas Tree On Fire"  internet single  (Damaged Goods, 06)
*  Steve Earle & Allison Moorer, "Nothing But a Child"  To Kate  (Western Beast, 05)

ROUTES & BRANCHES

December 17, 2011

Scott Foley

My favorite holiday song of the year comes from an unlikely "supergroup" composed of John McCauley (Deer Tick), Robbie Crowell (Deer Tick), Ian Saint Pé (The Black Lips), Steve Berlin (Los Lobos), Hardy Morris (Dead Confederate) and Bryan Dufresne (Six Finger Satellite), calling themselves Diamond Rugs.  Apparently, McCauley's outing with Middle Brother hasn't extinguished his desire for such gatherings.  Last year about this time, I waxed on about another favorite, "Fairytale Of New York" by Pogues and Kirsty MacColl.  You might trace a thread between that drunken holiday classic and this one, with John McCauley spitting teeth around lyrics like, "I ate Chinese food on Christmas day / You kicked me out 'cause I told the kids / That Santa's sleigh did not exist / I was drunk and you got pissed / But anyway have a very merry Christmas".  Like Shane McGowan's bleak picture of interpersonal dysfunction, it's not necessarily a great song to play while the kids are opening their presents.  But, home from church with the kids deep in their covers, it might be just the thing to go along with a glass of brandy ...

Next Episode, I'll yank my three kids from those blankets to join me on my Christmas Eve show, where there will be no refuge for those looking to escape holiday songs.  From the traditional and reverent to the irreverent and tipsy, with the kids each bringing along a tune of their choice (that will traditionally be more popular than anything I choose to air).  I'll unleash my favorite albums list on the December 31 Episode, followed by my favorite 2011 songs on January 7.  

* Sam Baker, "Angel Hair"  Cotton  (Music Road, 09)
*  Over the Rhine, "Only God Can Save Us Now"  Long Surrender  (GSD, 11)
*  Los Straightjackets, "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"  internet single  (Yep Roc, 11)
*  Ana Egge, "Chestnut Tree"  Bad Blood  (Ammal, 11)
*  John Statz, "Honest"  Old Fashioned  (Yer Bird, 12)
*  Drive-by Truckers, "Perfect Timing (live)"  Live From Austin TX  (New West, 10)
*  Hem, "Identical Snowflakes"  internet  single  (Hem, 11)
*  Great American Taxi, "Olden Days"  Paradise Lost  (Self, 11)
*  Folk Uke, "Nobody Blues"  Reincarnation  (Self, 11)
^  Diamond Rugs, "Christmas In a Chinese Restaurant"  internet single  (Partisan, 12)
*  Amelia White, "Beautiful & Wild"  Beautiful & Wild  (Self, 12)
*  Longest Day of the Year, "Calla Lily Lady"  Turn Into the Ground  (Mulewax, 12)
*  Ryan Adams, "Dirty Rain"  Ashes & Fire  (Lost Hwy, 11)
*  Wood Brothers, "Rebel Jesus"  My Favorite Gifts  (Ramseur, 11)
*  Lydia Loveless, "How Many Women"  Indestructible Machine  (Bloodshot, 11)
*  Jon Boland, "Top Hat"  Lightning In the Wires  (Self, 12)
*  Bob Schneider, "All I Want For Christmas (live)"  Live At the Paramount Theatre  (Brando, 11)
*  Radney Foster, "LA Freeway"  This One's For Him  (Icehouse, 12)
*  Gretchen Peters, "Sunday Morning (Up and Down My Street)"  15 Song Career Retrospective  (Self, 11)
*  Candi Staton, "Cry Baby Cry"  Who's Hurting Now  (Honest Jons, 11)
*  American Gun, "Little Manger"  internet single  (Self, 10)
*  Emmylou Harris, "Light Of the Stable"  Light Of the Stable  (Rhino, 75)
*  Jim White, "Infinite Mind"  Where It Hits You  (Yep Roc, 12)
*  Bob Rea, "Someday's Gone"  Ragged Choir  (Shiny Dime, 11)
*  Civil Wars, "Tracks In the Snow"  Tracks In the Snow EP  (Self, 10)
*  William Topley, "Sweet Love TN"  South On Velvet Clouds  (Self, 11)
*  David Ball, "Santa Send Some Texas"  Greatest Christmas  (Self, 11)

Routes & Branches
December 10, 2011
Scott Foley

For this Very Special Episode, I focused on the music of our faire state, airing tunes from my favorite Colorado albums of 2011.  Just between you and me, I pre-recorded the thing so that, by the magic of radio, I could also attend my wife's company holiday party (and have a chance at winning something Big and Expensive).  Apparently, this is how real radio folks produce their programs nowadays.  I'm much more content to be fumbling around live on-air, so probably won't be resorting to lies and smokescreens again soon.  At least not on the radio.

In the meantime, this means an early holiday present from me.  Colorado Sound host Chris K emailed me five pages worth of Colorado music releases from November 2010 thru November of this year, some of which I hadn't given more than a quick listen, others that have carved out a pretty regular place on my playlists.  Five pages.  Nevertheless, I've cobbled the whole unruly thing down to a truly ruly list, the fruits of which you'll hear on Saturday (in addition to me, banging around in an unfamiliar studio with alien controls in all the wrong places and headphones that were way too big even for my head, most likely made for two people to use simultaneously).  Regardez:

My Favorite Colorado Albums Of 2011

1)  Great American Taxi, Paradise Lost
2)  Patti Fiasco, Patti Fiasco
3)  Lizzie Huffman, Pretty Old Soul
4)  Turn 4, Turn 4
5)  Bare Bones, Bare Bones
6)  You Me & Apollo, Cards With Cheats
7)  Mosey West, Vaca Money
8)  Hickman Dalton Gang, Vol 2
9)  Ghost Of Michael Clark, Bound To Break
10) Surplus Cheaper Hands, It's Your Parade
11) Kentucky Parlor Pickers, Barn Burner
12) Slim Cessna's Auto Club, Unentitled
13) Broken Spoke, Before There Were Easy Riders
14) Quiet American, Vol 2
15) Honey Gitters, Poor Gitters' Almanack
16) Bonnie & the Clydes, Bonnie & the Clydes
17) Haunted Windchimes, Live At the Western Jubilee
18) Devotchka, 100 Lovers
19) Bonnie & the Beard, Bonnie & the Beard
20) Cahalen Morrison & Eli West, Holy Coming Of the Storm

These were aired in no particular order, and were interspersed with some various and sundry new stuff and holiday fun.  This includes two more trax from the Guy Clark tribute I celebrated last week, and my favorite new holiday track (so far), courtesy of My Morning Jacket.  The Playlist:

*  Kathleen Edwards, "Sidecar"  Voyageur  (Rounder, 12)
*  Lindi Ortega, "All I Want For Christmas Is a Cowboy"  Tennessee Christmas  (Self, 11)
*  Broken Spoke, "High Water Mark"  Before There Were Easy Riders  (Self, 11)
*  Longest Day Of the Year, "Bury Books With Bone"  Turn Into the Ground  (Self, 12)
*  Michelle McAfee, "Poetry Of Life"  Up In the Air  (Awake Now, 11)
*  Bare Bones, "Come In / Stay Out"  Bare Bones  (Self, 11)
*  Bonnie & the Clydes, "Make Up Your Mind"  Bonnie & the Clydes  (Self, 11)
*  Dale Watson, "Elbow Grease Spackle and Pine Sol"  Sun Sessions  (Red House, 11)
*  Lizzie Huffman, "Heavy Hearts"  Pretty Old Soul  (Suburban Home, 11)
*  Quiet American, "Talk Is Cheap"  Vol 2  (Self, 11)
*  James McMurtry, "Cold Dog Soup"  This One's For Him  (Icehouse, 12)
*  Slim Cessna's Auto Club, "My Last Black Scarf"  Unentitled  (Alt Tentacles, 11)
*  Surplus Cheaper Hands, "Baby It's Gonna Be Your Year"  It's Your Parade  (Self, 11)
*  Jessica Lea Mayfield, "Little Toy Trains"  My Favorite Gifts  (Ramseur, 11)
*  Patti Fiasco, "Bottle Of Wine"  Patti Fiasco  (Self, 11)
*  Ghost Of Michael Clark, "Thunder & Light"  Bound To Break  (Blank Tape, 11)
*  Haunted Windchimes, "Wanderin' Heart"  Live At the Western Jubilee  (Blank Tape, 11)
^  Great American Taxi, "Gonna Make a Record"  Paradise Lost  (Self, 11)
*  You Me & Apollo, "Oh Brother"  Cards With Cheats  (Self, 11)
*  Rosanne Cash, "Better Days"  This One's For Him  (Icehouse, 12)
*  Kentucky Parlor Pickers, "Loverboy"  Barn Burner  (Self, 11)
*  Devotchka, "Bad Luck Heels"  100 Lovers  (Anti, 11)
*  Mosey West, "Cold Prediction"  Vaca Money  (Self, 11)
*  Turn 4, "What You Do About It"  What You Do About It  (Fuck All Y'all, 11)
*  Madison Violet, "If I Could Love You"  Good In Goodbye  (True North, 11)
*  Bonnie & the Beard, "Money Honey"  Bonnie & the Beard  (Self, 11)
*  Cahalen Morrison & Eli West, "Lost Lovin' Gal"  Holy Coming Of the Storm  (Self, 11)
*  White Buffalo, "Pilot"  Lost and Found EP  (Unison, 11)
*  Honey Gitters, "Diamond In a Bag"  Poor Gitters' Almanack  (Self, 11)
*  My Morning Jacket, "When the Bells Start Ringing"  iTunes Holiday Sessiono  (iTunes, 11)

ROUTES & BRANCHES
December 3, 2011
Scott Foley

Just a week ago, I highlighted a stellar, star-full 2004 compilation tribute to Alejandro Escovedo.   For this week's Episode, I can't help but focus on another 2-disc musical cornucopia, This One's For Him, featuring another absurdly generous collection of artists paying homage to the songs of Guy Clark.  In addition to Emmylou and Prine and Patty Griffin, represented here, you'll find Rodney Crowell, Rosanne Cash, Hayes Carll, Steve Earle, etc etc etc, each with a reverent take on one great Guy Clark tune after another.  Played two cuts here, and I'll likely do the same for next week's Episode (and the week after that, and ... ). 

Also pleased to have an early copy of what might just be Amelia White's breakthrough album, featuring some great writing and fine Eliza-esque vocals.  And, because Thanksgiving is the Gateway to Christmas, it's just fine that I'm playing a new holiday benefit album assembled by Colorado band Opie Gone Bad.  Like a CO-centric "We Are the World", Opie Gone Christmas brags contributions from more than a dozen square-state musical luminaries (plus, a TV personality singing Joni Mitchell ... and the mayor's wife ... ).  

*  Justin Townes Earle, "Can't Hardly Wait"  Midnight At the Movies  (Bloodshot, 09)
*  Amy Black, "Meet Me On the Dance Floor"  One Time  (Reuben, 11)
*  Jesse Manley, "Devil's Red"  Devil's Red  (Self, 11)
^  Emmylou Harris & John Prine, "Magnolia Wind"  This One's For Him  (Icehouse, 12)
*  Mike McClure, "Old Crow"  Fifty Billion  (598 Records, 11)
*  She & Him, "Christmas Day"  Very She & Him Christmas  (Merge, 11)
*  Hacienda Brothers, "Lot Of Days Are Gone"  Arizona Motel  (Proper, 08)
*  Joe Pug, "Lock the Door Christina (live)"  Live At Lincoln Hall  (Self, 11)
*  Ken Will Morton, "Powder Keg"  Contenders  (Ghostmeat, 11)
*  Longest Day Of the Year, "Eloise"  Turn Into the Ground  (Self, 12)
*  Honey Honey, "Old School Friends"  Billy Jack  (Lost Hwy, 11)
*  Samantha Crain, "River"  Confiscation  (Ramseur, 08)
*  Glossary, "Some Eternal Spark"  Long Live All Of Us  (Last Chance, 11)
*  Opie Gone Bad et al., "Put a Little Love In Your Heart"  Opie Gone Christmas  (Self, 11)
*  Mando Saenz, "Engine Roll"  Watertown  (Carnival, 05)
*  Kenny Vaughan, "Lillie Mae"  V  (Sugar Hill, 11)
*  Greensky Bluegrass, "Cold Feet"  Handguns  (Big Blue Zoo, 11)
*  Black Keys, "Little Black Submarines"  El Camino  (Nonesuch, 11)
*  Hickman Dalton Gang, "Construction Man"  Vol 2  (Self, 11)
*  David Wax Museum, "La Rama"  My Favorite Gifts  (Ramseur, 11)
^  Patty Griffin, "The Cape"  This One's For Him  (Icehouse, 12)
*  Deep Dark Woods, "Place I Left Behind"  Place I Left Behind  (Sugar Hill, 11)
*  Amelia White, "Mercy"  Beautiful & Wild  (Self, 12)
*  Joe Ely, "Tonight I Think I'm Gonna Go Downtown"  Best Of Joe Ely  (MCA, 00)
*  Hoots & Hellmouth, "City Lights On a Country Ceiling"  Salt  (Self, 11)
*  Scott Biram, "Just Another River"  Bad Ingredients  (Bloodshot, 11)
*  Bob Schneider, "Honeypot"  Perfect Day  (CO5, 11)
*  Mike Stinson, "Jukebox In Your Heart"  Jukebox In Your Heart  (Stag, 10)
*  Heartless Bastards, "Parted Ways"  Arrow  (Partisan, 12)