Thursday Morning Mix: Playlist, Episode 9258

Whiskeytown, "Houses On the Hill" Strangers Almanac
Scott Miller, "Dear Sarah" (live) Reconstruction
Neil Halstead, "Paint a Face" Oh! Mighty Engine
Jessica Lea Mayfield, "For Today" With Blasphemy So Heartfelt
Bruce Robison, "Only" New World
Chuck Ragan w/Austin Lucas, "Simple Life" Bristle Ridge
Flaco Jimenez w/Dwight Yoakam, "Alright, I'm Wrong" Sleepytown
ESP, "Hell of a Life" One For the Ditch
Taj Mahal w/Los Lobos, "Never Let You Go" Maestro
Broken Prayers, "Little Black Heart" Crow
Dave Alvin, "California Bloodlines" West of the West
Dusty Springfield, "Just One Smile" Dusty in Memphis
Drive-by Truckers, "Righteous Path" Brighter Than Creation's Dark
Asylum St Spankers, "Paul Revere" Mercurial
Damien Jurado, "Gillian Was a Horse" Caught in the Trees
Calexico, "Two Silver Trees" Carried to Dust
Ron Sexsmith, "This is How I Know" Exit Strategy of the Soul
JD Souther, "I'll Be Here at Closing Time" If the World Was You
Joan Baez, "God is God" Day After Tomorrow
David Olney, "Snake Song" (live) Live at Norm's River Roadhouse, Vol 1
Vince Gill, "Satisfied Mind" Imus Ranch Record
Matt Bauer, "Old Kimball" Island Moved in the Storm
Golden Smog, "Pecan Pie" Stay Golden, Smog
Derailers, "I'm Still Missing You" Guaranteed to Satisfy
Jason Boland & the Stragglers, "Bottle By My Bed" Comal County Blue
Matt the Electrician, "One Thing Right" One Thing Right


until then,
Scott

Sunday Drive
traipsing thru the internets

The Americana Music Association this week distributed its 2008 awards at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Assuming the AMA serves as the mainstream expression of the americana movement, the list of recipients included few surprises. The sole moment of 'hmmm?' came with the announcement of Mike Farris as New Emerging Artist of the Year, surpassing the much more deserving Justin Townes Earle, Ryan Bingham and Steeldrivers. I suppose, as one blogger conjectured, the other candidates cannibalized each others' votes, leaving only Farris standing outside of the fray.


At a bookshow in lovely and pure Colorado Springs, I glimpsed a prepublication copy of No Depression's new expanded semi-annual 'bookazine'. Due in October, No Depression No. 76 promises the same longer articles, original photography, review and valuable perspective of the indispensible magazine. In an immanently frustrating development, the University of Texas representative promised me the advance copy once the show floor closed, and I promptly forgot it behind the table ...


As seen in the worthy documentary Dreaming In America, Lucero are one of the hardest working bands in alt.country. It was announced this week that Ben Nichols and co. had finally been signed to a major label, Universal Republic. As an admirer, I can only hope that this deserved success won't dull the band's unique edge. NineBullets has posted the performance video for a new Lucero tune, "Johnny Davis".


Finally, Ryan Adams revealed that he and his Cardinals will not go the entire year of 2008 without blessing us with a new release. Issued not under Adams' name, but under the Cardinals moniker, the October 28 album will be called Cardinology.


alright then,
Scott

Thursday Morning Mix: Playlist, Episode 9198

Patty Griffin, "Get Yourself Another Fool" (live) Live From the Artist's Den
Joe Pug, "Hymn #101" Nation of Heat EP
Los Lobos, "Saint Behind the Glass" (live, acoustic) Acoustic en Vivo
Amy LaVere, "Pointless Drinking" Anchors & Anvils
Rodney Crowell, "Sex & Gasoline" Sex & Gasoline
Derailers, "Guaranteed to Satisfy" Guaranteed to Satisfy
TBone Burnett, "River of Love" TBone Burnett
BB King, "See That My Grave is Kept Clean" One Kind Favor
Buddy & Julie Miller, "You Make My Heart Beat Too Fast" Love Snuck Up
Laura Marling, "You're No Good" Alas I Cannot Swim
M Ward, "Radio Campaign" Transistor Radio
Okkervil River, "Calling and Not Calling My Ex" Stand-Ins
Robert Earl Keen, "Broken End of Love" What I Really Mean
Charlie Louvin, "Love At Home" Steps to Heaven
Sacred Shakers, "Jordan is a Hard Road to Travel" Sacred Shakers
The Youngers, "Heritage" Heritage
Bonnie Raitt, "You" Longing in Their Hearts
Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson, "Jackson Hole" Rattlin' Bones
Danielle Talamini, "Road Rises" The Road Rises
Michael Holland, "Lesley Riddle" Simple Truths and Pleasures
Calexico, "Victor Jara's Hands" Carried to Dust
Lila Downs, "Minimum Wage" Shake Away
Volebeats, "One I Love" Country Favorites
Blitzen Trapper, "Furr" Furr
Cicada Omega, "Big Black Chain" These Bones
Golden Smog, "Love & Mercy" Stay Golden, Smog
Mary Gauthier, "Mercy Now" Mercy Now
Todd Snider, "Dividing the Estate" Peace Queer
One Horse Shy, "Honey in My Tea" One Horse Shy

Proving that there's something for everybody: I discovered a copy of Charlie Louvin's new Steps To Heaven in the discard pile at my station. That's understandable. To some, if you're not familiar with Charlie's rich history and rare influence, his album of gospel standards just sounds like Grampa. Since I didn't have a chance to preview it, I took a risk and set the proverbial needle down on track one (generally a safe bet). I was disappointed to hear a very subdued and straight rendering of "Love At Home". Oh well, I thought, we'll just move on. While it's by no means a bad track, it brought back memories of my childhood at the First United Methodist Church in Grants Pass, Oregon, sitting in the back pew behind the older man with remarkable ear hair ...

At the end of the show I received a nice call from a listener who said she loved my show. Oh, and what was that Charlie Louvin song I played about halfway thru the set? It brought her to tears.

until then,
Scott

Sunday Drive
traipsing thru the internets

Most mainstream charts, by definition, water things down to their most mediocre. No sharp edges, no surprises, no discoveries. Nevertheless, I did find it fun to browse through Billboard magazine's 50th anniversary lists. Not an americana morsel in the bunch, but still enjoyable for the omnivorous music gourmand to sample bits from the past. If nothing else, it's just fun to see FloRida's "Low" next to "I Just Want to Be Your Everything" by Andy Gibb.


In a year where surprises are few and far between, Samantha Crain stands out as 2008's big musical gift. Her too-short Confiscation EP (thankyou, Ramseur) has been a revelation. You can't go wrong with HearYa's Live Session with Samantha and her Midnight Shivers, tearing through favorites from the EP, as well as a couple of less familiar tracks.


When you think of octogenerian Charlie Louvin, I'm certain that thoughts of the Old 97s and Lambchop aren't far behind. Louvin will release Steps to Heaven (Tompkins Square) next week, produced by Lambchop's Mark Nevers (who produced Louvin's 2007 self-titled release), featuring a collection of gospel tunes as well as a few Louvin Brothers reworkings. October will find Louvin hitting the road for an eleven stop tour with the Old 97s. Then, because time is of the essence, December will bring Charlie Louvin Sings Murder Ballads and Disaster Songs.


Most importantly, Friday, September 26 will mark the onset of KRFC's Fall Membership Drive. While radio is nowhere near the tastemaker it was 15 years ago, there are still stations honoring the great traditions of the medium, playing genres and artists mainstream radio won't touch, and doing it with a passion and knowledge hard to find elsewhere on the dial. In large part, KRFC stands with that brigade. The hosts of shows such as Golden Age of Rock and Roll, Rock and Roll Clubhouse, Steel Guitar Jam, Jazzalicious, Rocky Mountain Breakdown and Colorado Sound (for example) share a passion for their respective corner of the music world, and provide an education as well. The Thursday Morning Mix guy isn't too bad either ... My sole spot at Pledge Drive stardom will happen on Thursday, October 2. Please respond accordingly.


alright then,
Scott

Thursday Morning Mix Playlist

Episode 9118

Cheryl Wheeler "Arrow" Circles & Arrows

Avett Bros "Bella Donna" Second Gleam

Bonnie Prince Billy "Easy Does It" Lie Down in the Light

Kris Kristofferson "This Old Road" This Old Road

McCarthy Trenching "Roasting Song" Calamity Drenching

Greg Brown "Worrisome Years" Down in There

Chuck Ragan "California Burritos" Feast or Famine

Patty Loveless "Sleepless Nights" Sleepless Nights

Tony Rice "Pony" Night Flyer

Grayson Capps "Back to the Country" Rott & Roll

Brandi Carlile "Throw it All Away" Brandi Carlile

Will Quinlan & the Diviners "Hallowed Ground" Navasota

Bonepony "Poor Boy Blues" Stomp Revival

Robin & Linda Williams "Maybelle's Guitar and Monroe's Mandolin" Buena Vista

Magnolia Electric Co "Trouble in Mind" Sojourner Box Set

Joan Osborne "Hallelujah in the City" Little Wild One

Old Crow Medicine Show "Highway Halo" Tennessee Pusher

Danielle Talamini "Pack My Bags" Road Rises

Alison Krauss "Lose Again" Every Time You Say Goodbye

Dolorean "The Search" Violence in the Snowy Fields

Blue Mountain "Emily Smiles" Midnight in Mississippi

Carter Family "Waitin' on the Far Side Banks of Jordan" Apostle sndtk

Wovenhand "Cohawkin Road" Ten Stories

Verlon Thompson "Gimme a Ride to Heaven" (live) Live at the Ivey's

Chris Knight "Maria" Heart of Stone

Christian Kiefer w/Tom Brosseau "Martin Van Buren: Little Magician" Of Great and Mortal Men

Way back in 1990 or so, when there was still a TNN (and TNN meant "the Nashville Network"), there was apparently a short-lived program called American Music Shop. I know not because I saw it myself, but because the YouTube told me so.

On a whim, I looked up videos of Townes Van Zandt, and came across a nice version of "Pancho and Lefty", introduced by Nanci Griffiths and performed solo. Poking further, I came across a stirring rendition of Cheryl Wheeler's "Arrow" (a near-perfect song in my book), backed by Mark O'Connor, Harry Stinson and Jerry Douglas, and introduced by Chet Atkins. Then there was a sweet "Lost Again" with Alison Krauss and Union Station, which led me to conclude that I enjoy early, awkward Alison Krauss better than current, confident (whispery) Alison.

Worth looking into. Disproving those who believe the YouTube is solely for perusing shaky cell phone videos of preteens cavorting to "Barbie Girl" ...

Scott

Sunday Drive
traipsing thru the internets

Is the american-o-sphere ready for a happy Lucinda Williams? MusicRemedy features a short chat with the queen of melancholy, shedding light on what promises to be a somewhat lighter new album, Little Honey (due 10/14). The debut single, "Real Love" is already playing on KRFC's Morning Mix.


O Americana Where Art Thou? Because any genre which ceases to evolve becomes a dead genre, I enjoy poking around the fringes of americana in search of Life. While there, I've come across wonderful stuff like Portland's Horse Feathers, whose House With No Home is a beautiful, dark, melancholy success. The Obscure Sound blog (featuring lengthier original posts than most), profiles Justin Ringle et al. Reinforcing my hunch that quiet is in fact the new loud, and that the cello will soon replace the guitar in rock music (Cello Hero, anyone?).


Me: "Hey Madeleine, lookit all these great bands at next weekend's Monolith Festival at Red Rocks." Madeleine (15y.o. daughter): "None of my friends listen to music like that ... Hey Dad, there's a Beatles tribute band in Niwot today. Can we go?" Have I failed as a parent? Devotchka, Band of Horses, Avett Bros, Port O'Brien, Blitzen Trapper, Paper Bird ... Late summer at Red Rocks? If I were a festival-goin' sort ...

Tuesday will greet the dawn with new releases from Calexico, Damien Jurado, Horse Feathers, Okkervil River, and Live From the Artist's Den by Patty Griffin. Please respond appropriately.

... oh, and looking for something unexpected? Try The Road Rises, by Danielle Talamini. Self released, but much better than most of what the major labels are churning forth.

alright then,
Scott

Thursday Morning Mix: Playlist, Episode 9048

Sacred Shakers, "Travelin' Shoes" Sacred Shakers
Jayhawks, "All the Right Reasons" (live) Live From the Women's Club, Vol. 2
Donna Beasley, "Love My Way" Good Samaritan
Bottle Rockets, "Lawd, I'm Just a Country Boy" Songs of Sahm
Hayes Carll, "Beaumont" Trouble in Mind
Miss Leslie & Her Juke-Jointers, "Between the Whiskey and the Wine" Between the Whiskey and the Wine
Mark Erelli, "Not Alone" Delivered
Willy Mason, "Save Myself" If the Ocean Gets Rough
Giant Sand, "Without a Word" proVISIONS
Laurie Lewis, "Live Forever" (live) Live
Blue Mountain, "By Your Side" Midnight in Mississippi
Steve Earle, "Somewhere Out There" El Corazon
Johnny Irion, "Eyes Like a Levee" Ex Tempore
Jim Lauderdale, "Eternal" Hummingbirds
Carrie Rodriguez, "Mask of Moses" She Ain't Me
Feufollet, "Prends Courage" Cow Island Hop
Orpheum Bell, "Pretty As You" Pretty As You
Paper Bird, "Blue Sparks" Anything Nameless and Joymaking
Southern Culture on the Skids, "Smiley Yeah Yeah Yeah" Mojo Box
Will Hoge, "When I Can Afford to Lose" Draw the Curtains
Blue Mountain, "Myrna Lee" Omnibus
Matt Bauer, "Sheltering Dark" Island Moved in the Storm
Bruce Robison w/Kelly Willis, "Help Me Make it Through the Night" Pilgrim: Celebration of Kris Kristofferson
Old Crow Medicine Show, "Caroline" Tennessee Pusher
Peter Cooper, "Mission Door" Mission Door
Townes Van Zandt, "High, Low and In-Between" High, Low and In-Between


... so welcome to the new home of the Thursday Morning Mix / former Routes & Branches / stuff. I certainly feel less sheepish about directing folks to this site, basic as it is. Here I'll post Thursday playlists, as well as occasional 'news' and commentary (fair-n-balanced, of course). I've already posted the Sunday Drive, which will gather (re: pilfer) stories from various websources, and which I hope will be recurring (like a rash, or the guys who keep coming around asking me to donate to a wheelchair basketball game). Your comments, criticisms, suggestions, etc are invited.

until then,
Scott