THURSDAY MORNING MIX August 27, 2009 Scott Foley

Been awhile since I've had so many quality new releases to review. In addition to this week's debuts (TX Sheiks, Rosanne, Bap, Subdudes, Malcolm Holcombe, et al), I'm looking at several more for next week's Episode. Cross Canadian Ragweed, Madison Violet, Tom Russell, not to mention a "B-Sides" compilation that proves that Drive-By Truckers' trash is still better than most bands' treasure.

* Boulder Acoustic Society, "Until Then" Punchline (9Mile, 09)
* Naomi Sommers, "Hard To Love You" Gentle As the Sun (American Melody, 08)
* Ryan Adams, "When the Stars Go Blue" Gold (Lonesome Highway, 01)
* Angela Easterling, "A.P. Carter's Blues" Blacktop Road (De L'est, 09)
* Geoff Muldaur, "World Is Going Wrong" Texas Sheiks (Tradition & Moderne, 09)
* Porterdavis, "Smack You Back" Porterdavis (self, 09)
* Jayhawks, "Break My Mind" Music From the North Country (Sony, 09)
* Rosanne Cash, "Sea Of Heartbreak" The List (Manhattan, 09)
* Bap Kennedy, "Cold War Country Blues" Howl On (Lonely Street, 09)
* Patterson Hood, "Range War" Murdering Oscar (and other love songs) (Ruth St, 09)
* Will Hoge, "Even If It Breaks Your Heart" The Wreckage (Ryko, 09)
* Band Of Heathens, "Shine a Light" One Foot In the Ether (self, 09)
* Mac McAnally, "Down By the River" Down By the River (Show Dog, 09)
* Bonnie Bishop, "Think I Will" Things I Know (self, 09)
* Buddy & Julie Miller, "Ellis County" Written In Chalk (New West, 09)
* Nanci Griffith, "Tower Song" Poet: Tribute To Townes Van Zandt (TVZ, 09)
* Delbert McClinton, "Can't Nobody Say I Didn't Try" Acquired Taste (New West, 09)
* The Subdudes, "Standing Water" Flower Petals (429 Records, 09)
* Two Tons Of Steel, "Hold Over Me" Not That Lucky (Smith, 09)
* Old 97s, "Murder (or a Heart Attack)" Alive & Wired (New West, 05)
* Elliott BROOD, "Garden River" Mountain Meadows (Six Shooter, 09)
* Christabel & the Jons, "Losing Sleep" Custom Made For You (Roots & Rhizomes, 09)
* Ashley Cleveland, "You Got To Move" God Don't Never Change (E1, 09)
* Todd Snider, "Don't Tempt Me" The Excitement Plan (Yep Roc, 09)
* John Fogerty, "Back Home Again" Blue Ridge Rangers Ride Again (self, 09)
* Malcolm Holcombe, "For the Mission Baby" For the Mission Baby (Echo Mountain, 09)
* Mavis Staples w/Patty Griffin, "Waiting For My Child To Come Home" Oh Happy Day (EMI, 09)
* Yonder Mountain String Band, "Complicated" The Show (Frog Pad, 09)

~ Scott

THURSDAY MORNING MIX
August 20, 2009 Scott Foley

I might be risking whatever credibility I have here. I recently tripped upon a review of Earl Pickens & Family on the High Noon Saloon weblog, praising the collective's rerecording of U2's classic Joshua Tree album. I was understandably skeptical, but mailed away for it anyway.

In the ensuing weeks, I've enjoyed to different degrees albums by established acts like Bottle Rockets, Guy Clark, Paul Burch and others. But no single album has spent as much spin time on my CD player as the Earl Pickens Joshua Tree tribute. Why is that? Am I a proud or a sheepish fan, or maybe just a concerned onlooker.

Fact is, Pickens and his neighbors have assembled a covers record that accomplishes what few other tributes achieve. His versions of "Where the Streets Have No Name," "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and "Running To Stand Still" aren't simply twangy takes on the originals, hayseeded up for novelty value. While the arrangements are suitably laid-back (they recorded in Pickens' front room), the artist reimagines each of them. And, whereas something like Luther Wright & the Wrongs' Rebuild the Wall was crowded with sly winks and inside jokes, my impression is that Pickens' tongue is nowhere near his cheek for Joshua Tree.

* Peter Holsapple & Chris Stamey, "Early In the Morning" Here and Now (Bar None, 09)
* Bob Dylan, "Mississippi" Tell Tale Signs (Columbia, 09)
* Naomi Sommers, "Now He's Gone" Gentle As the Sun (Amerian Melody, 08)
* Houston Marchman, "I Can't Go Back" Long Gone (self, 09)
* James Luther Dickinson, "Louise" Dixie Fried (Atlantic, 72)
* Delbert McClinton, "Starting a Rumor" Acquired Taste (New West, 09)
* Jubal Lee Young, "Last Free Place In America" Last Free Place In America (Reconstruction, 09)
* C. C. Adcock, "Y'All'd Think She'd Be Good 2 Me" Lafayette Marquis (Yep Roc, 04)
* Rev. Horton Heat, "Drinkin' & Smokin' Cigarettes" Laughin' & Cryin' (Yep Roc, 09)
* Alejandro Escovedo, "Irene Wilde" Bourbonitis Blues (Bloodshot, 99)
* Two Tons Of Steel, "Cryin' Eyes" Not That Lucky (Smith, 09)
* Amanda Shires, "Unwanted Things" West Cross Timbers (self, 09)
* Amelia White, "Said It Like a King" Motorcycle Dream (self, 09)
* Mindy Smith, "What Went Wrong" Stupid Love (Vanguard, 09)
* Avett Bros, "Laundry Room" I and Love and You (American, 09)
* Steve Earle, "Telephone Road" El Corazon (Warner, 97)
* Band Of Heathens, "LA County Blues" One Foot In the Ether (self, 09)
* Sons Of Bill, "Broken Bottles" One Town Away (Grey Fox, 09)
* Alela Diane, "Dry Grass and Shadows" To Be Still (Rough Trade, 09)
* Richmond Fontaine, "You Can Move Back Here" We Used To Think the Freeway Sounded Like a River (El Cortez, 09)
* Bottle Rockets, "Nothin' But a Driver" Lean Forward (Bloodshot, 09)
* Earl Pickens & Family, "Running To Stand Still" Joshua Tree (self, 09)
* Son Volt, "Down To the Wire" American Central Dust (Rounder, 09)
* Jon Snodgrass w/Two Cow Garage, "Remember My Name" Visitor's Band (Suburban Home, 09)
* Tom Russell, "Santa Ana Wind" Blood and Candle Smoke (Shout, 09)
* Mark Stuart, "Lonestar, Lovestruck Blues" Bend In the Road (Texacali, 09)

~ Scott

THURSDAY MORNING MIX August 13, 2009 Scott Foley

* Sam Baker, "Angel Hair" Cotton (Music Road, 09)
* Chuck Prophet, "Summertime Thing" No Other Love (New West, 02)
* Jubal Lee Young, "I Refuse" Last Free Place In America (Reconstruction, 09)
* Those Darlins, "Mama's Heart" Those Darlins (Oh Wow Dang, 09)
* Dave Alvin, "Weight Of the World" Dave Alvin & the Guilty Women (Yep Roc, 09)
* Guy Clark, "Maybe I Can Paint Over That" Somedays the Song Writes You (Dualtone, 09)
* Jolie Holland, "Goodbye California" Escondida (Anti, 04)
< The Pines, "Heart & Bones" Tremolo (Red House, 09)
* Belleville Outfit, "Let Me Go" Time To Stand (self, 09)
* John Fogerty, "When Will I Be Loved" Blue Ridge Rangers Ride Again (Verve, 09)
* Sarah Borges & the Broken Singles, "False Eyelashes" Diamonds In the Dark (Sugar Hill, 07)
* Two Tons Of Steel, "Cryin' Eyes" Not That Lucky (Smith, 09)
* Ryan Bingham, "Tell My Mother I Miss Her So" Roadhouse Sun (Lost Highway, 09)
* Lucinda Williams, "Words" West (Lost Highway, 07)
* Monsters Of Folk, "Say Please" Monsters Of Folk (Artist First, 09)
* Mindy Smith, "What Went Wrong" Stupid Love (Vanguard, 09)
* The Derailers, "Bad Bad Girl" Guaranteed To Satisfy (Palo Duro, 08)
* Bottle Rockets, "Long Way" Lean Forward (Bloodshot, 09)
* Joe Henry, "Progress Of Love" Blood From Stars (Anti, 09)
* Paul Burch, "Waiting For My Ship" Still Your Man (Ramseur, 09)
* Legendary Shack Shakers, "Jipsy Valentine" Pandelirium (Yep Roc, 05)
* Blitzen Trapper, "Silver Moon" Black River Killer (Sub Pop, 09)
* Radney Foster, "Until It's Gone" Revival (Devil's River, 09)
* Cory Branan & Jon Snodgrass, "Corner" Cory Branan & Jon Snodgrass (self, 09)
* Houston Marchman, "Live Like You're Dyin'" Long Gone (self, 09)
* Katy Moffatt, "Midwester" Fewer Things (Zeppelin, 08)
* Hayes Carll, "Long Way Home" Little Rock (Hwy 87, 04)
* Bobby Bare Jr, "Sister Golden Hair" American Bread EP (self, 09)
* Joe Pug, "Lock the Door Christina" In the Meantime EP (self, 09)


Scott

THURSDAY MORNING MIX
August 6, 2009
Scott Foley

In the "Things Are Changing All the Time" department, the station which houses my endeavors every Thursday morning (KRFC) has begun logging programmers' playlists via Spinitron. If you click on the link, look to the list of participating stations to the left of your screen. Click on KRFC, and you'll be able to check out playlists for all the station's shows. Of course, I'll expect you to come right back here to my humble homepage when you're done ...

I am impressed this week by the new Red House released album by The Pines, Tremolo, as well as Amelia White's Motorcycle Dream. Amelia should recieve much more attention than she has for her well-crafted songs. I was also caught by how much I appreciated Houston Marchman's Long Gone CD, and his duet with Carolyn Wonderland in particular, "I Can't Go Back". The album offers a curious "radio friendly" edit of the song where they replace the reference to cocaine ...

* Pieta Brown w/Calexico, "This Land Is Your Land" internet single (One Little Indian, 07)
* Randy Weeks, "Transistor Radio" Sugarfinger (self, 08)
* Scott Miller & the Commonwealth, "Appalachian Refugee" For Crying Out Loud (FAY, 09)
* Houston Marchman, "I Can't Go Back" Long Gone (self, 09)
* The Sadies, w/Neko Case, "Home (live)" In Concert, Volume One (Yep Roc, 06)
* Paper Bird, "Lost Boys" A Sky Underground EP (self, 09)
* The Pines, "Shiny Shoes" Tremolo (Red House, 09)
* James McMurtry, "Saint Mary of the Woods" Saint Mary of the Woods (Sugar Hill, 02)
* Christabel and the Jons, "I Believe" Custom Made For You (Roots & Rhizomes, 09)
* Pine Hill Haints, "Never Cry" To Win Or To Lose (k, 09)
* Larry Jon Wilson, "Rocking With You" Larry Jon Wilson (Drag City, 09)
* Vetiver, "On the Other Side' Tight Knit (Sub Pop, 09)
* Bottle Rockets, "Hard Times" Lean Forward (Bloodshot, 09)
* Cory Chisel & the Wandering Sons, "Born Again" Cabin Ghosts (self, 09)
* Two Dollar Pistols, "She Lies All the Time" Here Tomorrow Gone Today (8th House, 07)
* Kieran Kane, "Anybody's Game" Somewhere Beyond the Roses (Compass, 09)
* Sam Baker, "Mennonite" Cotton (Music Road, 09)
* Marah, "Angels On a Passing Train" Angels Of Destruction (Yep Roc, 08)
* Paul Burch, "Saving All My Saturday Nights" Still Your Man (Ramsuer, 09)
* Amelia White, "Rusted Dreams" Motorcycle Dream (self, 09)
* Tom Russell, "Ash Wednesday" Anthology: Veteran's Day (Shout, 08)
* Peter Mulvey, "Shoulderbirds (You Know Me)" Letters From a Flying Machine (Signature Sounds, 09)
* Will Hoge, "Even If It Breaks Your Heart" The Wreckage (Ryko, 09)
* Chatham County Line, "Chip Of a Star" IV (Yep Roc, 08)
* Radney Foster, "Little Revival" Revival (Devil's River, 09)

Scott