THURSDAY MORNING MIX
June 25, 2009
Scott Foley

Nice morning for debuts, huh? New stuff to throw on the radio wall from Magnolia Electric Co., A. A. Bondy, Tift Merritt, Avett Bros. and more. Most fun of all is a piece dropped off at the station by Leslie and the Badgers during a Live @ Lunch stint a week or two ago. I've only tripped through the tracks at this point, but I might just be in love (musical love, of course).

* Ryan Adams, "Hardest Part" Jacksonville City Nights (Lost Highway, 05)
* Richard Buckner, "Her" Dents and Shells (Merge, 04)
* Ryan Bingham, "Country Roads" Roadhouse Sun (Lost Highway, 09)
* Levon Helm, "When I Go Away" Electric Dirt (Vanguard, 09)
* Leslie & the Badgers, "Winter Fugue" Roomful Of Smoke (self, 09)
* My Morning Jacket, "Librarian (live)" Celebracion de la Ciudad Natal (ATO, 09)
* BR5-49, "Crazy Arms" BR5-49 (Arista, 96)
* M Ward, "One Hundred Million Years" Hold Time (Merge, 09)
* Steve Earle, "Colorado Girl" Townes (New West, 09)
* A. A. Bondy, "When the Devil's Loose" When the Devil's Loose (Fat Possum, 09)
* Tift Merritt, "Do Something Good (live)" Buckingham Solo (Fantasy, 09)
* Resentments, "I Will Walk With You" Switcheroo (Freedom, 05)
* Chuck Prophet, "Don't It Make You Want To Go Home" Joe South Tribute Record (Jackpine, 05)
* Those Darlins, "Wild One" Those Darlins (Oh Wow Dang, 09)
* Reed Foehl, "Once An Ocean" Once An Ocean (Neverfoehl, 09)
* Avett Bros, "I and Love and You" I and Love and You (American, 09)
* Belleville Outfit, "Safe" Time To Stand (self, 09)
* Kelly Willis, "Stone's Throw Away" Translated From Love (Ryko, 07)
* Sarah Jarosz, "Shankill Butchers" Song Up In Her Head (Sugar Hill, 09)
* Wilco, "Sonny Feeling" Wilco (the album) (Nonesuch, 09)
* Todd Snider, "Bring 'Em Home" Excitement Plan (Yep Roc, 09)
* Jay Farrar & Kelly Willis, "Rex's Blues" Red Hot & Bothered (Reprise, 95)
* Son Volt, "Roll On" American Central Dust (Rounder, 09)
* Thunderado, "40 Days" Thunderado (self, 09)
* Magnolia Electric Co, "Josephine" Josephine (Secretly Canadian, 09)
* Bittersweets, "Adam" Life You Always Wanted (Virt, 06)
* Rhett Miller, "Another Girlfriend" Rhett Miller (Shout Factory, 09)

Scott

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

June 18, 2009
Scott Foley

Apparently, I'm in a "trashy" mood of late. Two of the more enjoyable albums I've heard lately sound like they're made by half-drunken americana pirates (pause a moment to picture what said americana pirate might look like ...). Those Darlins is a sister trio (at least they play sisters on record) who sound like they could provide the opening act for a roller derby. Deer Tick play gorgeously sloppy alt.country, with a lead singer that sounds like he just swallowed a bee. Together with a promising new Ha Ha Tonka tune, they supply enough grit to keep the show from heading off into over-earnest acoustic territory.


* Guy Clark, "Voila An American Dream" Platinum Collection (Sony, 08)
* Kirsty McGee, "Profit Song" Kansas Sessions (Hobopop, 08)
* Tom Gillam & Tractor Pull, "Stand By You (live)" Play Loud ... Dig Deep (Treehouse, 09)
* Amanda Shires, "Upon Hearing Violins" West Cross Timbers (self, 09)
* Red Stick Ramblers, "Morning Blues" My Suitcase Is Always Packed (Sugar Hill, 09)
* Lucinda Williams, "Little Angel, Little Brother" Sweet Old World (Elektra, 92)

* Shelly King & Subdudes, "Summer Wine" Welcome Home (Lemonade, 09)
* Daddy, "Wash & Fold" For a Second Time (Cedar Creek, 09)
* Lyle Lovett, "I'm a Soldier In the Army of the Lord" Smile (Curb, 97)
* Jason Isbell, "The Blue" Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit (Lightning, 09)
* Those Darlins, "Red Light Love" Those Darlins (Oh Wow Dang, 09)
* Charlie Robison, "Beautiful Day" Beautiful Day (Dualtone, 09)
* Jayhawks, "Stick In the Mud" Sound Of Lies (American, 97)
* Brian Ledford, "Truth and Love" Truth and Love (self, 09)
* Scott Miller, "She's Still Mine" For Crying Out Loud (FAY, 09)
* Son Volt, "Dynamite" American Central Dust (Rounder, 09)
* Diana Jones, "Better Times Will Come" Better Times Will Come (Proper, 09)
* Patterson Hood, "Pollyanna" Murdering Oscar (Ruth St, 09)
* Beat Farmers, "Happy Boy" Tales Of the New West (Rhino, 85)
* Waifs, "How Many Miles (live)" Live From the Union Of Soul (Compass, 09)
* Deer Tick, "Little White Lies" Born On Flag Day (Partison, 09)
* Gougers, "Everybody Knows" Long Day For the Weathervane (self, 07)
* Ha Ha Tonka, "Walking On the Devil's Backbone" Novel Sounds of the Nouveau South (Bloodshot, 09)
* Rodney Crowell, "Bluebird Wine" Heartworn Highway (Hacktone, 06)
* Conor Oberst & Mystic Valley Band, "I Got the Reason #2" Outer South (Merge, 09)
* Levon Helm, "Growin' Trade" Electric Dirt (Vanguard, 09)
* Slaid Cleaves, "Beautiful Thing" Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away (Music Road, 09)

~ Scott

THURSDAY MORNING MIX
June 11, 2009 Scott Foley

Approaching the midpoint of 2009, it's tempting for me to scratch out an unofficial list of my favorite albums of the year to date. A few mainstream americana celebs would most likely be worthy of recognition, including Patterson Hood, Son Volt, Slaid Cleaves, Neko Case and Steve Earle, whose Townes still surprises me with its simple beauty. In the "big step forward" category would be up-and-coming acts like The Believers, Amy Speace, Star Anna, Justin Townes Earle, Diana Jones, Deep Dark Woods, Jason Isbell, and Ryan Bingham. Finally, my favorites, the "out of nowhere" names, whose albums I couldn't have anticipated. These might include Amanda Shires, Andy Friedman, and Crosby Tyler. Locally, I'd feel pressed to give a strong nod to both Reed Foehl and Gregory Alan Isakov. ... well, and then there's the "not to mention" category of "other" stuff, which might include Samantha Crain, Elvis Costello, Felice Brothers, Fernando Viciconte, Dan Auerbach, William Elliott Whitmore

Of course, with another six months staring us down, it's hard to say where I'll come out when it's all said and done (especially with upcoming releases by the likes of Magnolia Electric Co and Avett Brothers pending promisingly). One thing's for certain, though, and that's the fact that my final 2009 list will probably bear little resemblance to the rambling, stream-of-unconsciousness list above ...

God help us all.


* Redbird, "You Are the Everything" Redbird (Signature Sounds, 05)
* Star Anna, "Through the Winter" The Only Thing That Matters (self, 09)
* Luke Doucet, "Day Rick Danko Died" Blood's Too Rich (6 Shooter, 08)
* Melissa McClelland, "When the Lights Went Off" Victoria Day (6 Shooter, 09)
* Among the Oak & Ash, "Angel Gabriel" Among the Oak & Ash (Verve, 09)
* Adam Carroll, "Porter Wagner" Old Town Rock and Roll (self, 08)
* Andy Friedman, "Idaho" Weary Things (City Salvage, 09)
* Rodney Crowell, "Telephone Road" Houston Kid (Sugar Hill, 01)
* Todd Snider, "Greencastle Blues" Excitement Plan (Yep Roc, 09)
* Old Crow Medicine Show, "Wagon Wheel" OCMS (Nettwerk, 04)
* Jeffrey Foucault, "Hello In There" Shoot the Moon Right Between the Eyes (Signature Sounds, 09)
* Jones St Boys, "Grand Canyon" Overcome (Smith St, 06)
* Michael Holland, "Please Please Please" Simple Truths and Pleasures ( self, 08)
* Elvis Costello, "Sulphur To Sugarcane" Secret Profane & Sugarcane (Hear, 09)
* Sarah Jarosz, "Long Journey" Song Up In Her Head (Sugar Hill, 09)
* Son Volt, "Down To the Wire" American Central Dust (Rounder, 09)
* Patterson Hood, "Range War" Murder Oscar (and other love songs) (Ruth St, 09)
* Mindy Smith, "Falling" One Moment More (Vanguard, 04)
* Daddy, "I Went To Heaven In a Dream" For a Second Time (Cedar Creek, 09)
* Ryan Bingham, "Tell My Mother I Miss Her So" Roadhouse Sun (Lost Highway, 09)
* Tish Hinojosa, "Road Songs and Bygones" Our Little Planet (Varese Sarabande, 09)
* Bearfoot, "Before I Go" Doors and Windows (Compass, 09)
* Michael Fracasso, "Naked Fool" Red Dog Blues (self, 07)
* King Wilkie, "Railroad Town" Wilkie Family Singers (Casa Nueva, 09)
* Bill Frisell w/Robin Holcombe, "End Of the World" Nashville (Nonesuch, 97)

Scott

THURSDAY MORNING MIX
June 4, 2009
Scott Foley

* Iron & Wine, "Such Great Heights" Around the Well (Sub Pop, 09)
* Neko Case w/Calexico, "Buckets Of Rain" Sweetheart (Hear, 05)
* Believers, "Mother Nature" Lucky You (Chinese Baby, 09)
* Eilen Jewell, "Nowhere In No Time" Sea Of Tears (Bloodshot, 09)
* Patterson Hood, "Granddaddy" Murdering Oscar (Ruth St, 09)
* Jay Bennett, "Puzzle Heart" Palace At 4am Pt 1 (Undertow, 02)
* Tim Easton, "7th Wheel" Porcupine (New West, 09)
* BettySoo, "Just Another Lover" Heat Sin Water Skin (self, 09)
* Blue Mountain, "Soul Sister (live)" Tonight It's Now Or Never (DCN, 02)
* John Doe & the Sadies, "Take These Chains From My Heart" Country Club (Yep Roc, 09)
* Reed Foehl, "Wolves" Once An Ocean (Neverfoehl, 09)
* Felice Brothers, "Cooperstown" Yonder Is the Clock (Team Love, 09)
* Robbie Fulks, "Never Could" Couples In Trouble (Boondoggle, 01)
* Lucero, "What Else Would You Have Me Be" Rebels Rogues & Sworn Brothers (Liberty & Lament, 06)
* Nanci Griffith, "Tequila After Midnight" Loving Kind (Rounder, 09)
* Drag the River, "Way With Women" Bad At Breaking Up (Suburban Home, 09)
* Elvis Costello, "Down Among the Wines and Spirits" Secret Profane & Sugarcane (Hear, 09)
* Scott Biram, "Still Drunk Still Crazy Still Blue" Something's Wrong / Lost Forever (Bloodshot, 09)
* Daddy, "Ballad Of Martin Luther King" For a Second Time (Cedar Creek, 09)
* Old 97s, "Making Love With You" Down To the Promised Land (Bloodshot, 00)
* Amanda Shires, "Upon Hearing Violins" West Cross Timbers (self, 09)
* Gregory Alan Isakov, "That Moon Song" This Empty Northern Hemisphere (self, 09)
* Wilco, "You Never Know" Wilco (the album) (Nonesuch, 09)
* Charlie Robison, "Beautiful Day" Beautiful Day (Dualtone, 09)
* Devil Makes Three, "Do Wrong Right" Do Wrong Right (Milan, 09)
* Dan Auerbach, "Heartbroken In Disrepair" Keep It Hid (Nonsuch, 09)
* Gina Villalobos, "Sun In My Eyes" Days On Their Side (Face West, 09)

Scott