THURSDAY MORNING MIX
January 14, 2010
Scott Foley

Preparing for next week's Episode, showcasing my favorite americana, alt.country and roots music albums of the decade. Decided on a whim not to rank them, which seems like somewhat of a cop-out, but a weight lifted from my soul the moment I reached that decision, so there'll be no turning back.

This week brought us the debut of an excellent release by Amy Cook, produced by Alejandro Escovedo. AE's influence shows, with Cook sounding like alternately like Eliza Gilkyson, Samantha Crain, Maria McKee. Was pleasantly surprised, too, by the brand new Slimfit album (despite the fact that they sound more like a chocolate drink than an alt.country outfit). Very nice to hear from Joe Pug, too, with a more fleshed-out full-band groove. Pug will be at Hodi's on 2/4.

* Paul Burch, "Forever Yours" Blue Notes (Merge, 00)
* Catherine MacLellan, "Set This Heart On Fire" Water In the Ground (High Romance, 09)
* Bottle Rockets, "Give Me Room" Lean Forward (Bloodshot, 09)
* Two Dollar Pistols w/Tift Merritt, "If Only You Were Mine" Two Dollar Pistols w/Tift Merritt (Yep Roc, 99)
* Amy Cook, "Moonrise" Let the Light In (Self, 10)
* Sons of Bill, "So Much For the Blues" One Town Away (Gray Fox, 09)
* Chuck Ragan, "For Goodness Sake" Gold Country (Side One Dummy, 09)
* Allison Moorer, "Sorrow (Don't Come Around)" Crows (Ryko, 10)
* Split Lip Rayfield, "Just Like a Gillian Welch Song" Should Have Seen It Coming (Bloodshot, 04)
* Vetiver, "Hurry On Sundown" Thing Of the Past (Gnomonsong, 08)
* Somebody's Darling, "Chugchuggin'" Somebody's Darlingl (Shiner, 09)
* Blue Rodeo, "Arizona Dust" Things We Left Behind (Red Eye, 10)
* Dave Alvin, "Abilene" Blackjack David (Hightone, 98)
* Tom Gillam, "Real Thing" Had Enough (Smith, 09)
* Auld Lang Syne, "Where My Fortune Lies" Midnight Folly (Viper Bite, 09)
* Suzi Ragsdale, "Full Light" Best Regards/Less Of the Same (Stark Raven, 10)
* Ray Wylie Hubbard, "Down Home Country Blues" A Enlightenment B Endarkenment Hint There Is No C (Bordello, 10)
* Carolyn Mark w/NQ Arbuckle, "Downtime" Let's Just Stay Here (Mint, 09)
* Johnny Cash, "L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore" Cash Unearthed (American, 03)
* Texas Sapphires, "Nashville Moon" As He Wanders (Ike, 10)
* Danny Barnes, "Sleep" Pizza Box (ATO, 09)
* A. A. Bondy, "When the Devil's Loose" When the Devil's Loose (Fat Possum, 09)
* Slimfit, "Whisperin' Wind" The Path (Self, 10)
* Joe Pug, "Speak Plainly, Diana" Messenger (Lightning Rod, 10)
* Tim Easton, "Northbound" Porcupine (New West, 09)
* Freedy Johnston, "Don't Fall In Love With a Lonely Girl" Rain On the City (BarNone, 09)