THURSDAY MORNING MIX

January 27, 2011

Scott Foley

2011 is not a bad year so far for Jayhawks fans. Their seminal alt.country albums Hollywood Town Hall and Tomorrow the Green Grass have been reissued with new, largely unheard material. The line-up behind those recordings has taken to the road for a series of live shows. And best of all, the Jayhawks are writing and recording new material. While many critics declare the band became irrelevant following the departure of Mark Olson, I would argue that both Smile and Rainy Day Music (the band's swansong in 2003) featured some of the Jayhawks' best tunes.

Olson, on the other hand, retreated into the desert with Victoria Williams to make a series of sometimes uneven, always worthy records under variations on the Creekdippers moniker. Louris' single effort at a solo CD, 2008's Vagabonds demonstrated his strength as a tunesmith and a crafter of roots-pop gems. Later that same year, Louris and Olson reassembled to tour and record a collection of already-existing and brand new songs for Ready for the Flood.

One would hope that a Jayhawks reunion album might rekindle the chemistry between Olson's lyrical gifts and Louris' way with a tune. While we wait, here is a great piece from Pop Matters, offering a glimpse into the mind of Mark Olson.

* Lyle Lovett, "Old Friend" I Love Everybody (MCA, 94)
* Caitlin Rose, "Own Side" Own Side Now (Names, 10)
* Musketeer Gripweed, "River Callin" Dyin' Day (Self, 10)
* Lynn Miles, "Fearless Heart" Fall For Beauty (True North, 10)
* Wanda Jackson, "Dust on the Bible" Party Ain't Over (Nonesuch, 11)
* Drive-by Truckers, "Everybody Needs Love" Go-Go Boots (ATO, 11)
* Nanci Griffith, "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness" Other Voices Other Rooms (Elektra, 93)
* Kasey Anderson, "Exit Ghost" Heart of a Dog (Red River, 11)
* Halden Wofford & the Hi Beams, "Don't Care if I Do" Midnight Rodeo (Self, 06)
* Charlie Louvin, "I Wanna Die Young (at a Very Old Age)" Longest Train (Watermelon, 96)
* Wailin' Jennys, "Swing Low Sail High" Bright Morning Star (Red House, 11)
* Tony Furtado, "Can't Lie Down" Golden (Funzalo, 10)
* White Buffalo, "Love Song #2" Prepare for Black & Blue (Ruff Shod, 10)
* Ponderosa, "Old Gin Road" Moonlight Revival (New West, 10)
> Jayhawks, "Up Above My Head" Hollywood Town Hall (remastered) (American, 11)
* Bow Thayer, "Dawning" Bottom of the Sky (Twisted River, 10)
* Slim Cessna's Auto Club, "3 Bloodhounds 2 Shepherds 1 Fila Brasiliero" Unentitled (Alt Tentacles, 11)
* Joe Purdy, "Down to the Water" This American (Mudtown Crier, 10)
* Lori McKenna, "You Get a Love Song" Lorraine (UMPG Nashville, 11)
* AJ Roach, "Sears & Roebuck Suit" Revelation (Waterbug, 08)
* Phosphorescent, "Joe Tex These Taming Blues" Aw Come Aw Wry (Misra, 05)
* Dolorean, "The Unfazed" The Unfazed (Partisan, 11)
* Old 97s, "Every Night is Friday Night (Without You)" Grand Theatre Vol 1 (New West, 10)
* Malcolm Holcombe, "To Drink the Rain" To Drink the Rain (Music Road, 11)
* Decemberists, "All Arise" King is Dead (Capitol, 11)
* Abigail Washburn, "Divine Bell" City of Refuge (Rounder, 10)
* Patrick Sweany, "Leave Ohio" That Old Southern Drag (9 Mile, 11)

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

January 20, 2011

Scott Foley

So much good music! From the new, enhanced Jayhawks reissues to a very strong candidate for one of the year's top songs in Hayes Carll's "KMAG YOYO." A beautifully recorded set of spirituals from Daniel Martin Moore, and the return of americana's own Slingblade, Malcolm Holcombe. Driving my daughter to the bus stop this morning, I was revisiting a recording of my Favorite Songs broadcast for a couple weeks ago. Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band was playing their oddly moving "Redbuds" tune. "Dad, are you listening to Squidward?" asked Madeleine. To each their own.

For my part this week, there's nothing better than the long awaited return of Dolorean with their Unfazed album. The initial product was reportedly scrapped halfway through, and the recording begun anew for what would become this very satisfying album. I find something beautiful in their gauzy, languorous tunes, Al James' mumbly vocals and just-right instrumentation. Lazy pedal steel echoing off studio walls as though overheard from the next room over. "Unfazed by pain / Unfazed by love / Unfazed by rain / That won't let up / Unfazed by debts / I'll never pay / Unfazed by blond hair / Turning grey ..."

* Jayhawks, "Cotton Dress" Tomorrow the Green Grass (remastered) (American, 11)
* Bonnie Prince Billy, "Easy Does It" Lie Down in the Light (Drag City, 08)
* Carrie Rodriguez + Ben Kyle, "Your Lonely Heart" We Still Love Our Country (9th St Opus, 10)
* Yonder Mt String Band, "Rain Still Falls" The Show (Frog Pad, 09)
* Malcolm Holcombe, "Down in the Woods" To Drink the Rain (Music Road, 11)
* Dale Watson, "Hey Brown Bottle" Carryin' On (E1, 10)
* Hayes Carll, "KMAG YOYO" KMAG YOYO (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Over the Rhine, "The King Knows How" Long Surrender (Self, 11)
* Garth Hudson w/Blue Rodeo, "King Harvest" Canadian Celebration of the Band (Curve, 10)
* Rodney Crowell, "Telephone Road" Houston Kid (Sugar Hill, 01)
* Lawn Chair Kings, "Brand New Attitude" II (Self, 11)
* Lucinda Williams w/Elvis Costello, "Kiss Like Your Kiss" Blessed (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Only Sons, "Warning You" American Stranger (Sophomore Lounge, 11)
* Arliss Nancy, "Abacus" Truck Stop Roses (Backbone, 10)
* Patty Griffin, "One Big Love" Flaming Red (A&M, 98)
* Jesse Dayton, "One For the Dance Halls" One For the Dance Halls (Stag, 10)
* Daniel Martin Moore, "Dark Road" In the Cool of the Day (Sub Pop, 11)
* Devotchka, "100 Other Lovers" 100 Lovers (Anti, 11)
* Chris Brecht, "Don't Take it So Hard" Dead Flower Motel (Self, 11)
* Kasey Chambers, "Little Bird" Little Bird (Essence, 10)
> Dolorean, "Thinskinned" The Unfazed (Partisan, 11)
* Devil Makes Three, "For Good Again" Do Wrong Right (Milan, 09)
* North Mississippi Allstars, "New Orleans Walkin' Dead" Keys to the Kingdom (Songs of the South, 11)
* Gurf Morlix, "If I Could Only Fly" Blaze Foley's 113th Wet Dream (Rootball, 10)
* Lynn Miles, "Little Bird" Fall for Beauty (True North, 10)
* Lisa Morales, "Driving and Cryin" Beautiful Mistake (Zairo, 11)
* Travel by Sea, "Glimpse of Day" Two States and the Blindness That Follows (Autumn Tone, 10)

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

January 13, 2011

Scott Foley

I tripped across the music of Chris Brecht a couple years ago while rambling the internet. Upon contacting him, I discovered that he had actually once lived in the alley behind the radio station in Fort Collins. Now in Austin, Brecht's second album, Dead Flower Motel, takes a step towards LA psychedelic country rock, added to an already strong bed of alt.country. In all the best ways, Chris Brecht evokes the dusty poetics of Ryan Bingham, fleshed out with a full band and just the right amount of reverb.

Also on this Episode, we dive into Gurf Morlix's heartfelt tribute to Blaze Foley, and take our first bite of Lisa Morales' refreshingly rewarding Beautiful Mistake.

* Buddy Miller, "Midnight and Lonesome" Midnight and Lonesome (Hightone, 02)
* Civil Wars, "20 Years" Barton Hollow (Dualtone, 10)
* Jeff Finlin, "American Dream #109" Epinonymous (Bent Wheel, 04)
* Cadillac Sky, "Break My Heart Again" Letters in the Deep (Dualtone, 10)
* Jayhawks, "Blue From Now On (acoustic demo)" Tomorrow the Green Grass (American, 95)
* DB Rielly, "Don't Give Up On Me" Love Potions & Snake Oil (Shut Up and Play, 09)
* Ray Lamontagne & Secret Sisters, "You Can Bring Me Flowers (live)" Live Fall 2010 (Self, 10)
* Steve Earle, "Goodbye" Train a'Comin' (Winter Harvest, 95)
* Gurf Morlix, "Oh Darlin'" Blaze Foley's 113th Wet Dream (Rootball, 11)
^ Chris Brecht, "Not Where You Are" Dead Flower Motel (Chris Brecht, 11)
* Slim Cessna's Auto Club, "Angel" Buried Behind the Barn (Alt Tentacles, 10)
* Elvis Costello, "I Lost You" National Ransom (Hear, 10)
* Ryan Adams & the Cardinals, "Typecast" III/IV (Paxamericana, 10)
* Gregg Allman, "Please Accept My Love" Low Country Blues (Rounder, 11)
* Jason & the Scorchers, "Twang Town Blues" Halcyon Times (Courageous Chicken, 10)
* Lisa Morales, "I Am the Weakest Fool" Beautiful Mistake (Zairo, 11)
* Boulder Acoustic Society, "Where Have the Good Ones Gone" Champion of Disaster (BAS, 10)
* Tallest Man on Earth, "Tangle in This Trampled Wheat" Sometimes the Blues is Just a Passing Bird (Dead Oceans, 10)
* G Love, "Fixin' to Die" Fixin' to Die (G Love, 11)
* North Mississippi Allstars, "The Meeting" Keys to the Kingdom (Thirty Tigers, 11)
* Jason Isbell, "Chicago Promenade" Sirens of the Ditch (New West, 07)
* Jesse Dayton, "Back to Back" One for the Dance Halls (Stag, 10)
* Kasey Anderson, "My Blues My Love" Heart of a Dog (Red River, 11)
* Abigail Washburn, "Chains" City of Refuge (Rounder, 10)
* Gregory Alan Isakov, "Idaho" This Empty Northern Hemisphere (Self, 09)
* Decemberists, "Don't Carry It All" The King is Dead (Capitol, 11)

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

January 6, 2011

Scott Foley

Launching into 2011 with a pair of excellent alt.country releases. I must've received Kasey Anderson's Nowhere Nights in the nowhere-land of the post-holiday season. That's the only reason I can imagine why it didn't land in my favorites list for 2010. I'll make a vow here that Kasey's forthcoming CD with his band the Honkies won't be similarly overlooked. Harder than his last release, with more of a leaning towards the "alt" side of the equation, Heart of a Dog marks an excellent follow-up.

Tennessee band the Only Sons' 2009 CD, Steel Hearts, has been available online in a free download format. Their refreshing, classic alt.country sound caught my attention then, and their forthcoming CD, American Stranger more than fulfills the promise. Smooth pedal steel perfectly compliments the driving electric guitar and gruff spirit. Leader Kent Goolsby's recent solo outing, Wide Eyed Son can be downloaded for free as well. Now that's the way to spread the music love around!

I'm especially grateful for folks like Kasey Anderson and Only Sons, who make their music readily available in a time when locally-owned, independently operated records stores are all but extinct. For Kasey's part, placing an online order for his new release allows you an instant download as well. Only Sons' American Stranger is available for free streaming on their Bandcamp page. As someone who still makes part of a living purchasing music for one of those aforementioned indies, I'm not ready to declare an end to the era of the $15 CD (or the $20 CD in some cases ...). Nevertheless, it's nice to have options.

* Ronnie Fauss, "It's a Long Long Way" Mulligan (FTG, 10)
* Mike Stinson, "Square With the World" Jukebox in Your Heart (Stag, 10)
* Jesse Dayton, "One For the Dance Halls" One For the Dance Halls (Stag, 10)
* Bow Thayer & Perfect Trainwreck, "Suicide Kings" Bottom of the Sky (Twisted River, 10)
* Dakota Blonde, "Early" Til They Fade (Wind Over Dakota, 97)
* Over the Rhine, "Undamned" Long Surrender (Over the Rhine, 11)
* Chris Knight, "Hello Old Man" Jealous Kind (Drifter's Church, 03)
* Adam Klein, "Wayward Son" Wounded Electric Youth (Cowboy Angel, 10)
* Carrie Rodriguez & Ben Kyle, "Fire Alarm" We Still Love Our Country (Ninth St Opus, 10)
* Devotchka, "Contrabanda" 100 Lovers (Anti, 11)
* Gurf Morlix, "Clay Pigeons" Blaze Foley's 113th Wet Dream (Rootball, 11)
* Boris McCutcheon & Saltlick, "California" Wheel of Life (Frogville, 10)
* Railroad Earth, "Long Walk Home" Railroad Earth (One Haven, 10)
* William Elliott Whitmore, "Lord Only Knows" Hymns for the Hopeless (Southern, 03)
* Caitlin Rose, "Sinful Wishing Well" Own Side Now (Names, 10)
* Gregg Allman, "Floating Bridge" Low Country Blues (Rounder, 11)
* Leftover Salmon w/Lucinda Williams, "Lines Around Your Eyes" Nashville Sessions (Hollywood, 99)
^ Only Sons, "Cutting Corners" American Stranger (Sophomore Lounge, 11)
* Lynn Miles, "Fearless Heart" Fall For Beauty (True North, 10)
* Corinne West & Kelly Joe Phelps, "Horseback in My Dreams" Magnetic Skyline (Tin Angel, 10)
* Kasey Anderson & the Honkies, "Exit Ghost" Heart of a Dog (Red River, 11)
* Drive-by Truckers, "Used to Be a Cop" Go-Go Boots (ATO, 11)
* Tony Furtado, "Golden (Broken)" Golden (Funzalo, 10)
* Elephant Revival, "Rhythm of the Road" Break in the Clouds (Ruff Shod, 10)
* Southern Culture on the Skids, "My Neighbor Burns Trash" Kudzu Ranch (Kudzu, 10)
* Old 97s, "Please Hold On While the Train is Moving" Grand Theater Vol 1 (New West, 10)