Thursday, January 06, 2011


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)

1 comment:

Shotgun Majors said...

I was surprised that Nowhere Nights didn't make your top 20.

Looking forward to hearing his new one.

I've got Eugene artist Jeff Martin in the player right now, a bit folk, but awesome.