THURSDAY MORNING MIX

March 17, 2011

Scott Foley

On this Episode of TMM, Dixie Chick-emeritus Natalie Maines turns in a pleasantly successful take on one of my favorite tunes of all time. Natalia Zukerman goes where her father, Pinchas, has never been. And Diana Jones collaborates with Ketch Secor.

But this week's Best Ever comes via special delivery from Jason Isbell. His third solo CD, and second fronting the 400 Unit, is overflowing with quality tunes. Whereas his previous CD played to the loud and the soulful, Here We Rest marks an about-face to his more country-rooted sound (and with a voice like Isbell's, the dirty soul of the South isn't going anywhere soon). One of my favorites of 2011.

* Neko Case, "Loretta (live)" Tigers Have Spoken (Anti, 04)
* Natalie Maines, "God Only Knows" internet single (Self, 11)
* Malcolm Holcombe, "To Drink the Rain" To Drink the Rain (Music Road, 11)
* Paper Bird, "Pennies" Anything Nameless and Joymaking (Self, 08)
* Tejas Brothers, "Take This Pain From My Heart" Rich Man (Smith, 11)
* Cowboy Junkies, "See You Around" Demons (Razor & Tie, 11)
* Graham Wilkinson, "Two Days Today" Best of Times: TX Artists Performing the Music of Sara Hickman (Sleeveless, 11)
* Band of Heathens, "Polaroid" Top Hat Crown & the Clapmaster's Son (BoH, 11)
* Bonnie and the Clydes, "Make Up Your Mind" Bonnie and the Clydes (Self, 11)
* Slithering Beast, "Fool Out of You" Delicious (Self, 11)
* G Love, "Fixin' to Die" Fixin' to Die (Brushfire, 11)
* Gram Parsons, "Song For You" GP (Elektra, 73)
* Robyn Ludwick, "Out of These Blues" Out of These Blues (Late Show, 11)
* Boulder Acoustic Society, "How Many Times a Day" Champion of Disaster (Self, 10)
* Natalia Zukerman, "Gas Station Roses" Gas Station Roses (Weasel, 11)
^ Jason Isbell & 400 Unit, "Codeine" Here We Rest (Lightning Rod, 11)
* Caitlin Rose, "Learning to Ride" Own Side Now (Theory 8, 11)
* Son Volt, "Caryatid Easy" Straightaways (WB, 97)
* Trout Steak Revival, "Those Days" Trout Steak Revival (Self, 11)
* Diana Jones, "Don't Forget Me" High Atmosphere (Proper American, 11)
* Andy Friedman, "It's Time For Church" Laserbeams and Dreams (City Salvage, 11)
* Alela Diane, "To Begin" Wild Divine (Beggars Banquet, 11)
* Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion, "Target On Your Heart" Bright Examples (9th St Opus, 11)
* Dolorean, "Hard Working Dogs" The Unfazed (Fargo, 11)
* Phil Cook and His Feat, "Hungry Mother Blues" internet single (Self, 11)