THURSDAY MORNING MIX

May 26, 2011

Scott Foley

Have the Felice Brothers lost their mind (or at least their way)? After two to four albums (depending on which ones you count) of occasionally brilliant tunes recorded in cabins and chicken coops, their new Celebration Florida release firmly commits them to the studio. "Fire at the Pageant" adds a chorus of panicked schoolchildren. "Honda Civic" features a dance floor break. The first time I aired the lead single, "Ponzi" I did so with a caveat that the sound expressed on the new Felice Brothers song did not reflect the views ...

And yet, I couldn't stop listening to it. It started with the chorus of crickets behind the bare bones "Best I Ever Had". Then the gospel passion of "River Jordan". While there is no "Hey Hey Revolver" or "Wonderful Life" or even "Run Chicken Run", there is still the voice of Ian Felice. Despite the fact that almost anybody you play Felice Brothers for will mention Bob Dylan in the first 60 seconds (I don't see it ...), Ian is one of the most engaging vocalists in our kind of music.

So, Felice Brothers have lost nothing. By sticking with chicken songs, they risked typecasting. There's nothing wrong with messing with a good thing (just ask My Morning Jacket or Wilco), as long as those core passions are still driving the songs.


* Two Tons of Steel, "Vegas (live)" Live From Gruene Hall (Palo Duro, 06)
* Hayes Carll, "Bottle In My Hand" KMAG YOYO (& other american stories) (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Israel Nash Gripka, "Fool's Gold" Barn Doors & Concrete Floors (Self, 11)
* Haunted Windchimes, "Shadows & Pine (live)" Live At the Western Jubilee (Blank Tape, 11)
* Civil Wars, "Barton Hollow" Barton Hollow (Dualtone, 10)
* Jessica Lea Mayfield, "Nervous Lonely Night" Tell Me (Nonesuch, 11)
* Gillian Welch, "Tall Buildings (live)" Tribute to John Hartford Live From Mt Stage (Blue Plate, 01)
* Rod Picott, "410" Welding Burns (Welding Rod, 11)
* Those Darlins, "Screws Get Loose" Screws Get Loose (Oh Wow Dang, 11)
* Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside, "Poison Milk" Dirty Radio (Partisan, 11)
* Johnny Cash, "Personal Jesus" American IV: the Man Comes Around (American, 03)
* Slim Cessna's Auto Club, "A Smashing Indictment of Character" Unentitled (Alt Tentacles, 11)
* Avett Bros, "Die Die Die" Emotionalism (American, 07)
* Blackie & the Rodeo Kings, "Made of Love" Kings and Queens (File Under Music, 11)
* Exene Cervenka, "Turning With the World" Excitement of Maybe (Bloodshot, 11)
* Matraca Berg, "Racing the Angels" Dreaming Fields (Dualtone, 11)
* Roadside Graves, "Love Me More" We Can Take Care of Ourselves (Autumn Tone, 11)
* Amy Black, "Whiskey and Wine" One Time (Reuben, 11)
* Quiet American, "Black Jack Daisy" Quiet American Vol 2 (Self, 11)
* Robert Plant, "Harm's Swift Way" Band of Joy (Rounder, 10)
^ Felice Brothers, "Best I Ever Had" Celebration Florida (Fat Possum, 11)
* Jolie Holland, "Gold and Yellow" Pint of Blood (Anti, 11)
* Guy Clark, "Magdalene" Workbench Songs (Dualtone, 06)
* Ollabelle, "Be Your Woman" Neon Bird Blue (Self, 11)
* Decemberists, "January Hymn" King is Dead (Capitol, 11)
* Elliott BROOD, "Northern Air" Days Into Years (Self, 11)
* Low Anthem, "Apothecary Love" Smart Flesh (Nonesuch, 11)

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

May 19, 2011

Scott Foley

Around 7:30 on any given Thursday, I'll be found standing at the studio shelves pulling CDs for TMM. I'll invariably grab more than I have time for, and by 9:15 I'll be paring down my pile to the essentials. For weeks, Andy Friedman has made the cut. I'll pull his new CD, Laserbeams + Dreams, with all intentions to give the thing some airtime. With two exceptions, I never seem to get around to playing Friedman's strong CD. Today's Episode was taking the same turn, until I drew a line and made a commitment to play a great Friedman tune, "Going Home (Drifter's Blessing)". Recorded live to tape, the album rewards close listening, with revelatory turns of phrase and unexpected poetry.

This Episode also brings us a new live cut from Colorado band Haunted Windchimes (worst name ever), as well as a first glimpse into Elliott BROOD's forthcoming effort.

* Ray Charles + Johnny Cash, "Why Me Lord" Rare Genius (Concord, 10)
* Daniel Martin Moore, "Set Things Aright" Cool of the Day (Sub Pop, 11)
* Slithering Beast, "Fool Out of You" Delicious (Self, 11)
* Blackie + the Rodeo Kings, "If I Can't Have You" Kings + Queens (File Under Music, 11)
* Sons of Bill, "Broken Bottles" One Town Away (Gray Fox, 09)
* Greencards, "Make It Out West" Brick Album (Darling St, 11)
* Haunted Windchimes, "Shadows and Pine" Live at the Western Jubilee (Blank Tape, 11)
* Lindi Ortega, "I'm No Elvis Presley" Little Red Boots (Last Gang, 11)
* Levon Helm, "Evangeline" Ramble at the Ryman (Vanguard, 11)
* Zoe Muth + the Lost High Rollers, "Harvest Moon Blues" Starlight Hotel (Signature Sounds, 11)
* Only Sons, "Written Word" American Stranger (Sophomore Lounge, 11)
* Quiet American, "I Will Be the One" Quiet American Vol 2 (BAS, 11)
* Sarah Lee Guthrie + Johnny Irion, "Speed Of Light" Bright Examples (9th St, 11)
* Frazey Ford, "Lovers In a Dangerous Time" Obadiah (Nettwerk, 10)
* Rod Picott, "Black T Shirt" Welding Burns (Welding Rod, 11)
* Dead Rock West, "Two Wings" Bright Morning Stars (Red River, 11)
* Laura Cantrell, "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" Kitty Wells Dresses (Diesel Only, 11)
* Brian Wright, "Good Dr" House on Fire (Sugar Hill, 11)
* Elliott BROOD, "Northern Air" Days Into Years (Self, 11)
* Broken Spoke, "Vamps in the Valley" Before There Were Easy Riders (Self, 11)
* Uncle Tupelo, "Screen Door" No Depression (Legacy, 90)
* Matt the Electrician, "I Will Do the Breathing" Accidental Thief (Self, 11)
* Michael Fracasso, "While the Night is Young" Saint Monday (Self, 11)
* Elephant Revival, "Rhythm of the Road" Break in the Clouds (Ruff Shod, 10)
* Jason Isbell + 400 Unit, "Never Could Believe" Here We Rest (Lightning Rod, 11)
* Emmylou Harris, "Hard Bargain" Hard Bargain (Nonesuch, 11)
^ Andy Friedman, "Going Home (Drifter's Blessing)" Laserbeams + Dreams (City Salvage, 11)
* Robyn Ludwick, "Can't Go Back" Out of These Blues (Late Show, 11)

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

May 12, 2011

Scott Foley

Matt Sever has a moment on his new CD where he sings with a small chorus of voices, on the song "I Will Do the Breathing". A sweet, moving piece that begins, "I saw you cryin in the rearview mirror / some things are closer than they appear". Like Matt himself, the chorus is composed of criminally underappreciated artists such as Michael Fracasso, Bruce Hughes and Lee Barber. On banjo, trumpet or glockenspiel Matt the Electrician writes perfect little songs ~ like an americana music box.

Also on this Episode, we take an introductory dip into Rod Picott's fine new effort, and hear from Blackie + the Rodeo Kings with Mary Margaret O'Hara. More importantly, Richard Buckner is finally back!

* Greg Bragg, "Thirty Pieces of Silver" High Plains Storm (Q&B, 11)
* William Elliott Whitmore, "There's Hope For You" Animals in the Dark (Anti, 09)
* Emmylou Harris, "The Road" Hard Bargain (Nonesuch, 11)
* Booker T Jones, "Progress" Road From Memphis (Anti, 11)
* Lindi Ortega, "Little Lie" Little Red Boots (Last Gang, 11)
* Carrie Rodriguez + Ben Kyle, "Unwed Fathers" We Still Love Our Country (9th St, 10)
* Pieta Brown, "In My Mind I Was Talkin' To Loretta" Remember the Sun (1 Little Indian, 07)
* Greg Brown, "Remember the Sun" Freak Flag (Yep Roc, 11)
* Quiet American, "KC Jones" Quiet American Vol 2 (BAS, 11)
* David Mayfield, "I Just Might Pray" Parade (9th Grade, 11)
* Buddy Miller, "Sneaky Snake" I Love: Tom T Hall's Songs of Fox Hollow (Red Beet, 11)
* Sallie Ford + the Sound Outside, "Danger" Dirty Radio (Partisan, 11)
* Steve Earle, "God is God" I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive (New West, 11)
* Lawn Chair Kings, "Back Again" II (Self, 11)
* Drive-by Truckers, "Weakest Man" Go-Go Boots (ATO, 11)
^ Matt the Electrician, "Pioneer Bride" Accidental Thief (Self, 11)
* kd lang, "Sugar Buzz" Sing it Loud (Nonesuch, 11)
* Cody Canada + the Departed, "Ballad of Rosalie" This is Indian Land (Thirty Tigers, 11)
* Blackie + the Rodeo Kings, "Heart a Mine" Kings + Queens (File Under Music, 11)
* Richard Buckner, "Traitor" Our Blood (Merge, 11)
* Surplus Cheaper Hands, "Dark Passenger" It's Your Parade (Self, 11)
* Caitlin Rose, "Own Side" Own Side Now (Theory 8, 11)
* Rod Picott, "410" Welding Burns (Welding Rod, 11)
* Owen Temple, "Danger and Good Times" Mountain Home (El Paisano, 11)
* Amanda Shires, "When You Need a Train" Carrying Lightning (Self, 11)

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

May 5, 2011

Scott Foley

Lindi Ortega is from Canada, with one Mexican and one Irish parent. Navigating by her voice, she falls on a map somewhere between Kasey Chambers' Australia and Dolly Parton's American South. Ortega's full-length debut, Little Red Boots is a welcome addition to a week healthy with quality new contributions from women songwriters. The otherworldly voice of Sally Ford leaves an indelible impression from the spooky side of rockabilly/punk. And Emmylou Harris proves it's never too late to try a new direction, on an unexpectedly gritty album recorded with just two other musicians.

On a related note, my gratitude goes out to all the TMM listeners who contributed to help us meet our lofty goal for KRFC's Spring Membership Drive. With your help, we'll be able to continue on our mission to provide a refuge for excellent music in Northern Colorado.

* Michael Fracasso, "Ada, OK" Saint Monday (Self, 11)
* Finnders & Youngberg, "Give a Little Back" FY5 (Neighborly, 11)
* Greg Brown, "Someday House" Freak Flag (Yep Roc, 11)
* Todd Snider, "45 Miles (live)" Storyteller Live (Thirty Tigers, 11)
* Emmylou Harris, "Six White Cadillacs" Hard Bargain (Nonesuch, 11)
* Billy Joe Shaver, "Love is So Sweet" Earth Rolls On (New West, 01)
* Jayhawks, "Cotton Dress" Tomorrow the Green Grass (American, 11)
* Dave Alvin, "Run Conejo Run" Eleven Eleven (Yep Roc, 11)
* Crooked Fingers, "Solitary Man" Reservoir Songs (Merge, 02)
* Quiet American, "Talk is Cheap" Quiet American Vol 2 (Boulder Acoustic Society, 11)
* Blind Boys of Alabama, "Can You Give Me a Drink" Take the High Road (Saguaro Rd, 11)
* Shannon McNally, "Little Stream of Whiskey" Western Ballad (Sacred Sumac, 11)
* Zoe Muth & the Lost High Rollers, "If I Can't Trust You With a Quarter" Starlight Hotel (Signature Sounds, 11)
* Son Volt, "Down to the Wire" American Central Dust (Rounder, 09)
* Alela Diane, "Heartless Highway" Wild Divine (Beggars Banquet, 11)
* Cowboy Junkies, "Flirted With You All My Life" Demons (Razor & Tie, 11)
* Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, "Heart on a String" Here We Rest (Lightning Rod, 11)
* Alejandro Escovedo, "Always a Friend" Real Animal (Back Porch, 08)
* Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside, "Danger" Dirty Radio (Partisan, 11)
* Devotchka, "Exhaustible" 100 Lovers (Anti, 11)
^ Lindi Ortega, "I'm No Elvis Presley" Little Red Boots (Last Gang, 11)