ROUTES & BRANCHES

August 27, 2011

Scott Foley

"Why new music," asked one R&B listener. "What's wrong with the old stuff?" One entire wall of my living room is stacked floor-to-ceiling with CDs, most of them from years passed. My perfect radio show with run at least three hours, mixing the old with the new. As I used to say back in Oregon, "What's new ... and what matters to you in the world of americana, alt.country and roots music." Regrettably, I have only two hours at my disposal, and tend to pack that time with the first half of that equation. One of my goals for R&B as we head into the future is to achieve a more satisfying balance between what's landed in the mail recently and what's presently lining my living room walls.

In the meantime, highlights from this Episode include an advance cut from Tom Russell, with Lucinda Williams and Calexico. Micky & the Motorcars prove that, despite their dumb name, they're more than just the little brother of Reckless Kelly. Most importantly, John Doe deserves to be considered alongside Dave Alvin for Best California Alt.country Songwriter.

* Dolorean, "The Search" Violence In the Snowy Fields (Yep Roc, 04)
* Von Ehrics, "Down the Road Tonight" Two Foot Stomp (Lucky Buck, 11)
* Wood Brothers, "Smoke Ring Halo" Smoke Ring Halo (Self, 11)
* Eilen Jewell, "Santa Fe" Queen of the Minor Key (Signature Sounds, 11)
^ John Doe, "Lucky Penny" Keeper (Yep Roc, 11)
* Ray Bonneville, "Mississippi" Bad Man's Blood (Red House, 11)
* Slim Cessna's Auto Club, "Pine Box" Always Say Please (Alt Tentacles, 00)
* V-Roys, "Sooner Or Later" Sooner Or Later (FAY, 11)
* Jolie Holland, "Gold and Yellow" Pint of Blood (Anti, 11)
* Devil Makes Three, "Do Wrong Right" Do Wrong Right (Milan, 09)
* Ry Cooder, "No Banker Left Behind" Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down (Nonesuch, 11)
* John Howie Jr, "Watch Me Fall" Leavin' Yesterday (Hands Up, 11)
* Arliss Nancy, "Feedback" Dance To Forget (Dead Pigeon, 09)
* JD Malone & the Experts, "Still Love You" Avalon (It's About Music, 11)
* Nikki Lane, "Gone Gone Gone" Gone Gone Gone (I Am Sound, 11)
* Tom Russell, "Hard Rain" Mesabi (Shout Factory, 11)
* Eric Lindell, "Sentimental Lover" West County Drifter (MC, 11)
* Fred Eaglesmith, "Sweet Corn" Tinderbox (Major Label, 08)
* Stephen Simmons, "C'mon World" Big Show (Locke Green, 11)
* Ana Egge, "Chestnut Tree" Bad Blood (Ammal, 11)
* Son Volt, "Joe Citizen Blues" Okemah & the Melody of Riot (Legacy, 05)
* Ollabelle, "Brotherly Love" Neon Blue Bird (Thirty Tigers, 11)
* Milk Carton Kids, "I Still Want a Little More" Prologue (Self, 11)
* Tom Waits, "Bad As Me" Bad As Me (Anti, 11)
* Jonell Mosser, "I Can Give You Everything" Fortunes Lost Fortunes Told (City Hall, 11)
* Gillian Welch, "Tennessee" Harrow & the Harvest (Acony, 11)
* Micky & the Motorcars, "Thousand Tears" Raise My Glass (Smith, 11)
* Ken Wil Morton, "Breathe" True Grit (Sojourn, 10)
* Michael Fracasso, "Ada OK" Saint Monday (Self, 11)