ROUTES & BRANCHES

January 28, 2012

Scott Foley

One of those Episodes where there's so darn much new music that I don't quite fit in all on air before I'm pushed aside.  Matter of fact, there's a new cut from Lyle Lovett's forthcoming album that never made it.  Perhaps I'll air in on my Thursday Morning Mix (10-noon).

In the meanwhile, here come debuts from Trampled By Turtles, Nanci Griffith, Lucero and Ft Collins' own Arliss Nancy.  Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker and Jim James bring us the debut track from their pending Woody Guthrie tribute.  Most importantly, Delta Spirit's "California" launches as my favorite track for January, with its lovely distortion and indelible hook. 

Finally, it's a common thing for The Pines to sneak up and surprise me with their dark, subtle music.  "Oh, that's very nice," I'll say by way of response to my first listen to their past couple releases.  Only to be ambushed a couple listens later by the sounds of a band that deserves to transcend their genre and garner some indie love.  With producer credits already on the excellent new John Statz, the strong Kelly Pardekooper and now the Pines, Bo Ramsay is setting himself up as the young year's most worthy producer and musician.  Plus, I've already mentioned him twice this year ...

*  Eliza Gilkyson, "In My Dreams"  Hard Times In Babylon  (Red House, 00)
^  Pines, "Rise Up and Be Lonely"  Dark So Gold  (Red House, 12)
*  Lydia Loveless, "Crazy"  Indestructible Machine  (Bloodshot, 11)
*  Turn 4, "Dog House Rose"  What You Do About It  (Fuck All Y'All, 11)
*  Emmylou Harris & John Prine, "Magnolia Wind"  This One's For Him  (Icehouse, 12)
*  Orbo & the Longshots, "Highway Tears"  Prairie Sun  (Blue Mood, 12)
*  Blue Mountain, "Groove Me"  Midnight In Mississippi  (Broadmoor, 08)
*  Trampled By Turtles, "Alone"  Stars & Satellites  (Thirty Tigers, 12)
*  Katya Chorover, "Possession"  Big Big Love  (Self, 11)
*  Farrar Johnson Parker Yames, "Old LA"  New Multitudes  (Rounder, 12)
*  Far West, "Bitter Drunk and Cold"  Far West  (Wooden Tapes, 11)
*  Lucinda Williams, "Tryin' To Get To Heaven"  Chimes Of Freedom  (Amnesty Intl, 12)
*  Backyard Tire Fire, "Good To Be"  Good To Be  (Self, 09)
*  Delta Spirit, "California"  Delta Spirit  (Rounder, 12)
*  John Statz, "Old Old Fashioned"  Old Fashioned  (Yer Bird, 12)
*  Lincoln Durham, "Drifting Wood"  Shovel vs the Howling Bones  (Rayburn, 12)
*  Johnny Cash & the Avett Brothers, "One Too Many Mornings"  Chimes Of Freedom  (Amnesty, 12)
*  Laura Cantrell, "Poison In Your Heart"  Kitty Wells Dresses  (Diesel Only, 11)
*  Nanci Griffith, "Hell No (I'm Not Alright)"  Intersection  (Proper, 12)
*  James Low Western Front, "Whiskey Farmer"  Whiskey Farmer  (Union Made, 12)
*  Lucero, "Sometimes"  Women and Work  (ATO, 12)
*  Jon Dee Graham, "Jubilee"  Full  (Freedom, 06)
*  Arliss Nancy, "St Forget"  Simple Machines  (Suburban Home, 12)
*  Great Unknowns, "Lexington"  Homefront  (Self, 12)
*  Wilco, "Passenger Side"  iTunes Session  (iTunes, 12)
*  Tift Merritt, "Sweet Spot"  Sweet Spot EP  (Self, 12)
*  Elliott BROOD, "If I Get Old"  Days Into Years  (Paper Bag, 11)