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)

ROUTES & BRANCHES
January 21, 2012
Scott Foley

This week's strongest Colorado debut comes via John Statz, who falls gracefully in line with The Pines and Kelly Pardekooper in pegging Bo Ramsey to produce his Old Fashioned.  From a bit further southwest, we begin our exploration of the debut offering from California's Far West.  Likewise promising is the first glimpse into the forthcoming Lucero release.

Our Best Thing Ever for the week drops upon us from Up North, where Elliott BROOD finally get around to sending their great new effort to the US (it came out late September in Canada).  Always fond of mandolins and harmony, the trio strap on their electric guitars for their 4th CD.  Their own website states as much, "... the album showcases a more amped up Elliott BROOD that will put the knell to the 'death country' tag that described their early work. Now, the roof-raising rhythm stomp and mandolin collides with luscious harmonies, piano and, for the first time, electric guitar in a mix Casey admits is 'loud, heavy and rock 'n' roll'."  Days Into Years was reportedly inspired in part by a tour of World War I battlefields, specifically, "the invasion of Juno Beach by Canadian soldiers on June 6, 1944".  While it's far less dry than your typical Canadian history lesson, it's especially heartening to hear a band that ventures farther afield than songs about relational dysfunction ... 

Remember, please, to tune into my Thursday Morning Mix, from 10 until noon on KRFC.  While I haven't been posting my playlists, suffice to say that they tend to feature more of a stylistic range than R&B.  Last Thursday, f'rinstance, I featured new trax from the Shins, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Laura Gibson and Ben Kweller.  It's the perfect outlet for one with my limited musical attention span ...


*  Hayes Carll, "Beaumont"  Trouble In Mind  (Lost Hwy, 08)
*  HoneyHoney, "I Don't Mind"  Billy Jack  (Lost Hwy, 11)
*  Damn Quails, "Another Story"  Down the Hatch  (598, 11)
*  Whitehorse, "I'm On Fire"  Whitehorse  (Six Shooter, 11)
*  Have Gun Will Travel, "Time Machine"  Mergers & Acquisitions  (Suburban Home, 11)
*  John Statz, "Distance"  Old Fashioned  (Yer Bird, 12)
*  Nanci Griffith, "Southbound Train"  Flyer  (Elektra, 94)
^  Elliott BROOD, "Lindsay"  Days Into Years  (Paper Bag, 11)
*  Deep Dark Woods, "Back Alley Blues"  Place I Left Behind  (Sugar Hill, 11)
*  James McMurtry, "Cold Dog Soup"  This One's For Him  (Icehouse, 12)
*  Oakhurst, "Barrel"  Barrel  (Self, 12)
*  William Elliott Whitmore, "Old Devils"  Animals In the Dark  (Anti, 09)
*  Lucero, "Sometimes"  Women and Work  (ATO, 12)
*  Far West, "Bitter Drunk and Cold"  Far West  (Wooden Tapes, 11)
*  Boca Chica, "Do Right Woman"  Get Out Of Sin City  (Self, 11)
*  Chris Castle, "All Kinds Of Time"  Last Bird Home  (Dirtsandwich, 12)
*  Halden Wofford & the Hi-Beams, "Best Of All Possible Worlds"  Live @Hodi's  (Self, 12)
*  Lincoln Durham, "Love Letters"  Shovel vs the Howling Bones  (Rayburn, 12)
*  Chris Knight, "Rural Route"  Enough Rope  (Drifter's Church, 06)
*  Gretchen Peters, "Dark Angel"  Hello Cruel World  (Scarlet Letter, 12)
*  First Aid Kit, "Emmylou"  Lion's Roar  (Wichita, 12)
*  Kelly Pardekooper, "Mommy Was a Punk Rock Queen"  Yonder  (Leisure Time, 11)
*  Tin Horn Prayer, "Wretch"  Get Busy Dying  (Suburban Home, 10)
*  Darrell Scott, "It Must Be Sunday"  Long Ride Home  (Full Light, 12)
*  Sons Of Bill, "Santa Ana Winds"  Sirens  (Self, 12)
*  Orbo & the Longshots, "High Grass Dog"  Prairie Sun  (Blue Mood, 12)
*  Bottle Rockets, "Bar's On Fire"  Brand New Year  (New West, 99)

ROUTES & BRANCHES
January 14, 2012
Scott Foley

Some prime debuts this week from a couple Big Names.  The first peek at Justin Townes Earle's forthcoming album.  A look at Darrell Scott's fine Long Ride Home.  Even a stellar single from Virginia's Sons of Bill.  So what do I focus on this week?  Chris Castle.

Who?  While he's apparently been a Nashville writer since his teen years, and has self-released a couple lo-fi albums, Last Bird Home marks Castle's first widely-available CD.  I could focus on the fact that it was recorded at Levon Helm's Woodstock, NY farm, or that his unreal band includes Larry Campbell, Garth Hudson and Tommy Ramone (?!).  But Chris Castle's quiet songs speak eloquently for themselves.  His words bring to mind Slaid Cleaves, Mando Saenz or Rod Picott;  smart and original with a sure way with a turn of phrase.  All this, and he looks like an awkward 15 year old (he's actually 35). 

Incidentally, those rumors about me are true.  I'll be carrying a couple new hours in addition to my usual R&B.  From 10am-12 noon on Thursdays I'll be doing a Morning Mix of roots and indie musics.  Stream me live online at http://www.krfcfm.org


*  Jim White, "Infinite Mind"  Where It Hits You  (Yep Roc, 12)
*  David Eugene Edwards, "Wayfaring Stranger"  Searching For the Wrong Eyed Jesus  (Luaka, 05)
*  Delicate Cutters, "Be Sweet"  Some Creatures  (Skybucket, 11)
*  James Low Western Front, "Whiskey Farmer"  Whiskey Farmer  (Union Made, 12)
*  Halden Wofford & the Hi Beams, "ABC (live)"  Live At Hodi's  (Self, 12)
*  Joe Pug, "Nation Of Heat (live)"  Live At Lincoln Hall  (Self, 11)
*  Wood Brothers, "When I Was Young"  Smoke Ring Halo  (Self, 11)
*  Townes Van Zandt, "For the Sake Of a Song (live)"  Live At the Old Quarter  (Tomato, 04)
*  Longest Day Of the Year, "Radio Low"  Turn Into the Ground  (Mulewax, 12)
*  Blitzen Trapper, "Taking It Easy"  American Goldwing  (Sub Pop, 11)
*  Sons Of Bill, "Santa Ana Winds"  Sirens  (Self, 12)
*  Amelia White, "Skeleton Key"  Beautiful & Wild  (Self, 12)
*  Flatlanders, "Now It's Now Again"  Now Again  (New West, 02)
*  Slim Cessna's Auto Club, "United Longmont"  Rare Recordings Vol 2  (AltTentacles, 11)
*  Pines, "Rise Up and Be Lonely"  Dark So Gold  (Red House, 12)
*  Gretchen Peters, "Paradise Found"  Hello Cruel World  (Self, 12)
*  Snake Wagon, "You Had To Be There Talkin' Blues"  Have Fun With ...  (Self, 11)
*  Low Anthem w/Emmylou Harris, "To Ohio"  Smart Flesh  (Nonesuch, 11)
*  Jay Bennett, "Junior"  Replace You + 5  (Ryko, 06)
*  Oakhurst, "Hallelu"  Barrel  (Self, 12)
^  Chris Castle, "Both Ends Of a Gun"  Last Bird Home  (Dirtsandwich, 12)
*  Justin Townes Earle, "Nothings Gonna Change"  Nothing's Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now  (Bloodshot, 12)
*  Fred Eaglesmith, "Cemetery Road"  6 Volts  (Self, 11)
*  Mary Gauthier, "Camelot Motel"  Filth & Fire  (Signature Sounds, 02)
*  Darrell Scott, "Hopkinsville"  Long Ride Home  (Full Light, 12)
*  Kevin Gordon, "Gloryland"  Gloryland  (Self, 12)

ROUTES & BRANCHES
January 7, 2011
Scott Foley

We bring to a close our series of backward glances at the year that was with an Episode focusing on my favorite songs of 2011.  It's a much easier list for me to assemble than last week's albums list; either a song is worthy or it's not, whereas an album typically features a dozen or so cuts of varying appeal.  I enjoyed Israel Nash Gripka's Barn Doors record enough, but it didn't appear on last week's list, even though the song "Drown" tops this year's collection of favorite songs.  This, despite a curious video which depicts Gripka and co. tracking a yeti ...  Look it up.  For 2011, only 7 out of 20 of the CDs which spawned my favorite tunes were represented on my albums list. 

Other interesting factoids:  fully one-quarter of the artists below hail from Oregon, as opposed to one representative from Colorado.  I find this more interesting than significant, owing perhaps to the fact that my musical ears were raised in The Beaver State. 

Fortunately, nobody has developed a fool-proof formula that will predict which music will resonate with me from year to year.  Is there a commonality to be found among the yeti-riffic mandolin of Gripka's "Drown", the soul-stirring southern R&B of Alabama Shakes, the driving take-no-prisoners "punkabilly" of the Von Ehrics, and Lindi Ortega's sweet and sultry country-leaning americana?  Other than the fact that I exhausted my weekly allowance for hyphens in the previous sentence?  File it all under the heading, "The Very Best Of Americana, Alt.country and Roots Music" as far as I'm concerned, but I'm proud of the diversity in this list. 

Finally, my favorite lyric of the last 365 days stems from my second favorite song:  Unfazed by pain, unfazed by love, unfazed by rain that won't let up / Unfazed by debts I'll never pay, unfazed by blonde hair turning grey / Unfazed by dreams we left behind, unfazed by jokes there's no punch line / Unfazed by death she's my blushing bride, unfazed by living until I die ...  The bridge to a song that strikes me as one long sigh, a direct glance into the pleasures and pains of a middle-aged life.  All of a sudden, many of us are nearer to 50 than to 40, with so much to celebrate, a fair amount to regret, and more hope than anything else.  At the end of 2011, we're blessed by something as simple as music: 

We can dance all night if we fill up the juke / Fill up the juke, fill up the juke, fill up the juke ...


My Favorite Songs of 2011

1)  Israel Nash Gripka, "Drown"  Barn Doors & Concrete Floors  (Ing, 3/29)
2)  Dolorean, "Unfazed"  The Unfazed  (Partisan, 1/18)
3)  Kasey Anderson & the Honkies, "Exit Ghost"  Heart Of a Dog  (Red River, 2/15)
4)  Blitzen Trapper, "Love the Way You Walk Away"  American Goldwing  (Sub Pop, 9/13)
5)  Alabama Shakes, "You Ain't Alone"  Alabama Shakes EP  (Self, 9/13)
6)  Hayes Carll, "KMAG YOYO"  KMAG YOYO (& Other American Stories)  (Lost Hwy, 2/15)

7)  Buddy & Julie Miller, "God's Wing'ed Horse"  Majestic Silver Strings  (New West, 3/01)
8)  Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside, "Danger"  Dirty Radio  (Partisan, 5/23)
9)  Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, "Codeine"  Here We Rest  (Lightning Rod, 4/12)
10) Duke & the King, "Shaky"  Duke & the King  (Silva Oak, 8/16)
11) Von Ehrics, "Last Of the Working Slobs"  Two Foot Stomp  (Lucky Buck, 4/12)
12) Frank Turner, "Peggy Sang the Blues"  England Keep My Bones  (Epitaph, 6/03)
13) Lydia Loveless, "Can't Change Me"  Indestructible Machine  (Bloodshot, 9/13)
14) Lindi Ortega, "When All the Stars Align"  Little Red Boots  (Last Gang, 6/07)
15) Blind Pilot, "Keep You Right"  We Are the Tide  (Expunged, 9/13)
16) Graham Wilkinson, "Two Days Today"  Best Of Times  (Sleeveless, 8/23)

17) Slithering Beast, "Fool Out Of You"  Delicious  (Self, 6/22)
18) Patti Fiasco, "Nobody's Girl"  Patti Fiasco  (Self, 6/22)
19) Austin Lucas, "Darkness Out Of Me"  New Home In the Old World  (Last Chance, 4/01)
20) JD Malone & the Experts, "Just Like New"  Avalon  (Self, 7/12)