ROUTES & BRANCHES

featuring the very best of americana, alt.country and roots music

March 30, 2013

Scott Foley

I spend hours every week searching for an album like Kill County's Dust In Wire.  I scour dozens of websites, preview album after album, say my prayers at night and treat small animals with care.  All in hopes of tripping across the quiet, unassuming brilliance of this Nebraska collective's new release.  Boasting a moniker like Kill County, you might expect an ironic hayseed romp, or maybe punk-edged speedgrass (either of which would've been just fine, really).  What I've been luxuriating in all week is nuance, music that's tough as nails without raising a ruckus.  Just prior to turning my attention to Dust In Wire, I was previewing another much more hyped release (which shall remain unnamed until you find me in a weaker moment) by an artist who seemed to sweat like a son of a bitch to prove his mettle.  Rarely rising above a languid, unhurried pace, Kill County demonstrate all the genuine heart that this guy never glimpses during an entire album of profanity, darkness and anger.  I only come across one or two albums like Dust In Wire from year to year, but when I do they validate my commitment to this kind of music. 

See you at KRFC's 10th Annual Birthday Bash on Saturday. 

*  Sons of Fathers, "Burning Days"  Burning Days  (Self, 13)
*  Fox St All Stars, "Upstream"  Tough Talk  (Self, 13)  C
*  Shannon Whitworth, "You Are In Love"  High Tide  (Blue Mermaid, 13)  D
*  Son Volt, "Shine On"  Honky Tonk  (Rounder, 13)
*  Nick 13, "101"  Nick 13  (Sugar Hill, 11)
*  Patty Griffin, "Ohio"  American Kid  (New West, 13)  D
*  Trubelos, "All I Want To Do Is You"  Boomerang Girl  (Self, 13)  C/D
*  Mavericks, "Fall Apart"  In Time  (Valory, 13)
*  Michael Dean Damron, "Dirty Jeans"  Plea From a Ghost  (Suburban Home, 11)
*  Frontier Ruckus, "Eyelashes"  Eternity of Dimming  (Quite Scientific, 13)
*  John Fogerty w/Dawes, "Someday Never Comes"  Wrote a Song For Everyone  (Vanguard, 13)
*  Holly Williams, "Railroads"  Highway  (Georgiana, 13)
*  Townes Van Zandt, "Who Do You Love"  Sunshine Boy  (Omnivore, 13)
*  Beautiful Loser Society, "Long Lost Friend"  Desperate Promenade  (Self, 13)  C
*  Deadstring Brothers, "Lucille's Honky Tonk"  Cannery Row  (Bloodshot, 13)  D
*  Shelly Colvin, "Pocket Change"  Up the Hickory Down the Pine  (Self, 12)
*  Fifth on the Floor w/Rachel Brooke, "Wine"  Ashes & Angels  (Self, 13)
*  Shinyribs, "Sweeter Than the Scars"  Gulf Coast Museum  (Nine Mile, 13)
*  Jason Boland & the Stragglers, "Thunderbird Wine"  Somewhere In the Middle  (Smith, 04)
*  Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, "Chase the Feeling"  Old Yellow Moon  (Nonesuch, 13)
*  Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison, "Born to Roll"  Cheater's Game  (Premium, 13)
*  Davidson Hart Kingsbery, "Oh Darlin"  2 Horses  (Fin, 13)  D
^  Kill County, "Maggie"  Dust In Wire  (Self, 13)  D
*  Brandi Carlile & Emmylou Harris, "Take My Home Country Roads"  The Music Is You: Tribute to John Denver  (ATO, 13)
*  Charlie Parr, "Jimmy Bell"  Barnswallow  (Self, 13)
*  Robbie Fulks, "Just the Way It Goes"  Unsung Hero: Tribute to Ron Davies  (Little Chickadee, 13)
*  Casey James Prestwood, "Kansas City Star"  Jukebox Is Busted  (Self, 11)  C