ROUTES & BRANCHES
featuring the very best of americana, alt.country and roots music
March 8, 2014
Scott Foley

Interesting guy, Otis Taylor.  He revels in his outsider status, his music incorporating elements of
folk, blues, jazz and americana, though truly embraced by and embracing none.  What's more, Taylor proved to be a fascinating, soft spoken interview.  Sometimes I feel like I spend an entire interview reaching for traction or searching for a way out.  With Mr Taylor, I could've gone on all afternoon.  Stay tuned for John Moreland on Sat 3/15!

Glimpses into some quality forthcoming releases on this week's Episode, including a very satisfying taste of Lee Bains III's Sub Pop debut.  New West provided a look at what promise to be worthy records from Nikki Lane (produced by Dan Auerbach) and Rodney Crowell (reaching back to his career defining 1980's sound). 

Also on New West, North Mississippi Allstar Luther Dickinson makes his label proud.  The last couple years have seen Dickinson pairing with Mato Nanji and David Hidalgo on a dirty rockin' electric blues record, going solo with an understated collection of acoustic instrumentals, not to mention collaborations with Black Crowes, the Wandering, South Memphis String Band and, oh yeah, that NMAS outfit.  Maybe I'll also mention here that he's presently on tour with Marc Broussard, Anders Osborne and JJ Grey as the Southern Soul Assembly.  Rock 'n Roll Blues finds him trying on the singer-songwriter hat.  While Dickinson won't win any prizes as a lyricist, he definitely knows his way around a groove.  This is why many of my favorite NMAS pieces seem more like ideas for songs rather than complete statements.  He is joined in the studio by Amy LaVere and Sharde Thomas, both of whom he worked with in his Wandering project.  Like his legendary father, Jim Dickinson, Luther seems poised to try his hand on a bit of everything. 


*  Lydia Loveless, "They Don't Know"  Somewhere Else  (Bloodshot, 14)
*  Band of Heathens, "Shotgun"  Sunday Morning Record  (BoH, 13)
*  Otis Taylor, "Lost My Horse"  My World Is Gone  (Telarc, 13)  C
*  Otis Taylor, "Blue Rain In Africa"  My World Is Gone
*  Otis Taylor, "Huckleberry Blues"  My World Is Gone
^  Luther Dickinson, "Blood 'n Guts"  Rock 'n Roll Blues  (New West, 14)  D
*  Drive-by Truckers, "When It's Gone"  English Oceans  (ATO, 14)
*  Lone Justice, "Grapes of Wrath"  This Is Lone Justice  (Omnivore, 13)
*  Jerry Lee Lewis, "Before the Night is Over (live)"  Live At Third Man Records  (Third Man, 12)
*  Amelia White, "Ghetto"  Old Postcard  (White Wolf, 14)
*  Jimbo Mathus, "Casey Caught the Canonball"  Dark Night of the Soul  (Fat Possum, 14)
*  Carlene Carter, "Blackie's Gunman"  Carter Girl  (Rounder, 14)
*  Peter Case, "Travellin' Light"  Man With the Blue Postmodern ...  (Geffen, 89)
*  Matt Skinner Band, "I'll Keep Loving"  Native Stranger  (Tapadero, 13)  C
*  John Moreland, "Oh Julia"  In the Throes  (Last Chance, 13)
*  Lee Bains III & Glory Fires, "Company Man"  Dereconstructed  (Sub Pop, 14)  D
*  Hurray for the Riff Raff, "Crash On the Highway"  Small Town Heroes  (ATO, 14)
*  Parker Millsap, "Land of the Red Man"  Parker Millsap  (Okrahoma, 14)
*  Rodney Crowell, "Frankie Please"  Tarpaper Sky  (New West, 14)  D
*  Far West, "Words From a Letter"  Any Day Now  (Medina River, 14)
*  Emmylou Harris w/Low Anthem, "To Ohio"  Smart Flesh  (Nonesuch, 11)
*  Dex Romweber Duo, "So Sad About Us"  Image 13  (Bloodshot, 14)  D
*  Doug Paisley, "Radio Girl"  Strong Feelings  (No Quarter, 14)
*  Nikki Lane, "All or Nothin'"  All or Nothin'  (New West, 14)  D
*  Supersuckers, "Pushin' Through"  Get the Hell  (Acetate, 14)
*  Cahalen Morrison & Eli West, "Sinner Come Home"  I'll Swing My Hammer  (Self, 14)