ROUTES & BRANCHES

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

April 26, 2014

Scott Foley

"15 months ago today we lost my mother. shortly there after i decided i needed to make a record to honor her memory and to put myself back on the map. today, on my father's birthday, i release Lies & Wishes to the world.  it's been a long road to get to this moment, and i sorta can't believe this day has arrived. it's officially the beginning of the next chapter."  

That's what Edward David Anderson posted on his Facebook to commemorate the release date for his first solo record, Lies & Wishes, an album dedicated to his late mother.  The album opening title track was recorded in the wake of her passing, an emotional statement that sets the tone, "I'm gonna open up those floodgates / and let somebody know." 

It's an unexpected gesture from the burly, good natured guy who was just plain Ed Anderson when last we saw him as the frontman for the Illinois trio Backyard Tire Fire.  Five LPs along, BTF lay on the spectrum alongside the good time party anthemics of Bottle Rockets and the middle aged self-deprecating alt.country of Old 97s.  2010's Good To Be proved to be the band's final statement, produced by Los Lobos saxman Steve Berlin. 

Berlin returns to produce his friend's Lies & Wishes, building a perfect groove around Anderson's intensely personal tunes.  "my mama was a saint / and was my biggest fan / my daddy was a Seabee / back in Vietnam."  Unseen depths from an artist who until now was only rarely taken to diving so deep and baring so much.  There's a piece apologizing to Anderson's wife for "a thousand no's for every yes" followed close by a wise reflection on personal connection and mortality.  The record closes with a return to where it started, Anderson exhorting himself to, "roll on, roll on / find the next place to sing, sing, sing / roll on, roll on / son it's gonna set you free."  I'm sure it's not as fun to be on stage sans band, but perhaps it's a necessary step to making making this kind of music that eloquently speaks to the more profound levels of our life. 

This Episode features a strong dose of soul, from the Greyhounds to the Delines' country soul (haven't heard the entire record to date, but I'm saving a prominent place for this one atop my year end mantle).  If you appreciate what I'm brewing here every Saturday, please consider calling next Saturday, May 3 and showing that appreciation in a monetary manner during KRFC's Spring 2014 Membership Drive.  It would mean a great deal to me. 


*  Bucket Boys, "The Race Is On"  Deer Lodge - George Jones  (Deer Lodge, 13)
*  George Jones, "He Stopped Loving Her Today"  I Am  What I Am  (Epic, 80)
*  Nikki Lane, "Sleep With a Stranger"  All or Nothin'  (New West, 14)
*  Clairy Browne & the Bangin' Rackettes, "Walk of Shame"  Baby Caught the Bus  (Vanguard, 13)
*  Lonesome Shack, "Medicine"  More Primitive  (Alive Naturalsound, 14)  D
*  Greyhounds, "What's On Your Mind"  Accumulator  (Ardent, 14)  D
*  Jim & Jennie & the Pinetops, "Hammer Down"  Farewell Transmission  (Rock the Cause, 14)
*  Dragondeer, "Don't That Feel Good"  Don't That Feel Good  (Self, 14)  C
*  NQ Arbuckle, "Hospital"  The Future Happens Anyway  (Six Shooter, 14)
*  Old 97s, "Guadalajara"  Most Messed Up  (ATO, 14)
*  Jolie Holland, "Dark Days"  Wine Dark Sea  (Anti, 14)
*  Marah, "An Old Timer's Plaint"  Mountain Minstrelsy  (Dalley Farm, 14)
*  Chuck Ragan, "You and I Alone"  Till Midnight  (SideOneDummy, 14)
*  Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison, "Motor City Man"  Our Year  (Premium, 14)
*  Jack White, "Lazaretto"  Lazaretto  (Third Man, 14)
*  Dirt Daubers, "Fell In Love With a Girl"  Rockin' Legends Pay Tribute to Jack White  (Cleopatra, 14)
*  Lake Street Dive, "Rabid Animal"  Bad Self Portraits  (Signature Sounds, 14)
*  Black Prairie, "the 84"  Fortune  (Sugar Hill, 14)
*  Radney Foster, "Whose Heart You Wreck"  Everything I Should Have Said  (Devils River, 14)
*  Big Shoals, "Maybe Next Time"  Still Go On  (Self, 14)  D
*  Delines, "Colfax Avenue"  Colfax  (Self, 14)
*  Willie Watson, "Mexican Cowboy"  Folk Singer Vol 1  (Acony, 14)  D
*  Doug Paisley, "It's Not Too Late"  Strong Feelings  (No Quarter, 14)
^  Edward David Anderson, "Son of a Plumber"  Lies & Wishes  (Royal Potato, 14)  D
*  Hurray for the Riff Raff, "St Roch Blues"  Small Town Heroes  (ATO, 14)
*  Holmes Brothers, "Last Man Standing"  Brotherhood  (Alligator, 14)
*  Candi Staton, "I Ain't Easy To Love"  Life Happens  (MRI, 14)
*  Lee Bains III & Glory Fires, "Company Man"  Dereconstruction  (Sub Pop, 14)
*  Cory Branan, "Memphis Moon"  Farewell Transmission  (Rock the Cause, 14)