A ROUTES & BRANCHES GUiDE to FEEDiNG YOUR MONSTER (October 10, 2024)

A ROUTES & BRANCHES GUiDE to FEEDiNG YOUR MONSTER

good news about good noise

October 10, 2024

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

Just a note of orientation to start things off. We'll be off the proverbial grid for a couple days going forward, so will likely not be publishing our usual Friday or Monday Episode. We'll be prioritizing our ROUTES-cast, which will hit newsstands on Sunday like always. And we'll be back with a full-length review on Tuesday, October 15. 

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If you've been keeping your hurricane scorecard up-to-date, you're aware of the recent devastation in parts of the American Southeast. A lot of artists have found ways of donating proceeds from concerts and albums to the recovery cause. We'd like to point out a new 136-sound collection available thru Bandcamp called Cardinals At the Window: A Benefit For Flood Relief In Western North Carolina. In addition to serving a higher purpose, the compilation features new stuff from folks like Lydia Loveless, Water Liars, MJ Lenderman and so very (very) many more. 

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Wild Pink's new Dulling the Horns has been among our favorite recent releases. Frontguy John Ross has appeared here and there by way of promoting the project. Check out Beats Per Minute for an interview, and Brooklyn Vegan for an interesting report on 10 Songs He's Listened To Over 100 Times. 

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World Cafe checks in with American Aquarium singer and songwriter BJ Barham for a couple songs and some meaningful chat about the band's Fear Of Standing Still. 

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Tim Heidecker's Slipping Away will be coming our way next Friday. In the event you were wondering about his feelings about concept albums, swing by Consequence Of Sound as he recommends ten worthy concept albums. 

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Acadia, the new album from guitarist Yasmin Williams, has received copious praise since its release last week. Case in point, the Guardian devotes some digital ink to a story about how she honed her craft by devoting valuable time to Guitar Hero. 

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We recently announced plans for a generous reissue package for Elvis Costello's classic King Of America record, produced by T Bone Burnett. Never one to rest on good enough, Costello has announced a new TV and recording project with Burnett beneath their Coward Brothers moniker. Please find out more at Variety. 

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We started sharing songs on our last ROUTES-cast from the Better Than Jail compilation, a benefit for criminal justice reform (Specifically thru Equal Justice USA and Free Hearts). The collection features artists covering iconic prison songs, including stuff from Steve Earle, Margo Price, Bonnie Raitt and more. Check out the piece published by Relix for more info, as well as links to the charities. 

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We don't link to enough People magazine articles. By way of rectifying that error, follow the link for a quick piece focusing on the newly released project from Hayes & the Heathens. 

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Holler Country debuts a new song from singer-songwriter Ron Pope, and announces plans for a February album release.

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Wrapping things up for this Episode, we'll mention a couple forthcoming records we've added to A Routes & Branches Guide To Feeding Your Monster, our neurotically-updated release calendar. Flatland Cavalry are celebrating their tenth anniversary with a retrospective. Flatland Forever will offer the hits, some rarities, and at least one new studio cut (Nov 8). Per our mention above, Elvis Costello and T Bone Burnett will be sharing a new project under their Coward Brothers alias. Coward Brothers will be available for your Thanksgiving listening via New West (Nov 21). John R Miller and Rounder Records are celebrating the one-year anniversary of Miller's Heat Comes Down with a new seven-inch vinyl. Wayward Wind will feature two new songs from the sessions (Rounder, Dec 13). The prolific Rose City Band will herald the New Year with another new LP. Thrill Jockey has announced the forthcoming Sol y Sombra for a January 24 release. Finally, also as mentioned above, Ron Pope has plans of his own for 2025. American Man American Music will drop February 14 on his own Brooklyn Basement label. 

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