A ROUTES & BRANCHES GUiDE to FEEDiNG YOUR MONSTER (January 11, 2025)

A ROUTES & BRANCHES GUiDE to FEEDiNG YOUR MONSTER

good news about good noise

January 11, 2025

Scott Foley, purveyor of dust

In all our enthusiasm to share all the year-end lists we could find, it looks like we might've overlooked one. In advance of his forthcoming February 21 record, Patterson Hood has taken to Facebook to post his own favorites list. 

  

--------------------------

Legends in their native Canada, but less appreciated her below, Blue Rodeo are the subjects of Lost Together, a career-spanning documentary. Follow the link for more information as well as a trailer featuring screaming Canadians.   

--------------------------

Congrats to all of you who predicted that the next Waterboys album would be a two-LP concept project in tribute to Dennis Hopper. Brooklyn Vegan has more info about the record, which features contributions from Steve Earle, Bruce Springsteen, Fiona Apple, and more. 

--------------------------

And speaking of unexpected juxtapositions, Texas fingerstyle guitarist Hayden Pedigo has apparently been recording with noise rock band Chat Pile. We have tentatively reserved a space on our turntable for this unlikely marriage. You can read more at Stereogum. 

--------------------------

Americana UK checks in with Nick Gusman & the Coyotes about their 2024 release, Lifting Heavy Things. 

--------------------------

Rolling Stone apparently caught wind of our premature declaration of the quarter-century, and has shared their guess at the 250 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century So Far. Since RS lives behind a paywall, we're forwarding you to Brooklyn Vegan's account, featuring the top twenty-five. In an unremarkable turn of events, absolutely none of these are on our own early draft. 

--------------------------

NPR's World Cafe hears the story of how Tucker Zimmerman came to collaborate with Big Thief. As of this posting, NPR is inexplicably referring to Buck Meek as "Buck Merl". We expect that will be repaired very soon. 

--------------------------

Visit guitar.com for a talk with Benjamin Booker about his January 24 release, Lower (which the songwriter originally wanted to name The Highest I've Ever Been Was At a Bob Dylan Concert, but decided against it for legal reasons. 

--------------------------

Twangville presents Them Coulee Boys with some questions surrounding the February release of No Fun in the Chrysalis. See also: The Cap Times, who ask fewer questions about the Wisconsin outfit's touring van. 

--------------------------

It's been a less quiet week at A Routes & Branches Guide to Feeding Your Monster, our prudently updated new release calendar. Evan Westfall from CAAMP is planning his first solo record. An all-instrumental project, Is This Our Exit drops on January 24  (Super Sport). While we await a new studio collection from Drayton Farley, please enjoy Live & Acoustic From Germany  (Hargrove, Jan 31). Youth Lagoon has announced his follow-up to 2024's Heaven is a Junkyard. Fat Possum will release Rarely Do I Dream on February 21. On the heels of a superb EP of Morphine covers, Will Stewart has prepared his next original full-length. February 28 will serve as the street date for Moon Winx  (Earth Libraries). Finally, Fust is readying their third collection. Expect Big Ugly on March 7, courtesy of the Dear Life label. 

--------------------------