Routes and Branches

2012-02-12T16:14:00.000-07:00

ROUTES & BRANCHES
February 11, 2012
Scott Foley

I'd say it was some of the very best in-studio music I've hosted in my radio career. Greensky Bluegrass visited the R&B studios for this Episode, played three tremendous tunes, and left me impressed in their wake. The one-two punch of "Tryin' To Catch Me a Jesus" and "Demons" proved that Greensky Bluegrass is becoming a musical force to be considered. The guys apparently harbor quite a fanbase, judging by the fact that their R&B session drew the second highest number of online listeners in KRFC's history. Hope a couple of them stayed around for the rest of the program ...

Speaking of which, Rounder has bestowed upon me the full CD for Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker and Jim James' new New Multitudes collection. Call it Monsters of Folk II, or Monsters of Alt.country, with the four parties being invited by the estate of Woody Guthrie to visit the unpublished song archives a'la Wilco and Billy Bragg. On publicity materials, the four reported how quickly and naturally songs presented themselves in light of the unfinished lyrics. The resulting sound is quite different than what was heard on the Mermaid Avenue albums, and time will tell if their impact is as lasting. I will say that Farrar, Johnson, Parker and James' voices blend well, and the album is much more cohesive than I might have imagined, given the stature of the participants. I'm sure Mr Guthrie had a very good reason to choose not to release the song "VD City" prior to his passing.

* Greensky Bluegrass, "Trying To Catch Me a Jesus" Live in-studio
* Greensky Bluegrass, "Demons" Live in-studio
* Greensky Bluegrass, "Kerosene" Live in-studio
* Rhett Miller, "My Valentine" Believer (Verve, 06)
^ Farrar Johnson Parker Yames, "VD City" New Multitudes (Rounder, 12)
* Lizzie Huffman, "Next Time Around" Pretty Old Soul (Suburban Home, 11)
* Pert Near Sandstone, "20 Cups Of Coffee" Paradise Hop (Self, 11)
* Jason Isbell, "Brand New Kind Of Actress" Sirens Of the Ditch (New West, 07)
* Audra Mae, "Ne'er Do Wells" Audra Mae & the Almighty Sound (SideOneDummy, 12)
* Longest Day Of the Year, "Change Our Ways" Turn Into the Ground (Mulewax, 12)
* Father John Misty, "I Would Love You" Fear Fun (Sub Pop, 12)
* Deep Dark Woods, "Place I Left Behind" Place I Left Behind (Sugar Hill, 11)
* Chuck Prophet, "I Felt Like Jesus" Temple Beautiful (Yep Roc, 12)
* Sarah Borges, "False Eyelashes" Diamonds In the Dark (Sugar Hill, 07)
* Darrell Scott, "Pay Lake" Long Ride Home (Full Light, 12)
* 7Horse, "Low Fuel Drug Run" Let the 7Horse Run (Self, 12)
* Patterson Hood, et al. "After It's Gone" internet single (Protect Downtown Athens, 12)
* Broken Everlys, "Blind Twenty Three" Stoned In Juarez (TheivingMagpie, 10)
* Chuck Mead, "Wabash Cannonball" Back At the Quonset Hut (Ramseur, 12)
* Sam Lewis, "Southern Greek Tragedy" Sam Lewis (Self, 12)
* Neko Case, "Furnace Room Lullaby" Furnace Room Lullaby (Bloodshot, 00)
* Kelly Pardekooper, "Where I Come From" Yonder (Leisure Time, 11)
* Ken Will Morton, "Strangers" Contenders (Ghostmeat, 11)

2012-02-07T11:38:00.001-07:00

ROUTES & BRANCHES
February 4, 2012
Scott Foley

Great to see Patterson Hood and friends supporting an effort to keep downtown Athens, GA independent. On his new single, "After It's Gone" the Drive-by Trucker collaborates with members of Widespread Panic, REM's Mike Mills, Lera Lynn, Futurebirds and more on a track that actually stands as one of his better recent cuts. Go here to stream the video and to play Who's Who. And to download the song.

File Dr Dog's fine new release with other rootsy indie stuff from Blitzen Trapper, Dawes, Delta Spirit, Megafaun, et al. Like a slightly more sober Deer Tick, perhaps? With prominent barrelhouse piano, fuzzy guitars and a slightly psychedelic sensibility, you might also compare Be the Void to more recent releases by Marah. Like several of these other bands, you likely won't trip across Dr Dog on many other programs of our type. Consider yourself lucky!

Finally, working hard to arrange a last minute in-studio set with Greensky Bluegrass for this Saturday's Episode of R&B. If the gods will it, you'll hear some chat and some live cuts at the top of the 4:00 hour.

* Honeycutters, "On My Mind" Irene (Buttons Down, 09)
* Radney Foster, "LA Freeway" This One's For Him (Icehouse, 12)
* Kevin Gordon, "Don't Stop Me This Time" Gloryland (Self, 12)
* Fred Eaglesmith, "Dangerous" 6 Volts (Self, 11)
* Patterson Hood, et al. "After It's Gone" internet single (Protect Downtown Athens, 12)
* Katya Chorover, "Big Big Love" Big Big Love (Cat & the Moon, 11)
* Greensky Bluegrass, "Cold Feet" Handguns (Big Blue Zoo, 11)
* Lyle Lovett, "Isn't That So" Release Me (Lost Hwy, 12)
* Shinyribs, "Shores Of Galilee" Well After Awhile (9 Mile, 10)
^ Dr Dog, "Lonesome" Be the Void (Anti, 12)
* Orbo & the Longshots, "High Grass Dog" Prairie Sun (Blue Mood, 12)
* Arliss Nancy, "St Forget" Simple Machines (Suburban Home, 12)
* Amelia White, "St Christopher" Beautiful & Wild (Self, 12)
* Chris Castle, "Both Ends Of a Gun" Last Bird Home (Dirtsandwich, 12)
* Steve Earle, "One More Cup Of Coffee" Chimes Of Freedom (Amnesty, 12)
* Great Unknowns, "I Wish I Was the Girl I Was" Homefront (Self, 12)
* Two Tons Of Steel, "Cryin' Eyes" Not That Lucky (Smith, 09)
* Jeff Black, "Plow Through the Mystic" Plow Through the Mystic (Lotos Nile, 11)
* John Statz, "Honest" Old Fashioned (Yer Bird, 12)
* Tift Merritt, "Sweet Spot" Sweet Spot EP (Self, 12)
* Elliott BROOD, "Lindsay" Days Into Years (Paper Bag, 11)
* Split Lip Rayfield, "Rig Or Cross" I'll Be Around (Self, 08)
* Lincoln Durham, "Love Letters" Shovel vs the Howling Bones (Rayburn, 12)
* Far West, "Town Called Lonesome" Far West (Wooden Tapes, 11)
* Kentucky Parlor Pickers, "Rosalie" Barn Burner (Self, 11)

2012-01-30T09:40:00.000-07:00

ROUTES & BRANCHES

January 28, 2012

Scott Foley

One of those Episodes where there's so darn much new music that I don't quite fit in all on air before I'm pushed aside. Matter of fact, there's a new cut from Lyle Lovett's forthcoming album that never made it. Perhaps I'll air in on my Thursday Morning Mix (10-noon).

In the meanwhile, here come debuts from Trampled By Turtles, Nanci Griffith, Lucero and Ft Collins' own Arliss Nancy. Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker and Jim James bring us the debut track from their pending Woody Guthrie tribute. Most importantly, Delta Spirit's "California" launches as my favorite track for January, with its lovely distortion and indelible hook.

Finally, it's a common thing for The Pines to sneak up and surprise me with their dark, subtle music. "Oh, that's very nice," I'll say by way of response to my first listen to their past couple releases. Only to be ambushed a couple listens later by the sounds of a band that deserves to transcend their genre and garner some indie love. With producer credits already on the excellent new John Statz, the strong Kelly Pardekooper and now the Pines, Bo Ramsay is setting himself up as the young year's most worthy producer and musician. Plus, I've already mentioned him twice this year ...

* Eliza Gilkyson, "In My Dreams" Hard Times In Babylon (Red House, 00)
^ Pines, "Rise Up and Be Lonely" Dark So Gold (Red House, 12)
* Lydia Loveless, "Crazy" Indestructible Machine (Bloodshot, 11)
* Turn 4, "Dog House Rose" What You Do About It (Fuck All Y'All, 11)
* Emmylou Harris & John Prine, "Magnolia Wind" This One's For Him (Icehouse, 12)
* Orbo & the Longshots, "Highway Tears" Prairie Sun (Blue Mood, 12)
* Blue Mountain, "Groove Me" Midnight In Mississippi (Broadmoor, 08)
* Trampled By Turtles, "Alone" Stars & Satellites (Thirty Tigers, 12)
* Katya Chorover, "Possession" Big Big Love (Self, 11)
* Farrar Johnson Parker Yames, "Old LA" New Multitudes (Rounder, 12)
* Far West, "Bitter Drunk and Cold" Far West (Wooden Tapes, 11)
* Lucinda Williams, "Tryin' To Get To Heaven" Chimes Of Freedom (Amnesty Intl, 12)
* Backyard Tire Fire, "Good To Be" Good To Be (Self, 09)
* Delta Spirit, "California" Delta Spirit (Rounder, 12)
* John Statz, "Old Old Fashioned" Old Fashioned (Yer Bird, 12)
* Lincoln Durham, "Drifting Wood" Shovel vs the Howling Bones (Rayburn, 12)
* Johnny Cash & the Avett Brothers, "One Too Many Mornings" Chimes Of Freedom (Amnesty, 12)
* Laura Cantrell, "Poison In Your Heart" Kitty Wells Dresses (Diesel Only, 11)
* Nanci Griffith, "Hell No (I'm Not Alright)" Intersection (Proper, 12)
* James Low Western Front, "Whiskey Farmer" Whiskey Farmer (Union Made, 12)
* Lucero, "Sometimes" Women and Work (ATO, 12)
* Jon Dee Graham, "Jubilee" Full (Freedom, 06)
* Arliss Nancy, "St Forget" Simple Machines (Suburban Home, 12)
* Great Unknowns, "Lexington" Homefront (Self, 12)
* Wilco, "Passenger Side" iTunes Session (iTunes, 12)
* Tift Merritt, "Sweet Spot" Sweet Spot EP (Self, 12)
* Elliott BROOD, "If I Get Old" Days Into Years (Paper Bag, 11)

2012-01-23T12:16:00.001-07:00

ROUTES & BRANCHES
January 21, 2012
Scott Foley

This week's strongest Colorado debut comes via John Statz, who falls gracefully in line with The Pines and Kelly Pardekooper in pegging Bo Ramsey to produce his Old Fashioned. From a bit further southwest, we begin our exploration of the debut offering from California's Far West. Likewise promising is the first glimpse into the forthcoming Lucero release.

Our Best Thing Ever for the week drops upon us from Up North, where Elliott BROOD finally get around to sending their great new effort to the US (it came out late September in Canada). Always fond of mandolins and harmony, the trio strap on their electric guitars for their 4th CD. Their own website states as much, "... the album showcases a more amped up Elliott BROOD that will put the knell to the 'death country' tag that described their early work. Now, the roof-raising rhythm stomp and mandolin collides with luscious harmonies, piano and, for the first time, electric guitar in a mix Casey admits is 'loud, heavy and rock 'n' roll'." Days Into Years was reportedly inspired in part by a tour of World War I battlefields, specifically, "the invasion of Juno Beach by Canadian soldiers on June 6, 1944". While it's far less dry than your typical Canadian history lesson, it's especially heartening to hear a band that ventures farther afield than songs about relational dysfunction ...

Remember, please, to tune into my Thursday Morning Mix, from 10 until noon on KRFC. While I haven't been posting my playlists, suffice to say that they tend to feature more of a stylistic range than R&B. Last Thursday, f'rinstance, I featured new trax from the Shins, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Laura Gibson and Ben Kweller. It's the perfect outlet for one with my limited musical attention span ...

* Hayes Carll, "Beaumont" Trouble In Mind (Lost Hwy, 08)
* HoneyHoney, "I Don't Mind" Billy Jack (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Damn Quails, "Another Story" Down the Hatch (598, 11)
* Whitehorse, "I'm On Fire" Whitehorse (Six Shooter, 11)
* Have Gun Will Travel, "Time Machine" Mergers & Acquisitions (Suburban Home, 11)
* John Statz, "Distance" Old Fashioned (Yer Bird, 12)
* Nanci Griffith, "Southbound Train" Flyer (Elektra, 94)
^ Elliott BROOD, "Lindsay" Days Into Years (Paper Bag, 11)
* Deep Dark Woods, "Back Alley Blues" Place I Left Behind (Sugar Hill, 11)
* James McMurtry, "Cold Dog Soup" This One's For Him (Icehouse, 12)
* Oakhurst, "Barrel" Barrel (Self, 12)
* William Elliott Whitmore, "Old Devils" Animals In the Dark (Anti, 09)
* Lucero, "Sometimes" Women and Work (ATO, 12)
* Far West, "Bitter Drunk and Cold" Far West (Wooden Tapes, 11)
* Boca Chica, "Do Right Woman" Get Out Of Sin City (Self, 11)
* Chris Castle, "All Kinds Of Time" Last Bird Home (Dirtsandwich, 12)
* Halden Wofford & the Hi-Beams, "Best Of All Possible Worlds" Live @Hodi's (Self, 12)
* Lincoln Durham, "Love Letters" Shovel vs the Howling Bones (Rayburn, 12)
* Chris Knight, "Rural Route" Enough Rope (Drifter's Church, 06)
* Gretchen Peters, "Dark Angel" Hello Cruel World (Scarlet Letter, 12)
* First Aid Kit, "Emmylou" Lion's Roar (Wichita, 12)
* Kelly Pardekooper, "Mommy Was a Punk Rock Queen" Yonder (Leisure Time, 11)
* Tin Horn Prayer, "Wretch" Get Busy Dying (Suburban Home, 10)
* Darrell Scott, "It Must Be Sunday" Long Ride Home (Full Light, 12)
* Sons Of Bill, "Santa Ana Winds" Sirens (Self, 12)
* Orbo & the Longshots, "High Grass Dog" Prairie Sun (Blue Mood, 12)
* Bottle Rockets, "Bar's On Fire" Brand New Year (New West, 99)

2012-01-14T20:13:00.000-07:00

ROUTES & BRANCHES
January 14, 2012
Scott Foley

Some prime debuts this week from a couple Big Names. The first peek at Justin Townes Earle's forthcoming album. A look at Darrell Scott's fine Long Ride Home. Even a stellar single from Virginia's Sons of Bill. So what do I focus on this week? Chris Castle.

Who? While he's apparently been a Nashville writer since his teen years, and has self-released a couple lo-fi albums, Last Bird Home marks Castle's first widely-available CD. I could focus on the fact that it was recorded at Levon Helm's Woodstock, NY farm, or that his unreal band includes Larry Campbell, Garth Hudson and Tommy Ramone (?!). But Chris Castle's quiet songs speak eloquently for themselves. His words bring to mind Slaid Cleaves, Mando Saenz or Rod Picott; smart and original with a sure way with a turn of phrase. All this, and he looks like an awkward 15 year old (he's actually 35).

Incidentally, those rumors about me are true. I'll be carrying a couple new hours in addition to my usual R&B. From 10am-12 noon on Thursdays I'll be doing a Morning Mix of roots and indie musics. Stream me live online at http://www.krfcfm.org

* Jim White, "Infinite Mind" Where It Hits You (Yep Roc, 12)
* David Eugene Edwards, "Wayfaring Stranger" Searching For the Wrong Eyed Jesus (Luaka, 05)
* Delicate Cutters, "Be Sweet" Some Creatures (Skybucket, 11)
* James Low Western Front, "Whiskey Farmer" Whiskey Farmer (Union Made, 12)
* Halden Wofford & the Hi Beams, "ABC (live)" Live At Hodi's (Self, 12)
* Joe Pug, "Nation Of Heat (live)" Live At Lincoln Hall (Self, 11)
* Wood Brothers, "When I Was Young" Smoke Ring Halo (Self, 11)
* Townes Van Zandt, "For the Sake Of a Song (live)" Live At the Old Quarter (Tomato, 04)
* Longest Day Of the Year, "Radio Low" Turn Into the Ground (Mulewax, 12)
* Blitzen Trapper, "Taking It Easy" American Goldwing (Sub Pop, 11)
* Sons Of Bill, "Santa Ana Winds" Sirens (Self, 12)
* Amelia White, "Skeleton Key" Beautiful & Wild (Self, 12)
* Flatlanders, "Now It's Now Again" Now Again (New West, 02)
* Slim Cessna's Auto Club, "United Longmont" Rare Recordings Vol 2 (AltTentacles, 11)
* Pines, "Rise Up and Be Lonely" Dark So Gold (Red House, 12)
* Gretchen Peters, "Paradise Found" Hello Cruel World (Self, 12)
* Snake Wagon, "You Had To Be There Talkin' Blues" Have Fun With ... (Self, 11)
* Low Anthem w/Emmylou Harris, "To Ohio" Smart Flesh (Nonesuch, 11)
* Jay Bennett, "Junior" Replace You + 5 (Ryko, 06)
* Oakhurst, "Hallelu" Barrel (Self, 12)
^ Chris Castle, "Both Ends Of a Gun" Last Bird Home (Dirtsandwich, 12)
* Justin Townes Earle, "Nothings Gonna Change" Nothing's Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now (Bloodshot, 12)
* Fred Eaglesmith, "Cemetery Road" 6 Volts (Self, 11)
* Mary Gauthier, "Camelot Motel" Filth & Fire (Signature Sounds, 02)
* Darrell Scott, "Hopkinsville" Long Ride Home (Full Light, 12)
* Kevin Gordon, "Gloryland" Gloryland (Self, 12)

2012-01-09T08:38:00.000-07:00

ROUTES & BRANCHES
January 7, 2011
Scott Foley

We bring to a close our series of backward glances at the year that was with an Episode focusing on my favorite songs of 2011. It's a much easier list for me to assemble than last week's albums list; either a song is worthy or it's not, whereas an album typically features a dozen or so cuts of varying appeal. I enjoyed Israel Nash Gripka's Barn Doors record enough, but it didn't appear on last week's list, even though the song "Drown" tops this year's collection of favorite songs. This, despite a curious video which depicts Gripka and co. tracking a yeti ... Look it up. For 2011, only 7 out of 20 of the CDs which spawned my favorite tunes were represented on my albums list.

Other interesting factoids: fully one-quarter of the artists below hail from Oregon, as opposed to one representative from Colorado. I find this more interesting than significant, owing perhaps to the fact that my musical ears were raised in The Beaver State.

Fortunately, nobody has developed a fool-proof formula that will predict which music will resonate with me from year to year. Is there a commonality to be found among the yeti-riffic mandolin of Gripka's "Drown", the soul-stirring southern R&B of Alabama Shakes, the driving take-no-prisoners "punkabilly" of the Von Ehrics, and Lindi Ortega's sweet and sultry country-leaning americana? Other than the fact that I exhausted my weekly allowance for hyphens in the previous sentence? File it all under the heading, "The Very Best Of Americana, Alt.country and Roots Music" as far as I'm concerned, but I'm proud of the diversity in this list.

Finally, my favorite lyric of the last 365 days stems from my second favorite song: Unfazed by pain, unfazed by love, unfazed by rain that won't let up / Unfazed by debts I'll never pay, unfazed by blonde hair turning grey / Unfazed by dreams we left behind, unfazed by jokes there's no punch line / Unfazed by death she's my blushing bride, unfazed by living until I die ... The bridge to a song that strikes me as one long sigh, a direct glance into the pleasures and pains of a middle-aged life. All of a sudden, many of us are nearer to 50 than to 40, with so much to celebrate, a fair amount to regret, and more hope than anything else. At the end of 2011, we're blessed by something as simple as music:

We can dance all night if we fill up the juke / Fill up the juke, fill up the juke, fill up the juke ...

My Favorite Songs of 2011

1) Israel Nash Gripka, "Drown" Barn Doors & Concrete Floors (Ing, 3/29)
2) Dolorean, "Unfazed" The Unfazed (Partisan, 1/18)
3) Kasey Anderson & the Honkies, "Exit Ghost" Heart Of a Dog (Red River, 2/15)
4) Blitzen Trapper, "Love the Way You Walk Away" American Goldwing (Sub Pop, 9/13)
5) Alabama Shakes, "You Ain't Alone" Alabama Shakes EP (Self, 9/13)
6) Hayes Carll, "KMAG YOYO" KMAG YOYO (& Other American Stories) (Lost Hwy, 2/15)

7) Buddy & Julie Miller, "God's Wing'ed Horse" Majestic Silver Strings (New West, 3/01)
8) Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside, "Danger" Dirty Radio (Partisan, 5/23)
9) Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, "Codeine" Here We Rest (Lightning Rod, 4/12)
10) Duke & the King, "Shaky" Duke & the King (Silva Oak, 8/16)
11) Von Ehrics, "Last Of the Working Slobs" Two Foot Stomp (Lucky Buck, 4/12)
12) Frank Turner, "Peggy Sang the Blues" England Keep My Bones (Epitaph, 6/03)
13) Lydia Loveless, "Can't Change Me" Indestructible Machine (Bloodshot, 9/13)
14) Lindi Ortega, "When All the Stars Align" Little Red Boots (Last Gang, 6/07)
15) Blind Pilot, "Keep You Right" We Are the Tide (Expunged, 9/13)
16) Graham Wilkinson, "Two Days Today" Best Of Times (Sleeveless, 8/23)

17) Slithering Beast, "Fool Out Of You" Delicious (Self, 6/22)
18) Patti Fiasco, "Nobody's Girl" Patti Fiasco (Self, 6/22)
19) Austin Lucas, "Darkness Out Of Me" New Home In the Old World (Last Chance, 4/01)
20) JD Malone & the Experts, "Just Like New" Avalon (Self, 7/12)

2011-12-31T20:34:00.000-07:00

ROUTES & BRANCHES
December 31, 2011
Scott Foley

My highlight for 2011 would have to be the glorious rebirth of Routes & Branches. Having masqueraded for a couple years under the Thursday Morning Mix moniker, KRFC's late-summer restructuring gave me the opportunity to brush off the ashes and rise again all phoenix-like. While I feel I've been fumbling around of late, it makes my heart happy to occupy Saturday evening once again.

Plus, there's the matter of all the great music that was released in 2011, from stuff like Decemberists and Dolorean in the dawning days of January to the one glorious week of October that heralded the release of Deep Dark Woods, Ryan Adams, Great American Taxi and Glossary. It's a generous time for those of us that revel in new music, with nearly every day producing a welcome discovery online, a new song, a new album, even a new artist. Regrettably, listening to more music can muddy the waters when it comes to whittling a year down to just 20 selections.

But it's been done, and I feel generally good about the results. What isn't on the final list? Lucinda, Steve Earle, Gillian, Buddy, Old 97s, Kasey Chambers, Dave Alvin, Ry Cooder, Gourds and more more more. And even worthy Colorado acts like Patti Fiasco, Lizzie Huffman and Turn 4 were turned away owing to no room at the inn. My final moment of panic happened as I passed Berthoud on my way north this afternoon. Only three women on the list!?

Nevertheless, Lydia Loveless was an obvious #1 soon after I previewed the album, reminding me of the most fearless days of early alt.country. The early days of the Bloodshot records label when the edges were sharp and bordering on dangerous. The label wisely included a "radio friendly" copy along with the profanity riddled original copy, with only the latter living in my player because sometimes it's just wonderful to hear such a beautiful voice sling profanity so eloquently.

Next Episode, I'll proffer my favorite songs of the year coming to an end as I type. I love what I do, and Routes & Branches thrives under the pressure of more eagerly listening ears. Please bring a friend.

My Favorite CDs of 2011

1) Lydia Loveless, Indestructible Machine (Bloodshot, 9/13)
2) Blitzen Trapper, American Goldwing (Sub Pop, 9/13)
3) Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, Here We Rest (Lightning Rod, 4/12)
4) Decemberists, King Is Dead / Long Live the King / iTunes Session (Capitol, 1/14 and 10/28)
5) Deep Dark Woods, Place I Left Behind (Sugar Hill, 10/14)
6) Dolorean, The Unfazed (Partisan, 1/18)
7) Hayes Carll, KMAG YOYO (and Other American Stories) (Lost Hwy, 2/15)
8) Great American Taxi, Paradise Lost (Self, 10/11)
9) Jayhawks, Mockingbird Time (Rounder, 9/20)
10) Glossary, Long Live All Of Us (Undertow, 10/02)
11) Roadside Graves, We Can Take Care Of Ourselves (Autumn Tone, 7/19)
12) Emmylou Harris, Hard Bargain (Nonesuch, 4/22)
13) Kasey Anderson & the Honkies, Heart Of a Dog (Red River, 2/15)
14) Dawes, Nothing Is Wrong (ATO, 6/07)
15) Ryan Adams, Ashes & Fire (Pax Americana, 10/11)
16) Girls Guns & Glory, Sweet Nothings (Lonesome Day, 8/30)
17) Drive-By Truckers, Go-Go Boots (ATO, 2/15)
18) Low Anthem, Smart Flesh (Nonesuch, 2/21)
19) Frank Turner, England Keep My Bones (Epitaph, 6/06)
20) Amanda Shires, Carrying Lightning (Silver Knife, 5/03)

2011-12-25T11:40:00.000-07:00

ROUTES & BRANCHES
Christmas Eve 2011
Scott Foley (with Madeleine, Logan and Gabriel)

God bless us, every one! As has been the case for five wonderful years, my children joined me in the studio this Episode, bringing in tow a holiday song of their choosing. The rest is all my fault, culled from hours of combing the internet(s) for worthy new trax of the season.

To quote the immortal George Bailey, "Merry Christmas, movie house! Merry Christmas, Emporium! Merry Christmas, you wonderful old Building and Loan!"

And if he were here, George would also remind us of next week's Episode, wherein I will declare for all to hear my favorite albums for 2011.

* Ray Charles, "Spirit Of Christmas" Spirit Of Christmas (Rhino, 85)
* Grace Potter, "Naughty Naughty Children" internet single (Self, 11)
* Lyle Lovett, "Baby It's Cold Outside" Songs For the Season (UMG, 11)
* Opie Gone Bad w/Jim Dalton, "It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas" Opie Gone Christmas (Self, 11)
* David Wax Museum, "La Rama" My Favorite Gifts (Ramseur, 11)
* My Morning Jacket, "Christmas Must Be Tonight" iTunes Session (ATO, 11)
* She & Him, "I'll Be Home For Christmas" Very She & Him Christmas (Merge, 11)
* Lindi Ortega, "Christmas Eve With You" Tennessee Christmas (Last Gang, 11)
M Tom Lehrer, "Christmas Carol" Songs & More Songs (Rhino, 97)
* Oh Starling, "Hark" Noel (Self, 11)
* Sunny Sweeney, "One More Christmas Beer" internet single (Self, 11)
* Scott Miller, "Star Of Bethlehem" Christmas Gift (FAY, 10)
* Two Tons Of Steel, "If We Make It Through December" Tangled In Tinsel (Self, 11)
* Over the Rhine, "White Horse" Snow Angels (Great Speckled Dog, 07)
* Kasey Chambers, "Christmas Time" Kasey Chambers Poppa Bill & the Little Hillbillies (Liberation, 09)
* Diamond Rugs, "Christmas In a Chinese Restaurant" internet single (Partisan, 12)
* John Cowan, "Let's Make a Baby King" Comfort & Joy (E1, 09)
L Trans-Siberian Orchestra, "Christmas Canon" Christmas Attic (Atlantic, 98)
* Beta Radio, "Song the Season Brings" Song the Season Brings (Self, 11)
* Lissie, "2000 Miles" Live At Shepherd's Bush Empire (PID, 11)
* Resentments, "I Hate Christmas" Resentment (Freedom, 04)
* Decemberists, "Please Daddy Don't Get Drunk" Alternative Rock Xmas (Capitol, 07)
* Gretchen Peters, "Song For a Winter's Night" Northern Lights (Scarlet Letter, 08)
G Spyro Gyra, "Carol Of the Bells" Night Before Christmas (Heads Up, 08)
* Holly Golightly, "Christmas Tree On Fire" internet single (Damaged Goods, 06)
* Steve Earle & Allison Moorer, "Nothing But a Child" To Kate (Western Beast, 05)

2011-12-18T09:50:00.005-07:00

ROUTES & BRANCHES

December 17, 2011

Scott Foley

My favorite holiday song of the year comes from an unlikely "supergroup" composed of John McCauley (Deer Tick), Robbie Crowell (Deer Tick), Ian Saint Pé (The Black Lips), Steve Berlin (Los Lobos), Hardy Morris (Dead Confederate) and Bryan Dufresne (Six Finger Satellite), calling themselves Diamond Rugs. Apparently, McCauley's outing with Middle Brother hasn't extinguished his desire for such gatherings. Last year about this time, I waxed on about another favorite, "Fairytale Of New York" by Pogues and Kirsty MacColl. You might trace a thread between that drunken holiday classic and this one, with John McCauley spitting teeth around lyrics like, "I ate Chinese food on Christmas day / You kicked me out 'cause I told the kids / That Santa's sleigh did not exist / I was drunk and you got pissed / But anyway have a very merry Christmas". Like Shane McGowan's bleak picture of interpersonal dysfunction, it's not necessarily a great song to play while the kids are opening their presents. But, home from church with the kids deep in their covers, it might be just the thing to go along with a glass of brandy ...

Next Episode, I'll yank my three kids from those blankets to join me on my Christmas Eve show, where there will be no refuge for those looking to escape holiday songs. From the traditional and reverent to the irreverent and tipsy, with the kids each bringing along a tune of their choice (that will traditionally be more popular than anything I choose to air). I'll unleash my favorite albums list on the December 31 Episode, followed by my favorite 2011 songs on January 7.

* Sam Baker, "Angel Hair" Cotton (Music Road, 09)
* Over the Rhine, "Only God Can Save Us Now" Long Surrender (GSD, 11)
* Los Straightjackets, "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" internet single (Yep Roc, 11)
* Ana Egge, "Chestnut Tree" Bad Blood (Ammal, 11)
* John Statz, "Honest" Old Fashioned (Yer Bird, 12)
* Drive-by Truckers, "Perfect Timing (live)" Live From Austin TX (New West, 10)
* Hem, "Identical Snowflakes" internet single (Hem, 11)
* Great American Taxi, "Olden Days" Paradise Lost (Self, 11)
* Folk Uke, "Nobody Blues" Reincarnation (Self, 11)
^ Diamond Rugs, "Christmas In a Chinese Restaurant" internet single (Partisan, 12)
* Amelia White, "Beautiful & Wild" Beautiful & Wild (Self, 12)
* Longest Day of the Year, "Calla Lily Lady" Turn Into the Ground (Mulewax, 12)
* Ryan Adams, "Dirty Rain" Ashes & Fire (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Wood Brothers, "Rebel Jesus" My Favorite Gifts (Ramseur, 11)
* Lydia Loveless, "How Many Women" Indestructible Machine (Bloodshot, 11)
* Jon Boland, "Top Hat" Lightning In the Wires (Self, 12)
* Bob Schneider, "All I Want For Christmas (live)" Live At the Paramount Theatre (Brando, 11)
* Radney Foster, "LA Freeway" This One's For Him (Icehouse, 12)
* Gretchen Peters, "Sunday Morning (Up and Down My Street)" 15 Song Career Retrospective (Self, 11)
* Candi Staton, "Cry Baby Cry" Who's Hurting Now (Honest Jons, 11)
* American Gun, "Little Manger" internet single (Self, 10)
* Emmylou Harris, "Light Of the Stable" Light Of the Stable (Rhino, 75)
* Jim White, "Infinite Mind" Where It Hits You (Yep Roc, 12)
* Bob Rea, "Someday's Gone" Ragged Choir (Shiny Dime, 11)
* Civil Wars, "Tracks In the Snow" Tracks In the Snow EP (Self, 10)
* William Topley, "Sweet Love TN" South On Velvet Clouds (Self, 11)
* David Ball, "Santa Send Some Texas" Greatest Christmas (Self, 11)

2011-12-08T09:13:00.001-07:00

Routes & Branches
December 10, 2011
Scott Foley

For this Very Special Episode, I focused on the music of our faire state, airing tunes from my favorite Colorado albums of 2011. Just between you and me, I pre-recorded the thing so that, by the magic of radio, I could also attend my wife's company holiday party (and have a chance at winning something Big and Expensive). Apparently, this is how real radio folks produce their programs nowadays. I'm much more content to be fumbling around live on-air, so probably won't be resorting to lies and smokescreens again soon. At least not on the radio.

In the meantime, this means an early holiday present from me. Colorado Sound host Chris K emailed me five pages worth of Colorado music releases from November 2010 thru November of this year, some of which I hadn't given more than a quick listen, others that have carved out a pretty regular place on my playlists. Five pages. Nevertheless, I've cobbled the whole unruly thing down to a truly ruly list, the fruits of which you'll hear on Saturday (in addition to me, banging around in an unfamiliar studio with alien controls in all the wrong places and headphones that were way too big even for my head, most likely made for two people to use simultaneously). Regardez:

My Favorite Colorado Albums Of 2011

1) Great American Taxi, Paradise Lost
2) Patti Fiasco, Patti Fiasco
3) Lizzie Huffman, Pretty Old Soul
4) Turn 4, Turn 4
5) Bare Bones, Bare Bones
6) You Me & Apollo, Cards With Cheats
7) Mosey West, Vaca Money
8) Hickman Dalton Gang, Vol 2
9) Ghost Of Michael Clark, Bound To Break
10) Surplus Cheaper Hands, It's Your Parade
11) Kentucky Parlor Pickers, Barn Burner
12) Slim Cessna's Auto Club, Unentitled
13) Broken Spoke, Before There Were Easy Riders
14) Quiet American, Vol 2
15) Honey Gitters, Poor Gitters' Almanack
16) Bonnie & the Clydes, Bonnie & the Clydes
17) Haunted Windchimes, Live At the Western Jubilee
18) Devotchka, 100 Lovers
19) Bonnie & the Beard, Bonnie & the Beard
20) Cahalen Morrison & Eli West, Holy Coming Of the Storm

These were aired in no particular order, and were interspersed with some various and sundry new stuff and holiday fun. This includes two more trax from the Guy Clark tribute I celebrated last week, and my favorite new holiday track (so far), courtesy of My Morning Jacket. The Playlist:

* Kathleen Edwards, "Sidecar" Voyageur (Rounder, 12)
* Lindi Ortega, "All I Want For Christmas Is a Cowboy" Tennessee Christmas (Self, 11)
* Broken Spoke, "High Water Mark" Before There Were Easy Riders (Self, 11)
* Longest Day Of the Year, "Bury Books With Bone" Turn Into the Ground (Self, 12)
* Michelle McAfee, "Poetry Of Life" Up In the Air (Awake Now, 11)
* Bare Bones, "Come In / Stay Out" Bare Bones (Self, 11)
* Bonnie & the Clydes, "Make Up Your Mind" Bonnie & the Clydes (Self, 11)
* Dale Watson, "Elbow Grease Spackle and Pine Sol" Sun Sessions (Red House, 11)
* Lizzie Huffman, "Heavy Hearts" Pretty Old Soul (Suburban Home, 11)
* Quiet American, "Talk Is Cheap" Vol 2 (Self, 11)
* James McMurtry, "Cold Dog Soup" This One's For Him (Icehouse, 12)
* Slim Cessna's Auto Club, "My Last Black Scarf" Unentitled (Alt Tentacles, 11)
* Surplus Cheaper Hands, "Baby It's Gonna Be Your Year" It's Your Parade (Self, 11)
* Jessica Lea Mayfield, "Little Toy Trains" My Favorite Gifts (Ramseur, 11)
* Patti Fiasco, "Bottle Of Wine" Patti Fiasco (Self, 11)
* Ghost Of Michael Clark, "Thunder & Light" Bound To Break (Blank Tape, 11)
* Haunted Windchimes, "Wanderin' Heart" Live At the Western Jubilee (Blank Tape, 11)
^ Great American Taxi, "Gonna Make a Record" Paradise Lost (Self, 11)
* You Me & Apollo, "Oh Brother" Cards With Cheats (Self, 11)
* Rosanne Cash, "Better Days" This One's For Him (Icehouse, 12)
* Kentucky Parlor Pickers, "Loverboy" Barn Burner (Self, 11)
* Devotchka, "Bad Luck Heels" 100 Lovers (Anti, 11)
* Mosey West, "Cold Prediction" Vaca Money (Self, 11)
* Turn 4, "What You Do About It" What You Do About It (Fuck All Y'all, 11)
* Madison Violet, "If I Could Love You" Good In Goodbye (True North, 11)
* Bonnie & the Beard, "Money Honey" Bonnie & the Beard (Self, 11)
* Cahalen Morrison & Eli West, "Lost Lovin' Gal" Holy Coming Of the Storm (Self, 11)
* White Buffalo, "Pilot" Lost and Found EP (Unison, 11)
* Honey Gitters, "Diamond In a Bag" Poor Gitters' Almanack (Self, 11)
* My Morning Jacket, "When the Bells Start Ringing" iTunes Holiday Sessiono (iTunes, 11)

2011-12-08T08:30:00.001-07:00

ROUTES & BRANCHES
December 3, 2011
Scott Foley

Just a week ago, I highlighted a stellar, star-full 2004 compilation tribute to Alejandro Escovedo. For this week's Episode, I can't help but focus on another 2-disc musical cornucopia, This One's For Him, featuring another absurdly generous collection of artists paying homage to the songs of Guy Clark. In addition to Emmylou and Prine and Patty Griffin, represented here, you'll find Rodney Crowell, Rosanne Cash, Hayes Carll, Steve Earle, etc etc etc, each with a reverent take on one great Guy Clark tune after another. Played two cuts here, and I'll likely do the same for next week's Episode (and the week after that, and ... ).

Also pleased to have an early copy of what might just be Amelia White's breakthrough album, featuring some great writing and fine Eliza-esque vocals. And, because Thanksgiving is the Gateway to Christmas, it's just fine that I'm playing a new holiday benefit album assembled by Colorado band Opie Gone Bad. Like a CO-centric "We Are the World", Opie Gone Christmas brags contributions from more than a dozen square-state musical luminaries (plus, a TV personality singing Joni Mitchell ... and the mayor's wife ... ).

* Justin Townes Earle, "Can't Hardly Wait" Midnight At the Movies (Bloodshot, 09)
* Amy Black, "Meet Me On the Dance Floor" One Time (Reuben, 11)
* Jesse Manley, "Devil's Red" Devil's Red (Self, 11)
^ Emmylou Harris & John Prine, "Magnolia Wind" This One's For Him (Icehouse, 12)
* Mike McClure, "Old Crow" Fifty Billion (598 Records, 11)
* She & Him, "Christmas Day" Very She & Him Christmas (Merge, 11)
* Hacienda Brothers, "Lot Of Days Are Gone" Arizona Motel (Proper, 08)
* Joe Pug, "Lock the Door Christina (live)" Live At Lincoln Hall (Self, 11)
* Ken Will Morton, "Powder Keg" Contenders (Ghostmeat, 11)
* Longest Day Of the Year, "Eloise" Turn Into the Ground (Self, 12)
* Honey Honey, "Old School Friends" Billy Jack (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Samantha Crain, "River" Confiscation (Ramseur, 08)
* Glossary, "Some Eternal Spark" Long Live All Of Us (Last Chance, 11)
* Opie Gone Bad et al., "Put a Little Love In Your Heart" Opie Gone Christmas (Self, 11)
* Mando Saenz, "Engine Roll" Watertown (Carnival, 05)
* Kenny Vaughan, "Lillie Mae" V (Sugar Hill, 11)
* Greensky Bluegrass, "Cold Feet" Handguns (Big Blue Zoo, 11)
* Black Keys, "Little Black Submarines" El Camino (Nonesuch, 11)
* Hickman Dalton Gang, "Construction Man" Vol 2 (Self, 11)
* David Wax Museum, "La Rama" My Favorite Gifts (Ramseur, 11)
^ Patty Griffin, "The Cape" This One's For Him (Icehouse, 12)
* Deep Dark Woods, "Place I Left Behind" Place I Left Behind (Sugar Hill, 11)
* Amelia White, "Mercy" Beautiful & Wild (Self, 12)
* Joe Ely, "Tonight I Think I'm Gonna Go Downtown" Best Of Joe Ely (MCA, 00)
* Hoots & Hellmouth, "City Lights On a Country Ceiling" Salt (Self, 11)
* Scott Biram, "Just Another River" Bad Ingredients (Bloodshot, 11)
* Bob Schneider, "Honeypot" Perfect Day (CO5, 11)
* Mike Stinson, "Jukebox In Your Heart" Jukebox In Your Heart (Stag, 10)
* Heartless Bastards, "Parted Ways" Arrow (Partisan, 12)

2011-11-30T13:15:00.001-07:00

(not) ROUTES & BRANCHES
Wednesday Morning Mix
November 30, 2011
Scott Foley

I received my first "I hate you for playing Christmas music" call today. It came right after the call from the older guy who thanked me for playing Neil Young and commented on the "young punks" with whom I typically populate my playlists. Does it matter that they were both fellow programmers? Did I ever claim to want to make everyone happy?

No. And this is why I value my opportunity to compile and air my year-end favorites list this time every year. I've already seen at least a couple similar lists from bloggers of all stripes, most calling it the Year's Best. While there will always be some overlap, I consider my own favorites lists a success if there's a smattering of the unheralded alongside stuff that will appear on others' lists. I can look at the lists from two fairly reputable sources (for instance, Paste and Amazon) and what sits near the top of one list is nowhere to be seen on the next. It's all so subjective.

Except for last year, when Robert Plant's Band Of Joy was at the tip-top of lists of all sorts, including mine.

So join me this Saturday for Routes & Branches, when I'll garner even more hatred for playing holiday music by young punks. I have lots. And set aside some time on Saturdays December 31 and January 7, when I'll debut my year-end favorite songs and albums, respectively. It's bound to ruffle your musical feathers or I'm not doing my job here ...

* Lucky Peterson, "I'm New Here" You Can Always Turn Around (Dreyfus, 10)
* Ryan Bingham, "Depression" Junky Star (Lost Hwy, 10)
* Decemberists, "I4U & U4 Me" Long Live the King (Capitol, 11)
* Dave Sonner, "Can't Make Her Change" American Campus (Self, 11)
* Will Hoge, "Nothing To Lose" Number Seven (Ryko, 11)
* Alabama Shakes, "You Ain't Alone" Alabama Shakes EP (Self, 11)
* Grace Potter, "Naughty Naughty Children" internet single (Hollywood, 11)
* Constitution, "Roserita" Wrestling With Daylight (Self, 11)
* Bob Dylan, "Forgetful Heart" Together Through Life (Columbia, 09)
* Black Keys, "Sister" El Camino (Nonesuch, 11)
* Etta James, "Champagne and Wine" Dreamer (Verve, 11)
* Hollyfelds, "2am" Black Heart Blue (Self, 09)
* Milk Carton Kids, "I Still Want a Little More" Prologue (Self, 11)
* You Me & Apollo, "Coming Home" Cards With Cheats (Self, 11)
* Elvis Costello, "My All Time Doll" Secret Profane & Sugarcane (Hear, 09)
* Garth Hudson w/Neil Young & the Sadies, "This Wheel's On Fire" Canadian Celebration of The Band (Curve, 10)
* Lyle Lovett, "Baby It's Cold Outside" Songs For the Season (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Crooked Fingers, "Solitary Man" Reservoir Songs Vol 1 (Merge, 02)
^ Joe Pug, "Nobody's Man (live)" Live At Lincoln Hall (Self, 11)
* Megafaun, "Resurrection" Megafaun (Hometapes, 11)
* Quiet American, "Black Jack Daisy" Quiet American Vol 2 (Self, 11)
* Dawes, "How Far We've Come" Nothing Is Wrong (ATO, 11)
* Bearfoot, "Come Get Your Lonesome" American Story (Compass, 11)
* Craig Finn, "Honolulu Blues" Honolulu Blues (Vagrant, 11)
* Heartless Bastards, "Sway" Mountain (Fat Possum, 09)
* Ry Cooder, "Quick Sand" Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down (Nonesuch, 11)
* Tom Waits, "New Years Eve" Bad As Me (Anti, 11)

2011-11-27T17:57:00.001-07:00

ROUTES & BRANCHES
November 26, 2011
Scott Foley

It's probably no secret that I'm a fan of the music of Alejandro Escovedo. He's a writer of uncommon depth who is also able to work in the superficialities of the rock genre. Been a long while since I played something from this excellent sampler that plays tribute to his songs. I'd be hard pressed to name a better tribute album - 2 discs packed with quality artists doing justice to great songs. Calexico ("Wave"), Lucinda Williams ("Pyramid Of Tears"), Jayhawks ("Last To Know"). Los Lonely Boys' take on "Castanets" is my favorite of the bunch. It's presently out of print, altho used copies are readily available online.

Time will tell if I'm back in the studios for the Wednesday Morning Mix (8-10). If not, we'll see you next weekend.

* Bonnie "Prince" Billy, "Easy Does It" Lie Down In the Light (Drag City, 08)
* Madison Violet, "Goin' Away" Good In Goodbye (True North, 11)
* Jon Snodgrass, "Campaign Song 93" Tri-State Record (Paper & Plastick, 11)
* Pert Near Sandstone, "All Night Long" Paradise Hop (Self, 11)
* Doop & the Inside Outlaws, "Not Too Late" What Am I Supposed To Do (Blood River, 11)
* Secret Sisters, "I've Got a Feeling" Secret Sisters (Beladroit, 10)
* Sons Of Fathers, "Flatland" Sons Of Fathers (Self, 11)
* Lyle Lovett, "Girl With the Holiday Smile" Songs For the Season (Curb, 11)
* Turn 4, "Cheap Guitar" What You Do About It (Fuck All Y'all, 11)
* Kasey Chambers, "Down Here On Earth" Little Bird (Essence, 11)
* Candi Staton, "Cry Baby Cry" Who's Hurting Now (Honest Jons, 11)
* Iris DeMent, "Quality Time" Way I Should (Warner, 96)
* Wilco, "Born Alone" Whole Love (DBPM, 11)
* Calexico, "Man Made Lake" Road Atlas (QuarterStick, 11)
* Great American Taxi, "AM Radio" Paradise Lost (Self, 11)
* Deep Dark Woods, "Back Alley Blues" Place I Left Behind (Sugar Hill, 11)
* Lizzie Huffman, "Heavy Hearts" Pretty Old Soul (Suburban Home, 11)
* Little Willies, "Jolene" For the Good Times (Milking Bull, 12)
^ Son Volt, "Sometimes" Por Vida: Tribute To the Songs of Alejandro Escovedo (Or, 04)
* Robert Earl Keen, "Lay Down My Brother" Ready For Confetti (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Ken Will Morton, "Rough & Tumble" Contenders (Ghostmeat, 11)
* Kathleen Edwards, "Empty Threat" Voyageur (Rounder, 12)
* Girls Guns & Glory, "Root Cellar" Sweet Nothings (Lonesome Day, 11)
* Rhett Miller, "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome (live)" Interpreter Live At Largo (Max Sun, 11)
* Deer Tick, "The Bump" Divine Providence (Partisan, 11)
* Gurf Morlix, "Madalyn's Bones" Diamonds To Dust (Blue Corn, 07)
* Willie Nelson, "I'm Movin' On" Remember Me Vol 1 (R&J, 11)

2011-11-25T14:26:00.001-07:00

(still not) ROUTES & BRANCHES

> Friday Morning Mix <

November 25, 2011

Scott Foley

Another Mix shift here. I'll be returning to my usually scheduled Saturday afternoon R&B shift tomorrow. New Little Willies making their debut today, headed by Norah Jones who also shows up on Ryan Adams' recent album. The Willies album features a couple originals, as well as covers of tunes originally by Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Ralph Stanley and others. Rhett Miller (sans Norah) offers a new solo, live album paying tribute to some favorite songs as well, but these include cuts by Paul Simon, Kinks, Pixies and others.

* Head & the Heart, "Winter Song" Head & the Heart (Sub Pop, 11)
* Robyn Ludwick, "Out Of These Blues" Out Of These Blues (Late Show, 11)
* Trampled By Turtles, "Where Is My Mind" internet single (Banjodad, 11)
* Whitehorse, "Broken" Whitehorse (Six Shooter, 11)
* Slim Cessna's Auto Club, "Viceroy Filter King" Always Say Please and Thank You (Alt. Tentacles, 00)
* Blitzen Trapper, "Fletcher" American Goldwing (Sub Pop, 11)
* Rhett Miller, "California Stars (live)" Interpreter Live At Largo (Maximum Sunshine, 11)
* Ryan Adams, "Invisible Riverside" Ashes & Fire (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Crags, "Big Divide" Big Divide (Self, 11)
* Andy Statman, "Brighter Day" Old Brooklyn (Shefa, 11)
* Iguanas, "9 Volt Heart" Plastic Silver 9 Volt Heart (Yep Roc, 03)
* Glossary, "Trouble Won't Last Always" Long Live All Of Us (Last Chance, 11)
* AA Bondy, "Surfer King" Believers (Fat Possum, 11)
* Longest Day Of the Year, "Change Our Ways" Turn Into the Ground (Self, 12)
* Pieta Brown, "Be With You" Mercury (Red House, 11)
* Yo-Yo Ma, Stewart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile; Goat Rodeo (Sony, 11)
* Little Willies, "I Worship You" For the Good Times (Milking Bull, 12)
* Brandi Carlile, "Caroline" Give Up the Ghost (Columbia, 09)
* Gourds, "Drop What I'm Doing" Old Mad Joy (Vanguard, 11)
* Bettye LaVette, "Choices" Scene Of the Crime (Anti, 07)
* Turn 4, "Tattoo Blues" What You Do About It (Fuck All Y'All, 11)
* Michael Kiwanuka, "I'm Getting Ready" I'm Getting Ready (Interscope, 11)
* Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers, "Gravity" Gift Horse (Vanguard, 11)
* Brigitte DeMeyer, "Amen Said the Deacon" Rose Of Jericho (Self, 11)
* Ollabelle, "Be Your Woman" Neon Blue Bird (Ollabelle, 11)
* Gary Louris, "Vagabonds" Vagabonds (Ryko, 08)
* Ghost Of Michael Clark, "Bound To Break" Bound To Break (Blank Tape, 11)
* Dolorean, "Hard Working Dogs" Unfazed (Fargo, 11)

2011-11-23T16:21:00.001-07:00

(not) ROUTES & BRANCHES
> Wednesday Morning Mix <

November 23, 2011
Scott Foley

Another early morning drive up to FoCo, this one interrupted promptly by a friendly officer who gave me my first speeding ticket in nearly half a lifetime. Fortunately, the worthiness of the Episode all but made up for that roadbump. Plus, a fingernail moon, a slow purple sunrise and some great new stuff.

To the recent run of excellent late-season Colorado releases, add a fine alt.country quartet from Greeley, Turn 4. Of course, one of the water marks we use when we're assessing alt.country is Son Volt's early trifecta, Trace, Straightaways and Wide Swing Tremolo. While few if any albums really measure up to these late 90s legends, Turn 4's buzzing electric guitars, steady dino-drumming (courtesy of Dan Radach, last seen behind Motorhome and Glove Trucker) and Farrar-esque vox more than hold their own in spirit. Moreover, What You Do About It clock in at 17 cuts and more than an hour's worth of songs. Doesn't sound like the album will be officially unleashed until February, but keep tuned to R&B and WMM and no doubt you'll eventually hear nearly the entire glorious mess.

Finally, in my one man effort to monopolize the Northern Colorado airwaves, I'll be hosting this week's post-Thanksgiving Friday Morning Mix from 8-10am on KRFC. And then I'll be back on Saturday afternoon. Just try to shake me off your radio (and yes, I'll be tastefully seasoning Episodes from here on in with appropriate holiday stuff)!

* Steve Earle, "Sin City (live)" Transcendental Blues (Artemis, 00)
* Bare Bones, "Doves & Crows" Bare Bones (Self, 11)
* Delta Rae, "Bottom Of the River" internet single (Self, 11)
* JD Malone & the Experts, "Still Love You" Avalon (It's About Music, 11)
* Amy LaVere, "You Can't Keep Me" Stranger Me (Archer, 11)
* Nathaniel Rateliff, "Laughing" In Memory Of Loss (Rounder, 10)
* Shelby Lynne, "Revelation Road" Revelation Road (Everso, 11)
* Jayhawks, "All the Right Reasons" Rainy Day Music (American, 03)
* Cowboy Junkies, "Sing In My Meadow" Sing In My Meadow (Razor & Tie, 11)
* Yo-Yo Ma Stuart Duncan Edgar Meyer Chris Thile, "Here & Heaven" Goat Rodeo (Sony, 11)
* Ronnie Fauss, "Just the Other Side Of Nowhere" Any Lovin' Way But Wrong (Self, 11)
* Willie Nelson, "This Old House" Remember Me Vol 1 (R and J, 11)
* Kentucky Parlor Pickers, "Roadside Diner" Barn Burner (Self, 11)
* Dawes, "Way You Laugh" Nothing Is Wrong (ATO, 11)
* Ben Sollee & Daniel Martin Moore, "Only a Song" Dear Companion (Sub Pop, 10)
* Alabama Shakes, "I Found You" Alabama Shakes EP (Self, 11)
* Bonnie & the Beard, "Lonely Hills" Bonnie & the Beard (Self, 11)
* Lyle Lovett, "Empty Blue Shoes" Natural Forces (Curb, 09)
* Mariachi El Bronx, "48 Roses" II (Self, 11)
* Frank Turner, "One Foot Before the Other" England Keep My Bones (Epitaph, 11)
* Mavis Staples, "You Are Not Alone" You Are Not Alonen (Anti, 10)
* Greensky Bluegrass, "Better Off" Handguns (Big Blue Zoo, 11)
^ Turn 4, "What You Do About It" What You Do About It (Fuck All Y'all, 11)
* Jolie Holland, "Gold and Yellow" Pint Of Blood (Anti, 11)
* Nick Lowe, "Somebody Cares For Me" Old Magic (Yep Roc, 11)
* Madison Violet, "If I Could Love You" Good In Goodbye (True North, 11)
* Eric Lindell, "Cazadero" West County Drifter (MC, 11)

2011-11-20T08:08:00.001-07:00

ROUTES & BRANCHES
November 19, 2011
Scott Foley

Last week I included a link to a Alabama Shakes performance that I claimed might change your life. Musically, I stand behind my enthusiasm. With just four songs formally available, there's so much promise in this music. I'm in great company with this appreciation, as Zales (the Diamond Store) came out this week with a new ad campaign using the Shakes' "You Ain't Alone" to sell their humble wares. I suppose this is good news for Alabama Shakes, who will likely be able to parlay the newfound attention into at least four more tunes to which I can give some air love on R&B. I have no qualms about artists taking advantage of this kind of exposure. I'm just not used to having anything in common with Zales (the Diamond Store) ...

This week's Episode, let's herald the full length debut of Colorado artists the Lumineers. I remember a similar feeling when I first heard an advance copy of last year's best local release, Nathaniel Rateliff's In Memory Of Loss. Can't keep it to myself, but don't want too many others to get ahold of it. Like Rateliff and Paper Bird, early national exposure for the Lumineers came from the Illionois based Daytrotter site, which committed to broadcasting a short live set having only heard an EP and some industry buzz (CMJ and Paste). The Lumineers set up camp close to the world of folk music, but make a quick departure with group-sing choruses, Mumford-esque breakdowns and perfectly broken vocals. Plus, there's a cello, which is nice. The easy link is to liken the Lumineers to bands like Head & the Heart, Avetts and the aforementioned Mumford & Sons. The better approach is to simply let the new album breathe on your harddrive for a couple days. One of the year's very best releases (just sorta keep it to yourself for now).

... and maybe if they're lucky, the Lumineers will be getting a call soon from Jared (the Galleria of Jewelry).

* Joe Pug, "Unsophisticated Heart" Messenger (Lightning Rod, 10)
* Red Molly, "By the Mark" Light In the Sky (Self, 11)
* Mosey West, "Stone By Stone" Vaca Money (Self, 11)
* Hoots & Hellmouth, "Lay Low" Salt (Self, 11)
* Gregg Allman, "Midnight Rider (live)" Speaking Clock Revue (Shout, 11)
* Shelby Lynne, "Woebegone" Revelation Road (Everso, 11)
* Whiskeytown, "Don't Wanna Know Why" Pneumonia (Lost Hwy, 01)
* Longest Day Of the Year, "Radio Low" Turn Into the Ground (Self, 11)
* Boca Chica, "Dear Audrine" Get Out Of Sin City (Self, 11)
* Gretchen Peters, "Dark Angel" Hello Cruel World (Self, 12)
* Girls Guns & Glory, "Baby's Got a Dream" Sweet Nothings (Lonesome Day, 11)
* Los Straitjackets w/Raul Malo, "Black Is Black" Sing Along With (Yep Roc, 01)
* Madison Violet, "Emily" Good In Goodbye (True North, 11)
^ Lumineers, "Classy Girls" Lumineers (Self, 11)
* Kevin Gordon, "Gloryland" Gloryland (Self, 12)
* Sons Of Fathers, "Flatland" Sons Of Fathers (Self, 11)
* Doyle Bramhall, "I'll Take You Away" Is It News (Yep Roc, 07)
* Have Gun Will Travel, "Time Machine" Mergers & Acquisitions (Suburban Home, 11)
* Honey Gitters, "Hayesmouth" Poor Gitters' Almanack (Self, 11)
* Honey Honey, "Thin Line" Billy Jack (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Glossary, "Shoulder To Cry On" Long Live All Of Us (Last Chance, 11)
* Kathleen Edwards, "Mint" Voyageur (Rounder, 12)
* Old 97s, "4 Leaf Clover" Hitchhike To Rhome (Idol, 94)
* Deep Dark Woods, "Sugar Mama" Place I Left Behind (Sugar Hill, 11)
* Rev John DeLore, "Avenue A" Little John the Conqueror (Norlantic, 11)
* Atomic Drifters, "Go Go Go" This Ain't No Cowtown Vol 2 (ZetaKaye House, 11)
* Robbie Fulks, "Parallel Bars" Very Best Of Robbie Fulks (Bloodshot, 99)

2011-11-16T14:21:00.001-07:00

(not) ROUTES & BRANCHES

> Wednesday Morning Mix <

November 16, 2011

Scott Foley

Had some fun on this morning's Mix program, and it looks like I'll be Occupying 8-10 on Wednesdays for at least a few weeks. While these aren't really R&B-ready playlists, I'll still record them here, because it's still some damn good music.

How can this be Glossary's seventh album already if I'm just getting around to playing them? Long Live All Of Us, to their credit, does sound worlds away from even their sixth album, Feral Fire. This new effort finds the Tennessee band adding piano, horns and pedal steel to their soulful alt.country. Glossary's sound is still largely built around Joey Kneiser's guitar and vocal, but I hear so much more depth and maturity to this new music. Add one more contender to my Long List for year-end favorites.

Fine new Colorado music from The Longest Day of the Year here, too. Looking forward to digging further into the Boulder band's crunchy, slightly sinister bluesy-rock. Also nice to have the full Lizzie Huffman album at our disposal. While her Pretty Old Soul repeats half a dozen cuts from her debut EP, it remains one of my favorite CO releases of 2011.

* Avett Brothers, "Slight Figure Of Speech" I and Love and You (American, 10)
* Danny Barnes, "Low" Rocket (ATO, 11)
* Longest Day Of the Year, "Eloise" Turn Into the Ground (Self, 11)
* Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers, "Gravity" Gift Horse (Vanguard, 11)
* Etta James, "Groove Me" Dreamer (Verve, 11)
^ Glossary, "Trouble Won't Last Always" Long Live All Of Us (Last Chance, 11)
* Deer Tick, "Make Believe" Divine Providence (Partisan, 11)
* Ghost Of Michael Clark, "Thunder & Light" Bound To Break (Blank Tape, 11)
* Peter Case, "Ain't Leaving Your Love" Beeline (Vanguard, 02)
* Pegi Young, "I Don't Want To Talk About It" Bracing For Impact (Vapor, 11)
* Tom Waits, "Raised Right Men" Bad As Me (Anti, 11)
* Dum Dum Girls, "Bedroom Eyes" Only In Dreams (Sub Pop, 11)
* Kitty Daisy & Lewis, "I'm So Sorry" Smoking In Heaven (Verve, 11)
* Gourds, "Eyes Of a Child" Old Mad Joy (Vanguard, 11)
* Reed Foehl, "Good Company" Once An Ocean (Never Foehl, 09)
* Lissie, "Games People Play" Covered Up With Flowers (Fat Possum, 11)
* Blind Pilot, "Keep You Right" We Are the Tide (Expunged, 11)
* Low Anthem w/Emmylou Harris, "To Ohio" Smart Flesh (Nonesuch, 11)
* Zoe Boekbinder, "Gravity" Darling Specimens (Extropiani, 11)
* Kathleen Edwards, "Change the Sheets" Voyageur (Rounder, 11)
* Black Keys, "Lonely Boy" El Camino (Nonesuch, 11)
* Crags, "Big Divide" Big Divide (Self, 11)
* Joe Henry, "Deathbed Version" Reverie (Anti, 11)
* Robert Ellis, "What's In It For Me" Photographs (New West, 11)
* Poison Oaks, "Pine" Pine (Cortese, 11)
* Fistful Of Mercy, "Father's Son" As I Call You Down (Hot, 10)
* Lizzie Huffman, "Tumblers & Tea" Pretty Old Soul (Suburban Home, 11)

2011-11-15T08:09:00.001-07:00

ROUTES & BRANCHES
November 15, 2011
Scott Foley

Couple things on this off-day. First, I'll be sub-hosting KRFC's Wednesday Morning Mix from 8 to 10am for the next week or two. In this guise, I'll be able to throw in a couple artists that I don't necessarily play for my Routes & Branches show. As a musical omnivore, this pleases me.

Also, I recently made my first pass through my 2011 playlists in hopes of pulling together my year-end favorites lists. For both songs and albums, I have assembled a "long list" of about 50 of each, a list I have printed out (and keep in a locked briefcase) and will live with for the next week or two. My preliminary plans are to air my favorite songs list on Saturday, December 31, with my albums list the following Saturday, January 7. Please arrange your schedules accordingly.

Scott

2011-11-12T20:25:00.001-07:00

ROUTES & BRANCHES

November 12, 2011

Scott Foley

Three and one-half years have passed since Kathleen Edwards released her Asking For Flowers CD. Whereas that one was produced by uberproducer Jim Scott, the new Voyageur finds Edwards herself at the helm, along with Bon Iver guy Justin Vernon. I do enjoy Vernon's music, tho I consider it the closest thing indie rock has to new age (along with Sigur Ros and perhaps Bjork). The stronger force in this pairing seems to be Edwards, whose songwriting confidence seems to improve with each release. She does seem to be trying to break free of the "pretty Canadian songwriter standing in a field" rut, with more upbeat moments and depth of production.

Other Canadians messing with my year-end favorites chart include Deep Dark Woods. Now that I have a complete copy of their Place I Left Behind, I see the boys from Saskatoon as among the forefront of bands upholding the legacy of The Band. From a bit further south, I haven't heard a more soulful sound this year than Brittany Howard and her Alabama Shakes. This link just might change your life (of course, after you finish with your business on this fine weblog ... ).

* Freakwater, "Good For Nothing" End Time (Thrill Jockey, 99)
* Richmond Fontaine, "Mechanic's Life" High Country (El Cortez, 11)
* Greensky Bluegrass, "Don't Lie" Handguns (Big Blue Zoo, 11)
* Reckless Kelly, "I Never Like St Valentine" Good Luck & True Love (No Big Deal, 11)
* Kentucky Parlor Pickers, "Ruby Sue" Barn Burner (Self, 11)
* Kathleen Edwards, "Mint" Voyageur (Rounder, 12)
* Gob Iron, "Nicotine Blues" Death Songs For the Living (Transmit Sound, 06)
* Pert Near Sandstone, "Solid Gone" Paradise Hop (Self, 11)
* Alabama Shakes, "You Ain't Alone" Alabama Shakes EP (Self, 11)
* Great American Taxi, "Poor House" Paradise Lost (GATR, 11)
* Dirt Daubers, "Angel Along the Tracks" Wake Up Sinners (Colonel Knowledge, 11)
* Boca Chica, "Sin City" Get Out Of Sin City (Self, 11)
* Todd Snider, "I Spoke As a Child" Songs From the Daily Planet (MCA, 94)
* Have Gun Will Travel, "Keep It In Your Heart" Mergers & Acquisitions (Suburban Home, 11)
* Mike McClure, "Old Crow" Fifty Billion (598 Records, 11)
* Deep Dark Woods, "Place I Left Behind" Place I Left Behind (Sugar Hill, 11)
* Danny Barnes, "Low" Rocket (ATO, 11)
* Kathryn Mostow, "Give Me Something Good" Rich Girl (Self, 11)
* Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers, "Roots & Wings" Gift Horse (Vanguard, 11)
* Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion, "Cease Fire" Exploration (New West, 05)
* Barnstar, "Charlottesville" C'Mon (Self, 11)
* Megafaun, "Get Right" Megafaun (Self, 11)
* Tom Russell, "Mesabi" Mesabi (Shout Factory, 11)
* You Me & Apollo, "Oh Brother" Cards With Cheats (Self, 11)
* Hoots & Hellmouth, "Why Would You Not Want To Go There" Salt (Self, 11)
* Lera Lynn, "Gasoline" Have You Met Lera Lynn (Slow, 11)

2011-11-08T10:12:00.001-07:00

ROUTES & BRANCHES
November 5, 2011
Scott Foley

No fewer than four (4) hours of no-repeat americana nourishment on this week's Episode. While I'm no mathematician, I believe that's fifty-four (54) quality tunes for your Saturday afternoon and evening listening pleasure. And I still didn't get to everything I had hoped to air.

Especially pleased with so much recent, quality Colorado music, including very strong efforts by The Ghost of Michael Clark and You Me & Apollo. And Lizzie Huffman. Um ... and Ashley Raines, too. I had a dream a couple nights ago that I was arguing with another programmer that Oregon had a stronger music scene than Our Square State. I remember commenting wittily in my dream that somewhere in Rhode Island, there is likely a radio program called The Rhode Island Sound. Everybody's got to come from somewhere ... I'm just pleased to be able to devote one-ninth of this Episode to fine CO music, without compromise.

Speaking of the Minnesota Sound ... while I've entered at least a couple albums from Pert Near Sandstone into the library over the years, I don't know that I've ever deliberately aired one until now. Were my musical standards too high? Was I simply waiting for the band to mature a bit in the songwriting department, perhaps? Sadly, no. I just didn't like the band's name (which doesn't explain how a track from Doop & the Inside Outlaws landed on my playlist). Now that I've matured a bit, I beg Pert Near Sandstone's generous pardon, especially after a fine effort like their new Paradise Hop. Is there something in those 1000 Lakes that makes Minnesotans so fond of bluegrass played loud-n-fast, a'la Duluth's Trampled By Turtles? With banjo, fiddle and guitar just this side of in-tune, and harmonies careening recklessly off the tracks, you might even liken Pert Near Sandstone to the early Avetts.

Next Saturday, we're back to jamming as much of this great stuff into two too-short hours as we're able. Which makes me reach into my pocket to see if I've saved up enough yet to create that all-americana radio station I dream about (when I'm not dreaming about Colorado music ...). $4.27 ... well, it's a start.

* Lucero, "That Much Further West" That Much Further West (Tiger Style, 03)
* Joe Henry, "Odetta" Reverie (Anti, 11)
* Ashley Raines & New West Revue, "Crops Don't Rise" One Trick Mule (Idiom, 11)
* Catherine MacLellan, "Stealin'" Silhouette (True North, 11)
* Jakob Dylan, "Oh Mama Come Home" Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams (Columbia, 11)
* Ryan Adams, "Ashes & Fire" Ashes & Fire (Lost Hwy, 11)
^ Pert Near Sandstone, "Long Decline" Paradise Hop (PNS, 11)
* Fred Eaglesmith, "49 Tons" Drive-In Movie (Vertical, 95)
* Deep Dark Woods, "Back Alley Blues" Place I Left Behind (Sugar Hill, 11)
* Lizzie Huffman, "Drunken Mess" Pretty Old Soul (Suburban Home, 11)
* John Doe, "Walking Out the Door" Keeper (Yep Roc, 11)
* Gourds, "I Want It So Bad" Old Mad Joy (Vanguard, 11)
* Kathleen Edwards, "Empty Threat" Voyageur (Rounder, 11)
* Los Lobos, "Valley" Town & the City (Mammoth, 06)
* Honey Honey, "Angel of Death" Billy Jack (Lost Hwy, 11)
* R Mutt, "Beautiful Bad Day" Leash On Life (Self, 11)
* Danny Barnes, "Wine" Rocket (ATO, 11)
* V-Roys, "Sooner Or Later" Sooner Or Later (FAY, 11)
* Nikki Lane, "I Can't Be Satisfied" Walk Of Shame (I Am Bound, 11)
* Ghost of Michael Clark, "Thunder & Light" Bound To Break (Blank Tape, 11)
* Jayhawks, "Stand Out In the Rain" Mockingbird Time (Rounder, 11)
* Wood Brothers, "Mary Anna" Smoke Ring Halo (Self, 11)
* Deer Tick, "The Bump" Divine Providence (Partisan, 11)
* Patterson Hood, "I Understand Now" Murdering Oscar (Ruth St, 09)
* Hoots & Hellmouth, "Lay Low" Salt (Self, 11)
* Devil Makes Three, "Never Learn (live)" Stomp and Smash (Milan, 11)
* Ry Cooder, "Quick Sand" Pull Up Some Dust & Sit Down (Nonesuch, 11)
* Have Gun Will Travel, "13 Miles To Empty" Mergers & Acquisitions (Suburban Home, 11)
* Pieta Brown, "I Want It Back" Mercury (Red House, 11)
* Wailin' Jennys, "Some Good Thing" Firecracker (Red House, 06)
* You Me & Apollo, "Ink On Paper" Cards With Cheats (Self, 11)
* Tom Waits, "Face To the Highway" Bad As Me (Anti, 11)
* Chuck Prophet, "Castro Halloween" Temple Beautiful (tbd, 12)
* BR5-49, "Crazy Arms" BR5-49 (Arista, 96)
* Doop & the Inside Outlaws, "Not Too Late" What Am I Supposed To Do (Blood River, 11)
* Blitzen Trapper, "My Home Town" American Goldwing (Sub Pop, 11)
* Shelby Lynne, "Revelation Road" Revelation Road (Everso, 11)
* Lydia Loveless, "How Many Women" Indestructible Machine (Bloodshot, 11)
* Those Darlins, "Wild One" Those Darlins (Oh Wow Dang, 09)
* Honey Gitters, "Pork Butchers" Poor Gitters' Almanack (Self, 11)
* AA Bondy, "DRMZ" Believers (Fat Possum, 11)
* Barnstar, "Cowgirl In the Sand" C'Mon (Self, 11)
* Jason Boland & the Stragglers, "Down Here In the Hole" Rancho Alto (Proud Souls, 11)
* Scotty Alan, "Ain't Much" Wreck & the Mess (Spinout, 11)
* Frank Turner, "Peggy Sang the Blues" England Keep My Bones (Epitaph, 11)
* Constitution, "Pesos" Wrestling With the Daylight (Self, 11)
* Ray Wylie Hubbard, "Snake Farm" Snake Farm (Sustain, 06)
* Girls Guns & Glory, "1000 Times" Sweet Nothings (Lonesome Day, 11)
* Brigitte Demeyer, "Amen Said the Deacon" Rose Of Jericho (Self, 11)
* Rev John Delore, "North Georgia Fog" Little John the Conqueror (Norlantic, 11)
* Eilen Jewell, "Santa Fe" Queen Of the Minor Key (Signature Sounds, 11)
* Robert Plant, "House Of Cards" Band Of Joy (Rounder, 10)
* Felice Brothers, "Wonderful Life" Felice Brothers (Team Love, 08)
* Jason Webly, "Almost Time" Cost Of Living (11 Records, 08)

2011-10-30T11:03:00.001-06:00

ROUTES & BRANCHES

October 29, 2011

Scott Foley

Well, R&B listeners, you exceeded your goals for a second Saturday running, wrapping up KRFC's Fall 2011 Membership Drive. Folks for whom 9 straight days of Drive-time wasn't enough may still visit the station's web home to pledge your support. Thanks to all who support the good work we do at KRFC!

This coming Saturday, Nov 5, there's a good chance for a Very Special Episode of R&B -- a 4 hour megathon made possible by the fact that Andy will be unable to host his usual Road House Radio stint. If he proves unable to track down another sub, Routes will run from 4 until 8pm next weekend. While 4 hours is a long time to do anything let alone host an engaging and enlightening radio program, it might mark the first time in a good long while that I don't bring way too much music for my allotted time.

I also hope to make my first pass through my stack of 2011 playlists this week in hopes of gradually assembling my year-end favorites lists for albums and songs. With just two months remaining in our 2011, this gives me more than enough time to pass through the Twelve Steps of Creating a Year-End Favorites List (including procrastination, inspiration, delusion, fatigue, self-doubt, guilt, feelings of insignificance, prayer, renewed inspiration, lost sleep, more self-doubt, resignation and more ...). While the year has yielded a generosity of good albums, flushing out the great ones typically takes a bit of soul searching.

* Rev Peyton's Big Damn Band, "Walmart Killed the Country Store" Whole Fam Damily (Side 1 Dummy, 08)
* Tom Waits, "Raised Right Men" Bad As Me (Anti, 11)
* Lera Lynn, "Good Hearted Man" Have You Met Lera Lynn (Slow, 11)
* Devil Makes Three, "This Life" Stomp and Smash (Milan, 11)
* Slim Cessna's Auto Club, "Port Authority Band" Buried Behind the Barn (Alt. Tentacles, 10)
* Honey Honey, "Let's Get Wrecked" Billy Jack (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Trampled By Turtles, "Where Is My Mind" internet single (Banjodad, 11)
* Guy Forsyth, "Long Long Time" Love Songs For and Against (Self, 05)
* Ana Egge, "Motorcycle" Bad Blood (Ammal, 11)
* Kentucky Parlor Pickers, "Rosalie" Barn Burner (Self, 11)
* Constitution, "Pesos" Wrestling With the Daylight (Self, 11)
* Backsliders, "Lonesome Teardrops" Throwin Rocks At the Moon (Atlantic, 97)
* Danny Barnes, "Rich Boy Blues" Rocket (ATO, 11)
^ Deer Tick, "Main Street" Divine Providence (Partisan, 11)
* Black Keys, "Lonely Boy" El Camino (Nonesuch, 11)
* Kitty Daisy & Lewis, "I'm So Sorry" Smoking In Heaven (Verve, 11)
* Decemberists, "Foregone" Long Live the King (Capitol, 11)
* Waco Brothers, "Plenty Tough & Union Made" To the Last Dead Cowboy (Bloodshot, 96)
* Mosey West, "Stone By Stone" Vaca Money (Self, 11)
* Pine Hill Haints, "Desperation Blues" Welcome To the Midnight Opry (K, 11)
* Mike McClure, "Old Crow" Fifty Billion (598 Records, 11)
* Tom Russell, "Goodnight Juarez" Mesabi (Shout Factory, 11)

2011-10-24T07:57:00.001-06:00

ROUTES & BRANCHES

October 22, 2011

Scott Foley

First of two Episodes spent pounding the radio pavement for new and/or renewing KRFC members during our Fall 2011 Pledge Drive. Thanks to everyone who called in, we were able to exceed our projected goal for R&B. We'll have one more chance to chat about what it means to be a member of community radio like KRFC next Saturday from 4 until 6. Please spread the word about our Fall Membership Drive via your social media of choice. Having just rejiggered the station's programming vision, it's an important time to hear your support!

Fortunately, there's also some great music this week, capped off by a stellar new CD by Greensky Bluegrass. KRFC will bring the boys to Hodi's this Friday October 28 for what will likely be a fine pre-Halloween function. These are some very good musicians, pushing the 'grass boundaries way beyond their typical comfort level with horns, drums, extended explorations and songs called "I'd Probably Kill You", "Bring Out Your Dead" and "Blood Sucking F(r)iends", perfect for your roots music themed Halloween fete. Given my allergy to bluegrass, I respect folk who do this to the genre.

Also this week, we begin to excavate a new Deep Dark Woods disc, their first for a Big and Powerful Label. Danny Barnes has gone crazy again, plugging in his "bam-jo" for his heaviest record to date. Plus, strong new offerings from Honey Honey and Deer Tick.

* Kentucky Parlor Pickers, "Ruby Sue" Barn Burner (Self, 11)
* R Mutt, "Spinout" Leash On Life (Self, 11)
* Robert Earl Keen, "Ready For Confetti" Ready For Confetti (Lost Hwy, 11)
> Greensky Bluegrass, "Handguns" Handguns (Big Blue Zoo, 11)
* Deep Dark Woods, "Sugar Mama" Place I Left Behind (Sugar Hill, 11)
* Calexico, "Panic Open String" Garden Ruin (Cooperative, 06)
* Nikki Lane, "I Can't Be Satisfied" Walk Of Shame (I Am Bound, 11)
* Honey Gitters, "Freight Train To Georgia" Poor Gitters' Almanack (Self, 11)
* Uncle Tupelo, "Graveyard Shift" No Depression (Legacy, 90)
* Scott Biram, "Just Another River" Bad Ingredients (Bloodshot, 11)
* Pieta Brown, "Mercury" Mercury (Red House, 11)
* Lydia Loveless, "Can't Change Me" Indestructible Machine (Bloodshot, 11)
* Danny Barnes, "Wine" Rocket (ATO, 11)
* Mosey West, "Lonesome River" Vaca Money (Self, 11)
* Blitzen Trapper, "American Goldwing" American Goldwing (Sub Pop, 11)
* Honey Honey, "Angel Of Death" Billy Jack (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Derailers, "Guaranteed To Satisfy" Guaranteed To Satisfy (Palo Duro, 08)
* Deer Tick, "Main Street" Divine Providence (Partisan, 11)
* Patty Griffin, "No Bad News" Children Running Through (ATO, 07)
* Great American Taxi, "Gonna Make a Record" Paradise Lost (GATR, 11)
* Vince Gill & Rodney Crowell, "I Hope You Shed a Million Tears" Lost Notebooks Of Hank Williams (Columbia, 11)
* Rank and File, "Rank and File" Sundown (Slash, 82)

2011-10-16T13:14:00.003-06:00

ROUTES & BRANCHES
October 15, 2011
Scott Foley

First things, next week's Episode I will be requesting your support for Routes & Branches and for KRFC. Matter of fact, I'll apparently be doing that two weeks in a row. Wait. Don't make other plans. The music will be great as usual, and if you tend to put up with my ramblings on your average Saturday afternoon, you probably won't be too put off by next week's R&B. What's more, I truly believe in your traditional membership drive as a reasonable way to run a radio station. It's sometimes just a matter of how annoying the broadcaster is, and how grating their pitch. Every time I do this, I make a vow to be honest, to speak from a genuine place, rather than to simply read any provided script. I also do my best to avoid the rambling part ...

This week, enjoy the music of Joe Henry, one of our music's most literate and classy acts. His Reverie is just that, a dreamlike float, unstuck in time, containing patches of pop, jazz, gospel and folk, but fully belonging to no genre. It also seems to have been recorded with his windows thrown open, incorporating sounds of birds, snatches of conversation and the general hubbub of the neighborhood.

Also on this Episode, we pay a visit to Thursday evening's festivities at the 2011 Americana Honors & Awards show. More than the Grammys (and in a completely different universe than the Peoples Choice Awards ... ), these genre recognitions do demonstrate some integrity, even if my year-end stuff may vary. Robert Plant does deserve something for last year's terrific Band of Joy, and same goes for JT Earle's "Harlem River Blues". I was especially pleased to see the AMA make a play for relevancy with votes for the Brothers Avett and the Sons Mumford. My understanding is that an edited version of these Awards will be broadcast soon on select PBS stations. Worth your watching.

* Mumford & Sons, "White Blank Page" Sigh No More (Self, 10)
* Great American Taxi, "Olden Days" Paradise Lost (GATR, 11)
* Kasey Anderson, "Mercy" Heart of a Dog (Red River, 11)
* Pieta Brown, "Be With You" Mercury (Red House, 11)
^ Joe Henry, "Sticks & Stones" Reverie (Anti, 11)
* Neko Case, "Hold On Hold On (live)" Speaking Clock Revue (Shout Factory, 11)
* Buddy Miller, "Why Baby Why" Majestic Silver Strings (New West, 11)
* Kentucky Parlor Pickers, "Rosalie" Barn Burner (Self, 11)
* Red Molly, "By the Mark" Light In the Sky (Self, 11)
* Yarn, "Abilene" Come On In (UFO, 10)
* Megafaun, "Real Slow" Megafaun (Self, 11)
* Wilco, "Rising Red Lung" Whole Love (DBPM, 11)
* Lucinda Williams, "Get Right With God" Essence (Lost Hwy, 01)
* Scott Biram, "Open Road" Bad Ingredients (Bloodshot, 11)
* Patti Fiasco, "Plainsong" Patti Fiasco (Self, 11)
* Robert Plant, "Harm's Swift Way" Band of Joy (Rounder, 10)
* Jason Boland & the Stragglers, "Woody's Road" Rancho Alto (Proud Souls, 11)
* Lera Lynn, "Whiskey" Have You Met Lera Lynn (Slow, 11)
* Reckless Kelly, "Weatherbeaten Soul" Good Luck & True Love (No Big Deal, 11)
* Avett Brothers, "Dancing Daze" Four Thieves Gone (Ramseur, 07)
* Gill Landry, "Between Piety & Desire" Piety & Desire (Self, 11)
* Southern Culture On the Skids, "Undertaker" Zombified (Kudzu, 11)
* HalleyAnna, "Peace Is Lonely Love Is War" Country (Cheatham St, 11)
* Merle Haggard, "What I Hate" Working In Tennessee (Vanguard, 11)
* Justin Townes Earle, "Harlem River Blues" Harlem River Blues (Bloodshot, 10)

2011-10-09T09:16:00.000-06:00

ROUTES & BRANCHES

October 8, 2011

Scott Foley

I have taught workshops here and there about the "basics of bookselling". I advise book buyers to meet and exceed customers' expectations. Of course, a successful store should stock bestsellers and buzz titles. But a bookstore defines itself by the stuff shelved around those sure things. Likewise, as a program promising "the best of americana, alt.country and roots music," I'd be silly not to track americana chart-toppers like Robert Earl Keen, Tom Russell and Ryan Adams, for instance. But it's what I spin around those listener expectations that defines R&B.

I always know I'm on the right track when my wife walks into the room and comments in passing, "That doesn't sound like your kind of stuff." That's where this week's nods to strong new releases by Joe Henry, Megafaun and Wilco come into play. Let's face it, I'm not the first blogger to recognize the worth of Wilco's new Whole Love album. If I'm not mistaken, even my father has posted a take on the thing. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful project, even while it won't necessarily fit on every program airing our kind of music. For every brain-ripping guitar freakout like the one that closes out the seven-minute "Art of Almost", there is an almost straightforward song like "Open Mind", awash in the echo of steel guitar. Or Tweedy's subtle and spare "Rising Red Sun" or the gorgeous "One Sunday Morning".

I imagine much of the reason we permit Wilco to remain in our club is in tribute to Tweedy's past work as part of the first wave of alt.country artists twenty years ago. Joe Henry might qualify for that same exemption, as an artist whose work (even before Uncle Tupelo) hinted at the development of our genre. Although I would argue that much of his current work at least incorporates elements of roots music.

I once tripped across the website of a well-respected americana programmer who offered a list of genre basics, artists who belonged on any self-respecting show like mine. On this list, alongside your Earles and your Lucindas and your McMurtrys was the Beatles. To each their own, I suppose ...

* Avett Brothers, "When I Drink" The Gleam (Ramseur, 06)
* Austin Lucas, "Darkness Out of Me" New Home In the Old World (Last Chance, 11)
* Pieta Brown, "Glory To Glory" Mercury (Red House, 11)
* Pine Hill Haints, "Desperation Blues" Welcome To the Midnight Opry (K, 11)
* Mosey West, "Hell Hounds" Vaca Money (Self, 11)
* Joe Henry, "Odetta" Reverie (Anti, 11)
* Lucero, "What Else Would You Have Me Be" Rebels Rogues & Sworn Brothers (Liberty, 06)
* Ryan Adams, "Invisible Riverside" Ashes & Fire (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Lera Lynn, "Good Hearted Man" Have You Met Lera Lynn (Slow, 11)
* Great American Taxi, "Gonna Make a Record" Paradise Lost (GATR, 11)
* Alejandro Escovedo, "Irene Wilde" Bourbonitis Blues (Bloodshot, 99)
* Wood Brothers, "Shoofly Pie" Smoke Ring Halo (Self, 11)
* Whitehorse, "Broken" Whitehorse (Six Shooter, 11)
* Robert Earl Keen, "I Gotta Go" Ready For Confetti (Lost Hwy, 11)
* V-Roys, "No Regrets" Sooner Or Later (FAY, 11)
* Star Anna, "Bird Without Wings" Alone In This Together (Local 638, 11)
* Kathryn Mostow, "Give Me Something Good" Rich Girl (Self, 11)
* South Austin Jug Band, "Jack Ass" Strange Invitation (Self, 08)
^ Wilco, "Open Mind" Whole Love (DbPM, 11)
* Megafaun, "Resurrection" Megafaun (Self, 11)
* Devil Makes Three, "Tow (live)" Stomp and Smash (Milan, 11)
* R Mutt, "Beautiful Bad Day" Leash On Life (Self, 11)
* Lydia Loveless, "Bad Way To Go" Indestructible Machine (Bloodshot, 11)
* M Ward, "Magic Trick" Post-War (4AD, 06)
* Southern Culture On the Skids, "Zombified" Zombified (Kudzu, 11)
* Blind Pilot, "Keep You Right" We Are the Tide (Expunged, 11)
* Jason Boland & the Stragglers, "Down Here In the Middle" Rancho Alto (Proud Souls, 11)
* Tom Russell, "Hard Rains a-Gonna Fall" Mesabi (Shout Factory, 11)

2011-10-03T18:09:00.002-06:00

ROUTES & BRANCHES
September 29, 2011
Scott Foley

Special tx to Greg, who so ably took the mic this week and allowed me to hang with my book friends at this year's gathering of the regional independent bookselling thingy (MPIBA). Of course, in the wake of my absence there is typically a dangerous backup of unheard music pushing at the levees of next week's Episode. It's what I'd call an absurdity of new stuff.

Though I won't be posting a playlist this week, I felt moved to post a quick something about the new retrospective being released by the V-Roys. This criminally underrated quartet gave us both Scott Miller and Mic Harrison (and sorta John Paul Keith, too), and while their output was limited to two studio and one live album (96, 98 and 00), they deserve to be considered as among our seminal alt.country bands (tho they really didn't care for that moniker). Out of Knoxville, TN, they sounded like nobody else ... except maybe the Old 97s, who beat them into the studio by a couple years. Like the 97s, the V-Roys demonstrated a sharp appreciation for perfect pop hooks, paired with just the right amount of twang and bang. They were also one of the best dressed bands from our kind of music, and were produced and released by Ray Kennedy and Steve Earle. Sooner Or Later brings together a selection of representative tracks from their released albums, as well as a couple fine apocryphal bits. The band's site promises a one-off Knoxville reunion show on New Year's Eve of this year, exactly 12 years after the final V-Roys show.

Next week's Episode will feature a tune from that collection, as well as new trax from Joe Henry, Ryan Adams, CO's own Lizzie Huffman and more. Oh yes, there's always more ...

2011-09-26T18:02:00.002-06:00

ROUTES & BRANCHES

September 24, 2011

Scott Foley

Fort Collins band Mosey West won a contest thrown by Marquee Magazine earlier in the year. Their prize awarded them the privilege of free studio time in Boulder to record their debut CD. Apparently, the lack of pressure gave the trio the luxury to focus on their music. The resulting EP, Vaca Money, is refreshingly unadorned alt.country.

... and speaking of unadorned, the second best thing to hail from Milwaukee this year (go Brewers (said the disgruntled Mariners fan)), R Mutt has been together longer than I've been programmer R&B. Their bar-ready country rock is new to me, however.

Finally, Cowboy Junkies may have a hard time topping their Vic Chesnutt tribute album Demons, but the first cut from their third album in a year certainly sounds promising. The band has promised music from this collection will be "nasty" and "dirty", bringing to the fore the bluesy psychedelic explorations more familiar to CJ concertgoers than fans of their CDs.

* Jayhawks, "Pouring Rain At Dawn" Mockingbird Time (Rounder, 11)
* Matt the Electrician, "Faithfully" Animal Boy (Self, 09)
* Wood Brothers, "Mary Anna" Smoke Ring Halo (Self, 11)
* Zoe Muth, "I've Been Gone" Starlight Hotel (Signature Sounds, 11)
* Whiskey Bottles, "Love Is Never Easy" Ain't No Crime (Self, 10)
* Ry Cooder, "If There's a God" Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down (Nonesuch, 11)
* Gourds, "Eyes Of a Child" Old Mad Joy (Vanguard, 11)
* Whitehorse, "I'm On Fire" Whitehorse (Six Shooter, 11)
* Jim White, "Town Called Amen" Transnormal Skiperoo (Luaka Bop, 07)
* Blitzen Trapper, "American Goldwing" American Goldwing (Sub Pop, 11)
* HalleyAnna, "Peace Is Lonely Love Is War" Country (Cheatham St, 11)
* Cowboy Junkies, "Sing In My Meadow" Sing In My Meadow (Razor & Tie, 11)
* Dead Man Winter, "House Of Glory" Bright Lights (Banjodad, 11)
* Old Crow Medicine Show, "Methamphetamine" Tennessee Pusher (Nettwerk, 08)
* John Prine, "Souvenirs (demo)" Singing Mailman Delivers (Oh Boy, 11)
* Blind Pilot, "Keep You Right" We Are the Tide (Expunged, 11)
^ Mosey West, "Cold Prediction" Vaca Money (Self, 11)
* Band of Heathens, "Gris Gris Satchel" Top Hat Crown (BoH, 11)
* Lydia Loveless, "Steve Earle" Indestructible Machine (Bloodshot, 11)
* Tim Barry, "Bozeman" 28th & Stonewall (Suburban Home, 10)
* Robert Earl Keen, "Play a Train Song" Ready For Confetti (Lost Hwy, 11)
* R Mutt, "Beautiful Bad Day" Leash On Life (Self, 11)
* Nick Lowe, "Somebody Cares For Me" Old Magic (Yep Roc, 11)
* Brigitte DeMeyer, "This Fix I'm In" Rose of Jericho (Self, 11)
* Megafaun, "Resurrection" Megafaun (Self, 11)
* Kenny Vaughan, "Lillie Mae" Kenny Vaughan (Sugar Hill, 11)
* Reckless Kelly, "New Moon Over Nashville" Good Luck & True Love (No Big Deal, 11)

2011-09-19T18:24:00.003-06:00

ROUTES & BRANCHES

September 17, 2011

Scott Foley

AA Bondy's Believers really sounds nothing like his previous two albums. 2007's American Hearts was Joe Pug-like folk, with strum strum-a-strum acoustic guitar and earnest lyrics. When the Devil's Loose loosened things up a bit, but still was recognizable as the same guy. Believers is a good record, mind you, coming from a different place lyrically and musically. While the guitars are still there, they are electric, layered and atmospheric. Lyrics are less direct, too, dreamlike and more impressionistic. But it all works, perhaps like M Ward or Joe Henry at moments. While my initial listen to Believers found me double checking to make sure I'd inserted the correct CD, I have found myself returning to it, catching onto themes and floating atop the album's groove.

Also on this Episode of R&B, a fine collaboration between Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland under the guise of Whitehorse, and a great new track from Have Gun Will Travel, out soon on Suburban Home records.

* Elizabeth Cook w/Bobby Bare Jr, "Rest Your Weary Mind" Balls (30 Tigers, 07)
* Eric Lindell, "Sentimental Lover" West County Drifter (MC, 2011)
* Broken Spoke, "Vamps In the Valley" Before There Were Easy Riders (Self, 11)
* Duke & the King, "Shaky" Duke & the King (So, 11)
* Whitehorse, "Broken" Whitehorse (Six Shooter, 11)
* Reckless Kelly, "I Never Liked St Valentine" Good Luck & True Love (No Big Deal, 11)
* Nick 13, "101" Nick 13 (Sugar Hill, 11)
* Andy Thorn, "Carolina Song" Fire In the Sky (Self, 11)
* Verlon Thompson, "Show We Call the Business" Works (Victor Tango, 11)
* Tift Merritt, "Write My Ticket" Tambourine (Lost Hwy, 04)
* Ryan Adams, "Lucky Now" Ashes & Fire (Lost Hwy, 11)
* William Elliott Whitmore, "Not Feeling Any Pain" Field Songs (Anti, 11)
* Micky & the Motorcars, "Thousand Tears" Raise My Glass (Smith, 11)
* Bare Bones, "Come In/Stay Out" Bare Bones (Self, 11)
* Shelby Lynne, "I Don't Need a Reason To Cry" Revelation Road (Everso, 11)
^ AA Bondy, "Heart Is Willing" Believers (Fat Possum, 11)
* Lyle Lovett, "If I Needed You" Step Inside This House (MCA, 98)
* Ana Egge, "Bad Blood" Bad Blood (Ammal, 11)
* Lydia Loveless, "Can't Change Me" Indestructible Machine (Bloodshot, 11)
* Dirt Daubers, "Can't Go To Heaven" Wake Up Sinners (Colonel Knowledge, 11)
* Have Gun Will Travel, "Thirteen Miles" Mergers & Acquisitions (Suburban Home, 11)
* Brigitte DeMeyer, "Rose of Jericho" Rose of Jericho (Self, 11)
* James McMurtry, "Red River Valley" Dark River: Songs of the Civil War Era (Blue Corn, 11)
* Casey James Prestwood, "Drug Store Truck Driving Man" Jukebox Is Busted (Self, 11)
* Blitzen Trapper, "My Home Town" American Goldwing (Sub Pop, 11)
* Chuck Ragan, "Nothing Left To Prove" Covering Ground (Side One Dummy, 11)
* Water Tower Bucket Boys, "Meet Me Where the Crow Don't Fly" Where the Crow Don't Fly (Self, 11)

2011-09-12T18:49:00.004-06:00

ROUTES & BRANCHES

September 10, 2011

Scott Foley

Way back on January 21, 2010, I ran a Very Special Thursday Morning Mix highlighting my favorite albums of the decade. I stand behind it as one of the best shows I've aired. After the songlist, I added a couple more superlatives, among which was my favorite label of the decade. While I have to admit that it takes quite a music snob to even have a favorite label, I felt Bloodshot Records deserved some recognition for a decade well done.

While Bloodshot has had a much more uneven start to the second decade of the century, some hits, some less so, the Chicago label reminded me of its heyday with its most recent release, Lydia Loveless' Indestructible Machine. One of the things that first drew me to Bloodshot was the fact that underneath nearly every early release lay a consistent ethos. Their music sounded dangerous. Waco Brothers, Whiskeytown, Old 97s, Split Lip Rayfield. Music that might scare your grandmother, altho it was all inspired by stuff in your grandfather's collection. Reportedly from small town Ohio, Lydia Loveless' music makes alt.country sound dangerous again. So much that sets out to meld country music with punk spirit simply comes off sounding clownish and empty. Loveless' music sounds honest. And honestly dangerous. As a singer, her voice recalls classic country pipes, while at the same time spitting and growling and cursing - Bloodshot actually sent two discs: The original, as well as the censored, with sonic holes punched throughout (like where she advises to, "Write me a love letter / In the gravel with your piss ...").

So thank you, Bloodshot Records. For reminding me why I listen to this stuff.

* Stephen Simmons, "Empty Belly Blues No 32" Big Show (Locke Green, 11)
* Dirt Daubers, "Wake Up Sinners" Wake Up Sinners (Colonel Knowledge, 11)
* Drag the River, "Hang Dog" Hey Buddies (Moss Motors, 04)
* Brigitte DeMeyer, "Say Big Poppa" Rose of Jericho (Self, 11)
* Ryan Adams, "Lucky Now" Ashes & Fire (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Ryan Adams, "New York New York" Gold (Lost Hwy, 01)
* Nikki Lane, "Western Bound" Gone Gone Gone (I Am Sound, 11)
* AA Bondy, "Surfer King" Believers (Fat Possum, 11)
* Bare Bones, "White Rose" Bare Bones (Self, 11)
* Dave Alvin, "What's Up With Your Brother" Eleven Eleven (Yep Roc, 11)
* I See Hawks In LA, "Sexy Vacation" Shoulda Been Gold (American Beat, 09)
* Nick Lowe, "Sensitive Man" Old Magic (Yep Roc, 11)
* Frank Turner, "If Ever I Stray" England Keep My Bones (Epitaph, 11)
* Girls Guns & Glory, "Last Night I Dreamed" Sweet Nothings (Lonesome Day, 11)
* Richmond Fontaine, "Mechanic's Life" High Country (El Cortez, 11)
* Blitzen Trapper, "Love the Way You Walk Away" American Goldwing (Sub Pop, 11)
* Two Cow Garage, "Come Back To Shelby" Three (Shelterhouse, 07)
* Lindi Ortega, "Little Lie" Little Red Boots (Last Gang, 11)
* Railbenders, "Black Rose" Showdown (Self, 06)
* Oh Susanna, "Drunk As a Sailor" Soon the Birds (Outside, 11)
^ Lydia Loveless, "Steve Earle" Indestructible Machine (Bloodshot, 11)
* Yarn, "Hey Darlin" Leftovers Vol 1 (Ardsley, 11)
* Ry Cooder, "Lord Tell Me Why" Pull Up Some Dust (Nonesuch, 11)
* Robert Earl Keen, "Road Goes On and On" Ready For Confetti (New West, 11)
* Golden Smog, "V" Down By the Old Mainstream (Ryko, 96)
* Gourds, "Drop the Charges" Old Mad Joy (Vanguard, 11)
* Reckless Kelly, "Weatherbeaten Soul" Good Luck & True Love (No Big Deal, 11)
* Dawes, "If I Wanted Someone" Nothing Is Wrong (ATO, 11)
* Nick 13, "Nashville Winter" Nick 13 (Sugar Hill, 11)
* Andy Thorn, "Sweet Child Of Mine" Fire In the Sky (Self, 11)

2011-09-04T18:18:00.003-06:00

ROUTES & BRANCHES

September 3, 2011

Scott Foley

A satisfying assortment of new gems on this Episode of R&B. Colonel JD Wilkes hails originally from the Legendary Shack Shakers. With his bassist and with his wife, Wilkes has formed the Dirt Daubers, applying their own brand of grease to gospel standards and originals.

Nick Lowe seems one of the classiest, smoothest guys around, taking it easy on a perfect collection of ballads and pop/country pieces.

And Colorado's own Bare Bones reminds me of Over the Rhine or Hem with more of an edge (and a male vocalist).

This week's Best Thing Ever comes in the form of a long-awaited fifth release from Nashville transplant Brigitte DeMeyer. With equal parts New Orleans and Nashville, gospel and grit, she belongs on the shelf next to Patty Griffin and Kathleen Edwards as a singer and a songwriter.

* Bottle Rockets, "Kit Kat Clock (live)" Not So Loud (Bloodshot, 11)
* Truth & Salvage Co, "Heart Like a Wheel" Truth & Salvage Co (Silver Arrow, 10)
* Angela Easterling, "Fish & the Bird" Beguiler (De l'Est, 11)
* Old 97s, "Perfume" Grand Theatre Vol 2 (New West, 11)
* Bare Bones, "Come In/Stay Out" Bare Bones (Self, 11)
* Drive-by Truckers, "Easy On Yourself" Blessing & a Curse (New West, 06)
* Girls Guns & Glory, "1,000 Times" Sweet Nothings (Lonesome Day, 11)
* Ry Cooder, "If There's a God" Pull Up Some Dust (Nonesuch, 11)
* Jakob Dylan, "Nothing But the Whole Wide World" Women + Country (Columbia, 10)
* Robert Earl Keen, "Lay Down My Brother" Ready for Confetti (New West, 11)
* You Me & Apollo, "Oh Brother" Cards With Cheats (Self, 11)
* John Doe, "Giant Step Backward" Keeper (Yep Roc, 11)
* Justin Townes Earle, "What Do You Do When You're Lonesome" Good Life (Bloodshot, 08)
^ Brigitte DeMeyer, "This Fix I'm In" Rose of Jericho (Self, 11)
* Rod Picott, "Welding Burns" Welding Burns (Welding Rod, 11)
* Eric Hanke, "Factory Man" Factory Man (Ten Foot Texan, 10)
* Laura Cantrell, "Kitty Wells Dresses" Kitty Wells Dresses (Diesel Only, 11)
* Nick Lowe, "Checkout Time" Old Magic (Yep Roc, 11)
* Lyle Lovett, "Well All Right" Listen To Me: Buddy Holly (Verve, 11)
* Eric Lindell, "Cazadero" West County Drifter (MC, 11)
* Billy Bragg & Wilco, " Hoodoo Voodoo" Mermaid Avenue (Elektra, 98)
* Milk Carton Kids, "No Hammer To Hold" Prologue (Self, 11)
* Mindy Smith, "Taking You With Me" Our Idiot Brother Sndtk (ABKCO, 11)
* Jeff Bridges, "Maybe I Missed the Point" Jeff Bridges (Blue Note, 11)
* Lumineers, "Flowers In Your Hair" Lumineers (6cheek, 09)
* Dirt Daubers, "Angel Along the Tracks" Wake Up Sinners (Colonel Knowledge, 11)
* AA Bondy, "American Hearts" American Hearts (Superphonic, 07)
* Dead Man Winter, "Nicotine" Bright Lights (Banjodad, 11)
* Casey James Prestwood, "When the Grass Grows Over Me" Jukebox is Broken (Self, 11)

2011-08-27T19:20:00.002-06:00

ROUTES & BRANCHES

August 27, 2011

Scott Foley

"Why new music," asked one R&B listener. "What's wrong with the old stuff?" One entire wall of my living room is stacked floor-to-ceiling with CDs, most of them from years passed. My perfect radio show with run at least three hours, mixing the old with the new. As I used to say back in Oregon, "What's new ... and what matters to you in the world of americana, alt.country and roots music." Regrettably, I have only two hours at my disposal, and tend to pack that time with the first half of that equation. One of my goals for R&B as we head into the future is to achieve a more satisfying balance between what's landed in the mail recently and what's presently lining my living room walls.

In the meantime, highlights from this Episode include an advance cut from Tom Russell, with Lucinda Williams and Calexico. Micky & the Motorcars prove that, despite their dumb name, they're more than just the little brother of Reckless Kelly. Most importantly, John Doe deserves to be considered alongside Dave Alvin for Best California Alt.country Songwriter.

* Dolorean, "The Search" Violence In the Snowy Fields (Yep Roc, 04)
* Von Ehrics, "Down the Road Tonight" Two Foot Stomp (Lucky Buck, 11)
* Wood Brothers, "Smoke Ring Halo" Smoke Ring Halo (Self, 11)
* Eilen Jewell, "Santa Fe" Queen of the Minor Key (Signature Sounds, 11)
^ John Doe, "Lucky Penny" Keeper (Yep Roc, 11)
* Ray Bonneville, "Mississippi" Bad Man's Blood (Red House, 11)
* Slim Cessna's Auto Club, "Pine Box" Always Say Please (Alt Tentacles, 00)
* V-Roys, "Sooner Or Later" Sooner Or Later (FAY, 11)
* Jolie Holland, "Gold and Yellow" Pint of Blood (Anti, 11)
* Devil Makes Three, "Do Wrong Right" Do Wrong Right (Milan, 09)
* Ry Cooder, "No Banker Left Behind" Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down (Nonesuch, 11)
* John Howie Jr, "Watch Me Fall" Leavin' Yesterday (Hands Up, 11)
* Arliss Nancy, "Feedback" Dance To Forget (Dead Pigeon, 09)
* JD Malone & the Experts, "Still Love You" Avalon (It's About Music, 11)
* Nikki Lane, "Gone Gone Gone" Gone Gone Gone (I Am Sound, 11)
* Tom Russell, "Hard Rain" Mesabi (Shout Factory, 11)
* Eric Lindell, "Sentimental Lover" West County Drifter (MC, 11)
* Fred Eaglesmith, "Sweet Corn" Tinderbox (Major Label, 08)
* Stephen Simmons, "C'mon World" Big Show (Locke Green, 11)
* Ana Egge, "Chestnut Tree" Bad Blood (Ammal, 11)
* Son Volt, "Joe Citizen Blues" Okemah & the Melody of Riot (Legacy, 05)
* Ollabelle, "Brotherly Love" Neon Blue Bird (Thirty Tigers, 11)
* Milk Carton Kids, "I Still Want a Little More" Prologue (Self, 11)
* Tom Waits, "Bad As Me" Bad As Me (Anti, 11)
* Jonell Mosser, "I Can Give You Everything" Fortunes Lost Fortunes Told (City Hall, 11)
* Gillian Welch, "Tennessee" Harrow & the Harvest (Acony, 11)
* Micky & the Motorcars, "Thousand Tears" Raise My Glass (Smith, 11)
* Ken Wil Morton, "Breathe" True Grit (Sojourn, 10)
* Michael Fracasso, "Ada OK" Saint Monday (Self, 11)

2011-08-23T17:31:00.002-06:00

ROUTES & BRANCHES

August 20, 2011

Scott Foley

Could take a couple Episodes before "You're with Scott Foley on KRFC's Routes & Branches" rolls off my tongue like it once did. Can't promise that I'll ever abandon tripping over "KRVM" here and there. Old Habits. But I'm honestly thrilled to be back on Saturday afternoons (from 4 to 6 Mountain Time, spread the word), and there is a sort of liberation in not being part of a larger "Mix" operation. I'm now a self-contained entity.

For this inaugural Episode, this return to R&B, we looked a couple weeks down the road at some pending releases. Chuck Ragan is joined by Revival Tour companion Brian Fallon from Gaslight Anthem. Laura Marling begins her new tune in the same brit-folk vein as her previous CD, but pulls the sonic curtain aside to reveal a real live band by the song's end. Even better, our second glimpse at Blitzen Trapper's forthcoming album almost prompts me to reserve a spot on my year end favorites list ...

* Ryan Adams, "Peaceful Valley" Jacksonville City Nights (Lost Hwy, 05)
* Ana Egge, "Hole In Your Halo" Bad Blood (Ammal, 11)
* Dead Man Winter, "New Orleans" Bright Lights (Banjodad, 11)
* Deer Tick, "Miss K" Divine Providence (Partisan, 11)
* Bonnie & the Beard, "Lonely Hills" Bonnie & the Beard (Self, 11)
* Chuck Ragan, "Meet You In the Middle" Covering Ground (Side One Dummy, 11)
* Bottle Rockets, "Smokin' 100s Alone (live)" Not So Loud (Bloodshot, 11)
* Pieta Brown, "Mercury" Mercury (Red House, 11)
* Hickman Dalton Gang, "(Come On Back To) Stockton" Hickman Dalton Gang Vol 2 (Self, 11)
* Ollabelle, "One More Time" Neon Blue Bird (Thirty Tigers, 11)
* Laura Marling, "Sophia" Creature I Don't Know (Self, 11)
* Ray Bonneville, "Good Times" Bad Man's Blood (Red House, 11)
* Tom Waits, "Long Way Home" Orphans (Anti, 06)
* Steve Cropper w/Lucinda Williams, "Dedicated To the One I Love" Dedicated (429, 11)
* Paper Bird, "Dear Friend" Carry On (Long Spoon, 11)
* Milk Carton Kids, "No Hammer To Hold" Prologue (Self, 11)
* Elmo Buzz, "Ways and Means" Shit Sandwich (Self, 11)
* Jeff Bridges, "Everything But Love" Jeff Bridges (Blue Note, 11)
* Shelby Lynne, "Revelation Road" Revelation Road (Everso, 11)
* Old Californio, "Better Yet" Sundrunk Angels (Self, 11)
* Blitzen Trapper, " Love the Way You Walk Away" American Goldwing (Sub Pop, 11)
* Richard Buckner, "Traitor" Our Blood (Merge, 11)
* Jonny Corndawg, "Shaved (Like a Razor)" Down On the Bikini Line (Nasty Memories, 11)
* Shooter Jennings, "Outlaw You" Outlaw You (Self, 11)
* William Elliott Whitmore, "Don't Need It" Field Songs (Anti, 11)
* Kasey Chambers, "Beautiful Mess" Little Bird (Essence, 11)

2011-08-04T12:42:00.005-06:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX
August 4, 2011
Scott Foley

Unexpectedly, this marked what will likely be my final morning at the helm of the Thursday Morning Mix. After weighing my options, I decided to go all-in with Routes & Branches and allow another programmer a turn at the retooled Thursday Morning Mix mix. So next time you hear me will be for my Routes & Branches re-debut on Saturday, August 20 from 4 to 6pm. While I enjoy any time I spend behind the mic, it seems that making the drive from the Greater Longmont Metro Area to FoCo twice per week might be one trip too many. Thanks to all who have kept me company on TMM, and Follow Me!

For this Very Special Episode of TMM, we dip into a rootsy new release from the Wood Brothers. Bottle Rockets unplug for a live, acoustic set. And we still have room for some prime alt.country from Girls Guns & Glory.

* Jeff Bridges, "What a Little Bit of Love Can Do" Jeff Bridges (Blue Note, 11)
* Gurf Morlix, "Oh Darlin" Blaze Foley's 113th Wet Dream (Rootball, 10)
* Bonnie & the Clydes, "Make Up Your Mind" Bonnie & the Clydes (Self, 11)
* JD Malone & the Experts, "Just Like New" Avalon (It's About Music, 11)
* Bottle Rockets, "Early in the Morning (live)" Not So Loud (Bloodshot, 11)
* Bottle Rockets, "Gravity Fails (live)" Not So Loud (Bloodshot, 11)
^ Girls Guns & Glory, "Baby's Got a Dream" Sweet Nothings (Lonesome Day, 11)
* Great American Taxi, "Blair Mountain" internet single (Self, 11)
* Guy Clark, "Magnolia Wind (live)" Songs & Stories (Dualtone, 11)
* Frank Turner, "Peggy Sang the Blues" England Keep My Bones (Epitaph, 11)
* Ana Egge, "Driving With No Hands" Bad Blood (Ammal, 11)
* Wood Brothers, "Smoke Ring Halo" Smoke Ring Halo (Self, 11)
* Kasey Chambers, "Devil On Your Back" Little Bird (Essence, 11)
* Nathaniel Rateliff, "You Should've Seen the Other Guy" In Memory of Loss (Rounder, 10)
* Oh Susanna, "Long Black Train" Soon the Birds (Outside, 11)
* Hadden Sayers, "Take Me Back to Texas" Hard Dollar (Blue Corn, 11)
* Joe Ely, "Live Forever" Satisfied At Last (Rack 'Em, 11)
* Dawes, "Coming Back To a Man" Nothing Is Wrong (ATO, 11)
* Blitzen Trapper, "American Goldwing" American Goldwing (Sub Pop, 11)
* Jayhawks, "Hide Your Colors" Mockingbird Time (Rounder, 11)
* Musketeer Gripweed, "Parchment Farm" Dyin' Day (Self, 11)
* Los Lobos, "And It Didn't Even Bring Me Down" Keep Your Soul: Tribute To Doug Sahm (Vanguard, 09)
* Jill Andrews, "Sinking Ship" Mirror (Liam, 11)
* William Elliott Whitmore, "Let's Do Something Impossible" Field Songs (Anti, 11)
* Slaid Cleaves, "No Angel Knows (live)" Sorrow & Smoke (Music Road, 11)
* Yarn, "Losers Lullaby" Leftovers Vol 1 (Ardsley, 11)
* Kirsten Jones, "Hold Me Closer" Mad Mile (Factor, 11)

2011-07-28T18:51:00.002-06:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

July 28, 2011

Scott Foley

Next Thursday marks my final Episode of TMM as we've known it. Beginning Thursday, August 11, listeners will hear a new, "Triple A Hybrid" sound throughout the day on KRFC. With shiny new equipment and a wider approach to our music, I'm looking forward to the evolution. As mentioned last week, I'm especially eager to debut my new/old Saturday program on KRFC, Routes & Branches. Because KRFC will be broadcasting the New West Fest on Saturday the 13th, the inaugural, return Episode for R&B will happen on August 20th. Beginning then, this blog will post playlists for my Saturday show, as opposed to my Thursday program (for which playlists will be posted on the station's website krfcfm.org).

On today's Episode, one of my favorite tunes of the year comes from Duke & the King's forthcoming release, with a sax solo and the classy, "C'mon and shake that country ass" refrain ... Roadside Graves' new album is sounding quite promising, as is the first glimpse at John Doe's Keeper. This week's Best Thing Ever nod is directed at Oh Susanna, whose Soon the Birds marks a strong step forward for the artist.

* Mickey Newbury, "Good Morning Dear (Alternate Version)" American Trilogy (Drag City, 11)

* Hickman Dalton Gang, "Elizabeth" Hickman Dalton Gang Vol 2 (Self, 11)

* Dawes, "If I Wanted Someone" Nothing Is Wrong (ATO, 11)

* Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside, "Thirteen Years Old" Dirty Radio (Partisan, 11)

* John Howie Jr & Rosewood Bluff, "Handful of Heartaches" Leavin' Yesterday (Hands Up, 11)

* Slaid Cleaves, "Horseshoe Lounge (live)" Sorrow & Smoke (Music Road, 11)

* Tin Horn Prayer, "Better Living" Get Busy Dying (Suburban Home, 10)

* Kasey Chambers, "Love Like a Hurricane" Little Bird (Essence, 11)

* Billy Bragg & Wilco, "California Stars" Mermaid Avenue (Elektra, 98)

* Yarn, "Heartache For So Long" Leftovers Vol 1 (Ardsley, 11)

* Roadside Graves, "Love Me More" We Can Take Care Of Ourselves (Autumn Tone, 11)

* Guy Clark, "If I Needed You (live)" Songs & Stories (Dualtone, 11)

* Leftover Salmon, "Just Before the Evening (live)" Celebrating 20 Years (Self, 09)

* Jolie Holland, "Gold & Yellow" Pint of Blood (Merge, 11)

* Jayhawks, "Guilder Annie" Mockingbird Time (Rounder, 11)

* Drive-by Truckers, "Outfit" Decoration Day (New West, 03)

* Angela Easterling, "Married Man" Beguiler (De l'est, 11)

* Richard Buckner, "Collusion" Our Blood (Merge, 11)

* Ana Egge, "There Won't Be Anymore" Bad Blood (Ammal, 11)

* John Hiatt, "Hold On For Your Love" Dirty Jeans & Mudslide Hymns (New West, 11)

* Duke & the King, "Shaky" Long Live the Duke & the King (Loose, 11)

* Patti Fiasco, "Nobody's Girl" Patti Fiasco (Self, 11)

* Pokey LaFarge, "Ain't the Same" Middle of Everywhere (Free Dirt, 11)

* Stephen Simmons, "C'mon World" Big Show (Locke Green, 11)

* John Doe, "Giant Step Backward" Keeper (Yep Roc, 11)

* Eilen Jewel, "Queen of the Minor Key" Queen of the Minor Key (Signature Sounds, 11)

^ Oh Susanna, "Drunk As a Sailor" Soon the Birds (Outside, 11)

* Dave Alvin, "Manzanita" Eleven Eleven (Yep Roc, 11)

* Jeff Bridges, "What a Little Bit of Love Can Do" Jeff Bridges (Blue Note, 11)

2011-07-21T15:03:00.003-06:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

July 21, 2011

Scott Foley

The Earle-Moorer household has befriended fellow Brooklynite Ana Egge on her excellent new CD, Bad Blood. Produced by Steve Earle and featuring Allison Moorer, it marks Egge's rootsiest album to date. The songwriter's lazy, honeyed voice has previously served her well on more jazz, folk and pop leaning releases, and it fits perfectly here. Also welcome are Moorer's lovely backing vocals and frequently fine fiddle by Eleanor Whitmore. Egge's sixth release is a great step forward, and one of 2011's finest efforts to date.

Not so incidentally, this is a time of great change at KRFC, and our fine Morning Mix program will bear the banner in large part. Beginning in August, you'll begin to hear a new spirit to KRFC, with a more accessible sound and a wider but more consistent range of music during the daytime hours. You might think of it as an "adult contemporary roots hybrid," or you might just think of it as much more of a much better thing. As for my part, I will still be anchoring Thursday mornings, and many of the Morning Mix personalities will still be around to enjoy this transition with you.

Better yet, consider this the herald of the return of Routes & Branches as a stand-alone program! Launching Saturday, August 20, most likely from 4-6pm, Routes & Branches will be the new home for "the best of americana, alt.country and roots music" on KRFC. If you like what you've been hearing on the Thursday Morning Mix, stick around. I have a feeling you'll like what we've done with the place. And by all means, tune into the return of Routes & Branches on 8/20, and please spread the word to your friends. I really do believe it's the best show of its kind. Period.

* Pine Hill Haints, "Whiskey Broke My Fall" Cold Cold Heart (Arkam, 10)

* Haunted Windchimes, "Wanderin' Heart" Live At the Western Jubilee (Blank Tape, 11)

* Old 97s, "Perfume" Grand Theatre Vol 2 (New West, 11)

* G Love, "The Road" Fixin' To Die (Brushfire, 11)

* Railroad Earth, "Good Life" Good Life (Sugar Hill, 04)

* Robert Earl Keen, "I Gotta Go" Ready For Confetti (New West, 11)

* Kasey Chambers, "Little Bird" Little Bird (Sugar Hill, 11)

* Frank Turner, "If Ever I Stray" England Keep My Bones (Epitaph, 11)

* Jayhawks, "Closer To Your Side" Mockingbird Time (Rounder, 11)

* Mary Chapin Carpenter, "Jubilee" Stones In the Road (Columbia, 94)

* Vetiver, "Ride Ride Ride" Errant Charm (Sub Pop, 11)

* Great American Taxi, "Blair Mountain" Blair Mountain (Self, 11)

* Yarn, "Honeybear" Leftovers Vol 1 (Ardsley, 11)

* Pokey LaFarge, "Drinkin' Whiskey Tonight" Middle of Everywhere (Free Dirt, 11)

* Gillian Welch, "Scarlet Town" Harrow & the Harvest (Acony, 11)

* Imelda May, "Pulling the Rug" Mayhem (Decca, 11)

* Will Hoge, "When I Get My Wings" Number Seven (Ryko, 11)

* Lyle Lovett, "You've Been So Good To Me Up To Now" Joshua Judges Ruth (MCA, 92)

* Gourds, "I Want It So Bad" Old Mad Joy (Vanguard, 11)

* Star Anna, "Shine" Alone In This Together (Local 638, 11)

* Patti Fiasco, "Bottle Of Wine" Patti Fiasco (Self, 11)

* Kirsten Jones, "I Don't Want To Live Like This" Mad Mile (Factor, 11)

* Steel Wheels, "Walk This Way For Awhile" Live At Goose Creek (Goose Creek, 11)

* Ryan Adams, "Pearls On a String" Easy Tiger (Lost Hwy, 07)

* Blitzen Trapper, "American Goldwing" American Goldwing (Sub Pop, 11)

* JD Malone & the Experts, "Silver From" Avalon (It's About Music, 11)

* William Elliott Whitmore, "Bury Your Burdens In the Ground" Field Songs (Anti, 11)

> Ana Egge, "Hole In Your Halo" Bad Blood (Ammal, 11)

* Roadside Graves, "Double Feature" We Can Take Care of Ourselves (Autumn Tone, 11)

2011-07-15T18:51:00.003-06:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

July 14, 2011

Scott Foley

Most artists prefer to perform safe atop a bed of accompaniment: Drums, bass, keys, et al. For William Elliott Whitmore, there's typically just a banjo and a voice. On WEW's wonderful new Field Songs, he adds birds and crickets like you might hear ... well, out in a field. And the music never comes across as lacking. The singer-songwriter gives one song a booming bass drum, and he plugs in his electric guitar for the final one.

Certainly another of the year's best comes from Eilen Jewell, who delivers the album of her career (so far). Also on this Episode, a new direction for Amy LaVere, and Dead Man Winter features a member of Trampled By Turtles.

* Dex Romweber Duo, "Redemption" Is That You In the Blue (Bloodshot, 11)

* Patti Fiasco, "Wyoming Is For Lovers" Patti Fiasco (Self, 11)

* John Hiatt, "Adios To California" Dirty Jeans & Mudslide Hymns (New West, 11)

* David Mayfield, "I Just Might Pray" Parade (9th Grade, 11)

* Eilen Jewell, "Santa Fe" Queen of the Minor Key (Signature Sounds, 11)

* Madeleine Peyroux, "I Threw It All Away" Standing On the Rooftop (Rounder, 11)

* Bottle Rockets, "Hard Times" Lean Forward (Bloodshot, 09)

* Jeff Bridges, "What a Little Bit of Love Can Do" Jeff Bridges (Blue Note, 11)

* Hickman Dalton Gang, "Elizabeth" Hickman Dalton Gang Vol 2 (Self, 11)

* Jolie Holland, "Little Birds" Pint of Blood (Anti, 11)

* Hadden Sayers, "All I Want Is You" Hard Dollar (Blue Corn, 11)

* JD Malone & the Experts, "Just Like New" Avalon (It's About Music, 11)

^ William Elliott Whitmore, "Let's Do Something Impossible" Field Songs (Anti, 11)

* Patty Griffin, "Long Ride Home" 1000 Kisses (ATO, 02)

* Blackie & the Rodeo Kings, "Heart a Mine" Kings & Queens (File Under Music, 11)

* Paper Bird, "Sounds Like Rain" Carry On (Long Spoon, 11)

* Felice Brothers, "Best I Ever Had" Celebration Florida (Fat Possum, 11)

* Jimmie Dale Gilmore & the Wronglers, "I'm Thinking Tonite of My Blue Eyes" Heirloom Music (Neanderthal, 11)

* Dead Man Winter, "Golden" Bright Lights (Banjodad, 11)

* Dylan LeBlanc, "If the Creek Don't Rise" Pauper's Field (Rough Trade, 10)

* Laura Cantrell, "Poison In Your Heart" Kitty Wells Dresses (Diesel Only, 11)

* Lucinda Williams, "Get Right With God" Essence (Lost Hwy, 01)

* Bonnie & the Beard, "Lonely Hills" Bonnie & the Beard (Self, 11)

* Amy LaVere, "Great Divide" Stranger Me (Archer, 11)

* Robert Ellis, "Comin' Home" Photographs (New West, 11)

* Pokey LaFarge, "So Long Honeybee Goodbye" Middle of Everywhere (Free Dirt, 11)

* Those Darlins, "Screws Get Loose" Screws Get Loose (Oh Wow Dang, 11)

* Cory Chisel & the Wandering Sons, "Born Again" Death Won't Send a Letter (RCA, 09)

2011-07-08T08:37:00.004-06:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

July 7, 2011

Scott Foley

The last couple weeks have gifted us with a handful of strong Colorado releases in a year that could use a couple more. New stuff on this Episode from The Patti Fiasco, Paper Bird, Hickman-Dalton Gang and Bonnie & the Beard.

Appropriately, there is nobody named "Bonnie" in that group, and only one member sports a beard of any note. What the trio does have is an original sound that mixes gritty blues, indie rock and a certain gypsy/circus spirit.

In the midst of their respective busy careers, Johnny Hickman and Jim Dalton has managed to issue Vol 2 of their recorded collaboration. Dalton presently serves as guitarist for Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers, and is still a cardholding Railbender, while Hickman is most notably a founder of Cracker, along with several solo and side-projects. Vol 2 demonstrates a more rowdy, upbeat spirit in comparison with their debut recording. Especially classy (and representative) is "Let's Toke the Whole Day Off".

Paper Bird's new album is a concert recording of a song cycle written for a Colorado Ballet Company. To their credit, the music stands alone without the presence of the dancers, expanding the band's influences from folk to world and classical music. Paper Bird has always been driven by the group's original multi-layered vocal mix, but their new effort is equally impressive as an instrumental statement.

Finally, the Patti Fiasco's self-titled full-length arrives as one of the strongest Colorado albums of 2011 for our kind of music. Alysia Kraft is a stellar frontperson, and has established herself as a terrific alt.country songsmith. Like this Episode's other recordings, it's not simply good Colorado music, it's good music, period.

* Ryan Bingham, "Bread & Water" Mescalito (Lost Hwy, 07)
* Gary Nicholson, "Fallin' & Flyin'" Texas Songbook (Bismeaux, 11)
* Robert Ellis, "Friends Like These" Photographs (New West, 11)
^ Patti Fiasco, "Nobody's Girl" Patti Fiasco (Self, 11)
* Chuck Ragan, "For Goodness Sake" Gold Country (Side One Dummy, 09)
* Jolie Holland, "All Those Girls" Pinto of Blood (Anti, 11)
* Rod Picott, "Sheetrock Hanger" Welding Burns (Welding Rod, 11)
* Eilen Jewell, "Queen of the Minor Key" Queen of the Minor Key (Signature Sounds, 11)
* Paper Bird, "Dear Friend" Carry On (Long Spoon, 11)
* Old 97s, "Brown Haired Daughter" Grand Theatre Vol 2 (New West, 11)
* Matt Bauer, "Morning Stars" Jessamine County Book of the Living (Crossbill, 11)
* John Hiatt, "Train To Birmingham" Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns (New West, 11)
* Amanda Shires, "Kudzu" Carrying Lightning (Self, 11)
* Catherine MacLellan, "Old tin Can" Silhouette (True North, 11)
* Hadden Sayers, "Take Me Back To Texas" Hard Dollar (Blue Corn, 11)
* Cody Canada & the Departed, "If You're Ever In Oklahoma" This Is Indian Land (30 Tigers, 11)
* Hickman Dalton Gang, "(Come Back To) Stockton" Hickman Dalton Gang Vol 2 (Self, 11)
* Kasey Chambers, "Sweetest Waste of Time" Rattlin' Bones (Sugar Hill, 08)
* JD Malone & the Experts, "Silver From" Avalon (It's About Music, 11)
* JD McPherson, "Scratching Circles" Signs & Signifiers (Self, 11)
* Dave Alvin, "What's Up With Your Brother" Eleven Eleven (Yep Roc, 11)
* John Howie Jr & Rosewood Bluff, "Trying Not To Think" Leavin' Yesterday (Hands Up, 11)
* Frank Turner, "Peggy Sang the Blues" England Keep My Bones (Epitaph, 11)
* Bonnie & the Beard, "Lonely Hills" Bonnie & the Beard (Self, 11)
* John Doe & the Sadies, "I Still Miss Someone" Country Club (Yep Roc, 09)
* Jackrabbit, "Falling Is Mine" Jackrabbit (Self, 11)
* Matt the Electrician, "Pioneer Bride" Accidental Thief (Self, 11)
* Angela Easterling, "Fish & the Bird" Beguiled (De l'Est, 11)
* Dawes, "Million Dollar Bill" Nothing Is Wrong (ATO, 11)

2011-07-02T13:55:00.004-06:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

June 30, 2011

Scott Foley

* Robert Earl Keen, "Flyin' Shoes" Rose Hotel (Lost Hwy, 09)
* Lindi Ortega, "Blue Bird" Little Red Boots (Last Gang, 11)
* Kim Richey, "Leaving 49" Wreck Your Wheels (Thirty Tigers, 10)
* Bob Dylan, "Someday Baby" Modern Times (Columbia, 06)
* Hickman Dalton Gang, "Mr Wrong" Hickman Dalton Gang Vol 2 (Self, 11)
* Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, "Codeine" Here We Rest (Lightning Rod, 11)
* Robyn Ludwick, "Out of These Blues" Out of These Blues (Late Show, 11)
* Jolie Holland, "Devil's Sake" Pint of Blood (Anti, 11)
* Paper Bird, "Dear Friend" Carry On (Self, 11)
* Gillian Welch, "Scarlet Town" Harrow & the Harvest (Acony, 11)
* Trampled By Turtles, "Wait So Long" Palomino (Banjodad, 10)
* Amos Lee, "Windows Are Rolled Down" Mission Bell (Blue Note, 11)
* Tom Russell, "Mesabi" Mesabi (Shout Factory, 11)
* Jayhawks, "She Walk In So Many Ways" Mockingbird Time (Rounder, 11)
* Greg Brown, "Where Are You Going When You're Gone" Freak Flag (Yep Roc, 11)
* Star Anna, "Wolves In Disguise" Alone In This Together (Local 638, 11)
* Jon Snodgrass, "Campaign Song 93" Tri-State Record (Paper & Plastick, 11)
* Jill Andrews, "Sinking Ship" Mirror (Liam, 11)
* Grayson Capps, "Highway 42" Lost Cause Minstrels (Royal Potato Family, 11)
* Patti Fiasco, "Bottle Of Wine" Patti Fiasco (Self, 11)
* Vetiver, "Wonder Why" Errant Charm (Sub Pop, 11)
* Howe Gelb, "Uneven Light of Day" Alegrias (Fire, 11)
* Eilen Jewell, "Santa Fe" Queen of the Minor Key (Signature Sounds, 11)
^ John Howie Jr & Rosewood Bluff, "Watch Me Fall" Leavin' Yesterday (Hands Up, 11)
* The O's, "In Numbers We Survive" Between the Two (Idol, 11)
* Justin Townes Earle, "Harlem River Blues" Harlem River Blues (Bloodshot, 10)
* Laura Cantrell, "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" Kitty Wells Dresses (Diesel Only, 11)

2011-06-26T08:21:00.005-06:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

June 23, 2011

Scott Foley

Using both hands, I can see that we're almost exactly halfway thru the year 2011. This prompts the listmaker in me to collect my playlists for each week and subject TMM listeners to my Favorite CDs of 2011 (So Far ( ... and subject to radical change upon a whim)(but by no means in order of favorites (rather, in order of appearance)) ( ... and I'll try to keep it to 20 of 'em)):

. Caitlin Rose, Sinful Wishing Well
. Only Sons, American Stranger
^ Kasey Anderson, Heart of a Dog
. Drive-by Truckers, Go-Go Boots
. Decemberists, King Is Dead
. Hayes Carll, KMAG YOYO
. Kasey Chambers, Little Bird
. Dolorean, Unfazed
. Low Anthem, Smart Flesh
. Middle Brother, Middle Brother
. Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, Here We Rest
. Israel Nash Gripka, Barn Doors & Concrete Floors
. Amanda Shires, Carrying Lightning
. Emmylou Harris, Hard Bargain
. Michael Fracasso, Saint Monday
. Lindi Ortega, Little Red Boots
. Matt the Electrician, Accidental Thief
. Felice Brothers, Celebration Florida
. Star Anna, Alone In This Together
. Robert Ellis, Photographs

Cohorts have opined both that this is a good year and a bad year for our kind of music. I'd like to propose that it's one of the strongest in recent memory, with worthy offerings from established names and enough debuts to keep folks with a short musical attention span (like me) occupied.

* Madeleine Peyroux, "I Threw It All Away" Standing On the Rooftop (Rounder, 11)
* Boulder Acoustic Society, "Until Then" Punchline (9 Mile, 09)
* Zoe Muth & the Lost High Rollers, "Come Inside" Starlight Hotel (Signature Sounds, 11)
* Dave Alvin, "Gary Indiana 1959" Eleven Eleven (Yep Roc, 11)
* Neil Young, "Amber Jean (live)" International Harvest (Reprise, 11)
* Justin Townes Earle, "Maybe Baby" Rave On Buddy Holly (Concord, 11)
* Band of Heathens, "Polaroid" Top Hat Crown ... (BoH, 11)
* Haunted Windchimes, "Lordy Lordy" Live at the Western Jubilee (Blank Tape, 11)
* Cody Canada & the Departed, "Long Way To Nowhere" This Is Indian Land (30 Tigers, 11)
* Emmylou Harris, "New Orleans" Hard Bargain (Nonesuch, 11)
* Jayhawks, "She Walks In So Many Ways" Mockingbird Time (Rounder, 11)
* American Gun, "1500 Jessicas" Therapy (Jangly, 11)
* Jessica Lea Mayfield, "Blue Skies Again" Tell Me (Nonesuch, 11)
* Radical Knitting Circle, "Tum" When Bees No Longer Fly ... (Self, 11)
* Michael Fracasso, "Elizabeth Lee" Saint Monday (Self, 11)
* Guy Clark, "LA Freeway" Old #1 (Sugar Hill, 75)
* Robert Ellis, "Comin' Home" Photographs (New West 11)
* Eilen Jewell, "Queen of the Minor Key" Queen of the Minor Key (Signature Sounds, 11)
* Civil Wars, "Poison & Wine" Barton Hollow (Dualtone, 10)
* Catherine MacLellan, "Stealin'" Silhouette (True North, 11)
* Israel Nash Gripka, "Four Winds" Barn Doors & Concrete Floors (Self, 11)
* Richmond Fontaine, "Mechanic's Life" High Country (Self, 11)
* Matt Bauer, "Blacklight Horses" Jessamine County Book of the Living (Crossbill, 11)
* Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside, "Danger" Dirty Radio (Partisan, 11)
* Gillian Welch, "Way It Goes" Harrow & the Harvest (Acony, 11)
* Jill Andrews, "Little Less" Mirror (Liam, 11)
* Matt the Electrician, "All I Know" Accidental Thief (Self, 11)
* Brian Wright, "Rich Man's Blues" House On Fire (Sugar Hill, 11)
* Amy Black, "Whiskey and Wine" One Time (Reuben, 11)

2011-06-16T18:25:00.003-06:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

June 16, 2011

Scott Foley

Sometimes I listen to music with the impression that what I'm hearing has a "retro" sound that I can't quite put into intelligent words. Such is the case with the debut of Houston artist Robert Ellis. The questionably helpful paperwork accompanying my copy of Photographs quoted the New York Times thusly: "Equally inspired by Jackson Browne and George Jones." I respectfully disagree. What I do hear is an unusually talented young songwriter who knows where Texas music has been. Moreover, Ellis will play a part in where it is going.

This Episode also celebrates the new incarnation of Seattle's Tony Fulghum. Formerly the voice behind North Twin, his new trio, Jackrabbit, trades in a slightly less alt. but no less impressive version of country.

* Gourds, "Ragged Roses" Ghosts of Hallelujah (Sugar Hill, 99)
* Jim Lauderdale, "Jack Dempsey's Crown" Reason and Rhyme (Sugar Hill, 11)
* Foster & Lloyd, "Picasso's Mandolin" It's Already Tomorrow (Effin Ell, 11)
* Dead Rock West, "God Moves on the Water" Bright Morning Stars (Red River, 11)
* Mountain Standard Time, "Fork" Mountain Standard Time (Self, 11)
* Grayson Capps, "Jane's Alley Blues" Lost Cause Minstrels (Royal Potato Family, 11)
* Calexico, "Frank's Tavern" Man of Somebody's Dreams (Yep Roc, 09)
* David Wax Museum, "Yes Maria Yes" Everything Is Saved (Self, 11)
* Joe Ely, "You Can Bet I'm Gone" Satisfied At Last (Rack 'Em, 11)
* Matraca Berg, "Your Husband's Cheating On Us" Dreaming Fields (Dualtone, 11)
* Victoria Williams, "Train Song (Demise of the Caboose)" Musings of a Creekdipper (Atlantic, 98)
* Dawes, "Time Spent In Los Angeles" Nothing Is Wrong (ATO, 11)
* Surplus Cheaper Hands, "Restless Heart" It's Your Parade (Self, 11)
* Black Lillies, "Peach Pickin'" 100 Miles of Wreckage (Attack Monkey, 11)
* Star Anna, "Bird Without Wings" Alone In This Together (Local 638, 11)
* Blackie & the Rodeo Kings, "I'm Still Lovin' You" Kings and Queens (File Under: Music, 11)
* Tres Chicas, "Sweetwater" Sweetwater (Yep Roc, 04)
^ Robert Ellis, "Westbound Train" Photographs (New West, 11)
* Old 97s, "No Simple Machine" Grand Theatre Vol 2 (New West, 11)
* Jackrabbit, "Falling is Mine" Jackrabbit (Self, 11)
* Halden Wofford & the Hi Beams, "The Ring" Sinners & Saints (Self, 10)
* Rod Picott, "Still I Want You Bad" Welding Burns (Welding Rod, 11)
* Amanda Shires, "Ghostbird" Carrying Lightning (Self, 11)
* Dave Alvin, "Manzanita" Eleven Eleven (Yep Roc, 11)
* Joe Pug, "Hymn #101" Nation of Heat (Self, 08)
* Old Californio, "Cool Place In the Light" Sundrunk Angels (Californio, 11)

2011-06-09T20:57:00.004-06:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

June 9, 2011

Scott Foley

Most musical comparisons fall flat for me. Seems every female singer-songwriter must be compared to Joni Mitchell; any male vocalist with a slight rasp is immediately damned "the next Dylan." How many female alt.country artists have been needlessly likened to Lucinda Williams? Is there a law that female artists must necessarily be equated with other women, or vice versa with men? So I try to avoid them whenever possible.

Still, if they're wielded with care, musical comparisons can be helpful for the sake of bearings. Seattle area artist Star Anna, f'rinstance, might be plotted at the intersection of Brandi Carlile and Melissa Etheridge. Nevertheless, this feels like I'm leaving out a significant part of Star Anna's appeal. On her third CD, Alone In This Together, she demonstrates the passionate vocal chops of a Brandi, along with more rock elements a'la early Melissa. Her band, the Laughing Dogs, is a tight bunch, playing a bigger part in the overall sound than their secondary booking might imply, especially guitarist Justin Davis.

Over the span of three albums, Star Anna's musical vision has grown from the country-blues of her debut to the blues-inflected roots rock of this strong new CD. With the right exposure, there's no reason she couldn't become the one to whom everyone else is being compared. In the end, I'd just as soon not have to make any dissatisfying musical comparisons, and have you give Star Anna + the Laughing Dogs a listen.

* Casey James Prestwood, "Cowboy Peyton Place" Falling Apart at the Seams (Self, 11)
* Fleet Foxes, "Bedouin Dress" Helplessness Blues (Sub Pop, 11)
* Tedeschi Trucks Band, "Don't Let It Slide" Revelator (Sony Legacy, 11)
* Jolie Holland, "Gold and Yellow" Pint of Blood (Anti, 11)
* Matt Bauer, "Blacklight Horses" Jessamine County Book of the Living (Crossbill, 11)
* Old Crow Medicine Show, "Tell It To Me" OCMS (Nettwerk, 04)
* Joe Ely, "Highway Is My Home" Satisfied At Last (Rack 'Em, 11)
* Drag the River, "Medicine" Closed (Upland, 02)
* Justin Townes Earle, "Slippin' and Slidin'" Harlem River Blues (Bloodshot, 10)
* Old 97s, "I'm a Trainwreck" Grand Theatre Vol 2 (New West, 11)
* Caitlin Rose, "Spare Me (Fetzer's Blues)" Own Side Now (Theory 8, 11)
* Haunted Windchimes, "Don't Be Afraid" Live At the Western Jubilee (Blank Tape, 11)
* Frank Turner, "If Ever I Stray" England Keep My Bones (Epitaph, 11)
* Possessed By Paul James, "Old Man Souls" Feed the Family (Hillgrass Bluebilly, 10)
* Low Anthem, "Hey All You Hippies" Smart Flesh (Nonesuch, 11)
* Frank Fairfield, "But That's Alright" Out In the Open West (Tompkins Square, 11)
* Jimmie Dale Gilmore + the Wronglers, "In the Pines" Heirloom Music (Neanderthal, 11)
* Jill Andrews, "Sinking Ship" Mirror (Liam, 11)
* Sam Quinn, "Suite Motown" Fake That Sunk a Thousand Ships (Ramseur, 10)
^ Star Anna, "Shine" Alone In This Together (Local 638, 11)
* Von Ehrics, "Last Of the Working Slobs" Two Foot Stomp (Lucky Buck, 11)
* Quiet American, "Carolina" Quiet American Vol 2 (Self, 11)
* Greencards, "Said and Done" Brick Album (Darling St, 11)
* Dawes, "If I Wanted Someone" Nothing Is Wrong (ATO, 11)
* Vetiver, "Wonder Why" Errant Charm (Sub Pop, 11)

2011-06-08T09:18:00.004-06:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

June 2, 2011

Scott Foley

Beginning this Episode of TMM with a fitting tribute to the late Gil Scott-Heron. Ironically, the tune is not one of his own, but one written by Bill Callahan that Scott-Heron made his own on his final recording. We're also privileged to take an inaugural listen to Star Anna's third CD and the sophomore release from Dawes.

One of the biggest steps forward in Colorado music this year has come from Haunted Windchimes, whose new release shines new light on some older songs, while featuring some unheard tunes as well. The quintet's harmonies are tight, and musically they have worked their way out of the potentially deadly stringband pigoenhole. While I've played tunes from at least two of their previous releases, this bodes well for the possibility of a great studio CD to come.

* Gil Scott-Heron, "I'm New Here" I'm New Here (XL, 10)
* Grant Peeples, "Last Great Buffalo Hunt" Okra & Ecclesiastes (Gatorbone, 11)
* Cody Canada & the Departed, "Make Yourself Home" This is Indian Land (30 Tigers, 11)
* Bonnie & the Clydes, "Pretend I Never Happened" Bonnie & the Clydes (Self, 11)
* Grayson Capps, "Highway 42" Lost Cause Minstrels (Royal Potato Family, 11)
* Crooked Jades, "Waiting City Shining" Unfortunate Rake Vol 1 (Copper Creek, 00)
* Jimmie Dale Gilmore & the Wronglers, "Way Downtown" Heirloom Music (Neanderthal, 11)
* Malcolm Holcombe, "Becky's Blessed" To Drink the Rain (Music Road, 11)
* Drag the River, "Way With Women" Bad at Breaking Up (Suburban Home, 09)
* Dave Alvin, "Manzanita" Eleven Eleven (Yep Roc, 11)
* Levon Helm w/Sheryl Crow, "No Depression in Heaven (live)" Ramble at the Ryman (Vanguard, 11)
* Amy Black, "One Time" One Time (Reuben, 11)
* David Mayfield, "I Just Might Pray" Parade (9th Grade, 11)
^ Haunted Windchimes, "American Dream (live)" Live at the Western Jubilee (Blank Tape, 11)
* Matt the Electrician, "Daydreamer" Accidental Thief (Self, 11)
* Emmylou Harris, "Home Sweet Home" Hard Bargain (Nonesuch, 11)
* Old 97s, "Perfume" Grand Theatre Vol 2 (New West, 11)
* Felice Brothers, "Honda Civic" Celebration Florida (Fat Possum, 11)
* Nathaniel Rateliff, "Shroud" In Memory of Loss (Rounder, 10)
* Jeffrey Foucault, "Idaho" Horse Latitudes (Signature Sounds, 11)
* Dawes, "If I Wanted Someone" Nothing is Wrong (ATO, 11)
* Lindi Ortega, "When All the Stars Align" Little Red Boots (Last Gang, 11)
* Owen Temple, "Prince of Peace" Mountain Home (El Paisano, 11)
* Magnolia Electric Co, "Lonesome Valley" Fading Trails (Secretly Canadian, 06)
* Star Anna, "Bird Without Wings" Alone in This Together (Local 638, 11)
* Those Darlins, "Let You Down" Screws Get Loose (Oh Wow Dang, 11)

2011-05-30T16:11:00.004-06:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

May 26, 2011

Scott Foley

Have the Felice Brothers lost their mind (or at least their way)? After two to four albums (depending on which ones you count) of occasionally brilliant tunes recorded in cabins and chicken coops, their new Celebration Florida release firmly commits them to the studio. "Fire at the Pageant" adds a chorus of panicked schoolchildren. "Honda Civic" features a dance floor break. The first time I aired the lead single, "Ponzi" I did so with a caveat that the sound expressed on the new Felice Brothers song did not reflect the views ...

And yet, I couldn't stop listening to it. It started with the chorus of crickets behind the bare bones "Best I Ever Had". Then the gospel passion of "River Jordan". While there is no "Hey Hey Revolver" or "Wonderful Life" or even "Run Chicken Run", there is still the voice of Ian Felice. Despite the fact that almost anybody you play Felice Brothers for will mention Bob Dylan in the first 60 seconds (I don't see it ...), Ian is one of the most engaging vocalists in our kind of music.

So, Felice Brothers have lost nothing. By sticking with chicken songs, they risked typecasting. There's nothing wrong with messing with a good thing (just ask My Morning Jacket or Wilco), as long as those core passions are still driving the songs.

* Two Tons of Steel, "Vegas (live)" Live From Gruene Hall (Palo Duro, 06)
* Hayes Carll, "Bottle In My Hand" KMAG YOYO (& other american stories) (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Israel Nash Gripka, "Fool's Gold" Barn Doors & Concrete Floors (Self, 11)
* Haunted Windchimes, "Shadows & Pine (live)" Live At the Western Jubilee (Blank Tape, 11)
* Civil Wars, "Barton Hollow" Barton Hollow (Dualtone, 10)
* Jessica Lea Mayfield, "Nervous Lonely Night" Tell Me (Nonesuch, 11)
* Gillian Welch, "Tall Buildings (live)" Tribute to John Hartford Live From Mt Stage (Blue Plate, 01)
* Rod Picott, "410" Welding Burns (Welding Rod, 11)
* Those Darlins, "Screws Get Loose" Screws Get Loose (Oh Wow Dang, 11)
* Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside, "Poison Milk" Dirty Radio (Partisan, 11)
* Johnny Cash, "Personal Jesus" American IV: the Man Comes Around (American, 03)
* Slim Cessna's Auto Club, "A Smashing Indictment of Character" Unentitled (Alt Tentacles, 11)
* Avett Bros, "Die Die Die" Emotionalism (American, 07)
* Blackie & the Rodeo Kings, "Made of Love" Kings and Queens (File Under Music, 11)
* Exene Cervenka, "Turning With the World" Excitement of Maybe (Bloodshot, 11)
* Matraca Berg, "Racing the Angels" Dreaming Fields (Dualtone, 11)
* Roadside Graves, "Love Me More" We Can Take Care of Ourselves (Autumn Tone, 11)
* Amy Black, "Whiskey and Wine" One Time (Reuben, 11)
* Quiet American, "Black Jack Daisy" Quiet American Vol 2 (Self, 11)
* Robert Plant, "Harm's Swift Way" Band of Joy (Rounder, 10)
^ Felice Brothers, "Best I Ever Had" Celebration Florida (Fat Possum, 11)
* Jolie Holland, "Gold and Yellow" Pint of Blood (Anti, 11)
* Guy Clark, "Magdalene" Workbench Songs (Dualtone, 06)
* Ollabelle, "Be Your Woman" Neon Bird Blue (Self, 11)
* Decemberists, "January Hymn" King is Dead (Capitol, 11)
* Elliott BROOD, "Northern Air" Days Into Years (Self, 11)
* Low Anthem, "Apothecary Love" Smart Flesh (Nonesuch, 11)

2011-05-19T13:39:00.002-06:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

May 19, 2011

Scott Foley

Around 7:30 on any given Thursday, I'll be found standing at the studio shelves pulling CDs for TMM. I'll invariably grab more than I have time for, and by 9:15 I'll be paring down my pile to the essentials. For weeks, Andy Friedman has made the cut. I'll pull his new CD, Laserbeams + Dreams, with all intentions to give the thing some airtime. With two exceptions, I never seem to get around to playing Friedman's strong CD. Today's Episode was taking the same turn, until I drew a line and made a commitment to play a great Friedman tune, "Going Home (Drifter's Blessing)". Recorded live to tape, the album rewards close listening, with revelatory turns of phrase and unexpected poetry.

This Episode also brings us a new live cut from Colorado band Haunted Windchimes (worst name ever), as well as a first glimpse into Elliott BROOD's forthcoming effort.

* Ray Charles + Johnny Cash, "Why Me Lord" Rare Genius (Concord, 10)
* Daniel Martin Moore, "Set Things Aright" Cool of the Day (Sub Pop, 11)
* Slithering Beast, "Fool Out of You" Delicious (Self, 11)
* Blackie + the Rodeo Kings, "If I Can't Have You" Kings + Queens (File Under Music, 11)
* Sons of Bill, "Broken Bottles" One Town Away (Gray Fox, 09)
* Greencards, "Make It Out West" Brick Album (Darling St, 11)
* Haunted Windchimes, "Shadows and Pine" Live at the Western Jubilee (Blank Tape, 11)
* Lindi Ortega, "I'm No Elvis Presley" Little Red Boots (Last Gang, 11)
* Levon Helm, "Evangeline" Ramble at the Ryman (Vanguard, 11)
* Zoe Muth + the Lost High Rollers, "Harvest Moon Blues" Starlight Hotel (Signature Sounds, 11)
* Only Sons, "Written Word" American Stranger (Sophomore Lounge, 11)
* Quiet American, "I Will Be the One" Quiet American Vol 2 (BAS, 11)
* Sarah Lee Guthrie + Johnny Irion, "Speed Of Light" Bright Examples (9th St, 11)
* Frazey Ford, "Lovers In a Dangerous Time" Obadiah (Nettwerk, 10)
* Rod Picott, "Black T Shirt" Welding Burns (Welding Rod, 11)
* Dead Rock West, "Two Wings" Bright Morning Stars (Red River, 11)
* Laura Cantrell, "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" Kitty Wells Dresses (Diesel Only, 11)
* Brian Wright, "Good Dr" House on Fire (Sugar Hill, 11)
* Elliott BROOD, "Northern Air" Days Into Years (Self, 11)
* Broken Spoke, "Vamps in the Valley" Before There Were Easy Riders (Self, 11)
* Uncle Tupelo, "Screen Door" No Depression (Legacy, 90)
* Matt the Electrician, "I Will Do the Breathing" Accidental Thief (Self, 11)
* Michael Fracasso, "While the Night is Young" Saint Monday (Self, 11)
* Elephant Revival, "Rhythm of the Road" Break in the Clouds (Ruff Shod, 10)
* Jason Isbell + 400 Unit, "Never Could Believe" Here We Rest (Lightning Rod, 11)
* Emmylou Harris, "Hard Bargain" Hard Bargain (Nonesuch, 11)
^ Andy Friedman, "Going Home (Drifter's Blessing)" Laserbeams + Dreams (City Salvage, 11)
* Robyn Ludwick, "Can't Go Back" Out of These Blues (Late Show, 11)

2011-05-19T12:59:00.003-06:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

May 12, 2011

Scott Foley

Matt Sever has a moment on his new CD where he sings with a small chorus of voices, on the song "I Will Do the Breathing". A sweet, moving piece that begins, "I saw you cryin in the rearview mirror / some things are closer than they appear". Like Matt himself, the chorus is composed of criminally underappreciated artists such as Michael Fracasso, Bruce Hughes and Lee Barber. On banjo, trumpet or glockenspiel Matt the Electrician writes perfect little songs ~ like an americana music box.

Also on this Episode, we take an introductory dip into Rod Picott's fine new effort, and hear from Blackie + the Rodeo Kings with Mary Margaret O'Hara. More importantly, Richard Buckner is finally back!

* Greg Bragg, "Thirty Pieces of Silver" High Plains Storm (Q&B, 11)
* William Elliott Whitmore, "There's Hope For You" Animals in the Dark (Anti, 09)
* Emmylou Harris, "The Road" Hard Bargain (Nonesuch, 11)
* Booker T Jones, "Progress" Road From Memphis (Anti, 11)
* Lindi Ortega, "Little Lie" Little Red Boots (Last Gang, 11)
* Carrie Rodriguez + Ben Kyle, "Unwed Fathers" We Still Love Our Country (9th St, 10)
* Pieta Brown, "In My Mind I Was Talkin' To Loretta" Remember the Sun (1 Little Indian, 07)
* Greg Brown, "Remember the Sun" Freak Flag (Yep Roc, 11)
* Quiet American, "KC Jones" Quiet American Vol 2 (BAS, 11)
* David Mayfield, "I Just Might Pray" Parade (9th Grade, 11)
* Buddy Miller, "Sneaky Snake" I Love: Tom T Hall's Songs of Fox Hollow (Red Beet, 11)
* Sallie Ford + the Sound Outside, "Danger" Dirty Radio (Partisan, 11)
* Steve Earle, "God is God" I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive (New West, 11)
* Lawn Chair Kings, "Back Again" II (Self, 11)
* Drive-by Truckers, "Weakest Man" Go-Go Boots (ATO, 11)
^ Matt the Electrician, "Pioneer Bride" Accidental Thief (Self, 11)
* kd lang, "Sugar Buzz" Sing it Loud (Nonesuch, 11)
* Cody Canada + the Departed, "Ballad of Rosalie" This is Indian Land (Thirty Tigers, 11)
* Blackie + the Rodeo Kings, "Heart a Mine" Kings + Queens (File Under Music, 11)
* Richard Buckner, "Traitor" Our Blood (Merge, 11)
* Surplus Cheaper Hands, "Dark Passenger" It's Your Parade (Self, 11)
* Caitlin Rose, "Own Side" Own Side Now (Theory 8, 11)
* Rod Picott, "410" Welding Burns (Welding Rod, 11)
* Owen Temple, "Danger and Good Times" Mountain Home (El Paisano, 11)
* Amanda Shires, "When You Need a Train" Carrying Lightning (Self, 11)

2011-05-05T13:39:00.004-06:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

May 5, 2011

Scott Foley

Lindi Ortega is from Canada, with one Mexican and one Irish parent. Navigating by her voice, she falls on a map somewhere between Kasey Chambers' Australia and Dolly Parton's American South. Ortega's full-length debut, Little Red Boots is a welcome addition to a week healthy with quality new contributions from women songwriters. The otherworldly voice of Sally Ford leaves an indelible impression from the spooky side of rockabilly/punk. And Emmylou Harris proves it's never too late to try a new direction, on an unexpectedly gritty album recorded with just two other musicians.

On a related note, my gratitude goes out to all the TMM listeners who contributed to help us meet our lofty goal for KRFC's Spring Membership Drive. With your help, we'll be able to continue on our mission to provide a refuge for excellent music in Northern Colorado.

* Michael Fracasso, "Ada, OK" Saint Monday (Self, 11)
* Finnders & Youngberg, "Give a Little Back" FY5 (Neighborly, 11)
* Greg Brown, "Someday House" Freak Flag (Yep Roc, 11)
* Todd Snider, "45 Miles (live)" Storyteller Live (Thirty Tigers, 11)
* Emmylou Harris, "Six White Cadillacs" Hard Bargain (Nonesuch, 11)
* Billy Joe Shaver, "Love is So Sweet" Earth Rolls On (New West, 01)
* Jayhawks, "Cotton Dress" Tomorrow the Green Grass (American, 11)
* Dave Alvin, "Run Conejo Run" Eleven Eleven (Yep Roc, 11)
* Crooked Fingers, "Solitary Man" Reservoir Songs (Merge, 02)
* Quiet American, "Talk is Cheap" Quiet American Vol 2 (Boulder Acoustic Society, 11)
* Blind Boys of Alabama, "Can You Give Me a Drink" Take the High Road (Saguaro Rd, 11)
* Shannon McNally, "Little Stream of Whiskey" Western Ballad (Sacred Sumac, 11)
* Zoe Muth & the Lost High Rollers, "If I Can't Trust You With a Quarter" Starlight Hotel (Signature Sounds, 11)
* Son Volt, "Down to the Wire" American Central Dust (Rounder, 09)
* Alela Diane, "Heartless Highway" Wild Divine (Beggars Banquet, 11)
* Cowboy Junkies, "Flirted With You All My Life" Demons (Razor & Tie, 11)
* Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, "Heart on a String" Here We Rest (Lightning Rod, 11)
* Alejandro Escovedo, "Always a Friend" Real Animal (Back Porch, 08)
* Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside, "Danger" Dirty Radio (Partisan, 11)
* Devotchka, "Exhaustible" 100 Lovers (Anti, 11)
^ Lindi Ortega, "I'm No Elvis Presley" Little Red Boots (Last Gang, 11)

2011-04-29T19:04:00.002-06:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

April 28, 2011

Scott Foley

New stuff on this Episode from Emmylou Harris and Michael Fracasso. From Owen Temple and Eliza Gilkyson. I'll pause a sec to allow you to roam up and down your radio dial to find another station that plays this variety of americana, alt.country and roots music. But I know you won't find it.

Alright. There's a good chance you were regaled with a McDonald's breakfast ad, a Shane Club solicitation, 90 seconds singing the praises of the Black Eyed Pea. But no Quiet American. No Israel Nash Gripka or Kimmie Rhodes. King Soopers reminding you it's only ten days until Mother's Day, but no Amanda Shires.

Now turn to 88.9fm, or krfcfm.org Through next Saturday, KRFC will be giving you an opportunity to gauge what a station like ours means to you. Give me a call next Thursday, or head over to our website and join our community of music lovers.

* Michael Fracasso, "Ada OK" Saint Monday (Self, 11)
* Robyn Ludwick, "Out of These Blues" Out of These Blues (Late Show, 11)
* Owen Temple, "Mountain Home" Mountain Home (El Paisano, 11)
* Steeldrivers, "If it Hadn't Been For Love" Steeldrivers (Rounder, 08)
* Quiet American, "I Will Be the One" Quiet American Vol 2 (Boulder Acoustic Society, 11)
* Buddy Miller, "God's Wing'ed Horse" Majestic Silver Strings (New West, 11)
* kd lang, "Inglewood" Sing it Loud (Nonesuch, 11)
* Cahalen Morrison + Eli West, "My Bloody Heart" Holy Coming of the Storm (Self, 11)
* Fleet Foxes, "Montezuma" Helplessness Blues (Sub Pop, 11)
* Emmylou Harris, "Home Sweet Home" Hard Bargain (Nonesuch, 11)
* Chris Brecht, "Not Where You Are" Dead Flower Motel (Dead Leaf, 11)
* Eliza Gilkyson, "Death in Arkansas" Roses at the End of Time (Red House, 11)
* Israel Nash Gripka, "Red Dress" Barn Doors and Concrete Floors (Self, 11)
* Band of Heathens, "Gris Gris Satchel" Top Hat Crown ... (BoH, 11)
* Amanda Shires, "Swimmer" Carrying Lightning (Self, 11)
* Austin Lucas, "Darkness Out of Me" New Home in the Old World (Last Chance, 11)
* Bonnie & the Clydes, "Snake Mt Blues" Bonnie & the Clydes (Self, 11)
* Alela Diane, "Elijah" Wild Divine (Beggars Banquet, 11)
* Brian Wright, "Accordion" House on Fire (Sugar Hill, 11)
* Kimmie Rhodes w/Joe Ely, "Catch the Wind" Dreams of Flying (Sun Bird, 11)
* Rhett Miller, "Last Night Was a Big Rain" Best of Times: TX Artists Performing the Music of Sara Hickman (Sleeveless, 11)
* G Love, "Walk On" Fixin' to Die (Brushfire, 11)
* Slim Cessna's Auto Club, "One Fila Brasiliero" Unentitled (Alt Tentacles, 11)
* Lucinda Williams, "Buttercup" Blessed (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Wylie & the Wild West, "Raven On the Wind" Raven On the Wind (Hi-Line, 11)
* Amy Speace, "Vertigo" Land Like a Bird (Thirty Tigers, 11)
* Antsy McClain, "Everything's a Dollar" Heroes Last Forever (DPR, 11)

2011-04-24T10:19:00.003-06:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

April 21, 2011

Scott Foley

* Black Lillies, "Two Hearts Down" 100 Miles of Wreckage (Attack Monkey, 11)
* The O's, "Tennessee Coalminer" Between the Two (Idol, 11)
* Natalia Zukerman, "Howard Hughes" Gas Station Roses (Weasel, 11)
* Dwight Yoakam, "Bury Me" Guitars Cadillacs etc etc (Reprise, 86)
* Middle Brother, "Thanks for Nothing" Middle Brother (Partisan, 11)
* Trout Steak Revival, "Ground Beneath You" Trout Steak Revival (Self, 11)
* Emmylou Harris, "The Road" Hard Bargain (Nonesuch, 11)
* Bridge, "Big Wheel" National Bohemian (Woodberry, 11)
* Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers, "All Over the Radio" Unida Cantina (Emma Java, 11)
* Blind Boys of Alabama, "Take the High Road" Take the High Road (Saguaro Rd, 11)
* Tara Nevins, "Wood and Stone" Wood and Stone (Sugar Hill, 11)
* Brian Wright, "Striking Matches" House on Fire (Sugar Hill, 11)
* Southern Culture on the Skids, "Muswell Hillbilly" Countrypolitan Favorites (Yep Roc, 07)
* Broken Spoke, "Vamps in the Valley" Before There Were Easy Riders (Self, 11)
* Fleet Foxes, "Lorelai" Helplessness Blues (Sub Pop, 11)
* Amanda Shires, "Detroit or Buffalo" Carrying Lightning (Self, 11)
* Israel Nash Gripka, "Drown" Barn Doors & Concrete Floors (Self, 11)
* kd lang, "Sugar Buzz" Sing it Loud (Nonesuch, 11)
* Neko Case, "John Saw That Number" Fox Confessor Brings the Flood (Anti, 06)
^ Michael Fracasso, "Saint Monday" Saint Monday (Self, 11)
* Sarah Jarosz, "Annabelle Lee" Follow Me Down (Sugar Hill, 11)
* Jason Isbell & 400 Unit, "Alabama Pines" Here We Rest (Lightning Rod, 11)
* Jeffrey Foucault, "Pretty Girl in a Small Town" Horse Latitudes (Signature Sounds, 11)
* Zoe Muth & the Lost High Rollers, "Let's Just Be Friends For Tonight" Starlight Hotel (Signature Sounds, 11)
* Owen Temple, "One Day Closer to Rain" Mountain Home (El Paisano, 11)
* Robin & Linda Williams, "Company of Strangers" In the Company of Strangers (Sugar Hill, 00)
* Jude Johnstone, "Quiet Girl" Quiet Girl (BoJak, 11)

2011-04-16T16:05:00.004-06:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

April 14, 2011

Scott Foley

Colorado's own DeVotchKa blurbs (collectively, I assume), "If you don't like Amanda Shires, then you don't like America." Well, no matter your brand of patriotism, between solo albums, collaborations and her work with Thrift Store Cowboy, Shires is on a roll. On her new solo effort, Shires continues to show herself as a idiosyncratic writer with a faint quirky streak and a voice that quavers and breaks in all the right places. Her talents also extend to the violin and the ukelele, and she is backed by Will Kimbrough, Chris Scruggs, coproducer Rod Picott and more.

Also joining us on this Episode are the excellent Zoe Muth on her sophomore release, something new (and band-driven) by Jeffrey Foucault, and a fine effort by Owen Temple, aided by members of Band of Heathens.

* Jim Lauderdale, "Love's Voice" Reason & Rhyme (Self, 11)
* Flatlanders, "Comfort's Sigh" Best of Times: Texas Artists Performing the Music of Sara Hickman (Sleeveless, 11)
* Walt Wilkins, "Trains I Missed" Diamonds in the Sun (Palo Duro, 07)
* Dylan LeBlanc, "If Time Was For Wasting" Paupers Field (Rough Trade, 10)
* Aaron & Nicole Keim, "In the Pines" Born in the Country Raised in Town (Self, 06)
* Jeffrey Foucault, "Pretty Girl in a Small Town" Horse Latitudes (Signature Sounds, 11)
* Alela Diane, "Of Many Colors" Wild Divine (Beggars Banquet, 11)
* Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, "Codeine" Here We Rest (Lightning Rod, 11)
* Paul Thorn, "If You Can't Love Me 4-Ever" Are You With Me (Back Porch, 04)
* Zoe Muth & the Lost High Rollers, "Come Inside" Starlight Hotel (Signature Sounds, 11)
^ Amanda Shires, "When You Need a Train it Never Comes" Carrying Lightning (Self, 11)
* Steve Earle, "Waitin' on the Sky" I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive (New West, 11)
* Elephant Revival, "Breathe" Break in the Clouds (Ruff Shod, 10)
* Surplus Cheaper Hands, "Dark Passenger" It's Your Parade (Self, 11)
* Owen Temple, "Mountain Home" Mountain Home (El Paisano, 11)
* Dolorean, "Unfazed" Unfazed (Fargo, 11)
* Head and the Heart, "Coeur d'Alene" Head and the Heart (Sub Pop, 11)
* Del McCoury & Preservation Hall Jazz Band, "I'll Fly Away" American Legacies (McCoury, 11)
* Broken Spoke, "Center of Dead and Alive" Before There Were Easy Riders (Self, 11)
* Lucinda Williams, "Convince Me" Blessed (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Old Crow Medicine Show, "Caroline" Tennessee Pusher (Nettwerk, 08)
* Caitlin Rose, "Sinful Wishing Well" Own Side Now (Theory 8, 11)
* Black Lillies, "Two Hearts Down" 100 Miles of Wreckage (Attack Monkey, 11)
* Split Lip Rayfield, "Rig or Cross" I'll Be Around (Self, 08)
* Fleet Foxes, "Grown Ocean" Internet Single (Sub Pop, 11)
* Matraca Berg, "Racing the Angels" Dreaming Fields (Dualtone, 11)
* Nathaniel Rateliff, "You Should've Seen the Other Guy" In Memory of Loss (Rounder, 10)

2011-04-16T09:43:00.002-06:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

April 7, 2011

Scott Foley

Typically in this spot I'll highlight an artist or album which is receiving play on the current Episode of TMM. Here, I'll make an exception for Josh T Pearson. Formerly leader of TX psychedelic rock band Lift to Experience, Pearson's first solo album is a frustratingly beautiful collection of sprawling, rambling "country" songs, sung in the voice of a brokenhearted man. So, you might respond, if it's so great why don't you play it? Like another initial-user, J Tillman, Pearson's music is simply not radio-friendly, ranging from hushed, oh-is-the-song-over passages to profane howls. Not for everyone, Last of the Country Gentlemen has been as frequently damned by critics as it has been praised. For my part, I can't remove it from my player.

* Low Anthem, "Maybe So" Smart Flesh (Nonesuch, 11)
* Wilco, "One Hundred Years From Now" Return of the Grievous Angel (Almo, 99)
* Susan James, "Airstream Girl" Highways Ghosts Hearts & Home (Self, 10)
* Robyn Ludwick, "New Orleans" Out of These Blues (Late Show, 11)
* Israel Nash Gripka, "Fool's Gold" Barn Doors and Concrete Floors (Self, 11)
* Surplus Cheaper Hands, "Restless Heart" It's Your Parade (Self, 11)
* Band of Heathens, "Polaroid" Top Hat Crown ... (BoH, 11)
* Fistful of Mercy, "Father's Son" As I Call You Down (Hot, 10)
* Bob Schneider, "Honeypot" Perfect Day (Kirkland, 11)
* Sara Watkins, "Pony" Sara Watkins (Nonesuch, 09)
* Robbie Robertson, "Straight Down the Line" How to Become Clairvoyant (429, 11)
* Jeff Finlin, "Long Lonesome Death of the Traveling Man" Angels in Disguise (Korova, 06)
* Alison Krauss, "Lay My Burden Down" Paper Airplane (Rounder, 11)
* Drive-by Truckers, "Mercy Buckets" Go-Go Boots (ATO, 11)
* Arliss Nancy, "Paul Revere" Truck Stop Roses (Backbone, 10)
* Tara Nevins, "Wood and Stone" Wood and Stone (Sugar Hill, 11)
* Steve Earle, "Waitin' on the Sky" I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive (New West, 11)
* Richmond Fontaine, "You Can Move Back Here" We Used To Think the Freeway ... (El Cortez, 09)
* Peter Case, "Round Trip Stranger Blues" Case Files (Alive, 11)
* Zoe Muth & the Lost High Rollers, "If I Can't Trust You With a Quarter" Starlight Motel (Signature Sounds, 11)
* Shannon McNally, "Memory of a Ghost" Western Ballad (Sacred Sumac, 11)
* Bap Kennedy, "Elvis Hand & Me" Long Time a Comin' (Catfish, 02)
* Bright Wright, "Striking Machines" House on Fire (Sugar Hill, 11)
* Jude Johnstone, "Quiet Girl" Quiet Girl (BoJak, 11)
* JD McPherson, "North Side Gal" Signs and Signifiers (Self, 11)

2011-03-31T14:21:00.003-06:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

March 31, 2011

Scott Foley

TV tells me that it is spring, watching the same old faces making the same old predictions that those same old teams will come out on top for the 2011 baseball season. It's like the folks who walk into their morning dressed for yesterday's weather. Or the golf commercials that continue to count on Tiger to draw viewers.

Anyhow, there's a difference between predictable and reliable. Americana stalwarts Steve Earle and Emmylou Harris are predictably reliable on this Episode of TMM. But just like the Seattle Mariners ending atop the AL West (alright, even I can't buy that one ... ), I live for the underdog like Israel Nash Gripka's outstanding Barn Doors and Concrete Floors, and our first glimpse into one of the year's best songs in "Drown". Recorded in an old barn in the Catskills, Gripka and co. uphold my theory that the best albums are recorded in churches and chicken coops.

And speaking of chicken coops, sounds like the Felice Brothers have abandoned theirs for a legit studio with all the requisite fancy buttons and knobs. Time will tell if the rest of Celebration Florida sounds as much like a rootsy Pet Shop Boys ...

Play ball!

* Dave Alvin, "Harlan County Line" internet single (Yep Roc, 11)
* Lance Mills, "If I Fall" Wore Out Shoes (Greasy Bean, 09)
* Caitlin Rose, "That's Alright" Own Side Now (Theory 8, 11)
* Kasey Anderson, "Exit Ghost" Heart of a Dog (Red River, 10)
* Drag the River, "Here's To the Losers" 2010 Demons (DtR, 10)
^ Israel Nash Gripka, "Drown" Barn Doors and Concrete Floors (Self, 11)
* Buddy Miller w/Emmylou Harris, "Why I'm Walkin" Majestic Silver Strings (New West, 11)
* Steve Earle, "God Is God" I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive (New West, 11)
* Bobby Long, "Penance Fire Blues" Winter Tale (ATO, 11)
* JD McPherson, "Signs and Signifiers" Signs and Signifiers (Self, 11)
* Lizzie Huffman, "Tumblers and Tea" Lizzie Huffman & Her Brother Band (Suburban Home, 10)
* Slim Cessna's Auto Club, "Smashing Indictment of Character" Unentitled (Alt. Tentacles, 11)
* Scott Miller & the Commonwealth, "Raised By the Graves" Upside Downside (Sugar Hill, 03)
* Secret Sisters, "Big River" Big River single (Universal, 11)
* Jason Isbell & 400 Unit, "Tour of Duty" Here We Rest (Lightning Rod, 11)
* Jayhawks, "Crowded in the Wings" Hollywood Town Hall (remastered) (American, 11)
* Blind Boys of Alabama, "Can You Give Me a Drink" Take the High Road (Saguaro Road, 11)
* Coal Porters, "Moonlight Midnight" Durango (Prima, 10)
* Mumford & Sons, "To Darkness" Dharohar Project (Self, 10)
* Felice Brothers, "Ponzi" Celebration Florida (Fat Possum, 11)
* Abigail Washburn, "Chains" City of Refuge (Foreign Children, 11)
* Amy Speace, "Battened Hatches" Land Like a Bird (Thirty Tigers, 11)
* Decemberists, "Don't Carry It All" King is Dead (Capitol, 11)
* The O's, "In Numbers We Survive" Between the Two (Idol, 11)

2011-03-24T13:13:00.002-06:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

March 24, 2011

Scott Foley

Steve Earle calls this his most country record in years. Coming off his tribute to Townes Van Zandt, it's great to hear another collection of originals. The high point, however, is "God is God," a tune we've heard before on a Joan Baez album a couple years back. While I appreciated Baez's take, here it comes off as one of Earle's classic recent cuts. "Every day on earth's another chance to get it right / Let this little light of mine shine + rage against the night." Earle is one of the few who can do justice to a lyric like that, and deliver so it doesn't sound like a simplistic Sunday school lesson.

* Alejandro Escovedo, "Five Hearts Breaking" Gravity (Watermelon, 92)
* Halden Wofford & the Hi Beams, "Hang Man" Sinners & Saints (Self, 10)
* Tejas Brothers, "Diamond in the Rough" Rich Man (Smith, 11)
* Daniel Martin Moore, "Dark Road" In the Cool of the Day (Sub Pop, 11)
* Exene Cervenka, "Someday I'll Forget" Excitement of Maybe (Bloodshot, 11)
* Amy Speace, "Change for Me" Land Like a Bird (Thirty Tigers, 11)
* Todd Snider, "East Nashville Skyline (live)" Storyteller Live (Thirty Tigers, 11)
* Trout Steak Revival, "Those Days" Trout Steak Revival (Self, 11)
* Jim Lauderdale, "Jack Dempsey's Crown" Reason and Rhyme (Self, 11)
* Tift Merritt, "Write My Ticket" Tambourine (Lost Hwy, 04)
* The O's, "Tennessee Coalminer" Between the Two (Idol, 11)
* Drive-by Truckers, "Weakest Man" Go-Go Boots (ATO, 11)
^ Steve Earle, "Every Part of Me" I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive (New West, 11)
* Broken Spoke, "Here All Alone" Before There Were Easy Riders (Self, 11)
* Band of Heathens, "Should Have Known" Top Hat Crown ... (BoH, 11)
* Grant Peeples, "Empty Cup" Okra and Ecclesiastes (Gatorbone, 11)
* Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, "Heart on a String" Here We Rest (Lightning Rod, 11)
* Shannon McNally, "Western Ballad" Western Ballad (Sacred Sumac, 11)
* Hacienda Brothers, "What's Wrong With Right" What's Wrong With Right (Proper, 06)
* Lucinda Williams, "Buttercup" Blessed (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Low Anthem, "Apothecary Love" Smart Flesh (Nonesuch, 11)
* Head and the Heart, "Down in the Valley" Head and the Heart (Sub Pop, 11)
* Legendary River Drifters, "Waiting on a Line" Into the Darkness (Self, 11)
* Will Kimbrough, "Believer in the Blues" Dirtdobber Blues (Vetter, 11)
* Diana Jones, "Poverty" High Atmosphere (Proper, 11)
* Middle Brother, "Million Dollar Bill" Middle Brother (Partisan, 11)
* Emma Hill and Her Gentlemen Callers, "Capture Your Heart" Meet Me at the Moon (Kuskokwim, 11)
* Devotchka, "100 Other Lovers" 100 Lovers (Anti, 11)

2011-03-19T14:47:00.004-06:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

March 17, 2011

Scott Foley

On this Episode of TMM, Dixie Chick-emeritus Natalie Maines turns in a pleasantly successful take on one of my favorite tunes of all time. Natalia Zukerman goes where her father, Pinchas, has never been. And Diana Jones collaborates with Ketch Secor.

But this week's Best Ever comes via special delivery from Jason Isbell. His third solo CD, and second fronting the 400 Unit, is overflowing with quality tunes. Whereas his previous CD played to the loud and the soulful, Here We Rest marks an about-face to his more country-rooted sound (and with a voice like Isbell's, the dirty soul of the South isn't going anywhere soon). One of my favorites of 2011.

* Neko Case, "Loretta (live)" Tigers Have Spoken (Anti, 04)
* Natalie Maines, "God Only Knows" internet single (Self, 11)
* Malcolm Holcombe, "To Drink the Rain" To Drink the Rain (Music Road, 11)
* Paper Bird, "Pennies" Anything Nameless and Joymaking (Self, 08)
* Tejas Brothers, "Take This Pain From My Heart" Rich Man (Smith, 11)
* Cowboy Junkies, "See You Around" Demons (Razor & Tie, 11)
* Graham Wilkinson, "Two Days Today" Best of Times: TX Artists Performing the Music of Sara Hickman (Sleeveless, 11)
* Band of Heathens, "Polaroid" Top Hat Crown & the Clapmaster's Son (BoH, 11)
* Bonnie and the Clydes, "Make Up Your Mind" Bonnie and the Clydes (Self, 11)
* Slithering Beast, "Fool Out of You" Delicious (Self, 11)
* G Love, "Fixin' to Die" Fixin' to Die (Brushfire, 11)
* Gram Parsons, "Song For You" GP (Elektra, 73)
* Robyn Ludwick, "Out of These Blues" Out of These Blues (Late Show, 11)
* Boulder Acoustic Society, "How Many Times a Day" Champion of Disaster (Self, 10)
* Natalia Zukerman, "Gas Station Roses" Gas Station Roses (Weasel, 11)
^ Jason Isbell & 400 Unit, "Codeine" Here We Rest (Lightning Rod, 11)
* Caitlin Rose, "Learning to Ride" Own Side Now (Theory 8, 11)
* Son Volt, "Caryatid Easy" Straightaways (WB, 97)
* Trout Steak Revival, "Those Days" Trout Steak Revival (Self, 11)
* Diana Jones, "Don't Forget Me" High Atmosphere (Proper American, 11)
* Andy Friedman, "It's Time For Church" Laserbeams and Dreams (City Salvage, 11)
* Alela Diane, "To Begin" Wild Divine (Beggars Banquet, 11)
* Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion, "Target On Your Heart" Bright Examples (9th St Opus, 11)
* Dolorean, "Hard Working Dogs" The Unfazed (Fargo, 11)
* Phil Cook and His Feat, "Hungry Mother Blues" internet single (Self, 11)

2011-03-12T09:02:00.003-07:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX
March 10, 2011
Scott Foley

Excellent new release from Robyn Ludwick on this week's Episode. From TX, she is the sibling of Bruce and Charlie Robison, and writes at least as well as her brothers. Needless to say, she's got it all over them as a singer, demonstrating both the grace of Eliza Gilkyson and the grit of Lucinda Williams. Ludwick's 3rd album is produced by Gurf Morlix, and features help from Ian McLagan and Slaid Cleaves.

Also on this Episode, we dig into strong EPs from Hoots & Hellmouth and Hackensaw Boys, and hear from Band of Heathens' new release (with the worst title of the americana year).

* James Hyland & the Joint Chiefs, "American Son" Celestial Navigation (Ananaki, 10)
* Greg Trooper, "They Call Me Hank" Upside-Down Town (52 Shakes, 10)
* Abigail Washburn, "Burn Thru" City of Refuge (Universal, 11)
* The O's, "We'll Go Walkin'" Between the Two (Idol, 11)
* Hoots & Hellmouth, "Picked by the Root" Face First in the Dirt (Self, 11)
* Samantha Crain, "Rising Sun" Songs in the Night (Ramseur, 09)
* Eleven Hundred Springs, "No Place Else to Go" Eight the Hard Way (Smith, 11)
* Hayes Carll, "Another Like You" KMAG YOYO (& other american stories) (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Slim Cessna's Auto Club, "Unballed Ballad of the New Folksinger" Unentitled (Alt Tentacles, 11)
* Band of Heathens, "Gris Gris Satchel" Top Hat Crown & the Clapmaster's Son (BoH, 11)
* Rachel Harrington, "House of Cards" Celilo Falls (Skinny Dennis, 11)
* Elephant Revival, "Feathers Rise" Break in the Clouds (Ruff Shod, 10)
* Hackensaw Boys, "Noon or Midnight" Old Sound of Music Vol 1 (Self, 11)
* Slaid Cleaves, "Racecar Joe" Unsung (Rounder, 06)
* Austin Lucas, "Darkness Out of Me" New Home in the Old World (Last Chance, 11)
^ Robyn Ludwick, "New Orleans" Out of These Blues (Late Show, 11)
* Joe Johnson, "Anna" Time to Dance (Blank Tape, 11)
* Alison Krauss & Union Station, "Paper Airplane" Paper Airplane (Rounder, 11)
* Middle Brother, "Daydreaming" Middle Brother (Partisan, 11)
* Tin Horn Prayer, "Call a Priest" internet single (Self, 11)
* Emma Hill & Her Gentlemen Callers, "Meet Me At the Moon" Meet Me At the Moon (Kuskokwim, 11)
* Buddy Miller, "God's Wing'ed Horse" Majestic Silver Strings (New West, 11)
* Lucinda Williams, "Convince Me" Blessed (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Gurf Morlix, "Oh Darlin" Blaze Foley's 113th Wet Dream (Rootball, 10)
* Mark Erelli & Jeffrey Foucault, "Johnny 99" Seven Curses (Self, 10)
* Devotchka, "Contrabanda" 100 Lovers (Anti, 11)

2011-03-04T06:46:00.004-07:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

March 3, 2011

Scott Foley

Call it my New Sneaker Theory. Or maybe my Worn Jeans Theory. Couple years ago when the O's sent me their debut CD, We are the O's, it seemed they had something going on. Good harmonies, a good way with a hook, but not yet stellar. Now, on their follow-up, Between the Two, they realize that initial promise. It's like when you buy a brand new pair of Converse. New Converse look sort of stiff and ... well, new until they are broken in. New jeans, too. Like the O's, give them a year or two of touring and exposure to the elements and they will emerge scratched, worn and bent in just the right places. RIYL Avett Bros or Two Gallants.

* Lucinda Williams, "Blessed" Blessed (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Volebeats, "Empty Streets" Volebeats (Rainbow Quartz, 10)
* Matt the Electrician, "Middle of a Little Country Road" Best of Times: TX Artists Performing the Music of Sara Hickman (Sleeveless, 11)
* Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion, "Hurry Up and Wait" Bright Examples (9th St Opus, 11)
* Slim Cessna's Auto Club, "Smashing Indictment of Character" Unentitled (Alt Tentacles, 11)
* Steve Earle, "City of Immigrants" Washington Square Serenade (New West, 07)
* Dave Alvin, "Harlan County Line" internet single (Yep Roc, 11)
* Exene Cervenka, "Turning With the World" Excitement of Maybe (Bloodshot, 11)
* Dolorean, "If I Find Love" The Unfazed (Partisan, 11)
* Devotchka, "Man From San Sebastian" 100 Lovers (Anti, 11)
* David Wax Museum, "Chuchumbe" Everything is Saved (Self, 11)
* Robbie Fulks, "Never Could" Couples in Trouble (Boondoggle, 01)
* JD McPherson, "North Side Gal" Signs and Signifiers (Self, 11)
* Drive-by Truckers, "Everybody Needs Love" Go-Go Boots (ATO, 11)
* G Love, "Walk On" Fixin' to Die (Brushfire, 11)
* Mountain Standard Time, "Loving Sound" Mountain Standard Time (Self, 11)
* Cowboy Junkies, "Wrong Piano" Demons (Self, 11)
* Buddy Miller, "No Good Lover" Majestic Silver Strings (New West, 11)
* Middle Brother, "Million Dollar Bill" Middle Brother (Partisan, 11)
* Bobby Long, "Who Have You Been Loving" Winter Tale (ATO, 11)
^ The O's, "Tryin' to Have a Good Time" Between the Two (Idol, 11)
* Cahalen Morrison & Eli West, "Lost Lovin' Gal" Holy Coming of the Storm (Self, 11)
* Neko Case, "Lonely Old Lies" Virginian (Bloodshot, 97)
* Charlie Shafter, "Jesus and James Dean" internet single (Self, 11)
* Carrie Rodriguez & Ben Kyle, "Fire Alarm" We Still Love Our Country (9th St Opus, 10)
* Lynn Miles, "Something Beautiful" Fall for Beauty (True North, 10)

2011-02-27T18:39:00.003-07:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

February 24, 2011

Scott Foley

Seems like so long ago that this fine Episode aired ... Finally have time to post it, now that I am under the weather and chained to my bedside desk.

File under "Neck Beard": The entity known as Middle Brother initially coined themselves MG&V, like the ELP for the indie alt.country scene. Now with the much more palatable moniker, McCauley, Goldsmith and Vasquez take a break from their respective day bands (Deer Tick, Dawes and Delta Spirit) with remarkably coherent results. While the three tend to trade off songwriting and vocal duties, the true surprise occurs when they harmonize. Of the trio, Taylor Goldsmith wields the most traditionally tuneful voice. Matt Vasquez's is a capable instrument, albeit pitched higher than most. I tend to gravitate more towards Deer Tick's John J McCauley, despite and/or because it sounds like a mosquito attempting Tuvan throat singing ... Who knew that as a whole they would blend together so well, like (to put into play three more important letters) a contemporary CS&N.

* Lawn Chair Kings, "Back Again" II (Self, 11)
* Jay Farrar, "Damn Shame (Memphis Mix)" Thirdshiftgrottoslack (Artemis, 02)
* Amos Lee, "El Camino" Mission Bell (Blue Note, 11)
* Low Anthem, "Apothecary Love" Smart Flesh (Nonesuch, 11)
* Lori McKenna, "American Revolver" Lorraine (UMPG Nashville, 11)
* Gregg Allman, "Just Another Rider" Low Country Blues (Rounder, 11)
* Mountain Standard Time, "Fork" Mountain Standard Time (MST, 11)
* Graham Wilkinson, "Two Days Today" Best of Times: TX Artists Performing the Music of Sara Hickman (Sleeveless, 11)
* Todd Snider, "Looking For a Job (live)" Live: the Storyteller (Thirty Tigers, 11)
* Rachel Harrington, "Here in My Bed" Celilo Falls (Skinny Dennis, 11)
* Drive-by Truckers, "I Do Believe" Go-Go Boots (ATO, 11)
* G Love, "The Road" Fixin' to Die (Brushfire, 11)
* Hayes Carll, "KMAG YOYO" KMAG YOYO (and other American stories) (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Wailin' Jennys, "Last Goodbye" Bright Morning Stars (Red House, 11)
* Tin Horn Prayer, "Call a Priest" internet single (Self, 11)
> Middle Brother, "Me Me Me" Middle Brother (Partisan, 11)
* Buddy Miller, "God's Wing'ed Horse" Majestic Silver Strings (New West, 11)
* Gurf Morlix, "Cold Cold World" Blaze Foley's 113th Wet Dream (Rootball, 10)
* Pieta Brown, "In My Mind I Was Talkin' to Loretta" Remember the Sun (One Little Indian, 07)
* Bonnie & the Clydes, "Snake Mountain Blues" Bonnie & the Clydes (Self, 11)
* Susan James, "Airstream Girl" Highways Ghosts Hearts & Home (Self, 10)
* Eddie Spaghetti, "If You Fall in Love" Sundowner (Bloodshot, 11)
* Raul Malo, "San Antonio Baby" Sinners & Saints (UMG, 10)
* Lucinda Williams, "Sweet Love" Blessed (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Grant Peeples, "My People Come From the Dirt" Okra and Ecclesiastes (Gatorbone, 11)
* Flying Burrito Brothers, "Lazy Days" Authorized Bootleg: Live at the Fillmore East (A&M, 11)

2011-02-19T12:06:00.002-07:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

February 17, 2011

Scott Foley

From the Greater Longmont Metro Area, Bonnie & the Clydes perform faithful but fun versions of several familiar trad country tunes. It was their original "Make Up Your Mind" that caught my attention, though. Also new and noteworthy this week: Our first listen to the new Low Anthem CD that hits stores next week, and from out of nowhere a Hackensaw Boys EP!

* M Ward w/Lucinda Williams, "Oh Lonesome Me" Hold Time (Merge, 09)
* Avett Brothers, "Swept Away" Mignonette (Ramseur, 04)
* Jessica Lea Mayfield, "Our Hearts Are Wrong" Tell Me (Nonesuch, 11)
^ Bonnie & the Clydes, "Make Up Your Mind" Bonnie & the Clydes (Self, 11)
* Kasey Anderson, "Save it For Later" Heart of a Dog (Red River, 11)
* Trampled by Turtles, "Victory" Palomino (Banjodad, 10)
* Hackensaw Boys, "Noon or Midnight" Old Sound of Music Vol 1 (Self, 11)
* Travel by Sea, "Eventually" Two States and the Blindness That Follows (Self, 10)
* Dolorean, "The Unfazed" The Unfazed (Fargo, 11)
* Todd Snider, "Play a Train Song (live)" Storyteller: Live (30 Tigers, 11)
* Ponderosa, "Old Gin Road" Moonlight Revival (New West, 10)
* Jesse Dayton, "Good Times Are Now" One For the Dance Halls (Stag, 10)
* Jenny Lewis & Watson Twins, "Run Devil Run / Big Guns" Rabbit Fur Coat (Team Love, 06)
* Over the Rhine, "Only God Can Save Us Now" Long Surrender (GSD, 11)
* AA Bondy, "Still I Dream" Joey's Song Vol 1 (Joseph Gomoli Fndtn, 11)
* Hayes Carll, "Hard Out Here" KMAG YOYO (and other American stories) (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Halden Wofford & the Hi Beams, "Mauvais Sang" Sinners & Saints (Self, 10)
* Kim Richey, "In the Years to Come" Wreck Your Wheels (Thirty Tigers, 10)
* Eleven Hundred Springs, "This Ain't the First Time" Eight the Hard Way (Smith, 11)
* Drive-by Truckers, "Weakest Man" Go-Go Boots (ATO, 11)
* Low Anthem, "Ghost Woman" Smart Flesh (Nonesuch, 11)
* Carrie Rodriguez + Ben Kyle, "Love Hurts" We Still Love Our Country (9th St Opus, 10)
* The Bridge, "Colorado Motel" National Bohemian (Woodberry, 11)
* Chris Brecht, "Wish You" Dead Flower Motel (Dead Leaf, 11)
* Wanda Jackson, "Thunder on the Mountain" Party Ain't Over (Nonesuch, 11)
* Mt Desolation, "Departure" Mt Desolation (Island, 10)

2011-02-12T15:06:00.002-07:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

February 10, 2011

Scott Foley

Sometimes the highest profile stuff really does merit its attention. Case in point might be my favorite album of 2010, Robert Plant's Band of Joy.

... or Hayes Carll's fantastic KMAG YOYO (and other American Stories). Following 2008's much lauded Trouble in Mind, Carll could have cruised on this one with an album's worth of jokey drunk Texan songs. Sure, the jokes are there, but so is the songwriting, in spades. Admitting there's nothing new under the musical sun, listeners will hear echoes of Townes Van Zandt, Roger Miller, Jerry Jeff Walker, Guy Clark and more. Still, those influences appear as more of an inheritance as opposed to a crutch, as Carll lifts it all above most others in the genre with his eclectic, honest tunes. Special recognition goes to Cary Ann Hearst, whose duet on "Another Like You" will certainly serve as a star-turn.

Speaking of meritous acts, I find it odd that I'm suggesting you don't miss the Grammys this Sunday. Word has it that the Avetts, Mumford & Sons and Bob Dylan will perform together. Almost makes it possible to sit through Cee Lo Green's performance with Gwyneth Paltrow and the Muppets ... ?!

* Ben Weaver, "East Jefferson" Mirepoix & Smoke (Bloodshot, 10)
* Supersuckers, "One Cigarette Away (live)" Whole Foods Live EP (SS, 07)
* Decemberists, "Rise to Me" King is Dead (Capitol, 10)
* David Wax Museum, "Born With a Broken Heart" Everything is Saved (Self, 11)
* 4H Royalty, "Rubber City Girl" Colossalalia (Self, 10)
* Jessica Lea Mayfield, "Nervous Lonely Night" Tell Me (Nonesuch, 11)
* Jonathan Byrd, "Wild Ponies" Cackalack (Waterbug, 10)
* Jayhawks, "Pray for Me (demo)" Tomorrow the Green Grass (remastered) (American, 11)
* Southern Culture on the Skids, "Bone Dry Dirt" Kudzu Ranch (Kudzu, 10)
^ Hayes Carll, "Another Like You" KMAG YOYO (and Other American Stories) (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Paper Bird, "Jesus and Arizona (live)" Live at Twist and Shout (Self, 09)
* Lucky Peterson, "Atonement" You Can Always Turn Around (Dreyfus, 10)
* Cowboy Junkies, "Flirted With You All My Life" Demons (Self, 11)
* Bobby Long, "In the Frost" Winter Tale (ATO, 11)
* Rodney Crowell, "Dancin' Circles Round the Sun" The Outsider (Columbia, 05)
* Jeff Finlin, "East by West" Tao of Motor Oil (Bent Wheel, 10)
* Teddy Thompson, "Delilah" Bella (Verve, 11)
* Grant Peeples, "High Fructose Corn Syrup" Okra and Ecclesiastes (Gatorbone, 11)
* Eddie Spaghetti, "Never Thought I Would" Sundowner (Bloodshot, 11)
* Wailin' Jennys, "Mona Louise" Bright Morning Star (Red House, 11)
* Asylum St Spankers, "Last Mile of the Way" God's Favorite Band (Yellow Dog, 09)
* Bridge, "Rosie" National Bohemian (Woodberry, 11)
* Kasey Anderson, "Sirens and Thunder" Heart of a Dog (Red River, 11)
* Cahalen Morrison & Eli West, "Fleeting Like the Days" Holy Coming of the Storm (Self, 11)
* Lynn Miles, "Something Beautiful" Fall for Beauty (True North, 10)
* Greg Trooper, "Might Be a Train" Upside-Down Town (52 Shakes, 10)

2011-02-05T15:31:00.004-07:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

February 3, 2011

Scott Foley

"My people come from the dirt, white bread and kerosene / Catfish and flatbeds, sweat stains and retreads, okra and Ecclesiastes ..." I wasn't surprised to find Sam Baker on the recommended playlist of Grant Peeples. Sam's bare-bones and grit songwriting style came to mind when I first heard Grant's superb "My People Come From the Dirt." Brought to mind Gurf Morlix, too, who actually produced Okra and Ecclesiastes. It's all smart music; strong lyrics that mean something, and say it in a way that you haven't heard before.

We also revisit Morlix's own new CD, which pays tribute to another iconic songwriter, Blaze Foley. And we finally have the full album of Hayes Carll's KMAG YOYO, from which I have yet to encounter a throwaway cut. Looking back over the past few weeks' Episodes, I'm surprised I haven't mentioned Malcolm Holcombe's excellent To Drink the Rain, another favorite from early in the year.

* Malcolm Holcombe, "Those Who Wander" To Drink the Rain (Music Road, 11)
* Redbird, "What Made Milwaukee Famous" Live at the Cafe Carpe (Signature Sounds, 10)
* Madison Violet, "Small of My Heart" No Fool For Trying (True North, 09)
* Wailin' Jennys, "Swing Low Sail High" Bright Morning Star (Red House, 11)
* Hayes Carll, "Bottle in My Hand" KMAG YOYO (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Big Head Blues Club, "Preachin' Blues" 100 Years of Robert Johnson (Ryko, 11)
* North Mississippi Allstars, "Hear the Hills" Keys to the Kingdom (Songs of the South, 11)
^ Grant Peeples, "My People Come From the Dirt" Okra & Ecclesiastes (Gatorbone, 11)
* Cahalen Morrison & Eli West, "Lost Lovin' Gal" Holy Coming of the Storm (Self, 11)
* Robert Plant, "Only Sound That Matters" Band of Joy (Rounder, 10)
* Fleet Foxes, "Helplessness Blues" Helplessness Blues (Sub Pop, 11)
* Lawn Chair Kings, "Time Will Tell" II (Self, 11)
* Lisa Morales, "I Am the Weakest Fool" Beautiful Mistake (Zairo, 11)
* Gurf Morlix, "Clay Pigeons" Blaze Foley's 113th Wet Dream (Rootball, 10)
* Lori McKenna, "American Revolver" Lorraine (UMPG Nashville, 11)
* Only Sons, "Written Word" American Stranger (Sophomore Lounge, 11)
* Lucinda Williams, "Buttercup" Blessed (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Railbenders, "Leavin' Song" Showdown (Self, 06)
* Greg Trooper, "Might Be a Train" Upside-Down Town (52 Shakes, 10)
* Chris Brecht, "Not Where You Are" Dead Flower Motel (Self, 11)
* Wanda Jackson, "You Know I'm No Good" Party Ain't Over (Third Man, 11)
* Daniel Martin Moore, "In the Garden" In the Cool of the Day (Sub Pop, 11)
* Dolorean, "Thinskinned" The Unfazed (Partisan, 11)
* Ryan Adams & the Cardinals, "Death and Rats" III/IV (Paxamerican, 10)
* Bobby Long, "Who Have You Been Loving" Winter Tale (ATO, 11)
* Amos Lee, "Clear Blue Eyes" Mission Bell (Blue Note, 11)

2011-01-29T08:16:00.003-07:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

January 27, 2011

Scott Foley

2011 is not a bad year so far for Jayhawks fans. Their seminal alt.country albums Hollywood Town Hall and Tomorrow the Green Grass have been reissued with new, largely unheard material. The line-up behind those recordings has taken to the road for a series of live shows. And best of all, the Jayhawks are writing and recording new material. While many critics declare the band became irrelevant following the departure of Mark Olson, I would argue that both Smile and Rainy Day Music (the band's swansong in 2003) featured some of the Jayhawks' best tunes.

Olson, on the other hand, retreated into the desert with Victoria Williams to make a series of sometimes uneven, always worthy records under variations on the Creekdippers moniker. Louris' single effort at a solo CD, 2008's Vagabonds demonstrated his strength as a tunesmith and a crafter of roots-pop gems. Later that same year, Louris and Olson reassembled to tour and record a collection of already-existing and brand new songs for Ready for the Flood.

One would hope that a Jayhawks reunion album might rekindle the chemistry between Olson's lyrical gifts and Louris' way with a tune. While we wait, here is a great piece from Pop Matters, offering a glimpse into the mind of Mark Olson.

* Lyle Lovett, "Old Friend" I Love Everybody (MCA, 94)
* Caitlin Rose, "Own Side" Own Side Now (Names, 10)
* Musketeer Gripweed, "River Callin" Dyin' Day (Self, 10)
* Lynn Miles, "Fearless Heart" Fall For Beauty (True North, 10)
* Wanda Jackson, "Dust on the Bible" Party Ain't Over (Nonesuch, 11)
* Drive-by Truckers, "Everybody Needs Love" Go-Go Boots (ATO, 11)
* Nanci Griffith, "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness" Other Voices Other Rooms (Elektra, 93)
* Kasey Anderson, "Exit Ghost" Heart of a Dog (Red River, 11)
* Halden Wofford & the Hi Beams, "Don't Care if I Do" Midnight Rodeo (Self, 06)
* Charlie Louvin, "I Wanna Die Young (at a Very Old Age)" Longest Train (Watermelon, 96)
* Wailin' Jennys, "Swing Low Sail High" Bright Morning Star (Red House, 11)
* Tony Furtado, "Can't Lie Down" Golden (Funzalo, 10)
* White Buffalo, "Love Song #2" Prepare for Black & Blue (Ruff Shod, 10)
* Ponderosa, "Old Gin Road" Moonlight Revival (New West, 10)
> Jayhawks, "Up Above My Head" Hollywood Town Hall (remastered) (American, 11)
* Bow Thayer, "Dawning" Bottom of the Sky (Twisted River, 10)
* Slim Cessna's Auto Club, "3 Bloodhounds 2 Shepherds 1 Fila Brasiliero" Unentitled (Alt Tentacles, 11)
* Joe Purdy, "Down to the Water" This American (Mudtown Crier, 10)
* Lori McKenna, "You Get a Love Song" Lorraine (UMPG Nashville, 11)
* AJ Roach, "Sears & Roebuck Suit" Revelation (Waterbug, 08)
* Phosphorescent, "Joe Tex These Taming Blues" Aw Come Aw Wry (Misra, 05)
* Dolorean, "The Unfazed" The Unfazed (Partisan, 11)
* Old 97s, "Every Night is Friday Night (Without You)" Grand Theatre Vol 1 (New West, 10)
* Malcolm Holcombe, "To Drink the Rain" To Drink the Rain (Music Road, 11)
* Decemberists, "All Arise" King is Dead (Capitol, 11)
* Abigail Washburn, "Divine Bell" City of Refuge (Rounder, 10)
* Patrick Sweany, "Leave Ohio" That Old Southern Drag (9 Mile, 11)

2011-01-22T08:33:00.002-07:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

January 20, 2011

Scott Foley

So much good music! From the new, enhanced Jayhawks reissues to a very strong candidate for one of the year's top songs in Hayes Carll's "KMAG YOYO." A beautifully recorded set of spirituals from Daniel Martin Moore, and the return of americana's own Slingblade, Malcolm Holcombe. Driving my daughter to the bus stop this morning, I was revisiting a recording of my Favorite Songs broadcast for a couple weeks ago. Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band was playing their oddly moving "Redbuds" tune. "Dad, are you listening to Squidward?" asked Madeleine. To each their own.

For my part this week, there's nothing better than the long awaited return of Dolorean with their Unfazed album. The initial product was reportedly scrapped halfway through, and the recording begun anew for what would become this very satisfying album. I find something beautiful in their gauzy, languorous tunes, Al James' mumbly vocals and just-right instrumentation. Lazy pedal steel echoing off studio walls as though overheard from the next room over. "Unfazed by pain / Unfazed by love / Unfazed by rain / That won't let up / Unfazed by debts / I'll never pay / Unfazed by blond hair / Turning grey ..."

* Jayhawks, "Cotton Dress" Tomorrow the Green Grass (remastered) (American, 11)
* Bonnie Prince Billy, "Easy Does It" Lie Down in the Light (Drag City, 08)
* Carrie Rodriguez + Ben Kyle, "Your Lonely Heart" We Still Love Our Country (9th St Opus, 10)
* Yonder Mt String Band, "Rain Still Falls" The Show (Frog Pad, 09)
* Malcolm Holcombe, "Down in the Woods" To Drink the Rain (Music Road, 11)
* Dale Watson, "Hey Brown Bottle" Carryin' On (E1, 10)
* Hayes Carll, "KMAG YOYO" KMAG YOYO (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Over the Rhine, "The King Knows How" Long Surrender (Self, 11)
* Garth Hudson w/Blue Rodeo, "King Harvest" Canadian Celebration of the Band (Curve, 10)
* Rodney Crowell, "Telephone Road" Houston Kid (Sugar Hill, 01)
* Lawn Chair Kings, "Brand New Attitude" II (Self, 11)
* Lucinda Williams w/Elvis Costello, "Kiss Like Your Kiss" Blessed (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Only Sons, "Warning You" American Stranger (Sophomore Lounge, 11)
* Arliss Nancy, "Abacus" Truck Stop Roses (Backbone, 10)
* Patty Griffin, "One Big Love" Flaming Red (A&M, 98)
* Jesse Dayton, "One For the Dance Halls" One For the Dance Halls (Stag, 10)
* Daniel Martin Moore, "Dark Road" In the Cool of the Day (Sub Pop, 11)
* Devotchka, "100 Other Lovers" 100 Lovers (Anti, 11)
* Chris Brecht, "Don't Take it So Hard" Dead Flower Motel (Self, 11)
* Kasey Chambers, "Little Bird" Little Bird (Essence, 10)
> Dolorean, "Thinskinned" The Unfazed (Partisan, 11)
* Devil Makes Three, "For Good Again" Do Wrong Right (Milan, 09)
* North Mississippi Allstars, "New Orleans Walkin' Dead" Keys to the Kingdom (Songs of the South, 11)
* Gurf Morlix, "If I Could Only Fly" Blaze Foley's 113th Wet Dream (Rootball, 10)
* Lynn Miles, "Little Bird" Fall for Beauty (True North, 10)
* Lisa Morales, "Driving and Cryin" Beautiful Mistake (Zairo, 11)
* Travel by Sea, "Glimpse of Day" Two States and the Blindness That Follows (Autumn Tone, 10)

2011-01-13T17:06:00.003-07:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

January 13, 2011

Scott Foley

I tripped across the music of Chris Brecht a couple years ago while rambling the internet. Upon contacting him, I discovered that he had actually once lived in the alley behind the radio station in Fort Collins. Now in Austin, Brecht's second album, Dead Flower Motel, takes a step towards LA psychedelic country rock, added to an already strong bed of alt.country. In all the best ways, Chris Brecht evokes the dusty poetics of Ryan Bingham, fleshed out with a full band and just the right amount of reverb.

Also on this Episode, we dive into Gurf Morlix's heartfelt tribute to Blaze Foley, and take our first bite of Lisa Morales' refreshingly rewarding Beautiful Mistake.

* Buddy Miller, "Midnight and Lonesome" Midnight and Lonesome (Hightone, 02)
* Civil Wars, "20 Years" Barton Hollow (Dualtone, 10)
* Jeff Finlin, "American Dream #109" Epinonymous (Bent Wheel, 04)
* Cadillac Sky, "Break My Heart Again" Letters in the Deep (Dualtone, 10)
* Jayhawks, "Blue From Now On (acoustic demo)" Tomorrow the Green Grass (American, 95)
* DB Rielly, "Don't Give Up On Me" Love Potions & Snake Oil (Shut Up and Play, 09)
* Ray Lamontagne & Secret Sisters, "You Can Bring Me Flowers (live)" Live Fall 2010 (Self, 10)
* Steve Earle, "Goodbye" Train a'Comin' (Winter Harvest, 95)
* Gurf Morlix, "Oh Darlin'" Blaze Foley's 113th Wet Dream (Rootball, 11)
^ Chris Brecht, "Not Where You Are" Dead Flower Motel (Chris Brecht, 11)
* Slim Cessna's Auto Club, "Angel" Buried Behind the Barn (Alt Tentacles, 10)
* Elvis Costello, "I Lost You" National Ransom (Hear, 10)
* Ryan Adams & the Cardinals, "Typecast" III/IV (Paxamericana, 10)
* Gregg Allman, "Please Accept My Love" Low Country Blues (Rounder, 11)
* Jason & the Scorchers, "Twang Town Blues" Halcyon Times (Courageous Chicken, 10)
* Lisa Morales, "I Am the Weakest Fool" Beautiful Mistake (Zairo, 11)
* Boulder Acoustic Society, "Where Have the Good Ones Gone" Champion of Disaster (BAS, 10)
* Tallest Man on Earth, "Tangle in This Trampled Wheat" Sometimes the Blues is Just a Passing Bird (Dead Oceans, 10)
* G Love, "Fixin' to Die" Fixin' to Die (G Love, 11)
* North Mississippi Allstars, "The Meeting" Keys to the Kingdom (Thirty Tigers, 11)
* Jason Isbell, "Chicago Promenade" Sirens of the Ditch (New West, 07)
* Jesse Dayton, "Back to Back" One for the Dance Halls (Stag, 10)
* Kasey Anderson, "My Blues My Love" Heart of a Dog (Red River, 11)
* Abigail Washburn, "Chains" City of Refuge (Rounder, 10)
* Gregory Alan Isakov, "Idaho" This Empty Northern Hemisphere (Self, 09)
* Decemberists, "Don't Carry It All" The King is Dead (Capitol, 11)

2011-01-06T11:26:00.003-07:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

January 6, 2011

Scott Foley

Launching into 2011 with a pair of excellent alt.country releases. I must've received Kasey Anderson's Nowhere Nights in the nowhere-land of the post-holiday season. That's the only reason I can imagine why it didn't land in my favorites list for 2010. I'll make a vow here that Kasey's forthcoming CD with his band the Honkies won't be similarly overlooked. Harder than his last release, with more of a leaning towards the "alt" side of the equation, Heart of a Dog marks an excellent follow-up.

Tennessee band the Only Sons' 2009 CD, Steel Hearts, has been available online in a free download format. Their refreshing, classic alt.country sound caught my attention then, and their forthcoming CD, American Stranger more than fulfills the promise. Smooth pedal steel perfectly compliments the driving electric guitar and gruff spirit. Leader Kent Goolsby's recent solo outing, Wide Eyed Son can be downloaded for free as well. Now that's the way to spread the music love around!

I'm especially grateful for folks like Kasey Anderson and Only Sons, who make their music readily available in a time when locally-owned, independently operated records stores are all but extinct. For Kasey's part, placing an online order for his new release allows you an instant download as well. Only Sons' American Stranger is available for free streaming on their Bandcamp page. As someone who still makes part of a living purchasing music for one of those aforementioned indies, I'm not ready to declare an end to the era of the $15 CD (or the $20 CD in some cases ...). Nevertheless, it's nice to have options.

* Ronnie Fauss, "It's a Long Long Way" Mulligan (FTG, 10)
* Mike Stinson, "Square With the World" Jukebox in Your Heart (Stag, 10)
* Jesse Dayton, "One For the Dance Halls" One For the Dance Halls (Stag, 10)
* Bow Thayer & Perfect Trainwreck, "Suicide Kings" Bottom of the Sky (Twisted River, 10)
* Dakota Blonde, "Early" Til They Fade (Wind Over Dakota, 97)
* Over the Rhine, "Undamned" Long Surrender (Over the Rhine, 11)
* Chris Knight, "Hello Old Man" Jealous Kind (Drifter's Church, 03)
* Adam Klein, "Wayward Son" Wounded Electric Youth (Cowboy Angel, 10)
* Carrie Rodriguez & Ben Kyle, "Fire Alarm" We Still Love Our Country (Ninth St Opus, 10)
* Devotchka, "Contrabanda" 100 Lovers (Anti, 11)
* Gurf Morlix, "Clay Pigeons" Blaze Foley's 113th Wet Dream (Rootball, 11)
* Boris McCutcheon & Saltlick, "California" Wheel of Life (Frogville, 10)
* Railroad Earth, "Long Walk Home" Railroad Earth (One Haven, 10)
* William Elliott Whitmore, "Lord Only Knows" Hymns for the Hopeless (Southern, 03)
* Caitlin Rose, "Sinful Wishing Well" Own Side Now (Names, 10)
* Gregg Allman, "Floating Bridge" Low Country Blues (Rounder, 11)
* Leftover Salmon w/Lucinda Williams, "Lines Around Your Eyes" Nashville Sessions (Hollywood, 99)
^ Only Sons, "Cutting Corners" American Stranger (Sophomore Lounge, 11)
* Lynn Miles, "Fearless Heart" Fall For Beauty (True North, 10)
* Corinne West & Kelly Joe Phelps, "Horseback in My Dreams" Magnetic Skyline (Tin Angel, 10)
* Kasey Anderson & the Honkies, "Exit Ghost" Heart of a Dog (Red River, 11)
* Drive-by Truckers, "Used to Be a Cop" Go-Go Boots (ATO, 11)
* Tony Furtado, "Golden (Broken)" Golden (Funzalo, 10)
* Elephant Revival, "Rhythm of the Road" Break in the Clouds (Ruff Shod, 10)
* Southern Culture on the Skids, "My Neighbor Burns Trash" Kudzu Ranch (Kudzu, 10)
* Old 97s, "Please Hold On While the Train is Moving" Grand Theater Vol 1 (New West, 10)

2010-12-30T12:35:00.004-07:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2010

December 30, 2010

Scott Foley

There is an apple tree in the backyard. It's approaching January, and a couple purple apples still hold stubbornly to their branches, not even enough to count on two hands. This morning's snow sits atop each fruit, like white caps on mis-colored acorns. Give me the beauty of winter over summer's easy green, anytime.

Winter is also the time I allow myself a rare look over my shoulder at the months passed. I'm pleased with my list this year, happy with the mix of the new and the familiar, the expected and the out-of-nowhere.

Part of being a musical "free-thinker" is having a wide attention span. It's being able to pick up under the radar acts like Chris Pureka or Colorado's Travel By Sea, while giving bigger names like Justin Townes Earle or Jakob Dylan their due play. It's also being humble enough to admit that the year's highest-profile americana release was, in fact, my favorite album of 2010.

I'm not more than a very casual fan of Led Zeppelin, as evidence that my favorite Zep album is their commonly dismissed In Through the Out Door ("Fool In the Rain," anybody?!). I don't even think Robert Plant's Raising Sand collab with Alison Krauss made my favorites list the year it debuted. Still, I see Band of Joy as a monumentally successful example of true collaboration between producer/musician Buddy Miller, Plant and the phenomenal band they gathered around them. The album wouldn't have been the same without Greg Leisz's pedal steel, the swamp-deep bass and drums of Byron House and Marco Giovino, or (especially) Patty Griffin's heavenly vocals. I want to put the album on as I type (and that's truly unusual for this musically attention-challenged programmer!).

20) Chris Pureka, "Lowlands" How I Learned To See In the Dark (Sad Rabbit, 4/10)
19) Caleb Klauder, "What Was I Supposed To Do" Western Country (Quicksilver, 8/10)
18) Travel By Sea, "Sign of the Times" Two States & the Blindness That Follows (Autumn Tone, 10/10)
17) Thrift Store Cowboys, "Ghost Trails" Light Fighter (Self, 9/10)
16) Phosphorescent, "Heaven Sittin' Down" Here's To Taking It Easy (Dead Oceans, 5/10)
15) Amy Cook, "Strange Birds" Let the Light In (Self, 4/10)
14) Elizabeth Cook, "All the Time" Welder (31 Tigers, 5/10)
13) Ray Wylie Hubbard, "Black Wings" A Enlightenment ... (Bordello, 1/10)
12) Old 97s, "You Were Born To Be In Battle" Grand Theatre Vol 1 (New West, 10/10)
11) Sahara Smith, "Tin Man Town" Myth of the Heart (Playing in Traffic, 8/10)
10) Kim Richey, "When the Circus Comes To Town" Wreck Your Wheels (31 Tigers, 9/10)
9) Joe Pug, "Not So Sure" Messenger (Lightning Rod, 2/10)
8) Tim Barry, "With Ease I Leave" 28th and Stonewall (Suburban Home, 1/10)
7) Ryan Bingham, "Junky Star" Junky Star (Lost Hwy, 8/10)
6) Nathaniel Rateliff, "Lamb On the Stone" In Memory of Loss (Rounder, 5/10)
5) Justin Townes Earle, "Slippin' and Slidin'" Harlem River Blues (Bloodshot, 9/10)
4) Jakob Dylan, "Yonder Come the Blues" Women + Country (Sony, 4/10)
3) Mumford & Sons, "Timshel" Sigh No More (Glassnote, 2/10)
2) Halden Wofford & the Hi Beams, "Till Night Is Through" Sinners & Saints (Self, 7/10)
1) Robert Plant, "House of Cards" Band of Joy (Rounder, 9/10)

2010-12-25T13:22:00.003-07:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

December 23, 2010

Scott Foley

Another Christmas, another holiday show, featuring my three "children," Gabe, Logan and Madeleine. As in years past, each came to the station with a holiday song of their choosing. Logan selected the guitar-orchestra "Christmas/Sarajevo 12/24," while Gabe demonstrated a keen understanding of the TMM ethos with a taste of Los Straitjackets. Madeleine reached back nearly 20 years before her own birth to a fun number from a Rankin-Bass claymation special.

Next Episode, I'll pull together a list of my favorite albums of the year. On Thurs Dec 30, gather the family, pop some breakfast popcorn, and join me.

* Ray Charles, "That Spirit of Christmas" Spirit of Christmas (Rhino, 85)
* Rev Horton Heat, "Winter Wonderland" We Three Kings (Yep Roc, 05)
* Slaid Cleaves, "You're a Mean One Mr Grinch" Holiday Sampler (Philo, 01)
* Scott Miller, "Star of Bethlehem" Christmas Gift (Scott Miller, 10)
^ Trans-Siberian Orchestra, "Christmas / Sarajevo 12/24" Christmas Eve & Other Stories (Atlantic, 96)
* Bruce Cockburn, "Mary Had a Baby" Christmas (Columbia, 93)
* Oh Starling, "Emmanuel" Noel (Oh Starling, 10)
* Eric Brace & Peter Cooper, "Silent Night" Master Sessions (Red Beet, 10)
* Over the Rhine, "Darlin' (Christmas is Coming)" Snow Angels (Great Speckled Dog, 07)
* Rose Cousins, "New Kind of Light" New Kind of Light (Self, 10)
^ Los Straitjackets, "Jingle Bells" Yuletide Beat (Yep Roc)
* Old 97s, "Here it is Christmas" Here it is Christmas (Old 97s, 07)
* Hayes Carll, "Grateful For Christmas" KMAG YOYO (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Emmylou Harris, "Light of the Stable" Light of the Stable (Rhino, 92)
* The Band, "Christmas Must Be Tonight" To Kingdom Come (Capitol, 89)
* Shelby Lynne, "Aint Nothin' Like Christmas" Merry Christmas (Everso, 10)
* John Cowan, "Let's Make a Baby King" Comfort & Joy (E1, 09)
* Kimmie Rhodes, "Mary" Miracles On Christmas Day (Sunbird, 10)
* Ox, "Christmas In the Jailhouse" Silent Night & Other Cowboy Songs (Ox, 10)
* Fats Kaplin & Kristi Rose, "Come See the Baby" I Wonder As I Wander (Pulp Country, 10)
^ Paul Frees, "Put One Foot In Front of the Other" Santa Claus is Comin' To Town (Rhino, 70)
* Gretchen Peters, "Song for a Winter's Night" Northern Lights (Scarlet Letter, 08)
* Angie Stevens, "Won't You Come Home" Won't You Come Home (Boss Koala, 10)
* Los Lonely Boys, "Feliz Navidad" Christmas Spirit (Epic, 08)
* Susan Cowsill, "World at Christmas Time" Very Threadhead Holiday (Threadhead, 10)
* Steve Earle & Allison Moorer, "Nothing But a Child" To Kate: a Benefit (Western Beat, 05)

2010-12-25T12:17:00.003-07:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

December 16, 2010

Scott Foley

Almost feel like apologizing for the ridiculous wealth of new material unleashed on this week's Episode. It's a good look forward, unusual during this time of the year, typically taken over by holiday music and looks back (got some of that, too). First looks at new albums by the likes of Colorado artist Devotchka, Drive-by Truckers, Northwest favorites Dolorean, Ryan Adams and more. New holiday stuff comes from a couple of Colorado bands: Travel By Sea and Oh Starling. Most unusually, the TMM debut of G Love, whose forthcoming Fixin to Die finds him produced and backed by Seth and Scott Avett. Talk about "special sauce" ...

* Catherine MacLellan, "Church Bell Blues" Church Bell Blues (True North, 08)
* Dirk Powell, "Christmas Time's a Comin'" Fret-Free Christmas (Valcour, 10)
* Jonathan Byrd, "Cackalack" Cackalack (Waterbug, 10)
^ G Love, "Fixin' to Die" Fixin' to Die (G Love, 10)
* Scott Miller, "Kingdom Has Come / Journey of the Magi" Christmas Gift (Scott Miller, 10)
* Mystiqueros, "I Would Not Make It Through" Agave (Blue Boot, 10)
* Allison Moorer & Steve Earle, "After the Fire is Gone" Coal Miner's Daughter: Tribute to Loretta Lynn (Sony, 10)
* Ryan Adams & the Cardinals, "Typecast" III/IV (David Ryan Adams, 10)
* Travel By Sea, "I Heard the Bells" Christmas EP 2010 (Travel By Sea, 10)
* Devotchka, "Contrabanda" 100 Lovers (Anti, 11)
* DB Rielly, "Don't Give Up On Me" Love Potions & Snake Oil (Shut Up & Play, 09)
* Jerry Lee Lewis, "Sweet Virginia" Mean Old Man (Vanguard, 10)
* Corinne West & Kelly Joe Phelps, "Whiskey Poet" Magnetic Skyline (Make Records, 10)
* Rose Cousins, "Little Drummer Boy" New Kind of Light (Self, 10)
* Boris McCutcheon & the Saltlick, "Mullein People" Wheel of Life (Frogville, 10)
* Slaid Cleaves, "Hard To Believe" Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away (Music Road, 09)
* Oh Starling, "Hark" Noel (Oh Starling, 10)
* Drive-by Truckers, "Used to Be a Cop" Go-Go Boots (ATO, 11)
* Fabulous Ginn Sisters, "Redhead Rosie" You Can't Take a Bad Girl Home (Ginn Sisters, 10)
* Over the Rhine, "Laugh of Recognition" Long Surrender (Over the Rhine, 11)
* Bow Thayer, "Dawning" Bottom of the Sky (Twisted River, 10)
* Shelby Lynne, "Silver Bells" Merry Christmas (Everso, 10)
* David Dondero, "Don't Cry No Tears" Pre-Existing Condition (Ghostmeat, 10)
* Dolorean, "Hard Working Dogs" The Unfazed (Partisan, 11)
* Bruce Cockburn, "Go Tell It On the Mountain" Christmas (Columbia, 93)

2010-12-09T11:31:00.004-07:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

December 9, 2010

Scott Foley

My Favorite Songs of 2010

About this time last year, I was debuting a list of my 20 favorite songs of 2009. Atop that list was Cory Chisel & the Wandering Sons with "Born Again." Close behind: Ryan Bingham with "Dylan's Hard Rain," "A Little Revival" from Radney Foster, Sons of Bill's "Broken Bottles" and Slaid Cleaves' "Hard to Believe." Not a bad bunch of songs, really.

This year, I whittled to 25 my initial list of about 60 worthy candidates. In truth, I'm not really convinced that I've made the right selections until I'm in the car, heading south from Fort Collins, a recording of the show playing on my stereo. These are some good songs. I've got really good taste in music ...

This year's List features songs from as long ago as early January, and as recent as a couple weeks ago. There are covers from Robert Plant and Susan Cowsill (her brother's stirring "River of Love"), lighthearted songs by Elizabeth Cook and April Smith, and potential downers at the hands of Audra Mae and White Buffalo.

... and Ryan Bingham, again atop my list. I first gave "Weary Kind" airtime the very first week of 2010, and the song has held up since. How can you argue with a lyric like, "You are the man that ruined her world"? Paired with a tremendous cinematic performance by Jeff Bridges, the song is a heartbreaker. In all the best ways.

^ 1. Ryan Bingham, "Weary Kind" Crazy Heart (Fox Searchlight, 1/19/10)

2. Larkin Poe, "Long Hard Fall" Spring An EP (DefPig, 6/01/10)

3. Trampled By Turtles, "Wait So Long" Palomino (Banjodad, 4/13/10)

4. Robert Plant, "Harm's Swift Way" Band of Joy (Rounder, 9/14/10)

5. Mumford & Sons, "Little Lion Man" Sigh No More (Self, 2/16/10)

6. Audra Mae, "Lightning In a Bottle" Happiest Lamb (Side One Dummy, 5/18/10)

7. Justin Townes Earle, "Harlem River Blues" Harlem River Blues (Bloodshot, 9/14/10)

8. April Smith & the Great Picture Show, "Movie Loves a Screen" Songs for a Sinking Ship (Self, 2/23/10)

9. Jakob Dylan, "They've Trapped Us Boys" Women + Country (Columbia, 4/2/10)

10. Truth & Salvage Co, "Heart Like a Wheel" Truth & Salvage Co (Silver Arrow, 5/25/10)

11. Darrell Scott, "This Time Round" Crooked Road (Full Light, 5/25/10)

12. Chase Fifty Six, "Mary Jane" Allatoona Rising (Dirt Leg, 4/8/10)

13. Ryan Bingham, "Depression" Junky Star (Lost Hwy, 8/31/10)

14. Munly & the Lupercalians, "Grandfater" Petr & the Wulf (Alt Tentacles, 10/5/10)

15. Tim Barry, "Will Travel" 28th & Stonewall (Suburban Home, 1/26/10)

16. Possessed by Paul James, "Shoulda Known Better" Feed the Family (Hillgrass Bbilly, 9/21/10)

17. Halden Wofford & the Hi Beams, "The Ring" Sinners & Saints (Self, 7/26/10)

18. Elizabeth Cook, "El Camino" Welder (31 Tigers, 5/11/10)

19. Luke Doucet, "Ballad of Ian Curtis" Steel City Trawler (Six Shooter, 9/21/10)

20. Fistful of Mercy, "Father's Son" As I Call You Down (Hot Records, 10/5/10)

21. Amelia Curran, "Dozens" Hunter Hunter (Six Shooter, 9/21/10)

22. Susan Cowsill, "River of Love" Lighthouse (Threadhead, 5/18/10)

23. Rev Peyton, "Redbuds" The Wages (Side One Dummy, 5/25/10)

24. White Buffalo, "Love Song #2" Prepare for Black & Blue (Ruff Shod, 11/2/10)

25. Bobby Bare Jr, "Sad Smile" A Storm A Tree ... (Naked Albino, 8/31/10)

2010-12-04T15:31:00.004-07:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

December 2, 2010

Scott Foley

Joe Pug, Tallest Man On Earth, Chad Price, Austin Lucas. Artists who tend to perform unadorned, exposed on stage with only a guitar between them and the audience. Not a new performance style, to be sure, but one that seems to be making a comeback, albeit in a grittier, more visceral fashion. Take a large, longhaired man named Jake Smith. Performing under the name White Buffalo, Smith has been described thusly, "If Richie Havens and Eddie Vedder has a baby with Levon Helm and Joe Cocker." Track down his new EP, Prepare For Black & Blue.

Oddly enough, White Buffalo's label, Ruff Shod, also released this month the second CD by Colorado "transcendental folk" ensemble Elephant Revival, also featured in this week's Episode.

Stay tuned next Thursday morning for a countdown of my favorite americana, alt.country and roots music songs.

* Jon Snodgrass, "Long Way Found" Visitor's Band (Suburban Home, 09)
* Steeldrivers, "Where Rainbows Never Die" Reckless (Rounder, 10)
* Trishas, "Trouble About My Soul" They Call Us the Trishas (Fatty Four, 10)
* DB Rielly, "We're All Going Straight To Hell" Love Potions and Snake Oil (Shut Up, 09)
* Samantha Crain, "Santa Fe" You (Understood) (Ramseur, 10)
* Ken Will Morton, "Breathe" True Grit (Sojourn, 10)
* Elephant Revival, "Feathers Rise" Break in the Clouds (Ruff Shod, 10)
* Hayes Carll, "Grateful For Christmas" KMAG YOYO (Lost Hwy, 11)
* Los Lobos, "On Main St" Tin Can Trust (Shout, 10)
* Leslie & the Badgers, "Flyin' Shoes" More Townes Van Zandt By the Great Unknown (forthesakeofthesong, 10)
* Brennen Leigh, "Just to Hear My Little Bluebird Sing" The Box (Self, 10)
* Sam Baker, "Angel Hair" Cotton (Music Road, 09)
* Amos Lee, "Windows Are Rolled Down" Mission Bell (Blue Note, 11)
* Lucinda Williams, "Somebody Somewhere" Coal Miner's Daughter: Tribute to Loretta Lynn (Sony, 10)
* Kenny Perkins, "Tiny Distraction" Wild Frontier (Self, 11)
* Susan Cowsill, "World at Christmas Time" Very Threadhead Holiday (Threadhead, 10)
* Glenna Bell, "These Days" Perfectly Legal (Self, 10)
* 6 Day Bender, "Leaving Today" E'Ville Fuzz (Eastham, 10)
* Todd Adelman & the Love Handles, "Hand Over Your Heart" Todd Adelman & the Love Handles (Porch Lantern, 09)
* Old 97s, "State of Texas" Grand Theatre Vol 1 (New West, 10)
* Iron & Wine, "Walking For From Home" Walking Far From Home EP (Warner, 10)
* Robert Plant, "You Can't Buy My Love" Band of Joy (Rounder, 10)
^ White Buffalo, "Love Song #2" Prepare for Black & Blue (Ruff Shod, 10)
* Chatham County Line, "Crop Comes In" Wildwood (Yep Roc, 10)
* Rachel Harrington, "Spokane" Celilo Falls (Skinny Dennis, 10)
* Fistful of Mercy, "Father's Son" As I Call You Down (Hot, 10)
* Fats Kaplin & Kristi Rose, "And the Shepherds Danced" I Wonder as I Wander (Pulp Country, 10)

2010-11-28T13:54:00.002-07:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

November 25, 2010

Scott Foley

This time of year typically sees very little new music. It's generally about wrapping up, holiday music and year-end best of lists. I'll debut my Favorite Songs list on Thursday, December 9. This week, I did manage a handful of debuts, including a nice collection of Band covers by Garth Hudson and several special guests. Rachel Harrington's Celilo Falls revisits the promise of her debut CD. And I'll listen to anything Lambchop frontman Kurt Wagner puts out, especially if it's as good as his new album of duets with Cortney Tidwell, KORT.

* Norman, "Bellfountain Stars" Hay Hay Make a Wish (Timber Carnival, 10)
* John Mellencamp, "Save Some Time To Dream" No Better Than This (Rounder, 10)
* Matthew & the Atlas, "Come Out of the Woods" Kingdom of Your Own (Communion, 10)
* Sadies w/Garth Hudson, "Shape I'm In" Canadian Celebration of the Band (Curve, 10)
* Whitey Morgan, "Bad News" Whitey Morgan & the 78s (Bloodshot, 10)
* Cross Canadian Ragweed, "Blue Bonnets" Happiness and All the Other Things (Universal South, 09)
* Great American Taxi, "One of These Days" Reckless Habits (Thirty Tigers, 10)
* Fabulous Ginn Sisters, "Heart and Bones" You Can't Take a Bad Girl Home (Self, 10)
* Adam Haworth Stephens, "Cities That You've Burned" We Live On Cliffs (Saddle Creek, 10)
* Joe Ely, "Mockingbird Hill" internet single (Rack'em, 10)
* Lucky Peterson, "Atonement" You Can Always Turn Around (Dreyfus, 10)
* Rachel Harrington, "House of Cards" Celilo Falls (Skinny Dennis, 10)
* Leftover Salmon, "Better" Euphoria (Hollywood, 97)
* Marshall Chapman, "Falling Through the Trees" Big Lonesome (TallGirl, 10)
* Ryan Bingham, "Hard Worn Trail" Junky Star (Lost Highway, 10)
* Sons of Bill, "Broken Bottles" One Town Away (Gray Fox, 09)
* Halden Wofford & the Hi Beams, "Mauvais Sang" Sinners & Saints (Self, 10)
^ KORT, "Pickin' Wild Mountain Berries" Invariable Heartache (City Slang, 10)
* Marty Stuart, "Branded" Ghost Train (Sugar Hill, 10)
* Ray Lamontagne, "Beg Steal or Borrow" God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise (RCA, 10)
* Magnolia Electric Co, "O! Grace" Josephine (Secretly Canadian, 09)
* Possessed by Paul James, "Shoulda Known Better" Feed the Family (Hillgrass Bluebilly, 10)
* Coal Porters, "Lookin' for a Soft Place to Fall" Durango (Prima, 10)
* Susan Cowsill, "River of Love" Lighthouse (Threadhead, 10)

2010-11-21T11:17:00.002-07:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

November 18, 2010

Scott Foley

I suppose I understand Kasey Chambers waiting to release her excellent Little Bird in the US until she finishes touring in her native Australia. It's about economics. Since it has disappeared from iTunes, I assume she's found a label for 2011 distribution. Somewhat similarly, Mumford & Sons and Laura Marling released an innovative Dharohar Project EP, but only overseas.

One of the better recent releases along these lines comes from Caitlin Rose, who hails from Nashville, but chose to release her Own Side Now in England months before it will see the light of day here in the US. Seems silly in these days of seamless internet to draw lines between one country and another in terms of music release. I'm grateful that I have been able to share cuts from Chambers and Rose, finding them as legal downloads here and there. Still haven't been able to track down a legal cut from Mumford & Marling.

* Hayes Carll, "King of the Road" Imus Ranch Record 2 (New West, 10)
* Coal Porters, "Like a Hurricane" Durango (Prima, 10)
* Zoe Muth, "Hard Luck Love" Zoe Muth & the Lost High Rollers (Self, 09)
* Kasey Chambers, "Devil On Your Back" Little Bird (Essence, 10)
* Boulder Acoustic Society, "Shelter" Champion of Disaster (Self, 10)
* Daniel Lanois, "Under a Stormy Sky" Acadie (Warner, 89)
* Derailers, "Guaranteed to Satisfy (live)" Live From Texas (Varese Saraband, 10)
^ Caitlin Rose, "Sinful Wishing Well" Own Side Now (Names, 10)
* Autumn Defense, "Back of My Mind" Once Around (Yep Roc, 10)
* Yvette Landry, "120 Proof" Should Have Known (Soko, 10)
* Fistful of Mercy, "Father's Son" As I Call You Down (Hot, 10)
* Travel By Sea, "Glimpse of Day" Two States and the Blindness That Follows (Autumn Tone, 10)
* Todd Snider, "I Spoke as a Child (live)" Near Truths & Hotel Rooms (Oh Boy, 03)
* Jason D Williams, "You Look Like I Could Use a Drink" Killer Instincts (Rockabilly, 10)
* Arliss Nancy, "Abacus" Truck Stop Roses (Backbone, 10)
* Kasey Anderson, "Bellingham Blues" Nowhere Nights (Red River, 09)
* Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion, "Never Far From My Heart" Bright Examples (9th St Opus, 11)
* Big Smith, "Cicada" Roots Shoots & Wings (Mayapple, 10)
* Abby Owens, "Last Man" Indiantown (Self, 10)
* Jeffrey Foucault, "Voices Talking" Cold Satellite (Self, 10)
* Bobby Bare Jr, "Sad Smile" A Storm A Tree ... (Naked Albino, 10)
* Kim Richey, "Leaving 49" Wreck Your Wheels (30 Tigers, 10)
* Avett Bros, "Kick Drum Heart (live)" Live Vol 3 (American, 10)
* Larkin Poe, "Memories" Fall an EP (Self, 10)
* Musketeer Gripweed, "Bossman" Dyin' Day (Self, 10)
* Gary Bennett, "While You Were Gone" My Ol' Guitar (Raucous, 10)
* Pat Anderson, "Hometown Blues" Magnolia Road (Cross Country, 10)
* Hot Rize, "Diamond Joe" internet single (Self, 10)
* Robert Plant, "Angel Dance" Band of Joy (Rounder, 10)

2010-11-12T09:06:00.002-07:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

November 11, 2010

Scott Foley

Lucky Peterson was a child prodigy, having recorded his first song at age 6. 39 years later, "Little" Lucky Peterson isn't so little anymore. Renowned for his keyboard skills, Peterson is also a strong guitarist, as he proves on his new CD, You Can Always Turn Around. The collection is rooted in trad blues, as evidenced by covers of classics from Robert Johnson, Blind Willie McTell and Rev Gary Davis. But throw into the mix covers of tunes by Ray Lamontagne, Lucinda Williams and Tom Waits, and Peterson's recorded himself a crossover album. This Episode features a stellar take on Bill Callahan's "I'm New Here".

This weekend, I plan to gather all my TMM playlists from the year and begin to compile my Year End Favorites list for songs and albums of 2010. Grab your Peanuts calendar, and put a Schroeder stamp on Thursdays, December 9 and December 30. The former will feature my favorite tunes, and the latter my favorite discs. Feel free to comment or email me your own favorites of the year.

^ Lucky Peterson, "I'm New Here" You Can Always Turn Around (Dreyfus, 10)
* Trishas, "Trouble About My Soul" They Call Us the Trishas (Fatty Four, 10)
* James Hyland & the Joint Chiefs, "Radio City" Celestial Navigation (Ananaki, 10)
* Golden Smog, "Long Time Ago" Another Fine Day (Universal, 06)
* Crooked Fingers, "Shelly's Winter Love" Reservoir Songs Vol 2 (Foreign Leisure, 10)
* Gary Bennett, "Life Ain't Killed Me Yet" My Ol' Guitar (Raucous, 10)
* Sahara Smith, "Real Thing" Myth of the Heart (Playing in Traffic, 10)
* Joe Ely, "You Can Bet I'm Gone" internet single (Rack 'Em, 10)
* Reckless Kelly, "Think it Over One Time" Undone: a MusicFest Tribute to Robert Earl Keen (30 Tigers, 08)
* Thrift Store Cowboys, "Lean Into the Sway" Light Fighter (Self, 10)
* The Congress, "Loretta" The Congress (Self, 10)
* Decemberists, "Down By the Water" King is Dead (Capitol, 11)
* Dylan LeBlanc, "If Time Was For Wasting" Paupers Field (Rough Trade, 10)
* Railroad Earth, "Black Elk Speaks" Railroad Earth (One Haven, 10)
* Marshall Chapman, "Riding With Willie" Big Lonesome (TallGirl, 10)
* Allison Moorer & Steve Earle, "After the Fire is Gone" Coal Miner's Daughter: Tribute to Loretta Lynn (Sony, 10)
* Levon Helm, "It Takes a Lot to Laugh" Imus Ranch Record II (New West, 10)
* Raul Malo, "Saint Behind the Glass" Sinners & Saints (Fantasy, 10)
* Derailers, "Hey Valerie" (live) Live From Texas (Varese Saraband, 10)
* Railbenders, "Drive Away" Like a Wheel (Self, 09)
* Kelly Joe Phelps, "Roll Away the Stone" Roll Away the Stone (Ryko, 97)
* Amos Lee, "Windows Are Rolled Down" Mission Bell (Blue Note, 11)
* Fabulous Ginn Sisters, "Fireworks" You Can't Take a Bad Girl Home (Self, 10)
* Old 97s, "Every Night is Friday Night" Grand Theatre Vol 1 (New West, 10)
* Darden Smith, "Sierra Diablo" Marathon (Self, 10)

2010-11-06T16:06:00.002-06:00

Thursday Morning Mix

November 4, 2010

Scott Foley

* Elvis Costello, "National Ransom" National Ransom (Hear, 2010)
* Caleb Klauder, "My Time is Gonna Come" Western Country (Quicksilver, 10)
* Audra Mae, "Lightning in a Bottle" Happiest Lamb (Side One Dummy, 10)
* Musketeer Gripweed, "Bossman" Dyin' Day (Self, 10)
* Railroad Earth, "Long Walk Home" Railroad Earth (One Haven, 10)
* Brennen Leigh, "Rolling Green Hills" The Box (Self, 10)
* Ryan Adams, "Oh My Sweet Carolina" Heartbreaker (Bloodshot, 00)
* Decemberists, "Down By the Water" King is Dead (Capitol, 11)
* Halden Wofford & the High Beams, "Mission Avenue" Sinners & Saints (Self, 10)
* Tired Pony, "Dead American Writers" Place We Ran From (Mom & Pop, 10)
* Autumn Defense, "Tell Me What You Want" Once Around (Yep Roc, 10)
^ Marshall Chapman, "Big Lonesome" Big Lonesome (TallGirl, 10)
* Reed Foehl, "Wolves" Once an Ocean (Never Foehl, 09)
* Graham Wilkinson, "Ragamuffin" Yearbook (Township, 10)
* Matthew & the Atlas, "Come Out of the Woods" Kingdom of Your Own (Communion, 10)
* Blue Rodeo, "Four Strong Winds" Gift: Tribute to Ian Tyson (Stony Plain, 07)
* Uncle Earl, "Last Goodbye" Waterloo Tennessee (Rounder, 07)
* Justin Townes Earle, "Ain't Waitin" Harlem River Blues (Bloodshot, 10)
* Sarah Jarosz, "My Muse" New 45 (Sugar Hill, 10)
* Kingsley Flood, "Stoop Cats" Dust Windows (Self, 10)
* David Wax Museum, "Beatrice" Carpenter Bird (Self, 10)
* Shelby Lynne, "Lonesome" Identity Crisis (Capitol, 03)
* Drag the River, "History With History" 2010 Demons (SuburbanHome, 10)
* Secret Sisters, "Waste the Day" Secret Sisters (Beladroit, 10)
* Robert Plant, "Only Sound That Matters" Band of Joy (Rounder, 10)
* Dylan LeBlanc, "If the Creek Don't Rise" Paupers Field (Rough Trade, 10)
* Coal Porters, "No More Chains" Durango (Prima, 10)
* Steve Earle, "Telephone Road" El Corazon (Warner, 97)

2010-10-28T16:17:00.003-06:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

October 28, 2010

Scott Foley

Glad to have the new Two Cow Garage release on this week's Episode, walking the line between bombast and nuance. Their stuff has always been just a bit over the line for an early morning show, but I appreciate their heart. Speaking of which, FoCo's Drag the River has released the bare bones demo versions of their 2011 CD tracks, showing more maturity and songcraft than ever before.

On a completely unrelated front, and undiscovered Johnny Cash and Ray Charles track, recorded more than a decade ago, has surfaced. A soulful, heartfelt take on Kris Kristofferson's classic "Why Me Lord."

* Two Tons of Steel, "Cryin' Eyes" Not That Lucky (Smith, 09)
* Big Smith, "My Overalls" Roots Shoots & Wings (Mayapple, 10)
* Glenna Bell, "Honky Tonk Man" Perfectly Legal (Self, 10)
* Marshall Chapman, "Big Lonesome" Big Lonesome (TallGirl, 10)
* Gourds, "My Name is Jorge" Cow Fish Fowl or Pig (Sugar Hill, 02)
* Jeff Finlin, "Stones Must Roll" Tao of Motor Oil (Bent Wheel, 10)
* Defibulators, "Dum-Dum" Corn Money (City Salvage, 10)
* Hayes Carll, "King of the Road" Imus Ranch Record 2 (New West, 10)
* Tallest Man on Earth, "Like the Wheel" Sometimes the Blues is Just a Passing Bird (Dead Oceans, 10)
* Ryan Bingham, "Weary Kind" Crazy Heart (New West, 10)
* Boulder Acoustic Society, "How Many Times a Day" Champion of Disaster (Self, 10)
* Avett Bros, "Head Full of Doubt / Road Full of Promise" Live Volume 3 (American, 10)
* Abby Owens, "Indiantown" Indiantown (Self, 10)
* Drag the River, "Here's To the Losers" 2010 Demons (Suburban Home, 10)
* Rev Horton Heat, "Revival" Revival (Yep Roc, 04)
^ Two Cow Garage, "Lydia" Sweet Saint Me (Suburban Home, 10)
* Thrift Store Cowboys, "Ghost Trails" Light Fighter (Self, 10)
* Musketeer Gripweed, "River Callin" Dyin' Day (Self, 10)
* Yvette Landry, "One More Broken Heart" Should Have Known (Soko, 10)
* Blitzen Trapper & Alela Diane, "The Tree" Destroyer of the Void (Sub Pop, 10)
* Ray Charles & Johnny Cash, "Why Me Lord" Rare Genius (Concord, 10)
* Whitey Morgan, "Turn Up the Bottle" Whitey Morgan & the 78s (Bloodshot, 10)
* Corb Lund, "The West Just Fades Away" CBC Radio 2s Song Quest: Road Songs (CBC, 10)
* David Olney, "Covington Girl" Dutchman's Curve (Deadbeet, 10)
* Luke Doucet, "Sundown" Steel City Trawler (Six Shooter, 10)
* Munly & the Lupercalians, "Grandfater" Petr & the Wulf (Alt Tentacles, 10)
* Graham Wilkinson, "Ragamuffin" Yearbook (Township, 10)
* Kim Richey, "In the Years to Come" Wreck Your Wheels (Thirty Tigers, 10)

2010-10-23T06:50:00.002-06:00

THURSDAY MORNING MIX

October 21, 2010

Scott Foley

"Sinister" is the word conjured by the new release by Colorado artists Munly & the Lupercalians. Their new CD, Petr & the Wulf gives a dark twist to Prokofiev's classic children's story. Peter ("Petr") and his grandfather ("Grandfater") are there, as well as the duck, the cat, the wolf ("Wulf") and the three hunters. A key member of Slim Cessna's Auto Club, Munly and co have even brewed a "pre-history of Lupercalia" on their MySpace home. Perfect for the upcoming Halloween holidays ...

Also this Episode, we further celebrate another worthy Colorado-related act, Travel By Sea, whose Two States and the Blindness That Follows is one of the strongest releases of the last couple months. Likewise, Thrift Store Cowboys' new effort almost sounds like a new band (in a good way). Lots of good stuff this week!

* Pieta Brown, "Lullaby" Pieta Brown (Rubric, 2002)
* Elvis Costello, "I Lost You" National Ransom (Hear, 10)
* Southern Culture on the Skids, "Bone Dry Dirt" Kudzu Ranch (Kudzu, 10)
* Yvette Landry, "Should Have Known" Should Have Known (Soko, 10)
* Star Anna, "Crooked Path" Crooked Path (Malamute, 08)
* Travel By Sea, "Eventually" Two States and the Blindness That Follows (Autumn Tone, 10)
* Railroad Earth, "Black Elk Speaks" Railroad Earth (One Haven, 10)
* Guy Clark, "New Cut Road (live)" Live From Austin TX (New West, 07)
^ Munly & the Lupercalians, "Petr" Petr & the Wulf (Alt Tentacles, 10)
* Cadillac Sky, "Tired Old Phrases" Letters in the Deep (Dualtone, 10)
* Thrift Store Cowboys, "Regardless" Light Fighter (Self, 10)
* Kasey Chambers, "Down Here on Earth" Little Bird (Essence, 10)
* Richard Buckner, "Ariel Ramirez" Since (MCA, 98)
* Ben Weaver, "Maiden Cliff" Mirepoix & Smoke (Bloodshot, 10)
* Secret Sisters, "Tennessee Me" Secrets Sisters (Beladroit, 10)
* Chad Price, "This Cross" Smile Sweet Face (Suburban Home, 09)
* Old 97s, "Champaign Illinois" Grand Theatre Vol 1 (New West, 10)
* Fred Eaglesmith, "Wilder Than Her" Drive In Movie (Vertical, 95)
* Abigail Washburn, "City of Refuge" City of Refuge (internet, 10)
* Paper Bird, "Motown Man" Anything Nameless and Joymaking (Self, 08)
* Jimmy Lafave, "This Road Before" Re-Creation Blues / This Road Before (Red House, 10)
* Brennen Leigh, "Rolling Green Hills" The Box (Self, 10)
* Adam Haworth Stephens, "Second Mind" We Live on Cliffs (Saddle Creek, 10)
* Glenna Bell, "These Days" Perfectly Legal (Self, 10)
* Larkin Poe, "Long Hard Fall" Spring an EP (DefPig, 10)
* Tired Pony, "Point Me at Lost Islands" Place We Ran From (Mom + Pop, 10)
* Raul Malo, "Staying Here" Sinners & Saints (Fantasy, 10)
* Elton John & Leon Russell, "Jimmie Rodgers' Dream" The Union (Decca, 10)
* Arliss Nancy, "Stella Lovely" Truck Stop Roses (Backbone, 10)