featuring the very best of americana, alt.country and roots music
February 14, 2021
Scott Foley, purveyor of hearts
Mando Saenz has written songs for and/or collaborated with Oak Ridge Boys, Miranda Lambert, Whiskey Myers, Lee Ann Womack and many more. I would argue that his strongest songs can be found on his own records, gems that are released sporadically, but which are always worth the attention. "Engine Roll", "Pocket Change", "A Touch Is All", "When I Come Around", "Julia", "Pocket of Red", "All I Own". It's work that merits inclusion on any list of the best the last fifteen years have had to offer. At an average of an album every four years, each has taken a different route to sharing the songwriter's work, each boasting a different supporting cast, a different producer at the helm (John Egan, Frank Liddell, Mark Nevers).
Almost eight years have passed since Studebaker, the last Mando Saenz collection. A lot can happen in eight years. What strikes our musical fancy today will likely not be at the front of mind in a decade. For All My Shame (Carnival, Feb 26), Saenz has tagged another in his line of superb production partners in Ken Coomer, onetime Uncle Tupelo/Wilco drummer and longtime producer. While these new sessions don't represent a fullscale reimagining of Mando Saenz's music, the collaborators explore some new pop territory on the way to creating suitable new settings.
"Cautionary Tale" is a characteristically melancholy Mando Saenz piece, though brightened with a Ron Sexsmith-like pop touch. Rays of strings shine through the clouds, tempering the song's sense of doubt: It doesn't always have to come up roses / A silhouette, a cigarette pose. Guthrie Trapp adds strains of mandolin to "Can't Stay Alone For Long", a piano-based piece that bears the same stamp of self-sabotage: In the morning I'll say Lord what have I done.
Mando Saenz isn't the kind of self-referential songwriter who wows with bold strokes and flourishes. Rather, he works with subtler shades on songs like "The Leaving Side": My goodbyes are like a dime a dozen. Even these quieter moments are supported by a cohort that makes them satisfying without being showy, even beautiful at times. Those accompanists include the capable (and increasingly busy) Laur Joamets, whose cinematic guitar strengthens the slightly psychedelic title track. His strings ring through one of the CD's most tuneful cuts, "Talk Is Cheap". An undercelebrated vocalist, Maureen Murphy adds harmonies throughout, especially impactful on "Shadow Boxing", cowritten with Kim Richey.
With Ken Coomer, Saenz offers a fuller, wider reaching sound throughout All My Shame. "Deep End" features Coomer's pounding percussion beneath thick and atmospheric electric guitar. Another heavier cut, "The More I Need" presents a tough edge as it stomps along on "London Calling" drums: Bang my head on an old brick wall / Building it up just to watch it fall. Even in the midst of that bonus noise, Saenz's tunes are lean and purposeful, most clocking in around three minutes. It can't be overlooked that he remains one of the most distinct and likeable vocalists on our playlists.
Ironically, this songwriter's showcase finishes with one of the year's more surprising cover songs. After making his case as a skilled and a savvy writer, Mando Saenz turns to Ronnie James Dio to close the record. Even those of us who grew up with Holy Diver on heavy rotation might not catch it at first in its chamber setting, replete with violin solo. Taken by the lyrics of "Rainbow in the Dark", Saenz sought to treat it in the vein of Townes Van Zandt. It's a fascinating but unexpectedly effective cap to the long-awaited All My Shame.
- Shakey Graves, "Roll the Bones" Roll the Bones X (Dualtone, Apr 2) D
- Ryley Walker, "Rang Dizzy" Course in Fable (Husky Pants, Apr 2) D
- Rose City Band, "Lonely Places" Earth Trip (Thrill Jockey, May 21) D
- Fruit Bats, "The Balcony" Pet Parade (Merge, Mar 5)
- Shannon McNally, "I Ain't Living Long Like This (feat. Rodney Crowell)" Waylon Sessions (Compass, May 28) D
- Hand Habits, "I Believe In You" dirt EP (Saddle Creek, Feb 19)
- Brother Brothers, "Sorrow" Calla Lily (Compass, Apr 16)
- Dan Campbell, "When I Face Into the Wind" single (Loneliest Place on Earth, 21) D
- Hailey Whitters, "How Far Can It Go (feat. Trisha Yearwood)" Living the Dream (Pigasus, Feb 26)
- Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, et al., "Times They Are a-Changin'" single (NGDB, 21) D
- Parker Millsap, "Vulnerable" Be Here Instead (Okrahoma, Apr 9)
^ Mando Saenz, "Rainbow in the Dark" All My Shame (Carnival, Feb 26)
- Beth Lee, "Yale St & 45" Waiting On You Tonight (Beth Lee, 21) D
- Jeremy Ivey, "Loser Town (live)" Monolith Sessions (Anti, 21) D
- Morgan Wade, "Take Me Away" Reckless (Ladylike, Mar 19)
- Rev Peyton's Big Damn Band, "Ways and Means" Dance Songs For Hard Times (Family Owned, Apr 9) D
- Jimbo Mathus & Andrew Bird, "Poor Lost Souls" These 13 (Wegawam, Mar 5)
- Lake Street Dive, "Hypotheticals" Obviously (Nonesuch, Mar 12)
- Grant-Lee Phillips, "Rag Town" single (Yep Roc, 21) D
- Mac Leapheart, "Music City Joke" Music City Joke (Leapheart, 21) D
- The Barlow, "Hard Lovin'" Horseshoe Lounge (Barlow, 21) D
- Melissa Carper, "I Almost Forgot About You" Daddy's Country Gold (Carper, Mar 19)
- Ottoman Turks, "Wound Up" Ottoman Turks II (State Fair, Mar 5)
- Jason Ringenberg, "Keep That Promise" Rhinestoned (Courageous Chicken, Mar 5) D
- Corb Lund, "Horse Poor (feat. Jaida Dreyer)" single (New West, 21) D
- Lydia Luce, "Dark River" Dark River (Tone Tree, Feb 26) D
- David Huckfelt, "Hidden Made Known" Room Enough Time Enough (Gamblers Dharma, Feb 26)
- Peter Oren, "Search For the Marketable Product" single (Sentinel Species, 21) D
- Jay Gonzalez, "Sunspot" Back to the Hive (Middlebrow, Mar 5)
- Charles Ellsworth, "Miama, AZ" Honeysuckle Summer (Burro Borracho, Mar 5)
Busiest week of 2021 at A Routes & Branches Guide To Feeding Your Monster. Highlights include the return of one of the founders of our kind of music. Set March 1 as the release date for Rhinestoned from Jason Ringenberg (Courageous Chicken). Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band offers Dance Songs For Hard Times on April 9 via the Family Owned label. Been too long since Bowerbirds shared much beyond a single here and there. That will change on April 30 with the release of becalmyounglovers (Psychic Hotline). Bassist for Shooter Jennings and producer for many others, Ted Russell Kamp will share Solitaire on May 7, composed primarily of songs he recorded on his own. Shannon McNally's next album features her take on Waylon Jennings songs. The Waylon Sessions finds the singer backed by Kenny Vaughan, Buddy Miller, Rodney Crowell and others (May 28, Compass).
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