RADIOHEAD - In Rainbows

I have listened to the new Radiohead CD 4 times in the last 30 hours or so and I love it.

Being a long time Radiohead fan I knew I would like it. I was not happy with "Hail to the Thief" - "in Rainbows" is more reminiscent of "Kid A" or "OK Computer".

Here's my critic quote,

"Great Driving CD - I don't mean the beats are hard driving beats, I mean this is a great CD to listen to while driving your car. I suppose it would be a great "riding in a cab, bus, or friend's car" CD, perhaps if you just walk everywhere, it would be good for that as well.
Thom York is whiny and bitchy as ever, and that's what I love about him."
-Hue, Sharpie Propagandist, MotherGoldstein

song list:

15 step - Drums and Vocals intro - Great opener.

BodySnatchers - So far one of my favorites.

Nude - beautiful orchestral intro to this song - flows into a sweet clean guitar, bass, keys and drums - Thom's voice is incredible. This song reminds me of the song "Exit Music (For a Film)" from OK Computer.

Arpeggi - The clean guitar parts are hypnotic - the song builds into a sweet frenzy.

All I Need - Ahhhhhh yeah. This is smooth.

Faust ARP - You gotta love a song where the first words are, "Wakey Wakey rise and shine". Great acoustic guitar and strings - muttering, confusing lyrics... I love every second of it.

Reckoner - cool bass intro - Thom at his best. This song is right out of the RadioHead Playbook. This is another one of my favorites.

house of cards - very cool guitar tone opens this song. Another smooooooth tune.

jigsaw falling into place - textbook Radiohead song - the acoustic guitar sounds great.

Videotape- Great tune, but at this point the least favorite track.

I have to give this CD a 9 out of 10 (what ever the hell that is supposed to mean), not just based on the CD itself, but also on the way it was marketed. People who don't like or even listen to Radiohead have heard about the creative way this CD was sold (or in some cases given away).

Fans should own the music, artists should own the copyrights and the record companies can see what it feels like to get the short end of the stick for a change.

Radiohead "In Rainbows" is worth the $9.99 I flopped down and I recommend this CD to ANY Radiohead fans out there.

RADIOHEAD - In Rainbows

I just got my copy of In Rainbows - and have been listening to it all day...

so far, ME LIKEY.

Twang, Twang, Twang..... Twang of FOOLS!

The past couple of weeks: Been Listening too...

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Jason Isbell: Sirens of the Ditch

80% of this cd was produced by fellow Drive-By Trucker, Patterson Hood. 20% of the CD is self produced.

Truley a great record, don't make the mistake like me and think you are going to get a stripped down DBT CD. Even though DBT bassist, Shonna Tucker, and DBT drummer, Brad Morgan play on it. Patterson Hood even plays piano on the song "Shotgun Wedding" and his father the great, David Hood plays bass on a couple tracks. This CD celebrates Jason Isbell - you can hear every little nuance he adds to the DBT all wrapped up in this CD.

I found it interesting he thanked The Black Crowes, and Bobby Bare Jr. in the liner notes... and if anyone out there knows of any CDs where Jason teams up with Bobby or the Robinson Brothers, please let me know.

Songs like "Brand New Kind Of Actress", and "Try" (which sounds like an old Eagles song) immediately got my attention, soon to follow was the song, "Hurricanes and Hand Grenades" (a great little bluesy number).
After about the 3rd or 4th time I listened to Sirens in the Ditch, other songs started to become favorites. "Dress Blues" where Jason writes about a high-school classmate who lost his life fighting in Iraq. "Chicago Promenade" a tribute to his late Grandfather (bit of DBT trivia, Jason also wrote the song "The day John Henry Died" about his beloved, grandfather).

This is a great record and I highly advise you to go purchase it.

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Run C & W
INTO THE TWANGY-FIRST CENTURY

Bluegrass versions of Motown classics! No need to say any more. If you like bluegrass AND motown and your busy schedule does not allow for you to take time to listen to both separately - go get this CD in the Bargain bin.

Jim Photoglo formed this band in the 90's with: Russell Smith of The Amazing Rhythm Aces, Bernie Leadon of the Eagles (often referred to as the Forgotten Eagle) and hit-songwriter Vince Melamed.

I like to play this band as well as the next one on set breaks. It's funny to see someone's reaction to these cover tunes.

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Hayseed Dixie - Any or All CDS are worth it.

My drummer, Shawn turned me onto Hayseed Dixie - The first song I ever heard from Hayseed was Shoot the Thrill by AC/DC. After that I was hooked - I went out and bought everything they had.

WARNING: BLUEGRASS MUSIC CAN BE ADDICTING - IF YOU START LISTENING TO RUN C&W OR HAYSEED DIXIE IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND -
**THESE ARE STEPPING STONE DRUGS. BY LISTENING TO RUN C&W OR HAYSEED DIXIE YOU WILL START ON THE HARD STUFF... LIKE: David Grier, Del McCoury, Earl Scruggs, Gary Williamson, Gene Wooten, Glen Duncan, Larry Perkins, Leroy Troy, Alisa Jones, Alison Krauss, Andrea Zonn, Ron McCoury, Terry Eldredge, Benny Martin, Billy Rose , Vassar Clements and MORE!
SO BE CAREFUL AND LISTEN IN MODERATION.

Here is a list of Hayseed Dixie records:

A Hillbilly Tribute to AC/DC

A Hot Piece of Grass

Kiss My Grass: A Hillbilly Tribute to Kiss

A Hillbilly Tribute to Mountain Love

And most recent release:
Weapons of Grass Destruction

scream yell and yodel

week of 09/08/07: Been Listening to:

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The Distillers: Sing Sing Death House

I could listen to Brody Dalle's sexy voice all day long - her scream is like a slice of heaven.
This CD was originally released in 2002 so it's nothing new, go buy it in the used bin. Brody is now in the band Spinnerette with former Distiller, Tony Bevilacqua and Alain Johannes from Queens of the Stoneage.
Favorite song: City of Angels

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Drive-By Truckers, "Dirty South"

Drive-By Truckers was co-founded by Patterson Hood (son of legendary bassist David Hood of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section) and longtime friend and musical "partner in crime", Mike Cooley in Athens, Georgia, in 1996.
8 records later they are still going strong. Dirty South is one of the best records I have owned in the past 10 years. 3 singer/songwriter/guitarists in the band, the songs never sound the same: "Where the Devil don't go" and "cottonseed" show off Mike Cooley's "GangstaBilly" style.
"Tornadoes" and "Putting People On The Moon" show the storyteller side of Patterson Hood.
"The Day John Henry Died" and "Goddamn Lonely Love" Show that Jason Isbell's country style is a perfect match for the band (his slide steel work is pretty damn nice too).
There are two ANTI-Buford Pusser songs on the CD (remember Buford from the "Walking Tall" Movies? One in 1973 the other in 2004 with THE Rock) - "Boys From Alabama" and "Buford Stick" are songs about "The other side of the story".
Favorite song:If I have to choose one... it's impossible. Carl Perkins Cadillac and Danko/Manuel are pretty awesome.

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Hank 3, "Straight to Hell"

Hank Williams III, Grandson of the great Hank Williams, Son of the crazy Hank "are you ready for some football" Williams Jr.
Hank 3 is an interesting cat - He looks and sounds exactly like his grandfather (He has that signature yodel down pat). He is backed by an incredible group of players.
His songwriting has no limits, just when you think he may be a "one trick pony" he surprises you on the next song.
To make Hank 3 even cooler... He fronts a death metal band called ASSJACK. Whenever you see Hank 3, ASSJACK always gets the last set.
I dig anyone who's name sounds like either an action movie or video game.

Favorite Song: Thrown Out of the Bar, Country Heroes , and Pills I Took

Easy Tiger!

The latest CD from Ryan Adams, "Easy Tiger" is his best effort since 2000 "Heartbreaker".

I love when artists grow with every record, "Easy Tiger" is just that. Adams shows the listener a new side, but still holds on the sound that made him.

There is no title track to "Easy Tiger" is more a description of the record's mood. The rockin song, "Halloween Head" is one of those songs you keep hitting the repeat button on. Then from rock to his country roots for songs like, "Tears of Gold" and "Two". (I would love to hear Neil Young cover "Tears of Gold").

All the songs are solid and show a growth I appreciate as a musician.

Go buy the CD - I love it.

TMBG - The Else

There are only two types of people when in comes to They Might Be Giants (pictured above... I think): Those who like TMBG, and those who hate TMBG. I define myself as a big fan of the Giants. If you are part of the "haters" You will hate the following post, and most likely make a comment on how TMBG are nothing more than Joke Rock and should never be compared to REAL bands like Creed or Nickleback.

Driving to work today while listening to They Might Be Giants most recent CD, The Else. Very solid. I picked this CD up last month and just realized today how much I have it in the rotation.
I was huge fan in 80's and 90's then something crazy happened when my wife and I started making babies... TMBG started doing kid DVDs and CDs - my kids still listen to "here come the abc's" - other great kid's CDs are, "no" and "Bed Bed Bed".
"The Else" brings TMBG together with the Dust Brothers to create a great listening experience. The song that comes to mind for anyone who liked "Flood", "The Bee of the Bird of the Moth" is like taking a time machine back 15 years.

I'm not going to on and on about this but I will say - if you like good old TMBG - got get "The Else".

Oh yeah, check out their podcast, if you are a podcast geek like me, very cool.

The Gourds

For the past couple of days I have been listening to "Nobel Creatures" the ninth CD from Austin, Texas' own, The Gourds.
So far my favorite song is, "Life on the Vine". Check it out and wrap yourself up in all it's twangy goodness.

Go Buy the new Kanye West CD... PLEASE

I never thought I would recommend any Kanye West CD, but after reading THIS - I find myself pleading to you...

PLEASE - Go Buy the new Kanye West CD... PLEASE

Solt Volt At the Zoo 08-10-07

Last night Son Volt rocked the zoo. Opening act was Slim Dunlop both were great.

They played for around 2 hours, all I can say is three things:

1. go buy "the search" and/or see son volt the next time you have a chance.

2. if you are ever in the Minneapolis area in the summer time, go the zoo for a show.

3. My wife is total fox - it was a great anniversary weekend!

Just a couple things about the show. First I would like to personally apologize to drummer, Dave Bryson for being attacked by a flock of our state birds (mosquitoes) for the entire two hours, especially if he comes down with a case of west nile...

New guitarist, Chris Masterson is awesome, he did have some string issues during the first two songs - but did great.

Derry DeBorja's keyboard playing was spot on, with his long hair he kind of looks like Brandon Lee (if Brandon Lee chain smoked 100's). Andrew DuPlantis' bass playing is solid as ever, as was his background vocals - he looked like he was having the most fun. He held a solid rhythm section with Dave Bryson (I wanted to give this guy some "Deep Woods Off").

Jay Ferrar was incredible and sounded awesome, he is a man of few words. He asked the crowd "hows everybody doing" after the first song. Midway through he mumbled well wishes to an old friend in crowd, then just before he started the encore he asked, "is everbody still doing ok"?

Some of my favorite moments, Jet Pilot, Beacon Soul, Voodoo Candle, and Damn Shame.

They did not do my favorite song, "caryatid easy", in fact they did NOTHING from "Straightaways".

Here is the set list:

1. the search - the search
2. satelite - the search
3. who - okamah and the melody of riot
4 . The Picture - the search
5. underground dream - the search
6. beacon soul - the search
7. highways and cigarettes - the search
8. jet pilot - okamah and the melody of riot
9. automatic society - the search
10. exurbia - new bonus single from "The Search"
11. methamphetamine - the search
12. damn shame*** from the EP "thirdShiftGrottoSlack"
13. voodoo candle From the Jay Farrar solo ep "Sebastopol"
14. medication - okamah and the melody of riot
15. adrenaline and heresy - the search
16. tear stain eye - trace
17. action - the search
18. bandages & scars - okamah and the melody of riot
19. afterglow 61 - okamah and the melody of riot
20. drown - trace
(Encore)
21. windfall - trace
22. Live Free - trace
Then they closed the show with the Uncle Tupelo classic...
23. Chickamauga

Bobby Bare Jr

All week long I will be devoting my blog to some of my favorite Alt Country artists.

For the past 6 months or so I have been immersing myself BACK into Alt Country.

First of all I hate the term Alt Country, but it's easier to say than, Music that is too rock for country stations and too country for rock stations.

The first artist I want to focus on is, Bobby Bare Jr and the Young Criminal's Starvation League
BBJ, is son of Nashville Legend, Bobby Bare. His most recent CD "The Longest Meow" is great and totally worth owning. Check him out when he comes to a city near you.

One of my favorite songs is, "Come see me in music City" here is sample of the lyrics:

the hills are filled with naked hee haw honeys
who all sing along in perfect harmony
the worlds greatest living guitar pickers
can deliver you a pizza or sell you weed

guitar strings grow on shrubs and maple trees
guitar picks tumble out of gumball machines
record deals fly in and out like happy bumble bees
the cops carry capos
in case you want to change your key
in Nashville, Tennessee

Looking for a new CD to buy? Give Bobby Bare Jr and the Young Criminal's Starvation League a try.