Rolling Country 2011

and re xpost link to ebbjunior's Emmylou review, here's my Newport Festivus 2011! threadtakes on her Newport set:

I'll catch up with a bunch of downloads etc of these sets later in the week, but back now for Emmylou & band: opening with a Stonesy groove, though milder vocal at the moment on "Six White Cadillacs." Now her cover of Gillian Welch's "I Am An Orphan", with good bass and accordion, drums kicking in.

― dow, Sunday, July 31, 2011 5:18 PM (1 week ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

So, Emmylou's mostly killer set, with her versatile Red Dirt Boys (incl Will Kimbrough). A few wishy-washy ballads, but mostly spirited, uptempo or not "Hello Stranger", for isnt) New song for/to Gram Parsons is the most immediately engaging of her originals (that I've heard, anyway, although this version of "Michelangelo" very strong; she's mostly and wisely pitching lower in her range in this set), followed by GP's "Luxury Liner", a gospel quartet, "Sin City", "Wheels", Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight", Steve Earle's "Goodbye" (one of the best on her Wrecking Ball), brought out the Civil Wars for "Evangeline", brought out Pete Seeger, who led us through his and God's hit "Turn Turn Turn" as a shuffle, ditto "Where Have All The Flowers Gone?", with a verse I didn't remember: "Where have all the graveyards gone/Covered with flowers every one/When will they ever learn?" Zing! George Wein: "We stahted this festival in 195? with Pete Seegah, and he's still heah. Come to Newport Jazz next weekend. Thank you." Meanwhile, catch the posted stream/download (get your NPR while you can)

― dow, Sunday, July 31, 2011 7:01 PM (1 week ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

one more, on western swing x bop, which we've talked about on prev years of Rolling Country, re Gatemouth Brown, Charlie Parker jamming with Slim Galliard etc, here's guitarist Bruce Formam's band, Cow Bop:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/08/05/PKC51KG0M6.DTL&type=music

Anybody heard Pistol Annies' upcoming debut album? Miranda Lambert, Angaleena (sic) Presley, Ashley Monroe, whoo-hoo! Brief interview here:
http://tasteofcountry.com/pistol-annies-interview-2011/"> http://tasteofcountry.com/pistol-annies-interview-2011/

Dunno what happened with that. Click the second posting of the link.

Pistol Annies album is really good. Surprised there's not more talk about it here. I wish it *sounded* a *little* messier, but the songwriting is really strong beginning to end -- colorful without being cartoonish.

Trying to decide whether to get the full albums from Ashton Shepherd and Sunny Sweeney. Do they hold-up beyond the singles?

I'm wondering too. On a different subject here's Caramanica's NY Times article on Luke Bryan and some other country guys not wearing cowboy hats and what that means

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/28/arts/music/in-nashville-luke-bryan-and-others-forgo-cowboy-hats.html?pagewanted=all&smid=fb-share

Hmmm, mulling over the fact that male country artists are strong-looking milchtoasts. Not the most daring observation.

And class rage to boot. “Bossman can shove that overtime up his can,” Mr. Church sings on “Drink in My Hand,” his tart sneer in overdrive. “I got a 40-hour-week worth of trouble to drown.”

Only a true tough guy could come up with that in 2011. Actually, it'd be more honest to sing about how you're stuffing all your frustration up cuz you can't afford to be fired in the new labor market knowing it's a fifty/fifty prospect, or worse, that you'll never work for the same miserable pay again.

In the context of contemporary Nashville, this qualifies as extreme bravery

Where have Mr. Adkins’s country bona fides gone? Here, at least, they’re buried in the bonus tracks: “Semper Fi,” a choked-up Marines love song, and “More of Us,” which, by the time you read this, may already have been adopted by Gov. Rick Perry’s presidential campaign. “Don’t you think we’ve taken enough of all this giving in?” Mr. Adkins says, surlier than ever. “It’s about time for pushing back.”

One assumes the record was finished before someone could write a song about Seal Team Six, too.
I'd think the New York Times could afford to be a little more assertive on country music's increasingly delusional status as everyman patriotic wallpaper.

<img src=http://www.dickdestiny.com/texaspsychopaths.JPG />

I'll prob take a chance on Sunny Sweeney again, given the first album (uneven but def worth checking: the young and the restless in Bumfuck TX) and "From A Table Away"(so calmly devastated--her heart is composed and decomposed).

The Pistol Annies album is great. One of my favorites of the year.

The new Sunny Sweeney isn't bad at all - it definitely starts out strong. If you merged her debut and "Concrete" you could create one hell of an album.

She does have one song in which she advises a friend, Amy, that her husband would be loyal if she only treated him right. Seems he's been sleeping with Sunny. I eagerly await Sunny's next album where we hear about her being sent to Fist City.

Indeed. She's a bit too hard on hersel re her greenhorn status on the first album, though it was obviously traveling on a learning curve. But she effectively used her frustration with that,in expressing her frustration with a lot of thangs, getting though those early days on the fringe of it all. Too hard on herself, I mean, in this recent interview, which is a hoot:
http://www.theboot.com/2011/08/23/sunny-sweeney-concrete-new-album-interview/

Oh yeah, and bluegrass stalwart Dale Ann Bradley up next, on the National Folk Festival, streaming this weekend on
http://www/folkalley.com

ah hockey, sorry: http://www.folkalley.com

I've never really listened to Keith Urban, but the more I hear that "Long Hot Summer" song the more fascinated I am that it is such a perfectly crafted radio song it could have likely been a hit for almost any singer. Pink, Kelly Clarkson, Eddie Money, Bryan Adams, Richard Marx, Lady Gaga ...

I like "Hell on Heels" a whole bunch, maybe my favorite Lambert-involved song since 2008.

Most of his best singles are like that. In some alternate crazy world where Paul Westerberg made a try for pop stardom he'd probably sound like Keith Urban.

"Put You In A Song" is pretty tremendous

Huh. Verses of "Put You In a Song" are very Westerbergy. The music, at least. The chorus is a lot weaker than "Long Hot Summer," I think.

From the thread National Folk Festival--Streaming Live Labor Day Weekend:

Awright, twentysomethings doing vitamins and Granpa's Western swing proud--Marshall Ford Swing Band is fronted by Johnny Gimble's granddaughter, Emily Ann. "Lulu's Back In Town", "My Window Faces The South", "A Shanty in Old Shanty Town" (where"The writing on the wall wouldn't mean a thing"). "We got it from the Slim and Slam version", as well they might; Bob Wills is sailing by a on a falsetto breeze too. "When you see the rosin fly/Sit up straight, don't bat an eye." That's called "Draggin' the Bow"--no drag son, perkier than ever. "Pluck my hearstrings with delight/Away we'll go/That's called draggin' the bow." Down for the ol' man/ ol' lady blues: "When will you ever leave me?"

― dow, Sunday, September 4, 2011 4:25 PM

oops, more rain. Not to say, judging by this set, the Marshall Ford Wing Band necessarily have the older Hot Club of Cowtown's instrumental chops, but they've got the spirit (and the voices). Book one band if you can't get t'other.

― dow, Sunday, September 4, 2011 4:59 PM

Listen here, for one place http://www.marshallfordswingband.com

http://dickdestiny.com/blog1/2011/09/06/made-in-china-day-at-guitar-center/

Gibson's troubles with the government, raided in Nashville, among other things.

I've never really listened to Keith Urban, but the more I hear that "Long Hot Summer" song the more fascinated I am that it is such a perfectly crafted radio song it could have likely been a hit for almost any singer. Pink, Kelly Clarkson, Eddie Money, Bryan Adams, Richard Marx, Lady Gaga ...

― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, September 4, 2011

Richard Marx co-wrote this with Urban.

Yeah, Keith Urban's "Put You In A Song" made my Top Ten near the beginning of this thread, but wish he'd ease up on the dutiful-sounding positivity and sanitized melancholy. Either way, def needs to play more of that ace showtime guitar on his albums, hell even an all-instrumental set, like Paisley. Also: an exemplary feature, re well-chosen quotes from an uncharacteristically forthcoming interview, in fair ratio with pungent musical excepts--warning to some: it's blue-gr-a-s-s http://www.npr.org/2011/09/12/140366232/bill-monroe-celebrating-the-father-of-bluegrass-at-100

Also for Monroe's 100th Birthday, a mix, which I thought at first glance incl Alvin and the Chipmunks, but it's another Alvin, dang it. Oh well, the Million Dollar Quartet are in here:
http://www.npr.org/2011/09/07/140247673/the-mix-happy-100th-bill-monroe From several years back, Big Mon is an unusually good tribute album--also unusual for spotlighting Monroe's pop-wise elements, especially considering producer Ricky Skaggs' latter-day schoolmaster (and sermonizing) tendencies. But he was Entertainer of the Year back in the day.

Johnny Horton's version of "Battle of New Orleans" was the first song to pull me into the radio--an awesome epic cartoon, and git that musket ready boy. It was written by Jimmy Driftwood, a schoolteacher who, like many of that calling then and now, had to use lot of his own resources in the classroom. Horton had a big kiddie following, with vivid, sing-along songs, several from movies. This girl I knew had his Greatest Hits, her first LP, and she used to play it with a lipstick rubberbanded to the stylus, to keep it from skipping. Oh, she's long gone...This Ed Sullivan Show version of "Battle", the first link, seems a bit speedy and tinny, but dig the Arctic ballet--maybe cause of his Alaska songs? Links to them after "Battle", also "Whispering Pines":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsRK3DNoa_Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpTnntOivOk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqZn4JDjhXg&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCVkLrwJTxg

We are so happy to announce that Justin Townes Earle came home with the Song of the Year award for "Harlem River Blues" at last night's Americana Music Associations 10th Annual Honors and Awards!

There is an American Music Association?

Americana

Yep. Here are the nominees, with winners in double asteriks. Folk Alley has posted this with a stream of the 4/10 ceremony, which I haven't heard yet, so dunno how much actual music can be heard there:

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

**Band of Joy, Robert Plant**

Welder, Elizabeth Cook

Harlem River Blues, Justin Townes Earle

Blessed, Lucinda Williams

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

**Buddy Miller**

Elizabeth Cook

Hayes Carll

Robert Plant

NEW/EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR

The Civil Wars

**Mumford And Sons**

The Secret Sisters

Jessica Lea Mayfield

DUO/GROUP OF THE YEAR

**The Avett Brothers**

The Civil Wars

Mumford And Sons

Robert Plant and the Band Of Joy

SONG OF THE YEAR

Decemberists with Gillian Welch- "Down By The Water"

Elizabeth Cook - "El Camino"

Hayes Carll - "Kmag Yoyo"

**Justin Townes Earle - "Harlem River Blues"**

INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR

**Buddy Miller**

Gurf Morlix

Kenny Vaughan

Sarah Jarosz

Will Kimbrough

Merle's Working In Tennessee is a lot of fun, mostly barroom/boxcar/daydream sing-alongs, with a natcherly blooming windowbox of the fatalist, affirmative and absurd, especially on "Laugh It Off." Flexes some mellow heart muscle too (some, not a shitload).

Favorite song is the homelessness one about Saginaw that shares its name with a much worse Red Hot Chili Peppers hit; "Laugh It Off" second place probably. Solid record, but there's a lot I could quibble about, if I had time to quibble these days.

love listening to "if i die young" lately

Yeah, they (the Band Perry) did that on Dancing With The Stars last week, hot stuff (funny given the title, cos song is not country goth or gothic, except in a hot Dancing With The Stars-appropriate way, "die"/"little death"/nice-sized O/musical sublimation way of country wisdom)

Xxhux's aforementioned quibbles with Working In Tennessee might well incl use of sureshot themes, re aforementioned barroom/boxcar/daydream sing-alongs, but his whiff-of-bs-bearing paper airplanes are bullseye or close enough, often enough for lazier me to be impressed--he really is Working it, somewhut. Top Ten? We'll see.

Neil Young's A Treasure turns out to be closer to Working In Tenn than I would have thought to expect, in terms of drollery, fecund foraging with Nashville cats (here touring as International Harvesters) and use of familiar elements. Only five prev unreleased titles, but the known ones haven't been redone on disc too often and everything's pretty sparky, except the first one, Amber Jean (and mebbe a couple others are too long). Several def (incl initial snoozes) def get better as they go along, which is not so common these days, much gracias. Fave: "Southern Pacific", where a forcibly retired railroad worker complains as the Harvesters klang and steam, way out on the redeye express. Kinda spooky--are they part of why he was retired? Note to self: This would have to be in Reissues, wouldn't it? Since Himes' Nashville Scene ballots have so far defined those as music rec. five or more years ago, and A Treasure's tracks are from mid-80s shows.

Hi guys. I'm guessing that 50-100% of you are working country music critics, so maybe you're the best folks to help me out. Where do you turn for the best new country album reviews?

I've noticed that most of the links on this thread aren't to country-specific websites. The only ones I found were for Taste of Country and The Boot, the latter of which doesn't seem to do albums. Do you find them to be reasonable? Are there better country-dedicated sources? Or do more broad-spectrum sites like Village Voice and NYTimes just have higher-quality music criticism?

I've really been getting into country music this year and want to do my best to keep up with the new shit. Thank you, and high fives to infinity.

The 9513 is 100% country and they cover nearly everything. ymmv on their quality.

I just checked it out. Apparently it hasn't been updated since May.

whoa really? apparently that was the last time i checked it. weird.

I mised the CMA Awards on tv last night as I was out seeing Mexican pop singer Julieta Venegas. Will have to check youtube or elsewhere to see if there are any good performance clips

The9513 officially folded back in May. Juli Thanki, who is a terrific writer and an occasional contributor to the former site, started engine145 a couple of months ago, though it focuses more heavily on "roots" music than contemporary country.

winners from the 45th Country Music Association Awards:

Entertainer of the Year: Taylor Swift
Female Vocalist of the Year: Miranda Lambert
Male Vocalist of the Year: Blake Shelton
Vocal Group of the Year: Lady Antebellum
Vocal Duo of the Year: Sugarland
New Artist of the Year: The Band Perry
Album of the Year: My Kinda Party, Jason Aldean
Single of the Year: "If I Die Young", The Band Perry
Song of the Year: "If I Die Young", The Band Perry
Video of the Year: "The House That Built Me," Miranda Lambert
Musical Event of the Year: "Don't You Wanna Stay," Jason Aldean featuring Kelly Clarkson
Musician of the Year: Mac McAnally, guitar
Music Video of the Year: "You and Tequila," Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter

I didn't actually bother with the show, but Lady Antebellum over Zac Brown Band for Vocal Group and Aldean over Swift or Zac Brown Band are the only indefensible winners. A pretty accurate reflection of one of the poorest years for mainstream country I can remember overall.

band perry made out!

would kick it with: luke bryan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaZu7ODIFLs

I drunk-tweeted this last night. I love country music awards shows because no other genre wholly embraces its gaudy bullshit and even gives a platform to its more mediocre talent (Chris Young! Thompson Square! That icky kid who won American Idol!).

Aldean beating Swift for Album of the Year was so shockingly wrong it was laughable; Lady A over ZBB is predictable bullshit, although Zac Brown holding a red Solo cup in the audience during this category showed exactly how much he doesn't give a fuck. Although the reaction shots of the night go to Swift: not even bothering to be fake-happy when Lambert won Female Vocalist, clapping politely and talking after The Band Perry sang (I really hope she was saying "Oh so that's what I'd be like if my voice was thinner and less charismatic, and I had a problem with words!"), and then going PLEASEPLEASEPLEASE while all the other EOY noms were like "haha I'm gonna lose to the girl." #taylorswiftsurprisedface!

Actually I think ZBB got jobbed most when "Colder Weather" lost out to "If I Die Young" (which is about 16 months old at this point! But I guess if Luke Bryan and Eric Church are still considered "new artists"...), but I can see why people think that's a good song.

At one point Carrie Underwood had on a Maria Bello Prime Suspect hat and some reject dress from the musical Chicago while introducing Luke Bryan and his strippers singing "Country Girl (Shake It For Me)" and afterwards Nicole Kidman shot this look at Keith Urban that was like "Haha can you believe this bullshit?! Oh you can, whoops!" Blake Shelton sang "Footloose." Sara Evans did that big hit and had an aerialist, maybe so people wouldn't fall asleep.

I kinda like Aldean's title cut but haven't heard the whole album so I won't debate you folks (yet) on its merits versus Swift's.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/click-track/post/cma-awards-most-memorable-moments/2011/11/10/gIQAdree8M_blog.html

Some of these don't appear too memorable

Good job, internet: People on pretty well every country-specific message board I've checked are up in arms that Swift didn't look happy enough in her reaction shot when Lambert won Female Vocalist. Because awards shows need a villain.

To my ears, Speak Now is Swift's most unabashedly pop album ("Mean" notwithstanding) but whatever; Aldean isn't even remotely in league with her, and his album was far and away the weakest of the five nominees, including the Blake Shelton EP that inexplicably pulled a nomination.

Not a Faith Hill fan at all, but launching a comeback with a OneRepublic cover seems like an especially poor choice. Can't see country radio going for that single, but adult contemporary will likely be all over it.

I think Taylor will survive the message board comments.

She may even write a song about them.