Rolling Country 2012

Not me.

But as of now, three EPs (Thomas Rhett, Miss Willie Brown, Jake Owen) would almost definitely make my Nashville Scene country albums Top 10. Wonder what that means.

Looking fwd to Yoakam (already out in Europe and approved on its own thread). Also to Jamey J's Hank Cochran tribute album, if he has to do a tribute album (hope it includes some appropriate originals, like Loudon W.'s Charlie Poole tribute-plus-homage, but I've never heard of anybody else doing something like that). Okay I'll bite: please tell us about those EPs, xhuxx!

I listened to the Yoakam on Spotify yesterday, and bought it today. It's really, really good. More in the vein of his 90s stuff than his first three albums, of course, but it's already one of my favorite albums of the year, even with one song co-written with Kid Rock and two co-produced by Beck. (None of which are the one where he sings about what it'd be like if he owned a giraffe.)

Doing modern country music a big favor every day, making Brad Paisley and everyone else who stupidly helped him with the latest thing regret every minute of it. Honest question: Is he going to check himself into Betty Ford after this tour?

― Gorge, Tuesday, September 4, 2012 5:55

They were just together on the CMA tv special the other night, and they did the CMT one earlier, so Paisley not regretting anything yet.

Meanwhile, Kelly Hogan's I Like to Keep Myself in Pain starts with the same Irwin song Irwin starts xpost Little Heater with: "Dusty Groove." Which may be what the protagonist feels like, and mebbe she's dusting the walls in the hall as she bumps off 'em, but she's got some concealed, wary agility down in the groove, and pushes herself out into some Loretta Lynn-worthy precision--"Sleeves rolled down/Even in an evening gown", resolutions crumpled in her fist--gliding into understated flamboyance, train of thinking out loud about seeing stars in the love wars or anyway the battered homefront. "Underneath the sweater/Ten fingers are red/Ah bequeath this gold map of the stars to the living dead." The whole thing's like late 60s crossover bait,radio hits and shoulda-beens, from the age of Lynn and Bacharach and Jim Webb and Randy Newman, when Dusty Springfield was covering Ran' songs(if he wrote "Just One Kiss", or was it Nilsson-anyway, their neck of the woods and Vine). But Hogan wisely reserves the right to take it further than most reasonable radio-bait would have. So, while "Daddy's Little Girl" reminds me that Newman sincerely offered "Lonely At The Top" to Frank Sinatra, it also sounds like one he would have written for himself (maybe Stephen Merritt wrote it, sounds more adept than recent Newman). Sung by Frank, or somebody who thinks he is, providing a grand, somewhat brain-leaky perspective, a tribute to himself. She does best when she's got something like this, tilting the Hoganpolitan shimmer and sheen, quickly training us to watch for the little psych-pop glints. Even the few merely retro tracks are spot-on. Rec'd to fans of recent Lambert, Pistol Annies, Lee Ann Womack (thinking esp. of the way she did Mark Ribot's "Reds," on Buddy Miller's Majesty of the Silver Strings, where Womack didn't have to deal w the guitar noodles, unlike Patti Griffin and Emmylou on other tracks).

When I say "the whole thing's like," I mean more like the total effect, even with off-the-wall images, which she matches to "normal" delivery, without neutralizing or overemphasizing the lyrics.

Would love to hear Lambert and Hogan doing "Look At Miss Ohio"--has Lambert had a CMT Crossroads?

Marc Ribot's "Meds", not "Reds"

Haw, for those of us who don't wanna Spotify (via mandatory Fecebook), here's the whole already-out-in-Europe 3 Pears on Yoakam's MySpace- click to play the whole album; if you try it track by track, MySpace Radio may stick some other shit between clicks:
http://www.myspace.com/dwightyoakam/music/albums/3-pears-18705505

I'll get to Dwight right now in a little while, but wanted to check Chris Smither's June release, Hundred Dollar Valentine, before I go past it again. His best known songa are the ones covered by Bonnie Raitt in her 70s prime, "Love Me Like A Man" (she tweaked the title to that) and "I Feel The Same," backed by Little Feat in their own early 70s prime (Esther Phillips also did a first-rate version). It's inescapably lucid and shadowy too, says a lot that his version here doesn't overshadow, just fits right in. "Try not to complain, nobody cares/Don't bother tryin' to find your place/It's everywhere" might be charming disarming bullshit if he weren't so good at finding a worthy perch damn near everywhere, amidst 60s folkie tropes that sure don't seem like cliches here, where he's a tour guide through illusions useful and otherwise, in his experience. Like the kind rewarded by good sex, a sensuous chord progression and a melodee descending and going back up somebody's down staircase. He's kinda world-weary, but always got another good line and lick, deftly off the denim cuff. is this love, or infatuation? We'll see, but right now, I'm gratified.

God, 3 Pears is great. Grabbed me right away--and yeah, on MySpace, but great sound (via Koss UR40 headphones). He assimilates the mid-60s back-and-forth of country, rock, some Latin in both, from the Southwesten US to UK and back: well, mostly assimilated, not too quote-y, though he does make good use of a certain Beatles chorus, Tommy James--mostly subliminal Orbison, Owens, Everlys (even multiple Dwights for a moment on one track), early Gram Parsons, and right from the latter to "Heart of Mine", the best southwest of Liverpool garage pop country the young Sir Douglas Quintet never did. Circumspect flash, he is a character actor after all, knows not to wink and the audience, but when to whoop, and the wave of music the sorrowfully moralistic, left-behind hubby rides though "Dim Lights, Thick Smoke" has a faithful scream inside. Also like what I hoped the Mavericks' album would sound like in the wake of "Oh What A Crying Shame", but this is much more consistent. "Waterfall" sounds like a children song,more imaginative than sentimental, but the line about babies being born even in a war, is that something you'd tell a kid? Some kids would know, would be there to agree with you, no Pope Daddyio. Couple tracks toward the end I could live without, but it perks up again.

Kix Brooks is on MySpace too! I'll check him next, probably. Thanks for mentioning his album, xxhux ( his MySpace even has a previous solo set, from 2007, it says--maybe a pre B&D, re- or finally released then?)

really liking this Kacey Musgraves single

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJjeWDvh6J0

Will check that, also check FarmAid tonight on their site, 8-11 p.m. Eastern, and look who's on at 9:30:
http://blog.farmaid.org/2012/09/farm-aid-2012-lineup-schedule-concert.html

9:20, not 9:30!

Well that turned out to be their most mess-up Webacast ever--not just the glitches, also just down to a couple of performances (back to back) from several setsm said diptychs between a lot of talk (what the hell is organic pesticides anyways). Prob more chunks later on YouTube. Willie fit in well w Neil and Crazy Horse on "Homegrown," though didn't sing, just picked. Kix Brooks' New To This Town, on his MySpace, is really good, that early 00s bluesy boogie, Southern Rock as mainstream country thang, even "let's put some Otis Redding on" w Cropperesque licks on or leading into the steel guitar, "There's The Sun", pool party w the Hi Rhythm Gang (in effect). Title track is like why has no one ever done this before, although it might be risky on a mainstream country album, what will the Chamber of Commerce think of somebody who wishes he was new to this town, cos he's sick of this town, cos he knows it too well, and vice versa. of coures, because it is mainstream, has to be tied in w a relationship, every street is where they used to walk happy together, and she's still around etc., but that's a good subject too ( could incl they still have the same friends, but that could lead to a sequel). Mostly songs about cutting loose, the other obligatory homefires songs usually fit in better than expected, and the closer, "She Knew I Was A Cowboy", is more affecting than 90 percent of all songs containing the word "cowboy", Ah believe. (no songs about kids, he doesn't push his luck that far). Lots of good video soundtracks here, re what I still think of as the early 00s-type marketing.

Sorry for all the typos in that last one. I'm not familiar with Janis Martin's early stuff, but while Rosie Flores, producer of Martin's posthumously released The Blanco Sessions, contrasts her 50s " sparkling little hillbilly" voice to this, the tobacco that got her soon after doesn't impose any obvious wear and tear. If anything, the first couple tracks have her deeper tones kinda smoothly stolid, compared to the eager sounds boppin' at the hop all around her. But "Long White Cadillac" gives her some high lonesome notes to flex over a brisk-ish shuffle, that's the kind of combo really gets her going; "Oh Lonesome Me" turns into a party for wallflowers, chompin' at the bit, and Bill Monroe's "Walk Softly In this Heart of Mine" meets some "Honky Tonk Womne," pert near (Keef always did point out that the Stones trademark guitar sound was based on a banjo tuning). "Wild Child" has Flores providing that "sparkling little" etc, other tracks bring in the jump band, jitterbug bait of early rock, also rec to fans of Etta James' more downhome records, and Wynnnona's, for that matter. Not as glitzy as Wanda Jackson x Jack White, but good to go.

Rosie Flores' own new album, Working Girl's Guitar, could use some of Martin's firm vocal heft, she sounds like a polite li'l sister, deferring to her guitar--but they're side by side in the mix. So sometimes it's like, "After you." "No, after you." Though I think "Surf Demon # 5" would be my favorite even if it weren't the only instrumental. Still, voice & guitar do pretty well with "Drugstore Rock 'n' Roll", "Too Much", and "If (I Could Only Be With You)", her strongest vocal. A few tracks kinda catch up with the 60s or early 70s. Title track's kinda Rockpile, but more in the writing than the performance, alas. "I'm Little But I'm Loud" mildly suggests "Bang A Gong", and "Yeah Yeah" is pretty good, reflecting Lennon's 70s reflections on/of the early 60s, looking to a moment "frozen in time" of living for today while praying for tomorrow--only thing, the steel guitar gets a bit toward Harrison's more wan/cloying slide. Though dang the actual "While My Guitar" 's descending melody gets steadied by a "Good Day Sunshine"-type bassline, with excess tears flushed, and she even brings out the zing of "you were inverted/No one aler,er,ted you"--nice roll, Rosie.

dow otm on the Yoakam, especially "Waterfalls" and the penultimate song, which evokes "Sweet Jane." Only two plays in but I had to consult the liners to confirm which were the Beck productions: that's how unified this sound is.

Penultimate song has been evoking "Crimson And Clover" for me, but can definitely hear "Sweet Jane" too (which is pretty blatant, amazed I didn't notice before) now that Alfred mentions it. Almost definitely my favorite track on the album -- which I like pretty well, but don't love.

Joe McCombs does not miss cowboy hats, or the kind of country guys who wore them.

http://entertainment.time.com/2012/10/02/where-have-all-the-cowboy-hats-gone/

cowboy hats out, this garbage in:

http://timeentertainment.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/600_143238207.jpg?w=600&h=400&crop=1

yawn. there is, on the other hand, a very good article in this month's new inquiry (one that also cites that 'murder on music row' performance) considering charlie rich's CMA incident and the formation of the ACE in the context of mid 70s labor struggles. only available by subscription right now but it should be online in the next few weeks.

Press sheet. Several mentions of who sings what on this, here and there:
\
Jamey Johnson

Living For a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran

When word got out that acclaimed Nashville artist Jamey Johnson was recording a tribute album to beloved songwriter Hank Cochran, musical superstars clamored to participate.

“When we were talking about who to call, people just kind of presented themselves,” Johnson says. “I think the word got out after awhile, and we were getting phone calls from people wanting to do it. There weren’t a whole lot of arms that needed twisting.”

The resulting cast, plus the brilliant and timeless Cochran songs, make this recording one of the musical events of the year. From the ranks of the Country Music Hall of Fame came George Strait, Emmylou Harris, Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, Ray Price and Vince Gill, not to mention Cochran’s oldest and truest friend, Willie Nelson. Veteran stars Leon Russell, Elvis Costello, Bobby Bare and Asleep at the Wheel perform on the album alongside contemporary artists such as Alison Krauss, Lee Ann Womack and Ronnie Dunn.

“Everybody got to pick their own songs, so for me, it was just as much a journey as it was for anybody else involved,” Johnson reports. “I thought I’d heard all of Hank’s songs, and I hadn’t heard anything.”

Johnson is quick to praise the efforts of co-producer Buddy Cannon, who worked with co-producer Dale Dodson to recruit artists and explore Cochran’s vast catalog. “By the time Buddy was done with it, it was the easiest thing in the world. I can’t give him enough credit.”

Johnson grew up singing gospel harmonies in church and believes this is why he was able to sing so capably with so many different stylists on the album, as well as in Cannon’s various musical settings. Johnson performs Cochran’s Keith Whitley hit “Would These Arms Be in Your Way” as his only solo on the tribute album.

Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Hank Cochran died in 2010, but he left behind a song catalog that the world reveres. Masterpieces such as “Make the World Go Away,” “I Fall to Pieces” and “Don’t You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me” merely scratch the surface of his genius that produced hits on the country charts for more than four decades.

Cochran was also widely loved for his generosity of spirit, charming personality, easy-going humor and boundless kindness. During the final years of his life, he became a mentor to Johnson.

The two met when Johnson was celebrating the Gold Record success of his 2008 CD That Lonesome Song (which eventually achieved Platinum certification) as well as the Song of the Year trophies he collected for “Give it Away” and “In Color” from both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association. Johnson’s renown continued with the 2010 release of his ambitious double album The Guitar Song, which also became a Gold Record winner. In addition, he picked up five Grammy Award nominations along the way. But throughout his rise, he remained close to Hank Cochran, who was slowly dying of cancer.

“Hank loved Jamey’s music, and Jamey just latched onto him,” says the songwriter’s widow, Suzi Cochran. “Jamey always wanted to hear Hank’s stories. Shortly after they met, Hank was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. So for the two years he lived after that, Jamey would get off the road, pull his bus right up to the hospital, run up and see Hank and raise his spirits.

“Hank adored Jamey. Jamey was there when a lot of people weren’t coming around. A lot of people are afraid to be around sick people. They don’t know what to say, or they don’t need you anymore. But Jamey was a constant in the last chapter of Hank’s life.”

“Hank influenced me, not only as an artist and a songwriter, but also just as a person,” says Johnson. “If I had to dream up someone to influence songwriters, I couldn’t do better than Hank. For Willie and for a lot of people, he was such a helpful friend. If he knew you needed help with something, he was there. And that’s what I want to be for the people in my life, the same kind of friend that Hank was.

“Buddy Cannon was the one who told me that it was getting to be about time, that if I wanted to say goodbye, now was my chance. So I met him at Hank’s house. Billy Ray Cyrus was there. Merle Haggard called. We did what we knew we could do. We just sang Hank songs and hung around with our friend.”

Recalling the night before Cochran died, Suzi Cochran says, “They all sat and sang Hank’s songs to him. Hank was very weak by this time. He couldn’t talk, but he’d kind of hum along. I think they left about 11 o’clock that night, and it was about five o’clock the next morning when Hank passed away.”

Johnson says it was Cochran’s passing that kicked off the idea for this project. “Willie Nelson was the first person I knew I wanted to include. Bobby Bare introduced me to a bunch of Hank’s songs that I didn’t know. Having Merle on it meant a lot to me, too. Bobby introduced me to him. Elvis Costello flew to Nashville [in 2009] when they had an event to honor Hank, so I knew he would want to be a part of this.”

On Livin’ For a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran, Johnson and Nelson sing “Don’t You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me,” and the duo is joined by Leon Russell and Vince Gill on “Everything But You.” “When you start talking about songwriters, you’ve got to say his name first – then you start talking about everybody else,” says Nelson of his departed friend. “Hank had a lot to do with me getting started. He was responsible, really, for me going to Nashville.

“I thought this [tribute record] was a great idea, that if it had never been done before, it was about time, “Nelson says. “I think also that he should be in the Country Music Hall of Fame. That’s my nomination for the next guy they put in there.”

Bobby Bare, who joins Johnson on “I’d Fight the World,” is delighted that his dear friend (and best man in Bare’s wedding) is being honored in this manner. “It just makes my heart warm to see all the great names who are on this album for no other reason than they respected and loved Hank’s songs. I still think about Hank. I hear Hank throughout all his songs. Hank was his songs, and the songs were Hank.”

Johnson teams with Haggard on the Patsy Cline 1961 hit “I Fall to Pieces.” “It’s important, historically, for people to know who Hank Cochran was and what he did,” Haggard believes. “He always wanted to be the Hemingway of country music, and I think he did it.”

Johnson, Nelson, Haggard and Kris Kristofferson sing “Living for a Song,” a poignant recording that includes Cochran’s voice. “Hank’s ability to perform comes across right there,” Haggard says of the song he describes as “our life on paper, music.” He says, “I mean, he’s in there with some of the best singers in the world and he gets it across better.”

“He wrote a kagillion classic songs,” adds Ronnie Dunn, who duets with Johnson on “A-11.” “It’s stunning when you look at the body of work that he was able to accomplish. He stayed relevant for so long.”

“Who wouldn’t want to be a part of this?” says Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel, who joins Johnson on “I Don’t Do Windows.” “Hank Cochran is, without a doubt, one of the greatest songwriters ever on earth. His songs transcend time because they’re based on emotion. I think the collection of artists on this album shows the respect that we all have for Hank’s artistry.”

“Hank’s songs bring out the best in anybody,” Johnson observes. “You don’t go on auto pilot and skip over the words. He’s going to make you focus in on a song. That’s the beauty of a skilled songwriter. A good song just inspires you. It makes you want to do better. The songwriter puts the spirit in it. That’s why everybody had the desire to make something great.

“It doesn’t make the Hall of Fame worthless that Hank Cochran is not in there, but it certainly makes it worth less that he’s not in there. It’s a matter of just recognizing good country music.”

Suzi Cochran pays perhaps the highest compliment this album could receive. “I wish Hank had been here to see it. He wouldn’t believe it. He would have cried. He’d be happy. It’s exactly like Hank would have done it.”

Caramanica in the NY Times re Jerrod Niemann, sensitive bro

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/06/arts/music/jerrod-niemanns-big-hearted-good-time-country.html?ref=music

The sensitive bro is a relatively new country paradigm: The outside is tough, mostly, and sometimes muscled, but the heart is big and often bursting. It’s become a stand-in for masculinity in the post-outlaw age, in which real rebellion isn’t an option, but a hint of it is welcome, particularly if it comes with a big, warm embrace and maybe a nibble on the earlobe.

Blake Shelton is the figurehead of the movement, the gentleman who provides cover for the rowdy boys in back. Those second-tier guys include Lee Brice, Randy Houser, Kip Moore, Bradley Gaskin and Jerrod Niemann. Of those, Mr. Niemann may be the sharpest and the most apt to throw curveballs.

I read it a couple days and disagreed -- so Alan Jackson is not a sensitive bro?

otm bout boring Blake Shelton though

also Miranda's consort (hey, enough of a job in itself)

If his presence contributes to her making good records, then his existence is justified, amen.

I guess Niemann is a sensitive bro, but he's also a trickster (which Caramanica does get at a little). 600 characters I wrote on his new one:

http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/jerrod-niemann/album/free-the-music

Couple moments of the first song on the album also remind me of Everclear (who I know a lot of people hate.) Weird, since Niemann had a song called "For Everclear" on his debut album that didn't remind me of Everclear at all -- at least not at the time, when I wrote this about it:

http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/jerrod-niemann/album/judge-jerrod-and-the-hung-jury

Been re-playing 2012 country albums the past few days. 3/4 of the way (plus a week) in, my top 13 would look something like this:

1. Jerrod Niemann – Free The Music (Sea Gayle/Arista Nashville)
2. Blackberry Smoke – The Whippoorwill (Southern Ground)
3. Thomas Rhett – Thomas Rhett EP (The Valory Music Co. EP)
4. Kix Brooks – New To This Town (Arista Nashville)
5. Bhi Bhiman – Bhiman (Boocoo Music)
6. Miss Willie Brown – Sampler (A&M/Octone EP)
7. Darrell Scott – Long Way Home (Thirty Tigers/Full Light)
8. Turnpike Troubadors – Goodbye Normal Street (Thirty Tigers/Bossier City)
9. Bryan Clark & The New Lyceum Players – Southern Intermissions (Rainfeather)
10. Kip Moore – Up All Night (MCA Nashville)
11. Lionel Richie – Tuskegee (Universal)
12. Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band – Between The Ditches (SideOneDummy)
13. Dwight Yoakam – 3 Pears (Warner Bros./Via)

(Last six are pretty close, though -- which is why I didn't stop at 10. Order could easily change. And I also might decide that Bhi Bhiman stretches the "country" definition too much, like I did with Elfin Saddle's Devastates, which'd be my #1 if I counted it as country.)

and Niemann wrote a good song about Everclear!

Haven't listened in a long time, but I used to like Everclear, and Pazz & Jopped Songs from an American Movie, Vol. 1: Learning How to Smile. So Jarrod's still got good judgement (get it, Judge Jarrod, hyuk hyuk). I will check out his latest ruling.

"Jason Aldean is giving fans the chance to listen to his upcoming fifth studio album NIGHT TRAIN in its entirety for the week leading up to its Oct. 16 release, with an exclusive iTunes pre-stream found at www.iTunes.com/JasonAldean The stream is available only on desktop and iPad devices in the United States and Canada." Eh, I dunno if I'll check it, but there it is.

That was sic, but this might be better http://www.iTunes.com/JasonAldean

actually really enjoying that record, even more than the last

I'm mixed on it; probably need to listen to it more. But it's really long, just like his last one. So far, two songs stand out for me: closest thing to a "rap" song (and rock song, and novelty track) is "1994," nostalgia for a year I didn't realize anybody was nostalgic for yet and for a country singer (Joe Diffie!??) who I didn't expect anybody would ever be nostalgic for, though I liked his chaos theory/butterfly effect hit "3rd Rock From the Sun" back in 1994 too; Aldean's musicians a little space in that to get funky. There's also a song near the end I like -- "Black Tears," a sort of sad hair-metal fallen-angel-working the-strip-club-and sniffing coke ballad, but maybe darker than that sounds, plus there's a recurring "Stairway To Heaven" motif running through it, which I don't remember country doing before. Rest of the album, so far, strikes me as just typical Aldean, who-cares rock-wannabe stuff and ballads, with okay small-town details (an abandoned factory in one song, for instance, where a party happens), more I could take or leave, and some that will probably grow on me a little over time.

So I just now checked out Jerrod Niemann – Free The Music (Sea Gayle/Arista Nashville) on his MySpace. Crisp white sand Carribean country appeal, rec to fans of Sublime, Chesney Buffett, RIYL associations esp. relevant on the five tracks I so far don't particularly care about. But some of that same appeal on the seven I perk up for, "Guessing Games" being the most meta, like what will the arrangement do next, with suave switcheroos, "I could waste a day or two with my hippies out west/Cajuns on the bayou" ect., little bits "Southern Nights"-era Allan Toussaint and early Big Kenny solo turns flash before mah eyes,and I'm there for the horns, a bit "Kenny Lane" on the title track, though usually with a sly riverboat Dixieland tinge(as heard on riverboats near casinos and minor league ballparks in the modern South). When he disclaims being a "Rhodes scholar/rough edges, blue in the collar", is he maybe actually disavowing all of that, so "Rhodes" could also be "roads" ("blue in the collar" could also imply "red in the face", he's not overselling or embarrassed, also not red in the neck) and he's not afraid to show musical evidence of being an unstudied combo of non-generic brains and beauty? Maybe does crossword puzzles, albeit with a pencil and eraser; only wears cologne on the right dates,if atall. Good to hear and think about, but I dunno about Top Ten Albums; h'm-m-m, seven keepers, five so-whuts. Should be something for Singles though, unless his ballads tamely hog that category.

Mind you, the disclaimer goes with a very nice trad country-friendly track, mellow baritones singing along, made me wonder again about the xpost Jamey Johnson trib to Hank Cochran (also reminds me Niemann should have supporting vocals more often, on slower songs)

Great writeup, Don, but wait -- which are the stinkers again? (Agree there's a couple, though not nearly enough to sink the riverboat.)

The Aldean dig grow on me, a little -- At least enough to convince me to hang on to the promo CD I got sent. Is it my imagination, or is it possible he's actually singing better now? Or maybe I just never noticed before that he's pretty okay at it. There's something about his slightly fancy vocal swoops in "I Don't Do Lonely Well" that reminds me, in a good way, of Jon Secada doing "Just Another Day" two decades ago. Despite its rote farm-town tough-guy chauvinism I don't hate the other quasi-hard-rock quasi-rap shitkick song "The Only Way I Know", which apparently has Eric Church and Luke Bryan on it. But besides the two I mention above, I'd say the standouts are "Night Train" (I get that "going down to the tracks to listen to the night train in the middle of the night" or whatever is a metaphor for making out, but is it also something people actually do?) and "Water Tower," and maybe "This Nothin' Town" -- all partly for their hicktown specifics, I reckon.

Drew Nelson's Tilt-A-Whirl, on folk/blues/Americana-type indie Red House, has a real shot at my country top 10, it turns out. He sings just about as bleh as Steve Earle, so I have my reservations, but the first few songs are real nice Nebraska-style recession gloom that always grabs my bleeding heartstrings. Album tails off halfway through, though I like when his band stretches out "Copper" to 6 minutes.

"..did grow on me a little..."

And I didn't make it very far into the Jamey Johnson. Just seems like a lazy writer's-block stopgap and star-studded grandstanding move to me. Can't make myself care about it at all. Though I did notice that both Jody Rosen in Rolling Stone and Christgau (who never liked Johnson much before) gave it good reviews.

The last Niemann album was a sleeper: I got it two years ago and it kicked in last summer or fall. It's hard for charm to combat slack songwriting, but he won. The last single was terrific.

The Singles Jukebox on "Shinin' On Me":

http://www.thesinglesjukebox.com/?p=5386

Maybe the rest of Free The Music will grow on me like the prev did for Alfred, but meanwhile, keeping things positive, these are the ones I do like so far:
"Free The Music"
"Shinin' On Me"
"Honky Tonk Fever"
"Guessing Games"
"It Won't Matter Anymore"
"Real Women Drink Beer"
"Fraction of a Man"

The others aren't stinkers, just dull-normal pop country radio bait.

Oh man, back to MySpace, this time for Jamey Johnson and friends' Hank Cochran tribute, and now I wanna do bad things with you. Very sensuous autumn flames in the veins, righteous wounds and guilt, old weird passive aggressive Casonova singing in his chains and cowpoke leather. Well, it's a reverie anyway, but the object of his repentant booty doesn't seem so far away tonight, and actual female duet partners take it t another level, which may be why not so many of them. The faster, funnier tracks are welcome too, a little fresh cold air, not too far from the dancefloor, at-least-mental boudoir, or bar (I once read that songs of this era were judged by the amount of drinks sold while they were played on the jukebox and radio; not a conspiracy, just corporate tie-ins). Maybe it is just one more elaborate act of JJ's writerly procrastination, but he def holds his own amid all the guests. Sounds kinda like Merle but younger. Very edutaining too; I never heard most of these.

repentant booty *call*, that is.

"one more act of writerly procrastination" in all the world of writers, that is, and hold the JJ, not saying he's done this before. I like that so far, each album is different, whatever the circumstances might be.

Goood band too, discreet yet sparky and no-hesitation spot-on.

I'm kinda skittish about the Johnson album. I liked That Lonesome Song better than The Guitar Song, and albums of duets typically do nothing for me. But I'll check for it on Spotify.

So, is anybody in this thread watching the TV show Nashville? I'm kind of enjoying it.

I liked the Altman movie okay, despite its know-nothing condescension toward country music. But this is what I wrote about the TV show on facebook last week: " I miss Tami Taylor. And I have no Hayden Panettiere opinion. (Doubt I could identify her in a police lineup, to be honest.) And I might try out this show when Netflix gets it a year from now (just like I try out lots of shows), but I do not have high hopes. 'Real' country diva who's paid her dues vs. 'fake' country upstart superstar, right? Zzzzzzzzzzz."

Just my know-nothing gut feeling, though. Could be wrong, obviously. (And other people seem to like it. Except ones who are bored by it.)