Rolling Country 2021

Yeah that's an album that I like a lot!

Will check those thx

Legendary songwriter James McMurtry is set to release his new album, The Horses and The Hounds, on August 20.

This first collection in seven years spotlights a seasoned tunesmith in peak form as he turns toward reflection and revelation.

“There’s a definite Los Angeles vibe to this record,” McMurtry says. “The ghost of Warren Zevon seems to be stomping around among the guitar tracks. Don’t know how he got in there. He never signed on for work for hire.”

First track from it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPYWcdrQPxg

No surprises, but sounds pretty good on first listen.

Can anyone suggest some good websites for country music album reviews? I’m looking for something that covers all forms — from contemporary mainstream to alt-country to reissues of traditional, for example. I’m less interested in folk and Americana, though some of that would be okay too. I’m aware of No Depression, of course, but it leans too much toward “roots” music rather than true country music, at least for my tastes. It’s especially hard to find decent reviews of the bigger contemporary artists — most sites seem to thumb their nose at that stuff or review it ironically.

Good question---I don't keep up that well, but suspect you'll have to hop along from site to site, although Rolling Country is pretty well-rounded---you might check up through the middle of this decade; we really used to go to town w the reviews & discussions---also archives of villagevoice.com. But nowadays? I've occasionally looked at savingcountrymusic.com, and seen plausible coverage of for instance Garth's most recent offering by Trigger, who I think is the only poster (also going for center-right editorial comments re country issues on the news). Comments section gets pretty godawful. Taste of Country is mainly or all news, seems like---there must be more---well, Rolling Stone Country is fairly good, and Pitchfork is trying to get with the program too, some thoughtful reviews in the last couple of years--jump around those and No Dep and you'll get some range...

On this date in 1964, Connie Smith signs her first recording contract with RCA Victor. "The Cry of the Heart, her 54th album, comes out August 20th on @FatPossum Records. Pre-order yours here:https://t.co/LlkPaCWLTs pic.twitter.com/zpj4XKXpqw

— Connie Smith (@RealConnieSmith) June 24, 2021

Connie Smith has a new album out this August on Fat Possum.

I’m enjoying the new Vincent Neil Emerson. Just some plainspoken throwback kinda stuff but doesn’t feel like pastiche. Really liked his debut from a couple years back too - nothing on the new one is as instantly catchy as “Fly on the Wall” but I’m still enjoying it.

Yeah--"I'm like a bird caught in a store, lookin' for the door"--but it's not just catchy little phrases, he uses them to tell stories, convey a sense of sometimes complex situations and what he thinks and feels about them, in as few words as possible, for the sake of clarity and realness, with no added drama; he's lived, is living, through enough of that already.
The music has just enough variety to keep the songs distinctive, and suit whatever he's singing about--even a little bit of fluid modern jazz balladry at the beginning and end of "Learnin' To Drown," about his father and himself. A little bit of piano on that one, organ on another, mostly it's fingerpicking guitar, fiddle, bass, no need for drums. Maybe tin whistle and Irish-y fiddle on "White Horse Saloon," and why not, plenty of Irish people went West. A song about Indians getting screwed, also from his family's (on his mother's side) experience. Western swing on the closer, but not a vintage cover; it's another of his lived-in-sounding originals.

Some people online think the debut was better, for the most part, or entirely, so it must be pretty damn good. Will check it out too.

The debut is definitely great and mostly more upbeat than the new album.

I’m still just a few listens in on the new album but it’s growing on me. “Learning to Drown” is a stunner. So straightforward in its devastation. It’s disarming.

Never heard Emerson before. This new one is beautiful. Thanks for the tip. I gotta check out his debut too. Great stuff.

I wonder how he takes to being called just "Vince"

His parents named him for Vince Neil, according to the Internet. From what he's said and written about his father, seemms plausible--but I'm gonna stick to "Vincent" if I ever address him d'rectly.

Just now, upside ooh my head: Kalie Shorr's refreshing, somewhut startling country pop singles in 2021, "Amy" and "Love Child," both self-writ. Her xpost Dixie Chicks 3-song EP is prob okay too, but why beg comparisons. 2019's blazin' Open Book was Top Ten for me, haven't yet heard 2020's Unabridged edition of that. Meet her at the crossroads, braced: http://www.kalieshorr.com/

Checked out Bobby Dove's Hopeless Romantic yesterday and was very impressed.

Lead Single:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2Mvfrnxdzs

Coverage from Country Queer:
https://countryqueer.com/reviews/song-review/hopelessly-in-love-with-bobby-doves-newest/

liking that Bobby Dove, thanks!

Yeah!
And here's the latest from the aforemenioned S.G. Goodman, with her purple state Kentucky jittery flair:
My Townes Van Zandt cover of "Lungs" is now available to stream everywhere!

I'm not normally one to do covers, they often scare me. I feel it's easier to do a cover poorly than to add to something that was already probably perfect. So when the good folks at Amazon Music offered for me to take part in their Amazon Music Origial series, I was honored, but at a loss for what to do, I chose Townes Van Zandt's "Lungs" because of the odd connection he has to where I live.

Like all small towns, we have our legendary stories, and one story from Murray, KY could be found in a little lemonade stand in the middle of town. You'd drive up to Mr. Jimmy Gingles, ask for a Ginger (Fresh squeezed Lemonade, Orange Juice, and Lime) and you would see a picture of Townes hanging over Jimmy's head while he made your drink. Mr. Jimmy and Townes were friends and running buddies. He's often tell you about all the times Townes visited him in Murray and how he'd passed out on that very floor in the lemonade stand. Townes also play a few times in a bar where I cut my teeth as performer. It was a thrill to record this with my band and Matt Ross-Spang at the legendary Fame Studios. Hopefully I added to the story of Townes and my home with this cover, but like I said, it's hard to put your spin on something you've always felt was perfect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ufqEsByELM

Nanci Griffith RIP. This goes over the top at first---comparing her to Elvis?---but then makes a lot of good points, like about her early international following, and emerging thusly for many:
As a teenager in Philadelphia and a college student in Chicago in the eighties, I did not yet know from Townes Van Zandt, Jerry Jeff Walker, or the Flatlanders (except for Joe Ely’s connection to the Clash). I had no idea what Houston’s Anderson Fair was, nor that I’d eventually be spending hundreds of nights of my life at a place called Hole in the Wall in Austin—venues where Griffith played. But long before the terms “alt-country” or “Americana” came along, eighties artists like Griffith, Lyle Lovett, and Steve Earle (as well non-Texans Dwight Yoakam, k.d. lang, and Rosanne Cash) weren’t that far from the post-punk I was listening to on college radio, starting with R.E.M. The same record store clerks who sold me jangly pop-inflected albums by Robyn Hitchcock, the Windbreakers, and Austin’s Zeitgeist (later the Reivers), also put a copy of Griffith’s 1987 MCA debut, Lone Star State of Mind, into my hands.
https://www.texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/nanci-griffith-more-loved-than-she-knew/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Web+Social&utm_campaign=NanciGriffithObit

In more mundane news Maren Morris guest hosted Jimmy Kimmel’s show last night and Willie Nelson was a guest

But yeah RIP Nanci .That farewell does nicely touch on who her songs appealed to

xpost Wish I'd seen that! Good?

I missed it. Got a pr email about it a day late.

Here's Maren talking to Willie

https://www.wideopencountry.com/maren-morris-jimmy-kimmel-live/

Thoughts on Sierra Ferrell?

Will check---meanwhile: RIP psych-folk-country pioneer Powell St. John! Very early TX colleague of Janis Joplin, later Boz Scaggs (both of whom later covered him), also wrote for 13th Floor Elevators. but I mostly know him in Mother Earth, with Tracy Nelson---this article incl link to one of their more thread-relevant tracks, "Then I'll Be Moving On" (& young:
https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/music/2021-08-23/powell-st-john-brought-us-the-message-1940-2021/?mc_cid=a929c1593a&mc_eid=d26b96d866

Sorry, meant to add that the article also includes a link to very pre-fame Janis singing "St. James Infirmary."

Anyone heard Charlie Marie's Ramble On? Classic honky tonk sound with modern stories. Really strong front to back listen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1zRefWl86M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voXA7SjM_2w

Nice, maybe a little too yachty for me in this instance, but by the same token, got the solid Top 40 structure that goes with that pic. Will check alb whenever it's out.
xpost Indexed, thanks so much! I listened to the whole Ramble On and a bit more---she's the Queen of Subway Station Honky Tonk:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chscjE1IQ2I

Should've issued a volume warning first, but dig the acoustics.

So she doesn't really need a studio, except commercially===here's one of my faves from there:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H84vL-NlZqQ

Mebbe not one of her best songs, but good vid:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxFnjq9b5O4

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2021-09-10/walker-hayes-fancy-like-applebees-commercial

Walker Hayes “Fancy Like (Applebee’s)” taking off due to tik-tok. It’s pop-country with now standard hiphop aspects.

"Baby Shark" catchy, will check current EP (think that's what it is).

Join us on Wednesday, October 6 at 8pm EST on Sidedoor for a very special return of the Latent Lounge when we will be streaming a 70 minute pre-recorded acoustic concert featuring six brand new Cowboy Junkies songs. You can purchase tickets for the show here.https://sidedooraccess.com/shows/8LWXzL8Po02RhWlmUNLV

A couple of months ago, as Covid restrictions began to ease, a few of us who record for Latent decided to get together in a funky old converted barn, located about two hours north of Toronto, to share a few of the songs that we had been writing and developing over the past many months in isolation. Andy Maize (Skydiggers) and Michael Timmins performed a handful of songs from their Townies project; Jerry Leger and his longtime bass player Dan Mock performed five acoustic versions of songs off of Jerry's upcoming Nothing Pressing album; and Margo and Michael performed six brand new songs that they had been working on at The Barn over the previous few weeks. We brought along a couple of cameras and our recording gear and the result is the latest Latent Lounge, our third in the series. Mike, Andy and Jerry will be in attendance in the chat so please make sure to say hi!

We have intentionally kept the cost of the ticket for this event very low in hopes that many of you can donate a few more dollars to the "Legacy Of Hope Foundation". This is a Canadian Indigenous charitable organization with the mandate to educate and create awareness and understanding about the Residential School System. If you can afford it, please pay a little more for your ticket. All money collected by Latent Recordings over the $10 suggested ticket price will be donated to the Legacy of Hope Foundation. Alternatively, you can use the Donate link on the ticket site or go directly to the Legacy Of Hope website (https://legacyofhope.ca/).
trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWr9Qn1eMFo

Country music superstar Alan Jackson has revealed he is living with a degenerative nerve condition that is impacting his ability to tour and perform.

In an exclusive interview …on NBC’s Today, Jackson went public with the news that he has inherited a rare condition known as “CMT” (Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disorder).

ooof that hurts

From Miranda's newsletter:

https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/z1Geu8RYVgpTnOObKQvTk779dgOLsy1hKKWw7q7aD04cT41CVVEi7tVVoW9-uQ3Jp86pRqj5tHlRXIrE4ceU0XuXU2KD0y8F2lu80PM3MvCnge3-kVQrp4SOr3QtKVKghnaydrEIrx8-i1jI8n0=s0-d-e1-ft#https://email-assets.shimmer.io/guids/CABINET_a807453e993d878689c261f236db3b24/images/c.jpg

It’s gonna be a hell of a holiday, y’all! Pistol Annies’ first Christmas album will be out Oct. 22nd. The first song off the album, “Snow Globe,” is out now.https://pa.lnk.to/HOAH

Gotta get the T-shirt:
https://✧✧✧.shop✧✧✧.com/s/files/1/0432/4033/products/front_2d7160f2-a49b-4dfa-bb4a-4e2adbf1e2fb_1024x1✧✧✧@2✧.j✧✧?v=1632969771

Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram and Jon Randall’s The Marfa Tapes Austin City Limits episode premieres Oct. 2nd on most PBS stations! Check out your local listings to see when it airs in your town.

https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/uO-PsQDdWBuXTu4a6whZECqASNz-yv5sjwuKeXQbUJDLre4R5vI2IcK2sRjIHFlmAFUmp1LbjJgJRJtuvXYT5WxI-FwjcwOhSH1o5Zw7JY6mklUUC3_nn2U3Q__h9tcXpBJDC4GUrxsIf17RQek=s0-d-e1-ft#https://email-assets.shimmer.io/guids/CABINET_a807453e993d878689c261f236db3b24/images/l.jpg

T-shirt, music etc here
https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/--3thcAIcLKl7YyM_v9Bg-qzfkQDbZA1fOsoUE-rz7sufEpHHZ0OrFierar7y0iLYrwMPVHodvNykMC7SnOuFVrBPyjtAwDJUXBZ2WRJlSPn15wBgMxvUkpoYBCWh11QLnhp_5G2Min5epvZJz_944nVV8fS3Eji-6OMHhyIqmq96w=s0-d-e1-ft#https://email-assets.shimmer.io/guids/CABINET_a807453e993d878689c261f236db3b24/images/pahoahpreorder_eblast.gif

Ah hell, since I mentioned it: https://store.mirandalambert.com/collections/pistol-annies?utm_source=ml-news&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=hoah-announce

Tracklist:

Hell of a Holiday
Snow Globe
Harlan County Coal
Come On Christmas Time
If we make it through December
Make You Blue
Leanin’ on Jesus
The Only Thing I wanted
Believing
Happy Birthday
Sleigh Ride
Joy
Auld Lang Syne

the shirt, hat and ornament look like promo items for a movie

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91HXGCUYC3L._SL1500_.jpg

late pass but Kalie Shorr's "Amy" is some primo fueled by cornpone mash up action

Word. ust now, upside ooh my head: Kalie Shorr's refreshing, somewhut startling country pop singles in 2021, "Amy" and "Love Child," both self-writ. Her xpost Dixie Chicks 3-song EP is prob okay too, but why beg comparisons. 2019's blazin' Open Book was Top Ten for me, haven't yet heard 2020's Unabridged edition of that. Meet her at the crossroads, braced: http://www.kalieshorr.com/

― dow, Tuesday, July 20, 2021
Ashley McBryde can be the xpost Nicholson figure (listen to Never Will and u will Know)

Thoughts on Sierra Ferrell?
Evan
Latest album, first of hers I've heard, is so good? Commen 'tater here immediately invokes Patsy Cline, otm to too on the nose a couple times maybe, as arrangements push the cuetness, but in a flirtatious way, and could happen w production of Cline. Singing and songs always right, and she's also mountain or post-mountain, incl. the closer, where yet another female country artist bids a bittersweet farewell-for-now to the old hometown-mindset etc.---never heard a guy singer do this----good of its kind, strong closer.
https://sierraferrell.bandcamp.com/album/long-time-coming

is so good*!* Ah meant to type.

is there a Stina Nordenstam thing going on here with Sierra Ferrell or is it just me?

It may or may not be just you, but sure ain't me, Hand.

i'm seeing Ferrell soon, live, and will report back, fellow Rolling Country-ers

omG yall (the Reader's Digest edition):

BRANDI CARLILE’S IN THESE SILENT DAYS
DEBUTS AT #1 ON BILLBOARD
AMERICANA/FOLK ALBUMS CHART, TOP
ROCK ALBUMS CHART AND TASTEMAKER
ALBUMS CHART, #3 ON TOP ALBUM SALES
CHART
“SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE” DEBUT CONFIRMED FOR OCTOBER 23

Recorded once again at Nashville’s historic RCA Studio A with producers Dave Cobb and Shooter Jennings, the album features Carlile (vocals, guitar, piano), Tim Hanseroth (vocals, bass), Phil Hanseroth (vocals, guitar), Cobb (guitar, percussion) and Jennings (piano, organ, synth) as well as Chris Powell (drums, percussion), Josh Neumann (strings) and special guests Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig of Lucius on backing vocals on the track “You And Me On The Rock.”
Reflecting on the album, Carlile shares, “Never before have the twins and I written an album during a time of such uncertainty and quiet solitude. I never imagined that I’d feel so exposed and weird as an artist without the armor of a costume, the thrill of an applause and the platform of the sacred stage. Despite all this, the songs flowed through—pure and unperformed, loud and proud, joyful and mournful. Written in my barn during a time of deep and personal reckoning.There’s plenty reflection…but mostly it’s a celebration. This album is what drama mixed with joy sounds like. It’s resistance and gratitude, righteous anger and radical forgiveness. It’s the sound of these silent days.”

photo credit: Neil Krug
Adding to yet another monumental year, Carlile will once again perform Joni Mitchell’s legendary album Blue in full at Carnegie Hall on November 6. Additionally, her wildly successful “Girls Just Wanna Weekend” will return February 1-5, 2022. The sold-out vacation destination event held at Mexico’s Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya will once again feature an all-female-fronted lineup including performances by Carlile, Sheryl Crow, Tanya Tucker, Indigo Girls, Lucius, Margo Price, Yola, KT Tunstall, Allison Russell, Amythyst Kiah and Katie Pruitt as well as special guests. See below for complete tour itinerary

IN THESE SILENT DAYS TRACKLIST
1. Right On Time
2. You And Me On The Rock
3. This Time Tomorrow
4. Broken Horses
5. Letter To The Past
6. Mama Werewolf
7. When You’re Wrong
8. Stay Gentle
9. Sinners Saints And Fools
10.Throwing Good After Bad
BRANDI CARLILE CONFIRMED TOUR DATES
November 6—New York, NY—Carnegie Hall (SOLD OUT)
February 1-5, 2022—Riviera Maya, Mexico—Girls Just Wanna Weekend (SOLD OUT)
April 29, 2022—Indio, CA—Stagecoach Music Festival

Listened to this the other day and wasn't crazy about it. She is always someone, for me, who walks right on the line of "not for me". Sometimes she is brilliant and sometimes she just steps right over that line. More the latter than the former on this particular album.

Good review of the new Natalie Hemby album from Alfred: https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/natalie-hemby-pins-and-needles/

Haven't listened yet but Puxico would make my top 20 country albums of the 10's so quite excited to hear this.

Went back to Eric Church's Heart & Soul and was surprised how many of the melodies had stayed with me over the last six months. I think I wrote it off as gimmicky with the triple-album concept but there's a lot of vintage Church charm and writing (as well as schmaltz, but that's Church).