This Mornin' I Am Born AgainListen. Get Re-Born

Ok, i’ve put this off long enough. We’re now only 2 weeks away from 2009, and i might be one of last to get their lists up. And to be completely honest, my top 10 album list is not yet complete – well not the back half. But i have made final decisions on the Best Songs of the Year. But first….

What makes a song great?

That question has been tossed around since the first single was ever recorded, and if we (or anyone) knew the answer, there would be nothing left. The truth is, there is no answer. Music is subjective – some people simply listen, and if they like it, it’s a good song. Some look for originality, some for familiarity. Many people want emotive lyrics. Many want to hear words they can relate to. Many people (who are no doubt Dylan fans) are looking for groundbreaking wordplay that will blow their minds.

Of course, certain instruments excite certain people. i, for example, love the plunk of a banjo in an otherwise non-bluegrass tune. Acoustic guitars picked with purpose will grab my attention far earlier than a hard-strummed electric. Lately hand claps and tambourines make me happy.

What about vocals? Let’s be honest – the Folk/Americana/Alt-Country (what have you) world doesn’t possess the greatest or most talented vocalists. Many lead voices are of the love it or hate it variety, and can immediately turn someone off from a song. If i can’t listen to the lead vocals, the band is going to have a hard time getting on my good side. That said, there is no formula or standard that i judge by, and i have a fairly wide acceptance range. The most important thing a singer can possess is believability.

Growing up listening to mainstream country (and shifting between rap phases), i was under the impression the only song structure consisted of verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus. While that simple formula still works, an artist can expand or abbreviate to an indefinite degree as they see fit. Adding dynamic to a song with a tempo or key change can seem strange at first, but is one the most vital factors in keeping the listener engaged.

A particularly separating attribute for a list like this is enjoyability. This doesn’t mean that the song has to have uplifting lyrics; it’s often the opposite. The best judge for this element is how fun the song is to sing along to. The songs that i found myself belting out (severely off-key) in my car were the first to be added to the list.

So where does this leave me? Basically back where i started. There is no formula, no set of rules, and no boundary to great songs. That is what keeps music interesting, fresh, versatile, and what makes it an essential part of life. Taking these factors into consideration, here are my picks for the Top 10 Songs of 2008.

10. The Greatest Hustler of All ~ Old Crow Medicine Show
from Tennessee Pusher, written by Willie Watson/Ketch Secor

9. Who Am I To Say ~ Justin Townes Earle
from The Good Life, written by Justin Townes Earle

8. Skinny Love ~ Bon Iver
from For Emma, Forever Ago, written by Justin Vernon

7. Souled Out!!! ~ Conor Oberst
from Conor Oberst, written by Conor Oberst

6. Sideman Blues ~ The Dedringers
from Sweetheart of the Neighborhood, written by Jonny Burke

5. Murder In The City ~ The Avett Brothers
from The Second Gleam, written by Scott Avett

4. Traipsing Through the Aisles ~ Samantha Crain
from The Confiscation EP, written by Samantha Crain

3. White Winter Hymnal ~ Fleet Foxes
from Fleet Foxes, written by Robin Pecknold

2. Rattlin’ Bones ~ Kasey Chamber & Shane Nicholson
from Rattlin’ Bones, written by Chambers/Nicholson

1. Frankie’s Gun! ~ The Felice Brothers
from The Felice Brothers, written by Ian Felice

“My car goes… Chicago.
Every weekend to pick up some cargo.
I think I know the bloody way by now, Frankie,
Turn the god damn radio down, thank you.
Pull over. Count the money.
But don’t count the .30 in the glove box, buddy.
That’s for to buy Lucille some clothes.

Bang Bang Bang went Frankie’s gun!
He shot me down Lucille!
Bang Bang Bang Bang went Frankie’s gun!
He shot me down Lucille! (He shot me down!)

Work zones, double fines.
Don’t pass the double lines.
Trailer McDonald’s, rest stop trailer double wide.
I saw a man hit my mom one time, really
I hurt him so damn bad I had to hide in Jersey.
Called my mama told her, ‘In the dresser
There’s ten or twenty dollars but there ain’t no lesser.’
That’s for to take my sister to the picture show.

Bang Bang Bang went Frankie’s gun!
He shot me down Lucille!
Bang Bang Bang Bang went Frankie’s gun!
He shot me down Lucille! (He shot me down!)

Sha nay na sha nay na na na na na…
Sha nay na Sha nay na…

Slip make a fender shine,
Frankie you’re a friend of mine,
Got me off a bender after long-legged Brenda died.
I thought we might be on a roll this time, Frankie.
I could have swore the box said Hollywood blanks, but
You see my mama
Please tell her
I left a little rock in a box in the cellar.
That’s for to wear till kingdom come.

Bang Bang Bang went Frankie’s gun!
He shot me down Lucille!
Bang Bang Bang Bang went Frankie’s gun!
He shot me down Lucille! (He shot me down!)

Sha nay na sha nay na na na na na…
Sha nay na Sha nay na…

Yodelea he hoo.”

Click the album covers to purchase.

Check out last year’s list (my 2nd post on This Mornin’…), and stay tuned for the definitive Top 10 Albums of 2008.

i’ve been flipping back and forth from tonight’s CMA Awards, and i swear it’s the funniest thing on TV…. well, it would be if weren’t dead serious. It’s like a dogshow in that the only people that really care about it are the ones there on the stage. But the sad thing is, these idiots are put there by real people, who really like this music, really buy it… really sing along. They make it a lucrative business. Why else do you think Jessica Simpson and Hootie jumped on the bandwagon? The artists know exactly what they’re doing. They’ve found a loophole in the system. Those few that write their own music simply cater to the ignorant ‘middle America’, writing simple songs that will undoubtedly get played played at every barbecue, high school party, and rural wedding across the country. It’s shameless exploitation.

How can so many stupid fucking Americans actually buy this crap? What kind of shallow person has their musical desires fulfilled by each and every “i love America” spewed out from the prettiest faces money can buy and records labels can hand pick off a reality show.

“Oooh he said he’s from the county…. SO AM I. I love this guy!”
“She drives a pickup. My grandpa has one of those. I’m gonna buy her record now.”
“Look, he wears a baseball cap with the edges perfectly frayed like mine. He’s cool. So am I”

Fuck Me.

It’s no wonder most people laugh when at you when you say you like country music. What chance do we have to be taken seriously when this is the face of it.

Kid Rock is on now, singing a thoughtless regurgitation of one of the most overplayed songs in history. And everybody loves it – mindless people that listen (and enjoy) whatever the local radio station puts on the airwaves. i haven’t had my radio on FM for about 5 years now, so i don’t know the songs, much less most of the acts, on my TV tonight. Half of ‘em can’t even sing. They just hop around the stage under a spotlight, waving their arms around cause they don’t possess the talent to play a guitar – while the real musicians are hidden behind them in the dark.

Some ‘award show’. The same 5 people present and receive all the trophies. The same songs are nominated in categories like ‘Best Single’ and ‘Best Song’ – what’s the fucking difference? It’s just another chance for these chumps to selfishly show their perfectly made up faces to the world, and pat themselves on the back for creating musical genocide.

At least the chicks are hot. That’s all this show has going for it.
That and George Strait.

If you’re here, you most likely feel the same way, so i’m preachin’ to the choir. But i just had to get this off my chest.

Here is some REAL COUNTRY MUSIC:

The Everybodyfields – Be Miner
Caitlin Cary & Thad Cockrell – Please Break My Heart
The Felice Brothers – Whiskey In My Whiskey
Gillian Welch – Look At Miss Ohio
Hayes Carll – Long Way Home

Check out Setting The Woods On Fire for more REAL COUNTRY MUSIC

1. Iron & Wine – The Devil Never Sleeps
buy The Shepherd’s Dog (2007)
2. Whiskeytown – Mirror, Mirror
buy Pneumonia (2001)
3. The Felice Brothers – Love Me Tenderly
buy The Felice Brothers (2008)
4. The Raconteurs – You Don’t Understand Me
buy Consolers of the Lonely (2008)
5. The Rolling Stones – Let’s Spend The Night Together
buy Between The Buttons (1967)

Haven’t picked up anything new recently. Okkervil River’s new one came out today, but i never left my house, so…. for now enjoy a few splendid, new Daytrotter sessions.

Looks like it’ll be a regular ol’ shin-dig down in ‘Nawlins.


Justin Townes Earle

“Righteous Kill”

mp3: Stoney LaRue – Texas Cookin’ (live – Guy Clark cover)

mp3: Cody Canada – Juicy Fruit (live – Jimmy Buffett cover)

mp3: Old Crow Medicine Show – Chicken Pie (unreleased)

mp3: The Band of Heathens – Cornbread
buy Band of Heathens (2008)

mp3: Ray Wylie Hubbard – Heartaches and Grease
buy Snake Farm (2006)

mp3: The Wood Brothers – Chocolate On My Tongue
buy Ways Not To Lose (2006)

mp3: Robert Johnson – Come On In My Kitchen
buy The Complete Recordings (1990)

mp3: Slaid Cleaves – Breakfast in Hell
buy Broke Down (2000)

mp3: The Felice Brothers – Take This Bread
buy The Felice Brothers (2008)

i generally don’t buy albums off iTunes/eMusic because i like to spend the few extra bucks and have a hard copy in my hands. i sort of look at it as an investment – one day, i’ll get to show my grandkids what CD’s were like (i’ve got a decent Vinyl collection goin’ on, too). But the two albums that my New Digs come from this week were both downloaded. One (Tonight At The Arizona) because you can’t find it at stores, and the other (Hot Trottin’) because i got impatient.

buy Hot Trottin’ [iTunes] [Amazon]. If you’re into instant gratification, i downloaded mine at PayPlay.fm.

My New Digs for this week are some of the first stand-outs from a few of the albums i’ve picked up recently. The initial surge from the flood of Spring releases has hit, and i would have until about May to catch up, but Konk comes out next Tuesday – and that’s a big one.

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The Kooks’ Inside In/Inside Out was a huge debut album (it was #2 on my best of 2007 post). i don’t even look at record sales, but judging simply from the buzz, if you will, it garnered for those skinny Brits, they’re doin’ alright. This hype will carry on for Konk, but i’m excited to see what the’ve done with it. Having another killer album may very well solidify their names….. somewhere. And i’m not trying to insinuate and sort of Second Coming or anything, but i definately hear some of whatever it was The Stones had (have – whatever) in their guitars and hook writing. And i’m rooting for ‘em. i always wanna be in the presence of greatness – everybody wanted to see Davidson make it to the final four, but i wanted to see 4 #1’s, so i was rooting for Kansas - record-breakers, never before’s, and especially beginings of legends. Buy it Tuesday…

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These New Digs are mostly upbeat, since it generally takes a little longer (hearing the lyrics) to pick out great slow songs:

mp3: The Black Keys – Psychotic Girl ~ from Attack & Release
mp3: The Black Keys – Same Old Thing ~ from Attack & Release
The groove initiated by the banjo in Psychotic Girl is what pulled me into that tune. And the flute in Psychotic Girl is a throwback that hints on The Marshall Tucker Band.

mp3: The Felice Brothers – Greatest Show On Earth ~ from The Felice Brothers
This song effortlessly wanders between a slow-rolling ballad and a raucus barroom jam complete with old-time piano and trumpet. They carry on the same attitude with this one:
mp3: The Felice Brothers – Love Me Tenderly ~ from The Felice Brothers

mp3: Hayes Carll – Don’t Let Me Fall ~ from Trouble In Mind
mp3: Hayes Carll – Willing To Love Again ~ from Trouble In Mind
Hayes can sometimes drift a little too far on the Honky-Tonk side for my taste, so i tend to perfer the slower ones like these (and Long Way Home posted here).

i also just got a copy of Loaded from The Wood Brothers, but i’ve got something else planned for that one….

enjoy….

Alright, so February is almost over, and i’m pumped. Beacause, starting in March, a flood of great albums are coming out. Seeing as i’m pretty new to this music journalism (hardly…) world, i don’t have any cool new friends on the inside to give me any exclusive news or tracks, but i’ve got a couple tricks up my sleeve. For some of these that are coming out a little further in the future, i’ll re-remind you, but here are the forthcoming album releases on my radar:

3.4.08 (Big Day)

The Black Crowes – Warpaint (Silver Arrow)

The first release from the soulful Black Crowes in 7 years is set for early March. 10 of the 11 tracks were written by Chris and Rich, and the album marks the debut for two new band members: guitarist Luther Dickinson and keyboardist Adam MacDougall.

tracklist:
1. Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution
2. Walk Believer Walk
3. Oh Josephine
4. Evergreen
5. Wee Who See The Deep
6. Locust Street
7. Movin’ On Down The Line
8. Wounded Bird
9. God’s Got It ~ this is the same song that OCMS did on Big Iron World, written by The Reverend Charlie Jackson
10. There’s Gold In Them Hills
11. Whoa Mule

pre-order Warpaint here

The Felice Brothers – The Felice Brothers (Team Love)

The band (3 out of 4 are actual brothers), from upstate New York, released Tonight at the Arizona in the UK early last year. Upon returning to the States, they hooked up with Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes for some concert dates, and consequently he signed them to his label. The’ve been called ‘backwoods americana’ and have a perfectly un-polished sound with hints of Dylan, Townes, and Neil Young. Their self-titled American debut is due out March 4th.

here’s one from it:

mp3: The Felice Brothers – Wonderful Life

pre-order The Felice Brothers here

Whiskeytown – Stranger’s Almanac (Deluxe Edition) (Mood Food/Geffen)

i don’t know who decided to put this re-issue together, or why, but who fuckin’ cares. This isn’t just a re-mastered edition with a couple bonus tracks; this thing is like discovering an attic full of old vinyls. Ok, maybe not that cool, but listen: It’s a 2-disc set, the first of which is the original album (13 tracks) plus 5 bonus tracks from unreleased radio performances:

Bonus Tracks:

14. Houses on the Hill (live)

15. Nurse With the Pills (live)

16. I Don’t Care What You Think About Me (live)

17. Somebody Remembers the Rose (live)

18. Turn Around (live)

and disc 2 (19 of the 21 tracks are previously unreleased):

1. Indian Gown

2. 16 Days (acoustic version)

3. Somebody Remembers the Rose (acoustic version)

4. Avenues (acoustic version)

5. Excuse Me While I Break My Own Heart Tonight (acoustic version)

6. Houses on the Hill (early version)

7. mp3: My Heart Is Broken*

8. I Still Miss Someone (Johnny Cash cover) (acoustic version)

9. Kiss & Make-Up

10. Barn’s on Fire

11. Dancing With the Women at the Bar (early version)

12. Dreams (Fleetwood Mac cover)

13. Breathe

14. Wither, I’m a Flower (previously released)

15. mp3: Luxury Liner**(Gram Parsons cover)

16. Theme for a Trucker

17. Streets of Sirens (previously released)

18. Turn Around (alternate version)

19. 10 Seconds

20. Ticket Time

21. The Rain Won’t Help You When It’s Over (True Believers cover)

* The song linked here is from a solo concert of Ryan’s (with help from Caitlin Cary) at The Brewery in Raleigh, NC in ‘99. The quality isn’t great, but here the song is stripped down to its core – Ryan is strumming just enough to keep in time. The vocals are amazing and, compared to the version that showed up on Jacksonville City Nights, much slower, which reveals just how, well…. heartbreaking the song really is.

** i don’t know if this is the same version that’s gonna end up on the re-issue, but it is a studio cut i picked up somewhere along the way.

pre-order the Deluxe Edition here

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3.25.08

Justin Townes Earle – The Good Life (Bloodshot)

The son of Steve Earle and namesake to Townes Van Zandt has a lot to live up to. And from what i’ve heard, he’s doin’ a pretty good job. He’s got just enough of his daddy’s gravelly growl, but with a little more energy. His background consists of performing in bluegrass/ragtime bands to full-out rock bands, and, of course, with his dad. He previously put out an EP, Yuma, from which i already posted a track.

tracklist:

1. mp3: Hard Livin’
2. The Good Life
3. mp3: Who Am I to Say
4. Lone Pine Hill
5. South Georgia Sugar Babe
6. What Do You Do When You’re Lonesome
7. Turn Out My Lights
8. Lonesome and You
9. Ain’t Glad I’m Leavin’
10. Faraway In Another Town

no pre-order found, but some info here

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4.1.08

The Black Keys – Attack and Release (Nonesuch)

i’ve already posted a couple tracks from The Black Keys, but i haven’t really said much about ‘em. They’re an indie rock/blues duo (Dan Auerbach – guitar/vocals – and Patrick Carney – drums) from Akron, Ohio. If you listened to the tracks, you already know that they produce raw, in-your-face, super groovy electric rock music. They’ve got five previous releases – some recorded in Carney’s basement, and some in an abandoned tire facotry. Attack and Release will be their most polished record as of yet. Not only did they record in a real studio, but they enlisted the help of producer Danger Mouse. He’s the guy that famously remixed The Beatles White Album with Jay-Z’s Black Album. If you’re ever in the mood for some really loud, powerful tunes, put on The Black Keys.

tracklist:

1. All You Ever Wanted

2. I Got Mine

3. Strange Times – you can buy this single from iTunes now

4. Psychotic Girl

5. Lies

6. Remember When (Side A)

7. Remember When (Side B)

8. Same Old Thing

9. So He Won’t Break

10. Oceans & Streams

11. Things Ain’t Like They Used to Be

pre-order Attack and Release here and get a free tote bag with it???

Mike McClure Band – Streamline (Boohatch)

Streamline is tentatively scheduled for release on April 1st. This is simply info straight from Mike himself via his MySpace blog. Unless you’re into the Texas Music/Red Dirst music scene, you probably haven’t heard of Mike. He previoulsy fronted the somewhat successful country band The Great Divide. He split with them to go solo in ‘02 and since has put out five albums – one of which was a collaboration with fellow Okies The Burtschi Brothers. i plan on doing an artist spotlight on Mike soon, so i’ll stop there. The only confirmed tracks for Streamline are The Eagle and the Crow, and Supposed To Be. The following track was up on his MySpace a while ago, and could show up on the album as well:

mp3: Mike McClure – Another Place To Run

here’s another MySpace track that was posted at some time. A cover of a ZZ Top song that kinda sounds like some late night goofin’ off in his home studio:

mp3: Mike McClure – Legs

ordering information will be posted when i find it

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4.8.08

Hayes Carll – Trouble in Mind (Lost Highway)

i’ve already posted some info, as well as one song, from this release here. You can also hear a few of the tracks on Hayes’ MySpace.

tracklist:

1. Drunken Poet’s Dream
2. It’s A Shame
3. Girl Downtown
4. Bad Liver And A Broken Heart
5. Beaumont
6. mp3: I Got A Gig
7. Faulkner Street
8. Wild As A Turkey
9. Don’t Let Me Fall
10. A Lover Like You
11. I Don’t Wanna Grow Up
12. Knockin’ Over Whiskeys
13. Willing To Love Again
14. She Left Me For Jesus

pre-order Trouble In Mind here

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4.22.08

Flight of the Conchords – Flight of the Conchords (Sub Pop)

Unless you were living under a rock last summer, you heard about Flight of the Conchords. Brett and Jermaine are “New Zealand’s fourth most popular digi-folk paradists” (self-proclaimed). They created an HBO comedy show that aired on Sunday nights after Entourage after becoming popular as comedians that performed hilarious, satirical songs on Comedy Central and various late-night talk shows. On their show, they play a very unsuccessful band with no social skills – and spontaneously break into stupid songs. Ok, so that doesn’t sound very funny, but i promise it is. Anyway, their debut album, that includes re-worked songs from the show, is due out at the end of April. Check ‘em out:

mp3: Flight of the Conchords – Business Time

mp3: Flight of the Conchords – If You’re Into It

both from The Distant Future [EP] - Grammy nomination for the Best Comedy Album

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The Dedringers – Sweetheart of the Neighborhood

- scheduled for Spring ‘08 release

The first time i saw the Dedringers, i hadn’t heard of them, but they were opening a show for Mike McClure. i was blown away. These guys – younger than i was – stole the show as much as an opener can. Really original songs, all with some sort of errie, haunting quality. Then, they were just a duo – Sean Faires and Jonny Burke. Since, they have added drums and bass and, more importantly, grown much more popular. By befriending fellow musician and producer McClure, as well as many others in the Texas Music realm, they starting getting bigger gigs and continued to impress people with their ‘wise-beyond-their-years’ songwriting talent. They self-released an EP titled Definately, Purposely Infinite (produced by McClure) as well as a Live At The Continental Club in Austin album that were both sold at their shows. Their debut album, Sweetheart, was produced by R.S. Field, who has done work for Billy Joe Shaver and Hayes Carll. Here’s the previoulsy released (i think i bought it from their MySpace page) title track from the album – most likely this is not the version that will be on Sweetheart, though:

mp3: The Dedringers – Sweetheart of the Neighborhood

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happy shopping….