Head over to OCMS’sMySpace page to get a copy of Highway Halo off their new album, Tennessee Pusher. As i mentioned back here, the first single to leak, Caroline, left me unimpressed. Unfortunately, this new song also lacks their trademark bare-bones sound, and possesses a highly produced, bubble-gum feel. On the plus side, it’s quite groovy, and the boys’ harmonies have only strengthened.
If you check the archives, i’ve only got 1 previous album release forecast (here). But i did, in fact, write two of them. One day, my second one mysteriously disappeared. My guess is some of the tracks i posted got some people angry, and instead of coming to me, they went to Blogger, who then removed the post – no questions asked.
But thanks to the internet and all its archiving glory, you can still find remnants of it – like here at Elbo.ws.
Anyway, my plan was to get an installment out pretty regularly, as not to miss any big releases. But this summer has been one big blob of uncertain locales and shakyinternet service – with even more to come. So that didn’t happen, but i did manage to talk about some releases as i learned of them in single posts.
i will resume with a late summer/early fall album release forecast:
August 5 Conor Oberst – Conor Oberst (Merge Records)
This album has been talked about on every other blog and music mag, so i won’t get in-depth. Conor Oberst left behind the Bright Eyes moniker as well as his “better half” and longtime producer Mike Mogis and went deep into Mexico to record his latest effort. The self titled disc is reportedly not as much ’sad-bastard’ but more up-tempo midwest rock – much like Cassadaga, which i really enjoyed. Conor Oberst – Danny Callahan stream the whole thing here.
August 5 Carrie Rodriguez – She Ain’t Me (Back Porch Records)
If Norah Jones and Allison Krauss had a love-child, her name would be Carrie Rodriguez and she would be a classically-trained violinist with a twangy, soulful voice. Carrie worked with songwriter Chip Taylor for many years, and in ‘06 released her solo debut, Seven Angels on a Bicycle. It’s a fiddle-driven, mellow album that features mostly songs penned by Chip. Carrie is set to release her sophomore effort in which she took over the writing duties – she co-wrote with Gary Louris and Mary Gauthier, and Lucinda Williams makes a cameo. Not bad. Carrie Rodriguez – Got Your Name On It Chip Taylor & Carrie Rodriguez – Keep Your Hat On Jenny pre-order She Ain’t Me
August 19 Todd Snider – Peace Queer (New Door Records) i already talked about this one here.
September 2 Rodney Crowell – Sex and Gasoline (Yep Roc Records) The Houston Kid honed his musical chops as a guitar player/singer with ol‘ Emmylou. He ran around with Steve Earle, Guy Clark, and Townes in the 70’s and 80′ – oh yeah, he was also married to Rosanne Cash. Known mainly for his songwriting, he has penned songs that produced hits for Emmylou, Guy, Waylon, George Strait, Keith Urban, etc. With a slew of solo albums since ‘78, Rodney’s last few discs have been politically-fueled rants set to catchy guitar/mandolin riffs.
from Sex and Gasoline: Rodney Crowell – Closer To Heaven from 2005’s The Outsider: Rodney Crowell – Don’t Get Me Started
September 9 Okkervil River – The Stand Ins (Jagjaguwar)
Will Sheff and band didn’t take long to follow up 2007’s The Stage Names (which, if i could re-do my Best of 2007 list, would make the top 5). That’s simply because they had toyed with the idea of releasing a double album last year. Though the idea was forgone, The Stand Ins picks up where The Stage Names left off. The overall theme is said to carry over, there’s a sequel to the plaintive Savannah Smiles, and even the artwork coincides. Read more here. here’s a live version of a song that will be on the new disc – my most anticipated of this list.
Okkervil River – Lost Coastlines(WOXY.com Lounge Acts)
September 23 Old Crow Medicine Show – Tennessee Pusher (Nettwerk)
i posted about this release here as soon as i found out. Since then, i’ve also been informed that an EP will precede the album release. Out next week (July 29th), it will include 2 songs from the full album plus an exclusive track, Back To New Orleans.
The album was produced by Don Was (The Stones, Dylan, Black Crowes) who has his own channel on MyDamnChannel.com - check out the boys playin’ some studio sessions with country legend ‘Cowboy’ Jack Clement:
You can find an older version of Caroline at my original Tennessee Pusher post, but he’s another new tune from The Show that i’ve found: Old Crow Medicine Show – Soul Rebel (live)
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If you know of any upcoming albums that fit the mood here at This Mornin‘…., please tell me.
Found out today that Old Crow Medicine Show has a new album set for release on September 23rd. Tennessee Pusherwill have 13 tracks and the first single is a remake of their love ballad, Caroline. You can stream it over at their MySpace page.
I have a older version of the tune that, as far as i know, is unreleased. mp3: Old Crow Medicine Show – Caroline
My first impression is, well…. that of the unimpressed. I don’t quite like the corny upbeat tempo that the new version sports. Ketch drastically changed the lyrics and added slight melody tweaks in an attempt to transform the song into what some may consider a more listener/radio-friendly version. Rips the soul out of the song…… At least they didn’t touch the trademark harmony echoes from Willie Watson and the rest of the gang.
Let’s hope they just got tired of the old way they played it and wanted to update the song – and that there’s 12 other stellar new tracks to make up for this mistake.
Anyway, still lookin‘ forward to the release. It has been nearly two years since Big Iron World came out and changed the way people think about traditional music.
If i had to name the Top 3 Live Shows i’ve seen, Old Crow would take up two of those spots. They are truly THE BAND to see live – you can take anyone (no matter their musical taste) along with you and they will leave a fan of OCMS. There is something to be said for pure musical talent and showmanship – qualities that transcend any genre stereotypes.
They’re not comin‘ down my way, but maybe you’ll be luckier:
September 2008 Wed 3 Manchester Club Academy, Manchester, UK Thu 4 The Liquid Room, Edinburgh, UK Sat 6 Shepherds Bush Empire, London, UK Thu 18 The Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA Fri 19 9:30 Club, Washington, DC Sat 20 9:30 Club, Washington, DC Wed 24 Berklee Performance Center, Boston, MA Fri 26 Webster Hall, New York, NY Sat 27 Webster Hall, New York, NY Sun 28 Town Point Park, Norfolk, VA October 2008 Thu 9 Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN Fri 10 Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN Sat 11 Louisville Palace Theatre, Louisville, KY Sat 18 Riviera Theatre, Chicago, IL November 2008 Thu 6 Henry Fonda Theatre, Los Angeles, CA Fri 7 The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA Sat 8 The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA Wed 12 Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR Thu 13 Moore Theatre, Seattle, WA
Some Other Stuff:
just found the new cut of Caroline up for grabs at Some Velvet Blog….
go here and listen to Ketch talk about the ‘Evolution of a Bluegrass Standard’ – eerily similar to this…….
i’ve just about finished going through the hundreds of pictures taken while in Costa Rica.
If you like a laid-back place with lots to do, and some of the most amazing scenery – get your ass to Costa Rica. The locals are super-friendly, everyone accepts the American dollar, cabs and vans are cheap and plentiful, and – according to our driver, César – every town, no matter how small, has at least one bar, and one soccer field. They got their priorities lined up down there.
So to show off my newfound hobby of photography (my family kept begging me to take pictures of them, but i feel that people just mess up the shot – trees don’t blink), i’ve decided to post some of the best pictures of Costarrican scenery with a related song (or two) to accompany it.
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(pictures are thumbnails – click them for full size)
mp3:Charlie Robison – Sunset Boulevard
mp3:Old 97’s – She Loves The Sunset
mp3: Creedence Clearwater Revival – Run Through The Jungle
mp3:Old Crow Medicine Show – Big Time In The Jungle
mp3:Cross Canadian Ragweed – Flowers mp3:The Great Divide – Wildflower
mp3:The Avett Brothers – If It’s The Beaches mp3:Ryan Adams – Waves Crashing
mp3:Squeeze – Tempted (by the Fruit of Another) mp3: Bright Eyes – Lime Tree
mp3:South Austin Jug Band – Falls So Fast mp3: Reckless Kelly – Floodwater
mp3:The Rolling Stones – Monkey Man mp3:The Beatles – Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me & My Monkey
*Scroll down to my slideshow at the bottom to see even more pictures…..
i’ve got plans for a new recurring post here at This Mornin’….
It’s called Evolution of a Song and it will consist of different versions of a song highlighted chronologically. Sometimes the songs have changed titles, lyrics, or arrangements and often are done by various artists.
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First up is Rock Me Mama/Wagon Wheel Made most famous by Old Crow Medicine Show’s Ketch Secor when he put original verses to a chorus that Dylan recorded during the Pat Garret & Billy The Kid sessions (1973), this song is quickly becoming a contemporary folk standard.
1973:Bob Dylan – Rock Me Mama from The Genuine Bootleg Series, Vol. 1 Just a simple impromptu recording of one of many snippets of tunes that Dylan had running through his head.
2000:OCMS – Cumberland Gap from Greetings From Wawa (out of print) The original Old Crow recording of a tune that would carry them to folk/bluegrass popularity.
2001:OCMS – Wagon Wheel from Troubles Up & Down The Road [EP] (out of print) Another version of the song Ketch re-worked, this time with a swing-country feel.
2004:OCMS – Wagon Wheel from Old Crow Medicine Show The version most of you have probably heard. Their self-titled debut is stellar, so go get it yourself.
2007: Jason Webley & Reverend Peyton – Rock Me Mama from 2 Bottles of Wine (out of print) This one is really cool. In the Dylan bootleg, he sings a verse, but it is nearly inaudible. Jason Webley took what was barely heard and created a whole new song out of it.
It’s almost been a week since my last post. i’ve been back and forth between here and there. Mostly i’ve been back home letting my mother take care of me cause i just got my wisdom teeth yanked out of my face.
i’m really not in too much pain (i ain’t skimpin’ on the hydrocodone, though); the worst part is……… i’m hungry as shit. i’m tired of soup and jello.
So to end this blogging hiatus and to make me even hungrier, here are some good food-related tunes:
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)
Haven’t gotten anything posted in a while, but that doesn’t mean i’ve been lazy (ok, i’m always lazy). The last few days i’ve been sorta revamping my page:
i added the little blue player button – which seems to help with download times.
i put an embedded stream player on the side bar that plays 50 of my most recent songs.
i signed up with SiteMeter, so now i can see all the details of people’s visits, including: location (i’ve had readers from all across the country and even Germany, Sweden, Austria, Pakistan, Australia, and The Philippines), time spent on the page, out clicks (the last page someone veiwed – which helps to track which songs people are downloading most), and referrals. These show that most people are finding ‘This Mornin….’ from Elbo.ws, which is cool.
i don’t have any new tracks to post – at least none that are post-worthy – so i guess i’ll just find a common theme within some songs:
Scott Avett
The Banjo
An arcadian instrument formed from an mixture of traditional African instruments by American Slaves, the banjo evolved into the focal instrument in traditional country/bluegrass music. That’s all changing. The banjo is no longer reserved for only country music. Bands that are more on the rock side of the spectrum are employing this highly versatile tool to bring out sounds that, otherwise, would have not have been possible. Sometimes it’s just the resonating plunk in the background to top off a song (like in the Band of Horses tune below), and sometimes the banjo drives the song (like in the Avett Brothers, OCMS, and Abigail Washburn below), but however it’s used, the instrument brings out a different, kinda warm feel.
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here’s a selection of tunes that use the banjo in non-traditional ways:
mp3:The Avett Brothers – Pretty Girl from Chile ~ from Emotionalism (2007)
mp3:Band of Horses – Window Blues ~ from Cease To Begin (2007)
mp3:Ryan Adams – Bartering Lines ~ from Heartbreaker (2000)
mp3:Old Crow Medicine Show – Don’t Ride That Horse ~ from Big Iron World (2006)
mp3:Matt Powell – Dragonfly ~ from Dragonfly (2002)
**Sidetrack**
to accompany my first Matt Powell reference, here is a song of his that has always hit me hard. i don’t know the exact reason, but it’s a powerful track.
So for this post, which will hopefully become a recurring topic, i will compare and contrast a well-done cover song with the original.
and to get things started, i’ll give you two installments…..
Too Long In The Wasteland (James McMurtry) James McMurtry, the son of novelist Larry McMurtry (Lonesome Dove), is almost as good a storyteller as his dad. He’s had a very successful musical career spanning almost 20 years. Somehow, though he has never broken into large popularity. He has, however been a song bank for a lot of artists, including: Robert Earl Keen, Shawn Mullins, Kasey Chambers, and even the oft-covered himself – Ray Wylie Hubbard. Here we have the gourgeous Aussie Kasey Chambers covering the title track from McMurtry’s debut album on Columbia Records:
mp3:Kasey Chambers – Too Long In The Wasteland
From her EP, Am I Not Pretty Enough, Kasey Chambers shows, once again, that she digs the American Alt-country scene (She’s also covered some Fred Eaglesmith and Son Volt). Kasey adds a little electric flare and attitude to make this a somewhat scornful song. As always, her ‘makes-me-weak-in-the-knees’ voice cuts through every guitar riff and symbol crash.**
Written by Jerry Leiber (Hound Dog, Yakety Yak, Jailhouse Rock, etc.) and first recorded by New Orleans bluesman Alvin Robinson, Down Home Girl is dirty, southern blues with a little levity: “every time i kiss you, girl, it tastes like pork-and-beans”. Appearing on The Stones’ Now! (1965), Mick showed us, early on, the versatility of their sound.
mp3:Old Crow Medicine Show – Down Home Girl
i actually heard Old Crow’s version first on their latest effort, Big Iron World, and it wasn’t until, watchin’ the video, i noticed the writing credits. Looked it up, and…… The Stones?!? How did i miss that? Old Crow takes this electic blues song to another level with their acoustic groove (they aren’t technically bluesgrass since they don’t employ a mandolin. They call what they play ‘Old Time Music’, which pre-dates bluegrass). Ketch Secor bumps along on the harmonica, while Willie Watson’s wails in his high tenor.
**If you couldn’t tell, i’m kinda sweet on Kasey Chambers (see below and decide for yourself…). And just like Slaid Cleaves, Mike McClure, and some more of my favorites, no one is blogging about her. So stay tuned for some more artist spotlights…….
I started this blog first and foremost for the music. I found myself spending a lot of time reading music blogs - but there were so many of my favorite artists that weren't getting enough (or any) attention. So, my solution: start my own blog so I could talk about the artists and topics that I wanted to read about. There is no formal structure to this blog - I simply write about music that makes a certain impact on me. So if you dig the folk/americana/indie scene and want to learn about some artists that don't get the recognition they deserve, keep checkin' back to see what I have to say. Don't be afraid to leave a comment and tell me what you think. Cheers.
All mp3 files posted here are for sampling purposes only. Take what you want, but move fast because they expire (normally within a month or two). If you like what you hear, go out and support the artists by buying their stuff. If you are the artist/rep and want immediate removal of any file please email me (payton @ thismornin.com) directly and I will remove it.
Please email me (payton @ thismornin.com) if you encounter broken links or any other mistakes. If you want to know more about any artist highlighted here, suggest topics, songs, artists, etc., or if you would like to send me promo items please feel free to contact me as well.
