Opry Member Charlie Walker Passed Away Friday at 81
Excerpt from tennessean.com “Grand Ole Opry member and famed disc jockey Charlie Walker, whose shuffling, twinkling “Pick Me Up On Your Way Down” remains a country music standard a half-century after its recording, died Friday in Hendersonville. Mr. Walker was 81, and had recently been diagnosed with colon cancer…” Read the full article by Peter […]
Vetiver “Thing of the Past” Gnomonsong
by Jesse Hill This is a covers record. However, unless you have spent hours in an attic filled with jars of pickled fairies, a chest full of Jesse James’s handkerchiefs, a library of leather-bound books on spells and sorcery, a locked cabinet rumored to be filled with American-Indian jewelry made of human parts, and a […]
George Jones “Burn Your Playhouse Down: The Unreleased Duets” Bandit Records
The rich, throaty tones of George Jones are one of the most instantly recognizable sounds in county music. Unless this reviewer misses his guess, C&W fans will be hearing that old familiar voice a lot in the coming months — because the Possum’s latest CD release is radio gold. Burn Your Playhouse Down includes 12 […]
Earl Scruggs
Just a few quick facts about the mighty Earl Scruggs; 1) Earl Scruggs was born in Shelby, North Carolina in Cleveland County. 2) Earl began pickin’ on the banjo at age four and by the age of ten he had developed the infamous “Scruggs style” (amongst other names) banjo picking style. 3) Ol’ Earl can […]
Levon Helm “Dirt Farmer” Vanguard Records
Lindsey Oechsle “Ramble On: Levon Helm has yet to dance his Last Waltz” Sometimes even the strongest soldier falls, but folk rock legend Levon Helm is still peacefully battling on. His latest victory—overcoming throat cancer, which he was diagnosed with in 1996—inspires the 2007 release of Grammy Award-winning Dirt Farmer. Unlike several musical counterparts of […]
Robbie Fulks “Revenge” Yep Roc
Kyle McCraw “Sweet! Cheap! Live!” reads the cover of Robbie Fulks’ new double disc live album; Fulks even calls live albums rip-offs during the acoustic set. It’s a bit of the self-effacing humor that fans of the alt-country/neo-traditionalist country/roots rock artist should find familiar, and it’s certain that Fulks wants his live album to be […]
Hayes Carll “Trouble in Mind” Lost Highway
Kyle McCraw Houston singer/songwriter, Hayes Carll plays country music. Or, maybe you want to call it roots rock or Americana. If you need a specific comparison, Steve Earle’s not too far off. Whatever you call it, Carll delivers a solid set of songs on his first album for Lost Highway. His songs are about whiskey, […]
Randy Travis “Around the Bend” Warner Bros.
Kyle McCraw Randy Travis has spent the last nine years recording only gospel music, and “Around the Bend” marks his return to country. Fans should be happy, as this is a solid album throughout. And despite the overly slick production, Travis sounds relaxed, having fun with the material, including on his cover of Dylan’s “Don’t […]
The Dedringers “Sweetheart of the Neighborhood” Dedcrow
Jesse Hill Damn! Why can’t the rest of you boogers be more like the Ded-f-ing-ringers?! We’ve had piles upon piles of great music to influence us over the last couple hundred years, and most of you are putting out shit like you never heard any of it. With the Dedringers, they’ve definitely listened to the […]
Ryan Adams “Easy Tiger” Lost Highway
Jesse Hill Imagine the prettiest damn banjo picking you ever heard. And an angelic, toughly vulnerable voice sings: Blue eyes for miles, pretty as a peach Glorious, kind and always on time, never far out of reach Tomorrow’s on its way, there’s always new songs to sing Glorious, kind and always on time, pearls on […]
