Archive for the 'Country' Category

Mr D - WINGS & WHEELS

Let me introduce you to Mr D, otherwise known as Paul Mclinden. This is his debut album and if you didn’t know he was from Glasgow like i’ve just told you, you would immediately presume he hailed from the sun drenched west coast of America. From the very first note on the opening track fools fall in love what we have here is sweet and lazy country pop at it’s finest. He’s picked a great day to grant YCD an interview as today looks like it could be the beginning of our so far awful summer. I’ve got this album blasting through my speakers, window down with the sun belting through and about to pour my first beer of the day, perfect. I would like to say there are bluejays singing their lonesome tune and lovers canoodling on the lawn outside just to put the finishing touch to this setting but the truth is there are seagulls going mental in someones left out garbage. Still, the music is loud enough to drown most of that out, hopefully more album sales will be generated from the whole of the street hearing it too.

This album has a real 70’s country sound to it with the Eagles being the first band that springs to mind especially on Island Girl, as an influence, also maybe some byrds too. If you wanted a more modern day comparison you would perhaps look towards The Thrills but where i think they maybe found country later in their lives i get the feeling Mr D has been listening to this stuff all of his. His soft gentle vocals are kept at  just the right level to compliment the lush acoustic melodies which are maintianed from start to finish and even the instrumental Ode to Geraldine keeps you interested with it’s heavier bass line, Strings and some great acoustic guitar work. The 10 songs on this album in total make up just over 31 minutes with the longest track coming in at a staggering 3.26 !! It’s actually quite refreshing to hear 3 minute pop songs again just like you did back in the times when albums that sounded like this were around. Anyway, rather than me try and describe to you the who’s, the where’s, the how’s and the when’s of this and other future albums let’s hear it from Paul himself.

YCD - Hi Mr D, How’s it going?

Mrd D - Hi it’s all going great at the moment…but for how long I wonder.

YCD - Ok, might as well ask you now, promoting anything right now or recently released anything?

Mr D - Yes I’m currently promoting my debut solo record ‘Wings & Wheels’ and am in the process of getting myself ready for the follow up.

YCD - So where can we get a hold of this?

Mrd D - It can be bought from all the usual places: iTunes; Emusic; Amazon etc. All the info is on myspace.com/misterdreadmusic or www.mrdmusic.com - to be honest though someone’s probably making it available for free somewhere else online but I’m not gonna help you find that.

YCD - You are from Scotland so what or who influenced you to make sunshine coast country music?

Mr D - Well I think it’s no coincidence that I and a lot of my fellow Scots make music that’s influenced by the country/Americana scene. I reckon country music is very closely related to Celtic folk music and both use much the same techniques so it’s always seemed very natural to me. I try not to sing in an American accent though…

YCD - What are the biggest obstacles you feel a singer/song writer like yourself faces today?

Mr D - It depends really what you mean by obstacles. It’s always been quite a hard game to make any headway in but i don’t let that get me down to be honest. I think as long as you’re getting your music released you’ve managed to hurdle all the obstacles out there. Sometimes when i look at big star’s; their success seems to have become the biggest obstacle. Hard work is the key. As a great man once said –hard work only beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.

YCD - Ok, I don’t know if you are aware but they have recently found an old law that says all musicians since time began are allowed to take any song from anyone they like from any moment in time and claim it as their own, Which one are you having then? Only one mind you.

Mr D - Well this answer would change every few weeks but right now id love to have written Owed T’Alex by Captain Beefheart. What a song!

YCD - What’s your guilty pleasure?

Mr D - Listening to ‘They Don’t Know’ by Tracy Ullman on repeat all night. Winston Churchill used to play the same songs over and over all night as well so I’m in good company.

YCD - What’s your best musical experience so far and why?

Mr D - Sitting with a bottle of wine listening to ‘In the Wee Small Hours’ because it’s unadulterated Sinatra and never fails to impress me. Its one of my favourite ever albums.

YCD - Who’s currently rocking your stereo?

Mr D - Grauzone, Willie Nelson, Sluts of Trust, George Jones and many others.

YCD - What band/artist would you most like to play with?

Mr D - I was playing bass guitar for a guy who lives near me who is in my opinion a genius and I don’t use that word lightly. For various reasons he has withdrawn from making music just now. It’s very sad for me to think that the world won’t get to hear his music and if I achieve any sort of success I will be trying hard to make sure that doesn’t happen.

YCD - What are your hopes and fears for you in the future, musically?

Mr D - My hopes are to be in a position where i can keep making music and putting it out the way i want to. I also feel it’s important that I make a better record than the last one each time. My fears are that someday that won’t be possible.

YCD - What did you think the last time you looked in the mirror?

Mr D - The last time i looked in the mirror? Oh that’s a hard one. I try and avoid eye-contact as much as i can - even with myself.

YCD - And finally, are you working on anything at the moment?

Mr D - Yes i’m working on my next record and hope to go in sometime before the end of the year to begin recording it. Think Billy Rae Cyrus meets Garth Brooks and you will be on the right track.

Many thanks for the interview and we here at you crazy dreamers wish you all the best for the future.

 
 Mr D - Somebody, somewhere [3:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 
 Mr D - Island Girl [3:26m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Eef Barzelay

You may be wondering why i’ve been so prolific in blogging the last week or so or maybe you haven’t, maybe you have not even noticed and are too busy to care but the truth of the matter is i had a small operation last week and so therefore have had a bit of time on my hands to listen to a lot more music than i have been able to recently which is about time to be honest as there doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day recently.

Eef barzelay incase you are not aware is the lead singer of the brilliant and criminally overlooked alt/country band Clem Snide. They have been going on and off since the early 90’s (where the fuck did they go?The 90’s,not Clem snide) and Eef has released a few solo albums. His latest, lose big could be a midway contender for album of the year. Seriously not a bad track on this album, Songwriting to match anyone in this category or any other for that matter. His voice has an air of familiarity to it but can’t put my finger on it, i keep thinking Conor Oberst but not sure. Quite a diverse album is this, from the first track could be worse which is something that pehaps would sit gently on a Clem snide album. One of the stand out tracks is The girls don’t care which from the very first note with it’s heavy funky as hell bass line could be dropped into any dance club and it would get people moving, wouldn’t surprise me at all if someone does a re-mix of it, I might do one myself ! The soulful tone is maintained throughout the album but the real killer song on it for me is True freedom, a stop everything and listen track, stunning. Pick this album up asap, i have heard some superb albums so far this year and i keep saying to myself ‘album of the year so far’ but i will tell you hear and now, this one is taking some beating. It just flows effortlessly from one song to the next and when it’s finished you just want to go back and play it again and again. I have also added a track form his 2006’s Bitter honey, enjoy.

Eef Barzelay - True freedom

Eef Barzelay - Well

 
 Eef Barzelay - True freedom [5:34m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 
 Eef Barzely - Well [3:42m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Travel by sea - Days of my escape

Just got hold of the new album ‘DAYS OF MY ESCAPE‘ by Travel by sea.  Kyle Kersten and Brian Kraft live in seperate parts of the states, Kyle in California, Brian in Colorado. Now i’ve never been to either of these places but after looking on Google earth it looks like it’s quite a nice drive and i would imagine  this album would be the perfect soundtrack for such a journey. This is at times as sparse as that landscape (I’m guessing at the the landscape here as i’ve already admitted i’ve never been) but if they are trying to portray their distance  from one another and the landscape in between through their music then they have done a pretty good job. Fans of Mojave 3, iron and wine and Dolorean would enjoy. They have two gigs coming up in California at the O C Tavern on the 9th July and then The Scene bar on the 29th. Perfect music for the time of year but then it’s always hot in Cali right?

Travel by sea - Songs of warmth

Travel by sea - Let it all die down

 
 Travel by sea - Songs of warmth [3:38m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 
 Travel by sea - Let it all die down [4:18m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

THE WOOD BROTHERS

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Being one of five boys in my family i’m seriously thinking of getting us all together and forming a band because at the moment any band made up of such siblings seems guaranteed success. We have the Felice brothers, The sumner, The deadstringAvett and now The Wood brothers. From what i can gather they are originally from Colorado but they went their seperate ways to try and forge a career in the ruthless music world. Some of you may have heard of Chris wood as he’s the bass player in Medeski, Martin and Wood. They released Ways not to lose in March 2006 and they have now just released loaded. Loaded may not be as rustic as the afore mentiond ways not to lose but it’s still down to earth enough with guest vocals from the likes of Amos lee, Pieta Brown (daughter of Greg incase you didn’t know) and is produced by John Medeski from MMW. What we have is country/folk/blues played extremely well by two brothers who clearly love playing together. Some comparisons have been made with Van Morrison but I also hear traces of the rather elusive Sanders Bohlke as well as Amos. Loaded comes with three cover versions, the tradional song ‘Make me down a pallet on your floor’, A pretty good version of Dylan’s ‘Buckets of rain’ and Jimi hendrixs’ ‘Angel’ with Amos lee. Currently on a pretty big U.S tour and from various reviews are meant to be a storming live act.  It could be a great year for the Wood brothers.

 
 The wood brothers - Lovin' arms [3:20m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 
 The wood brothers - Luckiest man [3:54m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

McCarthy Trenching

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McCarthy trenching it would seem is Nebraskas best kept secret. Signed to Conor Obersts (Bright eyes) team love label McCarthy’s self titled official debut came out in April 2007. He’s toured with fellow talented Nebraskans Mayday, Neva Dinova, The Good Life, Orenda Fink, Maria Taylor, Bright Eyes and many others which may give you some idea of his sound. A mixture of Bar room waltzes, poppy alt-country and some sweet ballads make up the album. I think 2008 could be the year McCarthy steps from out of the shadows of his contemporaries and possibly outshine them all.

 
 McCarthy Trenching - Headlines [3:42m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 
 McCarthy trenchingv - Valentine Nebr: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Jeff Dernlan - Cobblestone

Jeff Dernlan

I’ve missed the opportunity last year to write about Jeff Dernlan second full length : ‘Broadmoor‘, as I’ve also missed to review his fellow americana songwriter and friend Rod Piccott superb Summerbirds album. It won’t be the case for Cobblestone, Dernlan’s last collection just released this March 11th and I just can’t stop it looping !

Jeff Dernlan - Cobblestone CoverJeff Dernlan’s music is exceeding the traditional borders of americana and country music, even if most of the new tracks could find their cradles in those genres. Two years, after Broadmoor - recorded in a one day session - which peaked at number 3 on the Euro Americana Radio Chart, Dernlan’s music evolved in a richer sound, giving the listener a unique and fresh experience ; for sure this new collection deserves the best ranking.

If you’re discovering Jeff Dernlan while reading these lines, this Philadelphia songwriter has shared the stage with Kathleen Edwards, Todd Snider, Tim Easton, and Rod Picott ! Check his website as solo tour dates are being scheduled.

 
 Cobblestone - Jeff Dernlan [3:38m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 
 Tumbleweed - Jeff Dernlan [3:19m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Note : Tumbleweed is part of Broadmoor previous release… Just to tease your appetite.

Artist : Jeff Dernlan
Label : MME Records
Where to Buy : Best place on the artist website, cdbaby.com and finally Itunes
If you love : Tom Waits, Ryan Adams, Steve Earle, don’t miss this album !
You should also enjoy : Jon Jackson, Rod Picott, and Grayson Capps - this last one will be soon reviewed !

THAD COCKRELL

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“I’ve always loved the twang of hurt” – Thad Cockrell

Firstly, Please forgive me for the copy and paste of the description of Thad and his music but i’m so busy at the moment this saves me a hell of a lot of time.

North Carolina singer-songwriter Thad Cockrell hails from the old school of country music, the days before Nashville went pop. “There’s no ‘alt’ in my country,” says Cockrell, who possesses the kind of high-lonesome, wistful tenor that’ll make you long for a cabin in the pines, or set you to yearning for a long-lost love. But as a youngster growing up in Tampa, Fla., Cockrell didn’t have rock ’n’ roll or country records around the house. His father was, and still is, a Baptist preacher (as are his two brothers). His first exposure to the pure country sound came from listening to folks like Merle Haggard and George Jones on commercial radio. At home, there was always plenty of Southern gospel music.

(End of C &P)

A real, genuine son of a preacher man, he released an album with Caitlin Cary (Whiskeytown) called Begonias in 2005 and fans of Gram parsons/ Emmylou harris will enjoy that for sure, Their voices compliment each other perfectly. This is what i call Real country music, honest heartfelt songs of love and heartache, backed up by a pedalsteel, violin, piano basically everything you would expect in country music but brilliantly produced by Brad Jones who keeps it all tightly knit together, a pure gem of an album.

As for Thads Brand new EP To be loved, although country he seems to have developed a sound more akin to Royal Wood, some Ryan Adams and at other times old Troubadours like Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clarke, (Who incidentally is now 70 years old and has just released on his best ever albums) and the recently departed genius John Stewart (The kingston trio). As it’s only a 6 track EP i’m only offereing one Mp3 ‘Country of my own’ which is a song of searching for a place he belongs to which seems to hit home given the current political climate across the world, not just in America. The song ‘Talk to the press’ which you can hear on his myspace is something i could imagine Paul simon singing, the comparisons on that are quite spooky. By the way this boy can sing, imagine blending Ryan adams, Paul simon and Gram parsons together and you get somewhere close.

In his own words he is trying to “Bring the hurt back into country music” and so far he’s doing a mighty fine job.

Thad Cockrell - Country of my own

Caitlin Cary & Thad Cockrell - Something less than something more

Caitlin Cary & Thad Cockrell - Conversations about a friend (Who’s in love with Katie)

 
 Thad Cockrell - Country of my own [4:02m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 
 Caitlin Cary & Thad Cockrell - Two differ [4:17m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 
 Caitlin Cary & Thad cockrell - Conversations about a friend (who's in love with Katie) [7:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download