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’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.
“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.
Just a quickie as i’ve got no MP’3’s a single MP3 to offer as of yet but i just had to write about Pete Molinari straight away. I have just ordered his Debut album ”walking off the map‘ (vinyl) which was recorded in Billy childishs’ Kitchen. It’s Billy’s wife who sings along on the track ‘we belong together’. His new album ‘Virtual landslide’ is released on 31st March, you can pre-order that here.
He has a voice which is truly his own but often gets compared with Dylan, guthrie and even Patsy Cline!! I do think at times he does sound like Dylan but i think Ian Felice has that crown at the moment, he’s almost like a clone. You can check for yourself here and here what you think Pete sounds like. I don’t think it’s any coincidence that what looks like to be the Cover of his soon to be released album is extremely similar to Dylans ‘Desire‘.
Pete is from Chatham, Kent and since reading Kerouac’s ‘On the road‘ and Guthries’ Bound for glory‘ as a teenager he seems to have totally submerged himself in that culture and the sounds of those times even going as far as playing the cafe’s and bars of ‘Greenwitch Village’ learning his trade as well as in New Orleans,San francisco and back here in europe, in Paris..
But don’t be mistaken, he’s no copy cat. He writes well crafted songs which of course given his tastes are always going to be compared to Dylan, Guthrie etc but he still maintains his own style throughout, especially his singing style. Anyway, just listen and make your own mind up but i have say i’m pretty excited by this Guy, just as much as i was when i first heard The Felice brothers last year over at Songs illinois and anyone who knows me knows how excited i was and still am about them. Enjoy
James Moors ? You’ve surely already heard about this songwriter as his previous stage name used to be ‘Sterling Waters’. According to his sonicbids page : “... Moors now finds himself a family man and the fortunate father of two young girls. In an effort to live more presently and simplify his life a bit James has shed the stage name and relishes a new begining.”
And for a new beginning, James Moors has been joined by an amazing list of renown musicians : Lisa Germano on violin (Bowie,Neil Finn,U2, John Mellencamp and Jewel), Marc Perlman (The Jayhawks) on bass, Ed Ackerson (Polara) and Ben Wisch (David Wilcox, Marc Cohn) on keyboards.
Sorry James, I’m a bit lost in translation these days… Your music will speak for yourself. Thank you so much for this brilliant new beginning. Fatherhood is, on any point of view, the deepest mirror.
“Chris Pureka’s sophomore release, Dryland plays like the way she enters a room: with low, deliberate airs, quietly demanding respect. One stark, solo acoustic guitar builds into layered swan songs and raspy serenades that resonate with unassuming depth and candor.” Quote from her myspace page.
As long as I can remember, it was while browsing Gregory Alan Isakov website, that i’ve been clicked to Chris Pureka website. I’m sure most of you are already addicted by this unique artist but I can’t resist sharing this recent discovery - better later than never… You can read a recent interview about Dryland her second full length released in 2006.
Choosing a song to tease your ears was a real difficult exercise as the complete album is offering high quality melodies, writings and arrangements from start to end. If you have couple bucks left, be sure to buy her complete discography.
It was about 2 months ago while switching from posts to posts on my google reader page where I’ve subscribed to my favorites audio blogs including Songs:Illinois. Once again, Craig’s writing teased my curiosity with an article about a young talented singer songwriter from Tennessee : Jon Jackson !2 streamed songs later, my browser was already loading the cdbaby.com page for buying the Green Apples album. Thirty minutes later, the precious collection was mine…Listening to the Untitled intro song, I first be surprised by the deep dark voice similar to Sam Parker in an almost spoken word over an acousitic guitar debut… then these magnificient collection of stories dives in the superb and unique melting of bluegrass, americana and country. ‘The Sycamore Tree‘ ballad reveals the powerful voice of Katharine Embree in this fluent duet ! Green Apples, the album title song is flirting in my memory and reach one of my preferred Rolling Stones songs : ‘Sweet Virginia‘…Fly, Comin’ Home, Born to be Blue, Paradox…, those following songs are musically intense ! Melting all those genre, Jon has defined his own Soul music : simply, honestly and soulfully.Since, album is still looping in my library : most of the songs are now rated from 4 to 5 stars. And like all those rare good albums, emotions are growing listening after listening. Not like a good “cider”, but I’m sure like a great red wine bootle. For a first vintage, Jon has raised the top of the best oenologists !With two reviews so eulogistic already written (Songs:Illinois, Herohill.com), I’ve finally sent couple questions to Jon who’s kindly writing me back..
YCD : Could you please tell us your story about music ?Jon : Well, it’s still sort of a mystery to me at this point. My parents aren’t musicians and neither is my sister. And I didn’t start playing an instrument or writing until a few years ago. But it all started with a heartbreak. You see, there was this girl up at the Waffle House, (it’s a shit-hole diner here in the South) and she was just painfully beautiful and I fell hard. But she wasn’t interested in me. So that’s when I started writing songs, you know, for her. It became my way of dealing with it.After that was done, I kept writing and started wanting to record a cd. My landlord owns a studio and I was thinking “If I don’t do this, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.” And it just felt like it was what I should be doing. So I saved up my money, went part-time at my job and spent a year in the studio. My original plan was to print up about 100 cd’s, sell those to my family and friends, and move on to the next thing. Sort of a last ditch effort before I had to grow up and become an adult. It wasn’t until after we’d recorded all the tracks that I started thinking “hey, wait a minute, I really like this.” So now, here I am hooked on song-writing like a heroin addict. I love it. I think about it everyday. I don’t write songs everyday though. But it really has changed the way my brain operates. It’s really been a blessing and opened up a creativity in me that I didn’t know was there. Emmet Fox talks about how when man creates, he is truly communicating with God. I like that. All the good songs I’ve written, (and I’ve written alot of bad ones too) are the ones that basically write themselves. There is something magical that happens when a song just falls together so effortlessly. It seems to come from beyond.
YCD : You’ve recently wrote on yourspace that “Thinking, now, about my songs, they’re like a tree with distinct branches. each branch of songs was written with one specific person in mind. some branches are simple and small, and some are very strong, and still others are just in the way.” Branches of an apple tree?Jon : Yea, I was trying to say that my songs have all been written with just a handful of muse’s. I came up with tree analogy and used it because it fit with the green apple theme i guess.
YCD : “Papaw McClung” is an amazing song.. would you mind telling us about it.Jon : Well, it’s a true story about my Mom’s Dad. I never met him, but I’ve always heard that he was different after he came home from the war. More withdrawn and violent. The first words came to me one night in the shower and I spent the next few hours writing the rest of it. I remember thinking I’d never be able to play the song for anyone because it might piss my family off. I also remember feeling like I was writing a letter from him to my Mom. It was weird. At one point I had the sensation he was in the room with me. The song was one of those that just kind of wrote itself. So the next day I went over to my Mom’s and played it for her. I told her if she didn’t want to play it for anyone else I wouldn’t. She cried and said it was fine if I recorded it and played it out. She asked me when I’d written it and I told her the night before. Then she said “that was 35 years ago to the day that he died.” I got chills after she told me that.
YCD : If there is one song you could steal and claim it as your own for ever which one would you choose and why?Jon : That’s a great question. It’s hard to decide if I love a song because of the lyrics or because of the vocalist. I hate to say it because it’s so predictable, but probably Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” I have to say that’s the best song I’ve ever heard. It moves me more than any song and I still listen to it and feel it after hearing it for years. Runner’s up? “Long Ride Home” by Patty Griffin and David Allan Coe’s “The Ride.” Also “Sweet Side” by Lucinda Williams.
YCD : Anyone that have already listened to Green Apples album are expecting for more than a single shot - sorry for so much pressure - Projects for 2008 - … will you leave more than a single collection to your kids ???Jon : It all depends on if I continue to grow in my song-writing. I’ve written a lot of horrible songs that I never want anyone to hear, but if I keep writing good ones, then I’ll keep recording them and trying to put them in peoples hands. I want that to happen. I want to write great songs that affect people the way I’m affected by a great song. I’ve got a few new ones that I like but I’ll need some more before I’m ready to go back to the studio.
YCD : Thank you so much Jon for taking time to answer our questions and achieving this superb album !
Hope my enthusiasm and this interview will tease your desire to buy Green Apples ! You’re just at one click to do it. If you’re still reading these words, then just play the following songs and be sure you’re about to discover the best gift a musical pair of ears deserves these days !
What a surprise I had one afternoon when I opened my e-mails to read one in particular I had received from Ms Bell . She expressed how she had come across YCD after reading through various other blogs and asked if I could help promote her music. I mean she was asking me? Well it’s my absolute pleasure let me tell you. After a few rather long e-mails to each other (I thought I could talk, Jeez!!) what I began to realize, is here a young girl who passionately cares for her music and seems to want to uphold all that is good in country music (just look at her fellow contributors on her latest album).
I first heard of Glenna Bell when I listened to the tracks be my valentine on Christmasand how i found out i’m insane over at the songs illinois blog and was instantly struck by her unique singing style. In particular the way she quickly finishes the words to her songs, bringing them to a sudden halt. At first it takes a while to get used to it and you are left wondering if she is singing like this because of lack of confidence so therefore bringing a nervousness to her voice or is it because she is making use of a limited voice? After listening to both of her albums Face this world and the road less traveled I don’t think it’s either of these. I think she has developed a way of singing which is so unique to herself that as soon as you hear the first words you immediately know it’s Glenna Bell and in my opinion I think this is a good thing. Why you ask? Well, I believe it’s because you know she can sing as soon as you hear the songs hoping i could be wrong or when she duets on the cover of Jackson and you know she doesn’t lack any confidence when she can write songs like March to me and Moving on, both from face this world.
What we have at the roots of it all is traditional country, bare-boned good old fashioned country music, but when you dissect it a little more you find elements of western swing, folk and rockabilly as well as other spin-offs of the country genre.
Her latest album Road less traveled was recorded at the famous Sugar Hill Studios in Houston, Texas along with John Pickering of the picks (Buddy holly), Johnny Bush (Whiskey River and Hall of famer) and Herb Remington (Bob Wills and his texas playboys) where literally hundreds of major stars have recorded going way way back and in many ways you could quite easily be taken back to those days when listening to this album. A little quirkier than face this world with songs like How i found out i’m insane, Shiner bock and ZZ Top showing the comedic side of her songwriting whereas songs like La casa que yo amo shows her more sensitive side singing about what could be the disintegration of her town by the likes of parking lot builds, shopping malls etc, shattering her dreams of bringing up her kids there and spending the rest of her life in a house that has been in her family for over 100 years, heartbreaking stuff indeed, it wouldn’t be country music if there wasn’t some sadness.
Glenna Bell could be a huge star in the making which is no easy feit given the genre of music she is creating. It seems that country music at the moment is swamped with atrists looking back trying to create the country sounds of yesterday. I’m not going to sit here and say Glenna is the best songwriter I have ever heard and she doesn’t claim to be either but there is something so very honest about her music, it’s from the heart. That along with the simplicity of it, is wat appeals to me and I am sure she will have many more listeners to come. Her music has already reached these distant shores of the U.K being played on Radio Scotland as well as other stations and so it brings me great pleasure to bring you below an interview I conducted with her over and between the Holiday period. Ms Bell did say I could edit it as the Girl can talk, but i think her character and her passion really comes across very well and so therefore I have not touched it, who am I to take someone’s soul? Enjoy.
INTERVIEW WITH GLENNA BELL YCD - Hi Glenna, how’s it going? GB - Hello. Everything is GREAT here in Houston. I just got back from an exhilarating music trip to San Marcos, Texas, a quaint little river town near Austin, where I visited with Gurf Morlix and saw his show at the historic Cheatham Street Warehouse, which is a terrific little tin “barn” that is situated right beside an old railroad track and is one of the most well-respected music venues in Texas. The college students were all gone home for Christmas vacation, so the town was so still and quiet, nestled amidst the stark winter landscape of the Texas hill country. What a rare opportunity to see Gurf perform in such an intimate setting!
YCD - Where are you right now and what are you doing? GB - I’m at my favorite coffee house in Houston: Brasil. I’m relaxing, typing this Q&A, and listening to whatever eclectic mix they’re piping in here today—I don’t recognize the tunes, but I just asked another musician who works here, and she says it is old French movie music. I like it! YCD - Ok, lets get the hard sell out of the way, what music do you have available and where can we get it? GB - I have two CD’s for sale at CD Baby: Face This World (2005) and The Road Less Traveled (2008).
They are also available through special order at the big stores like Target and Walmart, as well as at the legendary Bill’s Tapes and Records in Dallas and at Sig’s Lagoon, Soundwaves, and Cactus Records in Houston.
Digital downloads are also at iTunes, PayPlay, eMusic, Rhapsody, etc.
And there’s a new SnoCap store on my myspace page.
YCD - Who are your main influences? GB - I never really thought in terms of influences when writing and performing songs, so the comparisons made by reviewers and listeners have been enlightening. So far, I’ve heard Johnny Cash, Janis Joplin, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Odetta, Hank Williams, Sr., EmmyLou Harris, Joan Baez, Patsy Cline, and others. I think my greatest influence is the hymns that were sung a cappella at the church we attended when I was a child back in Lumberton, Texas, outside of Beaumont. A lot of soulful singers have come from that little area called the Golden Triangle, including the Big Bopper, George Jones, and Janis Joplin to name only a few. So I suppose that whatever influenced them is what influenced me too!
YCD - If you were allowed to steal just one song which one would you choose and why? GB - The Jimmy Webb song, Highwayman, because it is such a beautifully written piece about the mysterious cycle of life. It happened to be on the radio here in Houston as I was driving to a loved one’s funeral, and I had heard it many times before but it was the first time that I really understood the lyrics. It was so moving, comforting, and yet saddening all at once, especially hearing the voices of Waylon and Johhny Cash singing to me through the radio from “the other side” and realizing that Willie and Kris Kristofferson are the only ones who remain on this earthly plane . . . and they just don’t make ‘em like that anymore. Not even in Texas. I would love to be able to say I wrote that song! YCD - Your music to me seems to have an old timey yet timeless feel to it, how would you best describe it? GB - I think that’s perfect. I really can’t think of a better way to describe it, but people have always told me that it sounds like nothing else they’ve ever heard before.
YCD - If you could share a stage with any band or artist who would you choose and why? GB - I want to share a stage with George Jones because I’ve recorded a few original duets that I wrote, and I want to sing one with him. I also want to get a chance to talk with him about what things were like growing up in the woods outside of Beaumont, Texas, where we both were raised. Also, I want to share a stage with Kris Kristofferson because he writes such heartfelt songs and is a Rhodes scholar, and my songs are also from the heart yet I am “an intellectual” with a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Houston’s elite Creative Writing program, rated in the top two in America by US News and World Report. I think Kris Kristofferson is somebody I’d enjoy bantering with between songs in an intimate singer-songwriter venue. Did you know that he will be in Brighton in March?(I didn’t, do now thanks,guest list?
YCD - Where can we expect to see you playing soon? GB - At the moment, shows are lining up for 2008 in Austin, San Marcos, Dallas, Houston, and Memphis, Tennessee. I also have an email list for my music newsletter that announces show dates month-by-month as they come up. There’s a link to join the list on my homepage.
YCD - What’s your hopes and fears for the future musically? GB - My greatest hope is to be granted the good health and means to continue on my path in music, to continue to write good songs and to find the right producer for my next album—somebody who really gets my music. Fears? What’s to fear? As long as I am able to make music, I will be happy.
YCD - Finally Glenna, Who’s currently rocking your stereo? GB - Old Christmas records from the fifties, mainly—‘tis the season! Also, Lightin’ Hopkins, John Lomax’s famous compilation of songs recorded in the field back in the early years of the twentieth century, Billy Holiday, Miles Davis, Elvis, Glenn Miller, Patsy Cline, Ella Fitzgerald, various Big Band artists . . . (I inherited a large collection of vintage records, so the list goes on and on.)
YCD - Many thanks for granting you crazy dreamers this interview and we all wish you the very best for the future. GB - And thank YOU. Happy Holidays and all my best—
Glenna Bell
Olivier : French singer-songwrite r Jean Ferrat had a beautiful old french song called : 'La Montagne', check it on youtube and you'll know exactly how to pronounce it...
Laura : it is pronounced "la-mon-tain"
Guest_4583 : how exactly does one pronounce lamontagne lol
Sean : sorry i broke the link www.crabsarescav engers.com/thete legrams.htm
Sean : hello i play guitar in the knoxville, tn based band the telegrams. we just finished a new album and wanted to see if you would be interested in giving it a listen. you can download the entire album here: www.crabsarescav engers.com/thete legrams.htm i look forward to hearing from you
Guest_4325 : Hi, my names Zak Smith, I don't know if you accept music submissions, but in case you do you can go to my website at zaksmithlive.com to hear some songs off it. If anyones interested in posting about any of the songs email me at «email» and I'll send some mp3s. Thanks. zaksmithlive.com to hear some I just independently released an album, feel free to post them if you want to. If you want me to send you the whole album just let me know. Also you can go to my website at zaksmithlive.com
neabbeple : "Siazno queste parole d'addio"?
questa NON ?? UNA DOMANDA...
volevo solo "esortare" a dire qual'?? la sorpresa...ma ho dovuto postare una domanda perch?? non potevo dare risposte(le ho esaurite)...
sicilianu? nu misteru...!!!
________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ____________ <a href=«link» neochat.info/>ch at</a>
Bismsaps : Altro indovinello... ????voi no?
<a href=«link» chatt-gratis.net />chat</a>
Guest_167 : I'm quite sure the version of Cucurucucu Paloma it's not sang by Caetano.
Mike2007 : Hi!
The interesting name of a site - youcrazydreamers .com how you managed to get such beautiful name of the domain?
Very interesting site though there is no couple of sections. But section this here very much even by the way.
I 6 hours wandered on a network, have not left yet íâ your forum! I think, I here shall stay for a long time!
Thanks for the info, youcrazydreamers .com!
Guest_3541 : I will be recording a new Youcrazy dreamers radio show in the coming week. watch this space
All audio posted on this site is meant for sampling purposes only. If you really like what you hear, show it and support the artist - buy an album, buy some merch, got to a show. If you represent or own any media on this site and woulk like something taken down please email us, and we will take the necessary action of removing the file(s).
Jeff 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.
And for a new beginning, James Moors has been joined by an amazing list of renown musicians : Lisa Germano on violin (Bowie,Neil Finn,U2, John Mellencamp and Jewel), Marc Perlman (The Jayhawks) on bass, Ed Ackerson (Polara) and Ben Wisch (David Wilcox, Marc Cohn) on keyboards.
It was about 2 months ago while switching from posts to posts on my google reader page where I’ve subscribed to my favorites audio blogs including Songs:Illinois. Once again, Craig’s writing teased my curiosity with an article about a young talented singer songwriter from Tennessee : Jon Jackson !2 streamed songs later, my browser was already loading the 
YCD : “Papaw McClung” is an amazing song.. would you mind telling us about it.Jon : Well, it’s a true story about my Mom’s Dad. I never met him, but I’ve always heard that he was different after he came home from the war. More withdrawn and violent. The first words came to me one night in the shower and I spent the next few hours writing the rest of it. I remember thinking I’d never be able to play the song for anyone because it might piss my family off. I also remember feeling like I was writing a letter from him to my Mom. It was weird. At one point I had the sensation he was in the room with me. The song was one of those that just kind of wrote itself. So the next day I went over to my Mom’s and played it for her. I told her if she didn’t want to play it for anyone else I wouldn’t. She cried and said it was fine if I recorded it and played it out. She asked me when I’d written it and I told her the night before. Then she said “that was 35 years ago to the day that he died.” I got chills after she told me that.
Latest Comments
RSS