Archive for the 'Southern' Category

Justin Jones & The Driving Rain

Within the songs of Justin Jones are stories from a life lived long enough to know heartache, loneliness, addiction, and lost love. But the 29-year-old Virginia native has not lost touch with a youthful spirit that imbues his music: raw excitement, romance, and optimism.

That description is from the MySpace page of Justin Jones & The Driving Rain.  It pretty much hits the spot for an artist among many in the today’s jungle of Alt-Country/Americana artists.  While that description would be used by many I am sure, it just might be a bit more true for Justin.

From North Carolina as a youth to the Washington D.C. area currently, Jones has been performing his style of true Americana to his growing audience.  The 15 years of transition engulfing North Carolina to D.C. include his roots playing guitar for whiskey soaked ears to successful tours throughout the I-95 area (for you Americans who know the area!).  While Justin currently records with his “Driving Rain”, he was a lone performer until at least 2002 and his move to Washington.  The move brought more performing and need for the inclusion of talent - talent he found to assist in filling out his sound - notably on his “Love Versus Heroin” album from 2006.  This album is ridiculously good for you “new country” fans.  The album worth it for the song “Dying With You” alone!

While I get ahead of myself, we can’t forget Justin only official solo release “Blue Dreams” which is described as both “Blues” and “Hillbilly Soul” - quite a description I must say, and also a great solo and mostly acoustic album.  Although I do often appreciate the lone performer more often, his group efforts are just soo strong.  This is most recently assured by his 2007 release “… and I Am The Song of the Drunkards” which definitely picks up where “Love Versus Heroin” leaves off.  The albums are full of up tempo country/bluegrass to the ballad crooning heart-breakers.

For the up and coming info, Jones is working on the next album out at the legendary Sunset Sound studio with producer Jamie Candiloro (from R.E.M. and Ryan Adams fame).  They will be in the studio this week, so we can hope for quick and successful sessions in order to get us more of this great sound in the new year.

I have included a track from last years “… and I Am The Song of the Drunkards” and a solo effort in the form of a Bob Dylan cover for “Boots of Spanish Leather” (recorded with Jones on guitar and Candiloro on piano).

Visit Justin on his website, pick up a copy of Blue Dreams, Love Versus Heroin or …And I Am The Songs of the Drunkards over on CD Baby.

~Smansmith

 
 Justin Jones & The Driving Rain - "Lets Stay Together" [5:07m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 
 Justin Jones - "Boots of Spanish Leather (Bob Dylan Cover)" [5:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Andrew Bryant’s Blues

Well I must say I am a bit late in posting on this little project from Andrew Bryant, but better late than never!

Andrew Bryant has been circling the fringe of my listening for a little bit now - often due to musical suggestions from my good friends over at Yer Bird Records.  These suggestions lead me on a journey into finding some more of this talented countrified songwriter’s recordings.  My journey recently led me to his newly created website and with it brought access to his “Hurricane Blues” digital EP.   The EP is themed and recorded following the disastrous Hurricane Katrina which left a massive mess (both physically and emotionally for all those involved) in the southern United States.  This is the background to this 2 track EP, so expect no love for authority figures and unfortunate descriptions of those who had to live through the natural disaster.

“Hurricane Blues” is basically just Bryant and a guitar and has a bluesy, southern feel.  The content of the lyrics aside, you still feel like a true Americana recording persona from Bryant’s delivery - almost a drawl that he might be holding back on.

Mr. Bryant is starting to be quite the prolific singer songwriter in the last few years and look out for 2009 as he will be bombarding us with up to 3 more releases - sounds good to me.  Signed to Magnolia State Records which I believe is his own growing label and located there are links to all his albums with sample tracks for every single release!  While I will start you off with Hurricane Blues, please swing on by and check out some of his other works, as he delivers many more aspects of his Americana recordings than these sparse recordings suggest.

~Smansmith

 
 Andrew Bryant - "Homeless Blues" [2:38m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 
 Andrew Bryant - "Hurricane Blues" [4:38m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Solal - The moonshine sessions

Here is an album that completely passed me by but that’s no surprise seeing it’s made by Frenchman Philippe Cohen, dj, producer and the main man behind The gotan project. I mean why would I look towards an electronic french band when looking for a bit of country? Thing is, this really is a straight up, full on country record with no hint of  The Gotan project at all. It’s a bit like Dolly Parton making a drum and bass album, a complete departure from ones comfort zone. Thing is, it works brilliantly. Recorded in Nashville with some of the best musicians they have to offer, Jim lauderdale, David Olney, Sam bush and Melonie Cannon to name but a few it’s an album that is as raw as it is challenging. Co-produced by Bucky Baxter (Bob dylan, Ryan adams) They even throw in two covers but no, not old fashioned classic country covers but Abbas Dancing Queen and the Sex Pistols Pretty Vacant no less. All done in a country style of course, unbelievable ! On the ya basta record label you can download this from emusic or there is a vinyl release of which I’ve just ordered, in my case from HHV but there are other places around. This is my new favourite album of the year because it could easily have gone totally wrong. An electronic/dj/producer going to Nashville to make a record? Now I think that’s pretty challenging and then to make one as brilliant as this I think is a stroke of genius. This isn’t cheesy country, It’s a sad, mournful gospel filled proper country album and every country music fan should own it. Love it !!

What I want to know is why Olly has never mentioned this? Can’t be many frenchmen going to Nashville to make country records, are they?

01-the-academy-of-trust-solal-feat-jim-lauderdale

10-pretty-vacant-solal-feat-rosie-flores

 
 Solal feat Jim Lauderdale - Academy of trust [6:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 
 Solal feat Rosie Flores - Pretty Vacant [3:13m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

If you haven’t heard – Blackbird Harmony

I would like to take this opportunity, dear blog reader, to introduce/remind/revisit a bit of Americana called Blackbird Harmony.  While some of you may know Mr. Evan Birdsong (pictured above) and his band - you may need a fresh listen.   A fresh listen (if it be for the first time, even better) to something you will revisit again and again in the future.

While us bloggers like to “promote” or as we call it “listening to us congratulate ourselves on providing great music to the masses”, I truly want to promote this one (I have a sister post over on Slowcoustic as well to get the word out).  While Blackbird Harmony (to be known as BbH for the remainder of this post) has been around for a while, they are fairly new to me.  Their label - Yer Bird - and myself are well acquainted and I tend to get updates and provided with music I was previously oblivious to – a win/win situation if ever there was one.  One such update was BbH and I am glad to have been introduced via the 2008 album “Hardwood Exits” – I mean I actually purchased a CD (who actually does this anymore…).

I bring this to your attention today as I have had BbH’s “Hardwood Exits” for a few months now and think it is a great album that will most likely end up on a top 2008 list of mine at year’s end.  I have recently got my pasty hands on the demos from the album that include some intimate solo recordings from 2007 that were previously unreleased.  WOW, I love the demos.  I am a sucker for acoustic sets of favourite artists, and when you can get them I always recommend them, as they tend to be the blood and guts of an album.  This is true on this the “Hardwood Exits” album especially.  While I am not recommending the demos instead of the official release, it is an accompanying necessity.  When listening to the studio album you realize that it is great classic songwriter Americana, and with the demos you see the stripped down roots of the recordings, the one on one beginning of the final product.  So to get your copy, visit the Yer Bird label and sign up for the Aviary (access to many other artists in the label’s catalogue included!) at a very reasonable fee.

To give you that nudge in the right direction to BbH, here is one of the stand out tracks from both the studio and demo release.  Tell me this is not something you needed to hear.  Go ahead, try to tell me…

~ Smansmith

 
 Blackbird Harmony - Samaritans (Album Release) [3:45m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 
 Blackbird Harmony - Samaritans (Demo - Previously Unreleased) [4:48m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

JJ Grey & Mofro - Chicago 7-26-08

I went and saw JJ Grey & Mofro last night in Chicago at the “Taste of Lincoln Fest” to get a little taste of some bluesy southern soul. Best $10 I ever spent (for the fest admission fee.)

I can not say enough how much I love love love LOVE these guys and god damn do they put on an amazing show. Incredible. Stunning. Gave me chills at some points they were so pee-in-your-pants-good. I saw them last year at the House of Blues but this show far surpassed that one for me by miles. I was simply enthralled the whole night. You either had to be deaf or have no rhythm to not groove and dance to JJ. I know I was shakin’ my tail feather most of the night! *shake shake*

Their album “Country Ghetto” was one of my favorites albums of last year. Definately in my top 3 of 2007. If you do not have this CD, I highly recommend that you run right out and purchase it or download it! The whole album is just fantastic.

I’ve very excited for their new release “Orange Blossoms” due out August 26th. You can pre order it: here

One of the highlight of the night was getting to hear one of their new songs off the new album called “Everything Bad is Good”. Upbeat number….I just loved it. Here is a youtube video of the new song (although not from the Chicago performance)…oooh sing it JJ!

MySpace

mofro.net

 
 JJ Grey & Mofro - Sun Is Shining Down: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 
 JJ Grey & Mofro - Tragic: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 
 JJ Grey & Mofro - Lochloosa: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

THAD COCKRELL

thad-cockrell.jpg

“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

Diacon-Panthers - Make it Feel Better

Diacon-Panthers

If you’re checking our tag clouds on the right sidebar of this page, here are the main hits : songwriters (???), Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, Ray LaMontagne… So you might think, i’m not going to find something that really rocks with these crazy dreamers ! Partly true, partly false : depending on what you mean with rock ! An that’s why music is so great… sometimes it rocks your soul, sometimes your body. In this early month of March, it’s time to ride the seasonal attraction : spring is almost there and my ears are requesting their yearly dose of rejuvenation !
I’ve found the right cure, the one that match my need : a perfect spring band for my mood.

Fasten your seatbelt, destination : Knoxville, Tennessee !

Diacon-Panthers is the name of this awesome band, i’ve been pointed to from Berkeley Place. Right after listening the two tracks available there, I’ve been more than seduced… How hard is trying to qualify their unique sound. Punk ? Garage-Punk : no and yes. But not only… Rock ? yeah rock for sure. But not only… Southern-rock hugh may be… Then I’ve browsed diacon-panthers site to check how those guys are self-defining their music. Well, I’m still laughing but I do agree : healing & easy listening.

Make it Feel Better - Diacon - PanthersTheir first full-length album : ‘Make it Feel Better‘ is powerful and really fits my demand. Even if I’m not a fan of the intro track which is a bit too psychedelic for me… the second song titled ‘Actress‘ and the transition with ‘Tennesse Dancing Nights‘ is simply joyful ! And this feeling won’t leave you until the two closing tracks : Joyful Bis - ‘jouissif‘ is the right French word I was looking for ! Both songs are exceeding the regular format - 7:32 and 6:39… but not enough to be replete : all you have to do is replay ! And be sure, your enthousiasm will grow on each loop !

 
 Actress - Diacon-Panthers [3:57m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 
 Tennesse Dancing Nights - Diacon-Panthers [3:30m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

And then crossing my daughter’s suspicious glance, I realise that my 40th birthday is approaching…
Be sure to listen these two tracks in the correct order… Check their site, double check their myspace… I can’t imagine how this band is live !

Band : Diacon - Panthers
Label : Borrowdeer
Where to buy : cdbaby.com
You should also enjoy : Pela, Two Gallants