Rolling Country 2014

Agree on Loveless, Lambert & Womack (now there's a trio), Simpson & Sturgill about half-good so far, though I'll listen more to both, ditto Angeleeana or however the fuck you spell it: she's kinda the George Harrison of Pistol Annies: religious, though non-charismatic, then again vocals are also n-c, and not as much a guitarist as George, though both have seen some shit and have senses of humor--but "Dry County Blues" and "Pain Pills" could sound so much better on Pistol Annies (or Womack, or Loveless, or) albums; here, with slightly generic vocals, kinda like Justified outtakes. Still, these, and "Life of the Party," and several others may well grown on me; can't dismiss her.
Nelson album's got a few good songs, but their charm is affected by the querulous ol' context (c'mon Willie, you're gonna give us geezers an even worse name).
Crowell, Carlene, Delines, Amy LaVere sets I mentioned up thread still good; need to check Eady, Cody Johnson, Lydia's recent tourmate Cody Branan (thumbs up from Hoos), Willis & Robison. And Tim McGraw. Others??

I should also listen again to Eric Church. And Lady Antebellum. Best new artist I've heard: Elise Davis, also mentioned upthread.

Ha, Simpson & Sturgill, meant Sweeney & Simpson.

eric paslay's album is nice

it's on spotify

"less than whole" is my fave. it is gloriously dramatic, as is "deep as it is wide"
and "friday night" is so much fun. those banjos and fiddles at the beginning <3

GO ON FORGIVE YOURSELF
GO ON FORGIVE YOURSELF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Agreed that "Less Than Whole" is really well done. I actually preferred the original version of "Friday Night" that Lady Antebellum did, but the song is undeniable. Paslay has the unfortunate tendency to remind of Josh Groban, but some of his stuff just works.

Have you guys heard Emily West's "Made for the Radio"? Pretty incredible take on the industry/labels. Here's the chorus:

"I don’t sing my songs/ in hundred story buildings/ for dying men in business suits/ with vacant black hole hearts/ fucking the next star/ cause I won’t go on stage/ lit up on amphetamines/ singing ripped off melodies/ while I fall apart/ I’m a one woman show/ and I wasn’t made for the radio."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FecMalBNq8

Must check her, thanks! "Go on, forgive yourself" hopefully heard/sung by Nashville series' closeted Hat star, someday, some way.
Oh yeah, Top Ten prospects also include:
Finally got to Mary Gauthier's Trouble and Love: breakup and recovery and then some--though she claims (in interviews) to be through with romantic love, realizing she just wasn't made for it, and maybe vice versa, and though (in song) she does demonstrate "How You Learn To Live Alone," that's a co-write with Gretchen Peters (perfectly placed on Nashville the TV series to boot):another example of how she's regrouping, realigning her musical and emotional resources, into sweet unpretentious forging on, with "Worthy" the tiny turning point on a dime: "ashes into flame"--sure, why not, rewind is no great leap of imagination---once *something* provides the key, but then, you've already got to be unlocked, for creativity to do its mysterious thing, whatever the process (obviously she's a vet, a pro, almost slipping into solemn folk-country soap opera at times, but usually not: "Oh Soul" does have a choked-up male vocal shadow, and yeah she's at the crossroads and ready for repentence, but does she have to "pray at the grave of Robert Johnson"? Maybe so, considering the better lines). One of the year's best.

― dow, Tuesday, June 24, 2014 11:02 PM (3 months ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

as put it on Twitter:

@0wlred
Nville contributor Mary Gauthier's new CD barely allows me to multitask--amazing (she sounds amazed too)

@‏0wlred

@brohamand @leeannwomack @notFrankLiddell And y not, say, Womack w Pistol Annies, showing Travellng Wilburys how 2 do it, sons....?

Speaking of Nashville series, been thinking that on some level the show itself, the runners maybe, seemed hype-resistant, like most of the characters are, so there can be a sense of strain, of overtaxed will power in the ooowee sensationalism. Just now saw this: T-Bone B. on leaving as music director (and his wife is the creator and runner, at least officially): http://vult.re/1sm5jZS

One more probly for Top Ten:

The aforementioned Nikki Lane's current album, All Or Nothin' is about a rowdy gal who sometimes quietly busts her partner in luv crime---gotta keep honor among thieves, after all. Pretty confident, though not invulnerable, either way, and suggests (what may have actually happened, for all I know) Wanda Jackson keeping her 50s edge and losing the hopefully imposed late tearjerkers in the mid-60s, demonstrating, as Buck Owens did, how country could adapt to the Beatles, (and vice versa, via covers, the influence of Everlys harmonies, and even L-McC's "I've Just Seen A Face"). Which of course is something Dwight Yoakam's returned to over the years, incl Three Pears, but it seems more of a female tradition, thinking of, say, Those Darlins, Holly Golightly, or that album of Elizabeth McQueen pub-rock covers(yeah, but sounded mid-60s too, as pub-rock could in the mid=70s), discussed several Rolling Countrys ago.
Though the closest comparison might be to the late great Amy Farris's Anyway, with a twangy slender voice unfazed by sometimes flamboyant production. Whether it'll keep seeming like more than a stylistic excercise remains to be seen, but it's good exercise at least. Go Babe!

― dow, Tuesday, August 12, 2014 8:54 PM (1 month ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
And before that:

I like this song from Nikki Lane's new album, answering the musical question: "Nikki, when is the right time to do the wrong thing?" https://soundcloud.com/newwestrecords/nikki-lane-all-or-nothin-right/s-l71iv
Also digging the title song from her 2011 EP, which I was totally ignorant of!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlwzdQRfM-4

Just now saw this: T-Bone B. on leaving as music director (and his wife is the creator and runner, at least officially): http://vult.re/1sm5jZS

yeah, t-bone left after the first season. and the show is, as he says, a soap opera. actually, he suggests it's half soap opera, half serious drama about musicians' lives, but that's being way generous. it's full-on soap opera, with all the pointlessness and WTF-ness that that implies. but i still enjoy the show quite a bit, because it's a soap opera about a world i care about, because a few of the characters are well-drawn (and well-acted), and the songwriting is consistently great, and has remained great even in t-bone's absence. buddy miller replaced him.

I share yr. perspective, except sense of strain sometimes, soap-opera stuff can seem awkward--ratings falling while they have to compete with Scandal supernatural soaps, reality shows etc even on networks, much less cable, online---and not much music in this season's initial eps, so can't really compare Burnett's direction to Miller's yet. Hayden P. and Stella sisters (Rayna's daughters) are always good, with or without music, but others can get a bit tiresome when too much talk time.

i really love the angaleena presley album on two listens. somehow hadn't realised just how smooth her voice is but i think it really fits the songs

Hoos pick Cory Branan + 9 more countryoid comers--good?
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/new-country-artists-2014-20141010/cory-branan-20141010

and not much music in this season's initial eps, so can't really compare Burnett's direction to Miller's yet.

miller did all of last season. burnett quit at the end of season one.

Ah, OK then! Last season was pretty good musically, so maybe this will make a little more room for performances. Another Cody show posted on bbchron, and this set does have "Hot Rod Lincoln" etc. (only two songs repeated from prev.; they knew a lotta songs):
http://bbchron.blogspot.com/2014/10/commander-cody-and-his-lost-planet_8.html

Good Lee Ann interview:
http://www.cmtedge.com/2014/10/08/lee-ann-womack-wants-to-make-you-feel-something/

She's had a great second act, hasn't she?

Whatever happened to Patty Loveless?

No relation to Lydia, Patty according to wiki :

Over the past several years Loveless has made annual appearances in Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry (last appearance in March 2014) and goes on an annual country music cruise.[21] She no longer performs on a regular basis, spending her time with her husband and family at their home near Dallas, Georgia, northwest of Atlanta.

Angaleena Presley live show covers:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/at-hill-country-angaleena-presley-seems-set-for-post-supergroup-success/2014/10/13/d40632b6-52e5-11e4-b86d-184ac281388d_story.html

Before calling it a night, Presley turned her band loose for fabulous reworkings of Neil Young’s “Love Is a Rose” and Merle Haggard’s “Workin’ Man Blues,” though the latter was done as ZZ Top might render a Haggard song.

Hopefully not totally "post"--need more Pistol Annies!

growing to really love the angaleena presley album. i love how the solo annies are so different from both each other and pistol annies.

been hearing eric church's "talladega" on the radio lately. i was getting kind of sick of his rock rebel posturing and/or shameless rewrites of his previous hits so i am pleased. still haven't bothered listening to the outsiders though.

Laura Cantrell's newest record was really underwhelming on first listen earlier this year, but I heard a radio interview with her this weekend that prompted a revisit, and boy am I glad. Nothing earth shattering, but a really lovely album in the vein of Tift Merritt, Zoe Muth, or even Aimee Mann. Read: inoffensive, pretty, adult contemporary country/folk rock.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ejDvenTsdk

Fell in love with this song/video last night. Her album from this year, The Avenues (which this song isn't on), is likewise pretty nice.

It is! Though subtle-arty in unexpected ways; will take a little more getting used to (she's so confident though, she must be doing it right,eh?) Meanwhile,
@leeannwomack
Quebe Sisters @CityWineryNSH singin CindyWalkers Going Away Party..dont worry it wont be a loud party, dreams dont make noise when they die"
Oh yeah. Willie Nelson's Cindy Walker collection is mighty fine too.
Uh-oh, almost time for "Nashville" again.

sam hunt's album just came out, is he any good? he has written some songs i like but i am still unsure what kind of artist he is trying to be

Chris Richards was just drooling over Sam Hunt in the Washington Post, so I am curious as well.

In the case of country music’s hot new thing, his hotness and newness are self-evident. But this thing he’s got going — this hybridization of country and hip-hop that’s so elegant against all odds — is deceptively phenomenal. Hunt’s major label debut is a lean 10 songs, each one of them fantastic, all of them poised to raise Nashville’s temperature more than just a few degrees.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/wp/2014/10/28/the-months-best-music-sam-hunt-dej-loaf-ex-hex-tinashe-and-more/

It's on Spotify. "Lean": 10 songs in 38 minutes, and I 'ppreciate that, but still some of 'em are too long, like, of all things "Cop Car," where he's really sweating what her Daddy's gonna say, but still,"Somethin' in the blue lights' flashin'/Brought out the freedom in your eyes....I fell in love in the back of a cop car." Great first epiphany (and good build up to it),but, though he's always as earnest as Luke Bryant and Lee Brice, he lacks their corny flair, and this gets real solemn (and like Ah said, long).
He's also trying to be real tasteful, and not disturb the vibe, but this does lead to some interesting speculation, like right off in "Take Your Time," he "doesn't wanta go home with you," whom he's just met; he just wants to do it right here, right now, or maybe over there in the shrubbery, going by his down-low manner. "Single For The Summer" has a nice hazy loose-ends atmosphere, and he's very broad-minded: likes him some "debutantes...and small-town runaways," better than collecting sea shells. Could see this as a radio hit and subject of creeped-out tweets/Slate articles.
"Ex To See": realizes he's being used as the tool of her revenge, but, though he's dismayed, is still riding around with her as song ends (not real safe, maybe, but understandable; I've been there). Turnaround, maybe on the same lady, in "Make You Miss Me," where earnestness is now butthurt and truly poignant, even got an actual girl singing along a little bit; he gets my sympathy, and could see this as another hit, with no tweetplaints maybe.
Attempts at straight-up hick hop partying are even more generic than necessary (shoulda got one of the Lees in there), but I'll sure take him over Florida-Georgia, whose sprained twang, with or without autotune, is pretty painful.

Montevallo: name of a town and college in the town, where he's been doing all this studying, maybe.

"Fantastic"? "Elegant"? No.

interesting thoughts! i'll have to give it a listen

I've been to Montevallo and have friends who went to school there. It's in the middle of nowhere in the middle of Alabama.

hmmm i listened to the album and it's pretty boring front-to-back. :\ i wanted to like it b/c i love some of the songs he cowrote that other artists recorded.

actually the opening track is slightly interesting

Caramanica in the NY Times is excited by this tune from the latest Little Big Town album Pain Killer:

Finally, in “Girl Crush” — by the songwriting power threesome of Liz Rose, Lori McKenna and Hillary Lindsey — Little Big Town delivers one of the most devastating country songs in recent memory, a scorching and pained meditation on jealousy delivered with heavy resignation.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/02/arts/music/music-from-little-big-town-mila-j-oc-maco-and-ex-hex.html?ref=music

gorgeous song. i had no interest in hearing the album after "day drinking" which is such a terrible and shameless "pontoon" retread

Country Music Association Awards are on ABC tv now. Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood are hosting and have already started with bad jokes and Paisley strumming a fake song about George Strait, last year's entertainer of the year

They just gave out single of the year already--Miranda Lambert "Automatic"

The Paisley & Underwood ebola quarantine and leaked selfie joke songs were forgettable of course

Rather watch this, also live (incl. commercials): http://musiccityroots.com/roots-tv/

Yea maybe. But Kacey Musgraves just won "song of the year" (as oppose to single of the year) for "Follow Your Arrow"

Lady Antebellum's performance was ok

There's Dierks Bentley doing "Drunk on a Plane" . I like that song. Its catchy.

Miranda Lambert and 2 guys she writes songs with just accepted her/their award for something...

Checking out that Roots tv thing. Its on every Wednesday I see

Back to the CMAs. Miranda won for best album. She justt did a nice version of "Smokin' and Drinkin" with Little Big Town accompanying her

Vince Gill just got all choked up watching the video endorsement of him from Merle Haggard as part of the video tribute to him. He just got the Irving Waugh Award of Excellence

George Strait's baritone still sounds good. He dueted with Eric Church. Luke Bryan won entertainer of the year. But now they're letting the Doobie Brothers close out the night with "Takin' it to the Streets" with Brad Paisley on guitar. Oh country, you love those old pop folks. Michael McDonald is getting gospelly now with all of the backing singers...

I missed a couple of the other veteran with younger act duets--saw in the paper that Loretta Lynn did one.

A picture from life's other side (so this 'un ain't fair neither, butt its funny):
http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashvillecream/archives/2014/11/06/48th-annual-cma-music-awards-fest-oh-balls-2014