Category Archives: alt.country

The simple-minded view of country music as a soundtrack to the religo–fasict faction of red state America completely ignores the poor, working class roots of country music and the and the multifaceted, complex great artists that created it. Sometimes a release reminds you of all of that and does it in spades.

Texas’ Spicewood Seven brings us Kakistocracy (rhymes with democracy), meaning “government by the incompetent and corrupt, and in the midst of the current Bush administration I’d say that’s about right.

Keeping up the tradition forged by the likes of Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson. Loretta Lynn, Steve Earl and many others Kakistocracy is a condemnation of the corruption of American values by the powerful elite. Great music has always been created in response to war. From Woody Guthrie to Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young – the horror of war cries out for artists to address it.

Led by lyricist Luke Powers and multi-instrumentalist Tommy Spurlock (a longtime stalwart of the Austin music scene who’s recorded with everyone from George Jones to Shania Twain), the Spicewood Seven include guest shots from a variety of names both well-known (Garth Hudson of the Band adds organ) and some less-so – Leon Rausch, Brennen Leigh, David Hearne, Elana Fremerman, Jimmy Karstein, Rosie Flores, Jane Bond. All songs were written by Tommy Spurlock and Luke Powers, the disc was mixed and produced by Tommy Spurlock for Austin Records.

Song themes run from the Iraq war (“Crawford, Texas,” and “Going Down the Road to Baghdad”) and the blight of methamphetamine on rural America (“Crystal Time”). Protest music succeeds or fails by the same standards all music does, is it boring? Spicewood Seven makes music that speaks to your mind but also moves your ass.

Much fuss was made a couple of years ago when Green Day released the punk-opera”American Idiot” in response to the buffoons in Washington. Kakistocracy makes American Idiot sound like easy listening.

(I’m Goin’ Down to) Crawford Texas(mp3) 

Going Down the Road to Baghdad(mp3)

When I was at the one of the Mercy lounge showcases for the Americana Music Conference I was in the upstairs room waiting for Marty Stuart I ran into a frietndly fellow with a chair right near the front. We chatted for a while, shared a beer. He said his name was Terry Flynn and he handed me his CD, Again Tonight.  “I hope you like it” he said before I lost him in the crowd. I’m here to say I do.

Atlana native Terry Flynn has a country-soul voice like Ray Price for Elvis in his early hillbilly years. His songs about love found lost and found again. Sorrowful hope. Atlanta is a lovely song to his home state and a woman returning from New York. “Still In Love With You” is a slow burning rockabilly tune that delivers and the title song begins with a Spanish style guitar into and then kicks into a full rave. This is a great release from a fine and genuine artist.