Category Archives: From where I sit

Miranda Lambert Makes The Cover of No Depression – Hell Reports Snow

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I don’t know what it is, the end times, global warming, whacked mojo…but Miranda Lambert seems to be winning the hearts and minds of Nashville pop lovers as well as the alt.country crowd. I mean she’s on the cover of the yall’ternative bible “No Depresssion” for crips sake! (Yeah that her swinging her hair all rocking out like.) First the white trash American Idol (I mean that in a good way), a performance at the ’05 CMA Awards and now ND?
I mean ND has indy darlings The Shins on the last cover. What are they trying to do? Rise from relative obscurity and sell magazines?

I mean what’s next? Toby Keith on the cover of Spin? Carrie Underwood on the cover of Playboy? Okay, I could actually imagine that last one.

Good on the fellow Texan on all the good vibes and good on No Depression for risking their hipster cred to feature great music!

CMT Music Awards Review – Still Blows

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So I finally held my nose and watched my recording of the suck fest that is the Country Music Television Awards show (you can tell right there how objective this is going to be) and it as predictable and unpleasant as July heat in Dallas.

A Dixie Chicks and Stonewall Jackson slam already. Nice Foxworthy. You’re an ass.

There was a new category, the Wide open Country Video of the Year. It seems like it was a stab at irreverence. But with Jimmy Buffet and Sheryl Crow and Sting as nominees it was more like “Let’s see what we can get by with.” The Johnny Cash video for “God Going To Cut You Down.” Jack Ingram won. Not a great start for the new category.

Everyone that won robotically thanks CMT in their speeches. I mean what are the odds that every winning artist felt truly compelled to thank a network? Tools…

There was a moment of true grace and emotion on the program, but it had nothing to do with the three-ring pyrotechnic circus of bland performances by Toby Keith and Rascal Flatts. It was when Rosanne Cash presented Kris Kristofferson the Johnny Cash Visionary Award. Kritofferson was visibly moved, gracious and his amazing life and legacy was briefly detailed before he accepted. It was a brief moment of sincerity in an otherwise facile showcase of mediocrity.

Rascal Flatts stacks the deck on the Group Video of the Year with two nominations and beats out the crowd favorite The Dixie Chicks. Just joshin.

Foxwothy is giving the last 25% of morons that don’t see Iraq as a fiasco and people who worship a sky god a sloppy one. He’s like the reverse Natalie Maines with less talent.

There, that’s all I can stand. Another year, a lot of make-up and $200 denim and precious little country music.

Oh and Kenny Chesney is a girl.

Indie Labels In Nashville

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The good folks at The 9513 pointed me to this interesting article on the indie labels growing influence in Nashville.

I like the idea of country superstars starting thier own boutique labels to allow them to stretch thier wings, but I would have liked to read about indie labels, Bloodshot, Compadre – that have cultivated and nurtured indie artists all along. Artists that would have never had a phone call returned by the major labels (and probably the superstar boutiques as well.) And what about the legends that had to turn to indies in the later years because the majors saw them as washed up – Cash with American, Charlie Louvin and Tompkins Square, Porter Wagner and Anti/Epigraph. These labels saw these legends and thier legacy and allowed them to release work to regain their musical spirit with dignity.

Let’s hear the whole story on indies.

Country Music Is Not Dead

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CMT, the channel that doesn’t entirely suck, gives me another reason to think so by featuring Chet Flippo and his always thoughtful and enlightening commentary on The Nashville Skyline section on their web site.
Chet has a nice recent commentary about rescuing a frightened turtle of a feeder road off Highway 100 west of Nashville and sees this terrified reptile as a symbol of the recording industry in the twenty-first century, the myopic economics of radio programming the strong-arm tactics of Wal-Mart and, alas, the inevitable death of the CD.

“But what does country music really have to offer these days? I think it offers more than the exploiters see on the surface. I think the many layers of talent in country have never been fully presented commercially, and, of course, if I knew how to do that, I would be a rich man today. And country has a steady stream of fresh new talent, most of whom will likely not ever get a chance to gain wide exposure because of the changing nature of the marketplace. Already, a number of new artists are having their debut releases postponed because of the market.”

Though I take exception to Chet’s argument that Nashville needs another mega-star like Garth or Shania (I think the mindless pursuit of cash cows is part of the recipe for crap), I do agree with his fundamental point that county music needs to take chances and risk alienation of some fans in order to survive. And I hope indy labels, local bars, the internet and blogs like this one and my other twangy-blog buddies can help usher in a new dawning of country music.

If not, we’ll have a damn fine time trying.

By way of The 9513.

The Dixie Chicks – Shut Up and Sing

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“Freedom of speech is fine as long as you don’t do it in public.” From Shut Up and Sing.

Come with us back to a 2003 when the US was ramping up to a war that turned out to be unecessary wasted many young peoples lives, billions of dollars and trashed the reputation of this great nation for years to come.

Most celebrities played it safe and said nothing, just did goofy celebrity shit, you know..wearing silly clothes, getting divorced and starving themselves. But not Natalie Maines.

From a London stage lead Chicks singer Maines offhandedly said “Just so ya’ll know, we’re ashamed that President George W. Bush was from Texas. Funny, when I read that on a news web site I thought to myself, “Yeah, me too.”

After the statement the News show and web sites fanned the flames like they do everything else to get eyeballs to sell to their corporate masters, the rabid Right-Wing blogs picked it up because, we’ll they’re thin skinned and hate our freedoms
(especially that whole freedom of speech nonsense.)

This documentary follows the Chicks in performance around the U.S. and London between the years 2003 and 2006. And show the events leading up to the war and the personally, political and, yeas, professional ramifications of that statement heard round the world.

Filmmaker Barbara Kopple brings a real behind the scenes view of Maines and sisters Emily Robison and Martie Maguire in
dressing rooms, on stage, and in recording studios, and hanging with Chad Smith, Red Hot Chili Pepper drummer who played on the Chicks latest “Taking The Long Way”, and a very guru looking Rick Rubin (complete with prayer beads), who produced the album.

Recently the Chicks played at the Grammy’s and walked away with 5 Grammys for their efforts. Was it worth it? The worry, the heartache, The death threats? Only the girls can know. But it must feel nice to know your not alone and that not all country fans are Right-Wing zombies programmed to wave a flag at the strain of the Star Spangled Banner. Some of us actually remember what that flag preresents and can think past simple-minded slogans.

In the end Natalie turned put to be right and 70% of the  American public are finally comfortable enough to agree with her publically. Excpet when Natalie did it when it was not comfortable to do so, it was unpopular, it was unwise for their career and it was dangerous.

The Dixie Chicks embodied the American spirit at that moment, and that’s what being an outlaw is all about.

Willie Nelson to Work with Michael Jackson

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Today there are reports that Willie Nelson will collaborate with Michael Jackson to release a CD tentatively titled “Jacko and Lefty.”

The session will be recorded in Jackson’s new home in Bahrain, a borderless island country in the Persian Gulf and the smallest Arab nation, and is known for it’s beautiful golf courses and lax marijuana laws as well as an abundance of grade schools with easy access.

The embattled ‘king of pop” has said he”s “Ready for a comeback, outlaw style.” and that he will be selling his 2,800 acre Neverland Ranch, located in Los Olivos, CA, to buy a ranch near San Saba, TX. Jackson’s new neighbor the actor Tommy Lee Jones says “I’ll have him over for some brisket and Lone Star beer. I bet he has some stories to tell.”

Other artists slated to make appearances on the album are Beyoncé, Ludicris, Ryan Adams, Bryan Adams (no relation), guitar whiz Buckethead and Elizabeth Taylor sitting in on backing harmony and pedal steel.

Willie has said of the session “I like Michael’s work, I think Superfreak is a great song and I hope we are redoing in on this album.”

CMT – Sucks Mostly, But Not Completely

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I got an email out of the blue today from CMT. Some nice person by the name of “Jen” emailed to implore me to alert you, loyal Twanger, that “There is a chance that Comcast may switch CMT from its current home on the basic cable package to a digital package.” Apparently if this unspeakable act comes to pass then several markets will lose access to CMT and it will cost them more bank to get it back. Truth be told, 99% of the time CMT, and their parade of crap – The CMT Music Awards, is a arid wasteland and serves as a sterling example of what’s wrong with Nashville and hollow spectacle that contemporary country music has come to be. But they do have the Crossroads series, which is not half bad and actually on one occasion – Roseanne Cash and Steve Earle – was brilliant. And Studio 330 highlights some truly great talent at their live best. So for that 1%, I am posting this notice. If you have Comcast, and like CMT, especially you folks in Baltimore, apparently in your market the end is nigh – then call or email Comcast and give ’em hell. Or go to a “fan created site” (uh huh) commiserate with others in these dark times.

Note To Willie – Just Say No!

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Willie Nelson is a friend of mine. Truth be told he’s a friend of may dads from their drinking and tom-catting days in the 70’s. The man is an icon. A legend. And yes, a serial collaborator. For every brilliant collaboration – Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Ray Price, Emmylou Harris, Ray Charles – there are the WTF ones – Julio Iglesias, Toby Kieth, his upcoming producer Kenny Chesney, and now this- Mariah Carey has enlisted Willie Nelson to co-write a song for her upcoming movie role, a waitress and aspiring songwriter. Not only does Mariah Carry not deserve to kiss Willie’s Luccheses, after “Glitter” she should never be allowed to do another movie again that does not involve her removing the little amount of clothing she hasn’t removed so far.

Twang Nation – Acting Naturally

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The fine folks at The 9513 have some good taste in country music blogs but somehow they’re also reading mine and for that I’m much obliged. They’ve put together a nice collection of blogs they read and assigned each a country hero personality. They’ve chosen some great site and assigned some true country pioneers so it’s hard to squabble with
Twang Nation being associated with Bakersfield hillbilly rocker  Buck Owens. It’s all just so…damn…give me a moment here folks.

Sites represented:

Big Rock Candy Mountain
Search for the Last of the Hard-core Troubadours
City Girl, Country Girl
Twangville

Go show ’em some love!