Category Archives: New Releases

Listen Up! Chris Smither – ‘Drive You Home Again’ From ‘Signature Sounds 20th Anniversary Collection: Favorite and Rarities from the Second Decade’

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Signature Sounds Recordings is an well-repected independent label specializing in singer-songwriter, Americana, and modern folk music. Jim Olsen and Mark Thayer founded the label in 1995 to promote the acoustic artists playing in the Northampton, Massachusetts music scene. The label has grown slowly to signing just 1-2 artists a year and developing them over years. This approach has worked well as the label has served as a home for Lake Street Dive and Zoe Muth and provided a career launching pad for the likes of Josh Ritter, Erin McKeown, Mary Gauthier & Lori McKenna.

On March 3, Signature Sounds will celebrate its 20 years of cultivating great talent with a special compilation ‘Signature Sounds 20th Anniversary Collection: Rarities From The Second Decade.’ The album will feature thirteen unreleased tracks plus eighteen songs in total from Crooked Still, Eilen Jewell, Lake Street Dive, Chris Smither and others.

‘Drive You Home Again,’ a Chris Smither’s unreleased track from the collection, exudes a timeless ramshackle and moody darkness that well reflects Signature Sounds spirit of quality.

Watch Out! Mickey Guyton – “Better Than You Left Me” [VIDEO]

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Mickey Guyton - Better Than You Left Me

I don’t cover a lot of the stuff coming out of Music Row. The vast majority of what they call music is pre-fabricated radio fodder engineered for topping charts not touching hearts.

And then sometimes someone like Texas native Mickey Guyton squeezes through the machine. Guyton’s debut single ‘Better Than You Left Me’ made history when it had the biggest radio debut in country music
when it hit airwaves two weeks ago, earning first-week adds on 79 U.S. stations.

All this while singing a ballad that actually sounds like a traditional country song! Pedal steel and mandolin float over a soft waltz as Guyton’s Dolly-meets-Womack vocals tells a country music staple hardly found in the frothy airwaves popular now, that if heartache and courage.

Black, white , male, female…whatever..’Better Than You Left Me’ takes on the homogenous country radio landscape by being daringly traditional. And good, damn good!

Since Guyton is a black woman (albeit one that looks like Ashley Monroe’s sister), so naturally much is being made about Music Row’s newfound diversity. Perhaps, but the bottom line in that system is money not cultural reservation. Guyton, who has major label support in Capitol Nashville, might be on the right track to achieve both.

What I wouldn’t give to see a Sturgill Simpson / Mickey Guyton tour!

Listen Up! Punch Brothers – “My Oh My”

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Punch Brothers, the thinking person’s bluegrass band, has just released their 4th studio album (and one EP). If you’re a fan of their roots-chamber music sound you won’t be disappointed.

The themes for the new album, with a beautiful icy Storm Thorgerson cover, was how to address increasing distraction, isolation and the need to connect on a human level in the digital age.

“How do we cultivate beautiful, three-dimensional experiences with our fellow man in this day and age?” Frontman Chris Thile says of the motivation for ‘The Phosphorescent Blues.’

Buy ‘The Phosphorescent Blues’

Ralph Stanley – ‘Man of Constant Sorrow’ Out Now via Cracker Barrel

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Ralph Stanley

While on the Cayamo roots-music cruise Buddy Miller mentioned several times a collaboration with Dr. Ralph Stanley that had been produced in his home studio in Nashville was being released the Tuesday while we were at sea. Here’s the details on that release:

The three-time GRAMMY Award winner’s new CD features Stanley performing duets with guest artists including Dierks Bentley, Elvis Costello, Del McCoury, Buddy Miller & Jim Lauderdale, Old Crow Medicine Show, Robert Plant, Ricky Skaggs, Nathan Stanley, Josh Turner, Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings and Lee Ann Womack, while also performing two solo songs. Ronnie McCoury and Womack’s daughter, Aubrie Sellers, also appear on the album, along with Stanley’s band The Clinch Mountain Boys. The 87-year old International Bluegrass Hall of Honor inductee recorded the album in Nashville with Miller and Lauderdale as producers.

“I’ve always enjoyed singing with other artists,” said Stanley. “Everyone who joined me on this record did a fine job. I think this will be a project that my fans will really enjoy.”

“Cracker Barrel is delighted to bring Dr. Ralph Stanley and Friends’ CD, Man of Constant Sorrow, to our guests,” said Cracker Barrel Marketing Manager Julie Craig. “The performances are wonderful, the music is timeless and the project is a great addition to our exclusive music program. We know our guests will look forward to discovering this album.”

The 13 songs on Man of Constant Sorrow are:

1. “We Shall Rise,” Ralph Stanley and Josh Turner with The Clinch Mountain Boys
2. “I Only Exist,” Ralph Stanley and Dierks Bentley with The Clinch Mountain Boys
3. “We’ll Be Sweethearts in Heaven,” Ralph Stanley and Ricky Skaggs with The Clinch Mountain Boys and Ronnie McCoury
4. “Rank Stranger,” Ralph Stanley and Nathan Stanley with The Clinch Mountain Boys
5. “I Am the Man, Thomas,” Ralph Stanley, Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdale with The Clinch Mountain Boys and Ronnie McCoury
6. “White Dove,” Ralph Stanley and Lee Ann and Aubrie Sellers with The Clinch Mountain Boys and Ronnie McCoury
7. “Red Wicked Wine,” Ralph Stanley and Elvis Costello with The Clinch Mountain Boys
8. “Pig in a Pen,” Ralph Stanley and Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings with Paul Kowert
9. “Two Coats,” Ralph Stanley and Robert Plant
10. “Brand New Tennessee Waltz,” Ralph Stanley and Del McCoury with The Clinch Mountain Boys and Ronnie McCoury
11. “Short Life of Trouble,” Ralph Stanley and Old Crow Medicine Show
12. “Hills of Home,” Ralph Stanley
13. “Man of Constant Sorrow,” Ralph Stanley and The Clinch Mountain Boys

Ralph Stanley’s Man of Constant Sorrow is the latest CD release in the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® exclusive music program. Since 2005, Cracker Barrel has released CDs with a wide variety of artists including Alabama, Rodney Atkins, Mandy Barnett, Clint Black, Jason Michael Carroll, Steven Curtis Chapman, Dailey & Vincent, The Charlie Daniels Band, Ronnie Dunn, Edens Edge, Sara Evans, Bill Gaither, Vince Gill and Paul Franklin, Amy Grant, The Grascals, Merle Haggard, Alan Jackson, George Jones, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Neal McCoy, Montgomery Gentry, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Craig Morgan, The Oak Ridge Boys, Brad Paisley, Dolly Parton, Smokey Robinson, Kenny Rogers, The Secret Sisters, Ricky Skaggs, Michael W. Smith, Aaron Tippin, Randy Travis, Josh Turner, Wynonna and the Zac Brown Band

By online from Cracker Barrel

Sturgill Simpson Signs With Atlantic Records

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Sturgill Simpson has signed to Atlantic Records

in news that surprises no one, Kentuckian Sturgill Simpson has signed to a major label.

Coming off the biggest year of his career Simpson rode a huge wave of critical accolades and year-end lists for his sophomore LP ‘Metamodern Sounds In Country Music’ (including making our #1 position) a growing fanbase spread the word and grew hungrier for his neo-traditional style of country music.

Now on top of being nominated for a Grammy for the Americana Album of the Year (which he should win) and being added to some of the biggest music festivals — Coachella, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Stagecoach,, Governors Ball and Bonnaroo, Simpson confirmed via Facebook last night that he’s joined the Atlantic Records roster. The same label where Willie Nelson found refuge from Nashville label intrusion and current label for Zac Brown Band and Seasick Steve.

Big labels like taking on as close to a sure thing as can be had in these tumultuous time in the music industry. Several labels had been reported to be courting Simpson, but he signed with the one that allowed him the greatest control over his career. If this works out it could be a huge turning point for roots and Americana acts being signed to equally beneficial deals.

Simpson is either currently, or soon to be in a Nashville’s Sound Emporium studio working on this third solo release with producer Dave Cobb.

Hat tip to Saving Country Music for the original post.

Watch Out! Lera Lynn: “Out to Sea” – Late Show with David Letterman 1/5/2015

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Lera Lynn: "Out to Sea" - David Letterman

Last night David Letterman continued championing Americana and roots music in the New Year by inviting Lera Lynn (“From Nash-VEGAS Tennessee!” Letterman announces as a inside joke with his maestro sidekick Paul Shaffer ) to the Late Show stage.

Lynn may make her home in Nash-Vegas now, but she’s a Houston, TX girl by birth.

Lynn and her band deliver a simmeringly lush yet low-key version of “Out to Sea” from her sophomore offering “The Avenues,” which made our 2014 year-end list at #12.

http://youtu.be/ZkZa4OEH-Yc

Listen Up! Tyler Nail – “Valentina”

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Tyler Nail

North Carolina-based Americana folk artist, Tyler Nail single, “Valentina” off his second, full-length album, ‘Feathers’ is a satisfying uptempo folk-rock song that maps the heart as well as American geography

Nail says of “Valentina,” “it was the catalyst to what became the rest of the album, and begins the story of ‘Feathers.’ It showcases my more traditional, narrative Americana style of writing.”

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New Americana and Roots Music Releases for 2015

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The Lone Bellow - Then Came The Morning

2014 was another bumper crop year for Americana and roots music. We shared our favorites and you weighed in with more. 2015 shows no signs of easing up as stalwarts like Steve Earle and James McMurtry and young guns like The Lone Bellow and American Aquarium are planning releases.

The list below is not a definitive 2015 Americana release list, it’s all early months. But it’s as close as I can get with the information available at year’s close. The list is in chronological order based on release date, which mostly occurs on an planned Tuesday target which for some reason (none good) persists.

See one missing? Leave it in the comments.

Look for new things coming in the New Year at Twang Nation. It’s going to be a great year.

Have a happy, and safe, New Years. See you on the other side.

January 13TH
Justin Townes Earle – ‘Absent Fathers’
Cody Jinks – ‘The Adobe sessions’
Cody Canada & the Departed “Hippie Love Punk”

January 20th
The Waterboys – ‘Modern Blues’
Ryan Bingham – ‘Fear and Saturday Night’
Haley Cole – ‘Illusions’
Caitlin Canty – ‘Reckless Skyline’

January 27th
The Lone Bellow – ‘Then Came The Morning’
Paul Kelly – ‘The Merry Soul Session’
Punch Brothers – ‘The Phosphorescent Blues’

February 3rd
Bob Dylan – ‘Shadows in the Night’
Murder by Death – ‘Big Dark Love’
Hiss Golden Messenger – ‘Southern Grammar EP’
Gurf Morlix – ‘Eatin’ At Me’

February 10th
Father John Misty – ‘I Love You, Honeybear’
Robert Earl Keen – ‘Happy Prisoner’
Gretchen Peters – ‘Blackbirds’
Rhiannon Giddens – ‘Tomorrow Is My Turn’
Blackberry Smoke – ‘Holding All the Roses’
Owl Country – ‘Owl Country’
6 String Drag – ‘Roots Rock ‘N’ Roll’

February 17th
Phosphorescent – ‘Live at the Music Hall’
Steve Earle & The Dukes- ‘Terraplane’
Whitehorse – ‘Leave No Bridge Unburned’
Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band – ‘So Delicious’
Wrinkle Neck Mules – ‘I Never Thought It Would Go This Far’
The Mavericks – ‘Mono’

February 24th
Elvis Perkins- ‘I Aubade’
James McMurtry – ‘Complicated Game’
Steve Gunn & Black Twig Pickers – ‘Seasonal Hire’
Nora Jane Struthers – ‘Wake’
The Lowest Pair – ‘The Sacred Heart Sessions’
Elana James – ‘Black Beauty’

March 3rd
Ryan Culwell – ‘Flatlands’
Brandi Carlile – ‘Firewatcher’s Daughter’
Gill Landry – ‘Gill Landry’
Andrew Combs – ‘All These Dreams’
Caroline Spence – ‘Somehow’
Dorthia Cottrell – ‘Dorthia Cottrell’

March 10th
Joe Pug’s – ‘Windfall’
Tom Paxton – ‘Redemption Road’
Porter – ‘This Red Mountain’

March 13th
The Coal Creek Boys – ‘Out West’

March 17th
Liz Longley – ‘Liz Longley’
Stone Jack Jones – ‘Love & Torture’

March 24
Humming House – ‘Revelries’
Gabrielle Papillon – ‘The Tempest of Old’
Doc Watson, Bill Monroe + – Classic American Ballads from Smithsonian Folkways

March 27th
Allison Moorer – ‘Down To Believing’

March 31st
William Elliott Whitmore – ‘Radium Death’
Sarah Gayle Meech – ‘Tennessee Love Song’
Simon Joyner – ‘Grass, Branch & Bone’

April 1st
The Devil’s Cut – ‘Antium’

April 7th
Delta Rae – ‘After It All’
Folk Family Revival – ‘Water Walker’
Carl Anderson – ‘Risk of Loss’
Pokey LaFarge – ‘Something in The Water’
Ray Wylie Hubbard – ‘The Ruffian’s Misfortune’

April 14th
Dwight Yoakam – ‘Second Hand Heart’
Lowland Hum – ‘Lowland Hum’
Shinyribs – “Okra Candy”

April 15th
Lucia Comnes – “Love, Hope & Tyranny”
The Damnwells – ‘The Damnwells’

April 21st
John Moreland – ‘High On Tulsa Heat’
Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers – ‘ Loved Wild Lost’
Jimbo Mathus – ‘Blue Healer’
Ryan Adams – “Live at Carnegie Hall’

April 27TH
Lewis & Leigh – ‘Missing Year EP’

April 28th
Charlie Parr -‘Stumpjumper’
Odessa – ‘Odessa’

May 4th
Shelby Lynne – ‘I Can’t Imagine’

May 5th
Mandolin Orange – ‘Such Jubilee’
Hannah Miller – ‘Hannah Miller’

May 12th
Jimmy LaFave – ‘The Night Tribe’
Eilen Jewell – ‘Sundown over Ghost Town’
Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell – ‘The Traveling Kind’
Della Mae – ‘Della Mae’

May 19th
Darrell Scott – “10 – Songs of Ben Bullington”
Jamie Lin Wilson – ‘Holidays & Wedding Rings’

June 2nd
The Mike + Ruthy Band – “Bright As You Can”
Dawes – “All Your Favorite Bands”

June 9th
Sam Outlaw – “Angeleno”
The Deslondes – “The Deslondes”
Dale Watson – “Call Me Insane”
Courtney Patton – “So This Is Life”
Uncle Lucius – “The Light”
Chris Hennessee – “Greeting from Hennessee”
Sammy Kershaw – “I Won’t Back Down”

June 23rd
Beth Bombara – ‘Beth Bombara’
Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams – ‘Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams’
Richard Thompson – “Still”
Kacey Musgraves – “Pageant Material’

July 17th
Jason Isbell – ‘Something More Than Free’

July 31st
Daniel Romano – ‘If I’ve Only One Time Askin’ ‘

August 7th
Lindi Ortega – “Faded Gloryville”

August 11th
Angela Easterling – “Common Law Wife”

August 14
Rod Picott – “Fortune’
The Waifs – ‘Beautiful You’

August 21st
The White Buffalo – ‘Love and the Death of Damnation’

September 18th
Turnpike Troubadours – “Turnpike Troubadours”

September 25th
Patty Griffin – ‘Servant Of Love’

October 30th
The Yawpers – ‘American Man’
Steve Martin and Edie Brickell – “So Familiar”

Watch Out! Willie Nelson & Billy Joe Shaver: “Hard To Be An Outlaw” – David Letterman 12/17/2014

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Willie Nelson & Billy Joe Shaver: "Hard To Be An Outlaw"

It’s good to be David Letterman. Though his last show is set for May 20, 2015 he continues to showcase great music for quality and less commercial reasons. And why not? He’s the reigning late night king. And while it lasts it’s good to be the king.

Texas music legends Willie Nelson and Billy Joe Shaver performed last night. And though Willie’s been on The Late Show numerous times this was Shaver’s Late Show debut. Better late then never.

The pair performed ‘Hard to Be an Outlaw,’ which appears on Shaver’s latest ‘Long in the Tooth,’ which with the shared vocals this performance is drawn from, and Willie’s solo vocal version on his ‘Band of Brothers.’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cAFyMtEFNg

Listen Up! Hear An Unreleased Joe Ely and Linda Ronstadt duet “Where is My Love.”

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Linda Ronstadt Joe Ely

Joe Ely has alway been a step ahead of the music industry. He’s toured as an opener for the Clash and shared the stage with Elvis Costello. He;s kept Lubbock on the map by teaming up with local musicians Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock in the country/folk trio The Flatlanders. He’s written books, ‘Bonfire of Roadmaps’ and the forthcoming ‘Reverb: An Odyssey.’

Ely also released a ‘B484,’ an album made in the 80’s in his home studio, cutting edge at the time, that later was recreated in a “professional” studio by MCA and released as ‘Hi Res.’

All this scavenging through archives has also led to another treasure.

A recent visit that Ely had with Linda Ronstadt the two artists recalling the session for a 1987 duet for “Where is My Love.”

After a search, the recording was found. Ely and Ronstadt agreed the song held up well over time. Written by West Texas songwriter, Randy Banks, it is a Tejanao-tinged song of lost love and woeful regret that brings Linda Ronstadt back to her ‘Silk Purse’ country-rock era of the early 70’s. Her vocal interchange with Ely carries a soulful reminder of how two fine artists create magic through chemistry and the sheer joy of sharing together in a great country song and, sadly, how much we will miss her voice due to her struggles with Parkinson’s disease.

Hear the magic below/ I will post info on buying when I get it.

Ely is currently at work on a follow-up to 2011’s ‘Satisfied at Last,’