New Video / Caitlyn Smith / "Mississippi"

 From her new album High & Low out today.

Farce the Music's Top 10 Songs of 2018

Here are my top 10 songs of 2018 (#s 11-30 here). There's a Spotify playlist of 1-30 at the bottom. 

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10. Fantastic Negrito – Transgender Biscuits

I don't have a clue what this song is about but it's so much fun. Maybe it's about how stuff's tough all over for everybody, so we might as well have a good time and love everybody while we're at it. Maybe it's about biscuits. Whatever.

9. Jamie Lin Wilson – Death & Life

8. Caitlyn Smith – This Town Is Killing Me

7. Father John Misty – Please Don't Die

6. Ashley McBryde – Tired of Being Happy

5. Cody Jinks – Colorado

4. Lori McKenna – The Lot Behind St. Mary's

3. Lucie Silvas – My Old Habits

Expertly crafted, well -produced, strongly performed bar rock is one of my musical sweet spots and this gets right in there. It was stuck in my head for days on end and that never became annoying. Lucie sings the hell out of this song. It gives me some Bonnie Raitt vibes, and that's never a bad thing.

2. Ruston Kelly – Faceplant

Catchy misery is one of my musical sweet spots and this is a bullseye. "Not even angels came around" really drove it home. 

1. YOB – Our Raw Heart

Epic, emotional, visceral, tortured. "Our Raw Heart" conjures images of mountains rising, of ice cliffs smashing into one another, of 90 foot waves falling against the shore, continents sliding into the sea. It's gigantic, ugly, and beautiful all at once. YOB nearly didn't exist into 2018; its singer Mike Scheidt almost died of intestinal issues in 2017. The album was a statement of survival and growth after trauma, and this, the title song, was its raw, beating heart. A cathartic masterpiece.

Top Albums of 2018: 3/4 Report

Usual disclaimers: This is Trailer's top 20. The year-end list will be compiled from all FTM contributors' votes. 3 more months to go - this'll change a lot by December.

1. Dallas Moore - Mr. Honky Tonk

2. Ashley McBryde - Girl Going Nowhere

3. Fantastic Negrito - Please Don't Be Dead

4. Ruston Kelly - Dying Star

5. Neko Case - Hell On

6. Blackberry Smoke - Find a Light

7. Caitlyn Smith - Starfire

8. John Prine - Tree of Forgiveness

9. Lucero - Among the Ghosts

10. Brent Cobb - Providence Canyon

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11. Joshua Hedley - Mr. Jukebox

12. Rolo Tomassi - Time Will Die and Love Will Bury It

13. Lori McKenna - The Tree

14. Cody Jinks - Lifers

15. Glorietta - s/t

16. Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour

17. Ryan Culwell - The Last American

18. Brandi Carlile - By the Way, I Forgive You

19. Buffalo Gospel - At the Last Bell

20. Shooter Jennings - Shooter

Top Albums of 2018: First Half Report

Trailer's top 25 so far. 

Usual disclaimers: The year-end list will be compiled from all FTM contributors' votes. Also, the second half looks really strong, so expect a lot of shake up to this list.

1. Dallas Moore - Mr. Honky Tonk

2. Ashley McBryde - Girl Going Nowhere

3. Blackberry Smoke - Find a Light

4. Caitlyn Smith - Starfire

5. John Prine - Tree of Forgiveness

6. Brent Cobb - Providence Canyon

7. Neko Case - Hell On

8. Fantastic Negrito - Please Don't Be Dead

9. Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour

10. Joshua Hedley - Mr. Jukebox

11. Brandi Carlile - By the Way, I Forgive You

12. Buffalo Gospel - At the Last Bell

13. Caleb Caudle - Crushed Coins

14. Pusha T - Daytona

15. Old Crow Medicine Show - Volunteer

16. Sarah Shook & The Disarmers - Years

17. Leon III - s/t

18. First Aid Kid - Ruins

19. Courtney Patton - What It's Like to Fly Alone

20. Buffalo Tom - Quiet and Peace

21. American Aquarium - Things Change

22. Charley Crockett - Lonesome as a Shadow

23. Brothers Osborne - Port Saint Joe

24. Courtney Marie Andrews - May Your Kindness Remain

25. Ghost - Prequelle

And here are Robert Dean's five favorites:

Since we’re ½ through 2018 (weird) – here are the records I’m jamming the hardest and think are this year’s best so far: 

Joshua Hedley – Mr. Jukebox

My #1 with a bullet. It would take a miracle to unseat this record. 

Sleep – The Sciences 

Vein – Errorzone 

Charley Crockett – Lonesome As A Shadow 

At The Gates – To Drink From The Night Itself 

Honorable mention cuz it’s new to me: 

Queensway – Swift Minds of The Darkside 

Top 20 Albums of 2018 - First Quarter Report

1. Brandi Carlile - By the Way, I Forgive You

2. Caitlyn Smith - Starfire

3. Ashley McBryde - Girl Going Nowhere

4. Dallas Moore - Mr. Honky Tonk

5. First Aid Kid - Ruins

6. Courtney Marie Andrews - May Your Kindness Remain

7. Caleb Caudle - Crushed Coins

8. Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour

9. Courtney Patton - What It's Like to Fly Alone

10. Buffalo Tom - Quiet and Peace

11. Ruby Boots - Don't Talk About It

12. Wade Bowen - Solid Ground

13. Mike & The Moonpies - Steak Night at the Prairie Rose

14. Trixie Mattel - One Stone

15. Whiskey Wolves of the West - Country Roots

16. Anderson East - Encore

17. Josh Grider - Good People

18. Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats - Tearing at the Seams

19. Ross Cooper - I Rode the Wild Horses

20. Pedigo's Magic Pilsner - s/t

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*there are a few recent and forthcoming albums I haven't listened to enough to rank yet

**This is just Trailer's top 20 - year end list will include all contributors

Album Review / Caitlyn Smith / Starfire

by Josh Schott

(Formerly of the dearly departed Country Perspective)

Back in 2015 when Chris Stapleton released Traveller, it was clear how criminal it was for how long it took for everybody to hear his golden voice on a full-length album. How can somebody this great take so long to be finally be heard? And the same thing can be said for the debut, full-length album from songwriter Caitlyn Smith. She has spent years writing for some of the biggest names in music, but now finally she gets an album of her own. You may not know Smith, but just give her new album Starfire one listen and you’ll never forget her.

The album opens with the waltzing “Before You Called Me Baby.” Right away you get a taste of the absolute raw power of Smith’s voice. Her command and presence will grab your attention and hold it until the album ends. “Do You Think About Me” is a yearning heartbreaker about not being able to move on. The album’s title track is a fiery anthem about staying true to you. It reminds me of something Dolly Parton would have cut back in her prime. 

Every song on this album is great, but there are a couple that go even beyond and one of them is definitely “East Side Restaurant.” Smith’s voice is chill inducing on the chorus, evoking so much heartbreak and emotion as she hits her highest notes. The production brings an elegant, classy and refined feel, perfectly complimenting the lyrics and setting the scene in the listeners’ heads. Smith brings a palpable, aching desperation on “Don’t Give Up on My Love” that enraptures you. She goes through all of the emotions of a rising singer-songwriter in Nashville on “This Town is Killing Me.” She recalls all of the sacrifices she made to realize her dream of making music. It’s the story of so many names you’ll never hear, but something the listener needs to know.

Smith recalls in “St. Paul” the special place this city holds in her heart due to it being the place of her first gig and being from Minnesota. “Tacoma” is one of those songs you’ll instantly fall for on the first listen. Garth Brooks cut it on his comeback album a few years ago, but Smith brings the raw passion that is needed to take the song to it’s full potential. The bridge of this song goes to a place very few artists can go (it would be unfair to spoil this) and something that you need to hear for yourself.  Smith shows off her vivid storytelling ability on “Scenes from a Corner Booth at Closing Time on a Tuesday.” You’ll feel like you’re at that bar taking in the scenes with her. 

While the album tackles a lot of serious subjects and themes, Smith shows off a more fun side on “Contact High.” It’s a catchy love song that helps bring a great balance on the album and allows Smith to really show off the range of her voice. “House of Cards” goes on the opposite end of the emotional spectrum. It’s also the best song on the album. The song delves into faith, hope and self-doubt in such an emotional way. You can sense how much Smith has lived this song and in turn it makes you recall your own emotional hurdles. The song is a perfect demonstration in the powerful connection that resonates between people when showing vulnerability. The album closes with the romantic love ballad “Cheap Date,” a heartfelt and realistic look at love you won’t see in a Hollywood movie.

Caitlyn Smith’s Starfire is fantastic in every way. The songwriting is sharp, smart and relatable to the everyday listener. The production is smooth, flawless and really helps bring the words of the songs to life. Smith without a doubt has one of the best voices you’ll hear in music today. You’re doing yourself a disservice if you haven’t listened to this album. It’s one of the best you’ll hear in all of 2018. 

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Starfire is available on Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, etc.

New Video: Caitlyn Smith - Tacoma

From her new EP Starfire.