Oh yeah....

Friday is Alt-Country Day 2. Brand new honest album covers featuring Wilco, Old 97's, Holly Williams and more! Return for a visit please!

iTunes in a perfect world...

Click for a closer view.

Congrats!

The FTM 1st Annifarcery contest is over and the winners are (1st)Kelly and (2nd)CJ!!! Thanks to them and everyone else for entering and thanks for visiting the blog! This last week was the biggest in FTM history!

Free Music!

You can still enter to win free music from me if you click here. The contest ends tomorrow night at 7PM and I'll pick then alert winners after that. In the meantime, a couple of artists in my genre wheelhouse are offering free tunes for a short time. See below!

And from Owen Temple's website:

We are happy to announce that Owen's new project, Dollars and Dimes, is currently the #1 Americana record on the Euro Americana chart!

Thanks to the DJs and journalists whose votes made Dollars and Dimes the top Americana album in Europe for the month of July-

To celebrate, we are offering FREE downloads of the entire album for a week! Get a copy at http://music.owentemple.com - and click "Download Album"

Farce the Music's 1 Year Annifarcery

One year ago today I posted 45 "honest album covers" like these (with the disclaimer that it wasn't my original idea). At the suggestion of a couple of pals on the Altcountrytab.ca message boards, I'd started the blog as kind of a gallery for my Photoshop foolishness. Since I couldn't think of a better name and there wasn't another blog by the title (and because I rarely spent too much time or effort on the covers), I just called it Photocrap. For some reason, people began to visit the blog more and more regularly in the next few days...I don't even know how people outside Altcountrytab ever discovered it honestly, but that gave me the inspiration to make it into more than a gallery and more of a ...well, blog. Over the next few months, I began mixing in lyric parodies, silly song reviews, musical satire, a name change to "Farce the Music" and other nonsense. My links to and from other blogs increased, as did my traffic and my ability to annoy various country star fan club and message board members. I've even had a few singers and songwriters sing the praises of my brand of satire, or at least my aim.

Thanks to Altcountrytab.ca for the start, thanks to The 9513 for the kickstart and thanks to CM at Country California for his ideas and support. Thanks to the other blogs and constant visitors who keep people and kind words coming my way. And thanks to you, the reader.

As a small token of my appreciation, I will give away some of my favorite tunes this week. This post will serve as the entry form and will remain on the front page of my blog through next Sunday evening at 7 PM CST. At that point, I will select 2 winners. My first selection will receive 2 albums of their choice from my Best of 2009 So Far list (note: Brad Paisley's "American Saturday Night" is also an option - it's one of my favorites but I haven't added it to the list yet). The second place finisher will receive 1 album from that list. An iTunes download is my preferred method of awarding the prizes but I will also consider an Amazon digital download, if necessary.

How to enter: Fill out the entry form on this post by 7:00 PM CST, next Sunday, July 12, telling me your favorite "honest album cover" of the past year. A second entry will be given if you answer the second question as well (but make sure you don't suggest something I've already covered). Provide me with a working email address (your email address will not be shared, sold or exploited in any way), or I'll move on to the next selection as a winner. Comments, though welcome, will not count as entries!

That's all there is to it! I know it's not much, ...being a mean ol' satire site, I don't exactly get a lot of freebies to dole out (okay, any...), but as another token of my appreciation, I will also have 2 Country Days this week... Thursday and Friday, with 28+ total covers. All the usual suspects will get theirs... Toby Keith, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Chuck Wicks and more! Be there! And make sure to enter the contest!

Thanks!!!

R.I.P. MJ

Michael Jackson's "Thriller" was the first album I ever owned. Loved it. Still do. I'm gonna do my best to remember him for stuff like that. Farewell to a genius performer and creator of great pop music, regardless of the negatives that went along with him.

I had no idea...

...Country California had t-shirts... and that Kenny was a fan. Congrats to CC for a major milestone! 

Coming tonight/tomorrow

FTM's first ever crossover feature with Country California!

Friday is...

Country Day - May

14+ New Honest Album Covers

FTM Sells Out: The Devil Makes Three

I don't have a lot of bands contacting me for promotional purposes. The reason for that is obvious - I'm mean. Despite the fact that this blog's place in the world is to make fun of anything and everything music related (particularly country related), no matter how inane or sophomoric, I have received my share of emails from groups and artists wanting me to check out their material, and if interested, post a feature about them along with an mp3. To this point, I haven't been impressed enough with anything I've heard to mention it here. The Devil Makes Three's album Do Wrong Right has impressed me enough to be featured as my first FTM Sells Out (the first of what won't be a frequent feature, so that shows you how much I enjoy this album).

Falling right in the pocket of the kind of music that's moving me these days, The Devil Make Three is a string band that blends bluegrass, folk and country into an engaging mix of traditional sounds with an absolutely electric vibe. The playing is top notch, the vocals are strong and the writing is stellar. In fact, I can't find a weak facet to this group. Being a lyricist on the side, I'm drawn to smart, interesting, humorous or soulful lyrics that don't feel contrived and The DM3 deliver on all points. They dip into politics without pandering or pissing. They write about religion thoughtfully and cleverly. They tackle love, drugs and other blue collar interests in fresh and interesting ways. This is an exciting band with a bright future. For reference, you'll probably dig The Devil Makes Three if you like Justin Townes Earle, Old Crow Medicine Show, Bob Dylan or The Avett Brothers, among others. Their new album is called Do Wrong Right and it's one of the best I've heard this year. Definitely check out their Myspace page and I'm also providing a link for a free mp3 download of "All Hail" from Do Wrong Right.

Free Download:

"All Hail"

The Devil Makes Three's Myspace Site

Buy "Do Wrong Right" CD

Buy "Do Wrong Right" Digital Download

News, Notes and 2 Youtube Gems

• Wednesday and Thursday were the two largest hit-days in Photocrap or Farce the Music's 8 month history. Thanks to you for the visits and to the 9513 for the links! As thanks, my next country honest album cover day - possibly next Friday - will be an extra large set.

• Farewell to Nashville Narc! I'm not a huge gossip follower, but Narc provided a lot of great country news and commentary too. And a lot of inspiration for my blog posts!

• Happy Easter to those of us and you who celebrate it!


And on a more somber note, a Steve Earle classic:


And on a funnier note:

Favorite Albums of '09 - First Quarter Report

Click on underlined artist names for their Myspace pages to listen! (Ben doesn't have a solo Myspace, but you can listen to samples on the Amazon link)

Feel free to comment on any of these, or to suggest some other great albums of early 2009!

1. Ben Nichols - The Last Pale Light in the West
A collection of gritty narratives based on Cormac McCarthy's gore-soaked epic, "Blood Meridian," it's as passionate and powerful as anything I've heard this year (and much of last), despite the narrow focus. I'm a huge fan of Ben's full-time gig, Lucero, and looking forward to their major label debut later this year, but it'll have to really be something to top this.
Prime track: "Toadvine"

2. Justin Townes Earle - Midnight at the Movies
This is the one where son overtakes father. Justin's warm, reedy vocals and classic country sound with a modern feel make this quite an engaging album.
Prime track: "Mama's Eyes"

3. The Gourds - Haymaker!
Ridiculously fun as always, but the song-craft never suffers for the sake of party and vice versa. Not quite up to the high bar set by their previous release, Noble Creatures, but still a very strong effort.
Prime track: "Shreveport"

4. Phosphorescent - To Willie
A loving ode to a legend. Nelson's songs retold through a filter of reverent indie folk sound great and remind you that Willie's not just an entertainer and troubadour, but a songwriter of the highest order. Phosphorescent's not bad either, putting their own stamp on the songs, not just performing rote covers.
Prime track: "The Last Thing I Needed (First Thing This Morning)"

5. Great Lake Swimmers - Lost Channels
An indie-folk band with some of the most beautiful vocals you'll ever hear, Great Lake Swimmers take a step in a new direction on this outing, upping the tempo a bit and eschewing the stripped down approach for an array of new instruments, to nice effect. "Pulling on a Line" is my favorite song of the year thus far.

6. Mastodon - Crack the Skye
Metal! Smart, masterfully technical and fairly innovative, but still headbangingly hard, Mastodon's beast of a record should appeal to fans of anybody from Iron Maiden and Metallica to Coheed and Cambria. Great music for working out, or washing the dishes.
Prime track: "Oblivion"

7. The Deep Dark Woods - Winter Hours
Prime track: "All the Money I Had is Gone"

8. Scott Miller - For Crying Out Loud
Prime track: "Sin in Indiana"

9. Eric Church - Carolina
Prime track: "Where She Told Me to Go"

10. Strand of Oaks - Leave Ruin
Prime track: "End in Flames"

On the dayplanner

Friday is March's Country Day, featuring Willie Nelson, Taylor Swift, Pirates of the Mississippi, Cowboy Troy and more. So be here. Or bring me a beer.

Best of '09 So Far

Here's another update of my favorite albums of the year thus far, which I'll do monthly. This is very much a fluid list... I haven't had time to fully digest everything so the rankings will definitely change. It's looking like another great year for tunes though, as was 2008. Feel free to comment with your own list or make suggestions for stuff I should check out!

01. Ben Nichols - The Last Pale Light in the West
02. Justin Townes Earle - Midnight at the Movies
03. The Gourds - Haymaker!
04. Phosphorescent - To Willie
05. Scott Miller - For Crying Out Loud
06. U2 - No Line on the Horizon
07. Strand of Oaks - Leave Ruin
08. Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit - s/t
09. The Deep Dark Woods - Winter Hours
10. Doug Burr - The Shawl
11. M.Ward - Hold Time
12. Mark Olson and Gary Louris - Ready for the Flood
13. The Derek Trucks Band - Already Free
14. Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
15. Bruce Springsteen - Waiting on a Dream
16. Dierks Bentley - Feel That Fire
17. Husband and Wife - Dark Dark Woods

If I do say so myself....

....my blogroll is awesome! All the latest Nashville gossip, straight up music news, indie buzz, awesome reviews, humor and more... all from one location. I love the new feature that shows the updates.

I check my blogroll as often as I do my subscriptions. Ya'll are great!

Best of '09

Okay, so 2009's only been here a short time, but I've already managed to hear some great music. Here's my very very early top 10 (and yes, a couple haven't been released yet... I have a man on the ground).

1. Ben Nichols - The Last Pale Light in the West
2. The Gourds - Haymaker!
3. Phosphorescent - To Willie
4. Scott Miller - For Crying Out Loud
5. Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit - s/t
6. Doug Burr - The Shawl
7. M.Ward - Hold Time
8. Mark Olson and Gary Louris - Ready for the Flood
9. The Derek Trucks Band - Already Free
10. Bruce Springsteen - Waiting on a Dream

This is cool

I've heard country and rap mixed together before, mostly to horrible effect (I'm looking at you, CBT), but this is completely different, in sound and artistic merit. Gangstagrass is a mash up of real hip-hop and bluegrass (and some country blues). It's not as gimmicky as early attempts at this blend, and all genres are strongly presented in their use. Be warned that the hip-hop is gritty and explicit, but this is a unique and interesting sound for sure! The album is posted free here: http://gangstagrass.com/

My other Rascal Flatts cover contest submission

This one's a little more traditional (and a little less stomach turning... but only marginally so)

iTunes Word Search

Got this idea from a message board I frequent... it's interesting to put a word or phrase into the search bar on iTunes and see what songs pop up. This weekend's words are: money & power (two things I have very little of). Comment with your own results if you like. Here are mine:

Money

What Do You Do For Money Honey - AC/DC
Money Made - AC/DC
Moneytalks - AC/DC
Before the Money Came - Bettye Lavette
Easy Money - Brad Paisley
Moneyland - The Del McCoury Band
No Money in This Deal - George Jones
Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is - Jet
Makin' Music For Money - Jimmy Buffett
Easy Money - John Anderson
I Need Some Money - John Lee Hooker
New Cash Money - Lil Wayne
Got Money - Lil Wayne
Free Money - Patti Smith
It's Money That I Love - Randy Newman
Easy Money - Todd Snider
Marry For Money - Trace Adkins
I Want My Money - The V-Roys
Sex, Lies and Money - Will Hoge
I Get Money - 50 Cent


Power

Horsepower - Chris Ledoux
High Powered - Dr. Dre
Powerslave - Iron Maiden
Steam Powered Aereo Plane - John Hartford
There Is A Higher Power - The Louvin Brothers
Powertrip - Monster Magnet
Higher Power - The Sadies
Soul Power - Smashing Pumpkins
Powerful Thing - Trisha Yearwood
Atomic Power - Uncle Tupelo

Welcome to Farce the Music!

Glad you stopped by! Ain't much changed but the domain. So why the name change? Put simply (which is the only way I know to put it), the name "Photocrap" is not representative of all that I do on this blog, and all I want to do. This is 90% a music blog (with a strong country bent), not a Photoshop blog, so I have felt for some time that I needed a moniker change. Don't worry! No album cover is safe from being photocrapped... that's not going to change. That will still be my calling card and the themed album cover days will continue, with at least one "Country Day" a month. "Farce the Music" opens things up though. More song parodies, more band mash-ups, more features of both the visual and verbal variety. I'm working on some ideas to make things stranger and funnier than ever. Oh yeah, "Farce the Music" is also a lot more blogroll friendly title. This is gonna be fun. I'm excited and I hope you'll stay along for the ride!

As a "Grand Opening" celebration, below you'll find a mini-Country album cover set and a parody of Rodney Atkins' "It's America" which was surely asking for it.