Farce the Music: John Moreland

Showing posts with label John Moreland. Show all posts

Jun 27, 2017

Favorite Albums of 2017: Mid-Year Report

This is Trailer's list of favorite albums. The year-end list will look a lot different because all

Farce the Music's contributors will vote on it, there will be actual write-ups of the top albums, and besides... there are 6 more months in the year. There's an Americana/Country-only list at the bottom.

1. Shinyribs - I Got Your Medicine

2. The Steel Woods - Straw in the Wind

3. Pallbearer - Heartless

4. John Moreland - Big Bad Luv

5. Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit - The Nashville Sessions

6. Steve Earle & The Dukes - So You Wannabe An Outlaw

7. Jason Eady - s/t

8. Daddy Issues - Deep Dream

9. Chris Stapleton - From A Room: Volume 1

10. White Reaper - The World's Best American Band

11. Lillie Mae - Forever and Then Some

12. Zephaniah OHora and the 18 Wheelers - This Highway

13. Colter Wall - s/t

14. Black Joe Lewis - Backlash

15. Vagabon - Infinite Worlds

16. Sunny Sweeney - Trophy

17. Dalton Domino - Corners

18. The Shins - Heartworms

19. Valerie June - The Order of Time

20. Son Volt - Notes of Blue

And here's a Top 20 list for Americana & Country only:

1. Shinyribs - I Got Your Medicine
2. The Steel Woods - Straw in the Wind
3. John Moreland - Big Bad Luv
4. Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit - The Nashville Sessions
5. Steve Earle - So You Wannabe An Outlaw
6. Jason Eady - s/t
7. Chris Stapleton - From A Room
8. Lillie Mae - Forever and Then Some
9. Zephaniah OHora and the 18 Wheelers - This Highway
10. Colter Wall - s/t
11. Sunny Sweeney - Trophy
12. Dalton Domino - Corners
13. Valerie June - The Order of Time
14. Son Volt - Notes of Blue
15. Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives - Way Out West
16. Robyn Ludwick - This Tall to Ride
17. Strand of Oaks - Hard Love
18. The Kernal - Light Country
19. Nikki Lane - Highway Queen
20. Angaleena Presley - Wrangled

May 19, 2017

Album Review: John Moreland - Big Bad Luv

by Matthew Martin

The first thing I noticed about the latest album from John Moreland was the generally positive and upbeat tint to the album. Where other Moreland albums burn and singe their ways into your soul, this album boogies its way in. That isn't to say that this particular outing from John Moreland doesn't have those same gut-punch moments. It does. The man writes songs that are written, it seems, in the dead of night with not a lot going on- just your thoughts either haunting or taunting you.

The next thing I noticed was just how damn soulful and bluesy Big Bad Luv is. I know that's always been there with Moreland, but on this album it's much more pronounced. The album is such a throwback Americana album to me. It's something that Steve Earle would have put out. There's a hint of Full Moon Fever-era Tom Petty. It's an album that will certainly grow as the Summer heat begins to intensify. The laid-back bluesy songs such as "Love Is Not An Answer" or "Salisaw Blue" are perfect soundtracks to Summer.

So, the album is a damn good album. It's a growth even if it, in reality, is a step backward for Moreland. Sure, his last two albums were more somber in tone, but those weren't his first albums. He's always had bands and this album is more or less a return to those earlier days. I think that this is an artist who is happy, who is comfortable with the artist he is, and has found a group of musicians that has helped him realize his vision.

Let me get back to the positivity for a moment. Yeah, there are some crushing lines on the album ("If we don't bleed, it don't feel like a song"), but those feelings of despair are mostly in the past and nearly every song has a moment of clarity for Moreland, acknowledging his love has more than made him happy- she's made him better. He's a married man now, and that new truth colors his new music.

Yeah, there's a lot to think about in our pasts, but sometimes we get lucky and we have someone come along who makes those past experiences seem worth it. Those experiences led us to this point. And, it's not so much dwelling on those past experiences. It's more acknowledging them. That's always been Moreland's strength; turning a sharp, unblinking eye on those pasts and the feelings they conjure late at night. He makes us confront what we may have been disregarding. That's what makes us love him and his songs.

Every John Moreland album always ends up being one of my favorite albums of the year, and I don't see a way this album won't also be in my favorite albums list. If not at the top, then damn near it. If you've never seen the man live, he's going on an extensive tour this Summer and you should do all in your power to get out and see and support him. The show is unreal. It's stunning. While you're there, or before, pick up Big Bad Luv and all the previous albums if you don't already have them.

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Big Bad Luv is available everywhere you consume music, except like, Walmart probably.

May 5, 2017

Interview With NashCrap's Charles Buchanan

Charles Buchanan is a country music blogger from Shreveport, LA. He runs the review and satire site NashCrap, which has been skewering mainstream country tropes since 2015. We recently sat down with him for an interview to find out about his process and his motivations.

FNN (Farce News Network): Charles, it's good to finally meet you. I've enjoyed your work ever since I saw that hilarious "10 Suckiest Kane Brown Tweets" pop up on my timeline last year. Let's start with some basics; just let us know who Charles Buchanan is.

CB: Well, I'm Charles.. I'm 24 and currently living with my parents. I majored in journalism at LA Tech and am looking for a job and freelancing a little. I enjoy alone time and Hot Pockets.

FNN: Gotta love that home cooking, right? I live at home too! Free laundry son!
So, what made you start NashCrap?

CB: I just got so tired of seeing all the girls who turned me down riding around in $50,000 pickup trucks with jacked dudes, listening to Florida-Georgia Line, that I decided to strike a blow for the little guy! I listened to pop country and actually enjoyed it up until all the guys who used to beat me up in high school started liking it. So I started looking around on the internet for stuff like "Luke Bryan sucks." I found sites like Salvation of Country Music and Country Nevada and Photocrap the Music, and my eyes were opened to a whole new way to get back at the people who live better lives than me!

FNN: It feels good, doesn't it? Hey, tell your mom thanks for these Snickerdoodle cookies. They're awesome. Next question: How do you quantify what 'good' music is, when we all know taste is subjective?

CB: It's pretty easy, actually. Whatever is popular is bad, except Chris Stapleton and whoever else the other country blogs say is okay. Whatever doesn't get played on the radio is good, except Kane Brown… he sucks, obviously.

FNN: A recent editorial on WhiskeyBitch stirred up controversy when it said that people who criticize artists like FGL and Sam Hunt probably weren't popular in high school and are passively aggressively getting back at the "cool kids." Thoughts?

CB: They really hit the nail on the head. I remember back in ninth grade, all the kids made fun of me for my premature baldness. I was really overweight too, so I could never catch the baseball players who'd always steal my toupee. I have never been on one single date, ever. My aunt from out of state who looks really young went to prom with me so I'd have a date, but even she wouldn't dance with me. I have a few friends, but I only know them by screen names. So, what were we talking about again?

FNN: I think you covered it. So now that you're a "big star" in the country blogging world, do you ever get to meet the artists when you go out to shows?

CB: Shows? Like musicals? I went with my mom to see Wicked one time, but I didn't get to meet anybody.

FNN: No. You know, concerts… but since the artists we cover are usually on a smaller scale, they're often just called 'shows.'

CB: Cody Jinks liked one of my Tweets one time.

FNN: That's cool. I really meant, have you spoken to any of the singers you like in person?

CB: Justin Wells messaged me on Facebook and asked that I remove a bad review of his album one time.

FNN: A negative review of his album? That doesn't seem like him.

CB: No, it was a poorly written review. He said he was embarrassed for me.

FNN: Moving on. What do you think of the softening of bro-country? It's less in-your-face now, with more pop and EDM influence. Do you think it's a positive or negative for mainstream country, going forward?

CB: I don't know really. I just look for dumb outfits they wear to make fun of them, or find lyrics I can make memes from. I don't really get that deep into the study of the actual music. Honestly, I wish bro-country was still the way it was a few years ago. It was easier to make top ten lists about.

FNN: Understood. What albums are you listening to right now?

CB: I'm really excited about the new John Moreland. I just love his Springsteen-esque sound and his heartfelt lyrics. Also, Chris Stapleton's new album is sure to be excellent, or so I've read.

FNN: Okay. Lastly, who's really getting your goat in the world of pop country?

CB: Chris Lane! Ha, that hair! He looks so stupid. And Kelsea Ballerini! She just sings "boy" a bunch and she's a star. How fair is that? Florida-Georgia Line always gets me upset. You know? I stopped to take a pee there one time.

FNN: Riveting insight, pal. Thanks Charles. Make sure to check out his great work at NashCrap.hulu and tell 'em FNN sent you!