Top 10 Songs of 2012

No commentary on these. I'll just let the music speak for itself.

1. The Gaslight Anthem - Here Comes My Man
from Handwritten

2. Lee Bains III and The Glory Fires - Righteous, Ragged Songs
from There is a Bomb in Gilead

3. Arliss Nancy - 40's
from Simple Machines

(Track hosted for streaming purposes only. No claim is made to copyright. 
Song is not downloadable despite language in the graphic which suggests otherwise.)

4. Chris Knight - Nothin' On Me
from Little Victories

5. The Trishas - Over Forgiving You
from High, Wide and Handsome

6. Jason Eady - AM Country Heaven
from AM Country Heaven

7. Turnpike Troubadours - Good Lord Lorrie
from Goodbye Normal Street

8. Killer Mike - Big Beast
from R.A.P. Music

9. The Mavericks - Come Unto Me
from Suited Up and Ready EP

10. Some Dark Holler - Chords Are Always the Same
from Hollow Chest

A few more honorable mentions: 

John D. Hale Band - Desperate People

Hayes Carll - Love Don't Let Me Down (feat. Caitlin Rose)

The Dirty Guv'nahs - Dear Alice

Top 10 Played Most Songs 2012

Photo from Pavement PR

1. Lee Bains III and the Glory Fires - Ain't No Stranger

2. Chris Knight - Little Victories

3. Shooter Jennings - The Long Road Ahead

4. Killer Mike - Big Beast (explicit + R-rated zombie stripper laden video)

5. Marty Stuart - Sundown in Nashville

6. The Pollies - Joe

7. EL-P - The Full Retard (explicit)

8. The Dirty Guv'nahs - 3000 Miles

9. The Gaslight Anthem - Here Comes My Man

10. Lucero - On My Way Downtown

(1 song per artist)

*Based on iTunes plays count, not favorite songs

YouTube Gems: Lee Bains III and The Glory Fires - Total Destruction to Your Mind

Here's FTM Album of the Year frontrunners Lee Bains III and The Glory Fires with their forthcoming new single, a cover of Swamp Dogg's "Total Destruction to Your Mind."

Best Albums of 2012 So Far: September

New to the chart this month: The Pollies, Chris Knight, Uncle Lucius and the John D. Hale Band.

1. Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires - There is a Bomb in Gilead

2. Marty Stuart - Nashville, Vol. 1 Tear The Woodpile Down

3. The Pollies - Where the Lies Begin (Release Date: Oct. 2)

4. Chris Knight - Little Victories

5. Turnpike Troubadours - Goodbye Normal Street

6. Uncle Lucius - And You Are Me

7. Arliss Nancy - Simple Machines

8. The Trishas - High, Wide and Handsome

9. Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music

10. Shooter Jennings - Family Man

11. Blackberry Smoke - The Whippoorwill

12. Darrell Scott - Long Ride Home

13. John D. Hale Band - More Than I Can Handle (Release Date: Sept. 25)

14. Jason Eady - AM Country Heaven

15. Kellie Pickler - 100 Proof

Lee Bains III and the Glory Fires' New Video

While you're waiting for Country Day Part 3, here's a brand new video of a kick-ass song, from my #1 album of the year so far.

Best Albums of 2012 So Far: August

There's no change towards the top of FTM's "best of" list but a lot of upheaval down below, with Arliss Nancy, Killer Mike and others jumping onto the list. There are also two big albums waiting in the wings: Jamey Johnson's Hank Cochran Tribute and Chris Knight's new release. Anyway, here's the top 10. Feel free to make any suggestions for great 2012 albums in the comments.

1. Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires - There is a Bomb in Gilead

2. Marty Stuart - Nashville, Vol. 1 Tear The Woodpile Down

3. Turnpike Troubadours - Goodbye Normal Street

4. Arliss Nancy - Simple Machines

5. Darrell Scott - Long Ride Home

6. Jason Eady - AM Country Heaven

7. Shooter Jennings - Family Man

8. Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music

9. Blackberry Smoke - The Whippoorwill

10. The Trishas - High, Wide and Handsome

Favorite Albums of 2012: First Half Report

1. Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires - There is a Bomb in Gilead

2. Marty Stuart - Nashville, Vol. 1 Tear The Woodpile Down

3. Darrell Scott - Long Ride Home

4. Turnpike Troubadours - Goodbye Normal Street

5. Alan Jackson - Thirty Miles West

6. Jason Eady - AM Country Heaven

7. Shooter Jennings - Family Man

8. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - The Lion The Beast The Beat

9. Kellie Pickler - 100 Proof

10. Wade Bowen - The Given

11. Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls

12. Jack White - Blunderbuss

13. Lucero - Women and Work

14. Kathleen Edwards - Voyageur

15. The Deadfields - Dance in the Sun

16. fun. - Some Nights

17. Willie Nelson - Heroes

18. Bonnie Raitt - Slipstream

19. Ray Wylie Hubbard - The Grifter's Hymnal

20. Bob Wayne - Till the Wheels Fall Off

21. Paul Thorn - What the Hell is Going On?

22. The Shins - Port of Morrow

23. Wrinkle Neck Mules - Apprentice to Ghosts

24. Jackson Taylor & The Sinners - Bad Juju

25. The White Buffalo - Once Upon a Time in the West

Feel Bad for You Mixtape: June '12

This month's Feel Bad For You Mixtape includes great music from The Mavericks, Adam Carroll, The Gaslight Anthem, Bob Wills, Shooter Jennings and many more. Stream it with the widget below or go to the website to download the mixtape and comment on the tracks! Enjoy!

10 Best Songs of 2012 So Far

Arliss Nancy - 40's (I can't find anywhere for you to listen to this yet, but trust me... it's about drinking 40's by the shore... it's awesome)

Lucero Family Picnic: To the Best of My Recollection

I can't give an entirely accurate or journalistic report of my trip to the Lucero Family Picnic this past weekend. I went as a fan, not a blogger, so I didn't bother taking note of every song each band played or how well they played it. Also, some beverages (drank from an Arkansas Razorbacks tumbler because it's a dry county and a long story…) may have come between me and clear memories of the evening. What I can say that it was a lot of fun and an experience I'll never forget.

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First of all, I got to hang out with Shooter Jennings. I don't just mean that I got to meet him for a few minutes or shake his hand after the show. My buddy Chad and I got to spend basically the entire evening with Shooter and his band. To the man, they were all extremely cool and friendly. Shooter was a gracious host, despite FTM's history of general unpleasantness towards him (up until recently). I'm guessing Brantley Gilbert wouldn't be as welcoming.

Austin Lucas backed by Glossary

We talked music for the vast majority of the night. Shooter is very knowledgable about both the past and present of the career he's chosen. I heard some great tales about Jamey Johnson, Hank Jr and Toby Keith. He played me some of the new Fifth on the Floor album he's producing and some rough cuts of the new Hellbound Glory he's working on. Great stuff. 

The tour bus was a busy place. Band members came and went, bringing back boiled shrimp and autographed pics with "The Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart who was announcing some wrestling matches across the park. Somebody brought Shooter a cool "Outlaw Country" cake for his 33rd birthday and then worked on him to get him to do an upcoming show. Alcohol and music flowed. Members of other bands strolled around nearby. It was all very surreal, to be honest. Chad and I both felt like the experience was somewhere between being on a reality show and the movie Almost Famous.

We watched the first act, John Paul Keith and the One Four Fives from backstage. He put on a great show for the small early crowd. His rockabilly meets roots-rock sound should bring him and his band a bigger name in coming years.

Hanging out w/Lee Bains III

Lee Bains III and The Glory Fires were up next. They tore up their short set with their ragged brand of southern rock/punk/soul. I wish there'd been a larger crowd to hear them play tunes like "Dirt Track," "Ain't No Stranger" and "Everything You Took," but this was a late arriving audience. Still, the band played like they were in front of 20,000. I got to meet Lee and a couple of the other members after their show. They were all good guys. Lee came off as a regular guy (with a killer voice) who's thankful to be doing what he loves and eager to get his music out there. You can't help but root for folks like that.

Austin Lucas took the stage after Bains, with Glossary in tow as his backing band. I finally took my lazy self to the front of the stage so I could hear better and wasn't disappointed. Austin sounds great live. His voice is so unique and powerful. There's no doubt about authenticity when you're listening to him. The highlight of his set for me was the charging "Thunder Rail," but it was all excellent. I got to meet Austin and talked with him for quite a while. While the tattoos and on-stage fire might make one think he'd be a forceful, aggressive personality, he was such a laid back dude. We talked music, touring, Brantley Gilbert and Lee Brice (whom he toured with on the Willie Nelson tour last year) and he was more than happy to talk my ear off. I didn't mind it a bit. Such a cool, nice guy… I'd love to hang out with him any time.

I caught 90% of Glossary's show from the front of the stage next. They were bad ass. I've heard that you have to hear Glossary live to truly appreciate them, and it's true. They were intense. I talked to a few people who'd come to the picnic just to see them. They played tunes like "Little Caney" and "Save Your Money for the Weekend" and generally just blew me away. Happily, the picnic grounds had filled up with people a good deal by now.

Photo by Jamie Darling

Shooter Jennings came on next and played for an hour and a half. It was a great performance, with his Brooklyn-ite band sounding every bit like they were born and raised in the town where they stood. Shooter and the boys played old favorites like "Fourth of July" and "Some Rowdy Women" along with some Waylon covers and tunes from Family Man. He also played 2 new songs from his Fall '12 album The Other Side that sounded as good or better than anything on Family Man. If I hadn't already been converted to a Shooter fan, this show probably would have done the job. 

Farce the Music's unofficial house band, Lucero, finished the night with a blazing 2 hour+ set that had the entire crowd singing along. There's really no point in saying how good they were; I've never seen them play a bad show, or even heard of it …and this felt like a particularly passionate performance. Their current album Women & Work along with the album Tennessee got the most action, but they played a little something from their entire catalogue. Even if we'd only driven through the boonies of Arkansas just to see them, it would have been worth it.

Lucero rocks the Lucero Family Picnic

After the final note played, we hung out a while longer with the bands. I met Joey Kneiser of Glossary, but I think I unnerved him a bit for some reason - I can be a bit socially awkward at times so that's probably it. Also met John C. and Roy of Lucero and they were both very cool, and very drunk. Glossary pulled out their mascot fake skeleton for some jokes and pictures. I believe Shooter shared a passionate kiss with it (don't tell Drea!). Shortly later, I met Lucero lead singer Ben Nichols. I'm a man-fan and probably acted as such, but he took it in stride and was funny and friendly.

All in all, the Lucero Family Picnic was a winning experience. Saw some great bands, heard some awesome tunes, met some really good folks. I couldn't have asked for a better time. A special thanks goes out to Shooter Jennings for welcoming us with open arms and being such a cool guy to hang out with!

That's not very nice, Shooter.

Glossary

YouTube Gems: Lucero Family Picnic

This weekend, I'm ridiculously excited to be attending the Lucero Family Picnic in Batesville, AR featuring Lucero, Lee Bains III & the Glory Fires, Shooter Jennings, Austin Lucas, Glossary, John Paul Keith and the One Four Fives and Guy Venable. Here are some select videos from the artists.

Lee Bains III and The Glory Fires - There is a Bomb in Gilead

For having such an indie, obtuse sounding title, There is a Bomb in Gilead is far more straight-forward a rock and soul album than anything so difficult to grasp as the latest Pitchfork darling. The forthright Lee Bains III and The Glory Fires emerges onto the scene already a full-fledged force to be reckoned with on this fantastic debut.

Mixing garage rock, country soul and southern swagger into an effortlessly authentic blend, Lee and the boys give a spirited go at every style across 11 spotless tracks. From the driving exploration of faith on album opener "Ain't No Stranger," through the sin, searching and nostalgia of the middle to the hymn-inspired closing title track, there isn't a weak point on the album. In fact, I've listened nearly 30 times and have yet to tire of it.

Lee Bains sings like Jason Isbell with a snarl, high and soulful at times, cranky and quick at others. He's a perfect outlet for these tales of desperation and longing. 

And though the band claims not to be a southern rock band, there's really no question about it to those of us who aren't wearing their boots. Bains drawls every line and the riffs are right there in the pocket of some of the legends who came before. And the settings - Magic City (Birmingham), Opelika, the Roebuck Parkway, Centreville - if it's not southern rock, it's at least rock music set squarely in the heart of Dixie.

While every song is a strong showcase of the band's skills, I do have some favorites, mostly right in the heart of the album. "Everything You Took," is a hooky take on the days just following a break-up where the material items kept by the girlfriend don't matter nearly as much to him as the memories she left him. 

"Righteous, Ragged Songs" is a motto for the band, if anything is. "I ain't figured out how to pack out a room just yet" speaks to the group's small beginnings, while the chorus proves them mature beyond their years. The song also mentions the profitable opportunities Bain's passed on to go with his heart. Let's be thankful he did.

"The Red, Red Dirt of Home" isn't about Texas - Alabama has red dirt too- it's about the foundations built by where they grew up and the tribulations they've been through. "Got my mama and daddy on speed dial in my phone"… that's some country cred right there that doesn't need a line about "I'm so country in my truck" to drive it home.

Lee Bains III and The Glory Fires have skipped right over the formative section of their career and stepped with both feet right into their potential. There is a Bomb in Gilead is an ass-kicking, heart-pumping, soul-reflecting chunk of rock n' roll goodness that another ten years on the road couldn't make any more honest or cohesive. This album is a statement of purpose.

If you're a Drive-by Truckers fan who isn't happy with the lifeless melancholy of their recent output, this is where to get back in the groove. If you want to like Lucero, but can't get past Ben Nichols' gruffness, Lee Bains is a smooth alternative. If you're a southern rock fan looking for new blood, look no further. 

To put a finer point on it, There is a Bomb in Gilead is my frontrunner for best album of 2012. It's that damn good.

Here's a free track  from the album: "Opelika"

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You can purchase There is a Bomb in Gilead on Amazon and iTunes.

YouTube Gems: Lee Bains III and the Glory Fires

I will be talking a lot about this band in coming days, weeks, months... years? Their May release, There is a Bomb in Gilead, is absolutely bad ass. Here's Lee Bains III and the Glory Fires with "Righteous, Ragged Songs."