Showing posts with label Marty Stuart. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marty Stuart. Show all posts

Jul 19, 2013

YouTube Gems: Brandy Clark & Marty Stuart

Here are Brandy Clark and Marty Stuart performing Clark's song, "Take a Little Pill." It appears on both her EP and her fantastic forthcoming self-titled debut album.

Jan 4, 2013

FTM Top 75 Albums of 2012: 1-20


A first-half-of-the-year release unfairly hurts some albums on these year-end lists. That wasn't the case for this year's #1 album, There is a Bomb in Gilead. From my May review:
"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."

Standout tracks: Sundown in Nashville, Picture From Life's Other Side (with Hank III)

See review here.

See review here.
RIYL: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Lucero, Two Cow Garage

Does this band have a signature sound, or what? Turnpike Troubadours are (is?) distinctive, vibrant and unique (so unique in fact, that I used two synonyms for that word in the same description). Disregard my haphazard writing and just know that they've come into their own on Goodbye Normal Street
Songwriting doesn't get much better in this day and age.
Standout tracks: Good Lord Lorrie, Empty as a Drum, Gin, Smoke, Lies

From Kelcy's November review (note - we'll also post Kelcy's favorite albums of '12 later on, 
so I should probably do my own write-up here, but I'm lazy)
"In summary, if you're a fan of anything that Cody Canada, Seth James, Jeremy Plato, Steve Littleton or have done in the past you will love this album.  If you're a fan of good bluesy rock n roll you will love this album.  Shoot, if you're just a fan of good music with some substance, you need to pick up a copy.  So get Adventus & celebrate the true Arrival of The Departed on the scene."
Standout tracks: Prayer for the Lonely, Set It Free, Sweet Lord
A true comeback album, 3 Pears finds the country legend mixing rock, soul, country and his undying swagger into a welcome set of memorable songs that will never get played on Clearchannel radio.
Standout tracks: It's Never Alright, A Heart Like Mine, Rock It All Away

Standout tracks: Pocket Full of Misery, Rosalia

(Condescending Wonka says) Oh you thought West Coast rap was dead? 
Have you heard Kendrick Lamar?
Standout tracks: B*tch Don't Kill My Vibe, Backseat Freestyle

Real country is alive and well. The Trishas are proof. The vocals and harmonies are beyond reproach. The songwriting is the thing for me though. High, Wide and Handsome shows Nashville how to write a hooky, lyrically clever song without leaning on cliches and marketing. The Trishas are no one-note act - they give us a portrait of strength on the album, but they also give us vulnerability. In other words, reality.
Standout tracks: Over Forgiving You, Mother of Invention, The Fool

Standout tracks: More Than I Can Handle, Harold Wilson, Desperate People

I want to personally thank Killer Mike for relighting my fire for hip-hop. Obviously, I focus mostly on alt-country and rock, but I've been a rap fan since the late 80's. I just thought intelligent, fiery, well-crafted hip-hop was a thing of the past. (Obviously there's a whole rap underground that I'm discounting with that statement, but there are only so many hours in the day for listening to music.) R.A.P. Music is a bold statement, both lyrically and sonically. Producer EL-P (whose own album is further down this list) provides a brutal, old-school-leaning bed for the rhymes. Mike flows like he actually cares about what he's saying. He's clearly a real person - in one verse he's cursing the political system; in the next he's praising his family. There's little talk of bling and booty on this record....because real people don't have to dwell on generalities and boasts when they discuss life. Killer Mike is as real as it gets.
Standout tracks: Big Beast, Reagan, Butane


The indie-country Svengali delivers his most consistent album to date with Family Man
It's a cohesive, passionate look at (mostly) the everyman side of country music royalty. 
On these very pages, I once dismissed Shooter's music, voice and image but no longer... 
so long as he continues to deliver music this engaging and tuneful. 
Standout tracks: The Long Road Ahead, Daddy's Hands

The indie world buzzed and bowed for this band from ...duh, Alabama, as soon as their EP hit the scene in 2011. That hype turned a lot of people off or built up their expectations far too high, but for me, Boys & Girls was a delivery on the promise of that Extended Play. Throw some Muscle Shoals soul, New York garage rock and folk sensibility into a blender and the Shakes are what results. It's more than that, though. Their songwriting is strong, their musical chops are exciting and Britanny Howard's voice is a thing of beauty.
I can't wait to see where they go from here.
Standout tracks: Hold On, Heartbreaker, I Ain't the Same




Like Shooter Jennings, Matt King was an artist I once didn't "get." Given time with his music however, I've changed my tune. Matt is a country singer with a very distinct vision. He also has a signature sound. That's rare in this day and age. Apples and Orphans is full of wit and anger in equal amounts. While politics and the environment are common themes, Matt explores these themes with an old-timey aesthetic and warm approach that never seems preachy, even when it is. His music is at times experimental, steampunk (whatever that means), ragtime or pure country. It's always passionate.
Standout tracks: Back to Baltimore, Jasmine and Gypsies

Dec 26, 2012

Top Songs of 2012 - (Very!) Honorable Mentions

These are the songs released in 2012 that fell outside my top 10, but I felt were worthy of mention... 
not only mention, but excited proclamation actually. 2012 was a banner year for music - 
mostly outside of the mainstream, though there were some true mainstream gems. 
Here are FTM's honorable mentions for top songs of 2012, in no particular order.


Kacey Musgraves - Merry Go 'Round (Mainstream Country Song of the Year)
Fistful of Beard - White Bluff
Dwight Yoakam - It's Never Alright
The Departed - Prayer for the Lonely
Shooter Jennings - The Long Road Ahead

The Pollies - Ashes of Burned Out Stars

Horsehead - God Damned the Rain to Fall
Brent Cobb - Diggin' Holes

Ronnie Fauss - This Year

Corb Lund - One Left in the Chamber
Uncle Lucius - Pocket Full of Misery
Kendrick Lamar - B*tch, Don't Kill My Vibe
Ryan Bingham - Western Shore
Kathleen Edwards - A Soft Place to Land
fun. - Some Nights
Zac Brown Band - The Wind
Bonnie Raitt - You Can't Fail Me Now

Alabama Shakes - Heartbreaker

Gretchen Peters - The Matador

ZZ Top - I Gotsta Get Paid

EL-P - The Full Retard
Darrell Scott - Dance in the Darkness
Alan Jackson - So You Don't Have to Love Me Anymore
The Deadfields - Carolina Backroads
Smashing Pumpkins - Pinwheels
Blackberry Smoke - Crimson Moon

Lucero - Like Lightning

Marty Stuart - Sundown in Nashville
Kasey Anderson and the Honkies - Some Depression
Roger Creager - Bad Friend to a Good Man

Soundgarden - Blood on the Valley Floor

Josh Abbott Band - Flatland Farmer
Bruce Springsteen - Land of Hope and Dreams

Japandroids - The House that Heaven Built

Old Crow Medicine Show - Ain't It Enough
Lindi Ortega - Use Me
Frank Ocean - Thinkin' About You

Gary Clark Jr. - You Saved Me

Dec 17, 2012

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

Sep 13, 2012

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)


5. Turnpike Troubadours - Goodbye Normal Street



7. Arliss Nancy - Simple Machines



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

Aug 10, 2012

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

Jun 29, 2012

Favorite Albums of 2012: First Half Report

















3. Darrell Scott - Long Ride Home
4. Turnpike Troubadours - Goodbye Normal Street
5. Alan Jackson - Thirty Miles West
7. Shooter Jennings - Family Man

8. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - The Lion The Beast The Beat
9. Kellie Pickler - 100 Proof
11. Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls
12. Jack White - Blunderbuss
13. Lucero - Women and Work

14. Kathleen Edwards - Voyageur
16. fun. - Some Nights
17. Willie Nelson - Heroes
18. Bonnie Raitt - Slipstream

19. Ray Wylie Hubbard - The Grifter's Hymnal
21. Paul Thorn - What the Hell is Going On?
22. The Shins - Port of Morrow

23. Wrinkle Neck Mules - Apprentice to Ghosts
25. The White Buffalo - Once Upon a Time in the West

May 25, 2012

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)

Jan 24, 2012

Country Fanbase IQs













Click for a closer view.



(obviously this post is just to annoy a particular fanbase or two but I feel certain that this is fairly accurate in rankings, if not actual numbers)

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