Showing posts with label Randy Rogers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Randy Rogers. Show all posts
Nov 10, 2023
One Texas Town Doesn’t Have a Country Song About It
“We’re pretty much the same exact size we were in 1910, write about our consistency!” laughed Guzman. “But seriously, you can zoom into any area in Texas on Google Maps and pick a town and there’s a 99% chance there’s at least a mediocre Casey Donahew album cut about it.”
“Freakin’ Gatesville has a song!” he frowned. “River floating, vista gazing, dust stirring, beer drinking, lie telling, domino slamming, chili without beans… we’ve got it all, but Gatesville… ptuih!”
Neither Cody Johnson, nor Willie Nelson, nor Randy Rogers, nor Pat Green, nor Rich O’Toole, nor Bri Bagwell, nor Robert Earl Keen, nor K.T. Olin, nor Jack Ingram, nor Rodney Crowell, nor Joe Ely, nor Nanci Griffith, nor Larry Gatlin, nor Mac Davis, Gary P. Nunn, nor Clint Black, nor Alejandro Escovedo, nor Jamie Lin Wilson, nor Beyonce, nor Steve Earle, nor Radney Foster, nor Kelly Clarkson, nor Cody Canada has bothered showing even 3 1/2 minutes of interest in the forlorn municipality.
"It rhymes with a bunch of stuff depending on how you say it," laughed the Mayor. "fall, in all, call, pal, Cristal... uh saddle if you pronounce it weird."
A small sampling of other Texas cities and towns that DO have country songs written about them are as follows: Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Amarillo, Texarkana, Stephenville, Waco, College Station, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Odessa, Monahans, Wichita Falls, Nacodoches, Plainview, Fort Worth, Indianola, Lubbock, Galveston, Alpine, Austin, Luckenbach, La Grange, Beaumont, Midland, El Paso, Abilene, and Laredo. But not Sabinal.
The town has put together a discussion panel to find ways to make the area more amenable to being documented in the next TRRR smash. “First of all we’re looking to expand the Dairy Queen parking lot, at city expense, to draw in more young people who like to hang out yelling “Let’s go!” in parking lots with their pickup trucks. That’ll cover the more middle of the road Texas country sensibilities.” said Guzman. “But we also have to find ways to add more ennui, whatever that is, for the artsy-fartsy Texas poets.”
“We’ll figure it out..” he trailed off, with a tear in his eye.
At press time, out-of-state country songwriter Cody Wolfe had volunteered to write a song about Sabinal, provided that a nearby airport can accommodate his private jet.
Jun 1, 2023
Nov 14, 2018
Dec 29, 2015
FTM's Top 20 Songs of 2015
20. Jonathan Tyler (with Nikki Lane) - To Love is to Fly
19. Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats - S.O.B.
18. Kendrick Lamar - King Kunta
17. Jamie Lin Wilson - Seven Year Drought
16. Allison Moorer - If I Were Stronger
15. John Moreland - White Flag
14. Darrell Scott - Thanksgiving 1985
13. Benton Leachman - Lonely
12. Ray Wylie Hubbard - Stone Blind Horses
11. Anderson East - What a Woman Wants to Hear
10. Chris Stapleton - Fire Away
9. Father John Misty - The Night Josh Tillman Came to Our Apt.
8. Ashley Monroe - Bombshell
7. Whitey Morgan - Still Drunk, Still Crazy, Still Blue
6. Wrinkle Neck Mules - Beehive
5. Hailey Whitters - Low All Afternoon
4. Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen - El Dorado
3. The Honeycutters - Me Oh My
2. Baroness - Chlorine & Wine
1. Turnpike Troubadours - The Bird Hunters
Oct 12, 2015
Top 30 Albums of 2015: 3/4 Report
Here's my 3/4 of 2015 Favorite Albums list. I'm going to attempt to do a composite among FTM's regular contributors (Matthew, Kelcy, Jeremy, Kevin, and myself) and hopefully have our first team-voted official list (at least a top 10) at the end of December, so this is just a 20% slice here. -Trailer
1. Father John Misty - I Love You Honeybear
2. Chris Stapleton - Traveller
2. Whitey Morgan - Sonic Ranch
4. Turnpike Troubadours - s/t
5. Jason Isbell - Something More Than Free
6. The Honeycutters - Me Oh My
7. Randy Rogers & Wade Bowen - Hold My Beer, Vol. 1
8. James McMurtry - Complicated Game
9. American Aquarium - Wolves
10. Ray Wylie Hubbard - The Ruffian's Misfortune
11. Jonathan Tyler - Holy Smokes
12. J.D. McPherson - Let the Good Times Roll
13. Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly
14. Ashley Monroe - The Blade
15. The Pollies - Not Here
16. Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats - s/t
17. Jamie Lin Wilson - Holidays & Wedding Rings
18. The Damn Quails - Out of the Birdcage
19. Anderson East - Delilah
20. Kacey Musgraves - Pageant Material
21. Faith No More - Sol Invictus
22. Lindi Ortega - Faded Gloryville
23. John Moreland - High on Tulsa Heat
24. Lucero - All a Man Should Do
25. Benton Leachman - Bury the Hatchet
26. Wrinkle Neck Mules - I Never Thought It Would Go This Far
27. Clutch - Psychic Warfare
28. Darrell Scott - Ten
29. The Deslondes - s/t
30. Dwight Yoakam - Second Hand Heart
I haven't heard these enough yet to rank them: Jason Boland and the Stragglers - Squelch, Hailey Whitters - Black Sheep, The Yawpers - American Man, Corb Lund - Things That Can't Be Undone, Don Henley - Cass County, Gretchen Peters - Blackbirds.
Jul 2, 2015
FTM's 10 Favorite Songs of 2015 So Far
In no particular order.
John Moreland - White Flag
Wrinkle Neck Mules - Beehive
Whitey Morgan - Still Drunk, Still Crazy, Still Blue
Kendrick Lamar - King Kunta
The Honeycutters - Me Oh My
Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen - El Dorado
Benton Leachman - Lonely
Darrell Scott - Thanksgiving 1985
Father John Misty - The Night Josh Tillman Came to Our Apt.
Chris Stapleton - Fire Away
These and many other good songs from 2015 are included on this Spotify playlist:
Jul 1, 2015
Top 20 Albums of 2015: First Half Report
1. Whitey Morgan - Sonic Ranch
Sonic Ranch is as strong a "real country album" as you'll hear in 2015. It's refreshing to hear such unfiltered honky-tonk music in this day and age of contrived edge and softened edges. Morgan and the 78s' version of modern outlaw country is a comparable sound to what Sturgill Simpson is doing, but with a blue collar approach and a more pronounced low-end. This album may not drive Morgan to acceptance/hype in the same circles as Jason Isbell and Sturgill, but it's a big statement album that will bring in new fans and make old ones very happy.
Sonic Ranch is as strong a "real country album" as you'll hear in 2015. It's refreshing to hear such unfiltered honky-tonk music in this day and age of contrived edge and softened edges. Morgan and the 78s' version of modern outlaw country is a comparable sound to what Sturgill Simpson is doing, but with a blue collar approach and a more pronounced low-end. This album may not drive Morgan to acceptance/hype in the same circles as Jason Isbell and Sturgill, but it's a big statement album that will bring in new fans and make old ones very happy.
2. Father John Misty - I Love You Honeybear
Indie-pop is a sub-genre I usually avoid due to the overly precious nature of its typical fare. Father John Misty doesn't do twee. He infuses his catchy pop tunes and lounge rollers with a strong dose of balls. His lyrics are clever, biting, and frequently downright asshole-ish. These songs comfort, provoke, enlighten, and annoy, often at the same time. Our narrator is a jerk, but a jerk that you have to stick around to see what he'll do or say next. This is a record that will gnaw at you and stick with you, each song taking its turn being an earworm or soundtrack to some odd moment.
Indie-pop is a sub-genre I usually avoid due to the overly precious nature of its typical fare. Father John Misty doesn't do twee. He infuses his catchy pop tunes and lounge rollers with a strong dose of balls. His lyrics are clever, biting, and frequently downright asshole-ish. These songs comfort, provoke, enlighten, and annoy, often at the same time. Our narrator is a jerk, but a jerk that you have to stick around to see what he'll do or say next. This is a record that will gnaw at you and stick with you, each song taking its turn being an earworm or soundtrack to some odd moment.
3. Chris Stapleton - Traveller
5. Randy Rogers & Wade Bowen - Hold My Beer, Vol. 1
Hold My Beer, Vol. 1 sounds as much like a celebration of friendship as it does a duets album from the pair of popular Texas troubadours. There's a palpable sense of fun and camaraderie throughout the ten song collection. It’s the soundtrack to a good Saturday afternoon barbecue, a party record for people who'd rather not fist-pump, a greatest hits collection of songs you haven’t heard yet (unless you've been to their summer tours of the same name as the album).
Hold My Beer, Vol. 1 sounds as much like a celebration of friendship as it does a duets album from the pair of popular Texas troubadours. There's a palpable sense of fun and camaraderie throughout the ten song collection. It’s the soundtrack to a good Saturday afternoon barbecue, a party record for people who'd rather not fist-pump, a greatest hits collection of songs you haven’t heard yet (unless you've been to their summer tours of the same name as the album).
7. American Aquarium - Wolves
To say the musical arrangements are daring & a departure from past albums is true. Yes, the same basic structure is there, the skeleton is intact enough to keep the loyal fans sated. But BJ Barham & the boys take risks here. The lush "Man I'm Supposed To Be" could be something Chet Atkins produced, but the darkness that lurks in this most honest of love songs somehow makes the song even more powerful. -Kelcy Salisbury
To say the musical arrangements are daring & a departure from past albums is true. Yes, the same basic structure is there, the skeleton is intact enough to keep the loyal fans sated. But BJ Barham & the boys take risks here. The lush "Man I'm Supposed To Be" could be something Chet Atkins produced, but the darkness that lurks in this most honest of love songs somehow makes the song even more powerful. -Kelcy Salisbury
8. James McMurtry - Complicated Game
This is McMurtry’s best record, and it ain’t close. And that was a high bar. He could put his pen and guitar down now, and his name will forever belong beside those of Lovett, Clark, Earle, and yes, Van Zandt. If you know those names, you know what the comparison implies. If you don’t, listen to Complicated Game, and get a frame of reference. This one’s a crowning moment for one of the true and elite Texas craftsmen. -Kevin Broughton
This is McMurtry’s best record, and it ain’t close. And that was a high bar. He could put his pen and guitar down now, and his name will forever belong beside those of Lovett, Clark, Earle, and yes, Van Zandt. If you know those names, you know what the comparison implies. If you don’t, listen to Complicated Game, and get a frame of reference. This one’s a crowning moment for one of the true and elite Texas craftsmen. -Kevin Broughton
14. Wrinkle Neck Mules - I Never Thought It Would Go This Far
Maybe this fine album isn't to be analyzed. Find your own meaning in these literate, attitude-driven, poetic, anti-bucolic, abstruse (and surprisingly fun) lyrics and run with it. It's not like you're going to stop tapping your foot, either way. It's all too damn catchy; and so steeped in shine and cooked over some ridge dweller's firepit, I Never Thought It Would Go This Far can't help but captivate.
Maybe this fine album isn't to be analyzed. Find your own meaning in these literate, attitude-driven, poetic, anti-bucolic, abstruse (and surprisingly fun) lyrics and run with it. It's not like you're going to stop tapping your foot, either way. It's all too damn catchy; and so steeped in shine and cooked over some ridge dweller's firepit, I Never Thought It Would Go This Far can't help but captivate.
18. Benton Leachman - Bury the Hatchet
Benton Leachman has a reedy croon that gives off the impression of innocence or sweetness. While that may indeed be the case for Leachman personally, his debut album, Bury the Hatchet, presents several bits of evidence that are at odds with that starry-eyed delivery. He's clearly a complicated and real person, and this record shows you all his sides with a passionate honesty that's rare in first releases.
Benton Leachman has a reedy croon that gives off the impression of innocence or sweetness. While that may indeed be the case for Leachman personally, his debut album, Bury the Hatchet, presents several bits of evidence that are at odds with that starry-eyed delivery. He's clearly a complicated and real person, and this record shows you all his sides with a passionate honesty that's rare in first releases.
Apr 20, 2015
Album Review: Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen - Hold My Beer, Vol. 1
That’s not to say the songs don’t hold together as a consistent album - the song order is organic, the songs clearly come from a collective creative vision, and there’s a common production quality - but it truly sounds like a “Best of” set that just happens to be a regular album. While I don’t want every album to be quite so packed with “event” songs, it’s a compliment for Hold My Beer. There’s no lag; all killer no filler, as they say.
There are songs which stand out from the rest, however. “Good Luck With That” is a humorous and self-deprecating tune that sounds like cross between a Texas-music scene staple and one of those short ditties George Strait used to include on every album. It’s a good time.
“Standards” is a friendly kiss-off to the Nashville way of doing things. Wade shrugs off a “bro” song pitched to him with a simple “it’s not me,” before launching into the more biting chorus “I don’t have hits, I’ve got standards,” using the double-meaning of ‘standards’ to perfection. “It’s gotta feel right” replies Randy, maintaining that polite balance.
“El Dorado” is a cowboy epic, a solemn and thoughtful goodbye from an old desperado. While neither Randy nor Wade has the sort of voice you’d describe as wide-ranging, their voices entangle so perfectly as to soar across the western vistas of the song during the instantly memorable chorus. It’s an extremely moving song, and one of my favorite of the year thus far.
The record closes with a cover of Willie & Merle’s “Reasons to Quit” (fittingly, from that legendary pair of friends’ duet album Pancho and Lefty). It’s a sobering way to end the album, but Wade and Randy’s vocals play off one another with a warmth and understanding that imbues the tune with unexpected liveliness.
Hold My Beer, Vol. 1 is more than a summary of Randy and Wade’s annual tour. It’s a strong and artful set of songs that never drags in the slow moments, and never embarrasses you during the more party-friendly moments. Fire up the grill, throw a koozie on a Shiner Bock, and turn this up.
-Trailer
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Hold My Beer, Vol. 1 is available today at iTunes, Amazon, Lonestar Music and all the usual locations.
Apr 8, 2015
Mar 31, 2015
Jul 30, 2013
Fun With Google Searches: Randy Rogers, Luke Bryan, Wynonna, etc.
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| Once again... I didn't say it... |
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| 1 out of 4 ain't bad. |
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| Yes, but he has to smile at the same time. |
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