Jan 21, 2011
YouTube Gems: Sunny Sweeney
Great song... and if you haven't picked up her new EP, what are you waiting for?
Jan 20, 2011
Jan 19, 2011
Christmas/Gift Card Music Haul
Every Christmas and holiday season brings most of us some good music and a few gift cards in lieu of gifts that loved ones didn't want to select. It might seem generic to some, but honestly, I love gift cards. They give me the opportunity to catch up on music and movies I missed in the past year. With 2 kids, I rarely get to see new movies at the theater, so now's a great opportunity to see what everybody's talking about (Inception and Winter's Bone so far). And sure, I get a lot of my music gratis (legally) these days, but there are always a few older albums I need to grab or other people's favorites that I skipped over in the last 365 days. The following is a list of music I received for Christmas or have selected so far with my gift cards. How about you?
Music:
I know he's mostly into writing for Nashville these days, but I wish this guy would put out more of his own music! This is a great live set full of his earlier almost-hits and other songs.
This is one of those albums I probably purposely skipped over because of the hype, but I finally gave in since it appeared on the "Best of 2010" lists of many bloggers I admire. Loving it so far…. reminiscent of, say, Fleet Foxes singing with the Avett Brothers.
Dynamite Hack - Boyz N The Hood (single)
I've been collecting some odd hip-hop covers for a mix and this is one of the best. Such an understated reading of a rap classic. It's always funny to hear white people sing slang.
Others:
Ryan Adams and the Cardinals - III/IV
Mel McDaniel - Louisiana Saturday Night (single)
John Anderson - Greatest Hits
Jamey Johnson - Two Out of Three Ain't Bad (single)
Jon Lajoie - I Kill People
Also music related: Got the Slash autobiography!
Jan 18, 2011
Jan 17, 2011
Shameful Confessions: My Darkest Days
Shameful Confessions
This'll be a new occasional feature (that hopefully doesn't diminish what little credibility I have left), discussing an album, song, artist, genre or other music related subject that I should probably be ashamed to admit that I enjoy. I'm of the opinion that you like what you like, who cares if critics like it?... with the caveat that one must have some shred of (what is generally perceived to be) good musical taste to not suck as a human being. Take my wife for example, she likes musicals (eh), some modern rock (eh), Josh Groban and the like (um?), hair metal (yes!), Linda Rondstadt (although I'm not a big fan, Linda is a well respected artist), Pink (pretty cool)... and she enjoyed Lucero when we saw them in concert... therefore, her sucky tastes are balanced out with some good stuff. If she only liked Josh Groban and Rent, I probably wouldn't be referring to her as "my wife" (just kidding, love you sweetie!). I, on the other hand, have impeccable taste in music (traditional country, alt-country, indie rock, soul, good metal, top tier rap artists, etc).... BUT (That's a big "but" there). But, there are exceptions...there are songs, musicians and albums that defy my normal listening preferences by a long shot. I don't really feel all that guilty about these musical pleasures - I'm too far into my 30's and set in my ways to give a damn - but this column needed a recurring title. Anyway, here's the first entry.
My Darkest Days - s/t
I hate Nickelback, in case you didn't know. Hate them with a passion. I can identify one of their songs (heard or unheard before) within 3 notes - in time to swiftly turn the station. I also hate most modern rock...Godsmack, Three Days Grace, Disturbed, Chevelle, etc. Can't stand 'em.
My Darkest Days has frequently been described as Nickelback-lite. Their breakout hit, "Porn Star Dancing" is a sleazy ode to strippers that features Chad Kroeger (of Nickelback) and has an accompanying remix featuring Ludacris. Most of the album is MOR anthemic modern rock, with nothing particularly new to offer in the way of lyrics or music. Based on these points, the self-titled debut sounds like it should be the aural equivalent of Hell.
BUT, I like it. A lot.
WTF? Why? Well, the aforementioned "Porn Star Dancing" is infectious and naughty... and fun. It's reminiscent of the joyous,unrepentant debauchery of my beloved hair metal. LA Guns sprung to mind when I first heard it. I immediately sought out the album for preview after hearing the track. I was disappointed to find out that the rest of the album was as far from LA Guns as Rascal Flatts is from country. Still, I gave it a shot. Then another, then another, then I was hooked.
Few of the other songs are immediately enjoyable as the single, but they definitely grew on me. I suppose it's the band's focus on melody over attitude that set them apart for me. Most of the tunes are pop songs with a loud guitar bed... bass driven and ingratiating. Though some are full of bravado, that's not the point here. The songs are the thing, not the image. Not so with groups like Nickelback, whose main lot in the music biz is to constantly show you how big their balls are.
"Burn It Down" is another of my favorites from My Darkest Days. It has a reggae-lite rhythm and an earworm of a melody. Think Sublime with more direction. It gets stuck in my head more often than it should. "Come Undone" is a skillfully rendered take on the 1990's Duran Duran hit. My Darkest Days shows off a little lyrical skill (for the only time on the album, mind you) on "Goodbye," in which the singer leaves a heroin addicted lover for his own good. These are the more memorable songs, but aside from the pretty insipid opener "Move Your Body," none of them are skippers.
Seriously though, nothing about this album or band, for the time being, is remarkable. The lead singer has a likable voice. The guitar work is fine, if unexceptional. The songs are far from groundbreaking. I don't know what the draw is. There's always that undefinable "it" factor, which My Darkest Days does seem to possess. Basically, I just dig the album... what else is there to say? I may hate it and myself for writing this in a month or so, but for now, it is what it.... nevermind.
I hope the band's likely forthcoming mainstream success won't go to their head. Rather, they should continue on the path they've already begun, with their eyes and ears always on the song, not the trappings of their genre or their growing popularity.
Jan 16, 2011
Jan 13, 2011
YouTube Gems: Kasey Anderson
Kasey Anderson (Recommended if you like: Todd Snider, Lucero, Replacements, Steve Earle, older Jack Ingram) has a rocking new album with his band The Honkies, called Heart of a Dog coming out soon. More talk about that later, but for now, here's an excellent Music Fog performance of "Don't Look Back." Does this guy sound great live or what?
Feel Bad For You
Feel Bad for You is a monthly mixtape started several years ago at altcountrytab.ca for message board members to share new music. Recently it has been expanded to include some like-minded bloggers as well, and given its own blog. Generally, the selection is, as the blog's header says, any song, any genre, any year, but the first edition of this new phase of the FBFY mixtape is a Best of 2010 edition. Stream it below, and check out the blog below that.
Jan 12, 2011
.99 Reviews: Trace Adkins "Brown Chicken Brown Cow"
.99 ReviewTrace Adkins - Brown Chicken Brown Cow
(Click the title to listen)
The Peoples' Take
Cowboy (5 Stars)
by Brenda Smith
I love Brown Chicken Brown Cow song - it is the absolute funny and to watch Trace perform this in concert makes it that much better.
One of his best! (5 Stars)
by Paula Peppers
I can't get "brown chicken brown cow" out of my head! LOL
My Take
To be honest with you, I felt dirty listening to this. With a listening history of NWA, 2Pac, 2 Live Crew, George Carlin, Jon Lajoie, Clarence Carter and the Bellamy Brothers ;), that's saying a lot. It's a country rocker built around the old joke that the music in pornographic movies sounds like "bow chicka wow wow," and that's almost all you need to know about the tune. But that won't stop me from running it down.
Trace Adkins has what may be the best voice in contemporary country. It's a booming baritone that has depth and a gentleness when needed. He's also an interesting dude with a big personality and genuine country cred. He's released some really great songs over the years… "Arlington" "Every Light in the House" "Til the Last Shot's Fired" to name a few.
That said, he's also released some of the biggest steaming piles of crap heard on country radio in… ever. I won't hate on "Badonkadonk"… it's been done enough already, and there's at least a little kitsch value to that song. No, I'm talking about "Rough and Ready" "Swing" "I Left Something Turned on at Home" "Hot Mama" "Ladies Love Country Boys" the list goes on.
"Brown Chicken Brown Cow" falls into the latter category. It's a one trick pony with no saddle.
The story is pointless, just a contrived tale to lead up to the punch line. So what's wrong with a little roll in the hay? Nothing; nothing at all if there's a little feeling in the lovemaking or a good plot leading up to it… this is just an end-of-the-show SNL sketch set to music. Ha ha ha, it's a song about porn music, LOLZ! So clever.
What's worse - the titular bovine and foul apparently get off on voyeurism. "nobody watchin' but the brown chicken brown cow." Great. I bet there's already a website for that. The crow even called out to let 'em know that some barn loft sexin' was about to go down. All animals are equal, but some animals get to watch the peep show.
I hope the two rural lovers checked all their crevices for straw afterwards.
Come on Trace. You're better than this.
Total Value: .22/.99
The checklist:
Beer
Life Affirmation
Mama
Boots
Name Dropping
Dying Person
County Fair
Blue Jeans
Lost Love
LoveHometown Pride
Kindly Advice
Dirt Road
Truck
Whiskey
USA
Soldiers
Pop Sheen
Star Power
Jan 11, 2011
Larry Lee the Primitive Baptist Reviews
Craig Morgan - Still a Little Chicken Left on that Bone
This despicable song actually has the gall to hold up sinners as role models. A divorced woman! A pervert football player! All the while comparing them to fried chicken and Coca-Cola. I don't even fully understand that metaphor and I know it's wrong in the sight of the Lord. Also there's some devilish rock and roll guitars playing loudly throughout this ode to finding the tiniest bit of good left in a hellbound miscreant. While these evildoers may in fact be retrievable from those unpearly gates, one should not look to them as paragons of virtue. Write me a song after this harlot redeems her lifestyle - surely she ate of Satan's fruit, and after this ball player puts his pecker back in his Wrangler blue jeans and repents of his misdeeds. 1 John 5: 17 says "All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death." Verily, we shall only look upon righteousness as a virtue worth following. In summation: divorce and tallywhacker texts = damnation.
F
Jan 10, 2011
Jan 9, 2011
Top 10 Potential Perfect Country Star Product Sponsorships
10. Bucky Covington - Cohn Adult High School
09. Kenny Rogers - Halloween Mask Outlet
08. Martina McBride - Jack Daniels
07. Lady Antebellum - Kraft Cheese Spread
06. Lee Ann Womack - Petite Country & Western Wear
05. Josh Abbott Band - CD Duplicators
04. Gary LeVox - Krispy Kreme Donut Burgers
03. Sara Evans - Cougar Town
02. Colt Ford - Athens Septic Service
01. Willie Nelson - Zig Zag Rolling Papers (duh)
Jan 7, 2011
Good Article about Country Carpetbaggers
And our pal Triggerman from Saving Country Music is featured in the article!
Excerpt:
Lately, Gwyneth Paltrow has been behaving like a country-music star. It began in November when Paltrow slipped into a tiny dress and delivered a warbling performance at the CMA Awards. The next chapter comes Friday, in the movie Country Strong, in which Paltrow sings in front of a video screen filled with wild horses, swills booze at a roadhouse, and approvingly quotes Waylon Jennings. We could chalk it up to a mid-career crisis, except that Paltrow isn’t the only one wearing a new pair of boots and affecting a twang. These days, country music is filled with country carpetbaggers.
YouTube Gems: Todd Snider
From the wonderful upcoming double live album Live: Storyteller, here's Todd Snider with "Stuck on the Corner."
Jan 6, 2011
YouTube Gems: Hayes Carll
From his upcoming album KMAG YOYO (& Other American Stories), here's the fantastic Hayes Carll with "Hard Out Here."
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