Farce the Music Sells Out #3

Here's another rambling, so-called review at FTM. Though straight reviews shall remain relatively rare here, there will be two more tomorrow - Zac Brown Band and Scott Warren - before we return to the funny with the next edition of "31 Country Themes" and a "Bigger in Texas 2" honest album covers day. For now, please check out this fine album.

Old Californio - Westering Again

Westering Again is a killer country rock album with something for nearly everyone who reads this blog. There is an obvious Beatles influence in many of the melodies and harmonies. There's also sweet jangle pop reminiscent of the Jayhawks going on with some Calexico-esque mariachi spicing things up. In the mellower moments, some of the same dusty landscapes of Richmond Fontaine's story songs are visited here, but the mood rarely gets that somber. Can't help but hear a little Gram Parsons every now and then as well.

The opening track, "Mother Road," is a great, uh, road song (too obvious?) that taps the toe and fills the soul with sunshine. Cheesy description - great song. "From the Mouth of Babes" sounds like Oasis by way of Dylan and features an earworm of a chorus. The only real misstep is "Warmth of the Sun," an over-thought rocker whose mid-tempo groove finally resolves itself into an unfulfilling coda. Fortunately, Westering Again brings it home with three great songs including the epic (in scope not scale) "Lazy Old San Gabriels" and the thoughtful but lilting "California Goodness."

Despite the fact that I played "spot the influences" and "name the similar sounding artists" with this review, Old Californio has its own vibrant personality and fills out this record as a fully realized artist, not just a mockingbird of a "genericana" band. Well worth the purchase. Even fans of more mainstream music would find a lot to love here - this is a very accessible listen.

Check 'em out here: http://www.myspace.com/oldcalifornio

Free, legal song download: "Mother Road"

Buy the album on iTunes or here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oldcalifornio

Jason Aldean Lyric Parody

Ball-Peen Hammer

(Parody of Jason Aldean's "Big Green Tractor")

Was out shopping with my wife one Saturday,

The country station on in our Chevrolet

The girls were all shrieking, cutesy and pop,

And the dudes were slangin', brangin' the rock,

They played a Reba song, and it sounded "Strange"

But the straw that broke the camel's back was "That Thang"

When shoppin' was done, we'd planned to see a show

But I said "I'd rather go to Home Depot"

Gonna hit myself hard with a ball-peen hammer

Hell, my IQ can't drop any faster,

These tunes are crappy as turds in the pasture,

To radio execs, it really don't matter,

Long as they sell ads and please soccer moms too

They don't care bout the hell country's gone to

I think those idjits should be put in the slammer

Or I'll hit myself hard with a ball-peen hammer

Said Waylon's cold in his grave but he's rolling around,

This bling and auto-tuner's got him down,

Folks try to stay hip, but these days hip-hop sucks,

It's so two-thousand late to be singin' about butts

Gonna hit myself hard with a ball-peen hammer

Hell, my IQ can't drop any faster,

These tunes are crappy as turds in the pasture,

To radio execs, it really don't matter,

Long as they sell ads and please Nascar dads too

They don't care bout the hell country's gone to

I think those jerkoffs should be put in the slammer

Or I'll hit myself hard with a ball-peen hammer

Dance remixes and sappy teens,

Hank would be thankful he didn't live to see,

This day,

Long as they sell ads and please soccer moms too

They don't care bout the hell country's gone to

I think those morons should be put in the slammer

Or I'll hit myself hard with a ball-peen hammer

Oh no no,

Please just turn it down,

Or I'll put an end to this frown,

With a ball-peen hammer.

Fun With Charts & Graphs: Warrant

John Rich Friday

Today is a small celebration of the man, the myth and the legend in his own mind. 2 songwriting tips, a custom JR tattoo and this honest album cover round out the fun, but you can continue the party with a little drinking, fighting, skirt-chasing and badmouthing later today. Enjoy!

John Rich Tattoo

Just print this out and take it to your favorite tatt artist and get inked up!