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June 26, 2006
Alt. Country Releases, June 2006
Lately I've been reviewing a lot of crap for radio station KUCI, where I am a dj. By crap, I mean, one or two people, possibly friends, who play guitar and possibly drums, or maybe just guitars, get together in a home studio, scrape together $150 bucks to get their cd pressed and send it to me, with some artwork by someone's girlfriend. The home studio is responsible for a lot of grief, in my humble opinion - grief that is better off left at an open mic night in some small town.
But I decided rather than be negative, and rant about the lame cds that I get on a daily basis, I would share with you the cds that I am actually enjoying, the cds that made it out of the package, into the player, and survived to go on to be added to the illustrious library at KUCI.
The Bottle Rockets - Zoysia - Their press kit compares them to Crazy Horse era-Neal Young, but I'm going with the Supersuckers in a slower vein. The Bottle Rockets keep changing their sound and that's not a bad thing. This cd takes two or three listenings, but it starts to grow on you, like the grass that it is named for (Zoysia is a type of grass, people. No, not that kind of grass. Real grass, as in "crabgrass" or "Kentucky Bluegrass. Sheesh).
Sam Bush - Laps in Seven - Sam Bush is called the "Cubist mandolinist" and even I don't know what the hell that means. It's good, and he's got a lot of famous musician friends sitting in with him. He gets kudos from Chris Thile of Nickel Creek, which makes me want to hate him, but I don't.
Drag the River - It's Crazy - Drag the River was supposed to play this show that I put on at the Double Down in Las Vegas. That's a famous saloon that so smokey your eyes hurt even if you're a smoker. Yeah. But they never showed up, even after they begged to play. I don't hold it against them. Their cd is pretty good, even though they are so slow live that they sometimes clear the room. This cd is a bit more peppy, like Speedbuggy on downers.
Pete Seeger - American Favorite Ballads Vol. 4 - Bruce Springsteen did an album of Pete Seeger covers. We didn't add it. Here is a reissue of old Pete Seeger folk songs. We did add it. Go figure. I don't really like Pete Seeger or Bruce Springsteen, but if Bruce Springsteen makes more people like Pete Seeger, that can't be a bad thing. Can it?
Various Artists: Classic Labor Songs - These songs are all about unionizing, black lung, owing the company store, and the way the Man is trying to bring you down. Suitable for all shows trying to make a statement, or anyone who wants to be left in a trendy way. I can see this being a big seller at the Borders in Palo Alto, or charting at some NPR stations. Really.
Casey Driessen - 3D - Casey Driessen is a bluegrass artist the way that Danny Barnes is a poet. A weird, 3-D bluegrass artists poet guy. You get the picture.
The Handsome Family - Last Days of Wonder (Carrot Top) - many people think the Handsome Family are not alt. country, they are just faking. They are wrong. These songs are fast and scary, or slow and happy. They are all messed up. They are disturbing because they are about cannibalism, ghosts, and love. You will find yourself singing along and then realize what the hell you are singing. Stop it! The lyrics are frightening, like a clown at the circus. You love clowns, right?
Yonder Mountain String Band - Everyone likes jug bands, I mean, really. This is like a jug band, but without the jug. They are happy, and upbeat, and banjo-ish, but smart too. Like Hadacol with a banjo!
Fred Eaglesmith - Milly's Cafe - This is one of the saddest albums ever. It's all about loss and dogs and people being disillusioned and losing the farm, their loves, their youth. Sad, sad, sad. And good.
Tim Easton - Ammunition (New West) - Another weeper, but Easton is more bitter, like an angry Nick Drake. Like a guy busking in the subway but belligerent, so you give him a dollar even though you don't really want to give him a dollar. Nice duet with Lucinda Williams on track 5.
Dave Knudsen - The Weeping City (Boronda) - this guy has an odd voice, is friends with local alt. fav Mike Stinson, and sings about LA in a dreamy way. Sort of that Laurel Canyon Cowboy stuff that's so hot now, but not as irritating as all the rest.
Various: Classic African-American Ballads (Smithsonian) and Various: Masters of Old-Time Country Autoharp (Smithsonian) - I think the titles say it all on these. They are new but seem old. Both these cds can make your collection seem more highbrow than it is, and make you sound like you know about music more than you do. Just read the liner notes!
Posted by DJWanda at June 26, 2006 9:30 PM
