Can You See the Sunset? » alt-country

Sounds You Should Hear: Digger Barnes

Eric — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 01:44:48 +0000

Who: Digger Barnes
Sounds: Time Has Come
Where: Hamburg, Germany
How: Hometown Caravan
What: Digger Barnes is a German singer/songwriter that is probably best known to American fans as the bass-player for The Revival Tour (you know, with Chuck Ragan, Tim Barry, Ben Nichols, Austin Lucas, Tom Gabel, etc…). This album, however, is filled with the sort of Gothic Americana that makes me shiver and shake in my boots. It’s a bit scary, but equally excellent.
RIYL: Austin Lucas, Tom Waits, etc…
MP3: Digger Barnes - Everybody Run

Glossary – Feral Fire

Eric — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 01:06:11 +0000

The latest album from Murfreesboro, Tennessee’s Glossary was release this past summer and it’s called Feral Fire. It’s a great Southern rock record in the tradition of bands like the Allman Brothers, Thin Lizzy, and Lucero. First and foremost, Feral Fire is a guitar record, but there’s some country twang and plenty of hip-shaking moments as well. The layered/harmonized vocals of Joey and Kelly Kneiser are a real treat and (IMHO) the band’s secret weapon for their slow-burning sound. The album was recorded by Matt Pence from Centro-matic and was released by Lucero’s Liberty & Lament label. In fact, Glossary guitarist Todd Beene has lent his pedal steel talents to the guys in Lucero for some time now as well. You can’t go wrong with Feral Fire, but if you want to check ‘em out before buying this, their album Better Angels Of Our Nature is available for free from the band’s website.

MP3:
Glossary - Lonely Is A Town

Two Cow Garage – Sweet Saint Me

Eric — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 05:08:28 +0000

Y’all might remember that way back in 2008 I called Two Cow Garage’s album Speaking In Cursive my 13th favorite album of that year, so you shouldn’t be the least bit surprised that the latest from these Columbus, Ohio roots-punk-alt-country-rock-whatever guys will most likely be somewhere around there on this year’s list. Heck, Two Cow Garage frontman Micah Schnabel’s solo album made last year’s best-of the year list. So, yeah, I think it’s been pretty well established that I like this band quite a bit. All that being said, the new album, Sweet Saint Me comes across (to me) as a bit of a change in Two Cow Garage’s sound; it’s a bit bigger and a little less punk rock than before. Still rockin’ but a little less overtly wild and desperate punk feeling. Where Speaking In Cursive was a step towards this, Sweet Saint Me is the sound of a band that knows where they’re headed. Sure, Schnabel’s gravelly sneer is still front and center (as are his biting lyrics) but there’s no longer any hesitation anywhere. Also, the keys and the horns are tasteful and perfectly compliment the core of the band. They could have totally fucked it up (see Lucero’s last record for a perfect example of how NOT to “expand” your sound). I loved their last one, but with time, this one could become my favorite Two Cow Garage record. So do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Sweet Saint Me from our friends at Suburban Home Records and go see this band when they come to your town.

MP3:
Two Cow Garage - Lydia
Two Cow Garage - Jackson, Don't You Worry

Justin Townes Earle – Harlem River Blues

Eric — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 17:57:06 +0000

You may or may not have known that Justin Townes Earle’s previous album, Midnight At The Movies, was one of my favorites of 2009, but now you do. As much as that album served to really prove that Earle could step out from the shadow of his famous father, this album takes it a step further and shows what he’s really capable of. Now I wasn’t initially as drawn into Harlem River Blues the way I was with Midnight At The Movies. I chalk it up to the wide-ranging stylistic swings this album takes. It’s still sorta a twangy country album, but Earle dips his paintbrush into blues, gospel, rockabilly, and especially sweeping pop music to give his tales of hard luck some vibrant (even if more mainstream) colors. Earle’s songwriting range is certainly impressive but it may be just a little too “all over the place.” Harlem River Blues is a beautifully crafted album but somehow lacks some of the tenderness that made Midnight At The Movies so cohesive and moving. Still, the more I listen to Harlem River Blues, the more I like it and the more it makes sense to me. Ask me in another month what I think and I’ll probably say it’s better than his last.

MP3:
Justin Townes Earle - Harlem River Blues

Phosphorescent – Here’s To Taking It Easy

Eric — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 02:58:32 +0000

On this, Phosphorescent’s fifth full-length, Here’s To Taking It Easy, that’s exactly what it sounds like. It’s part weird folk music and part lazy West Coast country music; it’s 100 percent amazing and perfect for relaxing around the house pretending that there’s a warm salty breeze blowing in rather than the negative 6 degree wind chill we’ve got now. Out now on Dead Oceans and highly recommended.

MP3:
Phosphorescent - The Mermaid Parade

Lucero / Ha Ha Tonka – Live 8/2/10 @ Otto’s

Eric — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 16:42:08 +0000

With the whirlwind that was the last two weeks, I wasn’t sure that I’d ever get this post up. Anyhow, the wife and I cruised through the country over to Otto’s in DeKalb, IL on a rainy Monday night to see Lucero, Ha Ha Tonka, and The Gunshy. It also happened to be Ben’s 36th birthday. Lucero (per usual) was drunk and sloppy, but the addition of the horns, the keys, and the pedal steel was all a bit too much. Maybe I’m just bitching about nothing here, but I like the stripped down Lucero better. Ben’s voice was also totally shredded. Still, Ha Ha Tonka was brilliant. This is the second time I’ve seen ‘em and they have only gotten better. Here are a few videos:

Sounds You Should Hear: Have Gun, Will Travel

Eric — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 13:00:50 +0000

Who: Have Gun, Will Travel
Sounds: Postcards From The Friendly City
Where: Tampa, Florida
How: Self-Released
What: A combination of indie rock, folksy Americana, and bluegrass that just simply works. Heard about these guys last year from Nine Bullets. It was a great suggestion.
RIYL: Good Old War, Avett Brothers, etc…
MP3: Have Gun, Will Travel - Sons And Daughters Of The Gilded Age

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Tumbledown – Tumbledown

Eric — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:28:17 +0000

When I first heard that MXPX frontman Mike Herrera was also fronting a band called Tumbledown, I was pretty excited. I mean, in theory, I should love this band… a lot. Their bio reads like my wet dream; “Aging punk rocker that I loved as a teenager discovers roots rock and makes his version of a country album.” What’s not to love? Sure, I love(d) MXPX and I love Drag The River, Chuck Ragan, Tim Barry, Chris Wollard, etc… (all guys from punk bands that now play a twangier brand of music) but something about this Tumbledown album just isn’t working for me. The songs are (for the most part) fun and energetic in a country/rockabilly sorta way and aren’t terrible in the least, but… maybe Herrera’s voice or delivery just doesn’t fit, or maybe it is something else. Whatever it is, I only just like this record. And while I didn’t expect to be blown away, I’m still disappointed that I don’t love it like I thought I would. Even so, this isn’t bad for drinkin’ music and we all know that the drunker you get, the better stuff sounds.

MP3:
Tumbledown - Let's Drink
Tumbledown - Movin' On

Sounds You Should Hear: Tim Barry – 28th & Stonewall

Eric — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 13:00:07 +0000

Who: Tim Barry
Sounds: 28th & Stonewall
Where: Richmond, Virginia
How: Suburban Home
What: Another amazing album full of soul-stirring Southern folk-rock from the former Avail frontman.
RIYL: Chuck Ragan, Woody Guthrie, etc…
MP3: Tim Barry - Prosser's Gabriel