How The West Was One Vol.6 [Alt. Country Series]

Christ, "Folksingers Heart" (Thanks Ron) has been bothering me for days – as soon as I heard it I knew I loved it, this was really due to the reason that that guitar riff is so familiar and I can’t remember where the hell I hear it before – if anyone knows could they let me know please...

OK, so Volume Six then, it really could have been a series of compilations over 20 weeks such is the strength of Country music at present so limiting to six was a bit of a challenge and I know there are a few that escaped me, I have received a few e-mails from Alt.Country fans who have put me onto about a dozen new bands not included here and that makes the whole experience worthwhile. On occasion people have commented on my record collection stating that I probably should have enough now – I really don’t understand what that means – I have accepted the fact years ago that my collection will always be a work in progress – it will never stop growing – when it does I doubt there will be much air circulating around my body.

As I type I am listening to Eastwood and instantly a gentle wave of familiarity comes to me – I know it yet it is still new and a little different kinda like a friend you haven’t seen for a while – you know the conversation will be stilted initially however it loosens up over time.

Listen, the music contained within this collection of tracks is probably pound for pound the strongest selected in the series, I can’t be arsed commenting (probably because I have had too much red wine)on the individual tracks just listen and decide for yourselves...

01. Folksingers Heart – Two Cow Garage
02. Bandits – Midlake
03. People Gotta Lot Of Nerve – Neko Case
04. Breathe – Eastwood
05. Can’t Hardly Wait – Justin Townes Earle
06. Leah – Quiet Life
07. Sisters & Brothers – Giant Sand
08. Animal Shapes – Silver Jews
09. Oxygen – Wily Mason
10. I Know You – Bravo Johnson
11. Russell County Garage – The Waybacks
12. Simple Explanation – The Autumn Defence
13. Lift My Mug (Song For Hub Cale) – William Elliott Whitmore
14. Lady Of The Snowline – Willard Grant Conspiracy
15. If I Am A Stranger – Ryan Adams And The Cardinals
16. Here At The Starlight - Lucero

Six Disc

How The West Was One Vol. 5 [Alt. Country Series]

I remember when I used to play football, the manager always advised us getting off to a strong start is essential, with this sage advice still ringing I have started with “Long Life Stomp” by The Broken Prayers – a bombastic piece of music which might have you ordering their magnificent “Crow” album on the basis of one track.

Having an American cousin can be useful, it’s such a vast place with so much music – I don’t think I would have ever heard of Emmet Swimming had it not been given to me years ago under the order “Listen or die” – thankfully it turns out that I really loved them, unfortunately so did some of my friends who stole my “Big Night Without You” album which I have never replaced...still I digress “Parking Lot” is lifted from their second album “Arlington To Boston” and is majestic .

I honestly believe these Alt County mixes keep getting stronger – I mean we are at Volume 5 and only now do Whiskeytown, 16 Horsepower, Uncle Tupelo, Band Of Horses, and Okkervil River make their entrance. I’m not going to comment on their tracks as I don’t have the time or the mastery of words to do them justice...just listen instead.

Greg Keelor (Blue Rodeo) has the voice of an angel and on “No Man’s Land” creates such a beautiful track that it could induce tears from the most harden musical subscriber, I have to mention “Ride With Me” by Sarah Borges And The Broken Singles – for all you Lemonheads fans out there must hear this cover. The fact is this: Ride with me is one of the greatest songs that my generation pushed forth, now I Sarah covers this faithfully and yet gives the song another level of warmth that is just staggering – and the solo is much cleaner and the fact she keeps the song in the right gender means it may just be a perfect track.

“What do you mean you have not heard “Coxcomb Red”???? – I have heard these words before when discussing the most beautiful midnight tracks to listen to. It’s not so much a song as a confession – a song that obviously means so much to Jason Molina and a gentle effortless way to finish the mix.

Next week...last in the series!

01. Long Life Stomp – The Broken Prayers
02. Parking Lot – Emmet Swimming
03. 10 Seconds – Whiskeytown
04. Castles In The Sand – Dead End Cowboys
05. No Man’s Land – Greg Keelor
06. My Narrow Mind - 16 Horsepower
07. TTT Gas – The Gourds
08. Back Home – The Hiders
09. Detlef Schrempf – Band Of Horses
10. The Long Cut – Uncle Tupelo
11. One Last Time – Neal Casal
12. Unless It Kicks – Okkervil River
13. Dollar A Day – Ryan Bingham
14. Through Unto The End – Trainwreck Riders
15. Ride With Me - Sarah Borges And The Broken Singles
16. Coxcomb Red – Songs:Ohia

Five

How The West Was One Vol. 4 [Alt. Country Series]

Some songs simply defy any form of criticism, The Nationals “Fake Empire” is one such song – their opening track from “Boxer” just grabs and doesn’t let go, and beautiful gentle building rhythms combined with off pattern drumming that is sublime. See if you can sit still to “Children Of The Lord”, if that track doesn’t impress I’ll probably give up doing this blog due to the fact that I’m completely out of touch with good music anymore.

Some great mid tempo tracks here, super group Golden Smog lift the bar, Josh Ritter passes yet another perfect melodic 4 minutes our way, while Joe and The Pernice Brothers draw upon the most beautiful whimsy to drift effortlessly over us.
I have included a few cracking slow numbers, obviously Bonnie Prince Billy needs no introduction, “I Will Never See The Sun” by The Great Lake Swimmers is one of the tunes that induces tears almost on the first listen – much of this to do with Tony Dekkers subdued vocal tones.

It could be argued that Micah P Hinson is currently the finest singer songwriter making music today, I wouldn’t like to argue against it – such an ear for structure and form - he knows when exactly to bring in the right instruments – listen and hear. Octoberman make the most mundane tasks seem lyrical in “Run From Safety” - different class.

Finally, yes that is a lyrically-changed up cover of the Stranglers “No More Heroes” and yes that is country music from The Lemonheads – I think that in reality they might have been the first band to turn me onto the charms of this wonderful genre...

Enjoy...I reckon it’s a good one...

01. Fake Empire – The National
02. Children Of The Lord – Slim Cessna's Auto Club
03. Right Moves – Josh Ritter
04. Serpentine – Chris Bathgate
05. Fighting For – Cross Canadian Ragweed
06. Ill Fated – Golden Smog
07. I Will Never See The Sun – Great Lake Swimmers
08. No More Heroes - Inneke 23 & The Lipstick Painters
09. Amazing Glow –The Pernice Brothers
10. A Minor Place – Bonnie “Prince” Billy
11. Big Gay Heart – The Lemonheads
12. Dark Don’t Hide It – Magnolia Electric Co.
13. Undone – Mark Mulcahy
14. Beneath The Rose - Micah P Hinson
15. White Hearse Comes – Rae Spoon
16. Run From Safety - Octoberman

Four

How The West Was One [Vol.3]

What better to start volume 3 than to hear a Swedish Alt Country great in Christian Kjellvander, it is testament to just how great country music is that is appears to have spread across the entire globe – it’s influence is immeasurable. Listening to the track you would swear he came from an American country state – such a great song that builds to an inspiring finish that rouses the soul.

Easily one of the greatest country records released in the last few years is Son Volt’s “The Search” – a modern masterpiece of which “The Picture” is included here simply because forgot just how good this track was. The same can be said for “Sick Of Goodbyes” from another unbelievable album “Kerosene Hat” – I listened to it again last week and it still holds true after 16 years which is testament to it’s worth.

The next three tracks on the mix are up there with my favourite 3 from any mix I have ever done – The Avett Brothers surely must have listened to John Lennon as their track more than tips a hat to the master, Blitzen Trapper are a band that vary their sound – one of their most country sounding tunes is “Texaco” which is such a heartbreaking track – the steel gives it a sublime dreamlike quality. The final track on the magic 3 is from Drive-By Truckers – just insane how good this band are – like Wilco nearly impossible to define a favourite album nevermind track however I have opted for “The Living Bubba” as it really strikes a chord with the listener – if it doesn’t send shivers down your spine you must be plastic.

Personally, I feel this is the best mix in the series so far and hopefully classic track form The Broken Family Band, Antic Clay and Lambchop will add credence to that statement. A special note on Chris Isaak – I actually really liked “Wicked Game” however I pretty much dismissed him after that, then I watched a film called “Beautiful Girls” and heard “Graduation Day” – it is a song that you instantly fall in love with – just beautifully textured with the most divine vocals laid down. This track was found on the album “Forever Blue” which I quickly purchased and never regretted – check it out it is one of the greats – even Stanley Kubrick loved it…

01. Homeward Rolling Soldier – Christian Kjellvander
02. The Picture – Son Volt
03. Sick Of Goodbyes – Cracker
04. The Fall – The Avett Brothers
05. Texaco – Blitzen Trapper
06. The Living Bubba – The Drive-By Truckers
07. Anna Lee – The Bad Livers
08. Lake Of Pontchartin – The Be-Good Tanyas
09. Old Wounds – The Broken Family Band
10. Graduation Day – Chris Isaak
11. Something Special – Chuck Prophet
12. Simple Hello – Damien Jurado
13. Living Is Suicide – Dax Riggs
14. The Light That Guides You Home – Jim Cuddy
15. On Holy Mountain – Antic Clay
16. The Butcher Boy – Lambchop

Here

How The West Was One [Vol 2]

I do like the feel of an extra few feet in my bed and ever since I heard “Sun Comes Up It’s Tuesday Morning” I realise that good news does wait until morning...one of the greatest things in life is our magpie ability to steal the ideas, thoughts and feelings of our favourite artists and pass them off as our own, for years I have always falsely portrayed myself as more intelligent and more witty simply by “borrowing” the simple phrases of my favourite songs... although a lesson to the wise better to go obscure with your stealing...

Please don’t comment on the Wilco track – picking one was difficult and unless you can pick a favourite child please don’t tell me that I left off “She’s a Jar” et al, however if you do have a better track than “C’Mon” by Guster I would love to hear it as it is bloody superb – roll down the windows and let summer in.

I heard that Joe Purdy song on an episode of “Lost” – it honestly remains the only episode I ever watched of the show and while I left Lost behind I can’t say the same for Joe an artist I quickly sought out and loved ever since – beautiful gentle inspiring ode to the art of letting go. I get a similar thing with Josh Rouse whose early work was streets ahead of the competition, “Feeling No Pain” from 2002’s “Under Cold Blue Stars” was the lynchpin track in an outstanding album – listening to it it’s easy to see why it was such a favourite.

“George Washington” is the demo version from Hope Of The States which towers over their album remix, if your eyebrows are raised over their Country credentials just listen to the track especially the last 2 minutes which with the right headphones could reduce you to tears.

I like this selection of tracks a lot especially the last two – the sheer beauty of “The Light Will Stay On” haunts me – from that bassline to the lush string section - Carla Torgersons vocals never sounded better – it always fills me with melancholy, my head spins with too much thinking... almost that although we have a place in the world it is blinking reality and despite everything you do it is just a flickering life you will lead and even at its brightest it is still destined to end and yet it is comforting as we all collectively share this blessing.

I love leading from this track into “Road To Joy” a song so perfect it should be placed in the locker of every teenager of 15 years old just to let them appreciate the fact that they are not alone and we all were fucked up at one stage and yet it getting better in the end after a little noise.

As I’ve always said “If when you’re asked to join a war that’s over nothing it’s best to join the side that’s going to win”...

01. Sunken Waltz – Calexico
02. Sun Comes Up It’s Tuesday Morning – Cowboy Junkies
03. The Late Greats – Wilco
04. In My Hands – Aaron Lee Tasjan
05. C’mon - Guster
06. Wash Away (Reprise) – Joe Purdy
07. Feeling No Pain – Josh Rouse
08. George Washington (Demo) – Hope Of The States
09. The Galway Girl – Steve Earle
10. Four Years Ago – Nadine
11. Today, I’m Gonna Bleed – Neal Cash
12. Streetlights – Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit
13. Fire Fire – The Victor Mourning
14. Think It Over – The Thorns
15. The Light Will Stay On – The Walkabouts
16. Road To Joy – Bright Eyes

Two

How The West Was One [Alt.Country Series]

Christ, it used to depress me – the sound of a pedal steel guitar and some hairy badger moaning about some poorly named woman who broke his heart. I always considered myself fortunate that my parents never really subscribed to the misery and depression that dripped from every Country and Western song. Of course, they flirted with Crystal and Jim but never fully committed to their painful odes preferring to stay closer to 60’s pop/folk or more Irish folksy leanings...

Nowadays, Alt.Country is one of thee coolest genres around – thanks to the genius bands like Wilco, Son Volt, Lambchop, Calexico etc etc – no longer are you scorned for loving this brilliant art.. but it wasn’t always like that..

Country was never cool growing up, let’s face it out of all the musical genres Country was never one you would admit to liking...you had the Metal kids whose schoolbags would advertise the likes of AC/DC and Kiss, then you had the really Metal kids whose canvas bags were decorated with the likes of Carcass and Danzig– you stayed the hell away from those ones partly due to the smell but really through the heightened suspicion they would one day kill their parents. The Indie kids were generally chirpy and usually thought they were better than everyone else, their schoolbags adorned with The Roses and Farm harmless really...as were the Goths with their Meat Is Murder stance and belief that Robert Smith was the second coming of the lord...they were harmless also ...well harmless to others anyway. Finally, in my school you had the Dance kids – usually the first kids to discover the joys of sniffing poppers in history – I remember acne being a constant for that brigade due to their lack of sleep as they were up all night on the decks – they would stretch to Reggae but really only for a soundtrack to their comedowns....

No – no one liked Country – me included until I discovered “Sweetheart For the Rodeo” – I remember first hearing it being devastated that the Byrds could produce such a racket...gradually I grew to love it like all great records over years as opposed to days. Personally, I feel that’s where this whole Alt. Country idea came from – The Byrds and in particular Gram Parsons...I for one am glad they decided to make it cool for me to like this music because it is now considered cooler than sexual intercourse – unfortunately I get more Country music these days...

As I type I am listening to “Girl In Green” by Blue Rodeo a total maelstrom of swirling organs and crashing fenders, Christ even backwards dubbing going on in this one – a Greg Keelor classic and one of the many genius records Blue Rodeo put out over the years – one word review: Awesome! Wovenhand are another one of Alt Country’s truly innovative masters – “Dirty Blue” a track that simply will have you gasping at the brilliance of its texture and harmonic beauty.
I have included a few upbeat tracks on this mix – notables include the mighty Jayhawks and American Babies, Old 97’s remind me of Blue Rodeo which is always good as they skip and move with such pace and vigour they are contagious. Ed Kowalczyk of American rock band “Live” proclaimed that “Supernatural” by Vic Chesnutt was “the most beautiful song written by a human being” – I’ll let you judge for yourselves.

I think one of the reasons people really love this genre is simply because the songs can be so heartfelt and moving – if you are looking for evidence of this look no further than the offering on this mix by “Iron And Wine”, “Jim White” and the sublime “Shearwater”

So, here you go the new mix – I hope you enjoy and if you think that Country isn’t your thing – perhaps you should take a chance I guarantee there will be something in this series that will change your mind...maybe?

01. Think It Over One Time – Robert Earl Keen
02. Girl In Green – Blue Rodeo
03. Howl – Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
04. Dirty Blue – Wovenhand
05. Wonderful Lie – The Felice Brothers
06. Brooklyn Bridge – American Babies
07. White Line – Blackie & The Rodeo Kings
08. Waiting For The Sun – The Jayhawks
09. Just Short Of The Line – Eric Taylor
10. Supernatural – Vic Chestnutt
11. Won’t Be Home – Old 97’s
12. Passing Afternoon – Iron & Wine
13. Roll On – North Twin
14. Still Waters Luaka Bop – Jim White
15. (I’ve Got A) Right To Cry – Shearwater
16. Sleeping On Roads – Neil Halstead * (Incorrectly tagged in mix)

Here

Hurricane Veins Vol 6 [The Last 10 Years Of Neo-Pyschedelia Trips]

The last in the series and one of the hardest to compile – this one changed multiple times and even now as I type I mourn the sinful omissions of Spindrift, Dandy Warhols, Polyphonic Spree and I could go on and on. I really like this last selection as it features a sampling from all areas – from the total 60’s organ sound to the heavy shoegaze(y) drone tracks – hopefully they all complement each other.

The heavy drone sound of Pink Floyd crashing against Spacemen 3 in an audio dust up is the sound of Bipolaroid- an American band whose E(i)ther Or album is a must have – try stop your head banging along to this one, later on in the mix Heroes Of Switzerland appear to have gone to the same influences store.

Fliprons “Gravity Calling” and “Get Out While you Can” by Outrageous Cherry are rift heavy pieces of music that easily capture memories of the 60’s mod, The Crystal Slits go all Mary Chain on “Love Is A Wave” – there seems to be a resurgence of Ronettes style drumming coming back which is brilliant to see as even I can manage to play along on my steering wheel.

West coast summer air-melody goodness is gently laid at our door from Vetiver and The Tyde both bands demonstrate a keen ear for melodic hook lines – class acts the pair of them. The mix also features a couple of oppressive drone mantras - in particular the might “Drone Refusenik” by The December Sound, Dutch band zZz throw us back to 1969 with “Majeur” which is only organ and drums and a groove that charms long after its 1min 53second running time ends.

A couple of gaze tracks in the mix also – “Eyes Lose Their Fire” is brilliant – just totally pure in instrumentation and melody – a gorgeous track, the mix also ends with a shoegaze masterpiece by The Deer Tracks – a “Yes This Is My Broken Shield” is a slow burner that builds to such a crescendo that it begs for repeated listening.

Special mention must go to Mudhoney a favourite band from my youth who are still making some of the best Pysch-Rock music out there.

Hopefully, this series has proved to highlight one thing – namely the fact that there still is unbelievable 60’s influenced music still being made today...hope you enjoy.

01. Day In The Life Of A Raincloud – Bipolaroid
02. Gravity Calling – Flipron
03. Love Is A Wave – The Crystal Slits
04. See You Tonight – Vetiver
05. Drone Refusenik – The December Sound
06. Do It Again – The Tyde
07. Majeur – zZz
08. If Only I Could Change – Mellow Drunk
09. Eyes Lose Their Fire – Kyte
10. Get Out While You Can - Outrageous Cherry
11. Don’t Get Hung Up – The Stevenson Ranch Davidians
12. Warm Transfers – Intelligence
13. White Rabbit – Other Girls
14. Waiting – Heroes Of Switzerland
15. Inside Out Over You – Mudhoney
16. Yes, This Is My Broken Shield – The Deer Tracks

Fin Trip