After Hours, the first full-band album from D. Charles Speer and the Helix, hits true with solid country roots and dark psychedelic twang. Singing and swaying like David Berman used to before he fell in with the Nashville studio band crowd, but with more grit and city, singer and guitarist Dave Shuford slurs his way through these down home songs. Slippery guitars and plucked banjo nail down the structure, but the beer drinking delivery makes the whole thing a bit wobbly and glassy-eyed.

These guys are from Harlem NY, yet the whole experience recollects a Texas icehouse, drinking too many cheap Lone Stars, humid with mosquitoes and honky-tonk. Imagine being crowded up with friends, sharing plenty of good times and high fives, getting drunk while watching giant roaches fly through the smoggy air. It’s that combination that makes these songs stick – friendly, easy delivery weighted by a dark, seedy reality. »Read More

Popularity: 15% [?]

On his latest album, the eight-song EP Peace Queer (Aimless), Todd Snider delivers a collection of present-day protest songs with the biting, honest humor of Bill Hicks wrapped up in a vocal style reminiscent of Kris Kristofferson.  (That’s Snider on the right with the blindfold over his eyes, being held at gunpoint by a long-haired hippie type).  Personally I’ve been a fan of Todd Snider’s music since first discovering his 2000 release Happy To Be Here, which was his fourth studio album and his first on John Prine’s Oh Boy Records.  I’ve been following his career ever since.

In recent years Snider has been taking songwriting aim at the current state of affairs both politically and socially (check out his song “Conservative Christian, Right Wing, Republican, Straight, White, American Males” from 2004’s East Nashville Skyline or pick up a copy of 2006’s The Devil You Know, which made many “Best of the Year” lists including those of NPR, No Depression, and Rolling Stone.)  Blender recently called Todd Snider “the sharpest and funniest protest singer working today” and Peace Queer serves to back-up that claim.

Todd Snider’s Peace Queer hit stores yesterday on CD and is being released on vinyl in November, but between now and October 31st, you can also download the album for free from the artist’s website.  [click here].   And just in case you’re wondering about Snider’s take on the political world around us, the title of the album’s opening cut, “Mission Accomplished” should give you an idea of where this one’s going.  One of the album’s highlights, the acoustic rendering of CCR’s “Fortunate Son”, features backing vocals by Patty Griffin and can be heard below.

Listen:
MP3:  Todd Snider–”Fortunate Son”

Popularity: 13% [?]

The eighth and latest edition in Bob Dylan’s continuing Bootleg Series hits stores today, October 7.  Tell Tale Signs - The Bootleg Series Vol. 8 (Columbia), is a two-disc, twenty-seven song collection of rarities, live recordings, previously unreleased tracks, demos, and alternative versions of songs recorded between 1989 and 2006.  During that time period Dylan released seven studio albums, published the first volume of his autobiography (Chronicles:  Volume One), won nine Grammy Awards (including one for Lifetime Achievement) and an Academy Award (for “Things Have Changed” from the film Wonder Boys), and even began hosting his own weekly radio show, Theme Time Radio Hour, on XM Satellite Radio.

For the true Dylan aficionado, there will also be a limited edition, three-disc version of the album in stores today as well.  In addition to the third bonus disc of “rare and unreleased songs”, the limited edition which also include a 150-page hardcover book of singles artwork that spans Dylan’s entire recording career.  And while there are no live or previously unreleased versions of “Not Dark Yet” on Tell Tale Signs, it’s a personal favorite from 1997’s Time Out of Mind.

Popularity: 14% [?]

06/28:  Song of the Day.  Calexico–Ballad of Cable Hogue

One of the new albums I’m looking forward to hearing as we head into the second half of 2008 is Carried to Dust from the performing duo of John Convertino and Joey Burns, better known to the musical world as Calexico.  The new album, due in stores in September, finds Calexico once again teaming up with Sam Beam of Iron & Wine and will also include guest appearances from Douglas McCombs of Tortoise and Pieta Brown.  (Pieta Brown, the daughter of singer/songwriter Greg Brown, is also worth checking out, in particular her 2005 album In the Cool).

I’ve been a Calexico fan for a number of years now and they are one of the bands I’d love to see here in Charlottesville.  The only problem at the moment is I’m not sure where we’d get them to play.  Gravity Lounge seems like a stretch and the Pavilion is much too large.  But I do recall having a discussion in a post back in May about the idea of a Calexico/Andrew Bird co-bill at the Paramount, which would be super sweet.  A guy can dream can’t he?  Whether a Calexico in Charlottesville show happens or not, I can at least look forward to a new album later this year.  Carried to Dust is scheduled to be released September 9, 2008.

For your viewing and listening pleasure I’ve included a video for one of the songs that served as my introduction to Calexico’s music.  From the album Hot Rail back in 2000, check out “Ballad of Cable Hogue” after the break. »Read More

Popularity: 51% [?]

Keith Morris is the pied-piper in reverse.  His music takes you into town, not away from it.  He leads the parade.  He is the grand marshall of a procession of song.  And behind him his band plays in time with clocks that have the most magnificent hands. 

There’s Jeff Romano who has his own float outfitted with guitars, a piano, an organ, and a string of sleigh bells.  There’s Jennifer Morris with angelic voice and Morwenna Lasko with her own angel-voiced violin.  Paul Curreri strums a guitar and sings in tune while Devon Sproule throws candy-coated verse to the folks lining Main Street.  Spencer Lathrop plays drums, Brandon Collins on cello, Sandy Gray on electric guitar, and a choir of singers in robes clap hands and shout in key.  And there’s a rabbit in a human suit or is it the other way around?  And at the end of the line, which is only a glass half-empty way of saying: at the head of the line, is a princess with ruby cheeks and a magical wand who plays the role of Santa Claus in this Macy’s Day parade. 

This is the scene on the cobblestoned streets of Candyapolis, a town where there’s a celebration every day and reverance by night, and it’s Keith Morris who leads us all through the Songs from Candyapolis. »Read More

Popularity: 67% [?]