The Waco Brothers
Going Down in History
Bloodshot Records, 2016
If I am not mistaken the last Waco Brothers album was years ago. Having seen them live at a few Bloodshot BBQs, nothing seems to have changed but the seasoning has, perhaps become stronger.
“DIYBYOB” opens the album, declaring that “this is the first track from the last album,” perhaps as an obscure homage to Cheap Trick’s Live at Budakhan or the Beatles’ Live at the Hollywood Bowl, but I may be stretching things a bit. There are hints at apathy, DIY, and going on with existing, rather than living, and an election season filled with circus antics that are probably no worse than what we’ve seen in the past. This may be the closest they have ever come to a stereotypical country song.
Read MoreAl Scorch
Circle Round the Signs
Bloodshot Records, 2016
At this point, I don’t remember how long Bloodshot has been around blessing us with Alt-Country of every possible variety that you can imagine. I do remember eating vegan dogs at the Bloodshot BBQs in New York during CMJ at the now defunct Brownies in the East Village to see many early legends, including Ryan Adams, with a rolled up farmer’s shirt and acoustic guitar, before his star shot into the stratosphere, and on South Congress in Austin during SXSW. Those BBQs were legendary and I hope I am able to attend another in the future.
Al Scorch is new to me, and since I have a little time to kill and Bloodshot keeps sending me emails, I figured Scorch and Bloodshot deserved a review, or what passes for one from me in 2016.
Read MoreRobbie Fulks
Upland Stories
Bloodshot Records, 2016
Regrettably, I don’t think I have ever seen Fulks in concert, though I really need to. While he isn’t a songwriting factory like Ryan Adams (though brilliant a factory he is), Fulks is a great songwriter, and I am happy to see he continues to create. While most may not remember this, one of my favorite tunes is “F*ck This Town” chronicling his experience as a singer-songwriter in Nashville and their lack of appreciation of his talents. He was originally signed to Bloodshot early on, and left with great fanfare to a major label. After releasing one album on an unappreciative major label, he returned to Bloodshot and has never left.
Read MoreLeaf Newman
Flowers and Grass
Self-Released, 2016
When I first moved to Atlanta from Asheville I somehow managed to find a Facebook listing for a show in a small club featuring Newman. It’s still one of the most memorable intimate shows I have attended in Atlanta. She’s still recording and just released Flowers and Grass. As a creative, I never like boxing other creative when doing so is narrow-minded and limiting. For those that care about such things, Flowers and Grass is all over the place.
Read MoreTara Fuki
The Best of Tara Fuki
Indies Scope, 2015
At once classical and folk, Tara Fuki is a duo consisting of Andrea Konstankiewicz-Nazir and Dorota Barová, both conservatory-taught cellists. With almost two decades of success behind them, they have toured almost everywhere in Europe and have recorded five very successful albums. They have been so popular in album and tour that their latest release is a best of, a reminiscence rather than a milestone, and while not usually my hard and fast rule or my favorite way to experience music when I have the opportunity to hear an artist’s original intentions in context, this is quite good (And admittedly, I have violated that rule several times over with my nerdist’s completist box sets of several artists.).
Read MoreNèro Scartch
Piece of My Life
Deska Records, Indies Scope Distribution, 2015
Here we venture into musical territory that I need to explore more with a project influenced by Nine Inch Nails and Prodigy, so this review will be a challenge, but I like challenges and never run from them, though they may slow me down once in a while like this one does. This one’s a puzzle though because of my lack of exposure to more from this genre.
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