Reminds me of a line from a Guy Clark song. 'So I hit a couple of chords in my old country way of strumming, and then my fingers turned to lightning, man I never heard it coming'.
I've only ever dabbled, reckon I've seen maybe ten in total, but a deep dive is coming. They're so much fun, and considering the amount of life I (contentedly) wasted watching single song reaction vids earlier this year I fine going all in. Ethan Hawke's bag is stronk. Great shout at the end, that Nikki Lane album is legit:
Nikki Lane, I heard about her because I was a fan of her brother, she was so good I forget who her brther was. That album right time was on was class, there's been another since but I've not given more than a cursory listen so won't call it
"I spent years thinking Yorke was legit Downs-ish disabled and could only achieve lucidity through song" - Mr B
Listened earlier. It's good, a couple of tracks are tip top (Jackpot is an instant winner), but it didn't feel quite as good overall. 3/5 Would listen again.
I've just finished one that could well be AotY for me though. Will post a couple of tracks when I'm on a PC but Ian Noe's Between the Country is - and maybe I'm jumping the gun a bit here but fuck it - kinda stunning. Gave him a go after reading somewhere that Dave Cobb produced the record. Can't wait to buy it, FLAC it and stick it through my best headphones. All the way up my alley.
Only halfway through first listen, I know nothing about the band but I wonder whether my mate Chris is involved as he's the only person who's picked up on them so far
First link is broken, unless my phone is playing up? Will treat myself to the DBT's track later tonight. Hoping it's a Cooley song, everything he brought American Band was top drawer. Filthy and Fried shouldn't have worked because it sounded a bit like he chucked everything at the lyrics, but it absolutely did.
The Slow Laters thing, said it was psych, but then was pretty much straight country, but there's a whole bunch of loops and trippy stuff going on but in the composition rather than in the mix. So big xirxular bass lies and riffs done in rounds that pull you into it, much better than just sticking a theremin on it and appealing to hippies
"I spent years thinking Yorke was legit Downs-ish disabled and could only achieve lucidity through song" - Mr B
Love the Truckers but I'm not quite feeling that one yet.
Craig Finn giving props to Mike Cooley; when legends collide:
For straight-ahead southern rock songs if there's a better lyricist alive I'll buy a Stetson and eat it. Jason Isbell was the best songwriter in the band during his three album stint (what a time to be alive), but his chops are more delicate. He's one of the best at what he does but his big rock numbers can occasionally feel by numbers (Super 8's a toe-tapper, but it's nowt spectacular). If the band's moving at pace I'd rather have Cooley in charge.
I've kinda gone off Patterson Hood recently. He puts too much heart in his lyrics and comes across hammy. Has some legit songs though, obviously, but if the DBT's ever put out another full five star album it'd have to be mostly MC on the mic for me.
My favourite DBT's song. Not Cooley's typical flat-out attack, but it just nudges Zip City into second place:
The singer is dealing with his friend's suicide, reminiscing but pissed the fuck off with his pal.
Your sister's been blaming everybody. I don't blame her, man, I guess I'd do the same If you was my brother, man, I'd probably stand by you. But you ain't, man, so I got to go my way. And I ain't gonna crawl upon no high horse Cause I got thrown off of one When I was young and I ain't no cowboy So I ain't going where I don't belong. It wouldn't do you no good to let you know that it damned near killed me too So I ain't gonna mourn for you, man, now that you're gone.
Huge sound with the right set-up too, absolute class.
Have been doing a complete listen to Emmylou Harris' catalogue, thanks to the greatness of Spotify, and the Daniel Lanois produced album is absolutely fucking stellar.
Hard to pick a favourite but if pushed I'd say the cover of Wrecking Ball is the best thing she's ever recorded. Can't imagine that track sounding better.