Porch Spins and Whiskey Rants

2008-06-02T19:46:00.000-07:00

Like Peanut Butter and Chocolate, some things...

2007-10-27T19:11:00.000-07:00

Excuses, excuses...

I'm sorry I haven't been posting much lately. I know, I know. But I have a good excuse. I'm in Alabama far from my computer. I'm working on a movie with some of my friends. It's a comedy about bail bondsmen, pee wee football, and Southern personalities. It's being shot in Dothan, Alabama, the town I grew up in. We put together a little teaser for the film. This is footage we shot while scouting locations. It features the music of the Louvin Brothers and Langhorne Slim. Check it out below or follow the link for glorious Quicktime, and I'll see what I can do as far as posting while away from my home.

Teaser in Quicktime

2007-09-28T22:22:00.000-07:00

May's Money Well Spent: Part II

8. Merle Haggard I'm a Lonesome Fugitive/Branded Man
I'm trying to put less "alt" in my country.
"Drink Up and Be Somebody"

9. DJ O Dub Presents Deep Covers
A cd purchased from a blog far better than mine, Soul-sides.
"Byron Lee 'Express Yourself'"

10. Otis Redding In Person at the Whisky A Go Go
Move live Otis. In my drunken delusion this is what I sound like at karaoke.
"These Arms of Mine"
"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag"

11. Rufus Wainwright Release the Stars
Still binging and purging.
"Going to a Town"

12. Mickey Gilley at his Best- Volume 1
Any one that likes the Jerry Lee Lewis should check this guy out. Also I've never seen Urban Cowboy, but I hear he's in it. For whatever that's worth.
"My Babe"

13. Undisputed Truth Smiling Faces: the Best of the Undisputed Truth
Motown producer Norm Whitfield formed this group to experiment with his psychedelic soul sound, so it would be perfected whenever he went into the studio with the bigger acts. They in fact recorded "Papa was a Rolling Stone" with Whitfield before it became enormous hit for The Temptations.
"Lil' Red Ridin' Hood"

14. Kings of Convenience Riot on an Empty Street
When every other band out today sounds like they're directly ripping off the Talking Heads or Neil Young (I'm looking at you Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Wilco), it's refreshing to hear a band rip off Simon and Garfunkel for a change.
"Cayman Islands"

2007-09-06T20:27:00.000-07:00

Faith Restored

I previously posted about my disappointment with Dave Matthews recent output. It seems Dave may have heard my whining because his new song "Eh Hee" is step in the right direction. It's weird, fun, and refreshingly free of a sax/violin solo. I recommend you download the high-res video for free on iTunes or you just check out the grainy Youtube version. Dave directed the video and also hams it up quite well. It's not likely to convert anyone that hasn't shown interest in Dave in the past, but it has restored a little bit of my faith in the man.

2007-09-06T20:13:00.000-07:00

New S&M Video

My pals Stuckey and Murray just returned from their gig at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and they brought back a video for their song "It's Every Cuss Word We Know." Check out the filthy good times below.

2007-09-06T19:57:00.001-07:00

And Now For Something Completely Different...

My friend's blog has gotten a lot of press lately (well, on the interwebs at least). He had a modest dream, blogged about it, and now that dream has been full-filled. Be inspired here.

2007-08-07T20:48:00.000-07:00

May's Money Well Spent: Part I
You know you're tired when it takes you three nights to get through a chapter of the H. Potter, but I struggle through the exhaustion for my loyal readers.

1. Skip James Hard Time Killing Floor Blues
I got me the looking at my free credit report blues. Them sum sad numbas.
"Sick Bed Blues"

2. Kings of Leon Aha Shake Heartbreak
Finally I've got an album to listen to on my ipod while I strut around Williamsburg in my low -riding, pencil thin black denims. I got the hips if you've got the stir.
"King of the Rodeo"

3. Bill Frisell Blues Dream
Bill Frissell is going to score my movie about growing up in Alabama. That is if I have a score. It might be a Dogma 95 movie. Pretentious from the first outing, that's me.
"The Tractor"

4. The Cure Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me
I once literally ran into Robert Smith at a bar while I was wearing a Cure t-shirt. He didn't even acknowledge me. Two years later and I'm still wrestling with whether or not I find it was a cool or obnoxious move. He probably couldn't see that underneath my frat boy facade, I harbor a dark-hearted goth boy that just wants to go play in a graveyard or dungeon.
"Catch"

5. The Stooges Fun House
"Loose"
In the NYC and other major metropolitan areas I presume, there is a seedy new trend amongst the city perverts. I call it backjacking. A pretty young lady stands on a crowded subway, struggling to maintain her balance amongst the swerving and shoving, meanwhile, unbeknownst to her, an old, dirty perv is getting his kicks on the back of her dress. It's not until the train has emptied at the next stop that she discovers to her horror that she's been slooged. It's happened to girls I know. And while it is certainly vile and disgusting, I must say, I find it to be pretty amusing. I like to think of these perverts as sexual vigilantes, searching out the most uptight and repressed females of society, the girls that have been told they are princesses their whole lives and actually believe it, every girl that fantasizes about being one of the "Sex and the City" gals, and crudely inducting them into the dirty ways of the city.
Sounds like a good subject for an Iggy Pop song. Backjackers.

6. Josh Rouse and Kurt Wagner Chester
"65"
This was an EP that Josh Rouse and Kurt Wagner of Lambchop put out together. I've previously stated my love of the Josh Rouse. I also love the Lambchop, so I love this EP. I also love putting 'the' in places it doesn't belong. A nice richly layered album with Rouse's usual smart lyrics.

7. Curtis Mayfield Roots
"Get Down (Single Version)"
I admit it. I drink while I blog. It's the end of the day. I'm trying to unwind. It's just feels right. The problem is sometimes I have intentional grammatical and spelling errors and sometimes I just f* up. But it says right in my profile that I was an English major, so it's kind of embarrassing, and not only embarrassing to me but also to my alma mater, my parents, teachers and the whole state of Alabama which is doing it's damnedest to lose its backwoods reputation (okay, not really, most people there don't care what the rest of the country does or thinks as long as they don't start messing with college football). All I can do is apologize. It's out of sheer laziness that I don't spell check or often even read what I've written. I'll try and be better blogger I sware.

2007-07-22T18:22:00.000-07:00

I first became aware of Thad Cockrell through an article in No Depression. Something about the article enticed me enough to order his first cd on-line having never actually heard his music. Thad's since become my favorite country artist. His album, Warmth & Beauty, hit me at just the right time in my life. It's a quintessential break-up album, great for wallowing in self-pity and memories you're not quite ready to let go of. I've gotten to see Thad perform live five times now and even got to talk to him after a couple of the shows. He strikes me as a genuine, good person, and it comes across in his songs. His lyrics are always understatedly poetic, and he has a falsetto that will have you breaking out the handkerchief. He reminds me a bit of a butterball version of Sun Records era Elvis Presley. Even though I've provided quite a few songs to preview, his albums are full of gems, so do yourself a favor and buy all his discs (pics link to amazon).

"He Set Me Free"
"Why?"
"Hard Time Takin' this Heartbreakin'"

"Breaking of a Day"
"Taking the View"
"I Was So Lonesome"

Begonias was an album of duets with Whiskeytown's Caitlin Cary.
"Second Option"
"Something Less Than Something More" (complete with cherubic falsetto)

And an unreleased favorite of mine, "Here Without You"
But I'd like to once more
slip into your arms
and dance to some Bob Dylan song.
Nothing particular in mind,
just something to keep time,
that we can sway gently to.

Thad's newest track "Country of My Own" can be heard on his myspace page.
myspace.com/thadcockrell

And you can here some more songs off the new album and an interview with Thad here.

For more info visit
thadcockrell.com

2007-07-03T23:59:00.001-07:00

April's Refund Purchases: Thanks IRS! Part 2

11. Bob Dylan No Direction Home: The Bootleg Series Vol. 7
"Don't Think Twice, It's All Right (Demo-Version)"
I don't remember when I first heard Bob Dylan or the Beatles. I can only imagine what it must have been like to be a youngster when these guys first came on to the scene; it must have been life altering. I did discover Nutella for the first time last month. It was kind of a similar experience. The supermarket was dull and boring and then all of a sudden I randomly purchased this unassuming brown jar, and just like that my world was changed forever. No one ever told me about this creamy hazelnut heaven. If they decide to open up a Condiment/Bread Spread Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH then let me go ahead and cast my vote for Nutella. Some may think this is too bold of a statement, but I'll put Nutella up there with Dijon mustard and peanut butter on this list of all time greatest bread spreads. You can put it on any thing and it'll taste like a donut. And if you don't like donuts, well, I don't think I'd like you. Same goes for Dylan.
"Don't Think Twice It's All Right (Demo Version)"

12. Dead Man Walking Soundtrack
Bought this one mainly for the DVD. Here's ol' Eddie Vedder channeling his inner Cat Stevens.
And here's another one from the disc, unfortunately Tom doesn't appear on the DVD.
Tom Waits "Walk Away"

13. Arcade Fire Neon Bible
For some reason I'm very reluctant to admit it, but so far this is the best album of the year. I didn't want to like this album dammit. Somebody else make a solid album please, so I can dethrone these bastards from my #1 slot.
"Intervention"

14. Arctic Monkeys Favourite Worst Nightmare
Hey, another over-hyped band that didn't fall on their face with their sophomore release.
"Fluorescent Adolescent"

15. Ani DiFranco Carnegie Hall 4.6.02
A hold over from my days as a lesbian. I was a confused frat boy, and the lezzies just made me feel at home. Of course you have to mind your p's and q's around the lezzies. They're a sensitive bunch. Oh, and you probably shouldn't call them lezzies. They don't like that. I mean , I can because I used to be a lezzie, but outsiders really shouldn't use that word.
"Two Little Girls"

16. Sonny Rollins The Bridge
Paul F. Tompkins had a great bit about jazz in his stand-up special, Driven to Drink. I was going to link to it, but it seems to be the missing from the vaults of youtube. It was probably deleted to make room for a clip of a cat falling off a washing machine or a lame 24 musical parody. Regardless, the special is excellent. It's not "blow milk out your nose"- funny, but it has amusing stories. If anyone knows where to get it, you'd earn a gold star by your name if you could score me a copy.
"God Bless the Child"

17. Neil Young & Crazy Horse Broken Arrow
Neil had been on a streak during the 90's putting out several critically and comercially successful albums in a row, and then he put out this doozy. It was panned, and Neil didn't make another album for four years. But it does have this gem.
"Changing Highways"

18. Wilco Sky Blue Sky
Speaking of Neil Young...

"Hate It Here"

2007-06-14T05:46:00.000-07:00

Me as Jack Bauer.
For more vids like this check out Stuckey and Murray's website; their link is in the sidebar.

2007-06-07T21:23:00.001-07:00

April's Refund Purchases: Thanks IRS!, Part 1 (I'm a busy guy. I don't have all night to sit around and blog any more. I got bills to pay. Somebody's got to get Starbucks for all these douche bag, reality tv producers. I'm not bitter. It be nice if someone asked me if I wanted some coffee every once and a while. Oh well, one day I'll be the douche bag reality tv show producer that gets to send the PA out in the rain to get another bag of Splenda for my Non-fat Soy Chai Latte. One can dream at least.)
1.
Belle & Sebastian Tigermilk
"We Rule the School"
I like to have Rambo playing on the television on mute whenever I listen to this album. It helps to maintain a sort of testosterone fung shei in the room.

2.
Gomez Five Men in a Hut: A's, B's and Rarities 1998-2004
"Shot Shot"
Take the horn away and this song just sounds like that bad 90's band Filter.

3.
Van Morrison Pay the Devil
"My Bucket's Got A Hole In It"
I like the country music; I like me some Van Morrison, but I really couldn't get into this album. Maybe it's some sort of mathematical musical anomaly, Country music + Van Morrison, usually two positives, somehow equal uninspired cash-in album.
4.
John Coltrane My Favorite Things
"Everytime We Say Goodbye"
This was my make out album in high school. Gals dig Coltrane's smooth, approachable and vaguely familiar jazz, so much so that they'll happily let you get to at least second base.
5.
Violent Femmes Violent Femmes
"Prove My Love (Demo)"
I like it when a few years go by without ever hearing a band you used to love and then all of a sudden you hear them again and all the awesomeness comes rushing back. And you're all, "I missed you guys. What happened? Where'd you'd go?" And the band's all, "Dude, we've always been around. Some of us did some side projects, took a little while off, but we didn't go any where. Maybe you were just off listening to grunge and college jam bands." Whatever guys. It's nice to have you back in my rotation.
6.
Rufus Wainwright Want Two
"Old Whore's Diet"
I'm like a body conscious sorority girl with a box of Krispy Kreme when it comes to Rufus, I like to binge and purge, binge and purge.
7.
Bruce Springsteen We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions
"O Mary Don't You Weep"
This song was going to be in the top ten of my list of top forty songs of '06. I never got around to making that list, but it's all in my head. I guess I procrastinated too long. I mean it's a little late to put it out now. Sucks. It was a great list, probably could have settled some debates, maybe even ended wars, cured cold sores, and saved you money on your monthly gas and electric bill. Oh well, humanity's loss.

2007-05-04T10:44:00.000-07:00

Summer Shows

I got to see Josh Rouse play at the Warsaw last Friday. It was an excellent show at a great venue. This was my first time seeing Rouse play. I was impressed by his quiet confidence. He wasn't too needy or too cocky, just completely at ease with the strength of his songs and performance. Apparently Rouse and his wife are leaving Spain behind for the Brooklyn brownstones. Good news for me, if it means I'll be able to see him play more often.
Below are a few of my favorite songs he played as well as a link to a boot of the show.
"Streetlights"
"Saturday"
"Comeback (Light Therapy)"
Josh Rouse 2007-04-27, Brooklyn (flac)

Thanks to Largehearted Boy for the boot link.

2007-03-26T14:27:00.000-07:00

March's Reckless Spending Tab

1. Modest Mouse "We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank"
Education
Because I was an English major in college, I was immediately able to pick up on the reoccuring "ocean/ship" motif running throughout this album. Perhaps Isaac Brock is ruminating on his personal feeling of being adrift, or maybe it is America that he feels has lost its way, although he could he could be suggesting that all of mankind is simply lost at sea between life and death Who knows? I just like all those funny schizo-voices he sings in.

2. Lou Rawls "Live!"
St. James Infirmary
So Lou wants to be buried in a Stetson hat when he dies. When I die bury me in my navy flannel pajama bottoms and my green Ben & Jerry's t-shirt. They served me well in life, and I want to be dressed for relaxation in the after-life.
3. Bobby Womack "The Soul of Bobby Womack: Stop on By"
Across 110th Street (Demo Version)
Demo versions are a music blogger's best friend. They allow one to post songs everyone knows and is sure to like, while at the same time delivering the rarity, the "look what I found that you didn't even know existed" necessary for any self-respecting blogger.
4. Otis Redding "Live in Europe"
I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)
Who do I have to pray to to get Otis Redding sent back to this mortal coil to play at my wedding? St. Peter? Satan? Who's the great music booker in the sky? Oh well, it's probably for the better. If Otis played at my wedding reception he'd probably make my planned karaoke rendition of Wilson Pickett's "I'm in Love" seem pale and passionless. And my fictional fiancee would probably run off with dead Otis; although, I really wouldn't be able to blame her. Have you heard him sing "Try a Little Tenderness"? Gawtdamn.

5. Rufus Wainwright "Rufus Wainwright"
April Fools
Did I really buy this album and post this song OR is this some elaborately lame April Fools joke? You decide.
6. The Velvet Underground and Nico "The Velvet Underground and Nico"
Femme Fatale
If I were a proper music blogger I would have chosen one of the more obscure cuts from this album; you know, to show how much I really get this album. Once again I defy convention. I'm a rebel. Suck it, Pitchfork.
7. The Box Tops "The Best of the Box Tops"I Met Her In Church"
I fantasize that I'll meet my wife in a small town cigar shop that serves as a front for a sports gambling den and ticket scalping agency. She'll be working behind the counter listening to Joan Armatrading's Down to Zero when I enter. I'll be in town for business but figured I'd go to the college football game while I'm town. She'll get me a pair of 50 yard line tickets. I'll say, ''But it's just me. I'm traveling alone." To which she'll reply, "So you're going to make me stay here and watch the game alone on this little old black and white." We'll tail gate with some of her friends who are mixture of young professors working on their tenure, a couple of witty but failed alcoholic writers, some die-hard fans that work in sales for the agricultural industry and whom manage to take the entire fall off to attend every single game, and lifetime bartenders. We'll fall in love over potato salad and pulled pork sandwiches.
8. Lou Rawls "Black and Blue/Tobacco Road"
Cotton Fields
Yay, for swinging revisionist versions of Southern plantation life. Picking cotton was really a blast!
9. Tony Bennett "Astoria: I've Come Home Again"
Where Do You Go From Love?
Tony grew up in my current hood. These guys knew how to make you get all contemplative about your life, without leaving you suicidally depressed. Suck it, urban neo-folk movement.
10.Johnny Cash "American V: A Hundred Highways"
I Came To Believe
I used to tell people that I thought Johnny Cash was overrated. I just wanted to officially retract that statement. I was just trying to be shocking. But I stand by Jim Morrison being a complete douche bag. Suck it, Lizard King.

2007-03-18T21:53:00.000-07:00

So that's what Ira Glass looks like...

As I noted on one of my previous podcasts, I'm a big fan of "This American Life," so I was thrilled to hear that a television version of the show is coming to Showtime. From the looks of the trailer, it's beautifully shot while maintaining the same mood(s) of the radio show. I guess I'll be shelling out a few more dollars on my cable bill soon to get Showtime. While I'm on the subject of cable shows I'm excited about, let me mention that HBO has optioned both George R. R. Martin's "Song of Fire and Ice" series and Garth Ennis's "Preacher". Please let these projects happen and don't mess them up. Now if they just order up an animated version of Gaiman's Sandman, I'll be the happiest fanboy ever.
Here's the trailer for "This American Life". It premiers March 20th.

2007-03-09T11:27:00.000-08:00

Barely Scraping By... My CD purchases for December, January, and February

1. Charlie Rich- Behind Closed Doors
For the classy lay in your life, "Behind Closed Doors"
2. The Walkmen- Everyone who Pretended to Like Me
This song reminds me of Delirium from Neil Gaiman's Sandman series. Just throwing that out there. "We've Been Had"
3. Neil Young- Comes a Time
I was late hopping on the Neil Young boat, but I'm happy to report that I'm on board now. I'm digging the old acoustic stuff, but I still don't think every all-star jam needs to end with "Rockin' in the Free World". Enough already. Sample "Goin' Back"
4. The Hold Steady- Boys and Girls in America
This is the second time this album has been on my blog. I think it owes me a beer. Sample "Hot Soft Light"
5. Lupe Fiasco- Food & Liquor
I like it when the last word of a song is "Swanky." Sample "Kick, Push"
6. Woody Allen- Standup Comic
Sure Woody Allen wrote plays, books, performed standup, directed and stared in his own movies, and played jazz, one might say he is prolific. But could he at his peak juggle a music blog, a myspace page, a livejournal blog, and World of Warcraft account? Highly unlikely. I got you beat, Woody. Sample "My Grandfather"
7. Josh Rouse- Bedroom Classics, Vol. 2 EP
Rouse reminds me of a less desperate Ryan Adams.
Sample "The Last Train"
8. The Magic Numbers- Those the Brokes
I saw these folks play live. They're really hairy. You wouldn't think from those pretty voices that they would all be so dang hairy, but they are. Sample "Take A Chance"
9. Maria McKee- Live Acoustic Tour 2006
Got this on a whim cause it was cheap and I had read good things about her on the intertube. Hey, it's how I found my wife. Not really. I'm not married. Probably won't ever get married. Not cause I don't believe in it or anything, I just don't think it will happen for me. I mean, I don't really get out much. I hardly ever meet new people, and then when I do it's so hard to make that connection, you know? And in this city you have to get a number the first time you meet someone cause chances are, you'll never see them again. It's tough. And who has time to date? I'm always working. It's expensive, too. What's a movie cost these days? It's just much more economical to buy a quart of ice cream, stay at home and watch Lifetime with my cats, Victor and Armand. Oh, God I'm lonely.

As a side note, I actually own no cats. I usually have to work on weekends, and I only watch Lifetime on very rare occasions (when Mark Addy's Still Standing or old episodes of Unsolved Mysteries are on, sorry I have a weakness for predictable sitcoms staring chubby Brits and truck stop ghost stories.)
Sample "Orange Skies"
10. Sun Kil Moon- Ghosts of the Great Highway
This is another album that perfectly exemplifies how cool I am, just by my owning it.
Sample "Carry Me Ohio"
11. Simon & Garfunkel- Old Friends
These guys are all the rage on Pitchfork right now.
Sample "Feuilies-O"

2007-02-14T14:49:00.000-08:00

Some sweet songs for this frosty Valentine's Day.
Valentine's Podcast
Featuring:

2007-01-26T23:34:00.001-08:00

The Louvin Brothers:
Charlie Louvin (1927-)
Ira Louvin (1924-1965)

"They could perform songs that would send you to church, then break your heart with a tale of lost love."- Tom Wilmeth, "Heaven's Own Harmony"

Gram Parsons paid friends to search for Louvin Brothers records. Elvis had advance copies of their records sent to him so he could give them to his mother. A young Johnny Cash waited by the side of the road to catch a glimpse of Ira and Charlie Louvin when they came through town.
[Excerpt from "When I Stop Dreaming- Fred Ball]

The Louvin Brothers, Lonnie Ira Loudermilk and Charlie Loudermilk, were born and raised in the Appalachian Mountains of Alabama. They were influenced by the close-harmony brother acts of the Blue Sky Boys, the Delmore Brothers, the Callahans Brothers and the Monroe Brothers. Ira picked up the mandolin and Charlie learned lead guitar. Despite their family's poverty they were encouraged to play and eventually found work at a local radio station in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

In the early 1940's Charlie enlisted in the army, while his brother was away Ira began playing with Charlie Monroe. Upon Charlie's return, the brothers moved to Knoxville and changed their name to the more stage worthy, Louvin.

In 1949, while working as postal clerks and performing on stage and for local radio stations at night, the Louvins recorded a single, "The Family Who Prays Together" for Capitol Records. It became a minor hit and eventually a gospel standard. The success was brief lived as Charlie was soon recalled to serve in the Korean War.

In 1955 when Charlie was discharged Capitol Records arranged for the Louvins to get a slot on the Grand Ole Opry. At this point the boys switched from gospel to secular music, primarily because the tobacco company sponsoring the Opry said, "you can' sell tobacco with gospel music." The boys soon scored a top ten hit with "When I Stop Dreaming", which was followed by a series of four more hits over the course of the year. This feat is more remarkable when one considers that rock and roll was ousting most country acts from the charts.

The Louvins continued to have sporadic success throughout the late 50's and early 60's, but they were being pressured to change their sound to reflect the new rock and roll sound. Capitol Records' Ken Nelson suggested they abandon the mandolin in an effort to sound more like the Everly Brothers. Ira took the suggestion harshly.

From what I have read, Ira Louvin is very similar to Jerry Lee Lewis in many regards. Both men seemed to be devoted to and haunted by their "fire and brimstone" Christian upbringings. And with both men alcoholism took its toll on their careers and home life. "Today they call it an illness," Charlie Louvin said. "In those days it was bein' mean." He cheated on all four of his wives. Ira's third wife shot him five times in the back after he tried to strangle her with a telephone cord. He was often confrontational towards other musicians as well. One infamous encounter occurred during what potentially could have been their most promising tour, opening for RCA's newly acquired star, Elvis Presley, but Ira had monetary disputes with Elvis's manager Colonel Tom Parker and jealousy towards the twenty year old who already had more success than Ira ever would. Peter Guralnick recounts the incident in his outstanding Elvis biography, "Last Train to Memphis":
"A couple of days after the incident in Wilson, things came to a head backstage between shows. Elvis was hanging around the dressing room with the Louvins, singing hyms and playing the piano when, in the recollection of Ira's younger brother, Charlie, "Elvis said, 'Boy, this is my favorite music.' Well, Ira walked up and said, 'Why, you white nigger, if that's your favorite music, why don't you do that out yonder? Why do you do that nigger trash out there?' Presley said, 'When I'm out there, I do what they want to hear- when I'm back here, I can do what I want to do.'" Ira flashed and "tried to strangle him," according to Charlie, "and they were very distant from that point on."

Ira's alcoholism and frequent bickering caused the Louvins Brothers to split in 1963. Both men pursued solo careers, Charlie having the most success with a top ten single and over thirty charting singles. Ira Louvin was not as fortunate. He began touring as a duo with his fourth wife Ann Young, but died in the summer of '65 in a car accident with a drunk driver.

Charlie Louvin has a new album coming out February 20th on the Tompkins Square label. Some of the guest artists on the album include Jeff Tweedy, Elvis Costello, Will Oldham, and George Jones.

I think what I enjoy most about the Louvin Brothers' material is the earnestness with which is delivered. Listening to the song "Satan Is Real" or any of their gospel numbers, you get the sense that the lyrics are heart-felt and genuine. So I'm a little hesitant to hear the alt-country spin on the Louvin Brothers catalogue, but I'll certainly give it a shot. Below are some Louvin Brothers covers and originals.
[article sources: "When I Stop Dreaming" by Fred Balls and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame]

"When I Stop Dreaming" Johnny Cash

"If I Could Only Win Your Love" Emmylou Harris

"The Christian Life" The Byrds

"Cash on the Barrelhead" Dolly Parton

"The Great Atomic Power" Southern Culture on the Skids

"Must You Throw Dirt In My Face" Elvis Costello

"The Angels Rejoiced Last Night" Gram Parsons

"Knoxville Girl"
"I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby"
"Satan Is Real"
"Alabama"
"When I Stop Dreaming"

2007-01-13T13:36:00.000-08:00

Eddie Hinton : June 15,1944-July 28,1995

"The last of the great white soul singers." Peter Guralnick, "Sweet Soul Music" So you've got a hankering for a little white-boy soul music from Alabama, might I propose you put down that copy of Taylor Hicks' new album and instead pick up a little Eddie Hinton. Yes, long before AI's Hicks (who amusingly appeared simultaneously on the cover of People Magazine's America's Hottest Bachelors issue and the National Enquirer's Who's Gay in Hollywood issue) served up a third-rate Ray Charles, Eddie Hinton had established a reputation as a respected sessions musicain and song writer.

After his parents divorced he spent most of his youth in Tuscaloosa, Alabama playing in local bands. He soon left for Sheffield, Alabama where he played lead guitar in the Muscle Shoal"Rhythm Section" from '67 to the mid 70's appearing on hit records recorded by Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Solomon Burke, The Staple Singers, Elvis Presley, Boz Skaggs, Toots Hibbert, the Box Tops, and Otis Redding.

Hinton turned down an offer from Duane Allman to be the lead singer for the Allman Brothers in order to pursue his solo career. In 1977, he recorded Very Extremely Dangerous. It was met with critical success, but due to record label woes and the onset of disco, the album didn't sell favorably. At the same time Hinton was going through a divorce. The stress proved too much for Hinton and his life began to unravel.

When John Wycker, a college friend, found Hinton he was living on the streets of Decatur, AL. "Eddie was sitting on a bench at the bus stop in front of the Salvation Army when I first saw him," Wyker said. "He had his clothes in an old garbage bag and a small handleless suitcase." Wycker helped Hinton get back into the studio and they recorded Letters from Mississippi. This album was also a critical success, but this time it sold well enough for Hinton to secure a deal with Rounder Records.

Hinton continued to record but still fought personal demons. In 1995 while preparing to reenter the studio, Hinton suffered from a fatal heart attack.

He left behind an excellent body of work. All of his studio albums are worth checking out. He also wrote and produced some excellent work with Martin Greene and Donnie Fritts. Here are some of those songs, his solo work, and a Drive-By Truckers song written about him.

"Breakfast In Bed" Dusty Springfield
"Choo Choo Train" The Box Tops
"Just a Little Bit Salty" Bobby Womack
"Every Natural Thing" Aretha Franklin
"Sandwiches for the Road" Drive-By Truckers
"Hard Luck Guy" Eddie Hinton
"Here I Am" Eddie Hinton
"Three Hundred Pounds of Hongry" Eddie Hinton
"I Want A Woman" Eddie Hinton
"Cook With Me Mamma" Eddie Hinton

2007-01-03T08:18:00.000-08:00

Top 15 Albums of '06, My Opinion Matters, Dammit!

15. James Hunter People Gonna Talk
He's an incredibly smooth British R&B and Soul artist that
sounds like Sam Cooke, oh, and he's got Van Morrison's endorsement. All the songs were written by Hunter, but they all sound straight from the vault.
mp3 "People Gonna Talk"

14. Bonnie "Prince" Billy The Letting Go
Will Oldham crafts hauntingly pretty songs that evoke an Icelandish Nick Drake. The songs start with simple structures but soon evolve into soaring hymns highlighted by Dawn McCarthy's mystic harmonies. This album stays with you like a bowl of Kashi cereal.

mp3 "No Bad News"

13. Bob Dylan Modern Times
I still don't know what he's talking about most of the time, but it sure does sound important.

mp3 "When the Deal Goes Down"

12. TV on the Radio Return to Cookie Mountain
The hipster favorite of the year, well it was until a lot of people started catching on. I saw the lead singer at an art exhibit in Williamsburg. I bet he's full-time artsy. He probably doesn't own a TV. He just listens to TV on the radio. What a prick.

mp3 "Wolf Like Me"

11. The Walkmen A Hundred Miles Off & Pussy Cats Staring at the Walkmen
I cheated. I couldn't decide which one I liked more. Nasty New York rock serves as the base, but all kinds of other elements get tossed in as well. They're messy albums that are all the better for it. Oh, and Pussy Cats is a song for song cover of a Harry Nilsson and John Lennon cover album.
mp3 "Lousiana"
mp3 "All My Life"
10. Arctic Monkeys Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
This was my getting ready to go out album this year. Unfortuanately most of my nights out were a let down in comparison. All my rowdy friends have settled down, and I end up looking like a lush. Maturity blows.

mp3 "Fake Tales of San Francisco"

9. The Decemberists The Crane Wife
Yay, prog rock is back. Maybe I can get good money on ebay for all my old Jethro Tull albums. This album is based on a Japanese folk tale. I think Fergie's album was too; she just doesn't make a big deal about it like these guys.
mp3 "Shankill Butchers"

8. John Mayer Continuum
I'm having a hard time liking Mayer, because I don't trust people that don't drink. I think he's tricking me somehow. He's probably about to unleash his plot to have all kids home-schooled and enforce a national 8 PM curfew. I'm on to you, Mayer.
mp3 "Gravity"

7. Neko Case Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
God, I didn't want to like this album. I already like way too many chick singers: Gillian Welch, Cowboy Junkies, Ani DiFranco, Lucinda Williams, Nanci Griffith, Natalie Merchant, F. Apple, et al. Do I really need another one? Unfortunately, she's really good.
mp3 "John Saw That Number"

6. Greg Brown The Evening Call
I gave my dad this album for Christmas. Lots of lyrics about going fishing and making love to women in trailer parks. If you don't like it you're probably a Commie pedophile.

mp3 "Coneville Slough"

5. The Hold Steady Boys and Girls in America
A young Bruce Springsteen is awaiting his royalty check for this album. I say they stiff him; I still get drowsy thinking about Devils and Dust.

mp3 "Southtown Girls"

4. Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins Rabbit Fur Coat
She was in a Jell-O comercial when she was a kid. I used to love making Jell-O Jigglers. That was fun eating a cherry dinosaur. This album's fun too, and it jiggles a little.
mp3 "The Charging Sky"

3. Cat Power The Greatest
I used to always play this album at the restaurant I worked at. People would occassionally compliment me on my excellent taste in music. I would nod knowingly, and say, "Enjoy your wine and pasta." I live to make the people happy.
mp3 "Lived in Bars"

2. Josh Ritter The Animal Years
Don't you hate it when you're trying to find an mp3 for your blog to represent an album, and you can't choose one because every song is so different and so awesomely fantastic. It's like choosing between children or Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavors or third world country hookers or pre pubescent third world county hookers covered in Ben & Jerry's ice cream.
mp3 "Wolves"
mp3 "One More Mouth"

1. M. Ward Post-War
Envision how different the world will be once the Iraq War is over. Religions struggle for dominance. Landscapes change. Global power shifts. And music is really cool and catchy. Cool friends like Neko Case and Jim James (My Morning Jacket) come by. If this is M. Ward's statement on the war, let's find a way to re-elect Bush. This album really wants to be Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, not that that's a bad thing.
mp3 "Requeim"
mp3 "Rollercoaster"
mp3 "Today's Undertaking"

2006-12-09T10:09:00.000-08:00

Back in high school I was a Dave Matthews fanatic. I pretty much thought any song ever written would be improved upon if Dave were to cover it. Time passed, my taste changed and their albums started going downhill, but I still check out whatever he puts out. I think he, with or without the band, still has potential to put out interesting music. I wouldn't mind seeing him take a Paul Simon route with his music, experimenting with different regional influences. I believe I read they are going to go with Mark Baston again with their new album. He's a hip-hop producer that works with 50 Cents and Beyonce, and he did their last and easily worst album, Stand Up. Terrible move on their part, they should try Steve Lillywhite again or Rick Rubin or give someone new a shot.

The reason I bring all of this up is because while I was jogging the other day, I had my ipod on shuffle and one of their songs that hasn't ever been released came on. The song struck me because while it is still very jammy, the vocals and verse have a vibe that is so different from what we've come to expect from the band. Dave seems to be channeling his inner Nick Lowe, Neil Young, or, and this is certainly taking it a bit too far, Leonard Coen. I think it's a good example of what he's capable of if he were to keep challenging himself and working with talented producers. Sorry the sound quality is kind of crap, it's from a bootleg.

Blue Water Babboon

2006-11-29T22:45:00.002-08:00

Dear Franks and Beans,

If I had it to do all over again, I might've chased after that football scholarship a little harder. Oh yeah, the scouts were looking at me for a while back in second grade. They could tell that though I was constantly picked last and fumbled basic hand-offs, I still had what the French call "Le Pouvoir de le Boeuf. C'est Tres Magnifique." Alas, I threw those offers away for the oppurtunity to blindly stumble the back alleys of post-collegiate waywardness. On the postive side, my lost ramblings have made their way to another podcast. This podcast has been ageing like a stinky cheese in the deli of my hard drive. I think it's time to share it's foul aroma. And like a ripe, runny gorganzola, it's not for everyone. I yammer away quite a bit. The stories are a bit longer, often sappy and a tad self-indulgent, but it's got some good music and next time you see me you can make fun of my pathetic attempt at prosetry (yeah, prosetry, gross, I know). It's about the things that happen along the way, so I suggest you download it to your fancy traveling music device and listen to it on your way somewhere. Just make sure your destination is rather far, cause it's kind of a long cast (although I prefer to call it epic). I think it was Robert Frost who said, "This road metaphor for life is really played out. I'm such a hack." I couldn't agree more, but I'm guilty as well, Robert. Enjoy the ride, kids.

CheckOutThePodcastsOnHer

2006-11-07T10:32:00.000-08:00

Papa's Got a Brand New Bag O' CD's... November's Unnecessary Spending Tab
1. Rod Stewart "The Rod Stewart Album" (link)
2. Rod Stewart "Gasoline Alley" (link)
3. Rod Stewart "Smiler" (link)
4 Phil Spector "Back to Mono (1958-1969)" (link)
5. Massive Attack "Mezzanine" (link)
6. Tennis and the Mennonites "Quilt Noise" (link)
7. TV On the Radio "Return to Cookie Mountain" (link)
8. Damien Rice "9" (link)
9. Yusuf "An Other Cup" (link)
10. Allen Tousasaint "Life, Love, and Faith (link)
11. Madeleine Peyroux "Dreamland" (link)
12. The Velvet Underground "White Light/White Heat" (link)

2006-10-17T12:29:00.000-07:00

Must... Own... Them... All... October's CD Purchases
1. The Decemberists "The Crane Wife" (link)
2. John Lennon "Acoustic" (link)
3. Rilo Kiley "More Adventurous" (link)
4. Madeleine Peyroux "Half the Perfect World" (link)
5. Greg Brown "The Evening Call" (link)
6. Cat Power "Moon Pix" (link)
7. Cat Power "The Covers Record" (link)
8. Beck "The Information" (link)
9. Langhorne Slim "Engine EP" (link)
10. The Mountain Goats "Get Lonely" (link)
11. Badly Drawn Boy "Born in the UK" (link)
12. The Velvet Underground "Loaded" (link)
13. Love "Forever Changes" (link)
14. Guided By Voices "Best Of: Human Amusement at Hourly Rates" (link)

2006-10-14T10:46:00.000-07:00

I Ain't Paying for My Kid's College.... September's CD Purchases
1. Harry Nillsson "A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night" (link)
2. David Bowie "Ziggy Stardust" (link)
3. Daft Punk "Musique Vol. 1 1993-2005 (link)
4. Rogger Miller "All Time Greatest Hits" (link)
5. John Mayer "Continuum" (link)
6. Bob Dylan "Modern Times" (link)
7. Scissor Sisters "Tah-Dah" (link)
8. James Hunter "People Gonna Talk" (link)
9. Keane "Hopes and Dreams" (link)
10. Razorlight "Razorlight" (link)
11. Frank Black "Fast Man Raider Man" (link)
12. Bonnie "Prince" Billy "The Letting Go" (link)
13. Thom Yorke "The Eraser" (link)
14. The Pogues "Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash" (link)
15. M. Ward "Post-War" (link)
16. The Defibulators "The Defibulators" (link)
17. Ray Lamontagne "Till the Sun Turns Black" (link)
18. Meat Loaf "Bat Out of Hell" (link)

2006-07-24T16:05:00.000-07:00

Originally e-mailed to friends on 6/21/06

Dear Sycophants,

I once had a creative writing teacher that told me I was a
perfectionist. Swallow that guffaw and allow me to finish.
She said a lot of procrastinatiors tend to due so because they
are just never satisfied with their work and that perfection
seems so unattainable that they push the project away and
allow time to be their excuse. She said a portion of what I
turned in was brilliant though, maybe she said it showed
promise, no I think she said it was brilliant. I heard there
was some cocktail chatter about my failure to deliver a second
podcast; well, this shit ain't easy, but I think you all are right,
it's time to let this baby take wings and fly, warts and all
(i.e. volume fluctuations, parts I needed to rerecord). I put
a lot of work into her though, so be sweet to her; she needs
your love.

As an extra incentive i talk shit about most of you, so listen
to find out if you got dumped on. If you want artist/song break
downs e-mail me afterwards and I will send one to you, but I
don't want people skipping around and knowing what's coming
up next. it's part of my art.

I really do appreciate those of you that gave feedback and
please continue to do so. If anyone knows HTML, I'd love to set
up a sight where I could host it and allow people to leave and see
other's comments.

And Finally this is kind of my thank you/apology to all my friends.
I know I can be a selfish, unreliable prick sometimes, but thanks
to all of you that have hung through it with me.

Ok, Fly Baby, Fly,
Joseph Jacobs

Next Podcast... Trying my damnedest to like sports, selling my
childhood on ebay for rent money, pedophilia humor and Kennedy's
daughter, Social Aniexty at a Southern Wedding, and Sailing the Sea
of Discontent with a parrot on my shoulder that keeps yammering
about Montel Williams, oh and of course "Ode to the Falsetto."

Not Your Pappy's Podcast

2006-07-24T14:45:00.000-07:00

Move your fancy feet to my first podcast. I was just learning the software so cut me some slack.

Round One and already Punch-Drunk