Wow, these first three months have been overwhelming. I honestly started keeping notes on the cool tunes that came out starting the first of March so to keep from maybe forgetting something when this time for a new batch of music came up. I could have easily thrown up 25 tunes by 25 new cool bands that released albums this month. Man, it has been incredible. So, I honestly had a hard time narrowing it down to just ten songs for this month. Hopefully you will dig these as much as I do.
So check these out, and if you are wanting to check out even more new music, I invite you to check out our online stream at
www.mandatoryfm.com
1. Bucktown Kickback - "Gentleman Jack". This tune comes off their "Fiction Pickin'" album. Really cool groovy vibe throughout this album. The band mixes blues, country, bluegrass and a touch of Southern Rock to their music. Just proving that not "all" music that comes from Nashville is bad.
2. Eric Lindell - "Here Come The Blues Again". Off his new "Gulf Coast Highway". Eric was born in California, moved to New York for a short while, and now resides in New Orleans. You can hear the influences from all three areas in his music. Top that off with that soulfull rough blues voice and it's a fantastic soung.
3. Scott Miller & The Commonwealth - "Claire Marie". This rockin' tune comes off their brand new album "For Crying Out Loud". Scott was of course, formerly with the V-Roys, who played with Steve Earle, which makes them greatness. The most fun you can legally have at a live show with these guys. Greatest line in this tune is when he is talking to the cop that pulled him over. You only hear Scott's answer, but you know exactly what the cop is saying. Of course, being as the band name is The Commonwealth, this band hangs their hats (if they ever do decide to wear one) in Virginia.
4. Desoto Rust - "Morgan Rhule" . For fans of Houston Marchman. Co-Lead singer Ray Hunter has a voice similar to Houston's, and like Houston, his songwriting paints a vivid picture. Desoto Rust, however, is a little more on the rock side of the scene. Great road-trip music. And by the way, I did say Co-Lead singer. Mike Simmons also lends vocals on a few songs. Sound eerily similar to the great Jimmie Dale Gillmore.
5. Uncle Lucius - "Mississippi Highway". Band out of Austin. I'm thinking a mix of The Allman Brothers and Little Feat. Blues with funk, and a big Southern gravel twang. Hard to believe they are in our very back yard and not well known. You'll understand why I say this after you hear this number. By the way, this song comes off their "Pick Your Head Up" album.
6. Mark Erelli - "Baltimore". Off his new "Delivered" album. Great thing about Mark is that you really can't compare him to anyone else. Might be the reason I love his music so much. Amazing lyrics, very emotional powerful voice. Like my bride often says, a voice can be an instrument, and this is one of those cases. Mark lives in Massachusetts (wow, that passed my spell check…doesn't look right).
7. The Rustlanders - "Beginning To Show Through". If you catch a Ryan Bingham show in the month of April, you might just catch these guys as they are opening a few of the April dates. From Pennsylvania. Very good defintion of Americana music. Lyrics that tell of the American landscape with a little alt-country feel. This song comes from their self-titled debut album.
8. The Flatlanders - "Just About Time". We mentioned Jimmie Dale Gillmore earlier. Well, Jimmie Dale is a member of The Flatlanders, who have a new album out called "Hills And Valleys" . The Flatlanders, of course, consist of Jimmie Dale, Butch Hancock and Joe Ely. This is one that both Jimme Dale and Joe sing lead vocals on, giving you a true feel of what The Flatlanders are all about.
9. Slaid Cleaves - "Hard To Believe". Off his new album "Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away". Slaid actually goes back to an earlier stage of his career, by bring back electric guitars to this album. Ray Wylie Hubbard was quoted as saying "He's got "it". Whatever "it" is. How can you disagree with the logic of the Wylie Llama? Slaid's music moves me and he can always make me feel what emotion he was trying to get across everytime he sings. So much power in a subdued voice.
10. Ryan McBride - "Family Tree". This is one of those that should be a big one on the Texas Music Scene if there is anything honest left to this scene. Ryan's new album is called "Quicksand", which is a great name for a debut album of an artist that has so much talent but doesn't fit into that generic "Texas Country" mold. You come in with high-hopes knowing that on talent alone, you should have success, but then you look down and see where you are standing. No, all his songs aren't about roadtrips, Texas beer, or rivers. Sometimes, that's a good thing. Instead his songs are about bruised hearts, mothers with addicition and well…now that I sit here listening to this while typing this up…think Chris Knight-ish lyrics. By the way, the amazing Joey Green and his band did the work as the backing band for Ryan on this album, and Joey also helped engineer this album.
Hopefully you folks like these tunes. Let me know if you get a chance. Would love to hear your opinions (good or bad) on them.
Shayne Hollinger
shayne@mandatoryfm.com
Program Director/Music Director
Mandatory FM
