1. BOBBY DUNCAN - "LONG ROAD HOME" -- THIS ONE COMES OFF THE UPCOMING
FATH, HOPE AND EVERYTHING ELSE ALBUM.
Holy cow, this is an amazing album and should put Bobby on the map! I've been a fan of Bobby's music for a while, but for some unknown reason, it has fallen under the radar. With this new album, I don't see how that is even possible anymore. He hired some gunslingers to help out on this one. Walt Wilkins again takes the production reigns on the new album, as well as helping out on acoustic guitar and harmony vocals. Brady Black (Randy Rogers Band) plays the Violin and Viola, Michael Tarabay (you may remember him from the Pat Green Band) plays bass, Cory Schaub (Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses) lends his hand on the Lap Steel Guitar, and John Greenberg (Walt Wilkins & The Mystequeros) helps out on guitar as well. Brad sent me an e-mail a few days ago asking if I had heard the album yet and I think his statement said it all. He called the album "sick". Yes, it is. Wow.
2. JOHN AMOS - "HOLDING ON TO LETTING GO" -- OFF HIS NEW
INVISIBLE BOY ALBUM.
John is from the Red River, New Mexico area. His voice reminds me a lot of that James McMurtry sarcastic twang. Great songwriting. Actually, on this song, he co-wrote with the lovely Susan Gibson. It's another one of those all-star casts on this one. Kevin Welch sings on the album, Lloyd Maines plays the pedal steel, Kelley Mickwee (Jed & Kelley as well as the newly formed Trisha's) lends her incredible vocals, Rick Richards (who honestly has played with Gurf Morlix, Slaid Cleaves, Tom Russell, Cory Morrow, Ray Wylie Hubbard, John Evans and many others) plays the drums of course. Great songwriting. Great delivery. Can't go wrong with this one.
3. CHUCK MEAD - "I WISH IT WAS FRIDAY" -- OFF HIS NEW
JOURNEYMAN'S WAGER ALBUM.
One of my favorite bands out there that at one time got a very small national push was BR5-49. Chuck was the lead singer for that band. So, if you were a fan of BR5-49, then this album is for you. Country/Rockabilly/Southern Roots in this album, along with great hooks that will force you to sing along and tap your toes. Just a really fun album, and one you will want to bring along on the road trip.
4. DAVIN JAMES - "RAT KILLIN' TIME" --
THIS ONE COMES FROM HIS BRAND NEW "OLD SOUL" ALBUM
A regular at Larry Joe Taylor's Texas Music Festival each year, and for good reason. Davin can do more as an artist that most can even imagine. One of my favorites to watch at the festival as you never know what's next. Country, Blues, even a bluegrass tune such as this one. I recall one of the first times we played this one, a listener called in asking if it was a new Gourds tune. I could hear the Gourds cover this one. Fun one, with a kind of a morbid theme. Gives me the chills a bit every time I hear it, as I friggin' hate mice.
5. JONATHAN TERRELL - "RAINING SUNDAYS" -- ALBUM:
TRIALS AND STIMULATIONS
Jonathan comes from Austin, Texas. Reminds me a lot of Jackie Greene and Ryan Adams. Very deep lyrics, with an emotional delivery on the vocals. This is not for the "surface level" Texas Music fan. If you are tired of the ordinary, then check this one out. I absolutely love this album, may end up being one of my favorites of 2009.
6. EILEN JEWELL - "ONE OF THESE DAYS" -- ALBUM:
SEA OF TEARS
Man, it is so much fun to find a female with those sexy smoky vocals. Eilen is on of those gems. If another Pulp Fiction movie should ever be considered, then Eilen should be on the soundtrack. Very laid back, but with that voice that makes you want to do something illegal. I can really see Eilen making a big splash on the national level if she should ever get that push.
7. DANNY KALB - "SHAME, SHAME, SHAME" -- ALBUM:
I'M GONNA LIVE THE LIFE I SING ABOUT
Not gonna sugar-coat this one. Straight up blues music. I'm a huge blues fan, so this is right up my alley. Guitar work is incredible on this one. Danny, by the way, was a founder of the 60's group Blues Project. He's a veteran. His first album actually came out back in 1963. Knows how to deliver a blues tune the way it should be done.
. PETE BERWICK - "VACANCY IN MY HEART" -- ALBUM:
JUST ANOTHER DAY IN HELL
Pete is an indie-rocker, no doubt about it. When I first heard this song, I told him that I could hear the Ramones doing this. Reason I like the guy...he was flattered by the comment. This is one that I love to kick start my show with as much as possible. It's one that you may not want to listen to while driving, unless you are prepared to pay for that speeding ticket. Rock through and through, it's one that many of OKOM folks should be covering. It's that good
9. JON SNODGRASS - "THRU THE FAN" -- ALBUM:
PAY IT FORWARD
He's the guy with the glasses from the bands Drag The River and Armchair Martian. Songwriting is the key with Jon. Really paints a great picture with his lyrics. Not the greatest vocalist (won't be on American Idol anytime soon), but folks, that's a good thing. There is a lot of desperation in his vocals, which grabs your emotions and throws them in a blender for good measure.
10. MIKE ADDINGTON - "TURNED LOOSE" -- ALBUM:
HORIZON AND MAIN
Great story about Mike. He's from Red River, New Mexico. Every year, Larry Joe Taylor (the man of a thousand festivals) does his little festival in Red River. Mike would always play while up there, but had not put out an album. Well, apparently, all the support he has received from the folks that saw him each year, got him to record. Glad he did. Really good stuff from him. It's what is right with Americana music. He wrote all the music and lyrics on this album, which he says took decades to record. Hopefully he won't be a Willis Allan Ramsey and release just one album and tease us for 30 years about something new. Looking forward to hearing more from him.
Well, that's it for this month. Hope you guys and gals dig these. A diverse mix of music this month for sure.
If you find that you are digging what is here, check us out online at
www.mandatoryfm.com - we do stream and really this is only a drop in the bucket of new music that you need to hear. I could have done a top 40 this month, but that might have crashed the player.
Shayne Hollinger
shayne@mandatoryfm.com
Program/Music Director
Mandatory FM
