Reviews (8)

Totally Country, Finally
1. Only In America - (5/5) This is a great song and a nice message. It's not neccessarily like Toby Keith and Darryl Worrley's "worship the US" songs (although i like those to, hehe) yet simply a song that points out the positives in the good 'ol USA.
2. She Couldn't Change Me - (5/5) Montgomery Gentry is one of the best new country acts...Then I found out they weren't even knew! I hope their newly acquired fame lasts, because they release the funnest songs. I got their CD "My Town" and, with the exception of "Speed", the other 2 singles from this aren't even some of the best!
3. With Me - (4/5) It gets boring to me. Like another reviewer said, the fiddle adds a nice touch. Otherwise, I like some of their other songs, like "I'm Already There", "Walkin' in Memphis" and their newest one better. But I guess this was their recent one, at the time of the release.
4. Without You - (4/5) I'm not a huge fan of Dixie Chicks, except for "Travelling Soldier", but this was a nice song. I don't listen to it often, because the lead singer's voice annoys me, but when I do listen to it's nice.
5. On A Night Like This - (5/5) a little overplayed, but a cool song that a lot of girls, especially teenagers/early 20s, can relate to.
6. I Lost It - (5/5) I can listen to Kenny all day. His voice isn't remarkable, but it's distinguishing and he hasn't released a bad song in his entire career. Just another song to add to my Kenny collection :P Very pretty song that shows Kenny's sensitive side, as he professes his love and shows that he's not afraid to show his emotions.
7. Angels In Waiting - (3/5) I only like the chorus. The chorus is AWESOME, but I think the rest of the song is kind of bland. That may be because I'm just not a fan of hers, but the chorus earned all those points. Which is a rarity-usually the chorus is the worst part.
8. Born To Fly - (3/5) I'm SO sick of this song. To this day, it remains somewhat overplayed on my local country station (KICKS 101.5). Luckily, it's starting to die down. But I was never crazy about this song. THe beginning is the kind that you hate but it gets stuck in your head, anyway.
9. Austin - (5/5) This song, although not as popular, is better than his 2002/2003 song "The Baby". Really pretty, and in story form.
10. One Voice - (5/5) I love Billy. He's so talented. This, even, isn't the best song of his. "Oklahoma" and "Elisabeth" are easily better. His first 2 albums are better than his more recent one. This is a pretty song, about our violent culture.
11. Where The Blacktop Ends - (4/5) I don't really like Keith Urban that much, except for "Raining on Sunday" but this is a fun song.
12. One More Day - (5/5) very pretty song that anyone who's lost someone can relate to. I probably played this to death after a friend of mine, Nathan, died earlier in the school year.
13. It's A Great Day To Be Alive - (5/5) Fun song. It is a bit overplayed, but it's a nice, feel-good song.
14. I Want You To Want Me - (1/5) err obviously, this isn't my style. I'm more into contemporary country...so I didn't take to this song. The background music is obnoxious.
15. The Little Girl - (5/5) I've loved this song since I first heard it. It goes along with "The 11th COmmandment" by Collin Raye but with a different perspective/background.
16. Buy Me A Rose - (4/5) I always thought of Kenny Rogers as an old-time singer, so I was surprised that I liked this song. I'm glad I gave it a chance isntead of being an ignorant..yeah ^_~
17. There You Are - (5/5) Martina is an amazing singer. Second, in female standings, only to Reba. Another beautiful song, although not as good as "Concrete Angels" and "To All the Girls".

I think this CD was lacking some essentials to a totally country CD. Reba McEntire, for example, is a great you just don't exclude. I wouldn't have minded if they had put an older song. I hope the newer TC includes "Someone", or w/e her most recent one is called.

Most of the songs on this CD are quite good, so I gave it five stars. Sorry this was so long ^__^

Great Stuff
It's not often you find a CD with 17 of the very best selections. This is one of those special buys that you are destined to play over and over. I made a copy to keep from wearing out the original. The selection of songs, themes, and styles is varied, yet they blend well enough together to keep you singing along. I discovered some new favorites after just one listen. Even if you are not a die-hard country fan you will enjoy this CD, I did.
Beverly J Scott author of RIGHTEOUS REVENGE and RUTH FEVER

So good!
I found this CD and had to buy it. All these great hits in one place? How could I pass it up? This CD is great to listen to because it has such a variety. A CD no true country fan should be without!

A great sampling!
I am in the military stationed overseas and we do not have access to country music radio here, but after purchasing Totally Country, I realized how much fantastic music I've missed over the last 2 years. I did not know many of the artists in this collection except for Brooks & Dunn, Travis Tritt and of course Kenny Rogers and Dwight Yoakam. So I had no biases when I popped in the cd and listened, the music speaks for itself:
1. "Only in America" - Brooks & Dunn - Wow what a chorus! This song is every bit as good as their old stuff. It makes me proud to be serving my county!
2. "She Couldn't Change Me" - Montgomery Gentry - I love this song because it reminds me of my girlfriend.
3. "With Me" - Lonestar - Great song, strong chorus and I love that fiddle, now I'm a Lonestar fan!
4. "Without you" - Dixie Chicks - I always thought the Dixie Chicks were a bit overrated, but this song is simply beautiful.
5. "On a Night Like This" - Trick Pony - Never heard of them. But the singer has a really sexy voice, I'd like to hear more of their stuff.
6. "I Lost it" - Kenny Chesney - My favorite song on this album. What a voice! The best chorus I heard in while.
7. "Angels in Waiting" - Tammy Cochran - Its okay,if this song wasn't on this cd, I wouldn't miss it.
8. "Born to Fly" - Sara Evans - See 7#
9. "Austin" - Blake Shelton - I love this song, I have this thing for story songs. It makes me want to change my answering machine message!

10. "One Voice" - Billy Gilman - This kid can sing! Beautiful song.
11. "Where the Blacktop Ends" - Keith Urban - Has a nice "Irish/Riverdance" feel to it. I bet he has better songs.
12. "One More Day" - Diamond Rio - Sometimes I like this song, sometimes I get bored with it...one of those mood songs.
13. "It's a Great Day to be Alive" - Travis Tritt - I'm not a big Travis Tritt fan...what is this song about?
14. "I want you to want me" - Dwight Yoakam - I like it, but the original version was better.
15. "The Little Girl" - John Michael Montomery - If this song doesn't make you cry then there is something wrong with you. Gorgeous song.
16. "Buy Me a Rose" - Kenny Rogers - I'm so impressed, Kenny sounds exactly like he did 30 years ago. Nice advice, for men who don't have any good gift ideas.
17. "There You Are" - Martina McBride - Okay song, I can imagine Celine Dion singing this song...is this country?
Overall this a great cd for someone who is getting into modern country, or who is getting back into it. Highly recommended!

Greatest CD EVER!!!!!
I only got into Country music last summer, but the songs I heard here were some of the very first I heard. I love the song 'Born to Fly' and 'Angels in Waiting' is important to me because I lost my best friend in Feb. 2001. I was hoping for some Dixie Chicks, but their album is rather old now. Another thing I'd have liked was some Kenny Chesney. My particular favorites are 'She's Got it All' and 'Young', but the choices for this CD are excellent. Make room for this CD! ... Read more

Amazon.com

When he emerged in the mid-1980s at the dawn of new traditionalism, Lyle Lovett had more than a craggy visage to set him apart. His subtle wit, sly humor, and Texas-sized musical eclecticism made him a force. Built around 13 songs from his first three albums, this compendium resoundingly affirms those gifts. One hears his musical metamorphosis from the beginning, through the stomping blues of "Why I Don't Know," the honky-tonk talking blues "Give Back My Heart," and the folkier "L.A. County" and "If I Had a Boat." Nine numbers, including the Top 10 "Cowboy Man," appeared on singles (most as A-sides). The biggest oddities here are two newly recorded tracks, "The Truck Song" and "San Antonio Girl." They are Lovett's first new recordings in five years, and they share a nearly identical melody. Moreover, they really don't fit this context, though they may prompt hardcore fans to buy 13 songs they probably already own. Let's hope Lovett's working on an entire album where these two numbers will make more sense. --Rich Kienzle ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Writer's Block?
Including this cd, Lyle's last 4 releases have been: 1) a 2-disc set of cover tunes; 2) a live album; 3) an instrumental film score; and 4) a repackaging of songs from his first 3 albums. All of them have been great, but the sad fact is there hasn't been a "new" Lyle Lovett album since 1996's Road to Ensenada. Has the greatest musician and songwriter in the universe run out of fresh ideas? Say it ain't so! That said, for the true fans (like me) who already own those albums it probably isn't worth paying ... for just "The Truck Song" and "San Antonio Girl" (which you'll recognize from Lyle's live shows). For the rest of you, this is a collection well worth having. LL has been brilliant from the start, and these songs hold up to any of his more recent work. Enjoy!

Repackaged old stuff
I love Lyle but I am tired of the same old stuff. I have every one of his Cds except the first one and this new disk only has a couple of new songs. I have seen him live five times since he last turned out an original disk. Sure Step Inside This House was good but it wasn't HIS writing. What has he been doing with himself? Maybe he should quit riding motorcycles with Lance Armstrong and start writing music. When he did it was brilliant. If he doesn't come out with something soon he should wait until 2006 and make it an even ten years since his last original recording.

Great Old Tunes
All of Lyle's great early tunes that made him famous.

Phenomenal
I got this CD during the past year and it has quickly dominated airplay time on my cd player and ipod!!! Each song creeps up on you and brings deeper and deeper appreciation as you become familiar with it. Now if I order enchiladas, I make sure to order a Guacamole Salad instead of just guacamole! L.A. Lights is an incredibly upbeat song until you read the lyrics and discover the insanity and irony of the whole song, what venting! Clearly Lovett is a clever and brilliant songwriter and I enjoy this disc immensely. Previously I had got into his albums that came out in college like Road to Ensada and the one with Church on it. This CD really packs a punch as each track is a winner, whereas the others mentioned are hot and cold.

Classic, wonderful!
I love Lyle's quirky storytelling and great sense of humor, both of which shine through in this anthology. All you need is a cup of ice tea and this album playing and suddenly, it's summer and I'm a cowgirl. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Most artists playing and staying true to traditional country styles get pigeonholed as retro acts in the 1990s. Junior Brown, on the other hand, is viewed as something fresh and vital. You'd like to think it's because of his appealing baritone drawl, deft songwriting touch, and fleet set of picking fingers, but you just know that it's the Hendrix flourishes and his "guit-steel" creation that make him "relevant" to the contemporary Nashville tastemakers. Either way, Brown's mix of Hawaiian-tinged ballads, honky-tonk weepers, steady shuffles, and boy-girl duets is as potent as country gets in the 1990s. This 1993 effort, his first for Curb, not only showcases his rather formidable guitar technique and wall-shaking voice, but also proves him to be a sneakily clever lyricist, whether being ironic, sarcastic, or honest. --Marc Greilsamer ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Old school country by a new guitar wizard.
Junior Brown is the most exciting musician to come along in any genre of music for a long time. This is the cd that broke him onto the music scene back in 93, and remains one of my personal favorites in my collection.

Junior plays his own invention, the guit-steel, with amazing finesse and flair. A combination of a single pick-up Tele style guitar with an attached steel guitar, which enables him to switch back and forth between the two with ease, which adds a dimension to his music and playing never before heard.

One can hear this wizardry on such cuts as "Sugarfoot Rag," which Brown closes with a flurry of rockish style chords a la Jimi Hendrix, and the 11 minute jam "Guit-Steel Blues," in which Brown really shows off his abilities with this instrument.

Don't think that these are the only tracks in which one hears his magical fingers perform with prowess, nearly every track on the album features another example of this virtuoso's capabilities. But one must appreciate his songwriting talent as well. It varies from a traditional sound, as in the final track "The Gal From Oklahoma," which sounds as though it could have come out the dust bowl America of the 1930's, to the more humorous tracks such as "My Wife Thinks You're Dead," and "Holding Pattern."

All in all, if you appreciate good music, not just good country music, but good music as it is performed by a master of the craft, then this is the cd for you.

Junior is the MAN
When my boyfriend first brought home this CD, I wasn't too sure. I've been a die-hard Alternative fan for years, sampling this and that, but I never thought I'd be a big fan of country. I stand corrected. I am awed at Junior's talent. He makes his guit-steel sing, and he flat-picks it to boot! To say this album is good doesn't do it justice; 'inspiring' or 'amazing' might be better choices. I had no idea there were current country/western musicians who produced such a classic sound, and it's too bad more don't. Junior's rendition of 'The Sugarfoot Rag' is incredible, perhaps second only to the version he did on 'Junior High' - remember, kids, he uses a pick - and his swanky, sexy 'Guit-Steel Blues' is perfect for a rainy, sultry evening. He obviously has a funny, dry sense of humor and his songwriting blends perfectly with the covers of standards that he makes his own. This CD has not left my stereo in weeks. Trust me - even if you think you don't like country, buy this album and become a believer.

pull over...
Who is this madman with the big hat and where did he learn to play like that? What an awesome cd!!! If you ever see him on Austin City Limits, you will be amazed.

Country the way it was meant to be.

Definitely One to See
Junior Brown is a guitar enigma. He's a little bit country, a little bit western, a little bit rock and roll, a little bit blues, a little bit surf.... In a live show, you never are quite sure what he'll be throwing your way. One thing is for certain, you will definitely be amazed. Although "Guit With It" isn't at the same intensity as his live shows, it is still a masterpiece of dazzling finger-work on the fretboard and slide. His hybrid guitar that's half Telecaster and half pedal steel (without the pedals - he does all the string bends with his ring finger behind the slide) is a sight to behold. It's even a greater treat to watch him play it.

"Guit With It" is a playground to show off Brown's talents, and he has many. My favorite track on the album is the instrumental, "Sugarfoot Rag". A brilliant display of his flat-picking ability and fingers faster than light. He moves seamlessly between the Tele and the steel. He makes it trickier by adding vocals for the remaining songs. His voice is a low rumble that's very fitting to his playing. When Brown sings, you can't help but smile, especially with lyrics like "You're wanted by the police, and my wife thinks you're dead", which guest stars Jimmie Vaughan on guitar. His songs are full of humor and irony like "Party Lights" and "Highway Patrol", and he can even get a little romantic like the duet with his wife "So Close Yet So Far Away" and "The Gal from Oklahoma".

Brown is definitely what country should be about. Everything he plays, no matter how far he strays, still has a twinge of country to it. Even if it is Jimi Hendrix's "Red House" underneath all that "Guit-Steel Blues" or "Foxy Lady" (sorry, you'll have to catch this one live) Brown is country at heart. If you're a guitar fan, you'll have to catch Brown live just to revel in his high-energy performances and amazing guitar work. He's easily worth twice the cost of admission, and you don't even have to like country to enjoy the show...or album.

Whoa.
Junior Brown is one of the best guitarists alive. Period. This isn't saccharine country marketed for suburbanites, and it isn't studio magic. Picking this good just can't be faked. Junior's voice is cool and his songwriting is as witty as any country legend out there. Imagine Jerry Reed and Merle Haggard introduced Jimi Hendrix to country and you'll get an idea. It's Junior's dexterity, though, that blows your mind. His unique "guitsteel" is legendary, and one hell of a cool instrument even to guitar traditionalists like me.

I've caught Junior Brown live twice now, and each time he's played better than this CD. This is one of those rare acts you need to catch at least once before you die. ... Read more

Amazon.com

As with Fight Songs, the 1999 predecessor to Satellite Rides, the Old 97's are ringing a poppy bell. The cover art has a retro 1960s vibe, and the chiming guitars echo that sentiment. Is it 1960s Britpop? A tad, but singer Rhett Miller has a vocal palette that runs from 1980s new wave-leaning alternative to a more scouring, acidic country yowl. He uses his range well. The twang here is more subtle than in the past, cloaked in big rave-up melodies (like the fine single "King of All the World") and heart-on-the-sleeve emotions (as on "Question"). Some of the latter are great, particularly the poppy "Do you wanna mess around" refrain in "Buick City Complex." Miller runs down a seriously twangin' gem on "Am I Too Late," and bassist Murry Hammond does the same on his brooding "Up the Devil's Pay," which ranks as one of the CD's highest marks. What the Old 97's have done with this session is push themselves further away from their original alt-country heartbeat--much the way Jeff Tweedy did after Uncle Tupelo once he had Wilco as his platform. --Andrew Bartlett ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Continuing on their poppy path...
The Old 97's released a new CD that doesn't stray too far from the path they carved in their previous release, Fight Songs. Those of you who enjoyed the bright, glittery pop in Fight Songs probably won't be disappointed with Satellite Rides. Those of you who expected a return to The Old 97's roots - think again. The Old 97's are, since Fight Songs, the "New 97's".

The Old 97's have - probably wisely - changed their sound from their raucous, twangy alt-country-punk to a more consumer-friendly sound that can be heard in clothing stores across America. The Old 97's do not entirely abandon their long-time fans on this CD, however. "Am I Too Late" would be a natural fit on the Wreck Your Life CD (sounds a little like a polished "Over The Cliff"), and Murry Hammond delights with another gem, "Up The Devils Pay."

Rhett Miller joins the pop fray with several crisp tracks, such as the fine single "King Of All Of The World", "Rollerskate Skinny", and "Bird In A Cage". There are some dogs on this CD however, as "What I Wouldn't Do" is just plain bad, and Murry penned a rare loser in "Can't Get A Line", our first glimpse at Hammond's pop-rock writing skills.

The bottom line here is that The Old 97's released a pleasing pop album, similar to Fight Songs, but probably not as good. Fans of Fight Songs will enjoy Satellite Rides - by all means, pick it up! Don't expect the Old 97's of old - this is definitely the "New 97's". This is great for them and good for the listening public in general, however the songwriting has lost most of its imagination, and there won't be any more spectacular albums like Too Far To Care. This is a shame, but "The New 97's" are here to stay.

Their best yet
I've been a 97's fan for awhile now, and I'd have to say this is their best yet. Long-term fans who were disappointed by Fight Songs should be brought back into the fold with this one. It's definitely more twang than Fight Songs (although not nearly as much as the classic Too Far to Care) but builds on Fight Songs' pop tendencies as well. This combination of sounds also serves as a great introduction for the new fans who are bound to discover the 97's through this album and the first single King of All the World. Favorite tracks are Can't Get a Line, Up the Devil's Pay and Designs on You. One more note, go see them live if you get the chance, they are probably the best live band I've ever seen.

Great!
All there stuff is great. This CD gets better and better each time you listen to it. I like their older stuff a lot, especially 'Wreck Your Life'.

Where were these guys hiding?
Damn, why didn't someone tell me about these guys before?! I only heard of them through Amazon's automatic recommendation thingy. I've been a fan of the Jayhawks, Wilco, Patty Griffin, BoDeans, etc. for years, and have suffered through Ryan Adams -- what a disappointment! Completely overrated. Anyhow, Old 97's are my new favorites. This album is great fun. It combines country twang with catchy, original melodies and VERY smart, but simple lyrics. Miller's voice is perfect for this style. The "Do you wanna mess around" line in "Buick City Complex" is both endearing and sexual -- innocent but eager. This is my favorite song. "Designs on You" also has some great lyrics. I could go on and on, but I need to check out their other albums now. As I said, I had no idea these guys existed...on one hand, I'm bummed I didn't find them earlier, but finding them now has come at the perfect time. I was beginning to think I would run out of new favorites! BUY THIS ALBUM AND ENJOY!

The record company won
I came on board with Too Far To Care (an unheralded classic mix that defies the simplistic country/punk/metal/pop genres). It was by far their best album. I liked Fight Songs a hell of a lot. It had lost some of the edge/sting of Too Far but it was still damn good.
I hate to say it but Satellite Rides feels like some record company exec kept telling the band what would sell and blanded the hell out of them. The beats and chords are simple and predictable. And I never thought I would say that about the 97's. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Some of the best records are all about a mood. The Duel displays a kind of world-weariness bordering on despair, evidenced immediately by the languid vocal delivery and the sparse, laid-back, but intense sound of the band. The lyrics themselves may take a while to creep up on you. Moorer has never quite fit the Nashville mold, and her songs here certainly don't follow the Music Row formula. Instead they paint dark pictures of failed faith (the title tune), alcoholism, ("One on the House"), and death ("Sing Me to Sleep"). R. S. Field's perfect production owes more than a passing debt to Neil Young. If you think this all sounds depressing you'd be wrong. As with all great country music, exquisite execution, splendid sound, and depth of feeling combine to create a cathartic, redemptive result. On some dark night of the soul, The Duel just might save your life. --Michael Ross ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Wow!! This is sad!
I have to say I have been a big Allison Moorer fan for years. I think she has the most perfect voice I have ever heard. She has reached my "can do no wrong" list because of her musical consistency. I don't think she could perform a song that I wouldn't like. I have to say that this album is sad, really sad! I hoped while listening to it that she was not really this pesimistic. I think a lot of people have felt the things talked about in these beautiful songs, but you have to get over your losses. Allison I love you, but please, God (by any name) is great and not the enemy. I do believe this album is wonderful and deep, but very sad. I hope the next album is just as wonderful but more resolved. Allison is the best story teller in country music today.

Allison At The Top Of Her Game
Having received virtually no joy from country radio to date, Allison Moorer not only took leave of the big labels for the rootsier confines of Sugar Hill Records, but she also took a harder approach to her music with her new release THE DUEL. A huge rock influence pervades this entire album, as does a new sophistication to her songwriting, albeit an arguably cynical and dark tone.

Allison hasn't completely forsaken her country roots as can be demonstrated on the steel-laden "One On The House", though even here the feel of the song is closer to James Taylor's "Bartender's Blues" than to any of today's standard-issue Nashville drinking songs. It helps that Allison's smoky R&B-influenced voice is as good as it is. Probably as gutsy a song as she could have ever written is the sardonic "All Aboard", which takes an underhanded swipe at the rampant far right-wing post-9/11 jingoism, even utilizing some of the right's own language ("and if you don't love it, you can leave") only to throw it back on them. Doubtless that this means Allison will get even less airplay at country radio now than the minuscule airplay she's gotten in the past, but it seems like she's gone past the point of caring there.

Those two cuts go along with nine other fine examples of Allison's merging of alternative country with R&B-influenced classic rock and show conclusively that there's a lot more to her than being Kid Rock's first sidekick on "Picture" or the kid sister to Shelby Lynne. THE DUEL is an album that demands to be taken seriously, as does Allison herself.

The Duel
When Allison Moorer came onto the music scene in 1998, with her major label debut ALABAMA SONG on MCA, she sang a soulful kind of country music that was all her own. Now in 2004, she released her 4th studio album on the independant label Sugar Hill. The sound has evolved a bit from the country sound, to a more rock edged sound that is evident throughout, especially the opening track "I Ain't Giving Up On You". Moorer is a confident songwriter, and a darn good one at that. Not only for lyrical reasons, but she knows how to write a catchy hook. Look no further than the song "Melancholy Polly". There's still some country elements, but with THE DUEL it sounds like Allison Moorer is more and more coming into her own sound, constantly evolving. Other highlights include the title track, "One On the House", "Believe You Me", and "All Aboard".

Best Album by a Female Vocalist in 2004
I bought a copy of this album late on the day my daughter was admitted to an intensive care unit for respiratory failure. I first played it late in the evening of that terrible day, and if I've ever felt more comfort from an album, I don't know what it would be.

Allison Moorer has a voice that's a little like Wynona Judd without the candy. It is a deep, resonant alto with huge dynamic range. The songs she writes and those she covers on this fine disc are performed with such conviction, it's breathtaking. Here and there, one of her lyrics fall flat, but so what? Her performance here is incredibly honest and polished. If you understand songs that address loss and redemption, you'll love this.

The lyrics are grim at times but so is life, and when the album ends, her final cut, which one reviewer here disliked, sounds like an aural sunrise to me. There is hope here, and its a big reason why the album works.

While I usually discuss recordings song-by-song, I won't attempt to do it, because the whole here is greater than the sum of its parts. Moorer's producer and Rounder Records have done an ear-opening job of recreating a late sixties-era sound -- like Neil Young's classic EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS IS NOWHERE. The opening cut smacks a little of DOWN BY THE RIVER, but it won't put you off.

Would I have preferred a more generous recording, say: more than 45 minutes? Sure. But except for this issue, I absolutely love the courage and conviction of these songs and the heroic sound of moorer's voice. As far as staying power, I am 52 years old and rarely replay albums as often as I have replayed this one. It sounds fresh after ten spins.

Soul is a word that starts with R&B and expands in concentric circles to include other forms of music. Ms. Moorer has created her own form. It is neither rock nor folk nor country, but it goes straight to the bone.

If you love Neil Young, Townes Van Zandt, Tom Waits and especially Lucinda Williams, you will love this recording. For those who didn't know, Allison Moorer has arrived at last. To say that her performance here exceeds anything her sister Shelby Lynne has done would not be fair, but in her own way, she has done it and deserves all the notoriety she can get along the way.

Strongly recommended. If this one isn't named a classic this year, write back and yell at me.

Allison sets a mood
Allison Moorer does not pain a pretty picture. Her characters are on the brink. They're desperate enough to beg a bartender for a free drink. Thoughts of death haunt them. They've pretty much lost their way. And yet, they have an inner toughness and resolve that keeps them hanging on to see what tomorrow brings. The sound of the record is just about perfect. It's hardcore Neil Young "American Stars and Bars" power twang. I really didn't know that Allison was capable of putting out a record with this much feeling and depth of emotion. This one's a keeper. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Spellbinding
The music is spellbinding. Smoky vocals, plucked acoustic guitar underpinnings, melodious, twangy reverb laden electric guitars, and enchanting harmonies. More accessible with a somewhat warmer feel and a bit quicker pulse than the debut masterpiece Reckless Burning. The pop leanings of Tell The Boys, with a chorus so infectious it should be quarantined, is likely to garner plenty of play on college radio. Fans of Neko Case and Oh Susanna will likely love this.

Leaves a lasting impact
I first heard this cd album after downloading it off the net. what followed was beautifully crafted melodies accompanied with a husky female voice. Really soothing songs which create a warm environment inside you. The second 'you are not gotten here', with heart breaking guitar licks and violin accomanpaniments. Overall, the cd has brilliant tracks. I'd recommend you to go out and buy it(like i did after hearing it twice), but only if u like soothing slow and soft melodious tracks. Oh, My girl is a masterpiece ... Read more

Amazon.com

On 1997's El Corazón, Steve Earle wished for the return of Woody Guthrie to a world sorely lacking voices of righteous dissent. Here, Earle stops pining for ghosts and gruffly makes his own claim to the agit-folk crown. The controversial "John Walker's Blues" drew attention to the album and the ire of many who misunderstood it, but it's only one of many topical tunes on a disc that issues a kind of call to arms: over the distorted guitars and garbage-pail drums of "Amerika v. 6.0" and in the spare and creepy satire "Conspiracy Theory," Earle rallies listeners to resist such corrosive cultural forces as consumerism, xenophobia, and apathy. And as Earle's songs often do, several cuts offer sympathetic portrayals of folks on the margins: a busted Mexican migrant writes a letter home as organ chirps and guitars blaze through "What's a Simple Man to Do?" and in "The Truth," Earle's fuzzed-out drawl depicts life behind bars. Though nearly every moment of this ambitious album is laden with meaning, there's room enough for simple beauty--like the velvet voice of Emmylou Harris on "I Remember You"--and, more importantly, hope. "I believe there'll come a day," Earle affirms in the closing track, "when the lion and the lamb will lie down in peace together in Jerusalem." --Anders Smith Lindall ... Read more

Reviews (97)

A Great CD
Since 1995 when Steve Earle recorded Train-a Coming he has been the most prolific and talented songwriter in this seven year span.This album adds to his lustre.The range on this album is remarkable.Ashes to Ashes could(and should)be played on alt.rock stations and fit in perfectly.The cynicism on Amerika vs. 6.0 is scathing.Just love the chorus on Conspiracy Theory and the rest of the song is great as well.Anyone who listens to John Walker's Blues with an open mind will realize that this is not a glorification of this young man but rather a comment on the shallowness of American popular culture and one kid's search for a more meaningful existence who came to a bad end.

In 1986 Earle hit the country scene as a great new talent who almost wasted his career due to his excesses.His music now defies categorization.He plays anything from bluegrass to hard rock and and does them all superbly.He's the best songwriter working today.

Other voices
I am not a Steve Earle fan and I know very little about his previous work. I have "The Essential Steve Earle" and don't care for it, but I am impressed by this CD. The lyrics are thought provoking, the Dylanesque songs are catchy, and the edgy production gives the album just the right sound.

I caught Steve on Conan O'Brien singing "Jerusalem", what a fantastic song. It is definitely the highlight of the CD, but, save for one song, the rest of the CD is very listenable. It's one of those CD's you can put in and listen all the way through without fast forwarding by a stinker.

John Walker's Blues is an intriguing song. I heard the talking heads bashing it on the morning talk shows, taking the lyrics out of context. The whole scene reminded me of the press' crucifixion of John Lennon after his infamous Jesus remark.

September 11th was a tragedy, but we don't all goose step to the drum beat of war. Eventually, other voices, those of peace and reason, will prevail. I pray that I am here "when the lion and the lamb will lie down in peace together in Jerusalem."

Jerusalem is one amazing song!
I like everything Steve Earle does. So it comes as no surprise that I like this album too. But the one song that stands out above all others for me is "Jerusalem." If you have any interest whatsoever in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict this song plumbs it to the depths. Almost no singer-songwriters (except Israelis) have attempted to write about the conflict & I feel enormous gratitude to Earle for taking the subject on and doing it such justice.

I love Steve Earl...
Words can not describe the greatness of this album. Wow! Simply breathtaking.

Good album- what can you expect, its Steve Earle
It took a couple listenings to warm up to this one. The first 4 tracks are very 'heavy', probably why I was a little apprehensive about the cd's demeanor. "Ashes to Ashes" has some great harmonica accents, and the first 3 tracks lead into a very haunting 4'th track, "John Walker's Blues". Then when you are getting pretty seduced by the heavy songs, in comes track 5, "The Kind". I think this is a beautiful song. The lyrics and music is simple and pretty. The song underscores my feeling that Steve is a great poet. I love this song. After this the cd has some good cuts and some not so good, "Go Amanda" tends to be boring, "Shadowland" must be some song from his early days, and pretty boring. "Jerusalem" seems to use the music from "When I Fall" (a great tune). If you are a fan of Steve's, this is one you should add to your collection. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Under Cold Blue Stars, the third album from native Nebraskan Josh Rouse, is full of elegant, melodic pop songs that are deftly understated but carry hooks as catchy as Coldplay's (whose music the opening song, "Twilight," uncannily evokes). This is music for folk in love with Americana and timeless pop; it's a gentle hinterland of melancholy and hope. The loose concept behind Under Cold Blue Stars is that of a fractious couple in the late 1950s, trying to come to terms with their lives and relationship. "Christmas with Jesus" is an unashamedly beautiful realization of their struggles, as is the upbeat title track, which touches on sources as diverse as Nils Lofgren, the Cure, and even Bruce Springsteen (albeit, a Springsteen shorn of all pride and aggrandizement). All this adds up to make Under Cold Blue Stars rather special. --Everett True ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Sublime
Since his excellent debut "Dressed Up Like Nebraska", Josh Rouse has never disappointed. He knows how to make a song work. With this third album, the synthesizer is present over the first half of the album and though I'm not big on this sound, the quality of the music still wins. Josh has always been influenced by some new wave music, and that's what takes him a bit apart of the alt.country scene. In "Under Cold Blue Stars" you can have U2 in mind on some tracks, as well as Radiohead or R.E.M, bands I personally don't use to like so much, but with Josh Rouse it's different, probably because he's a solo artist with a more intimate approach. The second half of the disc is by far my favorite: from "Ugly Stories" to "The Whole Night Through", it's simply sublime. "Feeling No Pain" is a terrific single that recalls The Jesus & Mary Chain (remember the glorious "April Skies"?). The wonderful "Ears To The Ground" was not written by Josh, but Jason Phelan (from a band called The What Four). "Summer Kitchen Ballad" could make you weep by surprise. "Women & Men" must be one of the highlights of Josh shows. "The Whole Night Through" ends as a beautiful twilight.

All over, a space and solemn emotion in the music, that makes of "Under Cold Blue Stars" one of the records of the year.

The Music of the 'Stars'
As a pop album with a soul, Josh Rouse's Under Cold Blue Stars confronts the beaten boundaries of pop music while comfortably remaining within their confines. Just as his sound is about to dissolve into predictability, Rouse delves confidently into unexplored musical terrain, delivering a collection of 11 songs that embrace a spectrum of musical moods. From the hauntingly spare "Summer Kitchen Ballad" to the jangling "Nothing Gives Me Pleasure" to the frenetic "Feeling No Pain," Rouse's sound is as challenging as it is charming.

Rouse does not necessarily accomplish anything really new here. Rather, he reconfigures standard pop devices, stripping the genre of its fluff and cutting to its bare bones. Thus, while Under Cold Blue Stars is not the work of an innovator, his attempt at acquainting pop music with honesty and substance is, for the most part, an encouraging success.

In a recent NPR [National Public Radio] interview, Rouse recalled the FM radio of his Nebraska childhood, saturated with Neil Young and Fleetwood Mac. Rouse knows his influences rather well, it seems, as Under Cold Blue Stars plays like a reconciliation between the dreamy levity of Fleetwood Mac's "Gypsy" with the dour minimalism of Neil Young's "Albuquerque." However, while Young, Fleetwood Mac and comparable contemporaries such as Radiohead nail themselves to a definitive sound -- Radiohead's unremitting gloom, for example -- Rouse frolics somewhat drastically from one temperament to the next, defying category at every turn.

Interestingly, this schizophrenic approach renders his triumphs just as visible as his failures, yielding a rather didactic statement on the dos and don'ts of pop songwriting. For a younger artist, Rouse often exhibits a notable restraint of his powers, while occasionally letting his abundant energy obfuscate his capacity for melody and pathos. A healthy dose of bleakly spare tracks instills the album with a memorable immediacy and poise, whereas other tracks, such as "Women and Men," embark towards the same kind of promise only to descend into the distasteful pop arrangements that Rouse spends much of his time eluding. Fortunately, such descents occur rarely on Under Cold Blue Stars and the power of other, simpler songs keeps the album confidently afloat.

Similarly, Rouse's lyrics are as manic-depressive as his music is restless. At once innocent and bitter, Rouse's narrative of love and loss leaves nothing unsaid, documenting the spectrum of the heart from glory to grief and back again. "Nothing gives me pleasure like you do, I've always been the one to follow you" he croons on his way to requited love, only to confess his broken heart just a few songs later, in the vulnerably tender "Ugly Stories:" "Farewell, bye bye, sad look in your eye doesn't mean a thing." Despite his subject, Rouse's language consistently avoids mawkishness and doggerel, articulating desire in words as blunt and raw as Bob Dylan's on his equally forlorn Time Out of Mind.

Rouse's best songs do not reveal themselves entirely in the first listen, settling into the consciousness like silt at the floor of still waters. "Christmas With Jesus," the album's best song, slowly peels and pierces the heart, while raw, folkish ballads such as "The Whole Night Through" or "Summer Kitchen Ballad" awaken the mind like sudden rushes of nostalgia. Undoubtedly, Under Cold Blue Stars is the work of an emerging artist, and if Rouse slips into an occasional burst of production overkill, it only serves as a more vivid illustration that a good song invites the listener to participate in its experience, rather than doing all the work itself.

Triumphs such as "Christmas With Jesus" and "Summer Kitchen Ballad" demonstrate a kind of courage and honesty that surface only on those rare achievements such as The Bends or Blood on the Tracks. Those masterpieces execute their power more consistently and stylishly than Rouse, but, in the end, the comparisons are not as lofty as they may seem.

Excellent Album by an amazing performer...
This is one of the most hypnotic alternative albums of the decade! I love this cd. There really are no words to describe how great the music is. The songs are all beautifully performed and the melodies are all intoxicating and catchy. I'm not usually a fan of male vocals but I love this album. Definetly one of the best cds I have ever owned.

No question, one of the best
If you like heartfelt acoustic rock, this is the album for you. Josh's laid back, matter of fact voice blends perfectly with the funk rhythm on Under the Cold Blue Stars (think almost Remy Shand) and the moving Nothing Gives Me Pleasure. I can shut my eyes and imagine myself walking through Manhattan late in a January evening with the wind nipping at my face. Despite that, no matter what my mood is, there is something on this album that speaks to me each time I play it and the complex layers always keep me coming back to this album, time and again. You won't go wrong with this album, there's not a weak song on it.

Not what I expected
I first heard Josh Rousse on a Various Artists album, and this was the first Josh Rousse album I've purchased. I was dissipointed to find out that it wasn't much like the song of his that I heard (Laughter). The album itself is not bad, it has a easy-going, laid back feel, similar artists would be Jack Johnson and Duncan Sheik. The tracks mold together, giving it a somwhat bland feel to it, but overall worth the money. ... Read more

Reviews (45)

Exceeded all my expectations
First let me say that I am NOT a Shania fan. Second, while I am a great admirer of Dolly, Joan Osborne, Allison Krauss, Shelby Lynne, and Norah Jones, it was Ms Twain who inspired me to buy this album. How's that for a twist? After seeing her break down in tears on Oprah over the meaningfulness of Dolly's songwriting in her life, and hearing her give emotive folk vocals to Coat of Many Colors, I realized that Dolly's songs were likely to draw great performances out of these artists. How true it is! This album is a fabulous showcase for these artists. I really can't stop listening to it. The biggest surprise is Sinead's amazing performance on Dagger. The only track I skip is Melissa Etheridge - bad, bad song choice. Lastly, Shania, if you're listening, keep it up! Tell Mutt he should do without all that Def Leppard production more often!

The best tribute album I have ever heard!
Tribute albums are pretty much a hit-or-miss affair, like the recent tributes to Patsy Cline (a miss) or Hank Williams (a hit). I am more than happy to report that "Just Because I'm A Woman" definitely hits its mark and is comprised of performances that range from above average to astonishing.

The finest performances here are...

(1) Well, Dolly Parton with her refreshed version of "Just Because I'm A Woman," which has a strong R&B edge to it and pushing-the-envelope lyrics.

(2) Newcomer Mindy Smith's gutsy, desperate take on THE Dolly Parton classic "Jolene."

(3) Joan Osborne with her bare-boned take on "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind," which rivals (and possibly surpasses) Dolly's original.

(4) Melissa Etheridge's smooth, emotional reading of "I Will Always Love You."

Honorable mentions are Sinead O'Connor doing a fantastic version of "Dagger Through The Heart" and Me'Shell N'Degeocello with her very-urban version of "Two Doors Down/"

As weak as the disc gets is Shania Twain mugging her way through "Coat Of Many Colors," but she is mercifully rescued by Alison Krauss on harmony vocals, which helps salvage the recording. (Krauss also opens this CD with a fabulous country-blue grass version of "9 to 5.") Twain may be "the" country superstar these days, but she is hopelessly outclassed by her company on this collection. Likewise, the usually fabulous Norah Jones churns out a less-than-stellar version of "The Grass Is Blue."

Even with its few flaws, this CD is an excellent tribute album, perhaps due to the involvement of the fantastic Dolly Parton herself. As a fan of Dolly's, I have to say this is, overall, a musically sound, loving tribute to an American icon.

[Note to Emmylou Harris fans: The version of "To Daddy" is the same vocal featured on Harris' 1975 album "Quarter Moon In A Ten Cent Town." The backing music sounds refreshed (possibly remastered), but if you are considering this CD based on the Emmylou Harris track, just be aware that it's pretty much the same version we've been hearing for years.]

This is Dolly World: Elite Songmaking
Dolly Parton is one of the premier songwriters of our time. If you just said, " learn something new everyday", than purchase this CD. If you would place the afforementioned sentence into the little known fact category than this CD will be a introduction to the proof. If you've never listened to Ms. Parton, just remember the chills you recieved when you first heard Whitney Houston sing "I will always love you". That's an example of Dolly's songwriting. This CD bears testimony, that was not a chart topping fluke. This cowgirl can write, not to mention sing(the last song is the diva herself singing the song the album is named for, a treat for the devoted fans.) Plus be sure to read the album notes; they tell you why certain singers chose certain songs and how they were touched by Dolly, nice addition.
Okay here's the premise; 12 singers remake some of Dolly's greatest starting with Alison Krause one of the more popular singers on the album. She sings "9-5" and although her sound is not displeasing, this is not stellar. It's like the original beat got drunk on moonshine. Very slow. Alison has nice range and its all around nice, but has lost the manic monday feel of the original. The next one is the only real dud. Its Melissa Etheridge singing "I will always love you." It's harsh and the arrangement is just wrong. When you hit next on your player be prepared for the most wonderful of songs. Its Norah Jones singing "Grass is Blue". From the first note her vocals and piano playing ring out your heart. Its everything you've ever felt when in denial about anything. The simple way she says the lines conveys a depth of troubled intensity. Lines like: There's snow in the tropics/ there's ice on the sun make you want to google reality just to make sure. Joan Osburne is next and she sings "Do I ever cross your mind". Sweet sweet song. She's so clear, and the musical instruments and her blend and carry you to some quiet mountain spot. What justice she gives to that song!'"The seeker" is Shelby Lynne in one word ; forgettable. But Oh, Jolene. This is the song you'll play on loop. This is the song that will wear out the rubber on your repeat button. Her anguished pleas, her octave, everything. Why is Mindy Smith unknown? This is the best track on the album. Emmylou, does her song proud but if you don't enjoy the gentleness of mountain ballads; Or if you've ever told that joke about playing country music backwards skip it. Shania sings"Coat of many colors" from her soul. It's quite possibly her best song ever sung. I can't hear it without crying. The rest are all worth an equal hear. Except maybe "little sparrow" which is a blugrass treat. A must have for the music lover.

Absolutely Stunning!!!!
I must say this is the first Dolly Parton album I've purchased. Although I love Dolly most of her charisma is better showcased live than on vinyl. After seing Dolly and Shania on Oprah I ran out to pick up the album..and was completely taken by Shania's rendiction of "Coat Of Many Colors". Alison does a wonderul job as well in harmonies...but it's Shania that grabs your heart strings.

Shania's heartfelt performance is stunningly raw and aside from Dolly is the only artist that can truly say this project had profound meaning.

Yes, Shania detractors will find fault with everything and anything Shania but those of us that appreciate real raw talent without the ability to awaken dogs & cats will love this album.

All the women do a fabulous job...Dolly is always wonderful. My only wish was that Shania also do "To Daddy" another one of her favorites from her early childhood.

Way to go, Dolly! Brillantly done Shania!!

Highly recommened
This cd has become an intregal part of my collection. If you like dolly, bluegrass, or any of the artists on it, don't hesitate to buy it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Guy Clark is a slow worker. Dublin Blues is only his seventh album since his debut, "Old No. 1," appeared in '75. The silver-haired Texan has praised the patient, meticulous process of hands-on craftmanship in songs like "The Carpenter," "Boats to Build," and "Jack of All Trades," and obviously applies the same approach to his own songwriting. The time is well spent, for this batch of songs resembles fine furniture; the words and music fit together so precisely that there's nary a seam nor a wobble. Clark's limitations are the same as ever. The cramped dimensions of his vocal tone and range make Johnny Cash sound like Luciano Pavarotti, and his easy-going, clip-clop midtempo rhythms are too unvarying for their own good. Admiring friends such as Nanci Griffith, Emmylou Harris, Kathy Mattea, and Sam Bush make the harmonies surrounding Clark especially rich on "Dublin Blues," and Ramblin' Jack Elliott (the subject of an earlier Clark song) sings a duet vocal on "Hangin' Your Life on the Wall," a defiant anthem on old folks who refuse to slow down. The heart of any Guy Clark album, though, is the writing, and the writing on Dublin Blues is the work of a dogged perfectionist. --Geoffrey Himes ... Read more

Reviews (10)

I hear something new and profound at every listening.
I cannot listen to Guy Clark without hearing something new at every playing. This guy always seems to be talking directly to me. As far as the Amazon reviewer mentioning a limited range and tone and clip-clop tempos... he has totally missed the whole point of Guy Clark. I can't imagine anyone else doing his songs as well as he does or anyone "improving" his songs by changing anything about them. They are LIFE. They are TRUTH. They are PROFOUND. The feelings of every son to every father are in "The Randall Knife". I hope I'm living my life with "The Cape" tied around my neck; if you're not, why are you here? Haven't you met people you wished would "Shut Up and Talk To Me"? I could go on, but I hope my point is clear: This guy Clark "KNOWS" and can craft and create in words and music the things we should all be aware of in our own lives. He's not just writing about life in the abstract, at a distance. He's been there and has much to tell us, if we will take the time to listen.

Wonderful Words
This was my first Clark CD. I have since purchased two more. I love the words to his songs. As you listen you are either inspired to do great things or feel saddened by a lost love. Guy definitely makes my commute a wonderful experience by focusing on what's real and what you feel.

I highly recommend this album.

Guy Clark rules
Guy Clark is the man, this album is pretty fantastic, although it doesn't compare to some of his earlier stuff. "The Randall Knife" however, is one of the most heartbreaking, poignant, songs ever written. If you like this one, you will love "Keepers", a great live album.

texastentialism at its best
Guy Clark's *Dublin Blues* has the feel of a diamond cutter at work. Every word, every phrase is like a diamond cutter's blow, exact, giving more by cutting excess away. "Dublin Blues", the title cut, portrays a haunted, worldly guy -- he's been to Spain, seen the David, heard Doc Watson -- but his heart is broken, he longs for forgiveness, and none of the beauty he's found in the world can relieve his sufferering. It's the first of a series of searching, bluesy country songs exploring loss, hope, faith, dreams, and grief. If you like minimalist art, if you enjoy laconic, soulful songs and pared down musical arrangements, Guy Clark's *Dublin Blues* achieves near perfection.

does it get any better
listen once, wonderful, listen twice transcending, thrice, you know what is real! ... Read more

Amazon.com

In Texas troubadour circles, the songwriting of the late Townes Van Zandt has long elicited the reverence that the rest of the world reserves for Bob Dylan. This 17-song collection justifies such devotion, while providing newcomers with an expansive introduction to the bluesy bard whose lyrics illuminate the soul's darkest recesses. Using the simplest language to explore the deepest truths, Van Zandt mines a bittersweet vein of metaphysical bleakness on "Flyin' Shoes," "Tower Song," "Waiting Around to Die," the tragic "Tecumseh Valley," and the transcendent "To Live Is to Fly." Those who worship at the altar of "For the Sake of the Song" will know all of these by heart, though country fans will be more familiar with "Pancho and Lefty" (from Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard's chart-topping duet) and "If I Needed You" (a hit for Don Williams and Emmylou Harris).While early studio recordings dominate the set, later live performances are more revelatory, with the boyish warmth of Van Zandt's vocals giving way to a world-weary resignation and his spare guitar accompaniment stripping the song to the bone. His deadpan club rendition of the Rolling Stones' "Dead Flowers" is the best of the set's three cover songs. --Don McLeese ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Does it get any prettier or sadder?
Thankfully there's a streak of joy thru these or else they'd just be breaking hearts.

If anyone knows of prettier songs I'd like to hear about it. Yet of course they're gravelly at the same time. Everything on this CD is amazing and continues to grow on me. We've listened to this one steadily for the past year. I didn't know TVZ's music when he was alive, so count me among the newcomers. I sure am appreciative. The generations can pass things to each other after all.

I particularly have to stand up for his duet with Willie at the end, "No Place to Fall." It's just over the top lovely. --And a touch humorous, too, what with the country music conceit of both guys singing how much they love each other, that is, the girl in the song. Of course there are deeper depths to all these things. There's a mutual love of music and life in this song, coming at the highest level from both these guys---along with the inevitable pain, thanks to TVZ. A treasure.

I suppose we'll have to get the other CDs mentioned as "must haves," but this one just keeps giving up more and more with every listen.

By the way, I don't know the bio's about TVZ, but Richard Dobson's "Gulf Coast Boys," about his years on the road with TVZ is a fine thing and is really what got me into TVZ, Guy Clarke and Dobson to start. Great tales of rough riding, playing, RVing, oil rigs and shrimping, from the wild ones when they were young in the 70's.

The Second Townes van Zandt album you should buy...
If you haven't got, or can't get a hold of, Townes' "Live at the Old Quarter" set, pick this up soon. I came to Townes through Steve Earle's cover of Tecumseh Valley, and I've been consistently stunned by the power of his songs. I hope he's smiling down from the Heavanly Houseboat...

I'd also recommend "Live At the Bluebird Cafe", a three-handed benefit gig with Steve Earle and Guy Clarke.

solid townes cd
i have been a fan of townes' music for the last couple of years. this cd is the best single album of his that i have come across. it is solid all the way through. it has a couple of my favorite songs by him such as "flyin shoes","only him or me," and "no place to fall" which he sings with willie nelson. if you are a seasoned fan of townes' music or just getting into it, this cd is a must have. they did a great job choosing which songs to include on this best of album and it must have been tough making the call. the order of songs is also very good. townes was one of a kind. enjoy.
yours truly,
wes ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Excellente
Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers once again produce another great album. All three of their albums (and live album) are top notch, but doesn't do them justice for their live show. I have seen them three times, and one of those was his solo tour. They play atleast three hours each time, and they played four hours in Mexico back in October. His solo act in Chicago was great, 90% requests and 3 hours long, no break. I have never seen a band so devoted to its fan base, even among the punk and emo scenes. I highly suggest you pick up any Peacemaker's records and Refreshment's records, you won't be disappointed!

The best of the best
Roger Clyne has written a lot of great songs and some of the best are on this new CD. The CD's title song Americano! is great southwestern rock that defines the band. Your Name On a Grain of Rice takes a Mexican beach staple and turns it into a meaningful song. A Little Hung Over You is a fun song even though it's about a lost love. And RCPM has really grown even more as a live band over the years. When I first saw them 4 or 5 years ago they weren't much more than a Refreshments cover band with a few new songs. I've seen them a couple of times since the release of Americano and now they still cover Clyne's best songs from the Refreshments days but the new RCPM material is dominant and the Americano songs cap the concerts. You'll want to listen to the CD quite a few times so you can get the full experience when you get to the concert. RCPM is probably one of the best live bands and this studio CD does a lot to show that potential.

Roger Clyne is brilliant
Roger Clyne is one of the most horribly underrated songwriters in America. He rights extremely catchy, funny and just plain good songs. Buy this CD and all of his other stuff (including The Refreshments CDs).

telling it like it is...
i have been a refreshments fan for years. when roger clyne and the peacemakers were born, i was glad to see the roger clyne "proud to be from arizona" mexican-infused, tequila-scented, top-down, clever torch continue to burn. but with the release of AMERICANO, my opinion jumped to even taller heights. this whole cd makes my mind crave a mindless trip to mexico with "a toothbrush and a razor i probably won't use" to drink some "mexican moonshine." every track reeks in dusty, southwestern pride for this desert so many of us call home.
some of my favorites:
1- americano. passion-filled tribute to mexico
2- counterclockwise. fun and happy vision of a mexican summer day
4- switchblade. sad story of friendship and mistakes
5- leaky little boat. absolutely fun-filled story of how we all wander across the deep blue sea sometimes
7- loco to stay sane. everybody can agree with they key point of the song- sometimes you gotta go a little loco to stay sane
8- mexican moonshine. one of the best. makes you want to stumble across the border the second you hear it
11- leave an open door. one of my favorites. perfectly worded, perfect music.
these are just a few of the songs on the cd that i love. all i know is, the music makes me proud to be from arizona. i am proud that i can say this music is local to me. roger clyne highlights a part of arizona and being an arizonan that is hard to describe and hard to find sometimes. AMERICANO perfectly embodies everything about us who call the sonoran desert home, who have experienced a scorpion sting, heard the mission bells ring, long to cross the southern border for a good time and enjoy a little craziness, mexican moonshine and tequila aplenty.

The Peacemakers do it again!
I received the album from a friend of mine while here in Iraq. I was hooked from the first listen. From the hard-hitting hit "Counterclockwise" To the up-tempo sounds of "Leaky Little Boat" This album has it all.

The DVD takes you behind the scenes on the making of Americano and gives you a small taste of what a live show is like.

Being 15000 miles form home its nice to crank up the CD, close my eyes and instantly I am home again.

I highly recommend that everybody should not only buy it but recommend it to a friend, then see them live. That's what I will be doing soon I get out of this sand box.

This band is truly independent and truly devoted to there fans. Defiantly worth the $15 + SH.

All Roads lead back to Tucson, ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great collection of NGDB's hits
I have the tape of this album. Twenty Years Of Dirt was released in 1986, the twentieth anniversary of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. It has my three favorite Dirt Band songs on it: "Mr. Bojangles", "Ripplin' Waters" and "Partners, Brothers and Friends". The latter two songs were written by Jimmy Ibbotson, who in my opinion is the Dirt Band's best songwriter. The record also includes a number of other Dirt Band classics, as well as one previously unreleased song, "Stand A Little Rain". Bob Carpenter, NGDB's keyboard player, hardly ever sings lead on a Dirt Band song, but on "Stand A Little Rain", he does a fine job of singing. The reason I give this record only four stars instead of five is because one song, "Fire In The Sky", doesn't sound "country" enough, at least in my opinion. True, the Dirt Band was influenced by pop music as well as folk and country music. Also, Ibbotson, who besides the since-departed John McEuen was probably the band member with the most "country" musical background, was not in the band when "Fire In The Sky" was recorded(he left NGDB in 1976 and rejoined the band in 1983). However, I think "Fire In The Sky", on which Jeff Hanna shares the lead vocals with Kenny Loggins, veers a little too far in the pop direction with its saxophone, although the song itself is well-done. Nevertheless, that's a small shortcoming on a solid album. Overall, Twenty Years Of Dirt is a great collection. NGDB fans should have this one.

10 Years of Dirt + "Mr. Bojangles"
I've been a huge fan of the Dirt Band since I purchased their Uncle Charlie album in 1970--and I've bought every album since. Unfortunately, now that I'm looking to replace my old vinyl with CDs, I find that much of their catalog is out of print. In the case of their Eighties output, however, it's not a major tragedy. Much of what you'd want to hear from those albums is on this disc (and the companion disc, More Great Dirt).

Once you get past the fact that the first ten years of dirt are covered by only two songs (1970's "Mr. Bojangles" and 1975's "Ripplin' Waters"), this collection adequately covers the country radio-friendly tunes the Dirt Band recorded during their peak commercial years. [In fact, why didn't Warner Brothers simply focus on the Eighties? It would have made more sense than trying to promote this as a 20-year retrospective.]

Both "American Dream" and "Make a Little Magic" returned the Dirt Band to the pop charts for the first time in nearly a decade. They also shed any resemblance to being a bluegrass/country-rock band with the 1979 and 1980 albums those hits came from. With their follow-up album, Jealousy, in 1981 they continued to pursue a pop music course. "Fire in the Sky" from that album was about as far as you could stylistcally get from "Mr. Bonjangles." It wasn't until the return of long-time member Jimmy Ibbotson (who left after the classic Dream album) that the Dirt Band hit their stride again.

It was Ibbotson who wrote the joyous "Dance Little Jean," the energetic "High Horse" and the band biography "Partners Brothers & Friends," the latter with Jeff Hanna.

In 1984, Bob Carpenter joined the band on keyboards and vocals. His presence also added another songwriter. It's Carpenter's lovely ballad "Stand a Little Rain," released as a single and recorded specifically for this collection, that closes the set.

Unfortunately, this five-man lineup would record only two albums: Plain Dirt Fashion (1984) and Partners, Brothers and Friends (1985). After that album, founding member John McEuen would leave the band in 1986. [McEuen is a gifted banjo and fiddle player--as well as other stringed instruments--and his solo albums are worth seeking out.]

The Dirt Band would record two more albums in the Eighties: Workin' Band and Hold On. Songs from those albums along with tracks left off this collection can be found on the equally excellent More Great Dirt. These two "best ofs" offer an excellent overview of the Dirt Band's Eighties output. RECOMMENDED

Good News/Bad News
This CD is so much less than it could have been. 1986 marked the twentieth anniversary of the band and this is what we get? Eleven songs? Twenty years? What kind of career retrospective is that? I don't mind that there are no songs from their four albums prior to Uncle Charlie and His Dog Teddy (although the inclusion of "Buy for Me the Rain" would have seemed appropriate), but this collection contains only two songs ("Mr. Bojangles" and "Ripplin' Waters") from their first ten years--how skimpy is that?!!!

Essentially what this CD actually is, is a collection of their 1979-1985 country radio hits. And that's not altogether bad. I'm a huge NGDB fan and I own all the vinyl albums these songs came from. And except for the Uncle Charlie and the Dream albums, these songs represent most of what you'd want to own from this period of the Dirt Band's career. [An excellent overview of the Dirt Band's first ten years is the two-disc, 37-song Dirt, Silver & Gold reissued on One Way Records.]

My only complaint is the brevity and lack of scope of the song selection. There's nothing from their classic Will the Circle Be Unbroken album, and at only 45 minutes another six to eight songs could have easily been added. [The same could be said for the sequel: More Great Dirt, vol. II. It has only ten songs and 34 minutes. Again, great songs, but not much bang for your buck. In fact, these two discs would practically fit on a single disc.]

Bottom line? Five stars for the music, three stars for the skimpy song selection, minimal band history and photos. Maybe they'll get the job done right for the Dirt Band's Forty Years of Dirt Collection. RECOMMENDED

Great collection by NGDB
I still have the tape of this album. It was released in 1986, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's twentieth anniversary, and it includes my three favorite NGDB songs--"Mr. Bojangles", "Ripplin' Waters" and "Partners, Brothers and Friends". The latter two songs were written by Jimmy Ibbotson, who in my opinion is the Dirt Band's best songwriter. The one song here that was previously unreleased, "Stand A Little Rain", is also a great song. Bob Carpenter, NGDB's keyboard player, hardly ever sings lead vocals on an NGDB song, but on "Stand A Little Rain", he does a fine job of singing. The reason I give this record only four stars instead of five is because one song, "Fire In The Sky", doesn't sound country enough, in my opinion. True, the Dirt Band was influenced by pop music as well as folk and country music. Also, Ibbotson was not in the band when "Fire In The Sky" was originally recorded in 1981(he left NGDB in 1976 and rejoined the band in 1983). However, I think "Fire In The Sky", on which Jeff Hanna shares the lead vocals with Kenny Loggins, veers a little too far in the pop direction with its saxophone, although the song itself is well-done. Nevertheless, that's a small shortcoming. Overall, Twenty Years Of Dirt is a great collection. NGDB fans should have this one.

Great collection
I still have the tape of this album. The record was released in 1986, NGDB's twentieth anniversary, and it includes a lot of their best songs, including three of my favorites, "Mr. Bojangles", "Ripplin' Waters", and "Partners, Brothers And Friends". The one song on this album that hadn't been previously released, "Stand A Little Rain", is also excellent. Bob Carpenter hardly ever sings lead on an NGDB song, but on "Stand A Little Rain", he does a fine job of singing. The reason I didn't give this record a higher rating is because one song on the album, "Fire In The Sky", doesn't sound country enough, in my opinion. True, the Dirt Band had a lot of pop, as well as country and folk, influences. However, I think "Fire In The Sky", on which Jeff Hanna shares the lead vocals with Kenny Loggins, veers a little too far in the pop direction with its saxophone, although the arrangement is excellent. Nevertheless, that's a small shortcoming here. Overall, Twenty Years of Dirt is a great collection. NGDB fans should have this one. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The perfect soundtrack for a summer roadtrip in an old car across Death Valley. Calexico's musical textures are woven out of a dazzling array of instruments and styles, including mariachi trumpets, countrified pedal steel, Latin jazz percussion, and carnival organ, just to name a few. The songs move at siesta speed, casually looping and loping along, never getting overheated. Bandmates Joey Burns and John Convertino have their hands in so many musical pies--including projects with OP8, Giant Sand, Victoria Williams, Giant Sand, and Richard Buckner--one wonders how they find the time to create the sun-soaked music of Calexico. But thank God they have. --Tod Nelson ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Sounds of the Desert and a Whole Lot More!
Hailing from the Sonora Desert in Arizona originally, Calexico sounds like home to me. Their intelligent use of a variety of styles paints an absolutely vivid mental picture of a land where "cool" is more than a state of mind, it's a way of life! The songs on The Black Light produce a remarkable amount of cohesion, from little vignettes to songs like "Frontera" and "Gypsy's Curse," which are soundtrack ready for any movie dealing with the enchantment of the desert. "Chach" and "Minas de Cobre" are my current favorites on the record, although this changes every dozen listens or so. The combination of Mariachi, country, rock'n'roll, surf, etc. leads to an amazing sound that needs to be experienced for full understanding. Even tunes like "Old Man Waltz," which sounds as though it should be in some Italian minstrel performance, display a unique vision among the two guys that are Calexico. For further listening enjoyment, check out their first record or the two records from the Friends of Dean Martinez, the band that spawned Calexico. Overall, one of the best records of the year, even if you don't find it on any magazine lists or award shows!

Great introspective Tex-Mex inspired Americana
...and the vocals are a perfect fit with the mood and approach of the music.

Great instrumentals, poor vocals
Almost made it on this one, but someone decided to add vocals. Be aware that the samples provided on Amazon do NOT include any of the vocals in the songs; I was misled to thinking that Calexico did only instrumentals.

Great music -- an excellent mix of styles, notably border music, folk, blues, jazz, and rock. The instrumentals are inspiring, creative, and well executed, but the vocals... Well, they just don't cut it. Joey Burns treads a tentative line between spoken word and singing, and does neither well at all. The mood is shattered, if not violated, on each vocal addition to what could have been sublime instrumental tracks.

Joey, stick to your strings and keyboards and keep your pie hole shut for the next one. You offer a lot, but you can't do it all, and this album proves it. As Zappa once said, "Shut up and play yer guitar."

The best album I've heard for a long time
Alternative country in its best!
Calexico made a damn good album. The music includes western, Mexican and gipsy themes, and combines them well with humor and grace.
A "must have" for every music lover.

Emotionally expressive Americana.....
A huge surprise this one...having never heard their songs before, I was excepting something along the lines of an accomplished Alternative Country act, but I was seriously impressed by how much more versatile they are. More of an 'Americana' band that mix the more subtle delicate side of indie rock, borne out with acoustic guitar, Piano, accordion, Percussion and a healthy dose of Trumpet & Violin....they consist around mostly harmonious instrumental tracks, with several vocals tracks "The Ride Pt II / Missing / Trigger" after every 3-4 instrumental tracks. But focusing on their instrumental tracks "Gypsy's Curse" is a lap steel pedal driven spaghetti western composition, to rank amongst the finest in the field. And as if they wasn't enough, they firmly encroach on "The Gotan Project" territory will their beautifully elegant "Minas de Cobre (For Better Metal)" elevating them to proprietors of wonderfully emotional music. ... Read more

Album Description

True punk mettle fearlessly cross-bred with deep country soul. The Bloodshot debut by the favorite sons of Dallas is chock full of blinding stutter guitar, soaring vocal harmonies, and keen songwriting. Don't be left behind, scratching your head wondering where you were when it all started. Features cameos by Jon Langford and yodeling legend Don Walser. 12 hard-charging Texas gems including "Victoria Lee," "Big Brown Eyes." as well as blistering covers by country stalwarts Bill Monroe. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Fantastic
After falling in love with Satellite Rides and Fight Songs, I purchased Wreck Your Life on a whim. I immediately found that I was able to relate to the tunes and lyrics in a way that I'd almost forgotten was possible. The album's absolutely packed with the irreverent innocence and frenetic (and often painful) love that I just can't get enough of. Wreck Your Life is my new favorite album.

Don't Skip This One!!!
This is the first Old 97s album I bought. Thus, it is my sentimental favorite. In the general progression from beautifully unpolished "Rhome" to outrageously wild "Too Far To Care", "Wreck Your Life" is sometimes sweet, very often funny, and always great music. Rhett's lyrics are what I would call brilliantly pathetic. "Big Brown Eyes" is a masterpiece of rejection, and "Over the Cliff" is one of the best "screw my job" songs I've ever heard. If you like any of the Old 97s' other CDs, you will definitely love this one.

a great album from a great band
The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is due to a couple weak songs- W-I-F-E and Goin Goin Gone. But everything else is pure joy with Over the Cliff and Big Brown Eyes my favorite. To crank the music and sing "Please don'd call me cool just call me a$$hole" or "I'm calling Time and Temperature just for some company" is the most fun you can have with your pants on. Highly recommended.

Good, but not as good as Too Far to Care, IMO.
This one is a little more "Poppy" than Too Far to Care. I like the more twangy country style of Too Far to Care. To me, that's what makes the Old 97's great.

Old 97's: Alt Country, Shmalt Country. Just Good Music!
I'm biased: Old 97's are my favorite band. I'm 30, educated and do not like country music. Yet this is my favorite band, and the best album by Old 97's. It's raw yet smooth, rough yet gentle. The songwriting is superb, the vocals are almost painful to hear and the overall impression they always give is that of a group of young men who play and FEEL their music. Don't insult this wonderful band by placing them in a "genre". Just listen to the music and know your world is a better place. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Another good one
I like everything that Ian Tyson does. I've never heard anything that I don't like from him. His great voice prevails through this as in all the others. I like all of his styles from the Cowboy & Western to the folk. He is an incredible musician with an incredible voice and I think it's good that lately he's experimenting with other styles rather than sticking to the expected. His voice and his arrangements are great no matter what he does, and this is another GREAT one.

Great to see again
This was Ian Tyson's first solo album, in '73-- and it's
a testament to his talent that to me it sounds as fresh today as ever.It's a bit more country than the cowboy/western focus of his later stuff, and maybe not quite as psychologically complex as some of the recent stuff on, say, 18 INCHES OF RAIN or LOST HERD, but great.And as always, that voice! Some great songs too like "If She Just Helps Me," "She's My Greatest Blessing," fun 'road' song "Great Canadian Tour" & classic "Spanish Johnny." Tyson rules :)! ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 1999

By dropping their y'allternative pretensions, busting out their rock chops, and releasing the pop child within, the Old 97's come out of the country and into the limelight. Some fans may decry the lack of twang, but there is no denying that Fight Songs is a terrific album, from its rollicking guitars to Rhett Miller's aw-shucks lyrical look at love's travails. --Tod Nelson ... Read more

Reviews (81)

Murder: a Heart Attack, or Bored to Death
In 1988 I saw this band at Trees in Dallas and you woulda thought the Pope came to Brooklyn. I couldn't park within a mile of the place, the room was 110 degrees and packed. Nobody moved, sang along, or talked during the songs. Every eye and ear was on the music; I've never been so captivated considering the music was so uproarious and joyfully energetic. But they played for hours and never let up with an energy level that surpassed any live act I can think of.

It's that show that I think of most when hearing this album, a textbook letdown and a major conceit. Although not without its moments, I would earnestly dissuade anyone from buying this as representative of the band's power and potential, not that of a genre, or another band, or anything else. It's simply hard to believe that Old 97's actually would release something this shamefully mediocre. It sounds as though Rhett Miller's Morrisey-sounding solo effort from years ago has finnaly caught up with his production and songwriting sensibilities, and he's truned his band into the Association of country-rock.

Briefly, "Jagged" and "What We Talk About" held my attention, and "Busted Afternoon" contained a chorus catchier than pinkeye, but after those three the entire project just droops. "Nineteen" (did they really release this as a single?) can't make anything of its small charms and goes nowhere; "Oppenheimer" is downright embarassing; "Let The Idiot Speak" is the epitome of a band on auto-pilot; and Murray's songs, once charming, sound bland and lifeless. By all means, investigate this if you like alt.whatever, but be warned: you only get $4 for it in trade next week.

Old 97's Albums
I'm a relatively new fan of the Old 97's, starting out listening to their Fight Songs and Satellite Rides albums. Over the past several months, I've picked up every other album they released. For those of you who hate their newer material, I have this to say: each album is unique in some way, even the new ones are awesome in their own right. It's a Good Thing for bands to dabble with newer styles. Jagged and Satellite Rides are just as much the Old 97's as Hitchhike to Rhome or Wreck Your Life.

Enjoy it on it's own
I just saw Rhett Miller open for Neil Finn and he was fantastic. The bile spewed by all the "I'm-a-fan-of-the-OLD-Old97s-and-now-they-stink" people is really unfair and unfortunate. I found Mr. Miller to be gracious, energetic and top-notch professional when I saw him live in Feb 2003 (and the Instigator is a great album, not perfect, but great). And I know that Neil Finn is a fan as well, and I trust his opinion a lot more than the sour grapes I've seen here from fair-weather fans and musicians alike. Anyway, the album is great! Yes it's different, yes it's more "produced," yes it's not as yowly or twangy. But so what? Why can't an artist try different things? Lighten up people, and enjoy the album because it's really good. So is their old stuff, just in a different way.

Fight Songs lovers: please don't see Old 97s live. Thanks.
What's really frustrating is that all the people who've called this "the best album ever" are the ones who buy up all the tickets to the 97s shows online when they play a small show. Thanks...

The instigator? Fight songs? Waste of money & time.
The only albums worse than Fight Songs are instigator and satellite rides. I've opened for this band a few times and seen & heard their music decline as their egos (and paychecks) inflated. It is a terrible thing. I can barely stand to look at them.
And yes, I have heard Instigator and I'm not just "player-hating."

bd ... Read more

Amazon.com

The misfit, prodigal lives that scrape and struggle through this Louisiana-born singer-songwriter's third album are all "looking for the grace from which they fell." They find it in unlikely images and places: a freeway phone booth, a stolen Christmas tree, a flaming field of sugar cane, a motel tryst, a sunset "the color of everything." Producer Gurf Morlix's signature sound--churning Hammond organ, bubbling vintage guitars, swampy grooves--isn't just well suited to Gauthier's vision--it toughens the moral grit and turns up the emotional heat. If Gauthier remains obsessed with the darker side of life, she also knows of the human truths hidden there. Like Springsteen's Darkness on the Edge of Town or Lucinda Williams's Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, Filth & Fire is an immediately convincing work of personal, poetic realism. --Roy Kasten ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Mary's best so far
Although I'm not a country music devotee, I've been a big fan of Mary's since she started out playing tiny coffeehouse venues in the Boston area. Her clear, open honesty and astonishing talent shine like bright beacons to anyone within sight or hearing when she starts to play. Without question "Filth and Fire" is her best and most polished album to date. Mary's started to hit her creative stride and her voice now effortlessly spans the range from sweet and wistful to snarling and growling. "Sugar Cane" has become an earworm that I can't get enough of, and conjures the very best of Neil Young in his prime. Likewise, I find myself humming bars from "Walk through the Fire", "Merry-Go-Round" and "Christmas in Paradise" during the course of my day. If you think you "don't like country music", listen to this CD. Mary Gauthier (say "GoShay", y'all!!) will change your mind, or at least force you to make an exception.

Mary is a rare treasure, and I'm betting that "Filth and Fire" is just the first disc of a transcendant phase of musicianship and songwriting from her. She's *that* good.

Mary Gauthier's Country/Noir
Mary Gauthier (GO-shay) is a former sucessful Boston resterauntuer hailing from New Orleans. She made a mid-life decision to become a singer/songrwritter, and with little musical training was performing at open mikes within a year. I am hoping that "Filth and Fire" is a breakthrough CD for Mary. She should be placed in the elite of country/noir songwritters like Lucinda Williams and John Hiatt. "Christmas In Paradise" is a hard luck story of two beautiful losers spending the holidays under the stars in Key West. The songs are like Raymond Carver stories set to music. One of the great CD releases of 2002, or any year for that matter.

Great but demanding album
"Filth & Fire" is a great album. I don't know whether Gauthier's previous albums are as good as this one, but, if so,
I wonder why she isn't as famous as the other gal coming from Louisiana (that is, Lucinda Williams).

The standout here is "Sugar Cane": a narrative about the environmental pollution caused by (guess what?) a sugar cane factory in the Mississippi Delta. Because of its social commentary, this song is steeped in the best tradition of folk music, but it's also a plain good country song with harmonica and fiddle providing a nice texture. After just one listening, you'll know the chorus by heart ("From Thibodaux to Raceland, there's fire in the fields...").

"Sugar Cane" also epitomizes the double nature of this album: committed, social-conscious lyrics, often verging on bleakness and hopelessness, wrapped up in upbeat layers of sounds supplied by harmonica, fiddle, lap steel, mandolin and slide guitar.

For instance, you'll love the mandolin that introduces the refrain in "Good-bye", even though the words are anything but joyful: "Born a bastard child in New Orleans to a woman I've never seen...". Or, in "Merry-go-round": "From the milky white of heroin as it bubbles and sooths, the dirty sheets you lie on with nothing left to lose". To complete this journey to hell, give also a listening to "Christmas in Paradise" and "Camelot Motel". I spare you the grim details here.

But beware, she's not striking a pose. She sounds honest even when she describes her homeless Christmas under a bridge with her vagabond companion (as in "Christmas in Paradise").

So, don't be intimidated by this album. There are also a couple of love songs; for instance, "After you're gone" is
pure vintage country, a nice duet with Gurf Morlix. Even though all players are top-notch, this guy deserves the
highest praise, because he plays most of the instruments and produces the album.

"Filth and Fire" ends in a calm tone. "The sun fades" is basically just her voice and an acoustic guitar. Her attitude is serene and makes me hope her next album will be a little bit brighter lyrically and the same musically.

One of The Best Albums I Have Ever Heard!!!!!!
I've been in radio for 38 years. Yeah I'm getting older. Part of the problem with loving music and having to work with it everyday is that you get jaded. You get cynical. Then along comes Mary Gauthier. Her 3rd album. Her first for me. It is dark. It is brilliant. She has made me remember what I felt like when I first heard Bob Dylan. When I first heard The Band. When I first heard John Prine. When I first heard Leonard Cohen. Thank you Mary Gauthier and thank you God for giving her this amazing talent. I can only give 5 stars. I would have given it 10!

Downright home spun fire and brimstone
Mary Gauthier is a prophet of country folk. She tales a dark tale of Johnny Cash spirituality and down on your luck grittiness. She is authentic and Louisianian. She is apocalypse coming to a bayou. She is real and a damn fine listen at that.

The authentic life she portrays is refreshing in a neuvo biblical Revelations sort of way. Her accent isn't a put-on. She knows of stories of hard times and falls and fires. Her music is stripped down unpretentiousness. Old country pure and black.

She summons ghost of Neil Young (if he were dead...God forbid), Cowboy Junkies, Nancy Apple, Roseanne Cash, Robert Earle Keene,and many many more. The songs, though sometimes painful and dark, invite repeated listens. You will get the real deal and turn heads listening this with windows rolled down, a hound dawg panting in your ear, '67 chevy truck at a stop-light in a one-horse town.

Gauthier is darkness on the edge of town and harvest and oh so much in addition. ... Read more

Amazon.com

After ripping it up on No Depression and Still Feel Gone, their first two albums of twangy punk rock, Uncle Tupelo unplugged for this remarkable tribute--half originals, half political and religious covers--to the band's old-time influences. While the new songs of frontmen Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy are consistently strong here (especially Farrar's "Grindstone"), the album's haunted covers of old folk songs are the true keepers. Tweedy's apocalyptic version of "Satan, Your Kingdom Must Come Down" and Farrar's earnest readings of the beat-down "Moonshiner" and the labor song "Coalminers" are as frightening, beautiful, and passionate as anything the band ever recorded. The 2003 expanded and remastered edition adds three unreleased demos, a live version of "Moonshiner," and an instrumental B-side. --David Cantwell ... Read more

Reviews (9)

not my uncle
who's uncle is it. Obviously someone in this band has been heavily influenced by "50 cent" but that's my opinion. This recording didn't sound like it is good.

Uncle Tupelo 's finest disc
I love this album. Most people are familiar with the story of Uncle Tupelo, and how they branched off to form two of the best bands of the nineties, Wilco and Son Volt. This disc captures Tupelo at thier finest. The whole disc has a live type feel to it. It is a mystery why this disc has not been elevated to classic status. Maybe if the music industry wasnt so concerned with the flavor of the week, this disc would be more widely played. If your a fan of music with some heart and soul to it, you will like this disc.

Quiet Side
Uncle Tupelo went unplugged on their brilliant third album, March 16-20, 1992. Produced by R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck, the album features six cover songs of mostly traditional folk music. The band's signature sound is stripped down to the skeletal remains of acoustic guitars with a dash of percussion and strings. The songs have on overt political nature and the band throws in some religion as well. The overall starkness of the album recalls Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska. Unlike that album which found Mr. Springsteen singing from a first person point of view, Uncle Tupelo act as troubadours, telling the tales of the downtrodden. The album shows the band's versatility and Mr. Buck's subtle production is first-rate.

Uncle Tupelo's best
This is by far my favorite Uncle Tupelo album because this is the album that best shows Uncle Tupelo's folk influence. This album has a perfect blend of original songs, and traditional songs the band learned from a Missouri folk compilation tape they heard. Its also good to see a CD that has worthwhile liner notes. The liner notes explain the band's background and the inspirations for the album, which makes for interesting reading for any Uncle Tupelo fan. Out of all the Farrar/Tweedy albums, I rank this one second only to "Trace".

Must have for all alt country fans
yep !!! bye it right now!!! you're missing out if it's not in your collection. destined to be as classic as any of bob dylans albums. a great collection of acustic music from the band that put alt counrty in the music vocabulary....to bad it it's their last album. while you 're at it you should just get all the uncle tupelo music you can find here....then start buying up the drive by trucker stuff too!!!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 2000

Here are some of Yoakam's best moments--which is to say some ofthe finest moments of recent country music history--distilled to theirintoxicating essence. With only a simply strummed acoustic guitar toaccompany these tales of lost love, shattered dreams, and barstoolmisery, Yoakam wields the ability to move mountains and break heartswith an attitude that's both understated and confident. A stunningcollection of country music's new standards. --S. Duda ... Read more

Reviews (88)

Yoakam Unplugged!
Never mind the unusual, barebones packaging, just focus on the great music on this CD. Yoakam has never sounded better, and his solo voice, accompanied by his acoutic guitar, is by turns heartbreaking, haunting, and sexy. The 25 songs are taken from his entire career, and range from a magnificent, hymn-like, a capella version of Guitars, Cadillacs to an Elvis-like remake of Fast As You. With the new arrangements, he has managed to make all his classics sound new, and the acoustic format makes it sound as if he's performing in your living room. This CD will make you realize how under-rated this great singer/songwriter is. In an era where far too many country singers sound alike and write alike, Yoakam's originality and pure talent shine through. It doesn't matter whether you call his style of music honky-tonk, Bakersfield sound, Americana, or alt-country, it's great music. Buy this CD, you won't regret it. Now, if only country radio would play some of these tracks . . .

A man, his guitar, and his music.
As a true DY-hard fan, I bought this cd the day it was released. As it turns out, it happens to be the best investment I've made this year.

Dwight, somewhere, said he released this album because of the "gracious response" he received performing acoustic sets during his tour. Well, he's done well by his fans. Dwight has allowed us to develop different perspectives and an even deeper appreciation for his talent as a singer, a songwriter, and a musician.

No matter how creative and successful Dwight becomes as he pushes his talent to the limit, he seems to have never forgotten the roots of country music. The familiar favorites such as "Bury Me", "Readin', Rightin', Rt. 23", and much more, are all included on this cd. Through his music, Dwight continues to graciously impart homage to his family, to his Kentucky roots, and to the MUSIC!

I encourage everyone to indulge in this cd.

The Real Deal
Dwight Yoakam is the real deal and here is where he proves it. Stripped down and "unplugged".
The songs as done here are , to quote him, "performed like I wrote them". With the removal of the usual musical embellishments you can really appreciate the instrument that he plays the best .. His Voice.
A must have for any true Dwight Yoakam affecianado.
A very interesting excercise is to play the acoustic.net cuts back to back with the original versions, sit back and enjoy the sometimes subtle, but most times not so subtle differences and appreciate the talent that is Dwight Yoakam.

What A Wonderfull CD!!!
I know that this cd will not earn Dwight any awards, and do not believe he made this cd to gain any awards. This cd is only for serious musicians and/or people who know good music when they hear it. Dwight has a fasinating talent both with his vocal's and instrumentaly.
If you like listening to artists with just a guitar alone, I highly recomend this cd.

It Just Keeps Calling Me Back
Here's one of those CDs that never gets old. There is a lot to be said for simplicity and this distills Yoakam's work to it's most basic level. Just DY and acoustic guitars. For nearly 20 years now, Dwight Yoakam has been one of the best singer/songwriters of country music. This is a fact that some people lose because of the tight pants and omnipresent Stetson, but dwightyoakamacoustic.net proves it in spades. Nothing new here, just soulful picking and singing of many of his best.

I haven't listened to this in over a year but I put it in the player today and quickly realized just what a powerful piece it is. This is an essential "travelling" CD that should go with you everywhere if you're a fan of real country music as opposed to the "young country" of today. And if you're not a fan of the genre, you just may be after listening to dwightyoakamacoustic.net. ... Read more