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Re: Re: I really need to check my Advisor email more often... (Reply to this comment)
by omophagia
Matt,
Glad you checked in on this one, of course.
I really liked the Miranda CD too. SHe's a spitfire. I was really hoping "Kerosene" would make The Top 10 but alas it got shot down (as did the recent faux Tammy of Gretchen's last single!!!!). Oh well.
How stupid is that? "Kerosene" finished at an impressive #27 on the Pazz & Jop critics poll this year-- the only country single to earn more votes was "Alcohol." It's being embraced by non-country listeners-- the hipster blog kids, of all people, love it-- in a pretty big way, which makes it all the more ridiculous for it to have stalled at #12 at country radio. Kerosene placed in the top 100 albums, too, which was a very nice surprise.
As for Gretchen Wilson, I called out "I Don't Feel Like Loving You Today" in my review of her album for Slant. That's a great song-- not that Matraca Berg ever writes anything less-- but she's hands-down the worst ballad singer in Nashville, and the failure of that single is one of the rare examples of radio programmers' having used discretion and good judgment.
I didn't give Son Volt a shot but will have to now. Also, Rodney Crowell's "trio" of records are all great and got me to get his back catalog, which, despite age, is still all very good.
Were I ever to write up a list of the genre's "essential" albums, Crowell's Diamonds and Dirt would be in there, no question. These last three albums are obviously brilliant work, too, but if I had to pick just one of his albums as his "best," that would be it. It's aged awfully well, I think.
I think the Son Volt album might be to your liking, as well. I know you found the new Gary Allan album, but did you ever find Brad Paisley's?
2006 is already looking good. That Jamey Johnson CD is pretty good for mainstream country (The Dollar and Flying Silver Eagle being double whammy of an opener).
I thought about requesting a promo copy of that one, but I ended up passing on it when I noticed that Pause & Play credited him as the co-writer of "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk." So let's just say that he's facing quite the uphill battle, but I'll check him out, since your review was, as is so often the case, awfully persuasive.
The new Josh Turner album is a hot mess-- the label is really breaking their back to position him as the new Randy Travis, but the kid has an even worse ear for material than Sara Evans. And I'm waiting on a copy of the Jace Everett album, which, based on the single, could go either way.
Best,
Jonathan
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Feb 20 '06
8:37 am PST
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Re: I really need to check my Advisor email more often... (Reply to this comment)
by omophagia
Andrew,
And I just noticed this comment, since I don't use e-mail alerts!
Very cool of you to pass the link along to the band, though now I'm paranoid that they'll think I have appalling taste. ;o)
As for "WWJD" not being on this album, they do have the tracks laid down, but felt that it just didn't fit with the rest of the songs that now make up the debut album, and I agree. They'll probably release it on an album someday because it is one of their most popular songs in concert (I keep telling them to get it out as fast as they can given the current political climate and situation in Iraq).
Interesting-- I think that it would've fit very well alongside "WWIII," but maybe there was some concern that, with both songs, they might come across as too high-handed? But I completely agree about its relevance, and, to me, it's the kind of song that would get quite a bit of internet buzz going.
Thanks again for the album-- it's been getting a good deal of mileage-- and for the comment!
- Jonathan -
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Feb 20 '06
8:24 am PST
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Re: I really need to check my Advisor email more often... (Reply to this comment)
by MattBjorke
Jonathan,
I really liked the Miranda CD too. SHe's a spitfire. I was really hoping "Kerosene" would make The Top 10 but alas it got shot down (as did the recent faux Tammy of Gretchen's last single!!!!). Oh well.
I didn't give Son Volt a shot but will have to now. Also, Rodney Crowell's "trio" of records are all great and got me to get his back catalog, which, despite age, is still all very good.
Cheers!
Matt..
Oh, PS. 2006 is already looking good. That Jamey Johnson CD is pretty good for mainstream country (The Dollar and Flying Silver Eagle being double whammy of an opener).
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Feb 18 '06
10:25 pm PST
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I really need to check my Advisor email more often... (Reply to this comment)
by bob_tomato
I JUST found the link to your review today (bad Andrew!) and I'm glad to see that you enjoyed OFB so much. I've forwarded the link and the review on to the band for them to see; I know that they appreciate any press they can get, especially such praise as you've given here.
As for "WWJD" not being on this album, they do have the tracks laid down, but felt that it just didn't fit with the rest of the songs that now make up the debut album, and I agree. They'll probably release it on an album someday because it is one of their most popular songs in concert (I keep telling them to get it out as fast as they can given the current political climate and situation in Iraq)
anyway, a very good summary of the state of the genre overall, and thanks so much for including OFB in the list!
Andrew
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Feb 10 '06
5:15 pm PST
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Re: shine on brightly, quite insane (Reply to this comment)
by omophagia
Brian,
Ah, Jonathan - such wonderful writing, such a temptation to fall into your music world, and then the rememberance that you love twang, hate on Conor Oberst, and can again (as after 2003) write thousands of words about country music and not mention the wondrous Amy Rigby.
Now, I only love twang when it's done well and isn't just affected for its own sake, and most of what I listed for this year-- the bulk of the Miranda Lambert album, for instance-- isn't too twangy.
As for Amy Rigby, remembering how well you've spoken of her, I had my editor at Slant request a promo copy of Little Fugitive, but the P/R people were apparently uncooperative. So she's a blind spot still, but not for a complete lack of initiative.
The Conor-hating i don't get at all: even if you don't like his music, he's the guy who dared to write "When the President Talks to God" and sing it on Jay Leno, he's a guy who boycotts ClearChannel, he's a guy who's stayed loyal to his Nebraska scene at great expense of time and probably money, and he's had the balls to never come close to making the same record twice.
All good points that I don't disagree with at all. I actually do like I'm Wide Awake It's Morning-- had I done one-offs for my nos. 16 - 20 albums, it would've been in there-- and Lifted, with its wonderous liner notes, a whole lot. But I file him alongside Kanye West as someone whose music I like and who does and says plenty of things I like and agree with but whose overall artistic persona, for some reason, just rubs me the wrong way.
I wouldn't try to say that this is one of my well-reasoned opinions. "You remind me of a whole bunch of people who annoyed the p!ss out of me in college" isn't a good reason to bristle at a musician I've never met in person, but there it is.
For all that, though, i still may have to check out the Rodney Crowell, Nickel Creek, and Son Volt albums, just to see what comes of it.
All of whom I think would have at least five or six songs that you'd like a lot.
Best,
Jonathan
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Feb 01 '06
11:17 am PST
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Re: I love shelby to death. (Reply to this comment)
by omophagia
Robert,
Yeah, I've been on board with Shelby from the get-go; she and Kelly Willis were the first two artists who, in my early teens, clued me in to the fact that there's this whole big world of great music that doesn't get played on the radio.
but when I review a record, I sometimes fall in love with a singers voice instead of a song.
What I like about Suit Yourself is that it has a couple of songs where she really sings "big" in the way that she used to.
Damm good work, J. I need to pick up son volt.
If you're not familiar with Chris Whitley, I think he's someone else you'd like a whole lot, too. But let me know what you think of the Son Volt record.
Best,
Jonathan
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Feb 01 '06
11:06 am PST
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shine on brightly, quite insane (Reply to this comment)
by voxpoptart
Ah, Jonathan - such wonderful writing, such a temptation to fall into your music world, and then the rememberance that you love twang, hate on Conor Oberst, and can again (as after 2003) write thousands of words about country music and not mention the wondrous Amy Rigby. The Conor-hating i don't get at all: even if you don't like his music, he's the guy who dared to write "When the President Talks to God" and sing it on Jay Leno, he's a guy who boycotts ClearChannel, he's a guy who's stayed loyal to his Nebraska scene at great expense of time and probably money, and he's had the balls to never come close to making the same record twice.
For all that, though, i still may have to check out the Rodney Crowell, Nickel Creek, and Son Volt albums, just to see what comes of it.
cheers,
- Brian
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Feb 01 '06
7:16 am PST
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I love shelby to death. (Reply to this comment)
by brotherman
but when I review a record, I sometimes fall in love with a singers voice instead of a song.
Damm good work, J. I need to pick up son volt.
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Jan 30 '06
10:04 pm PST
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