Serious Shit, I tell you!
Please let me start out by stating the truth, AM and FM radio suck!!! I can't stand to listen to the same shit over and over day after day on AM and FM radio stations! I am also too cheap to pay for satellite radio. Besides, why would I pay for satellite radio when there are far better alternatives.
My musical listenin' pleasures have progressed to the technological advancements of mp3 players, my ipod, internet radio, Pandora, and my personal favorites, daytrotter.com, free music downloads/streaming and hearya.com free music downloads/streaming. The ipod is the best invention since cold beer! You can quote me on that line too!
My absolute favorite music format, is the good ol' trusty LP format. A LP is a vinyl album for those of you too young to know what the hell vinyl is and for those of you too damned old and senile to remember! I also have a substantial collection of cds and they are listened to regularly as well. If not for anything else, cds make good coasters.
And to the dip shit out there who is thinkin', "What about tapes, eight tracks, and/or reel to reels?" From what I have been told, reel to reels have good sound. I would love to own a reel to reel and grip loads of music to go with it, but unfortunately, they are not as readily available as turntables and LPs are. Vinyl is the total package, rich textured sound and great album art to fully appreciate! If you don't appreciate the art that goes into the package of an album, well then you are missin' out! Cassette tapes and eight tracks are junk. Eight tracks are for mullet head speed freaks and I am not a mullet head speed freak.
True story boys and girls...
Some of the last cassette tapes I owned ended up somewhere on the center median of the Las Vegas Strip between the Venetian Hotel & Casino and the Treasure Island Hotel & Casino. My good buddy, whose name will remain anonymous, decided my cassettes were unplayable and therefore, expendable. He proceeded to throw them out the window like he was tossin' candy to kids standin' on the sidewalks watchin' a North Dakota Potato Bowl Parade.
So I got this crazy idea to share with the world some of the best albums I have heard released so far in 2011. Music brings peace to my mind, body, and soul. Music can do the same for you, if you let it.
This is an interactive blog people!!! You are only get what you put in to it. This means spend the time to click on the highlighted names, watch the videos, and listen to the tunes. You might learn a thing or two about a thing or two. I mean really listen!!! Focus, FOCUS!!!
Some of the best album releases of 2011 so far...
Artist (click on the artists' name to visit their official website) /Album Title/My Thoughts On The Album
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears / Scandalous /
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears are funky soul garage rock N roll. This album will blow your fuckin' socks off!!! Think James Brown and Wilson Pickett with a pinch of the rhythm & blues from the pages of The Rolling Stones' "Exile On Main Street," "Goats Head Soup," and/or "Some Girls" albums. Check out the sweeeet ass video to Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears' song, "Mustang Ranch" It's da bomb!!! ...
Lucinda Williams / Blessed /
Lucinda Williams hit a fuckin' home run with this album! I absolutely love the track, "I Don't Know How You're Livin'." This lady has a great story tellin' voice, with a worn and weary sound. Imagine a female Ryan Bingham voice. I am not crazy about the following video, but I do like the song, "Copenhagen" from her lastest album. Check it out...
Dawes / Nothing Is Wrong /
When I read a magazine article about these Southern California dudes workin' with Robbie Robertson, I had to check them out. Great discovery! If you don't know who Robbie Robertson is, he is only one of the greatest guitarists of all-fuckin'-time!!! He is famous for being a member of The Band, only one of the greatest bands of all-fuckin'-time!!! "Nothing Is Wrong" is their second release, following their 2009 debut album, "North Hills." This four piece band make music with beautiful harmonies and a real 70's throwback sound. Their music is nothin' like the shit of today's modern rock music. Their music really comes alive when played live! They put on a great show!!!
I could not find any audio only links, so here is the next best thing the song, "Million Dollar Bill" from their new album with no video, only a picture of the album cover ...
Farewell Milwaukee / When It Sinks In /
Farewell Milwaukee, not from Milwaukee. I'm not sure where their name originates from. Minnesota the land of 10,000 lakes, the home to several marginal college hockey teams, like the Minnesota Gophers, and great American music by Farewell Milwaukee. "When It Sinks In" is the title of these darlings from the great Upper Midwest's second album. This album is simply easy to listen to with good guitar licks and keys. Similar to some of Ryan Adams' music.
Lovable/Kind by Farewell Milwaukee
Lovable/Kind by Farewell Milwaukee
Jonathan Wilson / Gentle Spirit /
This album is akin to the late 60's and early 70's era music, when fuckin' music sounded pure and not over produced. These groovy songs folkish rock songs will take you on a musical journey. This album has an airy molecular vibe similar to some of the work of The Black Crowes, Pink Floyd, and I even hear a hint of a little Robin Trower. If you have ever heard the tune, "Bridge of Sighs" from Robin Trower, listen to the song, "Natural Rhapsody," then you should totally understand my comparison.
Jonathan Wilson - Gentle Spirit by jonathanwilson
Jonathan Wilson - Gentle Spirit by jonathanwilson
Robert Earl Keen / Ready For Confetti /
The state of Texas has produced some of the greatest musicians in America: Buddy Holly, Janis Joplin, Bob Wills, Lightnin' Hopkins, Doug Sahm, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Townes Van Zandt, Waylon Jennings, Joe Ely, Guy Clark, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and the listen goes on and on...
If you need to know anything about Texas musicians, it should be that they have a special uniqueness to them, Mr. Robert Earl Keen is no different. Keen is a singer/songwriter and his new album, "Ready For Confetti" is feel-good easy to listen to music. Key track for me is the upbeat country rocker, "Play A Train Song." I have no music sample for Keen, but I'm real keen on Keen.
Ryan Adams / Ashes & Fire /
To say Ryan Adams is a strange dude may be an understatement. He is a strange dude. I have heard at times, he can be an asshole, but ya know what? I really don't fuckin' care if he is or isn't an asshole! Mr. Adams is a great singer/songwriter and for him to share his writings if the form of songs is mighty tall of him. Adams' music and voice at times sound hauntingly familiar to Neil Young and Gram Parsons and that my friends is a goooooood thing! For his latest album, for whatever reason, Adams recorded without the great, great band The Cardinals. The first song, "Dirty Rain" is awesome and from there the awesomeness continues. Here's a stream of the album...
Chuck Ragan /Covering Ground /
Another true story, I was drunk as fuck when I saw this dude rock a Social Distortion crowd with an acoustic guitar, harmonica, and his heart felt emotional country/folk/bluegrass music combined with the edginess and intensity of punk music. Being punk is less about the mohawk one rocks, the studded belts and chains one wears and more about one's state of mind. That being said, Mr. Ragan is punk as fuck! His music is amazin'! In my drunken stuper that night, I managed to buy his previous released album, "Gold Country" and I have been hooked on his music ever since!!! Mr. Ragan is also known for his contributions as a member of the punk group Hot Water Music, whom I know virtually nothin' about. Listen to a couple of the tunes...
The Deep Dark Woods / The Place I Left Behind /
Where do I start with commenting on these guys! The Deep Dark Woods are north of the border Canadian beauties!!! Their music is absolutely, positively beautiful! Eloquent keyboards and wonderful lyrics. I hear influences of Townes Van Zandt and The Band in these guys' music. Their new album is great from start to finish! Please note: THE ALBUM IS CURRENTLY ONLY RELEASED IN CANADA. October 18th, 2011 IS THE TENATIVE U.S. RELEASE DATE. BUY THEIR ALBUM!!!!!! It will be available through Itunes.
All the albums above are available on vinyl with the exception of Farewell Milwaukee's "When It Sinks In" and The Deep Dark Woods' "The Place I Left Behind," it is available through Itunes and in cd format. Ryan Adams' "Ashes & Fire" will be released on vinyl November 1, 2011.
If you are a music sponge like me, let me know what you are listenin' to. I'm all ears...
Credit where credit is due:
All videos via youtube.com
Farewell Milwaukee, Jonathan Wilson, Ryan Adams, and Chuck Ragan, and The Deep Dark Woods music via:
http://snd.sc/pe9IBR Check It out Legend!
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