• Country Rock

    Supersuck It

    Pioneered by most excellently named band members Eddie Spaghetti, Dan “Thunder” Bolton, and Dancing Eagle on the skins, the Supersuckers have been around and touring their little asses off since the early 90’s. Originally from Tucson, they moved to Seattle and signed with Sub Pop records way back when. They’ve since started their own label, Mid-Fi Records. They’ve pretty much focused on releasing post-punk, garage-y, aggressive numbers on their releases, but their “country” album did it for me. ‘Must’ve Been High’ was released in March 1997. There are some great tunes on there, two of which are right here.

    Supersuckers: Hungover Together || Juicy Pureballs (mp3’s)

  • Country Rock

    I’ll kiss you for each leaf on every tree

    In between 1996’s ‘Being There’ and 1999’s ‘Summerteeth’, Wilco sat down with Billy Bragg and a bunch of Woody Guthrie lyrics to write and record 1998’s “Mermaid Avenue”. The album is a journey through Guthrie’s wildly imaginative, erotic and brilliant words, and the superb musicianship of Bragg and the boys from Wilco.

    One of my favorites on the album is “Hesitating Beauty”. It’s an uplifting plea to Nora Lee, the object of the singer’s desires….

    For your sparkling cocky smile I’ve walked a million miles
    Begging you to come and wed me in the spring
    Why do you my dear delay
    What makes you laugh and turn away
    You’re a hesitating beauty, Nora Lee

    Well I know that you are itching to get married, Nora Lee
    And I know how I’m twitching for the same thing, Nora Lee
    By the stars and clouds above we could spend our lives in love
    You’re a hesitating beauty, Nora Lee

    We can build a house and home where the flowers come to bloom
    Around our yard I’ll nail a fence so high
    That the boys with peeping eyes cannot see that angel face
    My hesitating beauty Nora Lee

    Well I know that you are itching to get married Nora Lee
    And I know how I’m twitching for the same thing Nora Lee
    By the stars and clouds above we can spend our lives in love
    If you quit your hesitating, Nora Lee

    We can ramble hand in hand across the grasses of our land
    I’ll kiss you for each leaf on every tree
    We can bring our kids to play where the dry leaves blow today
    If you quit your hesitating, Nora Lee

    Well I know that you are itching to get married, Nora Lee
    And I know how I’m twitching for the same thing, Nora Lee
    By the stars and clouds above we could spend our lives in love
    If you quit your hesitating, Nora Lee

    If anyone out there has Bright Eyes’ latest album, ‘I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning’, listen to the similarities between “At the Bottom of Everything” (track 1) and Wilco’s “Hesitating Beauty”.

    Wilco – Hesitating Beauty (mp3, live, unknown date and location)

    Do yourself a favor and buy Mermaid Avenue.

  • Country Rock,  Soul

    The Sadies and Mister Williams break it on down

    If you have a spare 6 minutes and 32 seconds, listen to this snippet from NPR’s American Routes. It’s a short interview with the Canadian band the Sadies (with some clips of their tunes).

    The Sadies are a mix of bluegrass, country, surf and garage rock, among others…here’s a taste:

    Listen: The Sadies – Flash
    Buy: The Sadies on Amazon

    One thing they talk about in the interview is their collaboration with Andre Williams, an R&B pioneer from Detroit. This man has been around since the 50’s, and it would take me all day to talk about the things he’s done, so read here for his bio. But basically, Andre had some serious drug issues in the 80’s & 90’s and ended up living on the streets. He cleaned himself up though, and has been releasing albums again with the likes of the Sadies, and a couple of guys from the Demolition Doll Rods. Now, Mick Collins and Dan Kroha are the two fellows from the DDR’s, and they wrote everything on Andre’s 1998 release, ‘Silky’ (along with Andre), including this cool rollicking surf shuffle….Ohh, you’re gonna like this.

    Listen: Andre Williams – Only Black Man in South Dakota (mp3)
    Buy: Silky

  • Country Rock

    A Texas Prayer – Old 97s “No Mother”

    Led by Murry Hammond and Rhett Miller, the Old 97’s have been putting out their Texas brand of super-charged country punk for the better part of twelve years. Last year, they released their sixth album, ‘Drag it Up’. The album wraps up with a – well – it can be best described as a dirge.

    Tsunamis, the horrible mudslides in California, and of course, the ongoing living Hell that is Iraq… I figured this song fits the bill right about now. I’ll be back at ya with some more high spirited, up-tempo selections, but this song seems appropriate at the moment. May all those poor souls rest in peace…

    Cherish every moment of life and count your blessings.

    Buy Old 97’s on Artist Direct.
    See the Old 97’s Official Web Site.

  • Country Rock

    Hillbilly Heaven – Blues Stay Away From Me

    “Mmmmm-mmmm-mmm-mmm-mmmmm”. You’ll understand after you hear the first 5 seconds of this song. Now, I’ve always liked Dire Straits, but I had no clue, until I heard this song a few years ago, that Mark Knopfler had a little side project called the Notting Hillbillies.

    He formed this band after the smashing success of Straits’ ‘Money for Nothing’ album in 1984. He pulled a few fellas together: Brendan Croker, Steve Phillips, and Guy Fletcher, and hit the road in 1986. Their only album, ‘Missing…Presumed Having a Good Time’ wasn’t released until 1990. I was in college at the time immersed in my studies (*cough cough*), so I guess I totally missed it. But I’m glad I finally found it, especially this song, which is a cover of a Delmore Brothers-penned tuned originally done by Les Paul & Mary Ford back in 1952. Since then, a whole laundry list of artists have covered this song, from Jeff Beck to The Band, the Everly Brothers, NRBQ, and Sleepy LaBeef. Damn, I like saying Sleepy LaBeef.

    So enjoy this gorgeous, lazy & loping, delightfully melancholy song.

    And buy the album on Amazon for less than $8.00!