• Rock n' Folk

    Todd’s Train Song

    One of tunes I heard during Bruce’s pre-show music prompted me to call home from the show and leave some of the lyrics on the answering machine (yeah, I’m a geek). I didn’t figure out what it was though until I saw the list.

    Todd Snider‘s the name. I’m ashamed to say I only own one of Todd’s CD’s, 1996’s ‘Step RightUp’, but that’s about to change after I’m done with this post. I wasn’t aware of Todd’s personal troubles, but he’s had one helluva fight with drug addiction which led him to a suicide attempt. Todd has been putting out his brand of Nashville country-folk-rock for over a decade now.

    So here’s that mystery tune that caught my ear. Gotta love those train songs…

    Todd Snider: Play a Train Song (mp3)

  • Laid Back,  Rock n' Folk

    Prine Time – Long Monday

    I don’t mean to bring everyone down with a song called “Long Monday” at the very end of the weekend, but since I’m experiencing a Springsteen hangover from last night’s great show, and I’ve been wanting to showcase a tune off of John Prine’s brand new release, ‘Fair & Square’ [Buy it Here], well, it’s just right.

    Though nothing in John Prine’s catalog has ever matched ‘The Missing Years‘ for me, this is a great CD, full of John’s witty & and often hilarious lyrics (e.g. “I felt about as welcome as a Wal-Mart superstore”), and laid back acoustic tunes.

    ‘Long Monday’ includes harmony from Mindy Smith, who I know little about, but I’m about to jump into her web site. In a nutshell, she’s a country-folk songstress from Nashville whose debut album came out last year. Anyhow, yep, another week begins, take it away, John.

    John Prine: Long Monday (mp3)

  • Rock n' Folk

    Matt’s Chrome Heart

    I absolutely have to throw a little more Matthew Ryan out there for those fans of the gravelly voiced genre. This song’ll rip you apart, brother (or sister). Matt’s gotta heart made of chrome, and he ain’t about to rest until you damn sure know it:

    Well in case you didn’t know I’ve got a heart made of chrome
    It’s been bent ’til it was twisted
    And in case you didn’t know I’ve got a heart made of chrome
    It’s been burned, but it’s still willing to try
    And shine – – full lyrics here

    Matthew Ryan: Chrome (mp3)

    Buy May Day

  • Rock n' Folk

    Fun with Fred


    So here’s another Canadian treasure that still manages to fly under the radar down here in the States. The name’s Fred Eaglesmith, and he was born into a large family on a southern Ontario farm. His debut album was released way back in 1980. Great roots / country/ folk rockin’ going on here. It’s this tune that caught my attention a couple years back. Still waiting for the man to make it down to Arizona…

    Fred Eaglesmith: Gettin’ to Me (mp3)

    Buy Fred’s music.

  • Rock n' Folk

    This Holy Mess

    “It’s hardly morning
    It’s early January
    There’s always something
    That’s coming or gone

    Out in the dark light
    I go walking
    Into the quiet
    Of this holy mess”

    So I’m a sucker for the gritty raw singer songwriter types. Springsteen, Earle, Prine, Tweedy, and this fella, Matthew Ryan. My favorite of his CD’s, ‘May Day’, was left in a rental car at the Burbank Airport, along with about 30 others. I hope the rental car agent or car washer is at least listening to some of the CD’s. Yep, another one of my shining moments. DOH! There goes a case of CD’s! See ya!

    Anyhow, take a listen to “Me & My Lover”. What I love about ol’ Matt is when he kicks it up a notch into the next octave at the 2:21 mark in the song. It’s effortless and so powerful. And the chord changes are great. This tune starts mellow, kicks into gear, and goes back down the hill toward the end. It’s a nice sweet ride with a hint of bitterness: “cause most things are meaningless, the more you get to know them”.

    For those who like the artists I mention above, you’ll like Matthew Ryan. ‘May Day’ is a great introduction…

    Matthew Ryan – Me and My Lover
    (mp3) – 2000, ‘East Autumn Grin’ – {Amazon}