Song of the Week: How How How by Turnstile Junkpile

Hope everyone's summer is off to a good start. As you can tell by our light blogging, we've been enjoying the lazy days of summer as well. But we'll try to get back in the groove of things. To help kick things off, we'd like to share a band we recently discovered from the deep south - of England! Tunstile Junkpile is an alt-country band from London who describe themselves as "a four-piece band influenced by alt-country, sixties soul, southern twang, a healthy disregard for the ageing process, and the finest Polish lager that their corner shop sells." No matter how you tag them, we like them. We're especially fond of "How How How" from their debut EP Everything Is Cheaper Than It Looks. The song has an irresistable banjo and drum driven melody with some nice bass and harmonica thrown in for good measure. If I didn't know any better, I'd swear these guys were another great alt country band from the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. But knowing their true British identity, I detect the faint influence of Beggar's Banquet era Stones or Muswell Hillbilly Kinks. In fact if Ray Davies played banjo, I'm sure he would sound a lot like Tunstile Junkpile - and I mean that as a complement to them both. Like a Ray Davies song, "How, How How" has its share of cynical wit. Thumbing their noses at some unidentified son of privelege, they taunt, "Hey, hey, hey your daddy's gone away. Sixteen and boring and nobody wants to play." And if the message doesn't come through clear enough, they double down with, "It's time you realize your not God's only son..." They swagger through the rest of the EP showing off their self described influences of rock, country and soul to varying degrees. Although the EP may be "Cheaper than it looks," the music is every bit as rich as it sounds.

Song of the Week: Same Old Road by Travis Linville

Here's a song to help you start your weekend, especially if your weekend plans include any sort of roadtrip. Same Old Road by Travis Linville is a catchy, bluesy take on the nomadic life of a musician. Punctuated with nice guitar and harmonica riffs, Same Old Road rises above the usual life-on-the road lament by seeing the bigger picture behind the travelling metaphor. No matter what we do for a living, Travis reminds us we are all on a road trip through our own life. And as he rightly points out, "It's the journey that I'm looking for, it's not the pot of gold; I'm walking down the same old road." So no matter where you journey takes you, I hope it's filled with good friends, good memories, and good music - like Same Old Road!

Song of the Week: Bread on the Table by Exile

Before we get to this week's song of the week, please remember to vote for our 3 ICMA Award nominations for
Album of the Year, Family Album
Song of the Year, YES
and Best Country Band, Family Reunion
Thanks to all who have voted so far! We appreciate every single vote!

For this week's featured song, we were excited to learn that Exile had released their first studio work in 15 years! So of course, that made our decision easy. "Bread on the Table" is the lead song on their new EP, People Get Ready. It is a cajun influenced uptempo country rocker that brings to mind "Shake Me Up" era Little Feat. It's a working man tribute to all of us who are working hard each day just to put a little "bread on the table." Singing from the heart of middle America, they declare, "Momma needs a break, baby's got the flu, trying to stretch a paycheck just to make due. Gotta pay the rent, forget about the cable, it's hard enough putting bread on the table." So if we have to work hard to make ends meet, we may as well have a happy song to sing while we're at it, "Bread on the Table" is the perfect "whistle while you work" song to help get you through.
Ordinarily we don't review EPs here; however, we feel the need to point out that the rest of this EP is very good. The remainder of songs slide into that easy, soulful, yet firmly country groove that they made famous with "Kiss You All Over." In fact, this EP was released in response to the positive reaction they got from their re-release of "Kiss You All Over" with Trace Adkins late last year. I hope this EP continues the positive reaction from the single. I'd love to see Exile come out of exile and grace us with another full length album!

Song of the Week: He's Alive by Dolly Parton

Family Reunion has had a lot to be thankful for this week in the wake of our THREE ICMA Award nominations. But this Good Friday, we pause to remember something to truly be thankful for (and we're not just talking about Dolly Parton!) Happy Easter everyone!

Song of the Week: Bitter, Drunk and Cold

Our friends, The Far West, have just released their first video. It's the lead single from their self titled debut album called, "Bitter Drunk and Cold." This song evokes the early sixties Bakersfield sound of country's golden age. The steel guitar work really shines in this song and Lee Briante's voice is perfectly suited for this "me against the world" lament. The video was shot as an homage to early sixties variety shows like The Johnny Cash Show and The Porter Wagoner Show. Lee and bassist Rob Black give a nifty behind the scenes interview about the video on the site No Depression. Although the song is called "Bitter, Drunk and Cold" it will leave you feeling happy, warm and well, the rest is up to you.

Song of the Week: Song of Ireland by Eddie Rabbitt

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, we're changing up our normal song of the week routine and featuring a classic from Eddie Rabbitt. No leprechauns, no stereotypes, just a wonderful tribute to the Emerald Isle. Enjoy and Erin go Bragh!

Song of the Week: Love Finds Everyone

This week's featured song is a Valentine's gift from Cory Morrow called, "Love Finds Everyone." It is a beautiful ballad not just for those in love, but for those who hope to be. It is a song of encouragement even when we find ourselves between loves. Cory sings, "Right when you think you'll never find it, love finds everyone." Like our own song, "Hey Broken Hearted" (although with a much more uplifting title,) Cory sings a message of hope and faith from the heart of someone who has had to count on both. With a cheerful melody and some nice mandolin flourishes, "Love Finds Everyone," is a call for all of us to remember to keep our hearts open.
On behalf of Cory, and all of us at Family Reunion, we hope your hearts are filled with love this Valentine's Day!

Song of the Week: Indecisive by The Minor Injuries

"Indecisive" by The Minor Injuries is a great alt-country song - No, it's a great roots rock song. As you can tell, I still haven't sorted out this subgenre pigeonholing thing. But whatever you call it, Indecisive is a great, loose, lo-fi tune. Like a strangely satisfying combination of Whiskeytown and The Velvet Underground, The Minor Injuries have a great laid-back stream of consciousness feel. They're testing the waters with a self titled EP. The first song on the EP, "Indecisive," is a brutally honest look at one of those "on the fence" relationships. Singing, "I can't decide what to do about you. I'm just seeking out the optimum," The Minor Injuries give insight into men's committment phobias. Yes, the relationship is good enough to stay in, but what if something better comes along? Although this state of mind is no fun for either party, The Minor Injuries wax philosophic by adding, "There's no such thing as making sense out of making love." Although romance can make you indecisive at times, there's no indecision about loving this song.

Song of the Week: Love Doesn't Live Here by Bryan Cole

As you might guess from the title, "Love Doesn't Live Here," by Bryan Cole is not our usual weekend party song. But it is a highly polished power ballad that reminds me of early Tim McGraw or Vince Gill. Bryan's first CD, Wide Open Road, earned a lot of attention from industry insiders like Cashbox and Music Row and this song looks to continue that trend. With melodic guitars and background vocals in support, Bryan sings about that most Country of topics, the broken heart. But in a twist on the familiar theme, in "Love Doesn't Live Here," it's the woman who ends up on the wrong side of the locked door. Singing,"sometimes the distance makes you stronger, and other times it can make you fall apart," Bryan points out that in love you don't always get a second chance. At one point or other in a relationship many of us (not me mind you, but many) have heard the line, "I just need a little space." Well Bryan gives that space, and lot more, as he makes clear that once you leave there's no coming back. So as in many a Country song before, it is Bryan's on again off again love who learns "you don't know what love is 'til it breaks your heart." It's a hard lesson to learn, but where would Country music be without it.

Song of the Week: Fancy Drinkin Time by JP & The Gilberts

Here's some good luck for this Friday the 13th! This week's featured song is "Fancy Drinkin Time" by JP & The Gilberts. It's a manic, accordian driven (that's right, I said accordian driven) ode to everyone's favorite afterwork pastime. The first lines of the song tell you everything you need to know: "Make me a drink with a cucumber in it; throw in some mash, shake the s*** out of it. I'm doin fine, 'cause it's fancy drinkin time!" The band backs up the lyrics by playing like a Margaritaville blender set on high. Try listening to this song without tapping your feet - it can't be done! JP's voice makes the song even more memorable with his wonderfully nasal, Willie Nelson like voice. Once you've drunk your share of this song, do yourself a favor and check out the rest of this album. It's brilliant, stripped down, low-fi country that's too country for radio. The band describes itself as "folk, old time, honky tonk, twang, alt country." Maybe we can give them their own genre and call it "Fonky Twalt." Whatever you call it,you'll call it damn good. And that calls for a drink (or at least a song about drinking.) Enjoy in good health!

Song of the Week: She Doesn't Sing by Jeremy McComb

I've been trading emails with my friends over at Turnstyled and Junkpiled about the nature of Country music in general and Americana in particular. As reviewers we receive dozens of new CDs every month. More and more of these artists are calling themselves Americana, Alt-Country, CowPunk, Psychobilly, Roots Music, etc. It seems lately independent bands are shying away from the name Country. So it was refreshing for me to finally find an artist who is not ashamed to admit that he is Country.
Jeremy McComb has a great unabashadly Country style. He's a combination of Tim McGraw and Phil Vassar, both with his voice and his songwriting. He spent seven years in Nashville honing his skills as a singer and songwriter. After several recording, and promotion, and management contracts were signed and abandoned, Jeremy was starting to lose faith (and maybe this is why so many abandon the "Country" label.) He even contemplated quitting writing when he recalled some advice from an old friend who said, "This town will either make you bitter or it will make you better." Jeremy decided to move himself to the second category and refocused on his writing. The result is his second CD, Leap (and the net will appear.) "She Doesn't Sing," from that album is a great Country song (not alt, anti, or any other adjective - just Country!) In the song Jeremy contemplates the tell tale signs that his woman is leaving, "She ain't trying to hide it, but I think she might've finally said waht she couldn't say." With melodic guitar work and subtle flourishes of mandolin that shine like blue sky through the clouds, this is a dead-on Country break up song. And even if "She Doesn't Sing," after listening to this song, you will.
And as a special bonus, here's a video for "Wagon Wheel," from his first album. Enjoy and long live Country!

Song of the Week: Little Drummer Boy by Fatih Hill

Well I haven't even finished the leftover Thanksgiving turkey and the Christmas specials have already begun! CMA broadcast their annual Christmas special last night. I loved seeing my favorite diva, Miss Piggy, turn the tables on the classic, Baby It's Cold Outside, by singing the persuader part of the song to Vince Gills gentle protests. Their was a nice moment when Scotty McCreery granted a wish to a young Make A Wish fan in the audience. Brian Setzer teamed up with Brad Paisley to add a little swing to the festivities as well. But for me, the highlight was Faith Hill's version of Little Drummer Boy. She perfomed acapello with a men's choir singing backup. Amidst all the pomp and production, Faith's song was understated and reverent. It was a nice counterbalance to some of the glitz and a gentle reminder of the real meaning of Christmas.
I wanted to embed the video for y'all, but the YouTube clip from last night doesn't have the sound working properly. Here's a link to Faith doing a similar version from a few years back. Hope this helps get you in the Christmas spirit!

Song of the Week: Coming Down by Mud, Blood, and Beer

Somewhere between alternative and alt-country lies an alternative alternative. Not quite country, not quite rock, but definitely influenced by both. Mud, Blood and Beer, like Uncle Tupelo and Wilco before them, falls into this musical shadowland. "Coming Down," the first song on their new EP, Gone For Good, is a perfect example of this genreless genre. Like a mash-up of Old 97s and the Meat Puppets, this song breaks the laws of even outlaw country. With hypnotically rhythmic guitar work and obscure lyrics ("I do believe insanity is wasted on the youth,") "Coming Down" creates more of a mood than a story. Like a scene from a movie, this song makes you feel like you're riding through the wilderness trying to keep one step ahead of the law (or your own personal demons.) You don't know how the story's going to end, you just know it's one hell of a ride!

Song of the Week: The Great Flood by the Monacchios

I'm departing from our usual party theme for this week's song of the week. Since we're partial to family acts around here, I'd thought we'd feature "The Great Flood" by the Monacchios. These two songwriters met, fell in love, wrote some songs together, and handed out CD copies of their songs to their wedding guests. The first few songs have grown into an album and the first song, especialy, is a great example of storytelling in song. It starts off with two voices harmonizing acapello (souding like a time warped duet of Cat Stevens and Suzanne Vega.) Then a single acoustic guitar is introduced, then a mandolin is added on the next verse. The verses themselves trace a poignant lover's trail of tears. Two peope meet, they fall in love, they face obstacles, they make other plans... Or as the Moracchio's sing: "My true love, it won't be long. I asked your daddy for your hand, but he got the answer wrong." This is a tragic love story in the great tradtion of Country heartbreakers. Love, like the raging waters of a flood, wash over us and carry us away. The real tragedy is to be the one left behind when the flood recedes.

Song of the Week: Right After the Dance by Buck Owens

As we've mentioned before, this continues to be a good year for tradtional country. Buck Owens adds his name to Country Hall of Fame artists in the news this year. Rockbeat records has recently released Bound for Bakersfield 53-56: The Complete Pre-Capitol Collection. Like Hank Williams' Lost Notebooks from earlier this year, this album is a peek into the early formative years of a country musical genius. At the peak of his career, Buck Owens influenced everybody from Merle Haggard to Creedence Clearwater Revival to the Beatles. This collection takes us to Buck's earliest recorded works and gives us some insight into his influences. As country musicians (and fans) ourselves, we often feel the tug of war between tradtional country and modern country music. Many country purists complain that country music has gone steadily downhill since the 70s. Listening to this collection reveals that the debate between traditional and modern has raged since almost the very beginning of country music itself. The cuts on this album alternate between electric telecaster-driven rockabilly (like "Rhythm and Booze") and steel guitar powered country blues (like "There Goes My Love.") In fact, many of the songs on this album appear in two versions, perhaps indicating that Buck felt pulled in two directions at this early stage of his career. But the Buck Owens who would soon become legendary managed to combine his rockabillly and country influences. The result (as in "Right After the Dance") combines the best elements of both. Perhaps that message is as great a gift as the album itself. Even in death, Buck still manages to influence us for the better.

Song of the Week: Party Our Hats Off by J Collins

Do you like to party? I mean really party with the speakers all the way up to 11? Then this song is for you. Party Our Hats Off by Florida native J Collins will make you do just that. With big, crunchy guitar licks and a great sing along (drink along) chorus, this song is impossible to listen to sitting down. As you might guess from the title, this song won't exapnd your mind with any deep thoughts. But if you're just looking for some good time fun after a long week, then this song has it all: pickup trucks, boots, mud, bars... And did I mention the guitar work? This song will be right at home between your Brad Paisley and Toby Keith beer drinking anthems. And the more I listen to this song,the more I want to party more than just my hat off!

Song of the Week: All The Luck by Leslie Krafka

I love Leslie Krafka's voice. It has a vulnerability and earnestnest to it, like an early Linda Rondstat. Listening to Leslie, you feel like you've known her for years. She uses that intimate sound to great effect in her song, "All The Luck." In this waitress'-eye-view of drinking to forget, Leslie paints a vivid picture of what it's like to feel stuck as others (and life itself) seem to pass you by. Drawing on the influence of her fellow Texas songwriters, Willie Nelson and Jerry Jeff Walker, she puts you smack dab in the middle of the story. With lines like, "No one comes here 'cause they're happy, but happy's what they're looking for," she sings with the experience of one who knows. But despite the somber tone of her lyrics, the music is surprisingly upbeat and wonderfully melodic. In the end, the two opposing forces reconcile as Leslie confesses that "What lies in me is like the spring underneath the drifts of snow." And it's that ray of hope in all our lives that keeps depression from turning to despair. And with that little bit of hope, sometimes all we need to make it is a little luck. Having heard and felt this song, I wish Leslie "all the luck" in the world!

Song of the Week: Love You As You Break My Heart

This week's song is "Love You As You Break My Heart" by Rob Lytle. As you can imagine from the title, this song is about a broken heart. But rather than wallow in self pity or engage in revenge fantasies, this song reveals a depth of emotion that is still capable of loving even as the heart breaks. Our own Cousin JD wrote a great song with a similar theme called "Beautiful Judas" which will be on our upcoming album. But where JD focused on the pain of the moment of breakup, Rob Lytle manages to find joy in remembrance of the past. With a catchy, uptempo zydeco flavor (including fiddle and accordian - ya'll know I'm a sucker for some good fiddlin'!) Rob manages to take a moment of extreme pain and turn it into a joyful, if bittersweet, moment of truth. With his alt-country and Americana roots, Rob has discovered the secret of America's truest musical form, the blues, and shares with us that secret - that singing about your suffering is part of overcoming your suffering. And Rob's suffering is our gain, because this is a wonderful song of triumph in the face of heartbreak.

Song of the Week: I'm Going to Love You Through It by Martina McBride

Martina McBride is reinventing herself this month. With a new album on a new label (with many of the new songs written by herself.) Her first single from the album 11 is, not surprisingly, about renewal. It's called "I'm Going to Love You Through It," and it's about surviving breast cancer. Although not a cancer survivor herself, Martina has a long history of supporting women's issues. She fell in love with both the song and its emotional message. To help further that message, Martina is helping raise awareness of breast cancer with a special appearane in New York City. She will personally throw the switch to turn The Empire State Building pink for the month of October. She will also perform a private concert for breast cancer survivors and their loved ones within the iconic building on Friday, October 14th. So for the sake of a good cause and good music, check out Martina's song.

Song of the Week: The Girl With The Fishing Rod by EllieMay Kay

I'm going a little off the beaten path for this week's song of the week. It's a tune called "The Girl With The Fishing Rod" by one of our ICMA friends, EllieMay Kay. As we say goodbye to summer, I thought I'd take one last trip to the river with this fun, rollicking tune. It's a high energy tribute to all us girls who'd rather bait a line than polish our nails. It'll make you want to tap your toes even if you're knee deep in the creek. The music and chorus will stay with you for days after hearing this, and the fiddle work is just pure country gold (I'm always a sucker for a good fiddle!) Of course, in the end our song's heroine catches more than fish. In addition to catching the eye of a good man, she's also reeled me in as a fan!