Monday Morning Music Shuffle – Into the Mandolin Wind Mix

!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=”//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js”;fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,”script”,”twitter-wjs”);

Be sure to “Like” Ear to the Ground on Facebook!

Welcome to the working week… since we last gather here, I’ve had the great good fortune to see some incredibly great music.  Friday night, I got to hang out with awesome people and witness the Tim Lee 3 rocking the house in a rare Nashville appearance followed by the amazing R.B. Morris with his crack band bringing words and music together in the most spellbinding way.

Saturday night, I saw Ted Drozdowki’s Scissormen rock the stage at City Winery opening for The Baseball Project. The Baseball Project haven taken a concept and through a love of the subject and the creative geniuses behind The Dream Syndicate, Young Fresh Fellows, The Minus 5, and R.E.M. among others rode that concept for 8 years and 3 albums to date with no sign of slowing down.  My review of that show is on No Depression.

After the Baseball Project show, I got to hang out with more cool people (after climbing a circular staircase) and see an incredible round of music that makes me proud to live in this city.  Kevin Gordon, Sarah Potenza (accompanied by her husband Ian), and Jeff Black sat and delivered to a packed out lounge at City Winery.

As if that was not enough, Sunday night, I got to hang out with the immensely talented Russell Thompson and watch Mary Gauthier and Allison Moorer swap songs for almost two hours accompanied for much of the time by the incredible guitarist Kenny Greenberg.  My review of that show should be posted on No Depression very soon.

Whew!  Now back to the workday grind (but only a four day work week this week), and a brand new never before heard shuffle of music to melt your mind and expand you face… or something like that…

“North Korea and the Five Stages of Grief” by Forebear

Forebear on an Alternative Rock band from L.A. This song, with awesome title, has been hanging around my playlist for a while. A great way to start the week. From the self-titled EP.

“Into the Wind” by John Wesley Harding

Starting off a “Wind” themed mini-set with the shuffle, comes another a great track from the artist current known as Wesley Stace from the album Why We Fight!

“Mandolin Wind” by Rod Stewart

Continuing and concluding our little mini-set of “wind” songs… comes this track from Rod Stewarts brilliant third album, Every Picture Tells a Story. 

“Our Home” by Hugh Trimble

Our final track from Hugh Trimble’s neighborpoem album – and one my favorites.  Now, I need to move on to some of his newer music.  I really love his songs, and I am happy that the Mama Coco’s Funky Kitchen folks introduced them to me through one of their compilations.

“Joy” by Son Little

The first of two recordings from World Café Sessions.  I really don’t know much about Son Little, but I dig this song which comes from the 2014 EP, Things I Forgot on ANTI- Records.

“Blues de Bernadette” by Lost Bayou Ramblers

Another from the World Café sessions.  My family are from the same general area as this band, and Cajun music has a special place in my heart and in my blood. Always great to hear younger bands and artists spreading that rich, unique musical form near and far and keeping the culture alive. The song comes from their 2012 album Mammoth Waltz.

“While We’re Apart” by Beat Rodeo

We close out the day’s shuffle with our final track from the Beat Rodeo album, Home in the Heart of the Beat.  I “discovered” Beat Rodeo thanks to IRS Records Presents: The Cutting Edge – which brought a lot of great music to me in my pre-internet small town isolation – back when the M in MTV stood for music.

     window.amznpubstudioTag = “eartothegro00-20”;       http://ps-us.amazon-adsystem.com/domains/eartothegro00-20_3dcd3a52-1a1a-4afe-a2fd-aaba8e251afc.js   

VIDEO PLAYLIST


Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle – Why Do You Care? Mix

!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=”//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js”;fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,”script”,”twitter-wjs”);

Be sure to “Like” Ear to the Ground on Facebook!

I’m back after a day off.  Still tons going on.  Check out my review of the re-release of the self-titled only album by Haynes Boys.

Also – at press time, my review of Friday night’s Matthew Sweet show at City Winery Nashville is on the front page of NoDepression.com.

On to the mid-week shuffle:

“New Love” by Beat Rodeo

The penultimate song from our survey of Home in the Heart of the Beat.

“More Than Enough” by Cletus and Lori

One of my favorite tracks from the album Lotus by long-time D.C. area duo Cletus Kennelly and Lori Kelley.

“Baby Stick Around” by Joe Jackson

I dare you to listen to this song from the album Look Sharp! and not move your body in some way.

“Lost Outside The Tunnel” by Aztec Camera

A deep cut from the debut album by Aztec Camera (High Land, Hard Rain).

“Exile on Myrtle Beach” by Darrin Bradbury

From the brand new Darrin Bradbury EP, The Story of Bob, comes this pop culture filled, fever dream of a metaphor for East Nashville. One of my all-time favorite Darrin Bradbury songs.

“Everybody’s Somebody in Luckenbach, Texas” by Dale Watson

Another track from the brand new Dale Watson album, Call Me Insane.  This one has a bit of Western Swing in it… Dale Watson is still proudly carrying the Ameripolitan banner.

“Beaten to the Punch” by Elvis Costello and the Attractions

Continuing a shuffle that musically is all over the map… I was just talking with a friend about the underappreciated genius that is Elvis Costello’s fourth studio album.  It is the first release following Costello’s infamous run in with Stephen Stills and Bonnie Bramlett.

“In Heaven” by A Color Engine

Another track from the album, Voyage Underwater; 56 Knots.  This one happens to be a cover of a song from the David Lynch cult classic, Eraserhead. A Color Engine draws a line between long-time E2TG favorite Don Ryan and one-time Ear to the Ground featured artist Elephant Goes West.   It’s a tasty slab of experimental indie folk goodness.

“Passion” by [debut]

We close out the day with another track from the album Postcards from Berlin.  The song sounds a bit like it could be a great lost Depeche Mode song (and I mean that as the highest compliment).

VIDEO PLAYLIST

Friday Morning Music Shuffle – Masks That Pass for Faces Mix

!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=”//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js”;fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,”script”,”twitter-wjs”);

Be sure to “Like” Ear to the Ground on Facebook!

Well… I’m back.  After feeling less than 100% all week, the percentages dropped dramatically Wednesday night into Thursday… but I’m back to feeling less than 100%.  Actually, (knock on wood), I am feeling pretty darn close to 100%. 

So it’s time for our weekending shuffle and I think we have a good one…

“I’m Not Afraid (Doesn’t Matter To Me)” by Beat Rodeo

We are almost through the Beat Rodeo album, Home in the Heart of the Beat, but we still have a few more.   A tasty bit of mid/late 80s power pop with a bit of twang.

“My Baby Drives” by Justin Townes Earle

From the album Single Mothers.  The version I heard is from the World Café sessions playlist that I posted about earlier this week.

“Western Skies” by Hot Rize

Legendary Bluegrass band, Hot Rize, with a song from When I’m Free which was released last September and which was the band’s first new album in over 24 years.  Music to move the band into the 21st Century while staying deeply rooted in the traditions from which they arose.

“Easy Way Out” by Other Lives

A song from the latest album (Rituals was released May 4) by this alternative band from Oklahoma.

“2 Pigs in a Blanket/She’s My Little Biscuit Eater” by Southern Culture on the Skids

From Bubbapalooza Vol. 1 – a compilation that was released in 2006.  SCOTS at their rowdy, randy, and rocking best.

“All She Can Say” by American Scarecrows

An absolutely awesome song from the album Yesteryear.  American Scarecrows are opening tonight for Soul Asylum and Meat Puppets at First Avenue in their hometown of Minneapolis!

“Rules of Engagement” by The Poorhouse Says

The Poorhouse Says are a band from St. Louis.  Their latest album, as patterns go, will be released later this month.  The album release show is scheduled for June 27 at Focal Point in Maplewood, MO.   My first listen, and I like what I’m hearing.

“Forbidden Places” by Meat Puppets

Maybe a song that Meat Puppets will perform tonight in Minneapolis? Maybe?  The title track and our final from the band’s classic 1992 album.

VIDEO PLAYLIST

window.amznpubstudioTag = “eartothegro00-20”; http://ps-us.amazon-adsystem.com/domains/eartothegro00-20_3dcd3a52-1a1a-4afe-a2fd-aaba8e251afc.js

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle – Rivers of Suggestion Mix

!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=”//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js”;fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,”script”,”twitter-wjs”);

Be sure to “Like” Ear to the Ground on Facebook!

Just a heads up… there will not be a Morning Music Shuffle tomorrow.  Plan accordingly…  So this will be the last shuffle of the week, and we have a good one…

“I’m Sorry (But So is Brenda Lee)” by Marshall Crenshaw

One of the best songwriters of all time – from his album Downtown referencing Little Miss Dynamite and one of her best known songs.

“Cry Baby Cry” by Richard Barone

Richard Barone covers the Beatles in spectacular fashion with this track from his groundbreaking live album Cool Blue Halo.

“So. Central Rain” by R.E.M.

This is the final track we have to present from R.E.M.’s second album, Reckoning. Some sources add a subtitle to this song (“I’m Sorry”) which coincidently references back to the first song in the shuffle.. 

“I Have to Leave” by Warren Zevon

Given David Letterman’s fondest for Warren Zevon, I kind of see this song as Ear to the Ground’s way of saying “goodbye”.

“War 150” by Tom Schreck

From his album Save Your Glory… another excellent song from the Nashville Outsider himself…

“Home in the Heart of the Beat” by Beat Rodeo

The title track to the second album by Steve Almaas and company.  “Johnny 1, Johnny 2, Johnny 3…”

“Fake Roses” by The Lone Bellow

Modern country music from Brooklyn New York.. off their latest album, Then Came the Morning…

“Currency of Love” by Joseph Arthur

I got to see Joseph Arthur performing and painting early in April at the Safety Harbor song festival.  This song is from his album, The Ballad of Boogie Christ.

“Flew a Falcon” by Richard Barone

Our second track of the day from Cool Blue Halo!  A gorgeous song. 

“Flaring Up” by Ricky Mirage

The lead track from Pop Goes the Sun…

http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=593283634/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=2385064418/transparent=true/

“Haywire” by Aztec Camera

One of three bonus tracks added to the 1991 CD release of High Land, Hard Rain – the 1983 debut by Roddy Frame and company.

“Drop Your Bucket” by Brock Zeman

I had the pleasure of seeing and meeting Brock Zeman last week at the Bluebird Café.  This is a song from his latest album, Pulling Your Sword Out of the Devil’s Back.  Check out his music, and if you get the chance to see him live – don’t miss it.

VIDEO PLAYLIST


window.amznpubstudioTag = “eartothegro00-20”; http://ps-us.amazon-adsystem.com/domains/eartothegro00-20_3dcd3a52-1a1a-4afe-a2fd-aaba8e251afc.js

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle – Obligated to Follow Mix

!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=”//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js”;fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,”script”,”twitter-wjs”);

Be sure to “Like” Ear to the Ground on Facebook!

Well… It’s just Tuesday, and this is shaping up to be an incredible week for great music in intimate settings…  more on that later… we have a shuffle to put on…

“The Last Hotel/Some of the Dharma” by Jack Kerouac w/Al Cohn and Zoot Sims

One of my prized possessions is the Jack Kerouac box set of CDs which was a gift from my late brother-in-law who knew me and my tastes very well.  This is the penultimate track from one of the CDs, I’ve been spinning of late. For the Beat Poet within us all…

“Buy Eggs” by Circus Propaganda

There must be something in the water up there in Bethany, CT… must be… from the hometown of The Foresters (and featuring Evan and Hayden from that band) comes this band of young people who manage to make shopping for dairy products sound interesting….  (or this could be some hip teen talk for something besides shopping for dairy products… what do I know?)  Anyway, it’s a cool song… more to come from this band and the wildly talented young people of Bethany, CT.

“It’s Been Too Long” by Beat Rodeo

Another track from the great album, Home in the Heart of the Beat. I think I have one more song from that album, too (maybe more).

“Baby I’m Broken” by The Record Company

We have another track from the L.A. Rock and Blues band The Record Company.  From what I gathered from the You Tube video, this song was used in an episode of CSI.  Found out yesterday that CSI is ending its 15 year run this season. The shuffle must have heard that, too.

“Like Unto a Mockingbird” by John Hartford

Within the last several months, I have found myself from to the music of the late, great John Hartford, and I feel called to dig deeper still. From Tim Easton, I learned that John Hartford is buried along Gallatin Pike in East Nashville, Tennessee.  More recently, Hartford’s song “In Tall Buildings” has come up a number of times in unrelated settings.   

“The Thanks I Get” by Wilco

From a Rarities collection called, Alpha Mike Foxtrot…  The song was issued as a free download to owners of Sky Blue Sky, and was used in a Volkswagen commercial.

“Time After Time (annElise)” by R.E.M.

This is the second the last song we have from Reckoning.  A lovely track from the iconic second album of the band from Athens, GA.

“Timeline” (Cave Version) by Chappo

An alternative version (taken from a Noisetrade sampler) of a song from the bands December 2014 EP Celebrate.  Has circumstances have it, today is the release date for the band’s brand new full length album, Future Former Self.

“The Scene” by The Danbury Lie

Yesterday, we heard a couple of tracks from The Danbury Lie precursor, Burning Bridges. Today, we move up to the present with a track from the latest The Danbury Lie album, Choose your Delusion.   Maybe there is something in the water in the whole state of Connecticut, and maybe it’s been there for several years….

VIDEO PLAYLIST

     window.amznpubstudioTag = “eartothegro00-20”;       http://ps-us.amazon-adsystem.com/domains/eartothegro00-20_3dcd3a52-1a1a-4afe-a2fd-aaba8e251afc.js   

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle – Eats Like a Horse Mix

!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=”//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js”;fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,”script”,”twitter-wjs”);

Be sure to “Like” Ear to the Ground on Facebook!

It was kind of a cool morning here in Nashville, but it felt great.  The certainty that Spring is in full effect, and that Summer is barreling down the turnpike hot on Spring’s tail. Spring seems as good a time as any (maybe better?) to step back and reassess and think about what comes next.  Ear to the Ground has exceeded my wildest expectations (mainly because I didn’t have many), and I am happy that nearly four years on, I am not feeling any real desire to stop.  Still, from the beginning, Ear to the Ground had frequently (or infrequently) evolved (usually due to some external pressure).  The Shuffle was originally about 3-5 songs, then for a while I had the “pre-shuffle” which kind of expanded the shuffle to upwards of 20 or more songs. We’ve settled into a groove of 8-12 songs per day, and it is good, but I feel an itching to do something more, something different.  I don’t know what that is yet, but I have some ideas…. until then… let’s hit the shuffle….

“In the Summertime” by Beat Rodeo

Another cool track from Home in the Heart of the Beat (1986 IRS Records).

“Miss Marcy” by Johnny Horton

A classic murder ballad from the one and only Johnny Horton.  Horton was killed by a drunk driver on November 5, 1960.

“Ballad of the Choir Boy Band Robber” by Ike Reilly

One of the last two songs from the Ike Reilly compilation we grabbed off Noisetrade a good while back.  This is an Ike Reilly Assassination song originally released on the album Sparkle in the Finish.  

“Your Name is Wild” by Guided by Voices

From the 1996 album Under the Bushes Under the Stars…  It was for many the years, the last Guided By Voices album to feature the band’s “classic” line-up.  Guided by Voice broke up in 2004, reformed in 2010, and then disbanded for a second time at the end of last year.

“Future 40’s (String of Pearls)” by Syd Straw (feat. Michael Stipe)

Guess what?  This song has been in the shuffle before – recently.  I forgot to remove it from the playlist – like I usually when songs appear.  Guess what? I really don’t care.  It is a great song featuring the amazing Ms. Straw along with R.E.M. front man, Michael Stipe. For R.E.M. fans, this album was released between Green and Out of Time.  Classic Nickelodeon fans may remember Syd Straw from her role as a middle school math teacher on The Adventures of Pete and Pete.  This song is on her 1989 solo debut Surprise which also featured contributions from Anton Fier, Richard Thompson, and Jody Harris among others.

“Hell for Leather” by Hoodoo Gurus

A track from the Hoodoo Guru’s third album, Blow Your Cool! which was released in 1987.  We’ll be digging more into that album in the days, weeks and months allow – subject to the slings and arrows of outrageous shuffles.

“Down Yonder” by David Schnaufer

More music from the late, great Mountain Dulcimer master, David Schnaufer.

“Side by Side” by Grant Lee Buffalo

Another track from Mighty Joe Moon.  I am really digging this album (which was a goodwill rescue).

“It’s a Big Old Goofy World” by John Prine

What better way to end the shuffle than with this big old goofy song from Prine’s 1991 album, The Missing Years.

VIDEO PLAYLIST

window.amznpubstudioTag = “eartothegro00-20”; http://ps-us.amazon-adsystem.com/domains/eartothegro00-20_3dcd3a52-1a1a-4afe-a2fd-aaba8e251afc.js

Friday Morning Music Shuffle – Get up and Do Something Mix

!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=”//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js”;fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,”script”,”twitter-wjs”);

Be sure to “Like” Ear to the Ground on Facebook!

So… I’m having trouble thinking of  a profound intro to this shuffle…  So… it is Friday! The weekend is upon us.  Get up and Do Something!  I snatched that song from the Soul Asylum song in today’s shuffle.  Good advise, that I need to take myself sometimes…

“Song for an Angry Young Man” by Beat Rodeo

I was a young man when I first heard this song.  And, I guess I was angry in my own way.  I’m not so young anymore, and I try not to be unnecessarily angry… or at least try to keep my anger working for me rather than against… but I still understand this song, because that “angry young man” is still inside me…

“If It Takes Me to You” by Boy Named Banjo

From their album Long Story Short.  Boy Named Banjo are going to be performing at Bonnaroo, so if you are going down to Manchester in June, look for them on the Club Stage. 

“Karaoke” by Five Eight

This song was on the Athens, GA band’s 1994 album Weirdo.  They recently appeared at SXSW and this song came from a Noisetrade SXSW sampler.

“My Rival” by Alex Chilton

From Alex Chilton’s 1979 solo album Like Flies On Sherbert.

“Weekend Syndrome” by The Naddiks

Another rocking track from the album 21CB…  The Naddiks are from Canberra, Australia and the weekend is in full swing there.  This and every weekend – have fun, but be careful and act decent to people. Okay?

“An English Gentleman” by James Dean Bradfield

This song is from the 2006 album, The Great Western.  James Dean Bradfield is from the English band The Manic Street Preachers who are doing some American dates in support of the 20th anniversary of their classic album The Holy Bible. I really love this song and so far everything I heard from this record has been amazing.  I am someone who derives great pleasure from “discovering” great music whether it is new or just something I missed out on the first time around.

“Villains” by The Vigilance Committee

I am always happy when some harder edged stuff filters through my inbox.  This Indie/Punk band is from Long Island, and I’m looking forward to hearing more of their stuff.  This song is from their album, “Exit a Hero” which is a concept album about the first vigilance committee established in San Francisco in the mid 1800s.  The album is due out in a week, but you can pre-order via their Bandcamp page.

“Sometime to Return” by Soul Asylum

Damn, ya’ll Hang Time is a flat great album….

“Good Old Fashioned Pain” by Young America

Another awesome track from the latest EP  by this band who are currently split between Athens, GA and Nashville, TN.  I’ve enjoyed getting to know Taylor and Drew (the Nashville part of the band), and I am awful proud of the music they are making.  Pain Rain and the Mundane is out now – via your Normal music portals.

“Old Soul” by Sam Morrow

We featured Sam Morrow a good while back, and it is great to have him back in the Shuffle, and to be reminded of what a great songwriter he is…  from his most recent album Ephemeral.

“I Won’t Slip Up” by The Delines

From the Album Colfax, by this great Country/Soul band from Portland, Oregon. 

window.amznpubstudioTag = “eartothegro00-20”; http://ps-us.amazon-adsystem.com/domains/eartothegro00-20_3dcd3a52-1a1a-4afe-a2fd-aaba8e251afc.js

Monday Morning Music Shuffle – Stupid Boy Mix

!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=”//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js”;fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,”script”,”twitter-wjs”);

Be sure to “Like” Ear to the Ground on Facebook!

There is a phenomenon that I like to call the Nashville Dilemma or the Nashville Conundrum depending on my mood… It is basically this, a friend or hero or hero/friend or friend/hero announces a show.  You readily and enthusiastically indicate on Facebook that you are either Going or Interested… meanwhile, others of the same category(ies) also announce shows and you again readily and enthusiastically Join the event.  Then, the day or week of the event arrives and you check your calendar and realize that two or more of the aforementioned events coincide with one another, and you have to use some complex algorithm of friendship, location, cost, in-town show frequency, etc. to decide which show you are going to see.  And so, you decide and you have a blast and it’s a great show – like you knew it would be and then you see pictures from the show(s) you elected not to attend, and there are surprise special guests and puppies and stuff, and you rework you algorithm for next time and the process repeats.  It’s really a nice problem to have….

“You’re a Star” by Tim Carroll

One of the best things about the last eight months or so for me, has been having the opportunity to see Tim Carroll play music at least  twice a week almost every week.  If you can stand the smoke, I recommend visiting Fran’s Eastside just about every Wednesday from 8:30 until… or if you can’t handle the smoke, I recommend heading to The 5 Spot just about every Friday from 6-8:30.  With Tim Carroll, the music and the great songs do not stop.  This song is from his latest album, Pure As Coal which you can get now.

“Boiling” by Minutemen

If the fact that I am a huge Minutemen fan has not come across, then I promise to try harder.  Lately, I have been featuring songs from the CD Post Mersh Vol. 1 which includes the albums, The Punch Line (from which this song is taken) and What Makes a Man Start Fires?   I am a huge Minutemen fan, by the way.

“American Standard” by Folk Family Revival

From their very recently released album, Water Walker….  I really dig this song.

“Brushed the Dust Off (Lean into the Wind)” by Miss Shevaughn and Yuma Wray

It was just over a year ago, that fate and scheduling and whatever conspired so that Miss Shevaughn and Yuma Wray happened to be playing at The Basement in Nashville on the same day that their album, Lean into the Wind was released. It was a great night, and Miss Shevaughn and Yuma Wray (and Ben Tufts and Derek Evry) sounded amazing.  They are hard and work on their next record, but in remembrance of that show from last March, we have the song from which the album title was derived.

“Handbags and Gladrags” by Rod Stewart

The song was written by Mike D’Abo – at the time he was the lead singer of Manfred Mann.   

“Stupid Boy” by Gear Daddies

Along with “Sonic Boom” this is probably the song on Billy’s Live Bait with which I most closely relate.  The Gear Daddies are playing a three night stand of 25th Anniversary shows at 1st Avenue in Minneapolis.  This album still sound fresh to me today.

“Postcard” by Jukebox the Ghost

Washington D.C. based Indie band… I grabbed this song from a Noisetrade SXSW sampler put out last month. It’s from the eponymously titled album which was released last week.

“It Could Happen Here” by Beat Rodeo

from Home in the Heart of the Beat… Beat Rodeo were on IRS Records. One of those songs from my younger days which takes me back…

“Baby Caught Fire” by Tim Lee 3

A great song from the latest TL3 album, 33 1/3… it’s about spontaneous human combustion.  This Knoxville band is one of my favorites. 

“King Bee” by Captain Luke and Cool John Ferguson

Another track from the Music Maker Relief Foundation sampler released on Noisetrade.  Some awesome old school, “real” blues… The most recent information I’ve seen via the folks at Music Maker is that Captain Luke is under hospice care. So I’d to send this out to Captain Luke and all who know and care about him.  Again, I am so grateful to the Music Maker folks for all that they do to bring this music into the light and assuring it stays there, and to support the people who make the music.

VIDEO PLAYLIST

window.amznpubstudioTag = “eartothegro00-20”; http://ps-us.amazon-adsystem.com/domains/eartothegro00-20_3dcd3a52-1a1a-4afe-a2fd-aaba8e251afc.js

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle – Swallowing the Ocean Mix

#CXCW15 rolls on… Day 3 brought tons more videos including some of E2TG’s all-time favorites… Among the many great clips were some from old friends like Sci-Fi Romance, MAKAR, and Imperial Rooster.  Plus an explosive clip from relatively new friends Two Mule Blues.  Head to the couch and visit couchbycouchwest.com  to get in on the fun.  By the way, they are still accepting submissions so get to videoing and get it done!

“Lost and Found” by The Naddiks

 

From my inbox via Australia (or vice-versa) come The Naddiks with a track from their latest release, a mini album called 21CB.  I haven’t had a lot of time to dig into the full release yet, but I dig this track. So good high energy punk, pop, and roll!

“(I Have) Everything I Need” by Beat Rodeo

Some time in the 80s, a bunch of punk rockers discovered or rediscovered country and/or roots music.  A lot of the music that came out of that influenced not only my budding musical tastes, but also played a large part in the development of what is called Alt-Country, Americana, and one of several other names.  Living in a kind of small town in the days before the internet, I was a child of MTV and college radio. I first came across Beat Rodeo on an episode of IRS Records Presents: The Cutting Edge.  Steve Almaas had previously been in the Minneapolis punk band Suicide Commandos.  He then worked with The Bongos and shortly after that worked with lead Bongo Richard Barone and producer Mitch Easter on a solo EP called Beat Rodeo before forming a band of the same name.  Home in the Heart of the Beat was their second album.

(me holding the Steve Almaas solo EP Beat Rodeo on vinyl) 

“Friends” by Whiskey Shivers

Whiskey Shivers are from Austin and from their Facebook Page they seem to be staying busying down there with whatever is going on this week.  They will be in my hometown come September for the Muddy Roots Festival.  This great song is from their self-titled third album which is available currently on Noisetrade (as a free download (tips and shares encouraged)…

“Standing on the Moon” by Lera Lynn

Lera Lynn is a Nashville singer/songwriter.  I got turned on to her music when my New York friend Ben Arthur co-wrote a song with her on a drive from Nashville to Memphis for the Premier episode of Songcraft Presents: Songs from the Road which was hosted by Rob Reinhart from Acoustic Café and videographed by Matthew Hendershot of The End Men and Matt King’s Killing Streets.  This song is from Lera Lynn’s most recent album called The Avenues.

“7 Chinese Bros.” by R.E.M.

A favorite track of mine from Reckoning (but aren’t they all..).  If you haven’t check out Voice of Harold on Dead Letter Office and then try to listen to the opening of this song without expecting to hear Michael Stipe reading the liners notes of a gospel recording called The Joy of Knowing Jesus…

“Richland Woman” by Megan Palmer

East Nashville’s own Megan Palmer from her 2007 album Take You Away.  I dig this song.   I always love when I get to hear Megan play whether it is her own stuff or with Tim Easton or even one of her rare performances with E2TG Artist of the Year Darrin Bradbury…

(Megan Palmer with Darrin Bradbury at Foobar 3/15/2015) 

“Twin Hometowns” by Beat Rodeo

A second and more rocking track from Home in the Heart of the Beat….

“Last Man Standing” by Bark

I remember a Facebook post when Susan Bauer Lee said she was taking Drum lessons.  Next thing I know, her and husband Tim Lee of Tim Lee 3 are forming a side project duo called Bark and releasing an EP under that name (along with a full-length TL3 album).   This is from the Bark EP and it rocks.

“Wind” by Artur U and the New City Limits

From Finland and off their debut EP, Turn Off the Light which was recorded at Bill Laswell’s studio in New Jersey.  I’ve been digging on this album since I got hold of it.

VIDEO PLAYLIST

!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=”//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js”;fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,”script”,”twitter-wjs”); window.amznpubstudioTag = “eartothegro00-20”; http://ps-us.amazon-adsystem.com/domains/eartothegro00-20_3dcd3a52-1a1a-4afe-a2fd-aaba8e251afc.js

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle – Two Pack Habit and a Motel Tan Mix

Let’s jump right into today’s shuffle – shall we…

!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=”//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js”;fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,”script”,”twitter-wjs”); window.amznpubstudioTag = “eartothegro00-20”; http://ps-us.amazon-adsystem.com/domains/eartothegro00-20_3dcd3a52-1a1a-4afe-a2fd-aaba8e251afc.js

“Three Questions” by A Color Engine

Another track from the prehistoric Don Ryan band that he formed with Eric Burchfield who later was in Elephant Goes West which was a featured artist or some such thing back in the prehistoric days of E2TG.  The A Color Engine album is called Voyage Underwater; 56 Knots.    For the video, I posted the video/song that began my long love affair with Don Ryan….’s music.

“Wild Animals” by Trampled by Turtles

From the 2014 album of the same name by this Duluth, MN band…  Bob Dylan is from Duluth… in case you were wondering….

“Adult Crap” by Joanna Wang

A song from Taiwanese-American singer songwriter Joanna Wang and the lead track from her 2009 album The Adult Storybook…

“Holiday” by Mothers

Another fine track from the Panamanian Times album… couldn’t find a video of this band so I posted a video featuring a bunch of people from the Mama Coco’s Funky Kitchen collective and figured maybe someone from this band was in there somewhere… or not..  I love this band so check them out on Bandcamp etc.

“Everything I’m Not” by Beat Rodeo

From the 1986 album, Home in the Heart of the Beat on I.R.S. Records…  Beat Rodeo featured Steve Almaas who had previously been part of the legendary Minneapolis punk band Suicide Commandos.  Beat Rodeo played an innovative brand of  pop/country/rock.  This song was the single from the album which was produced by Scott Litt. Updated to remove… who co-wrote this song with Almaas (according to the Wikipedia)…

“Winter of My Discontent” by David Liebman

From Lieb Plays Wilder…  I got to see David Liebman backed by an all-star band of Nashville jazz players last month. 

“Falling” by Ivan and Alyosha

From their 2013 album, All the Times We Had… our second Ivan and Alyosha song in as many days. Their next album can be pre-ordered now and will be called, It’s All Just Pretend.

“Bye Bye Devil” by APE|MEN

By way of my inbox and from the self-titled debut, this band from the Southeastern fringe of the European Union offers up a tasty stew of indie/electronica/scuzz-noise/alternative postrock… it’s all good, and I dig it.

“Clickin'” by Whistlin’ Britches

31 seconds of awesome mouth noises from the late Haskel Thompson via the Music Maker Relief Foundation.

“Guitar Town” by Steve Earle

This was my introduction to Steve Earle, and I fell hard and fast… I wore out this album on cassette and then on CD.

“The Way I Want You” by Turbo Fruits

The new single from the forth coming album No Control… I saw them a few weeks back and they absolutely killed it.  You can read my review at No Depression.

VIDEO PLAYLIST