Americana Boogie: Drive-By Truckers, Chuck Mead (BR549), Bap Kennedy & a few more…
Erik Larson and Peacemaker
Posted On March 4, 2014
DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS
English Oceans (ATO)
The band’s 12th release, is a balanced and deeply engaged new effort that finds the group refreshed and firing on all cylinders. ‘It can go from this chainsaw rock ‘n’ roll to this very delicate, pretty-sounding stuff,’ says Mike Cooley. Cooley fans will be happy that he brought six new songs to the sessions and this record marks the first time that Cooley sings a song penned by Patterson Hood on “Til He s Dead or Rises.” In typical DBT fashion the songs depict an array of characters. “Pauline Hawkins,” is based on a new novel by Willy Vlautin. DBT’s political edge can be seen in Hood’s “The Part of Him.” “It’s about political assholery — there’s someone new playing that role every few months,” says Hood. The album was recorded with a compact, retooled lineup. Jay Gonzalez has added guitar to his duties, while bassist Matt Patton was drafted from the Tuscaloosa group The Dexateens. “It’s a very tasteful group, and when it needs to be it can be a very big, powerful, over-the-top band, too, and it can go from one to the other seamlessly,” says Hood. (from press release)
CHUCK MEAD
Free State Serenade (Plowboy)
A wild ride of hillbilly blues and honky-tonk, Chuck Mead (best known for his work as front man for BR549) wrote his new album based on the stories and legends, crimes and the lonesome open road of his childhood and formative years in Kansas. He recorded it with his longtime band, the Grassy Knoll Boys. Free State Serenade jumps from jaunty mountain airs like “Neosho Valley Sue,” where BR549’s Don Herron lends his fiddle to what Mead calls a coming of age ditty to “Sittin On Top Of The Bottom,” a whip-smart ode to “Sittin’ On Top Of The World.” “The Devil By Their Side” is a dark, chugging rock n roll number about William Quantril’s murderous 1863 Civil War raid of Lawrence, Kansas. (from press release)
Also new this week…
KATIE GLASSMAN & SNAPSHOT – Dream A Little Dream (self released)
JOHN GORKA – Bright Side of Dawn (Red House)
BAP KENNEDY – Let’s Start Again (Proper American)
Coming out soon… STEVE MARTIN & EDIE BRICKELL, LERA LYNN, ELIZA GILKYSON, LUTHUR DICKINSON, NICKEL CREEK, PETER MULVEY, CARLENE CARTER … more new releases
. Here’s a link to this week’s Americana Music Association Americana Airplay Chart
Bill Frater
Freight Train Boogie
