In My Basement Room

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit - Here We Rest

2011-09-28T20:33:00.000-04:00

Here We Rest is the latest release from In My Basement Room favorite Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit , and is the band's second release on Lightning Rod Records. For the sake of full disclosure, Jason's previous albums (the solo Siren's of the Ditch, the self-titled one with the 400 Unit (my favorite record of 2009), and all those Trucker's albums) are among my very favorites and I listen to them all frequently. Naturally, I was really looking forward to this new album, but I didn't expect it to hit me like the self-titled album did. I'm glad to report that my expectations were greatly exceeded.

This album has a lot more acoustic feel than the previous albums. Strummed acoustic guitar in "Alabama Pines," the wicked fiddle in "Codeine," and the mandolin chop and brushed drums in "Tour of Duty" all contrast the blistering rock of "Go It Alone" and "Stopping By." Check out "Codeine" and a video of "Alabama Pines" below and be sure to pick up the album. It will likely be the best album you buy this year.

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit - Codeine (from Here We Rest) (Buy)

Centro-Matic - Candidate Waltz

2011-09-27T22:38:00.000-04:00

I know I'm way behind on this, but let the record show I'm on the Centro-matic bandwagon. My first true exposure to their music, other than a track or two here and there, was the free 24 song sampler posted on their website earlier this year that Greg at Captain's Dead clued me in on. I really took to their sound and was pretty excited when their latest album Candidate Waltz showed up in my inbox. If you are familiar with Centro-matic, then you don't need a "sounds like" comparison and you probably already have this new album. If you aren't familiar with them, what are you waiting on? Didn't you see the free sampler linked above? Check that out, then go get Candidate Waltz. At first listen it was great, and now at three months aging its a favorite of mine. The songs take you through a spectrum of emotions that make it the perfect soundtrack for driving around, sitting in a cubicle all day, or cooking chili on a crisp fall evening. Add to that the frame-worthy cover art by front man Will Johnson and you have an album that is on a very short list for album of the year.

Check out this video of "Only In My Double Mind" off of Candidate Waltz that features Will painting the album cover as a mural.

Fifth on the Floor - Distant Memory Lane

2011-09-27T19:59:00.000-04:00

Fifth on the Floor "Distant Memory Lane" Music Video (2011) from Blake Judd on Vimeo.

Free Music: The Billy Reid September Sampler

2011-09-06T20:20:00.000-04:00

Here is a little treat I saw over at American Songwriter. I haven't listened to all of it yet, but you can't beat the price. You can download it here.

Sons of Roswell - Is There Is EP

2011-07-29T22:00:00.002-04:00

Here is a free album from Muscle Shoals rock and roll band Sons of Roswell. It was produced by Jason Isbell (that's your bit of trivia). Check it out and throw a few dollars their way if you like it.

Download

Video: Maxim Ludwig & the Sante Fe Seven - Stacy C'mon

2011-07-09T20:00:00.004-04:00

I've mentioned Maxim Ludwig & the Santa Fe Seven on the blog here before. The guys have a new video for Stacy C'mon, which has some really nice steel guitar on it. Check it out and let him know if you like it. Also check out this interview with Maxim on Katie Darby Recommends.

Southern Independent, Vol. 1 (Free Music)

2011-07-09T16:12:00.000-04:00

Here's a free compilation served up by the people (Shooter Jennings, Adam Sheets) heading up the XXX genre creation. There is a lot of good music included and you can check out the track list below. Head on over to Give Me My XXX to sign up and download for free, as well as learn more about the XXX movement.

Southern Independent, Vol. 1
1. Road to Hattiesburg / Robert Earl Reed
2. Southern Family Anthem / Shooter Jennings
3. Introducing Drake Savage / Slackeye Slim
4. Carolina Sunshine / Dallas Moore featuring Jody Payne
5. City of Shame / Rachel Brooke
6. Skateland Baby / Jimbo Mathus
7. The Fall / Fifth On The Floor
8. Guilty Until Proven Innocent / Last False Hope
9. Road Bound / Bob Wayne
10. I'm Bitter / J.B. Beverley and Ronnie Hymes
11. Used To Be A Cop / Drive-By Truckers
12. Rusted Up Old Pickup Trucks / Hellbound Glory

Robyn Ludwick - Out of these Blues

2011-04-02T10:30:00.000-04:00

Is there anything better than hearing an artist you are unfamiliar with for the first time and having them immediately become one of your favorites? That's what happened to me when I played Out of These Blues, the latest release from Texas singer-songwriter Robyn Ludwick. The album will most definitely be on countless end of year best-of lists. Robyn's songwriting is as good as anyone's, and with perfect vocals to match the haunting lyrics, it's almost unfair. Production and instrumentation really just put the album over the top. Not overly produced, not too raw. Fiddle and harmony vocals in all the right spots. I'll do no justice in describing them, so just listen to a couple tracks below and hear for yourself.
Out of These Blues is out April 19th, so go get it.

Robyn Ludwick - Hollywood (from Out of These Blues) (Buy)

Robyn Ludwick - Hillbilly (from Out of These Blues)

Josh Williams - Girl from the Canyon (Keith Whitley cover)

2011-03-14T22:43:00.001-04:00

Found this on Youtube tonight: Josh Williams doing an old Keith Whitley song. Half the first line is missing and the video is passable at best, but the song is one of my favorites and there aren't many on Youtube. Go find the Sad Songs & Waltzes album that was released after he passed away. It is full of great songs and still had J.D. Crowe on banjo. Josh does a great job with it.

And if you've never seen/heard Josh's guitar work check out this video of "Cherokee Shuffle." It doesn't get much better than this.

Maxim Ludwig & The Sante Fe Seven

2011-03-09T22:45:00.002-05:00

I first heard Maxim Ludwig & The Sante Fe Seven sometime last year when the self-titled debut album landed in my inbox. I listened, I dug, and I marked it to write about. Somehow I lost it in my ocean of mp3's and it didn't resurface until I received an email from Maxim recently with demos for a new album. Again, I listened. And I dig these new demos too. The songs across both albums are greatly varied, from sad-bastard, harmonica-accompanied minor chord ballads to completely careless guitar driven rock and roll. What's even crazier than how good these songs are is that Maxim and the band (not really seven, not really from Sante Fe) are still unsigned. They have some shows coming up at SXSW (schedule) so maybe those will help rectify that situation. Even crazier than that is the fact you can download the new demos and the debut album free from the website. Get it! Check out the tracks below and the killer video of an acoustic "Paradise Cove." Completely different from the album version but both are excellent.

Maxim Ludwig & The Sante Fe Seven - Stacy C'mon (from the new album)

Maxim Ludwig & The Sante Fe Seven - Dead Ringer (from self-titled debut) (Buy)

Purple Scars and Leather Shadows

2011-03-08T14:42:00.003-05:00

Cory Branan tells some great stories and he's not a bad guitar player to boot.

Feel Bad For You Mixtape - March 2011

2011-03-06T12:01:00.001-05:00

It's time again for the world famous mixtape that gets passed around the blogging circles each month. As usual, it is a pretty diverse collection with a lot of great songs. Slithering Beast, acoustic Rolling Stones, and Have Gun, Will Travel to name a few. Stream it in the awesome player below, or download the zip file from Feel Bad For You. You can find a complete track list and corresponding album info there as well.

Download

An In My Basement Room Sampler: Songs about Guitars

2011-03-01T21:00:00.001-05:00

Here is another issue in the series of IMBR Primer/Samplers. I tried to stick with songs that feature the guitar as an animate object with human characteristics, but I wasn't too strict with that rule. I also tried to use artists that you won't find in the top 40, so you won't find "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" but I did let the Jamey Johnson/Bill Anderson tune in because it is just so good. The collection ended up being heavy on the bluegrass/country side of things so I'm not sure what that means. What would you have included/excluded?

1. John Prine - This Guitar is for Sale (from Twistable, Turnable Man: A Tribute to the Songs of Shel Silverstein) (Buy)
2. Tony Rice - Me and My Guitar
3. The Gibson Brothers - Vern's Guitar
4. Lucero - My Best Girl
5. Conway Twitty - Play, Guitar Play
6. Wrinkle Neck Mules - Put Your Guitars Where Your Mouth Is(from Let the Lead Fly) (Buy)
7. J.D. Crowe & the New South - Lefty's Old Guitar
8. Jamey Johnson (with Bill Anderson) - The Guitar Song
9. The Seldom Scene - Grandpa Get Your Guitar
10. Shadwick Wilde - This Old Guitar(from Unforgivable Things) (Buy)

Get the zip here!

Slithering Beast - Delicious EP (Free for a week!)

2011-02-27T17:00:00.000-05:00

Great news for a rainy bluegrass day: Slithering Beast's new EP Delicious can be downloaded for free from their Bandcamp from now until the official release date of March 5th. After that you'll be able to get your physical copies from CD Baby and the band. You'll probably agree with me after listening that this little album has some of the best Slithering Beast songs to date (I'm looking at you "Fool Out of You"). It seems the pedal steel is not nearly as prominent on Delicious, with more focus given to the electric guitar hooks and even some horns. That's not a complaint, just an observation. Give it a listen for free this week and if you are inclined pick up the older albums (I highly recommend these as well) from the Slithering Beast store. Looks like they have a sale on T-shirts right now too at $5 each. You can't beat that. Also, they'll be doing a free in store show on the release date (March 5th) at Ear X-tacy, so come out and get the album in person if you can.

Slithering Beast - Fool Out of You (from Delicious) (Buy)

Eddie Spaghetti - Sundowner

2011-02-21T10:07:00.006-05:00

I will preface this review by saying I love the Supersuckers. However, in spite of the strong compositions (both Eddie's and the cover songs) Eddie just doesn't have the voice to carry some of these slower, more melodic songs. The opening track, "Never Thought I Would" is a catchy alt-country-pop song that I couldn't help but want to hear someone else sing. "If You Fall in Love" is one of the stronger tracks - it could have been a slower Supersuckers tune - filled with the cocksure attitude and the vocals stay in Eddie's comfort zone. Another place where this album shines is "Jesus Never Lived on Mars" which is familiar territory for Eddie - humorous rock and roll with balls. "Marie" is the best storytelling on the album - a gem hidden at the end.

All in all, a good record, but not a great one. If you're a Supersuckers fan it is worth picking up but if not, skip it and wait for the next rock record to come out.

Root Jack - In the Pines

2011-02-07T22:00:00.004-05:00

Root Jack is yet another great rock band out of Portland, Oregon (and that list is getting fairly large). I was first made aware of them by a review of their latest album In the Pines on Nine Bullets and an interview feature with lead singer and songwriter Kris Stuart over at More Cowbelle. I also discovered through those posts that Kris was formerly in the rock band Moonshine Hangover whose album Mulberry Squeezins I picked up on CD Baby probably five years ago. While I like that album/band, I much prefer Root Jack's version of rock. It's slightly Southern flavored, but has a lot of country tendencies too. Highly recommended if you are a fan of most of the bands featured here. Check out the links above and the songs below and enjoy.

Root Jack - Pastor of the Pines (from In the Pines) (Buy)
Root Jack - Another Night (from In the Pines) (Buy)

The Deep Vibration - Strange Love

2011-02-02T22:30:00.000-05:00

My first exposure to Nashville's The Deep Vibration was a couple years ago when they opened for Jason Isbell at the Dame in Lexington. They came on stage to a small crowd but those of us that showed up early were treated to a great set of original rock/soul/country music. I picked up their EP Veracruz, (highly recommended by the way) and played it pretty heavily for a few weeks. I didn't hear anything else about the band until a few days ago when a Facebook post by Andrew Combs clued me in that The Deep Vibration is releasing Strange Love, their first full length album. After hearing it, it seems Strange Love picks up where Veracruz left off. Same sort of soul rock songs about love lost which songwriter Matt Campbell's haunting vocals deliver perfectly. Matt has a unique rhythm to his vocals as well, slightly out of time, yet perfectly in place if that makes sense. The new album has some pianos and organs on it as well as some horns, but the core instruments (Jeremy Fetzer -Guitar, Jeff Irwin -Bass, Luke Herbert -Drums) carry the weight when it's time for rock and roll (see "Jack the Robber" below). So check out the tracks below, get their Daytrotter session, and go see them if you get the chance.

The Deep Vibration - Jack the Robber (from Strange Love) (Buy)
The Deep Vibration - Tennessee Rose (from Veracruz) (Buy)
Gillian Welch helped out with vocals on this one.

The Only Sons - American Stranger

2011-01-29T16:00:00.002-05:00

I posted about the upcoming album American Stranger from The Only Sons a few weeks ago when I wrote about singer/songwriter Kent Goolsby's solo album release. Well, the release date is just around the corner and the band is actually having an album release party tonight in Murfreesboro, TN. If you like Kent's solo album or The Only Sons last release, Steel Hearts, (both of which are still available for free download on their website), you'll enjoy this one too. You can stream the entire album over on bandcamp if you want to test drive it.

The Trappers: Good music from Salt Lake City

2011-01-26T09:55:00.001-05:00

The Trappers is a great band out of Utah that blends country and rock as well as anyone does. The hooks in the songs are ridiculously catchy, but not corny. Vocally, musically, and lyrically they remind me an awful lot of Scott Miller & the Commonwealth. Their self-titled debut album is full from start to finish with solid alt-country tunes and I've posted a couple below for you to check out. I also found a Youtube video of The Trappers doing "Freight Train" live at an outdoor festival in SLC with snow coming down. If your a fan of Sons of Bill, American Aquarium, or Scott Miller you're guaranteed to dig The Trappers.

The Trappers - Solid Ground (from The Trappers) (Buy)

The Trappers - Ain't No Reason Why (from The Trappers) (Buy)

Yardsale - Hit It and Quit It

2011-01-25T00:01:00.000-05:00

Yardsale has resurfaced from their indefinite hiatus long enough to record an album, Hit It and Quit It, and release it as pay-what-you-want on their bandcamp. The album was recorded in one day five hours over last summer when the band could get together and has no overdubs, so it's basically a live album without the drunk dude requesting "Freebird" every other song. I personally think the band sounds much better here than on the live EP Yardsale This Week from a couple years back. There's plenty of interesting stuff to check out on the album. A Yardbirds cover, a The Band cover, and some older Yardsale stuff too. So if you are a fan, drop a few bucks in the electronic tip jar and enjoy.

Upcoming Local Shows of Note

2011-01-24T21:50:00.002-05:00

There are a bunch of shows this weekend so you’ll have to make some choices. Here are some of the better one's you could make.

Friday, January 28th
Loretta Lynn with Joey + Rory @ Louisville Palace

Saturday, January 29th
Bodeco & Hambone @ Headliner’s

Saturday, January 29th
Slithering Beast & Shadwick Wilde @ Mag Bar
The Mag Bar
1398 South Second St.
Louisville, KY 40208
$5 and show starts at 9

Sunday, January 30th
Langhorne Slim & Bobby Bare, Jr. @ Zanzabar

Bodeco

2011-01-18T23:00:00.002-05:00

Being a somewhat recent transplant to the Louisville area I have missed a lot of good local acts from years past. Such was the case with longtime Louisville favorites Bodeco until one fan sent me an email urging me to get on the ball and check them out. I have since done so and I'm glad I did. Bodeco, fronted by guitarist/vocalist Rick Feather, plays a dirty sort of blues with a lot of rockabilly guitar flavor thrown in and capped with sandpaper-rough vocals. They have a handful of albums that have been released over the last twenty years, but their latest effort is the Soul Boost EP from 2009, from which I've featured a killer track below. Coincidentally, you can also catch Bodeco live at Headliner's along with Hambone and Johnny Berry later this month.

Bodeco - Hush Hush Naughty Baby (from Soul Boost EP) (Buy)

Lucero: Acoustic Live at WESN

2011-01-16T12:18:00.000-05:00

I forget where I found this originally a few years ago, but it was probably on the Lucero message board at one point. A couple of the tracks popped up on shuffle this week and I wanted to share it for those that don't have it. This is a 2002 recording of a radio show they did for WESN in Bloomington, IL. It is primarily Ben singing and playing songs with the rest of the band harassing him in between songs. It is a really good recording and there are some great acoustic versions of the older Lucero songs here. Highly suggested if you are even a casual Lucero fan.
Get it here!

Caleb Stine - I Wasn't Built for a Life Like This

2011-01-13T22:20:00.000-05:00

I was unfamiliar with Baltimore songwriter Caleb Stine before hearing his fifth (and current) album I Wasn't Built for a Life Like This, but he's now definitely on my "Pay Attention To" list. The thing I enjoy most about this album is that it is simply Caleb with his guitar and his songs, but he draws you in with excellent songwriting and just enough vocal inflection, tempo fluctuation, and chord changes so that no song feels repetitive. He reminds me a lot of Richard Buckner, so check out Caleb if you are a Buckner fan. I've posted the title track below for you to check out as well as a video of Caleb doing another track off the new album. I challenge you to really listen and enjoy the lyrics. You can download them here.

Caleb Stine - I Wasn't Built for a Life Like This (from I Wasn't Built for a Life Like This) (Buy)

Caleb Stine - My Service Isn't Needed Anymore

Free Music: Bobby Bare. Jr. - A Storm, A Tree, An Acoustic EP

2011-01-10T21:41:00.000-05:00

Bobby Bare, Jr. has a five-song acoustic EP that you can download for free in exchange for signing up for his newsletter. It's a good chance to check out some of Bobby's tunes and consider coming to his show at Zanzabar on Jan. 30th.

Let's Not Forget: Southern Bitch

2011-01-07T21:22:00.003-05:00

Today's post is a little collage in homage to the now defunct rock'n'roll band Southern Bitch that used to play a lot in Athens, GA a few years ago. They put out two albums, Snake in the Grass and Strong Medicine, and those can be found on Amazon or you can download them from Itunes or Myspace. I'm not sure if you can still get physical copies from the band directly. Thankfully, Sloan Simpson over at Southern Shelter has recorded and archived a few of Southern Bitch's live shows and made them available for downloading or streaming. I've posted one track here, but he has tons more so go check them out.

Southern Bitch - Snake in the Grass (Live @ 40 Watt, 11/5/04)

I also found a few Youtube videos. The first are a live performances and the third is a little interview piece with singer/guitarist Adam Musick from a few years ago.

The Bluegrass Cardinals - Jubilee Road

2011-01-06T22:45:00.000-05:00

Here is a great song from a great bluegrass band that has a slew of great songs. The Bluegrass Cardinals are one of the earliest bluegrass groups I was exposed to, and this song, "Jubilee Road", reminds me of being a toddler and my dad cranking this album on the stereo and playing along. It has a great Cajun fiddle rhythm that instantly recognizable. A few years ago I picked up this CMH Records collection and it is, as the name claims, the definitive collection. Buy it here.

The Bluegrass Cardinals - Jubilee Road

Free Music: Shooter Jennings - Missed the Boat: A Collection of Demos & Rarities

2011-01-05T20:00:00.001-05:00

Here's a nice little collection of tunes from Shooter Jennings and the price is perfect too. He put this up for download on his website a couple weeks ago, but I'm just now getting around to listening. Gotta salute Shooter for offering this up for free, because there is some stuff on here he really could have commercialized on, especially the "Good Old Boys" (Dukes of Hazard theme) cover. You have to sign up for the mailing list or what not, but then you'll get the link for the download. Sign up here.

Magnolia Mountain - Redbird Green

2011-01-04T06:00:00.001-05:00

I didn't get around to writing anything about this Cincinnati outfit, Magnolia Mountain, when their album came out last year, so I'll just spend a few minutes to share some thoughts. Redbird Green is a double LP, and it has a lot of different styles of Americana music on it, from old time fiddle and clawhammer jigs to minor chord alt-country ballads. Myself, I prefer the more progressive numbers, but everything is done well enough that I can appreciate it, especially given the fact that it is,other than one track, original material and not a rehashing of traditional standards. Check out the title track below, as well as a nice video for another good track, "Hellbound Train."

Magnolia Mountain - Redbird Green (from Redbird Green) (Buy)

New Slithering Beast Videos

2011-01-03T22:11:00.001-05:00

Check out a couple videos I saw posted over on the Slithering Beast Facebook page. They come from this past weekend's New Year's Eve show at the Third Street Dive. Looks like a couple new songs from the upcoming Delicious EP. There are also a few other Slithering Beast videos to check out on their Youtube channel. They have an acoustic show this Saturday night at Common Grounds in Lexington, so if you are looking for something to do, check them out.

"Trouble Coming Down the Road"

"You and Me"

Patrick Sweany - That Old Southern Drag

2011-01-02T22:00:00.001-05:00

Patrick Sweany is a name that I was unfamiliar with when his latest album, That Old Southern Drag, showed up in the mail, but after giving it a listen I'm clearing off a spot in my good CD rack in the listening room. If I had to label it I'd call it bluesy soul music, or soulful blues music, somewhat akin to The Black Keys. And that's not a huge surprise considering he's toured with and collaborated with Dan Auerbach for years. The vocals are worn and rugged and blend excellently with the dirty blues rock guitar riffs Patrick lays down. Put this on and let it play through and it is guaranteed to grow on you. The album won't be out until February, but you can get it for $10 if you preorder from Nine Mile Records. No tour dates listed for Louisville yet, but the year is young, so let's keep our fingers crossed.

Patrick Sweany - Heavy Problems (Peavey Rage) (from That Old Southern Drag) (Buy)

Patrick Sweany - Frozen Lake (from That Old Southern Drag) (Buy)

Happy New Year and What to Look for in 2011

2011-01-01T12:20:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year folks. 2011 is looking good for our type of music. Just check out some of these upcoming releases I'm looking forward to.

The Only Sons - American Stranger
Murfreesboro's rock and rollers are gonna hit a homerun with this one. Their last album was really good (check out their site to get it for free), this one might be better.

Drive-By Truckers - Go-Go Boots
The songs I've heard from this one already put it way ahead of last year's The Big To-Do. Let's hope that it is.

Hayes Carll - KMAG YOYO (& Other American Stories)
I don't think Hayes could make a bad album if he tried.

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit - Untitled as of yet
I'm really looking forward to hearing how Jason follows up the masterpiece that was 2009's self-titled release. I've heard some live versions of a couple tunes and they sound promising.

Slithering Beast - Delicious EP
Should be out in the first part of the year, and will probably have a little more rock and roll flavor than the last two albums. That's a good thing based on the recent live shows I've seen.

Kelsey Waldon - Untitled as of yet
I really like Kelsey's 2010 country release. This one is supposed to lean a little more towards the rock side of things and even have a Neil Young cover on it.

Also, I added a "The Free Stuff" link in the upper right hand corner of the main page. Check there for free albums or EP's. I don't post everything I find that is free, just the good stuff. So if it is listed, it is worth downloading. Let me know if links are down or you have something you think I should add to the list.

I'm probably forgetting a few as well. Most of these I've listed should be out in the first couple months too.

Best of 2010

2010-12-26T16:30:00.008-05:00

So here it is the last week of the year and coincidentally also time for my obligatory best-of-the-year list. I'll keep it short because I don't like pretending that there were fifty albums released this year that you should spend your dough on. But be assured that if I've listed them here, they are good. Some of the links to previous posts will still have active mp3s in case you missed them the first time.

1) State Champion - Stale Champagne
Being that it was released way back in January, I had all year to possibly forget about this one. But now, a year later, I still listen to it a couple times a week. The band calls their music garage-country, and I can't think of a better description. Here is what I wrote about it when I first heard it.

2) Truckstop Darlin' - Truckstop Darlin'
These guys from Portland, Oregon have put out a genre-defining alt-country album with their self-titled debut. See what I had to say about it here.

3) Andrew Combs - Tennessee Time EP
By far the best pure country album of the year, regardless of the fact it's an EP. Andrew has a great young-man-with-an-old-worn-voice thing going, but the ace up his sleeve is his songwriting. "Tennessee Time" and "Too Stoned to Cry" should set the standard for country radio if things were right with the world. My post from this past summer.

4) Reno Bo - Happenings and Other Things
This album might stick out like a sore thumb in this list. It's rock and roll with a strong pop tilt. Don't let my description discourage you though, because I'd describe Tom Petty in the same fashion. Read my review here.

5) Elizabeth Cook - Welder
Confession: This was my first exposure to Elizabeth and now I'm a fan. My goal for 2011 is to see if her previous releases are as good as this one is.

6) Two Cow Garage - Sweet Saint Me
Would've made my best of list based only on "Jackson, Don't You Worry," but the rest of the album is great typical Two Cow and that will make my best of any year.

7) American Aquarium - Small Town Hymns
Another band carrying the alt-country torch and holding it high. They had a really good album last year and have followed it up with another one full of great songwriting and ragged vocals. You need this one in your collection.

8) Jamey Johnson - The Guitar Song
I like good country music and Jamey is doing it better than any other mainstream artist out there. These songs aren't cookbook Nashville arrangements either. A lot of different chord progressions and tempos and a couple classic covers keep it interesting across both discs.

9) The Black Keys - Brothers
I like some of their earlier stuff. My wife bought this album. I ~~borrowed~~ snatched it. I like it. A lot.

10) The Famous - Come Home to Me
Solid alt-country outing from the San Francisco gang. Lots of great guitar work on this one. Here's what I had to say about it.

Free Music: Joe Pug - Nation of Heat EP

2010-12-22T22:37:00.000-05:00

From now until Christmas you can download Joe Pug's EP Nation of Heat from WXRT radio. Also be sure to check out Joe's full length Messenger from last year, available from Lightning Rod Records. I'm downloading the free EP now, so go do the same.

Download Nation of Heat for free!

Scott Miller - Christmas Gift

2010-12-20T22:00:00.000-05:00

I generally fall in the category of No-Thank-You when it comes to Christmas music, with only a handful of exceptions. So when I heard of Scott Miller's new EP, Christmas Gift, I raised an eyebrow and then forgot about the album completely until a few days ago. I'm a big fan of Scott's, but I wasn't sure if he could pull off a Christmas album that I would actually enjoy. However, I've since given it a few complete listens and it is actually a pretty good little experience. And since I don't have a favorite Christmas album I guess it wins that title by default. Scott wrote two of the seven tracks on the album. "Yes, Virginia" relates memories of Christmas with the family, but with a more sincere and appreciative sentiment than Robert Earl Keen's take. The other original, "The Kingdom Has Come", is a bit of a mashup of Miller's lyrics and a T.S. Eliot poem, but it turns out much better than that sounds. Scott picked some great covers to complete the disc, including Prine's "Christmas in Prison," Neil Young's "Star of Bethlehem," and a bluegrass instrumental of the hymn "Joyful, Joyful." "Christmas in Prison" is just as good as the original and should have been included on the John Prine tribute album. Check it out below (right-click, save-as) and pick it up if you like. Look, it even has the sticker on the front is you want to give one as a gift.

Scott Miller - Kingdom Has Come (from Christmas Gift) (Buy)

Scott Miller - Yes, Virginia (from Christmas Gift) (Buy)

Free Show: Bodeco at Ear X-tacy - Saturday December 18th

2010-12-15T22:26:00.000-05:00

Just a quick note to let you know that local favorite's Bodeco will be playing a free in store show at Ear X-tacy this Saturday, December 18th. Show starts at 8 pm.

Free Music: Kent Goolsby's Wide Eyed Son

2010-12-14T20:00:00.001-05:00

Kent Goolsby, singer/writer/guitar player for The Only Sons, has made his first solo album Wide Eyed Son available for free download from the TOS website. Wide Eyed Son was recorded by Glossary's Joey Kneiser and will get you through the winter until The Only Sons release their next LP American Stranger in February 2011 on Sophomore Lounge Records. While you are on the download page, be sure you pick up their 2008 release Steel Hearts while it is free too.

Ronnie Fauss - Mulligan

2010-12-13T22:25:00.000-05:00

Ronnie Fauss is an alt-country artist based in Dallas that has put out three EP's to date on FTG Records. His latest, Mulligan, carries on a streak of simple arrangements paired with observant lyrics that are memorable but manage to avoid cliches, similar to John Prine's approach. My favorite number off of Mulligan is the honky tonk "It's a Long, Long Way," which I've posted below (click the link to download). New Songs for the Old Frontier Vol. 1, Ronnie's previous release, had Slobberbone's fingerprints all over it with Brent Best producing and Jess Barr doing the banjo work. So for your enjoyment (and because I don't want to post two songs off of a six song EP) I've posted a good track off of that EP as well. Look for New Songs for the Old Frontier Vol. 2 in the near future.
Also, if you go to Ronnie's Noisetrade page you can download his other EP, I Can't Make You Happy for free.

Ronnie Fauss - It's a Long, Long Way (from Mulligan) (Buy)

Ronnie Fauss - The Last (from New Songs for the Old Frontier Vol. 1) (Buy)

Truckstop Darlin'

2010-12-08T00:01:00.001-05:00

I may be late to the party stumbling across this band, but I'm damn glad I did. From the first verse of the album opener, "Tired Old Prom Queens," I could tell Truckstop Darlin's self-titled debut album was going to be a good one. But it wasn't until I'd let all twelve tracks play through that I realized I had an instant classic in my hands. I've always considered Wilco's - A.M. and the Drive-By Truckers' - Decoration Day the best examples of what alt-country is, but Truckstop Darlin' defines the genre just as well. The songwriting covers the essential dark country topics, but in a way that is unique but still familiar. Guitar hammer-ons give a nod to classic southern rock and the pedal steel mixed up front sets the mood on most tracks (see "Grandpa" below), with the bass and drums locking in to fill out the sound behind the gravelly lead vocals. The band [John Phelan (vocals/guitar), Eric Kotila (drums), Nick Foltz (bass/vocals), Michael Winter (pedal steel)] is based in Portland, Oregon so it may be a while before they make it to Louisville, so the best thing you can do for yourself is go buy their album until they do come through town. This is definitely one of the best albums I've heard in a long while and I am already looking forward to their next one. Check out a couple tracks below.

Truckstop Darlin' - Grandpa (from Truckstop Darlin')(Buy)

Truckstop Darlin' - King of the Highway (from Truckstop Darlin')

Chris Knight: An IMBR Primer

2010-12-05T18:00:00.000-05:00

This is the first in what will be a series of In My Basement Room Primer posts: a handful of my favorite tracks from what an artist that I consider absolutely essential. The idea is that those of you not familiar with a Primer artist will have the chance to hear some of their better tracks and ultimately become a fan.

To start off the series, I could think of no artist better suited than Chris Knight. With seven albums released to date, Chris has not recorded a single bad song, where most artists with that size back catalog will have at least one complete dud of an album. Chris is consistent: he may make you wait two or three years between albums, but it is worth it. He's the best songwriter I've heard, with only Prine, Springsteen, and Dylan giving him a run for his money. But Chris's songs resonate more with me than those more prominent writers. His songs are about regular folks, usually down on their luck or in the wrong place at the wrong time. Card cheats, truck drivers, and pool hall townies (you get the idea) mixed in with murders, affairs, and child abuse.

I've selected six tracks for this first Primer. If you like Chris Knight (and if you are reading this blog chances are you will), go see him when he comes through your town and pick up his albums here.

Here it is -- Chris Knight: An IMBR Primer.

"William" (from Chris Knight)
"Hard Edges" (from The Trailer Tapes)
"A Train Not Running" (from The Jealous Kind)
"Down the River" (from A Pretty Good Guy)
"Run From Your Memory" (from Chris Knight)
"It Ain't Easy Being Me" (from Trailer II)

This is a really good read on Chris from about ten years ago courtesy of No Depression.

And here is a great video from the musicfog.com folks of Chris doing "North Dakota."

Kelsey Waldon - Anchor in the Valley

2010-12-04T22:30:00.007-05:00

Anchor in the Valley is the first album from west Kentuckian Kelsey Waldon. On the whole it is definitely a country album, but there is something thankfully unique in the combination of Kelsey's songwriting (she wrote all ten tracks), the beautiful vocals, and the steel guitar driven instrumentation. You can pick up the album for $5 on bandcamp or Amazon and Itunes if you prefer. Kelsey is finishing up a new EP to be released this coming spring and will feature another outstanding backing band.
First, here is one of my favorite songs from Anchor in the Valley.

Kelsey Waldon - The Light (from Anchor in the Valley) (Buy)

Next, here is a really nice video of "Mississippi Ride", another great song on the album.

"Ballad for Modern Times Pt 2" another good one from the album.

This last one is an audio Youtube of a Neil Young cover, "Don't Let it Bring You Down." Maybe this is the Neil Young cover that will be on the upcoming EP. No video, but be sure you check it out; it's good.

Jason Isbell covers Patterson Hood

2010-12-01T19:25:00.000-05:00

This one came up on the shuffle today. "The Assassin" is, in my opinion, Patterson Hood's best song and also my favorite of the select covers Jason does. Patterson put the song on his his 2004 acoustic solo release, Killers and Stars, but Jason and the 400 Unit make it a top shelf rock song, slide guitar and all. I've heard there is a studio version from Jason's Sirens of the Ditch sessions floating around, but I don't have it and I can't imagine it lives up to the raw live versions.

I've posted a couple audio tracks and good quality video version to check out.

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit - The Assassin (live in 2007) (Buy)
Patterson Hood - The Assassin (from Killers and Stars) (Buy)

Mountain Heart - That Just Happened EP

2010-11-22T22:30:00.015-05:00

I've been a Mountain Heart fan for years. I have a few of their of their albums (as well as Jim VanCleve's and Clay Jones' solo albums) and and have been to many, many of their shows. They are among the best in the business when it comes to live performances, and I can't begin to convey the energy that their live shows have.

That said, I have not seen them in probably three years. I have heard mixed reviews from friends concerning the new lineup/style, mostly from fans of the traditional bluegrass sounds. I, however, appreciate a band, especially in the bluegrass genre, that tries to evolve and add something new to the music. Hey, J.D. Crowe was scorned (I hear) when he brought in drums to the New South in the late 80's, and he is one of my favorites. There are thousands of great bands that play the same old covers, but I respect a band that writes it's own music (or at least finds some original songs).

About half of the songs on their new EP, That Just Happened, are written by vocalist/guitarist/(gasp!..pianist) Josh Shilling (who replaced Steve Gulley, but if you are familiar with Mountain Heart you already know that) and/or fiddler Jim VanCleve. The covers aren't the typical bluegrass standards either. Okay, one of them is, but it is done quite nicely, and the other two are a Greg Allman cover and a David Allan Coe cover. To be completely honest, I did not care for the title cut that opens the album, "That Just Happened." It is very slick, very catchy, and very power chord pop sounding, so much so that it is something you are likely to hear on modern country radio. It doesn't seem to fit the band or the rest of the EP, but I suppose it goes along with the new sound/image they are creating. I would have picked "Same Old Heartache" as the song to push, but what do I know?

Anyway, ignoring the title cut, the rest of the EP is a good listen and is a snapshot of band that is evolving and could possibly be on the verge of creating another new-grass/progressive movement in the genre, one that may translate well to the modern country crowd. The band has all the pieces necessary. Everyone is a master of their instrument, and Josh has a very good voice that blends well with Barry (Abernathy) and the others. All Mountain Heart has to do is keep writing/finding good songs. If you have the chance to see these guys soon, you should do so. They have more energetic shows than a lot of rock acts I've seen. Just remember: it ain't exactly grandaddy's bluegrass. Check out two tracks from That Just Happened below.

Mountain Heart - Same Old Heartache (from That Just Happened EP) (Buy)
Mountain Heart - The Ride (you know, the one David Allan Coe made famous but didn't write)

YouTube Bluegrass: J.D. Crowe & the New South

2010-11-20T20:30:00.001-05:00

J.D. Crowe & the New South circa 1975. Best bluegrass group ever? You can certainly make a strong argument that they were. Consisting of the banjo master himself along with Tony Rice on vocals/guitar, Ricky Skaggs on vocals/mandolin, Bobby Slone on fiddle/upright bass, and Jerry Douglas on dobro, the New South at this time was a supergroup for sure. Each of these gentlemen will surely be members of the Bluegrass Hall of Fame (Crowe already is). The video below is of "The Old Home Place," one of their most well known songs from the classic 1975 self-titled album.

The Famous - Come Home to Me

2010-11-19T22:00:00.057-05:00

I've been sitting on this album for too long, but I have a halfway decent excuse. I've had the album at work since I got it and it hasn't really left my CD player (yeah, I still have one of those). Better late than never.

The Famous is a four piece out of San Francisco that sound like they've spent a lot of time in Bakersfield. Their latest album Come Home to Me has plenty of jangly twang guitars but is mixed equally with punching pop power chords that combine for some really memorable hooks. Think Buck Owens meets the Old 97's. The Famous is Laurence Scott (Vocals, Guitar), Victor Barclay (Guitar, Backing Vocals), Chris Fruhauf (Drums), and G.D. Hensley (Bass). Definitely check this album/band out if you are a fan of great alt-country guitar and songwriting. No dates listed on the website, and I'd imagine they don't make it this far east too often, but maybe they'll come around soon. In the meantime you can pick up Come Home to Me and their 2005 release Light, Sweet Crude on the buy link below.

The Famous - Off My Mind (from Come Home to Me) (Buy)
The Famous - Moving On

YouTube: State Champion at Ear X-tacy

2010-11-17T11:55:00.008-05:00

I stumbled across these videos of State Champion today so I'll share with you. It appears to be from the Stale Champagne record release show at Ear X-tacy earlier this year, before the store moved to it's new location, which was the first time I caught them live as well. Watch all four parts and it's like you were there man! Did I mention that Stale Champagne is one of my favorite albums of this year? Thanks to whoever shot these and put them up.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Arliss Nancy

2010-11-15T12:10:00.022-05:00

I ran across these guys thanks mainly to a review of their newest EP, Truckstop Roses by Front Porch Musings. They immediately became a favorite of mine. Arliss Nancy is on Death to False Hope Records, a grassroots label that helps bands promote their music for free. Most of the albums on DTFH can be downloaded on the pay-what-you-want-principle, and you should check out their entire catalog. This is one of the first times that I have agreed with a band when they say they are similar to Lucero. I can definitely hear the influence. Throw them a few bucks and download the new EP and the full length debut Dance to Forget.
Arliss Nancy - Wrong or Right (from Dance to Forget)

Show Review: Slithering Beast @ Dragon Pub

2010-11-14T22:00:00.000-05:00

Friday night Slithering Beast played two sets at the Dragon Pub in Frankfort. It was my first time at the Dragon and I didn't know what to expect. I showed up just as the guys were getting started on the first set. It was a small crowd, maybe due to the UK basketball game, as I noticed a few groups showing up later on decked out in blue. The guys started off with the classics, a new song,and a couple covers (one a nod to In My Basement Room with "Dead Flowers") in the first set. The band (Mark Sieckman-drums, Alex Plamp-guitar, Nick Dittmeier-guitar & vox, Paul Dittmeier-pedal steel, Matt Kavorovic-bass & vox) sounded really good. Bass and drums were really locking in for that unique Slithering Beast rhythm, Nick and Alex were trading guitar licks, and Paul was all over the steel. After a short break, the band came back out with a more of the older songs from the first two albums mixed in with a couple more new songs. They ended the show with a pure rock and roll cover of "In the Midnight Hour" that even had people walking over from the pool tables to check it out. It was a great show and I wish more people had been there to see a really good original band in their own backyard. Nick will be doing an FREE acoustic show with Ryan Davis of State Champion on November 26th (7pm) at Sunergos Coffee House in Louisville.

Classic Flatt & Scruggs

2010-11-12T09:35:00.002-05:00

I was browsing you tube and found this nice video of Earl & Lester doing "Jimmy Brown the Newsboy." It is a great closeup of Earl's nice guitar work instead of his usual banjo finesse. Enjoy!

Veteran's Day

2010-11-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

Here's a few tracks for Veteran's Day. If you see a vet today, don't forget to thank them for your freedom.

Reckless Kelly - American Blood (from Bullet Proof) (Buy!)

6 Day Bender - Wartime (from 2008 S/T debut) (Buy!)

Blue Highway - He Walked All the Way Home (from Midnight Storm) (Buy!)

Jason Isbell - Dress Blues (from Sirens of the Ditch) (Buy!)

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit - Dress Blues (from Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit) (Buy!)

Ben Gilmer & The Sidearms - Heart That Burns

2010-11-09T19:10:00.001-05:00

I'm way behind on this one, and I'm not going to make excuses. I'm posting my favorite song off of the rather short eight track album. If you are a fan of classic Rolling Stones style country-rock, chances are you'll enjoy this so do yourself a favor and check it out. I honestly don't know the best way to purchase the album, so contact Ben through his myspace page and see if he can point you in the right direction.

Ben Gilmer & The Sidearms - Wildcat (from Heart That Burns)

6 Day Bender - E'ville Fuzz

2010-11-08T22:23:00.000-05:00

Coming straight out of Charlottesville, Virginia is a band with the best name I've heard in a good while, 6 Day Bender. Due to a slight failure in electronic communications I never got around to featuring the band when I first stumbled across their music last year. Fortunately, the new album E'ville Fuzz found it's way to me this year. The band is made up of Luke Nutting (banjo, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals), Clayton Avent (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, cello, vocals),
James Keenan (bass, harmonica), and Corey Gross (drums, percussion). A pretty typical country-rock outfit, right? Well, yeah, but where 6 Day Bender differs from the masses is that they hit that mark that everyone else is aiming for but falling short of. The banjo, when used, sounds like it is necessary for the mood of a lyric and not just an addition at the end of the recording session to cater to the "folk" fans. The songwriting cover all the topics I want from a rough country band, and the guitars, bass, and drums, are just ragged enough to do justice to the vocals of Luke and Clayton.

Since I didn't post anything last year, I'll put up a couple tracks from the new album and the self-titled debut. E'ville Fuzz features the electric guitars a little more prominently and tends to lean toward pure rock than the debut album. The musicianship sounds more evolved, as you would expect. In the end, each album is simply a different side to the same proverbial coin. You can buy either/both albums and other 6DB goodies here.

6 Day Bender - Wartime (from 2008 S/T debut) (Buy!)
6 Day Bender - Kick Out the Fire (from 2008 S/T debu)

6 Day Bender - Clover (from E'ville Fuzz) (Buy!)
6 Day Bender - Miss Linda (from E'ville Fuzz)

Check out the video of Deliverance off of E'ville Fuzz from the 6 Day Bender youtube channel.

Cross Canadian Ragweed with Jason Isbell on Guitar

2010-11-04T12:01:00.003-04:00

From the show at Iroquois Amphitheater here in Louisville this past summer.

In My Basement Room: Best of the First Year

2010-11-01T21:40:00.001-04:00

I started this blog a little over a year ago. I've neglected it much of that time for more serious responsibilities, but I still think it is in its infancy and has some room to grow. Over the next few weeks I'll be getting back on track with the quick reviews of albums I happen upon and posting notes about shows I make it too. I've reached my five-sentence-per-post limit so download my comp, The Best of the First Year.

Of course, be sure to check out an artists website if you like what you hear. Order up one of their albums and go see a show if they come through your town.

Drive-By Truckers on 91.9 WFPK's Live Lunch

2010-11-01T20:10:00.000-04:00

A few weeks late, but still worth mentioning. The Drive-By Truckers played 91.9 WFPK's Live Lunch series before their show in Louisville last month. You can also download a free track if you are a fan of DBT on Facebook.