Robyn Ludwick - Out of these Blues

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)

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

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: Joe Pug - Nation of Heat EP

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!

Chris Knight: An IMBR Primer

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

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.

Simon Fagan

I want to a quick feature today on Irish artist Simon Fagan. The song I've posted below is my favorite off of his latest album, Outside Looking In. It's probably a little more pop than I usually prefer, but I still dig it. It's a good song on a good album. Simon has a free EP available for download in exchange for an email. Check it out and see what you think, and buy his latest from his bandcamp if you dig it. If you are in Toronto, he has a few dates coming up there pretty soon. If you aren't, well, check out Simon's videos on his website instead.

Simon Fagan - Damn Honey

Jim Lauderdale: Patchwork River

I first heard Jim Lauderdale a few years ago on an album with Ralph Stanley's Clinch Mountain Boys (Lost in the Lonesome Pines). I really liked the album and Jim's voice and delivery on the songs. For whatever reason, primarily the fact that I never got to see him live and this was before I knew of independent radio, that was the only album of Jim's that I ever bought. I saw him occasionally on televised music specials and I would see his name credited as a writer or backing vocalist on other albums from time to time.
Jim has an new album out on the Thirty Tigers label called Patchwork River, and you can hear much more of his blues influences coming through instead of the country/bluegrass tendencies I am more familiar with. There's some soulful blues guitar backing Jim's great vocal on "Patchwork River", one of the album highlights for me. There's one chord in the verse that makes the song. There are also some traditional country songs featuring great harmony ("Between Your Heart and Mine") thrown in that make the album really listenable all from start to finish. Jim sounds right at home in this style, and if this is album is any indication of the sound of some of his past albums I've missed, well, I have a lot of catching up to do. You can listen to two complete tracks below and buy the album here. Check out Jim's tour dates on his website, and listen to his monthly broadcast concert Tennessee Shines.

Jim Lauderdale - Patchwork River
Jim Lauderdale - Winnona

Andrew Combs: Tennessee Time

Today's album is another one that found me via Reviewshine. I'll preface by saying it is great to see that there is still great original and pure country music being made today. Andrew Combs' debut EP Tennessee Time is on my short list for album of the year. Yeah, I know it's an EP but I'd rather have six excellent songs over one or two with twelve "fillers" any day. Andrew has written 5 of the songs and the choice cover he does, "Dark End of the Street", has become my favorite version of the song. Andrew's voice is just gravelly enough to suit the country-rock crowd, his delivery is just as good as Haggard or Jones, and his songwriting, based only on this EP, is top shelf as well.
You can buy Tennessee Time here, and check out Andrew's website and myspace for show dates. Check out the tracks below in the meantime. Let me know what you think too.

Andrew Combs - Tennessee Time
Andrew Combs - Too Stoned To Cry

Also, check out this video of Andrew doing Tennessee Time and a little bit of an interview.

JJ Schultz

I discovered JJ Schultz four or five years ago through Pandora Radio. I don't remember what station I was listening to, but I was sold after the first verse of "Speed Train". I have a playlist of about 18 songs that I call Alt-Country Essentials and two of those tracks are JJ's. I could put a couple more of his tracks on it and the mix would still be worthy of the title. JJ has three albums out on San Francisco's Last Stop Records. His sounds range from intimate singer-songwriter tales of desperate farmers to snare drum driven numbers about drinking in country bars. I have posted a favorite from each album below. I don't know of JJ playing in the Louisville area anytime soon, but go check him out if you happen to get the chance. You can get all three of JJ's albums at CDBaby. If you buy all three you'll get them for $5 each!


"Max My Dog" (from 2004's Bustin' Outa Town)

"Speed Train" (from 2005's Something to Me)

"Traveling Song" (from 2007's Traveling Songs)