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About FTB |
 J-200
 
Trip From Grace... (Loose Booty) | | Despite
the band's unfortunate choice of name, there is a lot to like about their debut.
Fronted by singer/songwriter Renee Giron, the band combines a sense of loose bar-band
energy with a songwriting precision making them a double threat. Not only are
they probably a great live act but their album captures a distinctive sound as
well. While Giron's voice and personality have a coltish quality comparable to
Kelly Willis, she has a different sort of vibe, somewhat more independent and
strong, like a younger Tammy Wynette. The band is excellent as well, very tight
and polished while still retaining that loose feel, keeping the music fresh and
not allowing it to sound overly polished. Definitely a plus after all of the alt.country
bands that have defected to the pop world recently. The album starts off with
a song by Tim Carroll (Good Cry) and gets better from there, and not many artists
could manage that. An excellent debut that shows the female side of alt.country
has just about outdone the male side, at least for right now. Someone should get
Caitlin Cary, Lucinda, Kelly Willis and a few of these other cowgirls together
with this band and form Cowgirlapalooza or something..... | | The
band's site. Buy
from amazon Released June. 2002. Reviewed by Scott
Homewood . |
 JT
& THE CLOUDS
Delilah...
(Dishrag) | | Americana is a big tent. The Chicago-based
JT & The Clouds, led by Jeremy Lindsay, makes use of every square inch of that
space and expands it a few more. The music and arrangements range from country
guitar-fiddle-mandolin on "Prairie Lullaby" to straight up horns and
B3 Chicago soul on "Scattered Leaves". The songs are meaty and substantial,
with wonderful instrumental work, arrangements that make great sense, and lyrics
that will catch your ear on the first track and not let go until long after the
last track is over. This CD seems like Lindsay wrote some really great short stories,
and just happened to have some really talented friends who could put them to music.
The production, done by Gregg Leonard, is excellent. It manages to feel neither
raw nor sterile, and lets the often-haunting arrangements and lyrics come to the
forefront. Lindsay has already been compared to Willie Nelson for his songwriting,
had "Scattered Leaves" covered by the Be Good Tanyas on NPR, and it's only going
to get better for JT & The Clouds. The songs average four and a half minutes,
but you'll wish they were longer. You'll wish the CD was longer and you'll wish
they were playing near you. JT & The Clouds are that good. This CD goes on my
Best of 2004 list. | | Their website.
Ordering and song samples from
CD Baby. Reviewed by Clint Weathers.
|
 KATE
JAMES & LOST COUNTRY
Homewrecker, Heartbreaker... (Hayden's Ferry) | | It
would be very easy to dismiss this CD as pedestrian and even cliché bar-band country
music. They certainly have the tried and true formula down: Bass, drums, steel-string
acoustic, pedal steel, and 11 tracks played well enough and sung well enough.
The lyrics and arrangements are obviously meant to be homage - The Jordanaires
and the Nashville Sound get lots of references - but in the end, it all seems
either too road-worn or not quite retro enough. You've heard these songs before,
sometimes done better, sometimes done worse. However, there is a sleeper on this
CD that will smack you right between the ears: the best track on the CD is "Poor
Little Fool." A torch song in waltz time, this song shows both the potential of
Kate James' voice and how strong this band can be. When they leave the clichés
behind and showcase the strong chops of guitarist Bill Brooks, this band really
shines. | Hayden's
Ferry. Kate's site.
Buy
from amazon Released April, '04. Reviewed by
Clint
Weathers. |
 JASPER
STONE
Let 'Er Smoke... (Skeet Music) | |
These three good ole boys do my heart good. Combining the best of Terry
Anderson (rowdy licks and humorous lyrical twists), Duane Jarvis (melancholy twangy
slow songs with some Mick Jagger vocal influences) and Bottle Rockets (loud,
raucous guitar solos that butt heads with hard rock) this band manages to hit
this album straight outta the park. I am not sure if this is their debut
but I am mighty impressed, for all the reasons I've already given and a
about twenty more that make this a CD that's almost impossible to remove
from the CD player. There are some great country touches like some mandolin and
lap steel but you'll love this for the pure redneck rowdiness and ballsy licks.
One of my faves for this year! | |
They have a website.
Order the CD from Miles
Of Music. Reviewed by Scott
Homewood |
 THE
JAYHAWKS
Rainy Day Music… (American/Lost Highway) | | One
the first listen, I thought the seventh Jayhawks CD was a little too slick or
too pop sounding, much like their other post-Mark Olsen releases. But the subtle
accents of banjo and steel guitar point towards a welcome return to the roots
sound of their earlier albums. I love the almost-recognizable melodies that drive
every tune, reminding me of old great 60’s bands like Buffalo Springfield, Badfinger,
The Byrds and more. Some of the songs, especially "Save It For A Rainy Day", has
such beautiful melodies that they would be a huge hits in the old days of Top
40 radio. There’s just something about the bright and shimmering overall sound
of the band and the CD itself, well-produced by Ethan Johns, the songs seems to
jump out of my cheap computer speakers, I can imagine how great it would sound
on a hi-end stereo. Lead Jayhawk Gary Louris has developed into not only a great
songwriter, but a great vocalist as well, surrounding his leads with perfect harmonies
by not only bandmate Tim O’Reagan, but Matthew Sweet and ex- Long Ryder Stephen
McCarthy. This album keeps calling me back, and like an old 60’s record, it continues
to reward me. | | Buy
from amazon. The Jayhawks Fan Site. Released April, 2003. Reviewed by Bill
Frater |
 SHOOTER JENNINGS
Put the O Back In Country… (Universal South)
|
| Shooter is the late Waylon Jennings' son, and he doesn't want you to forget it. Shooter's a bit of a loose cannon, acting as if he invented drinkin' and druggin' and swearing and getting tattoos. The outlaw thing's been done and it ain't that cool anymore anyway. The title track, done to the tune of Neil Young's “Are You Ready For The Country" is just plain moronic. Yeah, I agree that there “Ain't no soul on the radio” but Shooter ain't exactly “playin' hillbilly music” either. It's been said before by Robbie Fulks, the Waco's and with much more intelligence. In fact, most of this is your standard grade heard-it–before Southern rock. But before you go writing him off, I think he has a good voice, while not as distinctive as his dad's, and there's some really good, well-written songs here hidden amongst the macho stuff. Hopefully he'll lose some attitude and gain some maturity and have a long career and great career like Ol' Waylon. |
Shooter's site Buy from amazon. Released March, '05, Reviewed by Bill Frater.
|
| |
| If you gave
up on ol' Waylon like I had, you will be pleasantly surprised by his new CD on
a new label that gives him the respect and latitude that he needs. The producer
seemed to think the addition of Sting, Travis Tritt and Sheryl Crow would help
the album. The real MVP here is Mike Henderson who's fine bluesy guitar is all
over this CD. Usually you'd be lucky if half of the songs on a Jennings album
were decent. Here, they're almost all good, and Waylon wrote some of the better
ones himself. If you just leave the guy alone and let him sing his songs, he can
put together a nice album. Personally, I'd like to hear Waylon do an all blues
CD. |
If you like...The "real" Waylon
then give this CD a chance! Best cuts: Closing In On The Fire, I Know About
Me..., Back Home, Easy Money, The Blues Don't Care. Ark
21's site, or Waylon Dot Com, Waylon's
own site, currently under construction. Released June, 98. Reviewed by Bill
Frater. |
 JAMES
JEWELL & SHEW
Instruments and Controls... (Antenna)
| |
Half '60's psychedelic freakout and half bluegrass hoedown are what I get from
this highly disorienting disc. This three-piece band manages to raise quite a
few questions about how country can be combined with psychedelia to produce a
different kind of music altogether. I can see this being played in some redneck
bar at the edge of the Twilight Zone. Country music yet, not very country at all.
| | The band's website.
Go to CD Baby to order. Reviewed
by Scott Homewood |
|
|
| Here's a playful yet quirky
band who are testimony to the fact that these days anybody can afford to put out
a high-quality sounding CD. Not that it's that bad, but it's pretty off-the-wall,
my mind digs up Jonathan Richman or Camper van Beethoven as comparisons. The band, they're from Pennsylvania, is mostly acoustic, with banjo and
trumpet, but folk or bluegrass it ain't. The songs are ambitious upbeat
meanderings about well...simple, innocent themes. Jewell writes all the
tunes and his voice has the deep monotone of a Mark Knopfler. The CD is
starting to grow on me... | |
Best songs: Lost, Cigarette, Spider, Train, Heavenly. Your best bet is ordering
directly from their web site, JamesJewell.com,
which is quite well done and includes some RealAudio song samples. Released in
late '98, reviewed by Bill Frater.
|
| |
| I wanted to like this CD, really, but
there is not much here to distinguish it from alot of other guitar-based alternative
rock music that's out there. Jolene's last CD, Hell's Half Acre, had more
of a jangely roots-based sound with some fine steel guitar that gave them a great
sound. Somewhere along the way, the band lost the Americana, and also some of
their uniqueness. They have a good sound, nice harmonies, but Americana it is
not, so I have a hard time recommending this CD to people who come to this site
looking for roots music. They are a lot better than most of the "Modern Rock"
stuff that's on the radio, so if your tastes leans in that direction, then check
these guys out. For me, I came to Alt-country because I was tired of bands that
sounded similar to the new Jolene CD. But then again, maybe my ears are just getting
old! |
If you like...Gin Blossoms, Old 97's....then
try the new Jolene. Best tracks- Exhibit, Begin 1000, 16c, Clear Bottle
Down. Released Feb. '98. Reviewed by Bill
Frater. |
 BUCK JONES
Lucky Star... (Western Beat)
|
Another of the Lone Star state's apparently endless supply of artists, Buck Jones' music leans towards the honky-tonk side of the Texas brand of country. Surprisingly, his roots are in Baptist gospel, and, of all things, opera training. Out of thirteen tracks, he's only chosen to include two originals, the Tex-Mex flavoured “Cross That River”, and “These Days”, and, from the sounds of these two cuts, he's underestimating his own song-writing potential. This isn't to say that the others aren't up to snuff, far from it. There's some good stuff by the likes of Walt Wilkins, his guitarist, who co-produced Lucky Star with mandolin player Tim Lorsch and Shawn Jones' “Lightnin' Strike Me Down” has the capacity to become a great new country standby. Buck Jones does all of them justice. While there are a lot of artists who have made, and are making, respectable careers covering the songs of others, the ones who seem to make the most lasting marks in music are the ones who compose their own original creations. Judiciously selected good songs are most definitely preferable to sub-standard homegrowns when breaking into the game, but Jones should give himself more credit; from what's shown here, he can write. It'd be good to hear this guy expand his musical resumé some more. |
| Buck's stuff on Western Beat, where you can also order the CD. Released Sept. 2005, reviewed by Don Grant. |
 KACEY
JONES
Every Man I Love Is Either Married, Gay, Or Dead... (IGO) |
| Ms. Jones worked on Kinky Friedman tribute
CD, Pearls In The Snow, acting as both co-producer and sometimes vocalist.
She calls herself a musical humorist and just listing some of the song titles
will give you a good idea of where she comes from... "You're The Reason Our
Kids Are Ugly" (duet with Delbert McClinton), "Till Dale Earnhardt Wins
Cup #8", "Chicken or Dumplins", "Collector Of People"
and the title cut. She tries too hard to be funny and unfortunately misses
the mark most of the time. The pedestrian Nashville arrangements don't help
much either. The song with Delbert is pretty good though and she gets points for
covering Tom Waits' "Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis". |
| Release date: Sept. '00, Reviewed
by Bill Frater. |
 NORAH
JONES
Feels
Like Home… (Blue Note) | | Now Norah Jones
certainly doesn' t need me to help her name recognition or her CD sales, but I
loved her her Hank Sr. cover on her first album as well as her version of Waylon
Jennings' "Wurlitzer Prize". Then I heard that she was covering Gram Parson's
"She" in her live shows and I figured she has great taste at least in choosing
cover songs. Of course, Jones has a beautiful sultry voice and all but I can only
handle so much of the easy listening dinner jazz sound that she specializes in.
However, halfway into the CD things get better... First, following the cover song
tradition, she does a nice bluesy version of Townes Van Zandt's "Be Here To Love
Me". Then Dolly Parton joins her on a rousing, bluegrass-paced "Creepin' In",
and the next song "Toes", works for me too. She does an unreleased Tom Waits tune
too. I almost hate to say it, but she's growing on me. I like her ego-free attitude
and I think her band's good too. So there ya go, although there is nothing even
slightly twangy here, if you like her first album, you'll like this one better.
And if 1% of the people who buy this CD check out more of Townes' greatly under
appreciated music than it's a good thing. | | Buy
from amazon. Release date: Feb. '04 Reviewed by Bill
Frater. |
 JUKEBOX
JUNKIES
Choose Your Fix... (self-released) | |
Talk about "radio-ready". The Jukebox Junkies have seemingly lived up
to their name by turning out a full CD of good tunes to help ensure their eventual
placement on jukeboxes nation wide. No easy feat these days. From the Chuck Berry/Bottle
Rockets/Stones stomp of the opener "Sentimental Tattoo" to the next
one, a power-pop gem called Over and Over, to the rest of their fine songs the
Junkies have created a great CD that cops a few riffs from their own jukebox favorites
but still enables them to make an original statement. On the music barometer,
I would place this about fifty percent power pop and fifty percent roots rock.
Think in terms of a country Goo Goo Dolls or a more poppy Whiskeytown. Not a bad
record at all, it could be more distinctive musically, but as I write this I am
humming one of the songs long after it has left the player. As the title says,
choose your fix. I choose the Jukebox Junkies. | |
Jukebox Junkies Central. Reviewed
by Scott Homewood. |
 JUNE
STAR
Telegraph... (Safe House)
| |
Many bands in today's alt.country landscape bring more influences into their music
than just Merle, Hank and Buck. Uncle Tupelo combined country and punk rock, Wilco
uses a blend of power pop and country and many bands use classic rock (post-Beatles)
as an additive to add a little edge to their country. June Star is the first band
in my memory that I've heard make a near-perfect blend of bluegrass and rock.
I've heard many bands try it, mind you. Just never heard any of them succeed where
June Star does. Banjos and electric guitars blend perfectly and songs start out
at one end of the spectrum and then cross to the other without making you bat
an eye. And that's not to say that this band doesn't understand dynamics. The
switches just sound natural, like it's meant to happen. I am not a huge fan of
bluegrass. I AM a fan of this record. Great stuff. | |
JuneStar.com has tour and bio stuff, Safe
House has a site too. Released Nov 2001. Reviewed by Scott Homewood. |
 MARK
JUNGERS
Standing In Your Way... (self-released) | | It's
pretty much inevitable. When you hear a singer/songwriter singing meaningful lyrics
while strumming a guitar and playing a harmonica you're gonna think of Bob Dylan
and compare the two. So many artists have faced this problem and ended up not
being able to carve out their own niche. Think about Steve Forbert, for example.
Great songs, good singer, compared to Dylan and totally disappeared for about
ten years and only now starting to come back. He even had hits on the radio! Sadly,
Texan Mark Jungers is going to face the same comparisons, and not only from me.
Number one, he is a gifted lyricist with heartfelt, honest, meaningful stories
to tell and the skill to tell them in an interesting way. Number two, the band
he's got is quite skillful. Skillful and sympathetic enough to get out of the
way when Jungers starts weaving his storytelling magic. Notice I did not write
"just like The Band did" but, you know, it is just like they did when
they backed Dylan. Number three, Jungers has got a very distinctive voice and
style. While not as distinctive as Dylan's craggy old voice, I think I'd know
it anytime I heard it now that I've listened to this CD. So what is Jungers going
to do about this predicament? Hopefully nothing. As constricting as it is to be
compared to a legend (actually he sounds a little like early Springsteen as well)
it's Jungers talent and way with a song bringing these comparisons to light. Anyone
into great songwriting with an equal mix of folk, country and rock is going to
like this CD a whole helluva lot! | | Lone
Star Music's page. Buy
from amazon Released June 2002. Reviewed by Scott
Homewood . |
 MARK JUNGERS & THE WHISTLING MULES
One For the Crow... (American Rural) |
| After listening to a couple of slickly produced Americana recordings, I found this relatively lo-fi production refreshing and spirited. Dusty songs punctuated by harmonica, mandolin and fiddle, tales of every day folks and misadventures. This one's perfect for a long drive.
Jungers writes from a personal perspective (not unlike the Silos' Walter Salas-Humara ) and when he sings about farm life in "Dig" , the Minnesota native is writing from experience. The Austin-based Whistling Mules provide warm back up with a feeling of old friends playing live in the studio.
While not reinventing the wheel, Jungers and company keep it moving a little further down the road, past, as he sings in the opening cut, "gasoline and cigarettes, cheap motels and railroad tracks". |
| Mark's web site has CD ordering or order from CD Baby. Released '04, reviewed by Michael Meehan. |
|
