Superb Charlie Louvin Article, Jason Aldean Nabs Platinum Status, And Patty Griffin’s Vivid Vignettes
- This month Little Dog Records is featuring Scott Joss’s album, A New Reason to Care. He’s certainly got the credentials:
Scott Joss has earned his place as one of the brightest talents guiding country music towards a Renaissance of musical values. Emerging from a promising apprenticeship as California State Men’s Fiddle Champion (three consecutive years), protege of Tiny Moore, and young fiddler for Merle Haggard’s band, the Strangers, Scott now shares the spotlight as an eight year veteran and featured performer in the touring and recording band of maverick superstar Dwight Yoakam.
And judging from the two songs available to sample, he certainly seems to have a lot of talent which leaves me intrigued.
- Paste Magazine has by far the the most insightful writeup I’ve read yet on Charlie Louvin.
Charlie Louvin is haunted by a voice inside his head, the high-tenor harmony voice of his brother Ira, dead now 41 years.
Even today, Charlie acknowledges, he unconsciously takes a step backward from the microphone stand at those points in the song where Ira would lean forward and chime in with his part. Charlie hears that sweet Alabama tenor, maybe a third or a fifth above his own, even if no one else in the auditorium can.
- Jason Aldean reached platinum status for his self-titled debut album and became the first artist for Broken Bow Records to reach that mark.
- March 17 is shaping up to be a huge day for country music in Austin. Palo Duro Records blogged that the world premiere of The Derailers tribute to Buck Owens can be heard at the Broken Spoke. The tribute album, Under the Influence of Buck, will be released early this summer.
- The Country Music Association presented a check for $368,000 to help improve the quality of music education in Metro Nashville schools. Troy Gentry was on hand to present the check.
- Patty Griffin gets a glowing review from Hickory Wind for her album, Children Running Through.
Griffin’s songs are vivid vignettes that unfold as much like a room full of paintings in a museum as they do an album.
- Houston Chronicle makes small talk with Sunny Sweeney before her show in Houston last night.
Chronicle: Jim Steinman vs. Beethoven
Sweeney: Um . . . Merle Haggard.
And, check out Angry Country for a review of her latest album.
- Merle Haggard talks to Rocky Mountain News about his upcoming tour with Willie and Ray, his recent collaborations, the difference between life now and then, and trying to balance music with family.
We live in a time now that . . . I feel really sorry for people in the United States right now compared to what it was, what it used to be. What we put up with, what we gave up. What we allow. What we don’t allow. There is no place for a guy like me or Willie or George or Ray or anybody to play except a casino or a fairground.
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March 8, 2007 at 12:25 pm Permalink
I love “If I Could,” Sunny’s debut single, and have liked what I’ve heard from a few other tracks on her album. I haven’t heard the entire album yet, but it’s on my to buy list.
March 8, 2007 at 12:52 pm Permalink
I listened to the album on Rhapsody earlier, and while I’m not a huge fan of “If I Could” I ended up liking the album a lot more than I thought I would. It’d make a nice addition to anyone’s collection. Her music reminds me of some of the artists in the Texas Country/Red Dirt music scene.
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