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The Demise of No Depression
- The alt-country music magazine No Depression will cease to exist after publishing the May-June issue. The current issue of the magazine contains a statement that basically says the decline in music sales is adversely affecting their means to make money. Despite what the magazine’s title reads, that’s pretty depressing news.
- Marty Stuart recalls the first time he visited Nudie Cohn’s store and met Manuel, back when he was in Lester Flatt’s band.
He’d saved up $250 to buy a rhinestone suit, but he was devastated to find out the one he wanted cost $2,500. Manuel was in the store, and he struck up a conversation with Marty, predicting that some day, the young musician could afford to buy every costume they had. He gave Marty a free shirt.
- Luke O’Neil of The Boston Globe calls “Too Late Now” by The Wrights roots music with actual roots.
- Calvin Powers says The Border Blasters blast border music from a bygone era, “Texas swing and all kinds of good roots music from the Austin area.” (MySpace)
- Ashton Shepherd was slated to appear next to Chuck Wicks, Lila McCann, and Keith Anderson for the “Heart-Throbs of Country” set at the University at Buffalo Center for the Arts on Sunday, but she had to cancel because of an illness. Attendees were offered their money back, but there were no takers and according to Jeff Miers the three “heart-throbs” who did make it put on quite a showcase. (Thanks to Trisha for the link)
- Numerous music-related books are on the horizon, all spearheaded by the much anticipated Willie Nelson: An Epic Life. Another upcoming novel, The Adventures of Slim & Howdy, was written by Brooks & Dunn with author Bill Fitzhugh and tells the fictional tale of the duo’s alter egos.
- A couple of young hockey players list Taylor Swift as someone that they feel like should have been on the SI Swimsuit cover. (via ggcolumn)
- Jack Ingram is the first country artist chosen for the Nike+ Workout series.
The Nike Sport Music store at www.iTunes.com features Nike+ continuous-play coaching mixes and voice-over instructions from top sports mentors with custom music mixes. Nike+ has sequenced Jack’s album [This Is It] for the ideal workout, complete with voice-over instruction from Jack himself.
- Carrie Underwood is set to make her second appearance on Saturday Night Live this Saturday (Feb. 23). It’ll be the first show back in production since the writer’s strike began.
- J. Edward Keyes calls Toby Keith a “relaxed, low-wattage performer” and says that Friday’s show took a while to actually get moving.
“Stays in Mexico,” which is charming on record, felt stagnant and bland. A long run of ballads didn’t aid momentum.
Fortunately, Keith’s best songs are enjoyed en masse, so the show’s final hour, essentially a romp through his greatest hits, ignited suddenly and stupendously.
- If you’re one of the first 3,000 fans to help Dierks Bentley pick special content, cover art, and the album title for his greatest hits album you’ll be listed as an executive producer in the liner notes. Fan club members will be afforded first voting rights on Feb 22. before they’re opened to the public 24 hours later.
- There’s a 30-second sample available of the new Def Leppard single that was co-written by Tim McGraw. (via CMT Blog)
- Listen to “Hearts Are Breaking Across Texas”, a new song from Aaron Watson, and while you’re there listen to “Barbed Wire Halo”, it’ll knock your socks off. His Angels & Outlaws album is due out April 1st.
Popular Stuff
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Miranda Lambert - “More Like Her” This kind of material, as opposed to her tough-chick-done-wrong romps like “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” and “Gunpowder and Lead,” is where her real promise lies
Joey Rory - “Cheater, Cheater” It’s actually downright frivolous, but that just makes it all the more fun. And really, are you allowed to say “ho” on country radio?
Josh Gracin - “Unbelievable (Ann Marie)” Despite initial marketing that touted the album as deep and personal, “Unbelievable (Ann Marie)” is anything but deep or personal.
Josh Turner - "Everything Is Fine" Turner is the rare example of an artist who records material that’s both quality and trademark.
Darryl Worley - "Tequila On Ice" A groovy mid-tempo that sways, a refreshing reprieve from the exhausting pace of a format that clamors for loud music and swelling choruses.
Blake Shelton - "She Wouldn't Be Gone" It’s all about nailing the melody rather than providing a legitimate interpretation that accentuates the lyrical content, although Shelton does do a pretty good job of injecting what limited emotion he can.
In Memory of Don Helms (1927 - 2008) Helms dated back to a time when an excellent four or five piece band and a good singer were all that were needed to make great country music. No drums, no light shows, no production tricks in the recording studio–just good music.
Don’t look now, but Darius Rucker, lead singer of 90s rock group Hootie & The Blowfish, has a country hit on his hands. What you probably haven’t heard is that Rucker is the first black artist to chart a single in the country top 20 since Charley Pride last did it in 1988.
News that former Sugarland member and co-founder Kristen Hall is suing her ex-mates, to the tune of $1.5 million, goes a long way towards providing a bit of context regarding the Atlanta singer/songwriter’s sudden departure from the group.
Forgotten Artist: Wynn Stewart Both Buck Owens and Merle Haggard have cited Wynn Stewart as a major influence on their careers, yet somehow, he was never able to translate his enormous talent into extended and consistent success for himself.
Forgotten Artist: David Rogers David Rogers (1936-1993) is proof of the adage that it’s great to be on a major label, but only if the label is truly behind you.
In this exclusive interview with The 9513, the Show Dog Records trio talks about growing up around Waylon and Jessi Colter, and about how those experiences have helped shaped their music as they set off on their own country music journey.
One of an emerging wave of artists empowered by decreasing production costs and a rapidly changing distribution landscape, Kelleigh Bannen has taken a do-it-yourself approach to her debut album, Radio Skies.Tagged In This Article
Aaron Watson // Ashton Shepherd // Carrie Underwood // Chuck Wicks // Dierks Bentley // Jack Ingram // Keith Anderson // Lila McCann // Manuel // Marty Stuart // Taylor Swift // The Wrights // Tim McGraw // Toby Keith // Willie Nelson
Current Discussion
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14 Comments
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February 19, 2008 at 11:45 am Permalink
Wow, the No Depression news really shocks me. For me, they were the last of the Americana centered magazines. Will their readers come to the Web for news and interviews or will this affect the music too?
February 19, 2008 at 2:25 pm Permalink
Wow. No Depression is finished huh? While not being my favorite magazine in the world, I’m bummed and shocked to see it go.
I would hope that they are at least maintaining a web presence, it would be such a waste of a solid brand just to disband the whole thing.
February 19, 2008 at 2:43 pm Permalink
i swear to God, if carrie underwood plays ‘before he cheats’ AGAIN (on the upcoming ’saturday night live’), i will end my tv’s life elvis-style. and if she invites the garbage-can beaters and stompers from the grammy performance, i will take somebody else with me.
February 19, 2008 at 2:44 pm Permalink
Eric - It shocked me, too. I don’t subscribe to their magazine, but I pick one up at Borders when the subject matter appeals to me. It’s just one less outlet for the independent musicians to have their music highlighted, which is sad no matter how you spin it.
Ben - The actual press release had a paragraph that said they had plans to expand the website, but in no way would it replace the print edition. So I don’t know if they’ll have more limited content or what.
February 19, 2008 at 7:31 pm Permalink
There aren’t enough good magazines in the world - NO DEPRESSION was a very good magazine thst I picked up about 80% of the time at the newstand. While it was never a complete replacement for the late, lamented COUNTRY MUSIC magazine (prior to its sale and later consolidation into COUNTRY WEEKLY)it was about as good as it gets for intelligent articles and reviews
February 20, 2008 at 2:04 am Permalink
I always felt that naming “No Depression” after an early Carter Family song wasn’t the wisest thing to do. I’ve been amazed they have remained in publication as long as they have since the Americana music scene does not have a big presence on commercial radio. It was a very well written periodical..
What I want to know is why The Boston Globe would mention and give a capsule review of a song by The Wrights that isn’t on their newly released album, only their MySpace website? Hmmm….
I would have been the one person to ask for a refund when Ashton Shepherd had to cancel her concert appearance due to illness. All the gals in the audience, and I bet they made up the vast majority, where there to see and hear pretty boys Chuck Wicks and Keith Anderson. Lila McCann hasn’t had any real radio impact in years in spite of Broken Bow’s meager efforts at maarketing the “grown up” Lila….
February 20, 2008 at 10:49 am Permalink
I just had a question for everyone about Dierks’ greatest hits CD. When is it appropriate or the right time for an artist to release one? I am surprised that he is releasing one right now. Does he have enough “hits” to put together a whole album? It looks like he’s only released 3 studio albums.
February 20, 2008 at 10:59 am Permalink
Lynn, keep in mind that the artist usually has little say in the “Hits” process. It’s at the discretion of the label and it generally doesn’t count towards the number of albums indicated in the artist’s contract.
February 20, 2008 at 11:39 am Permalink
In response to Lynn’s question about when is it appropriate to release a Greatest Hits CD, I would think the answer, at least from the label’s perspective, is “when releasing a greatest hits CD” would be more profitable than releasing a CD of new material. But I’m just guessing.
February 20, 2008 at 10:17 pm Permalink
Hairandtoenails - Is releasing a greatest hits CD really ever more profitable than releasing a CD of new material? As a fan, I would much rather have new material than all my favorites repackaged (which, thanks to computer burners I have already done).
February 21, 2008 at 8:06 am Permalink
Sure it’s more profitable…you don’t have to record the album.
February 21, 2008 at 9:25 am Permalink
Jim, I have read many times that a greatest hits cd is often used to finish out an artists deal with a label, thus counting towards the number of albums for that deal. Is that mainly non-country artists, as I have heard that before with the eagles and other more rock-oriented acts…
February 21, 2008 at 9:26 am Permalink
Also, a greatest-hits album will sell forever. The best-selling album in U.S. history is The Eagles’ first greatest-hits album, and the Billboard pop catalog chart is filled with them.
February 21, 2008 at 9:39 am Permalink
If you want a song that will sell forever, write a popular christmas song!
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