"Beneath the Country Underdog"
Kelly Hogan and the Pine Valley Cosmonauts
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One of the year's most pleasant surprises, Kelly Hogan's
Bloodshot debut is a sterling collection that balances
biting country-rock with intimate country soul. Hogan's
marvelous alto digs in to a wide range of covers: everything
from Johnny Paycheck, Willie Nelson, and Loretta and Conway
gems to readings of songs associated with the Band, Percy
Sledge, and indie popsters Magnetic Fields.
"Swimming in Champagne"
Eric Heatherly
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Straight from the famous Nashville haunt Tootsie's Orchid
Lounge comes Eric Heatherly, a 29-year-old Tennessee native
with a taste for rockabilly twang and a distinct swagger in
his step. Other than his upbeat cover of the Statlers'
"Flowers on the Wall," Heatherly wrote all of the songs on
this debut and adds his own finely honed guitar licks to the
gritty-for-Nashville mix.
"Happy to Be Here"
Todd Snider
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Though most often pegged as an alt-country artist, Todd
Snider uses a broad range of moods and styles to carry out
his vision. With a rich, slightly anguished voice, Snider is
capable of moving from soft, plaintive stories to rousing
sarcastic rants to heartfelt ballads. His fourth record,
"Happy to Be Here," marks his debut for John Prine's Oh Boy
label, which seems a fitting home for such an iconoclastic,
eclectic figure and his smart blend of country, folk, rock,
blues, and soul.
"Love Light"
Claire Lynch
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Thanks to her graceful, pristine voice, Claire Lynch won the
1997 Female Vocalist of the Year Award from the International
Bluegrass Music Association. Now she returns with the
delightful new "Love Light," an album that will appeal to
traditionalists and modernists alike and will only enhance
her already growing reputation. Only her fourth record since
returning to recording in the 1990s, it shows off the
experience that Lynch has gathered singing bluegrass music
for more than 25 years with her Front Porch String Band, not
to mention a solid collection of original material.
COUNTRY-ROCK REVIVAL: FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS AND THE BYRDS
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Here is a handful of reissues from country-rock's heyday.
"Anthology 1969-1972"
Flying Burrito Brothers
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This double-disc set focuses mostly on the classic Gram
Parsons-era material--including both "Gilded Palace of Sin"
and "Burrito Deluxe" in their entirety--and serves as a
wonderful exploration of these country-rock pioneers.
"Untitled/Unissued"
The Byrds
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Already a sprawling double-LP live-and-studio collection
when it was first released in 1970, this two-CD reissue adds
a full disc's worth of (arguably superior) rare live and
studio cuts that lean more heavily toward the band's country
and folk roots.
"Farther Along"
The Byrds
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Initially released in late 1971, "Farther Along" was the
swan song for the turn-of-the-decade Byrds lineup, and the
2000 reissue benefits from three superb bonus cuts, "Lost My
Drivin' Wheel," "Born to Rock and Roll," and "Bag Full of
Money."
"Heartbreak Town"
Ronnie McCoury
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The mandolin master and son of bluegrass legend Del McCoury
emerges from papa's shadow with his first solo effort.
"Faith in You"
Steve Wariner
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The country-pop veteran checks in with his follow-up to
1999's "Two Teardrops."
"Prisoner of Love"
Ray Price
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The honky-tonk-legend-turned-countrypolitan-crooner returns
with a brand-new record to celebrate his 50th annivers
"Real Live Woman"
Trisha Yearwood
Check out this one HERE!
The Georgia-born belter with perfect pitch has always shown an affinity for the music of her idol, Linda Ronstadt. Like Ronstadt, she deftly and tastefully blends elements of pop and country while finding material from unexpected sources. On her eighth album, Yearwood is as gritty and gutsy as she's ever been, often sounding like soulful blues-rocker Bonnie Raitt.
"Wires & Wood"
The Johnny Staats Project
Check out this one HERE!
The West Virginia mandolin master has turned many heads with this debut, a stunning bluegrass collection that taps a number of styles along the way. Sure, Staats plays fast, but he's also unbelievably poised and controlled whether attacking traditional bluegrass, jazzy newgrass, or Celtic reels. One thing's for sure: Staats has enough talent to quit his UPS day job if he ever decides to trade in the brown uniform to become a full-time picker.
"Latest Greatest Straitest Hits"
George Strait
Check out this one HERE!
You can set your watch by George Strait. The most consistent man in country puts out an album a year, and every five years or so, he takes a break from the studio to release a compilation of hits. This collection is his fourth single- disc hits package (his first since the 1995 release of the four-disc "Strait Out of the Box"), and while his late-1990s work may not be as dependable as his earlier work, there's still plenty to like. "Murder on Music Row," his new duet with Alan Jackson, certainly ranks as one of the highlights here.
"Beachwood Sparks"
Beachwood Sparks
Check out this one HERE!
If you long for the California country-rock of 30 years ago, Beachwood Sparks will cure what ails you. On the surface, it may feel like a Gram Parsons tribute album (with nods to the Byrds and Buffalo Springfield), but dig deeper and you'll discover impeccable harmonies, irresistible melodies, and tasteful tinges of psychedelia that would make those old-timers proud.
"Second Wind"
Michael Reno Harrell
Check out this one HERE!
This Appalachian-born singer-songwriter reminds you of those other three-named troubadours Robert Earl Keen and Ray Wylie Hubbard. As you would expect, however, Harrell's blend of country twang and bluegrass buoyancy owes more to his own home region than it does to Texas. Backed by stalwart pickers like Sam Bush, David Grier, and Jerry Douglas, Harrell's tales have a way of balancing humor, tenderness, and restlessness.
COUNTRY JAZZ JAMBOREE
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Here are a couple of new releases guaranteed to please fans
of picking prowess:
"Get a Load of This"
Dave Stuckey
Check out this one HERE!
Stuckey unleashes a superb set of Western swing packed with topnotch players and a 1940s vibe that reeks of authenticity. This is no polished Western swing revivalism; this is the real deal, loose, limber, and lighthearted.
"Heavy"
Jim Campilongo and the 10 Gallon Cats
Check out this one HERE!
San Francisco's Campilongo owes more to the fiery hillbilly-bop style of Jimmy Bryant and Jimmie Rivers than he does to Western swing. Here his Telecaster rampages across an assortment of barn-burning originals (and a cover of Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues) with the ample help of steel wiz Joe Goldmark.
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"Here and Now"
The Wilkinsons
Check out this one HERE!
If light, squeaky-clean country is what you're after, this father-daughter-son combo is just the ticket.
"Lunette"
Jim Roll
Check out this one HERE!
Roll's second effort is an eclectic and expressive set of twangy Midwestern roots rock.
"Love Light"
Claire Lynch
Check out this one HERE!
Fans of Alison Krauss will appreciate Lynch's lovely voice and elegant blend of traditional and contemporary bluegrass.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, bluegrass was threatened by the emergence of rock, jettisoned by the country music establishment, and appropriated by folk revivalists, resulting ultimately in the genre's marginalization. However in 1999, thanks to a number of superb releases, bluegrass has reclaimed much of its mainstream appeal and returned to its rightful place as a vital and vibrant stream of country music. Four bluegrass gems populate our list of the year's most rewarding country records.
1. "End Time"
Freakwater
Check out this one HERE!
Known for their hauntingly beautiful country melodies and their exquisite harmonies, Freakwater flesh out their sound on "End Time," a stunning record that adds electric guitar, drums, and even a string section to the mix. By blending a range of traditional country styles with their always- stimulating lyrics about life's small tragedies, Freakwater craft a highly original and modern sound without straying too far from their pared-down acoustic roots.
2. "The Mountain"
Steve Earle and the Del McCoury Band
Check out this one HERE!
Steve Earle has always alternated between his electric and acoustic impulses, but on this stellar collaboration with the Del McCoury Band, he moves into the acoustic camp with both feet. Earle has come up with perhaps his strongest collection of original songs, filled with vivid characters and possessing timeless appeal, while the musical settings move from straightahead bluegrass to country-blues to honky-tonk to Celtic. McCoury's unit provides the musical muscle that you'd expect from one of bluegrass's sharpest ensembles.
3. "Cruel Moon"
Buddy Miller
Check out this one HERE!
Buddy Miller's third solo release finds the hard-country hero in fine form on a simple and plainspoken, yet rhythmically dynamic record. Melding influences that range from honky-tonk to rock to blues to soul, Miller knows and respects the power of minimalism in his music. He is able to generate a beefy sound and deep feeling with only the most Spartan ingredients, most notably his intense singing, stinging guitar, and pithy lyrics. Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Tammy Rogers, Jim Lauderdale, and Miller's wife Julie provide key support.
4. "Why Do Lonely Men and Women Want to Break Each Other's
Hearts?"
Star Room Boys
Check out this one HERE!
Athens, Georgia, has long been known for its stream of college rock, but the Star Room Boys offer nothing but country despair on their head-turning debut, which deftly updates the Bakersfield honky-tonk style. Dave Marr's deeply expressive voice is the perfect medium for his original songs of romantic desolation and misery while nifty guitar and steel spar behind him.
5. "Half Mad Moon"
Damnations TX
Check out this one HERE!
Deborah Kelly and Amy Boone, two sisters from upstate New York who relocated to Austin, grew up with a wide array of musical influences ranging from Johnny Cash to X to Kiss. Their Damnations TX blend these ingredients seamlessly on their debut, a record that has emotional bite and lighthearted charm, not to mention some gorgeous harmonies and a crack selection of astute originals.
6. "Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza"
Various artists
Check out this one HERE!
David Grisman has assembled an impressive cadre of pickers for this spectacular instrumental project: Sam Bush, Ronnie McCoury, Jesse McReynolds, Bobby Osborne, Ricky Skaggs, Frank Wakefield, and Buck White. Toss in Grisman himself and you have eight of the greatest living mandolin players pushing each other to awesome hot-picking heights, offering personal reflections along the way.
7. "Crusades of the Restless Knights"
Ray Wylie Hubbard
Check out this one HERE!
As an elder statesman of Texas songsmiths, Ray Wylie Hubbard has been plying his trade for decades but he's truly blossoming in the 1990s. "Crusades" follows up 1997's superb "Dangerous Spirits" and boasts lyrics that can be sensitive or scathing (or both) and that can tackle the mundane or the metaphysical (or both). His tales are cautionary yet oddly comforting (if you're on the right side), and his world- weary voice is adeptly backed by Lloyd Maines's dynamic, mostly acoustic production.
8. "The Grass Is Blue"
Dolly Parton
Check out this one HERE!
It seems surprising that Dolly Parton has never recorded an all-bluegrass record until now; the native Tennessean has been singing her own take on mountain music all her life. But it's certainly been worth the wait. Parton's superb new record is studded with top-drawer pickers like Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, and Stuart Duncan and offers a balance between her own material and covers that range from Flatt & Scruggs, the Louvin Brothers, and Hazel Dickens to Johnny Cash, Billy Joel, and Blackfoot (yes, that Blackfoot).
9. "The Bluegrass Sessions: Tales from the Acoustic Planet,
Vol. 2"
Bela Fleck
Check out this one HERE!
Despite the reference in the title to 1995's intriguing and wide- ranging solo fusion record, Fleck's new release has much more in common with 1988's outstanding Rounder CD, "Drive." The principals from the "Drive" sessions--Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Tony Rice, Stuart Duncan, and Mark Schatz--return, assisted this time around by special guests including Earl Scruggs, Vassar Clements, and John Hartford. Like "Drive" accomplished so well, "The Bluegrass Sessions" brilliantly displays the range of moods and melodies that traditional bluegrass instrumentation can capture.
10. "The Pilgrim"
Marty Stuart
Check out this one HERE!
The pieces all fall in place on Stuart's concept album. "The Pilgrim" tells the true story of a Mississippi man who unknowingly falls in love with a married woman, watches her husband kill himself, and subsequently wanders in an alcoholic stupor for years before finding salvation in church and marriage. Stuart's songwriting is at a peak--the story actually occurred in Stuart's own hometown. He explores a variety of traditional styles with the vital help of legends including George Jones, Emmylou Harris, Johnny Cash, Earl Scruggs, and Ralph Stanley.
"Garth Brooks in the Life of Chris Gaines"
Garth Brooks
Check out this one HERE!
Garth Brooks has sold about 100 million records, so Chris Gaines has an awful lot of ground to make up. King Garth assumes the role of an enigmatic alt-rocker and hopes that he will transform that fictional rock star into real sales figures. Brooks skirts through a variety of musical styles--none of them his beloved country--but perhaps his hat has always been too big for country anyway.
"End Time" Freakwater Check out this one HERE!
Known for their hauntingly beautiful country melodies and their exquisite harmonies, Freakwater beef up their sound on "End Time," a stunning record that adds electric guitar, drums, and even a string section to the mix. By blending a range of traditional country styles with their always- stimulating lyrics about life's small tragedies, Freakwater craft a highly original and modern sound.
"Fly"
Dixie Chicks
Check out this one HERE!
The follow-up to "Wide Open Spaces" is an appealing record that nimbly balances traditional sounds and contemporary sparks in a way that may surprise even the most stubborn Chick cynics. Once you get past the glitz and glamour, you find the Texas trio has made some bold choices (lots of fiddle and pedal steel and even a murder song!), considering the climate of contemporary country radio.
"I Feel Like Singing Today"
Jim Lauderdale and Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys
Check out this one HERE!
Earlier this year, a younger country-rock songwriter (Steve Earle) joined forces with a revered bluegrass veteran (Del McCoury) to create an outstanding and refreshing record. Now Lauderdale and Stanley offer their own collaboration, one that pretty much equals the success of Earle and McCoury's "The Mountain" but for very different reasons. The album mixes Stanley favorites and Lauderdale originals, a few of which were cowritten with Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter.
You can find "The Mountain" at
Check out this one HERE!
"Risin' Outlaw"
Hank III
Check out this one HERE!
By blending the hardcore old-school honky-tonk of his grandfather with his father's contemporary country-rock rhythm and style (without the bombast), Shelton Hank Williams emerges as his own artist with "Risin' Outlaw," a record that may very well appeal to fans of both Senior and Junior. Hank III takes many cues (not to mention three songs) from Wayne "the Train" Hancock, one of the more respected Hank Sr. disciples of the 1990s.
You can find Wayne Hancock's new record, "Wild, Free &
Reckless," at
Check out this one HERE!
Country-folk veteran John Prine puts down his pen and
returns to the music that originally inspired him with
"In Spite of Ourselves," his new collection of boy-girl
honky-tonk duets. Though Prine is no Lefty Frizzell in
terms of his singing voice, the collection remains a
charming and lighthearted listen.
You can find "In Spite of Ourselves" at
Check out this one HERE!
"Phillips, Grier & Flinner"
Todd Phillips, David Grier, and Matt Flinner
Check out this one HERE!
This genre-busting trio fuses Celtic, bluegrass, and jazz and manages to balance spontaneity, virtuosity, and taste.
"Soldier of the Cross" Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder Check out this one HERE!
Skaggs's new record is a work filled with passionate gospel that places the harmonies of Kentucky Thunder center stage.
"The Karl Shiflett & Big Country Show"
The Karl Shiflett & Big Country Show
Check out this one HERE!
These boys keep the sound and spirit of Flatt & Scruggs alive and fresh.
"Crusades of the Restless Knights" at
Check out this one HERE!
"Under the Influence"
Alan Jackson
Check out this one HERE!
The neo-tonker leaves "Ford country" long enough to wax a new album.
"Rice, Rice, Hillman & Pedersen"
Tony Rice, Larry Rice, Chris Hillman, and Herb Pedersen
Check out this one HERE!
This quartet of bluegrass veterans returns with the musicians' second collaboration.
"Tales of a Traveler"
Blue Mountain
Check out this one HERE!
This premier Mississippi alt-country band offers its long-awaited third record.