Gram Parsons - In My Hour Of Darkness (Album - Grievous Angel) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERhhkjqDGsA; She (Album - The Complete Reprise Sessions) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6YMdZdD9iQ; Sin City (Album - The Complete Reprise Sessions) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3Ngs8W3B48. If you haven't heard of Gram Parsons, I guarantee you've heard his influence. The country-rock sound owes great credit to Gram Parsons. Everyone from Emmylou Harris to The Rolling Stones to The Eagles to Elvis Costello were shaped by his sound. If you like what you hear and really want to dig deep, he was in The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers and frequently dusted with Emmylou Harris. This is what I put on when I just need something easy to listen to.
Hard Working Americans - Blackland Farmer (Album - Hard Working Americans, this is actually a cover of Frank Miller, 1959) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mue_VtX2Do; Stomp And Holler (Album -HWA, a Hayes Carl cover) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXF-qf3_xvQ; The Mountain Song (Album - HWA) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxt-vOE1JWs (bad quality but the only video I could find). This band is fronted by Todd Snider (heir apparent to Jerry Jeff Walker, John Prine) and made up of members of Widespread Panic, Ryan Adams band The Cardinals, Great American Taxi, and The Derek Trucks Band.
Trigger Hippy - Heartache On The Line (Album - Trigger Hippy) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj1lRJdYPSk (this video is from Wanee Fest, picture Bonnaroo for middle aged people, hosted annually by The Allman Brothers and it is about 30 minutes from my house). This band is made up of the drummer from The Black Crowes and members of Gov't Mule and Joan Osborne.
HTDA - Ice Age (Album - Welcome Oblivion) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oq3pDuJeMqQ This band is a project of Trent Reznor (NIN) and his wife Mariqueen Maandig (West Indian Girls) and friends. Don't let the band name scare you off (it comes from the album title of an early 80's industrial band named Coil that was one of Reznor's musical influences). I'll almost guarantee there is nothing on your iPod like this. I'm not sure if most of what they are playing is even instruments or just Atari's they took apart and hooked to old EKG monitors and keyboards. Regardless, I love their sound and her voice is haunting.
Drive By Truckers - Outfit (Album - Decoration Day) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyJ9JfWbKLE This song is written and sung by former member Jason Isbell who is from a little community (Green Hill, AL) 30 minutes from my hometown.
Adam Hood - Million Miles Away (Album - 6th Street) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G94mhMI5QYg I saw this guy open for Todd Snider about ten years ago and was blown away. It was just him and an acoustic guitar and he owned the stage for an hour. Afterwards I got to meet him and he was a really cool guy from Alabama. We are the same age and it seems like he collaborated with me on every song he writes. He's tried to break into country music in the last few years (he's toured with Miranda Lambert and Willie Nelson), but unfortunately country music is only making pop music right now so he's had little success in terms of sales and radio play.
Amos Lee - Arms Of A Woman (Album - Amos Lee) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_FwGvX_pCI I've only recently gotten into Amos Lee, but what little I've heard is really powerful music. This song almost hypnotizes you.
I guess this is more than enough to keep you busy on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Hope you enjoy and hope you expand your horizons a little. Don't worry, I will be doing this again.
PS - feel free to link or suggest your little known favorites in the comments section. I'd love to know what you've discovered.
PS - feel free to link or suggest your little known favorites in the comments section. I'd love to know what you've discovered.
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