James McMurtry | Search Results | Elsewhere by Graham Reid

James McMurtry: The Horses and the Hounds (New West/digital outlets)

...who have been waiting seven years for a new James McMurtry album just need to know one thing: here it is....

Music at Elsewhere: music/9980/james-mcmurtry-the-horses-and-the-hounds-new-west-digital-outlets/

JAMES McMURTRY INTERVIEWED (1990): In from the wasteland

...Butch Hancock, Guy Clark and - most recently - James McMurtry captures clear photographic images of a world... ...his Southern connections were apparent. James McMurtry is the son of novelist and screen-writer Larry... ...off and rejoined the BoDeans tour. Right now James McMurtry is considering his options -- there are... ...Raban might well have been writing about James...

Absolute Elsewhere: absoluteelsewhere/3493/james-mcmurtry-interviewed-1990-in-from-the-wasteland/

BEST OF ELSEWHERE 2008: James McMurtry: Just Us Kids (Lightning Rod/Elite)

The murky photo of a small, barroom audience on the inner sleeve of this brittle and typically dark album by singer-poet McMurtry might have included me. It looks like it was taken in the Continental

Music at Elsewhere: music/1576/best-of-elsewhere-2008-james-mcmurtry-just-us-kids-lightning-rod-elite/

Bill Chambers: Drifting South (Whitewater)

...harmony singing for their excellent version of James McMurtry's Deckhand's Daughter, Jim Moginie of Midnight...

Music at Elsewhere: music/2658/bill-chambers-drifting-south-whitewater/

BEST OF ELSEWHERE 2010 Devils Elbow: Sand on Chrome (Hit Your Head)

...like Earle (in his rocking country mode), James McMurtry, Joe Ely and Ryan Bingham mean anything to you...

Music at Elsewhere: music/3521/best-of-elsewhere-2010-devils-elbow-sand-on-chrome-hit-your-head/

John Murry: The Graceless Age (Universal)

...early Leonard Cohen and the storytelling of James McMurtry, The Graceless Age offers 10 songs which are...

Music at Elsewhere: music/5744/john-murry-the-graceless-age-universal/

Ryan Bingham and the Dead Horses: Roadhouse Sun (Lost Highway)

...voice is out front (imagine Springsteen or James McMurtry after a night, no make that a week, on the...

Music at Elsewhere: music/2539/ryan-bingham-and-the-dead-horses-roadhouse-sun-lost-highway/

Donna Dean: Tyre Tracks and Broken Hearts (donnadeanmusic.com)

...with the poetic economy of musicians like James McMurtry and Dolly Parton, and authors like...

Tagged with: new zealand music |

Music at Elsewhere: music/5525/donna-dean-tyre-tracks-and-broken-hearts-donnadeanmusiccom/

Richmond Fontaine: "We Used to Think the Freeway Sounded Like A River" (Southbound)

...alt.country (more like Calexico than say James McMurtry), the narratives here remain refined and...

Music at Elsewhere: music/2526/richmond-fontaine-we-used-to-think-the-freeway-sounded-like-a-river-southbound/

Gary Harvey: Outta My Head (digital outlets)

...might put him along the axis of Chris Whitley, James McMurtry and Southern outlaw rock bands. He may be a...

Tagged with: new zealand music |

Music at Elsewhere: music/11180/gary-harvey-outta-my-head-digital-outlets/

Guy Wishart: West by North (Southbound)

...in the company of Guy Clark, John Prine or James McMurtry, these songs pull you in . . . but are best...

Music at Elsewhere: music/7458/guy-wishart-west-by-north-southbound/

Peter Case: Doctor Moan (digital outlets)

...Smither, Kim Richey, Joe Ely, John Prine, James McMurtry, Chuck Prophet and other luminaries. Here on...

Music at Elsewhere: music/10664/peter-case-doctor-moan-digital-outlets/

Bannerman: Dearly Departed (Bannerman/Rhythmethod)

...like Jeffrey Foucault, Lee Clayton and James McMurtry. Bannerman isn't without his sensitive side...

Music at Elsewhere: music/4708/bannerman-dearly-departed-bannerman-rhythmethod/

THE BEST OF ELSEWHERE 2021: THE READERS' CHOICES

...here . Derek says these two knocked him out James McMurtry - The Horses and the HoundsDefiantly "old...

Absolute Elsewhere: absoluteelsewhere/10160/the-best-of-elsewhere-2021-the-readers-choices/

Peter Case: Peter Case (1986)

...Hayes Carll, Tom Russell, Dave Alvin, Joe Ely, James McMurtry, Chris Gaffney . . . His heart attack in '09...

Essential Elsewhere: essentialelsewhere/3479/peter-case-peter-case-1986/

The Thomas Oliver Band: Baby, I'll Play (Rhythmethod)

...Home coms with the observational quality of James McMurtry and Springsteen. One of These Days seems...

Music at Elsewhere: music/4019/the-thomas-oliver-band-baby-ill-play-rhythmethod/

Son Volt: American Central Dust (Rounder)

...Don't Move which conjures up the spirit of James McMurtry). But there is a sense of loss which infuses...

Music at Elsewhere: music/2485/son-volt-american-central-dust-rounder/

Lee Clayton: Industry (live, 1989)

...if they had arrrived around the same time as James McMurtry, Chris Whitley and a few others a decade later...

From the Vaults: fromthevaults/3481/lee-clayton-industry-live-1989/

THE BRAVADOS and BANDOLERO! (DVD): Westerns of the outlaw kind

...and is the father of alt.country rock singer James McMurtry) and was shot on the same set as the original...

Film at Elsewhere: film/2691/the-bravados-and-bandolero-dvd-westerns-of-the-outlaw-kind/

Greg Fleming: Same City (digital outlets)

...Van Zandt, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, James McMurtry and Gretchen Peters. His Same City album...

Tagged with: new zealand music |

Music at Elsewhere: music/10103/greg-fleming-same-city-digital-outlets/

CHRIS WHITLEY INTERVIEWED (1991): The Law man living with the lore

...a two-page spread along with Richard Thompson, James McMurtry and Will T. Massey. 'That’s the kind of... ...opening for Tom Petty. “Them guys like James McMurtry and Will T. Massey are great writers and all,...

Absolute Elsewhere: absoluteelsewhere/3097/chris-whitley-interviewed-1991-the-law-man-living-with-the-lore/

RECOMMENDED REISSUE: Terry Allen, Juarez (PoB/Southbound)

...songwriter-novelist Willy Vlautin, Greg Brown, James McMurtry and Tom Russell have been on your musical...

Music at Elsewhere: music/7515/recommended-reissue-terry-allen-juarez-pob-southbound/

America, driving across the country (April-May 2004)

...gig.Two nights later I was back there for James McMurtry whose misanthropic hard-hewn imagery has...

Travels in Elsewhere: travelstories/273/america-driving-across-the-country-april-may-2004/

GENE CLARK, THE ONCE AGAIN BYRD: A true American dreamer

...Earle, Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch and James McMurtry, and bands such as Wilco, the Felice Brothers...

Absolute Elsewhere: absoluteelsewhere/2169/gene-clark-the-once-again-byrd-a-true-american-dreamer/

Jim White: No Such Place (Luaka Bop)

...comes from the midpoint of Waits, James McMurtry and a pantheon of Southern gothic writers. But...

Music at Elsewhere: music/2665/jim-white-no-such-place-luaka-bop/

Gary Harvey: Outlaw (Wilde Records/digital outlets)

...a song which might have come from the pen of James McMurtry. At times Harvey's vocals let him down and...

Tagged with: new zealand music |

Music at Elsewhere: music/9527/gary-harvey-outlaw-wilde-records-digital-outlets/

Greg Fleming and the Trains: Edge of the City (LucaDiscs)

...uncommon in the music of Townes Van Zandt, James McMurtry, Cold Chisel, Midnight Oil and Paul Kelly....

Tagged with: new zealand music |

Music at Elsewhere: music/5179/greg-fleming-and-the-trains-edge-of-the-city-lucadiscs/

Gretchen Peters: Dancing with the Beast (2018)

...like that of Paul Simon, Lucinda Williams, James McMurtry and others – gets the big picture from...

Essential Elsewhere: essentialelsewhere/9714/gretchen-peters-dancing-with-the-beast-2018/

Steve Earle: Townes (New West)

The legend of Townes Van Zandt (who died age 52 on New Year's Day 1997) continues to grow and the somewhat messy details of life -- depression, alcoholism, drugs -- have faded steadily to allow a grea

Tagged with: james mcmurtry | steve earle | the flatlanders |

Music at Elsewhere: music/2419/steve-earle-townes-new-west/

Matt Langley: Featherbones (Hometown)

...a delivery like the best Americana artists (James McMurtry particularly) with a little Dylanesque drawl....

Music at Elsewhere: music/3995/matt-langley-featherbones-hometown/

Various: Man of Somebody's Dreams: A Tribute to Chris Gaffney (YepRoc/Southbound)

...Russell, Freddy Fender, Calexico, the Iguanas, James McMurtry, Dan Penn, Alejandro Escovedo, John Doe,...

Tagged with: chris gaffney | hacienda brothers |

Music at Elsewhere: music/2474/various-man-of-somebodys-dreams-a-tribute-to-chris-gaffney-yeproc-southbound/

Andrew McKenzie: The Edge of the World (Arch Hill)

...(Ginger Tom) and the dark Southern stuff of James McMurtry and Chris Whitley (The End of Summer) -- which...

Music at Elsewhere: music/3876/andrew-mckenzie-the-edge-of-the-world-arch-hill/

James Luther Dickinson: Killers From Space (Memphis/Elite) BEST OF ELSEWHERE 2007

In a cover which looks like it was thought up by a couple of drug-addled on-line kids -- and with a title from a B-grade movie -- comes the latest album by one of the great ignored/overlooked/wayward

Music at Elsewhere: music/1388/james-luther-dickinson-killers-from-space-memphis-elite-best-of-elsewhere-2007/

James McCann: Where Was I Then (Torn and Frayed/Border)

McCann was once in the Australian rock band the Drones who get my vote for their great album title: Wait Long By The River & The Bodies Of Your Enemies Will Float By. (Don't we wish?) The Drones m

Tagged with: felice brothers | james mccann | james mcmurtry | wilco |

Music at Elsewhere: music/927/james-mccann-where-was-i-then-torn-and-frayed-border/

TOM RUSSELL INTERVIEWED: The stories he could tell

Julio Gonzalez was pumped up and crazy when he was tossed out of the Happy Land Social Club in the Bronx in mid-March 1990. He was 36, unemployed and had been in the States for only 10 years after arr

Absolute Elsewhere: absoluteelsewhere/1845/tom-russell-interviewed-the-stories-he-could-tell/

BEST OF ELSEWHERE 2008: Ryan Bingham: Mescalito (Lost Highway)

We live and we learn -- and I have been living and relearning by repeat plays of this exceptional debut by someone called Ryan Bingham of whom I know nothing. And in a way, I'm grateful he has lived w

Music at Elsewhere: music/1516/best-of-elsewhere-2008-ryan-bingham-mescalito-lost-highway/

Tom Russell: Mesabi (Proper)

Although American singer-songwriter Tom Russell's name isn't as widely known as that of Joe Ely, Townes Van Zandt and others, his songs have been covered by Johnny Cash, Peter Case, Iris DeMent and ma

Music at Elsewhere: music/4449/tom-russell-mesabi-proper/

Jimmy LaFave: Cimmaron Manifesto (Red House/Elite)

Austin-based singer-songwriter LaFave has perhaps covered too many Dylan songs in his long career (usually very well indeed it must be said) so it's amusing to find on this album he shifts his sights

Tagged with: guy clark | james mcmurtry | jimmy lafave |

Music at Elsewhere: music/1237/jimmy-lafave-cimmaron-manifesto-red-house-elite/

Barry Saunders: Far As The Eye Can See (Ode)

More than just a compilation of tracks from his various albums and radio sessions (including some from his excellent Zodiac album), this collection of songs by country-inflected singer-songwriter Saun

Music at Elsewhere: music/3746/barry-saunders-far-as-the-eye-can-see-ode/

Drive-By Truckers: Brighter than Creation's Dark (2008)

Now more than two decades into their impressive career -- and with more than two dozen live and studio albums behind them -- the Drive-By Truckers out of Athens in Georgia inspire passionate loyalty f

Essential Elsewhere: essentialelsewhere/1489/drive-by-truckers-brighter-than-creations-dark-2008/

Greg Brown: Freak Flag (YepRoc)

When you get to your 24th album you probably aren't expecting a major breakthrough in terms of having a whole new audience find you. And nothing on this fine album sounds like either a departure, or c

Music at Elsewhere: music/4239/greg-brown-freak-flag-yeproc/

THE BARGAIN BUY: Wilco, Wilco (the Album)

Although widely regarded one of the great rock bands Wilco -- the vehicle for singer-songwriter Jeff Tweedy -- had its origins in the Illinois-based band Uncle Tupelo which drew from post-punk rock an

The Bargain Buy: bargainbuy/3029/the-bargain-buy-wilco-wilco-the-album/

Justin Townes Earle: Harlem River Blues (Bloodshot/Southbound)

Over three previous albums this son of Steve (and named for Townes Van Zandt) has cut an increasingly confident path with originals which are nominally country-Americana but refer to alt.rock, bluegra

Music at Elsewhere: music/3526/justin-townes-earle-harlem-river-blues-bloodshot-southbound/

Shane Nicholson: Familiar Ghosts (Liberation)

Anyone who heard the exceptional alt.country Rattlin' Bones album by Australians Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson of last year (one of the Best of Elsewhere 2008 albums) -- or better still caught th

Tagged with: james mcmurtry | kasey chambers | richmond fontaine | willie nelson |

Music at Elsewhere: music/2145/shane-nicholson-familiar-ghosts-liberation/

Rodney Crowell: The Houston Kid (Sugar Hill)

Rodney Crowell's star has been in steady decline since the 80s and now the former son-in-law of Johnny Cash and rockin' country singer-songwriter is on the same minor label as Dolly Parton who also se

Tagged with: james mcmurtry | johnny cash | rodney crowell |

Music at Elsewhere: music/1866/rodney-crowell-the-houston-kid-sugar-hill/

John Prine and Mac Wiseman: Standard Songs for Average People (Oh Boy)

Elsewhere has never pretended to be fashionable, and this one certainly ain't. Two salty old pals just a-sittin' and a-playin' a bunch of tunes from their back pages: Bob Wills' Don't Be Ashamed of Yo

Music at Elsewhere: music/1179/john-prine-and-mac-wiseman-standard-songs-for-average-people-oh-boy/

The Wronglers with Jimmie Dale Gilmore: Heirloom Music (Neanderthal)

Jimmie Dale Gilmore possesses one of the most distinctive voices and when deployed on lachrymose ballads he can tear your heart out. But this is an odd and old time project, Gilmore out front of a ban

Music at Elsewhere: music/4240/the-wronglers-with-jimmie-dale-gilmore-heirloom-music-neanderthal/

BILLY BRAGG INTERVIEWED ABOUT WOODY GUTHRIE (1998): Woody'n'Wilco and rude'n'boozy songs

From the rollicking singalong which opens the new Mermaid Avenue album by Billy Bragg, you know something is different. There’s Bragg and the American band Wilco in a swaggering tale of looking

Absolute Elsewhere: absoluteelsewhere/3209/billy-bragg-interviewed-about-woody-guthrie-1998-woodynwilco-and-rudenboozy-songs/

The Flatlanders: Hills and Valleys (New West)

The great Flatlanders from West Texas - Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock, each one a name in their own right -- record together so infrequently that every album (they average one a decad

Music at Elsewhere: music/2381/the-flatlanders-hills-and-valleys-new-west/

BONFIRE OF ROADMAPS by JOE ELY (2008)

Joe Ely who grew up in Lubbock, West Texas (Buddy Holly's hometown) is something of a legend in Americana/alt.country rock: he was on the road in the early 70s hitching around to play gigs far and wid

Writing at Elsewhere: writingelsewhere/2025/bonfire-of-roadmaps-by-joe-ely-2008/

John Prine: In Person and On Stage (Oh Boy)

The great John Prine falls somewhere between folk and country, but also has a rare downbeat sense of humour and his wry observations have always elevated his albums. Here on a collection of live track

Music at Elsewhere: music/3480/john-prine-in-person-and-on-stage-oh-boy/

THE MOTEL LIFE, a novel by WILLY VLAUTIN

This dark and depressing novel is an impressive debut by Vlautin, the frontman and songwriter for the American alt.country band Richmond Fontaine whose music is, unfortunately, little known here. The

Tagged with: james mcmurtry | richmond fontaine | willie vlautin |

Writing at Elsewhere: writingelsewhere/1802/the-motel-life-a-novel-by-willy-vlautin/

Patterson Hood: Murdering Oscar and other love songs (Shock)

One of the mainmen in Elsewhere favourites Drive-By Truckers, Patterson Hood here weighs in with the second solo outing under his own name which stalks similar musical territory as the Truckers (alt.c

Tagged with: drive by truckers | james mcmurtry | neil young | patterson hood |

Music at Elsewhere: music/2502/patterson-hood-murdering-oscar-and-other-love-songs-shock/

The Felice Brothers: Celebration, Florida (Spunk)

While it's interesting to read in a promo slip that this new album by the so-far fascinating Felice Brothers "casts scenes of dreamy characters and stories interwoven like a block of primetime TV

Music at Elsewhere: music/4096/the-felice-brothers-celebration-florida-spunk/

Various Artists: Introducing Townes Van Zandt via the Great Unknown (For the Sake of the Song)

The late Van Zandt is hardly the little-known cult artist he once was: there are many tribute albums (Steve Earle most recently) and his estate must coin it in from all the covers alt.country artists

Music at Elsewhere: music/2958/various-artists-introducing-townes-van-zandt-via-the-great-unknown-for-the-sake-of-the-song/

Hyacinth House: Black Crows' Country (Phantom)

Very belated acknowledgement of an album that was recorded in 2007, came out Stateside in 2008 (to little fanfare) but to the best of my knowledge only appeared in New Zealand in late 2009. This dark,

Music at Elsewhere: music/2797/hyacinth-house-black-crows-country-phantom/

Joe Ely: Streets of Sin (Rounder)

Ely from the flatlands of West Texas offers a triple threat: a memorable leathery twang cured in tequila, the paraffin soul of a rocker in the clothes of a Tex-Mex country singer, and a connection to

Music at Elsewhere: music/2028/joe-ely-streets-of-sin-rounder/

Warren Zevon, The Wind

The late Warren Zevon was a self-destructive guy - throwing himself down stairs while in the grip of the demon drink was one of his things - but this Jekyll and Hyde of sunny California in the 80s, wh

Music at Elsewhere: music/2774/warren-zevon-the-wind/

Guy Clark: Somedays the Song Writes You (Dualtone)

Now in his late 60s -- he turned 68 in November -- this great Texas singer-songwriter is sounding very weak'n'weary in these 10 co-writes and his cover of Townes Van Zandt's If I Needed You. And that

Music at Elsewhere: music/2721/guy-clark-somedays-the-song-writes-you-dualtone/

Drive-By Truckers: Go-Go Boots (ATO)

Despite doing well on the charts, the last album by the Truckers -- The Big To-Do -- was a disappointment: perhaps the knocked-off-quickly feel worked against it, you wouldn't attribute it directly to

Music at Elsewhere: music/4133/drive-by-truckers-go-go-boots-ato/

THE BARGAIN BUY: Warren Zevon; The Original Album Series (Rhino)

Singer songwriter Warren Zevon (1947- 2003) was a different one alright. When he emerged in LA in the mid Seventies he was like the anti-Jackson Browne: he was the anthesis of those mellow singer-song

The Bargain Buy: bargainbuy/3020/the-bargain-buy-warren-zevon-the-original-album-series-rhino/

Barry Saunders: Zodiac (Ode)

By my count this is Saunders' fifth solo album, and is by far the strongest from the Warratah frontman. He reaches to the Phoenix Foundation for a downhome(ly) remake of their Going Fishing and his ow

Tagged with: james mcmurtry | paul kelly | phoenix foundation | tony joe white |

Music at Elsewhere: music/2031/barry-saunders-zodiac-ode/

Lucinda Williams: West (2007)

Although saturated in the sadness which had affected her in the years before this album's recording -- the break-up of a relationship, the death of her mother -- it would be unwise to presume that eve

Tagged with: best of elsewhere 2007 | bill frisell | james mcmurtry | lucinda williams |

Essential Elsewhere: essentialelsewhere/1059/lucinda-williams-west-2007/

Kurt Vile: Smoke Ring For My Halo (Matador)

The captivatingly named rock troubadour Vile from Philadelphia offers a kind of alt.folk-cum-indie rock skew which refers to Cohen as much as Cobain. But he also has an ear for a mainstream rock melod

Music at Elsewhere: music/4164/kurt-vile-smoke-ring-for-my-halo-matador/

Blanche: Little Amber Bottles (LooseMusic/Shock)

Think Johnny Cash duetting with Nancy Sinatra; think alt.country from Detroit with Gothic overtones; think Nick Cave with a backwoods twang . . . This band out of the Motor City USA has a real country

Tagged with: james mcmurtry | johnny cash | pines | the handsome family |

Music at Elsewhere: music/1413/blanche-little-amber-bottles-loosemusic-shock/

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (Shock)

It's instructive but perhaps unfair to put this album from the former member of Drive By Truckers alongside their most recent album, The Big To-Do: after a flawed solo debut Sirens of the Ditch in 07

Music at Elsewhere: music/3024/jason-isbell-and-the-400-unit-jason-isbell-and-the-400-unit-shock/

John Prine: The Missing Years (1991)

Around the time in the early 90s when he went from cult figure to frontline, American singer-songwriter John Prine got a nice kiss-off line to his entry in the Penguin Encyclopedia of Popular Music: &

Essential Elsewhere: essentialelsewhere/2043/john-prine-the-missing-years-1991/

Andrew Bird: Armchair Apocrypha (Spunk) BEST OF ELSEWHERE 2007

Years ago this Chicago singer-songwriter-violinist helmed his band Bowl of Fire through strange back-alleys of music which referred to blues and jazz of the 20s, circuses and travelling shows, low-ren

Music at Elsewhere: music/1132/andrew-bird-armchair-apocrypha-spunk-best-of-elsewhere-2007/

The Duke and the King: Nothing Good Can Stay (Shock)

The singer-songwriter behind this gorgeously tuneful, lyrically probing debut is Simone Felice of the terrific Felice Brothers, two times Best of Elsewhere artists (2007, 2008) for their amalgam of ra

Music at Elsewhere: music/2560/the-duke-and-the-king-nothing-good-can-stay-shock/

Eric Andersen: Blue Rain: Live (Appleseed/Elite)

After four decades as a troubadour, Andersen has finally got round to recording a live album -- but he has done it with typically wilfulness: he hooked up with a Norwegian blues band and recorded it i

Blues at Elsewhere: blues/1397/eric-andersen-blue-rain-live-appleseed-elite/

STEVE EARLE INTERVIEWS (2004, 2002): A hero on the homefront . . . and relevant album reviews

By 2004, Steve Earle could reflect on a career and life which had been one of the most extraordinary in American music. He crashed into country music with his 1986 classic rockin' country album Guitar

Absolute Elsewhere: absoluteelsewhere/459/steve-earle-interviews-2004-2002-a-hero-on-the-homefront-and-relevant-album-reviews/

Bob Dylan: Jet Pilot (1965)

Although things would come to a literal grinding halt in mid '66 when he was tumbled from his motorcycle -- and he used the break to recover from emotional exhaustion after his lightspeed career of th

From the Vaults: fromthevaults/4075/bob-dylan-jet-pilot-1965/

Ray LaMontagne: Till The Sun Turns Black (Sony)

Singer/songwriter LaMontagne is a reclusive type whose previous album Trouble of two years ago was a critical favourite and even managed to sell around a quarter of a million copies. Not bad for an un

Music at Elsewhere: music/950/ray-lamontagne-till-the-sun-turns-black-sony/

Steve Earle: Washington Square Serenade (NewWest/Elite)

A decade after Bob Dylan washed up in Greenwich Village, Steve Earle left his home in Texas and started on the same journey -- inspired, he admits, by the cover photo on The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan whi

Music at Elsewhere: music/1328/steve-earle-washington-square-serenade-newwest-elite/

Tom Russell: Blood and Candle Smoke (Proper/Southbound)

Tom Russell is a cinematic singer-songwriter whose storytelling is compelling, and whose whisky’n’grit vocals can take you to the heart of Tex-Mex territory. The poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti

Music at Elsewhere: music/2670/tom-russell-blood-and-candle-smoke-proper-southbound/

Joe Ely: Satisfied at Last (Rack 'Em Records/Southbound)

The very good news is that the great Joe Ely -- who has delivered a few patchy albums in the past decade -- doesn't sound at all "satisfied" as the album's title would suggest. In fact from

Music at Elsewhere: music/4259/joe-ely-satisfied-at-last-rack-em-records-southbound/

Jeffrey Foucault: Ghost Repeater (Signature)

Not sure where this album has been -- it was recorded in 2005 and released in the rest of the world the following year - but it has just turned up in my letterbox. Produced by Bo Ramsey (a hallmark of

Music at Elsewhere: music/1526/jeffrey-foucault-ghost-repeater-signature/

Greg Fleming: Taken (LucaDiscs/Rhythmethod)

The excellent liner notes by New Zealand's Greg Fleming (with lyrics and reflections on the genesis of these songs) tell their own story about why Taken never appeared in '95 after the excellent Ghost

Music at Elsewhere: music/3292/greg-fleming-taken-lucadiscs-rhythmethod/

Bruce Springsteen; Nebraska (1982)

From this distance it is hard to remember just how huge Springsteen was in the late 70s and early 80s: these days disco and punk/new wave get more pages in rock history books, but Bruce Springsteen de

Essential Elsewhere: essentialelsewhere/787/bruce-springsteen-nebraska-1982/

Various: Wounded Heart of America; Tom Russell Songs (Hightone)

Some weeks ago I was invited to give a talk about some of my favourite music to a group of people in someone's home. It was a very pleasant night and the first few things I played were either by the A

Music at Elsewhere: music/1339/various-wounded-heart-of-america-tom-russell-songs-hightone/

The Pines: Tremolo (Red House/Ode)

Quite why the Pines -- who are Branson, the son of the legendary singer-songwriter Bo Ramsey, and David Huckfelt -- didn't get more alt.country/indie.rock traction with their excellent Sparrows in the

Music at Elsewhere: music/2678/the-pines-tremolo-red-house-ode/

Drive-By Truckers: Ugly Buildings, Whores and Politicians; Greatest Hits 1998-2009 (New West)

Those who have missed the career of Drive-By Truckers out of Athens, Georgia are advised to just dive in at their Southern Rock Opera of a decade ago (which gets four of the 16 tracks on this chronolo

Music at Elsewhere: music/4438/drive-by-truckers-ugly-buildings-whores-and-politicians-greatest-hits-1998-2009-new-west/

Greg Brown and Dream City: Essential Recordings Vol 2 1997-2006 (Red House)

This extraordinary singer-songwriter-poet appeared at Elsewhere previously with his much recommended Evening Call album although at the time I noted an excellent starting point if he was new to you wa

Tagged with: bruce springsteen | greg brown | guy clark | james mcmurtry |

Music at Elsewhere: music/2499/greg-brown-and-dream-city-essential-recordings-vol-2-1997-2006-red-house/

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Dig Lazarus Dig (Mute)

My guess is that by this time in his career (and your life) you are either for Cave or couldn't care less. If you are with him but have your critical radar alert you might not concur with the extreme

Music at Elsewhere: music/1531/nick-cave-and-the-bad-seeds-dig-lazarus-dig-mute/

Alejandro Escovedo: The Boxing Mirror (Back Porch/EMI)

When you see that John Cale, formerly of The Velvet Underground, has produced an album you tend to take notice: he helmed the stunning debuts by Patti Smith, The Stooges and Modern Lovers, and down th

Tagged with: alejandro escovedo | james mcmurtry | john cale | ry cooder |

Music at Elsewhere: music/850/alejandro-escovedo-the-boxing-mirror-back-porch-emi/

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Matt Langley

Matt Langley from Dunedin, New Zealand is one of the smaller but brightest lights on the musical landscape. His debut EP Lost Companions was critically well received but his album Featherbones showed

The Famous Elsewhere Questionnaire: thefamouselsewherequestionnaire/4012/the-famous-elsewhere-questionnaire-matt-langley/

John Fogerty: Revival (Fantasy)

Now back on his original label after decades of litigation, animosity and a refusal to play the Creedence Clearwater Revival hits that made his repuation, Fogerty sounds like a man at peace with himse

Tagged with: creedence clearwater revival | james mcmurtry | john fogerty | vietnam war |

Music at Elsewhere: music/1361/john-fogerty-revival-fantasy/

Caroline Herring, Lantana (Signature)

To my embarrassment I admit to never having heard of this alt.country singer-songwriter, now onto (I think) her third album. Apparently she won the best new artist award at Austin's South X Southwest

Music at Elsewhere: music/1563/caroline-herring-lantana-signature/

BEST OF ELSEWHERE 2010 Ryan Bingham and the Dead Horses: Junky Star (Lost Highway)

The name "Ryan Bingham" has been getting a lot of eartime recently -- it was the name of George Clooney's character in the movie Up in the Air. But more importantly in the real world it belo

Music at Elsewhere: music/3377/best-of-elsewhere-2010-ryan-bingham-and-the-dead-horses-junky-star-lost-highway/

The Pines: Sparrows in the Bell (Elite)

If these young guys had been around 35 years ago and come out with this album they would have been pegged as yet another "new Dylan". And even now that's a tag they would seem happy with: th

Music at Elsewhere: music/1387/the-pines-sparrows-in-the-bell-elite/

Caroline Herring: Golden Apples of the Sun (Ode)

The previous album by this Atlanta-based singer-songwriter, Lantana of last year, was a revelation: her crystalline vocals conjured up the purity of Joan Baez but her sometimes dark subject matter too

Music at Elsewhere: music/2693/caroline-herring-golden-apples-of-the-sun-ode/

Guy Clark: Songs and Stories (Dualtone)

Although the smart money would have been against his longevity, here is the road-worn troubadour Guy Clark -- 70 in November 2011 -- working his way through exactly what it says on the box, singing hi

Music at Elsewhere: music/4493/guy-clark-songs-and-stories-dualtone/

GUY CLARK INTERVIEWED (1989): Close to the chest and heart

In a way it almost doesn’t matter if you don’t know who Guy Clark is -- Bono and the rest of U2 do. Not only do they attend his concerts (and a month ago, when Clark was in Dublin for a te

Absolute Elsewhere: absoluteelsewhere/3295/guy-clark-interviewed-1989-close-to-the-chest-and-heart/

Steve Earle: I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive (New West)

Perhaps because there is already so much Steve Earle in the world -- this is his 14th studio album by my account -- there is very little frisson of delight or surprise coming from this album. Little E

Music at Elsewhere: music/4172/steve-earle-ill-never-get-out-of-this-world-alive-new-west/

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