Now that the Austin City Limits Music Festival is over, it’s time to jump into a pile of new releases. With the holiday season fast approaching – and it’s coming faster than ever considering the Christmas decorations I saw at Lowe’s this week – lots of Geezerville favorites have hit the racks.
The story behind Rosanne Cash’s The List (Manhattan) might be more interesting than the music. When Cash turned 18, her father, Johnny, gave her a list of what he considered 100 essential American songs. Cash updates some of those, which fans of traditional country will immediately recognize, with considerable heart and the occasional new arrangement. She also duets with Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Jeff Tweedy, and Rufus Wainwright to make things even more interesting. A little too adult at times, but keeping these songs alive is a worthy endeavor.
Why no one thought to match the Southwestern sweep of Tom Russell with Calexico before is a mystery, especially after hearing Blood and Candle Smoke (Shout! Factory). Russell’s 20th album finds him stretching in new ways, and while musically inventive the revered singer-songwriter gets overly wordy at times. His subject matter remains unlike anyone else, covering Africa in the late Sixties, Nina Simone, Mother Jones, and other topics songwriters would never attempt. Fans of his brand of storytelling are sure to greedily lap this one up.
Toronto’s Elliott Brood has caused a bit of a stir after an appearance at last month’s Americana Convention in Nashville. Mountain Meadows (Six Shooter) is a concept album inspired by the 1857 massacre of 120 wagon train members by a Mormon militia in what was then the Utah Territory. Beyond that storyline, the trio’s LP recalls the heyday of alt.country, a burning mix of roots-rock, folk, and bluegrass that would make the like-minded Marah proud. They’re appearing at Emo’s Friday, Oct. 16.
Among the traditionalists lost in country music’s constant push for whatever’s approved by American Idol, Patty Loveless remains one of the genre’s purest singers. Mountain Soul II (Sagauro Road) isn’t a strict follow-up to her similarly titled 2001 release, but it’s just as tasteful and brimming with soul. A star-studded affair featuring turns by Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Del McCoury, and too many more to list, Loveless and producer/husband Emory Gordy, Jr. have crafted an impeccable mix of traditional and contemporary that might just be the best country disc you’ll hear this year.
Other recently released Geezer discs worth looking for: Sam Bush, Circles Around Me (Sugar Hill); Chris Smither, Time Stands Still (Signature Sounds); Cliff Eberhardt, 500 Miles (Red House); Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Speed of Life (NGDB); Adam Steffy, One More For the Road (Sugar Hill); and Various Artists, Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs Of Mark Mulcahy (Shout! Factory).E
This article appears in October 9 • 2009.