I admit it - I've got different tastes, and lately it's been mostly Red Dirt/Americana. Every now an then a song hits me that I can't not listen to. This group of songs are from artists that may not be that well known - most have zero likelihood of ever getting air play - and from artists with a limited appeal. Many of these are 'loss and longing', dark times and hard life, with a little romance mixed in just because. Word of mouth is how this music spreads. So I'm doing my part, please do yours - listen to the music, link the post, or share the playlist.
Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2hLieB23m1LolOjTGkGd9g
Broken Window Serenade - Whiskey Myers
Possibly the saddest song I've heard, and there are several pretty sad ones in this list. Put this is the same group as "Winter's Bone" - the breakout movie for Jennifer Lawrence.
Boulder to Birmingham - The Fray feat. Emmylou Harris
Anything Emmylou Harris does is at least OK, and any version she does of this classic is, well, a classic. The Fray's Isaac Slade captures the feeling perfectly, and has one of the better harmonies with Emmylou that I've heard.
Carlisle's Haul - James McMurtry.
McMurtry has always written about people living a working life, and he paints with his words. Even if you've never been around commercial fishermen, you can get a sense of the challenges from one song.
It ain't over yet - Rodney Crowell
Aside from the fact that Crowell has been one of the most enduring songwriters in Nashville, he's also one helluva singer. It ain't over yet was written for his friend Guy Clark, but it could just as well be autobiographical. John Paul White and Roseanne Cash provide their excellent voices on this track. Catch the music video on youtube as well.
The devil wears a suit and tie - Colter Wall
Colter Wall is one of the new generation of Canadian artists. He's a kid still in his 20s, but sounds like he's lived a long life of whiskey and smokes.
Knockin' over Whiskeys - Hayes Carll
Not exactly new on the Americana/Texas music scene, Carll is mostly unknown to the larger music audience. He writes of people and situations, fun and heartbreak. And often with a wry sense of humor.
The Bird Hunters - Turnpike Troubadours
Possibly the only song ever written about shotguns, broken romance, buddies and dogs that isn't a murder ballad. Felker and friends did great job selling the story.
Nobody's Girl - Reckless Kelly
One of my all time favorite bands, and a great track from them. "first man that you ever loved, left your mama, never said goodbye to anyone".
Pearl Snaps - Jason Boland & The Stragglers
Cheap bourbon whiskey and pearl snap shirts. What could be more iconic?
Homeless - Buffalo Gospel
This Milwaukee band is on its way up.
Down to the River - Darrell Scott
I usually avoid songs that 'pay homage' to other artists. I'll make an exception in this case for a couple of reasons. First, it's not just a shout-out, it's about the music. Second, the spoken word clip of Guy Clark toward the very end of his life is priceless art.
Hands of time - Margo Price
Price, Musgraves, Carlisle, among others are rewriting the country music theme. The country DJs and programmers just haven't figured it out yet.
Andy - Ashley McBryde
It's a mushy country love song, but I like it. Girl going nowhere also deserves to be on this list, but I limited it to one per artist. And any song that talks about 'using my good towels on the dog' is worth a listen.
Like Patsy Would - Lori McKenna
Again, I hate country music shoutouts. She captures what 70 years of singers have tried to do here: "Write it down like Hemingway, like it's the last damn thing I'll ever say, and sing it like Patsy would."
Me and Willie - Emmylou Harris
I kept trying to figure out why I didn't know this song. As it turns out, it's only featured on the remastered version of Luxury Liner, released in 2004. And surprisingly, it's not one she wrote. A woman named Laurie Hyde-Smith wrote it, as far as I've found, the only song she's had recorded.
Emmylou does her usual amazing job of delivering the pain and heartache in these lyrics, and the longing to be back in that world.
Jolene - Ray LeMontagne
"Cocaine flame in my bloodstream, sold my coat when I hit Spokane..." Not exactly the Dolly Parton lyrics of two women competing for a man. This is yet another 'loss and pain' song.
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