Leading into the Labor Day weekend in the U.S., here’s the list of new releases for the week of September 1st, 2009. The artist’s names link to their websites or MySpace pages and the CD title links go to either Amazon or CD Baby for easy ordering.
SAM BAKER – Cotton (Music Road)
This brilliently sensative songwriter completes his trilogy of while albums. Cotton’s biggest shift is the fuller accompaniment that empowers Baker’s ballads, especially Steve Conn’s piano and the electric guitar growl of “Palestine I,” but his poignancy emerges best in the soft lullaby of “Moon” and unshakable loss of “Angel Hair.” Recommended.
CROSS CANADIAN RAGWEED – Happiness And All The Other Things (Universal South)
Popular rockin’ band from Texas recorded their 6th album in L.A.
TIM EASTON – Porcupine (New West)
Easton’s last three albums were based in folk with a mostly acoustic palette and a lighter touch. This one’s got sharper sonic edges: serrated guitar licks, bristly vocals and roiling grooves. It’s the closest thing to a rock band he’s had behind him in a good long while.
RADNEY FOSTER - Revival (Devil’s River)
Revival emerged when the Texas native plunged into the rolling waters of change–his father’s death and the end of his twelve-year, 5,000-mile separation from his son–and came up with renewed conviction. It’s his rockinest CD since his days with Foster & Lloyd.
REVEREND HORTON HEAT – Laughin’ and Cryin’ (Yep Roc)
“I really wanted to capture the feelings of recordings of the late ’50s, early ’60s,” The Rev said of the songs on the new record. It marks a detour from the hard driving punkabilly of the Rev’s last record, 2004’s Revival, this time tending toward honk… look for a record full of country-heavy tunes about bad habits, well-meaning but clueless husbands, ever-expanding beer-guts and, well, Texas.
PORTERDAVIS – Porterdavis (Roots ‘N’ Blues)
American Roots & Blues, as their label says This trio features Amped Harmonica, Slide, Electric & Acoustic Guitar and Multi-Percussionist.
SHOTGUN PARTY – Mean Old Way (self released)
They swing old school jazz right on into old school country, with rapturous results. The songs are all original, and they’re from Austin.
LINZAY YOUNG & JOEL SAVOY – Linzay Young & Joel Savoy (Valcour)
The two have been playing cajun music together for over 15 years. Having learned to fiddle side by side at the Savoy Music Center Saturday morning jam session they share a remarkable musical connection that is uncanny at times. In this recording, their first as a duo, they pay tribute to their musical heroes from around the Eunice, LA area where they grew up.
…coming soon: JASON EADY, JAMES HAND, TOM RUSSELL, THE BAND OF HEATHENS, CHRIS KNIGHT… more new releases.
Here’s a link to this week’s Americana Music Association’s Americana Airplay Chart
Bill Frater
Freight Train Boogie
Show #37 features the new CD by the HOT CLUB OF COWTOWN called Wishful Thinking. Also new songs from MADISON VIOLET, CAM PENNER and FLOUNDERS WITHOUT EYES. The full playlist is posted below. Here’s the 
CATIE CURTIS
MADISON VIOLET
Here’s the list of new releases for the week of August 25th, 2009. The artist’s names link to their websites or MySpace pages and the CD title links go to either 
Show #36 features the new CD by PAUL BURCH called I’m Your Man. Also new songs from BETH WOOD, TWO TONS OF STEEL and THE BOTTLE ROCKETS. The full playlist is posted below. Here’s the 
BUSKIN & BATTEAU
Show #35 features the new CD by KIERAN KANE called Somewhere Beyond The Roses. Also new songs from GUY CLARK, KATE REDGATE and STILLHOUSE HOLLOW. The full playlist is posted below. Here’s the 
SCOTT WARREN
Show #34 features the new CD from RICK SHEA called Shelter Valley Blues. Also new songs from BETTY SOO, JUBAL LEE YOUNG and THE WIYOS. The full playlist is posted below. Here’s the 
RICK SHEA
RICK SHEA
