FAR Chart #142 is out, John Conquest, the chart compiler professed surprise that Rod Picott came out on top, but not me. My co-host on the WCOM show, Rick Cornell gave me the heads up on this CD so when it came in the mail I immediately threw it in the car CD player. Rod Picott manages to write songs that simultaneously feel deeply authentic and personal while speaking to something that’s universal. And his take on our current hard economic times is cliche’ free. So I’m glad to see him taking the top spot.

Two of my recent favorites tied for number 5. Tokyo Rosenthal’s Who Was That Man applies sees the modern world through the lens of a Western movie, and it works. Amazingly well. Toke’s got an eye for the dramatic. Bettysoo and Doug Cox turn in a set of singer-songwriter tunes which cover both the new and the traditional sounds of folk. But what makes them standout is how well the guitar work intertwines with and complements Bettysoo’s vocals. I’d love to see them perform live sometime. 

Mark Junger’s CD, More Like A God Dog Than A Bad Cat, is still going strong on the chart and still getting heavy rotation play from me. good blues/country crossover fare. 

And finally, I have to give props to The Border Blasters’ new CD, The Sun Sessions. I believe it is a studio produced CD, but this collection of songs are so easy-going and relaxed it has a back porch music vibe which I really really like.

#1 Rod Picott: Welding Burns (Welding Rod)
2 Eliza Gilkyson: Roses At The End Of Time (Red House)
3 Gal Holiday & The Honky Tonk Revue: Set Two (HTRP)
4 Amanda Shires: Carrying Lightning (self)
5= BettySoo & Doug Cox: Across The Borderline; Lie To Me (Borderline Talent)
Tokyo Rosenthal: Who Was That Man ( Rock & Socks)
6 The Sweetback Sisters: Looking For A Fight (Signature Sounds)
7 Mark Jungers: More Like A Good Dog Than A Bad Cat (American Rural)
8 Steve Earle: I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive (New West)
9= Michael Fracasso: Saint Monday (Little Fugi)
Owen Temple: Mountain Home (El Paisano) 
10 Border Blasters: The Sun Session (Boquillas)

Tweet

Love it love it love it.

I heard Johnny Cash played on the local Album Rock station earlier this week and I was happy to hear that even after his death ol’ J.C. can still pull some airplay. And this month’s FAR chart also proves the point. Johnny Cash comes in at number 5 on the chart with his From Memphis To Hollywood.

Gurf Morlix won a well deserved top spot on the chart with his Blaze Foley tribute CD. He’ll be touring the US along with the Blaze Foley documentary film. It’s a great story and a great set of songs. You can hear Gurf talk about this project on episode 22 of the Taproot Radio Podcast.

Gurf Morlix also produced the number 2 CD from Grant Peeples. I love the name of his CD, Okra and Ecclesiastes. The CD has some great song writing on it and some fine guitar work.

I’m glad to see the Great Recession Orchestra’s Texas Swing music getting good airplay on the charts too.

Marti Brom’s CD, Not For Nothin’s is still going strong after several months on the chart. She’s featured on episode 23 of the podcast.

Tweet

The FAR Chart #137 covers December 2010. It’ kinda falls under the shadow of the FAR &Away 2010 list that came out a few days ago. But it’s still interesting to take a look at it. Not surprising to see Marti Brom and Yvette Landry doing so well on the charts considering how the did so well on the FAR and Away list. But it warms my heart to see Mavis Staples still getting respect after several months on the chart. 

The two rising acts that have caught my ear recently are The Coal Porters and Paul Thorn.

The The Coal Porters first of all get props for having a cool band name that’s a pun. But they also play very nice bluegrass/string band music. And Paul Thorn‘s “Pimps and Preachers,” is destined to become a Bar Band  classic.

1       Martí Brom: Not For Nothin’ (Goofin’/Rips
2      The Great Recession Orchestra: Have You Ever Even Heard Of Milton Brown? (New Texas Swing)
3       Yvette Landry: Should Have Known (Soko)
4       JD McPherson: Signs And Signifiers (Hi Style)
5       Kimmie Rhodes: Miracles On Christmas Day (Sunbird)
6       Matt Urmy: Sweet Lonesome (Acklen)
7       Ted Russell Kamp, Get Back To The Land (Dualtone)
8       Dan Baker: Sad Song Junkie (self)
9=      Elvis Costello: National Ransom (Concord)
          The Secret Sisters (Beladroit)
10      DB Rielly: Love Potions And Snake Oil (Shut Up & Play!)
11=     Johanna Divine’s Mile High Rodeo (Taureau)
       Mavis Staples: You Are Not Alone (Anti-)
12=     VA: Garth Hudson Presents A Canadian Celebration Of The Band (Curve)
       Rusty Willoughby: Cobirds Unite (Spark & Shine)
13      Leyla Fences: Liars, Cheats & Fools (self)
14=     The Coal Porters: Durango (Prima)
       Tommy Corbett: Tonight I Ride (Roundhole) *
       Alicia McGovern: Words Through The Seasons (self) *
       VA: Coalminer’s Daughter; A Tribute To Loretta Lynn (Sony)
       Cedric Watson et Bijou Creole, Creole Moon: Live From The Blue Moon (Valcour)
15=     Chip Taylor & Carrie Rodriguez: The New Bye & Bye (Train Wreck)
       Paul Thorn: Pimps And Preachers (Perpetual Obscurity)
       Dale Watson; Carryin’ On (E1)

Tweet

1 Yvette Landry: Should Have Known (self)
2 Marti Brom: Not For Nothin’ (Goofin’/Ripsaw)
3 Caleb Klauder: Western Country (Quicksilver)
4 Eric Brace & Peter Cooper: Master Sessions (Red Beet)
5 DB Rielly: Love Potions And Snake Oil (Shut Up & Play!)
6 Marty Stuart: Ghost Train: The Studio B Sessions (Sugar Hill)
7 Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen: At Edward’s Barn (Rounder)
8 Whitey Morgan: self-titled (Bloodshot)
9 Halden Wofford & The Hi Beams: Sinners & Saints (self)
10 The Honey Dewdrops: These Old Roots (self)
11 Mavis Staples: You Are Not Alone (Anti-)
12 Lucky Tomblin Band: Honky Tonk Merry Go Round (Texas World)
Elizabeth McQueen: The Laziest Girl In Town (Freedom)
13 Justin Townes Earle: Harlem River Blues (Bloodshot)
Leyla Fences: Liars, Cheats & Fools (self)
14 Peter Cooper: The Lloyd Green Album (Red Beet)
15 Amber Digby & Justin Trevino: Keeping Up Appearances (Heart Of Texas)
Dale Watson; Carryin’ On (E1)
16 Southern Culture On The Skids: The Kudzu Ranch (Kudzu)
17 Leroy Stagger & The Wildflowers: Little Victories (Rebeltone)
18 The Chymical Wedding Of Joe Cassady And The West End Sound (Avenue A)
19 Ray Lamontagne & The Pariah Dogs: God Willin’ And The Creek Don’t Rise (RCA)
Raul Malo: Sinners & Saints (Fantasy)
20 Jimmy Bryson & The Weakerthans: The Falcon Lake Incident (Kelp)
Old 97′s: The Grand Theatre Volume 1 (New West)
Shinyribs: Well After Awhile (Nine Mile)
21 The Fabulous Ginn Sisters: You Can’t Take A Bad Girl Home (Lonesome Day
Max Stalling: Home To You (Blind Nello)
22 Los Lobos: Tin Can Trust (Proper)
Peter Rowan: Legacy (Compass)
23 Donna Beasley: Under The Rushes ( Bless Her Heart)
Tom Corbett: Tonight I Ride (Roundhole)
Bob Dylan: Whitmark Demos (Columbia/Legacy)
Brennen Leigh: The Box (self)
Boris McCutcheon & The Saltlicks: Wheel Of Life (Frog)
Red Horse (Red House)
Paul Thorn: Pimps And Preachers (Perpetual Obscurity)

I’m very happy to see Yvette Landry topping the FAR Chart #135. I’m stil enjoying her debut honky tonk CD and am playing it on the live show almost every week. Shes’ the featured artist on the Taproot Radio Podcast #15.

My top pick for the week was Paul Thorn‘s Pimps and Preachers. I can’t figure why it didn’t get any higher in the chart than 23. Hes a great songwriter and killer backup band. Maybenext month he’ll get some more apreciation. I posted his video “I Don’t Like Half the Folks I Love” to my site and it’s gotten more hits than just about any other video I’ve ever postes. So he’s got a fan base out there.

Caleb Klauder is still getting lots of love from the FAR reporters, coming in at number three. I interviewed him on episode 14 of the Taproot Radio Podcast. I’ glad to see his old school style of songwriting getting so much airplay. Almost makes radio feel civilized again. Almost.

I’m also excited to see Mavis Staples‘ coming in at 11 on the FAR chart. Don’t let the gospel based CD scare you away. It’s great music for anyone, bno matter your beliefs.

Lastly but definitely not leastly, Whitey Morgan‘s outlaw-country-revival is getting lots of airplay. I interviewed him on the most recent episode of the Taproot Radio Podcast and played several tracks from his self-titled CD.

Tweet

Freeform Americana Roots Chart:
1 Eilen Jewell: Butcher Holler, A Tribute to Loretta Lynn (Signature Sounds)
2 Les Sampou: Lonesomeville (self)
3 Asleep At The Wheel w/Leon Rausch: It’s a Good Day! (Bismeaux)
4 Los Lobos: Tin Can Trust (Proper) 
5 Bill Kirchen: Word To The Wise (Proper American)
6 Blaze Foley: Sittin’ By The Road (Lost Art)
7 The Blue Shadows: On The Floor Of Heaven (Bumstead)
8 Peter Case: Wig! (Yeproc) 
  Paul Thorn: Pimps And Preachers (Perpetual Obscurity) 
9 Terri Hendrix: Cry Till You Laugh (Willory) 
10 Cornell Hurd Band: A Bad Year For Love (Behemoth) 
11 Shinyribs: Well After Awhile (Nine Mile) 
12 Alejandro Escovedo: Street Songs Of Love (Concord)
   Mary Gauthier: The Foundling (Razor & Tie) 
   John Mellencamp: No Better Than This (Rounder) 
   Stone River Boys: Love On the Dial (Cow Island)
13 Amber Digby & Justin Trevino: Keeping Up Appearances (Heart Of Texas) 
   Tim O’Brien: Chicken & Egg (Howdy Skies)
14 Jimmy LaFave: Favorites (Music Road)
   Ray Stevens: We The People (clyde)
   Jimmy Webb: Just Across The River (E1Ent) 
15 Annita & The Starbombers: It’d Surprise You (Barn)
16 Tara Linda: Tortilla Western Serenade (Physalia)
   Red Horse (Red House)
17 Elizabeth Cook: Welder (31 Tigers)
   Fred Eaglesmith: Cha Cha Cha (Lonesome Day) 
   Miss Leslie: Wrong Is What I Do Best (Zero Label)
18 Ruth Moody: The Garden (Red House) 
   Kevin Welch: A Patch Of Blue Sky (Music Road) 
19 Sherry Austin: Love Still Remains (Barking Topiary) 
20 Merle Haggard: I Am What I Am (Vanguard)
   VA: Twistable Turnable Man: A Musical Tribute To The Songs Of Shel Silverstein (Sugar Hill)
21 Susan Cowsill: Lighthouse (Threadhead)
   Sally Spring: Made Of Stars (Sniffinpup) 
   Yarn: Come On In (Yarn Music) 
22 Audie Blaylock & Redline: Cryin Heart Blues (Rural Rhythm) 
   Eric Brace & Last Train Home: Six Songs (Red Beet) 
   Steve Connelly & The Lesser Gods: Every Monster (Sunshine Drenchy) 
   Nick Curran & The Lowlifes: Reform School Girl (Eclecto Groove)
   Jeff Daniels: Live At The Purple Rose (Boombadeeboom) 
   Gwyneth & Monko: Good Old Horse (self ) 
   Tom Jones: Praise & Blame (Lost Highway) 
   Caleb Klauder: Dangerous Mes & Poisonous Yous (self) *
   Caleb Klauder: Western Country (Quicksilver) 

There’s so much good news on the FAR chart, I hardly know where to begin.

For the first time in my recollection an artists has two CDs on the FAR chart simultaneously. Caleb Klauder‘s Dangerous Mes and Poisonous You’s and Western Country find a place on the chart. Each of these was named an “album of the month” pick by at least one of the reporting DJs. I’ve been enjoying both of these CDs and will be playing the hell out of Western Country on Taproot Radio over the next couple of months.

I’m happy to see Eilen Jewell‘s tribute to Loretta Lynn at the top of the of the charts because she’s such a great performer and has a fantastic voice. But John Conquest, the publisher of the FAR chart, made the comment that he would have preferred to see Les Sampou at the number one spot because her material is all original songs instead of covers. I have to agree. I’ve been enjoying Les Sampou’s CD Lonesomeville and she’s featured on Episode 13 of the Taproot Radio podcast so if you want to hear her discussing her music and some of the tracks on Lonesomeville, go listen to the podcast.

Gourds co-front man Kevin Russell has a solo project out using the stage name shinyribs. The blandly titled CD, Well After Awhile, is chock full of country funk goodness, happy string band music and even a musical hymn of sorts. It’s not exactly Gourds music, but it’s darn close and that’s a Good Thing.

I’m also glad to see the Stone River Boys are still on the FAR chart with their Love On The Dial CD. I’ve been playing this one for several months now and it never gets old. Great country soul crossover songs.

Tweet