Around town tonight: ► Belter Erika Wennerstrom and Heartless Bastards hit the Echoplex behind their new album "Arrows," with David Vandervelde and Brian Lopez supporting. ► The Far West bring their twangy stylings to the Echo, with Jackson Tanner and Geronimo Getty opening. ► Bronze Swagger bring their funky psych-pop to the Bootleg Bar, heading up a big local lineup that includes Escalator Hill, Dylan Trees and Song Preservation Society. Also: [...]
The Far West recently released their debut self-titled album that our man Rune couldn't shower enough praises on . Now they've released a video for Bitter Drunk & Cold. The video has a perfect classic country aesthetic to match the album's sound. Get your eyes and ears on this:
What do you do when the opening song of your great debut album features a cynical, world weary refrain like, "This town had made me / Bitter, drunk and cold"? You make a music video with the brightest colors and costumes possible, of course! And most of all, you make sure your lead singer is front-and-center in a snazzy teal vintage Western shirt (provided by Nudie's Rodeo Tailor ). Makes sense, right? That's what the Far West has done with its brand new music video for "Bitter, Drunk & Cold," directed [...]
When we started our New Artists, Old Songs series back in 2008, the goal was to feature otherwise-unknown artists who were just starting to hit the proverbial radar. And though we still try to balance ourselves between the new and the longstanding - knowing that introduction of the new and reframing of the familiar better serve us all if grounded in the depths of history, concerned that the temptation to tip into the world of mere promo passalong could trap us yet - since then, we've returned to the premise numerous times, cautiously optimistic about that [...]
Last month I asked if you guys would be interested in a monthly Ninebullets Spotify playlist. You seemed pretty responsive to the idea so here is the first one. This playlist features every band that was featured on ninebullets in the month of January that was also on Spotify. I hope you enjoy it and if you do, pass it along to some friends. Like I keep saying, every new pair of ears these bands reach is a potential fan/head at show. This month's playlist features: Lauderdale, Ryan Adams, Jason Isbell, The Far West, Will Hoge, [...]
Here are 50 songs that defined 2011 for me. Listen. Enjoy. Tell me what you think. And yep, that's my ugly mug on the cover. Given and Taken in Ink's Top 50 Songs of 2011 from gtimusic on 8tracks . Here's the playlist: 1. Wilco - One Sunday Morning (Song for Jane Smiley's Boyfriend) 2. City Reign - Anywhere Anyway 3. The Mountain Goats - Never Quite Free 4. Zaac Pick - Whitewater 5. Yuck - Holing Out [...]
New mix for December 2011/January 2012 on 8tracks.com : Given and Taken in Ink - Winter 2011/2012 from gtimusic on 8tracks . All of the songs on this list have either been featured on GTI or are due for a post. Whether I actually get around to writing all these posts is a matter of speculation, but in case I don't, at least you get to hear the songs. " Whitewater " is my wife's favorite song of 2011, and " Poorboy " is my [...]
Gotta love the Far West . Not only did the band release one of my favorite records of 2011 , but the guys have just recently recorded a stellar cover of Roxy Music's 1982 hit "More Than This." Yes, THAT "More Than This"...the one whose video had Bryan Ferry dancing amidst tiny fires on stage. Oh, and the leather-jacket-and-bowtie outfit. Epic! People need to start wearing bowties with leather jackets. Hmm, I am overdue for a New Year's resolution... Anyway, the Far West eschew all the 80s-ness of "More Than [...]
Life as a music blogger can get pretty frustrating. A lot of bands and artists send you their stuff either through the mail, via email or Reviewshine. Music they've worked on, and spent a lot of money recording. Music is subjective, but to be honest - a lot of the stuff I get to hear is really not that good. Thankfully I write about music in genres in and around alt. country and americana, where there are a lot more good bands than let's say mainstream pop. But after sifting through 30-40-50 new albums, and finding utter crap [...]
I've been thinking a lot about the list-making process. Someone recently asked me: What is the purpose of making a list? My initial reaction - because it's fun - is actually somewhat shallow. Is it really? Yeah, probably...somewhat...maybe? But if so, still: Why? In listening to me think out loud about this, my wife commented that she doesn't make lists for fun. Why, then? "To keep myself sane. To make sure I don't forget things I need to do." In other words: To make order out of chaos. To provide structure to an unstructured world. As [...]
I'm not doing a "regular" top-list. I already made a top50 for my norwegian blog, and the selections just make me want to go hide in the forest until the new year is official and no-one cares about these lists anymore. SO - what I'm doing for Ninebullets is picking some of my favorite albums among the more unknown artists out there... Obviously I loved Isbells "Here We Rest", Adams "Ashes & Fire", Gillians "The Harrow and The Harvest" and even Paul Simons beautiful "So Beautiful Or So What". But I also loved these albums, [...]
![Review: The Far West [2011]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/3697242_lg.jpg)
I'm probably the least-qualified person to review country music. I grew up in the Northeast and the majority of my exposure to country has been to 1990s/2000s/2010s mainstream artists, most of whom I consider to be nauseatingly awful. However, as with most genres with a mainstream scene, there is an equally vibrant counter-scene. In the 1960s and 1970s, it was called "outlaw country," comprised of artists like Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Townes Van Zandt. It grew out of the revolutionary spirit of that time, pursued by artists who wanted to write their own music, in their own [...]
Buzz Bands
Nine Bullets
Given and Taken in Ink
Cover Me
Cover Lay Down
The orchestra is dreaming
American Idol Finalists: where are they now?
