News: Ray Wylie Hubbard talks about his upcoming movie

Yes that's right....movie. Now he's not starring in this movie (sadly, cause he would make a great cantankerous old cowboy), but he wrote the screenplay, and if it's anything like his music you know it's going to be fucking good. It's a late era western, set in 1911 and who did he get to star in it? Well 2 of my favorites Kris Kristofferson and Dwight Yoakam to name a couple. Also stars W. Earl Brown of Deadwood, and strangely.....Jason Priestly. I can not fucking wait for this movie.....it is the thing I am most excited about in 09!

Read more about The Last Rites Of Ransom Pride here

Now the reason for this post, is this great interview where RWH talks about the movie, and he then plays a song from the movie.....and damn I'm loving this song.....can't wait for his next album, whether it's a soundtrack to this movie or a real album.....can.....not.....wait!!!!

Todd Snider - Todd Sings Jerry Jeff

So here's the sister album to Todd Sings Kris. Basically it is of the same caliber, studio recordings Todd made available for his listserv/fan club the year following his Kristofferson tribute. Now Mr. Snider has stated many times that Jerry Jeff is a huge influence on him. In fact he has stated in one epic story how Jerry Jeff is actually the artist who influenced him to become a singer songwriter. Again not much to say about it, just a great tribute by an artist paying homage to one of his musical heroes. See Eighteen Minutes for more info. (Side note: 18minutes said there was artwork already, but the links were dead so I made new ones (love how this one turned out BTW). Also thanks to all the folks who sent this to me.)

MP3 @ 160

Todd Sings Jerry Jeff

Todd Snider - Todd Sings Kris

Todd Snider, always one to wear his influences on his sleeve, recorded this collection of Kristofferson songs in 2005 and made them available to members of his listserv/fan club. What you get here are sparse, studio quality, earnest tributes to one of Todd's musical heroes. There is really not much to say here, just that it's good, and if you don't have it you should. For more info see Eighteen Minutes.

MP3 @ 160

Todd Sings Kris

News: Neil Young, Todd Snider, and some upcoming releases

First off, notice I've added little reaction thingies to the bottom of each post. This is so you guys can let me know what you like or don't like so I can do more of what you like, and hopefully less of what you don't :). I also put a button there for people who don't care but still want to click a button....

OK, so remember back when I told you about the upcoming Neil Young Archives Blu-Ray only box? Well seems Warner Brothers decided they like money and now have a DVD version available, for a little less moneys too (well....$13).

Now on to other news. Todd Snider has announced his new album "The Excitement Plan" will be out in late April. He has also just put out Peace Queer the Movie available exclusively on his website for a mere 8 bucks. Download the movie and you will get 3 exclusive unreleased tracks bundled with it. Here is the trailer for Peace Queer The Movie:




So some upcoming and just released albums you folks might be interested in:
(OK So I started out linking everything up but quickly got tired of it...you guys know how to use google I'm sure :) )

Out Now
The Gourds - Haymaker!

Jan. 20th
Bon Iver - Blood Bank
Calexico - Live From Austin Texas (DVD)
Ben Nichols (of Lucero) - Last Pale Light In The West (Official Release)
North Mississippi All Stars - Do It Like We Used To Do It (Live)
Andrew Bird - Noble Beast

Jan. 27th
Bruce Springsteen - Working On A Dream
Mark Olson (of The Jayhawks) - Ready For The Flood
Buddy Holly - Down The Line: The Rarities

Feb. 3rd
Graham Nash - Reflections (Box Set)
Willie Nelson & Asleep at The Wheel - Willie and The Wheel
Heartless Bastards - The Mountain

Feb. 10th
Dan Auerbach (of The Black Keys) - Keep It Hid
Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique 20th Anniversary Edition (wow that makes me feel old!)
Roger McGuin - Live At The Basement (DVD)

Feb 17th
William Elliot Whitmore - Animals In The Dark
Jason Isbell - Seven Mile Island
The Fox Hunt - America's Working So We Don't Have To
M. Ward - Hold Time

Feb. 24th
Neil Young - Archives Vol. 1
Neko Case - Middle Cyclone (click this link for more info)
The Decemberists - Hazards of Love
Nashville Pussy - From Hell To Texas
Last Days of The Fillmore (DVD)
JJ Cale - Roll On

Revival Tour At The Church (Chuck Ragan, Tim Barry, Ben Nichols, Jesse Malin)

So here are a few names alot of you might not recognize, though I'm willing to be alot of you will (all except Ben Nichols and Malin were recent discoveries for me). The Revival Tour is basically a bunch of punks getting in touch with their more heartfelt side. I think a guy we all know said it best when he said "I started this damned country band/cause punk rock is too hard to sing". This is great stuf folks....the sound can be a little iffy, but the content more than makes up for it. If you like your folk/country a little on the punk side this is right up your alley. What we have is Ben Nichols from Lucero, Chuck Ragan formerly from Hot Water Music, Tim Barry from Avail, and Jesse Malin formerly of D Generation and a frequent Ryan Adams collaborator. If you like this I would recommend picking up each of these artists most recent solo albums. Ben Nichols excellent concept album Last Pale Light In The West (inspired by the book Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy....read this book too if you haven't), Tim Barry's Manchester from last year, Chuck Ragan's Bristle Ridge, and Jesse Malin's covers album from last year On Your Sleeve (though you would certainly do better to pick up one of his earlier albums).

Also worth getting is the compilation Revival Road 2008 which features selections and live cuts from Nichols, Barry, and Ragan and is a great introduction to all three.

Revival Tour Part 1
Revival Tour Part 2

Dwight Yoakam - Live on KPFK FM 1985

Another fantastic boot. This one is an early Dwight radio appearance on KPFK 90.7 in LA. Lots of great music and interesting interviews on here (check out when Dwight talks about his early punk fans). Dwight is plugging his first album "Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc..." prior to it's pickup by the majors. That's right, back when Dwight was on an indy label called Oak records. He is anxious, eager, full of piss and vinegar and raw country talent. If you're a fan of country music surely you won't want to pass this up, and pick up his excellent first album too (if you don't have it of course). A couple years ago a 2-disc reissue of it was put out complete with early demos and a killer 1986 live show.

MP3 @ 192

Dwight Yoakam - Live on KPFK

Songwriter's Circle, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 10-2-05 (Guy Clark, Steve Earle, Joe Ely, Dave Alvin, Verlon Thompson)

Hot damn! This is a good one folks. Guy Clark, Steve Earle, Joe Ely, Dave Alvin, and Verlon Thompson just sitting around on stage trading songs and stories. Only thing that tarnishes this show a little is when Steve Earle dares to play a song of his then new album "The Revolution Starts...Now!", but hey that can be excused....I mean how was he supposed to follow "Desperados"??? Put this one on, turn it up loud, and wish you were there. Shows like these make me really appreciate all the tapers out there. I probably don't say it enough.....actually I don't think I ever have on here....but thanks guys....thanks to all the tapers out there who capture these glorious shows. Especially thanks to the ones who know how to do it right.

MP3 @ 256

Songwriters Circle, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2005

Everybody else is doing it, so why can't me?

So usually I refrain from such things as year end lists and such on this blog, but I just couldn't help myself this year. So here are my personal favorite albums of 2008, unranked, unorganized, and unsolicited.

Justin Townes Earle - The Good Life
Kathleen Edwards - Asking For Flowers
The Steeldrivers - The Steeldrivers
The Wood Brothers - Loaded
Matthew Ryan - Vs. The Silver State
NQ Arbuckle - XOK
Blue Mountain - Midnight in Mississippi
The Black Keys - Attack and Release
James McMurtry - Just Us Kids
Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson - Rattlin' Bones
JJ Grey and Mofro - Orange Blossoms
Scott Miller - Appalachian Refugee
Drive By Truckers - Brighter Than Creation's Dark
Hayes Carll - Trouble In Mind
Chris Knight - Heart of Stone

The results, they are in....

Well, looks like the readers have spoken, with 120 votes talleyed, we have a clear winner here with DBT's Brighter Than Creation's Dark. Here is the top 10 as voted on by you...the readers of A Truer Sound

#1 with 30% of the vote
Drive By Truckers - Brighter Than Creation's Dark

#2 with 23% of the vote
Hayes Carll - Trouble In Mind

#3 tied with 15% of the vote
James McMurtry - Just Us Kids
Lucinda Williams - Little Honey

#4 tied with 13% of the vote
Kathleen Edwards - Asking For Flowers
Ryan Adams - Cardinology
Calexico - Carried To Dust

#5 tied with 12% of the vote
Old Crow Medicine Show - Tennessee Pusher
Felice Brothers - Felice Brothers

#6 with 11% of the vote
Justin Townes Earle - The Good Life

#7 tied with 10% of the vote
Chris Knight - Heart of Stone
Todd Snider - Peace Queer
Mudcrutch - Mudcrutch
The Black Keys - Attack and Release
The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago

#8 tied with 9% of the vote
The Steeldrivers - The Steeldrivers
Kings of Leon - Only By The Night

#9 tied with 8% of the vote
Old 97's - Blame It On Gravity
Fred Eaglesmith - Tenderbox

#10 tied with 7% of the vote
Reckless Kelly - Bulletproof
Sun Kil Moon - April
Gary Louris - Vagabonds