i havent bought any new americana records since at least uncle tupelo's anyodyne and that was maybe a year or two ago

I've been listening to Frank Black's Dog in the Sand a bit lately. If you like alt-country and you like the pixies, you just might like it. He really is a great songwriter.

Also was just given an album by a band called Granfaloon Bus. The guy who gave it to me oddly enough picked it up at a show where they opened for Frank Black several years ago. I've only listened to about half the album, but it reminds me a lot of Richmond Fontaine, another good alt-country band.

frank black doing alt-country? this is most unusual

A few not already posted...
Too Stuffed To Jump - Amazing Rhythm Aces
Your Love & Other Lies - Buddy Miller
Jerusalem - Steve Earle
A Man Under the Influence - Alejandro Escovedo
Bitter Sweet - Kim Richey
Crossing Muddy Waters - John Hiatt
Pontiac - Lyle Lovett
Old Wives' Tales - Exene Cervenka
Live at the Old Quarter - Townes Van Zandt

Great Recommendations Stray Fox...Alternative Tentacles is a terrific find. Always nice to find brave new music (Munly in particular).

A lot of albums here I've never heard of. Worthy of further investigation, I'm sure.

I'll view 'Alt-Country' as what Real Player classifies my CD's when I play them, and for that I offer two choice CD's...

'Whiskey For The Holy Ghost' - Mark Lanegan
'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot' - Wilco

quote:

Originally posted by Loupgarou:
A few not already posted...
Too Stuffed To Jump - Amazing Rhythm Aces
Your Love & Other Lies - Buddy Miller
Jerusalem - Steve Earle
A Man Under the Influence - Alejandro Escovedo
Bitter Sweet - Kim Richey
Crossing Muddy Waters - John Hiatt
Pontiac - Lyle Lovett
Old Wives' Tales - Exene Cervenka
Live at the Old Quarter - Townes Van Zandt

That's a really great list, Loupgarou. John Hiatt and Alejandro Escovedo are two of my particular favorites, especially those two albums.

Speaking of Escovedo, it would appear that he is doing bettr in his struggle with Hepatitis C. He's been touring a bit and there is an all too short article in a recent Seattle Weekly.

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Okkervil River - Down the River of Golden Dreams, and especially their new album, Black Sheep Boy, which I imagine will be getting large amounts of well-deserved press soon.

quote:

Originally posted by Nightharvest:


I'll view 'Alt-Country' as what Real Player classifies my CD's when I play them, and for that I offer two choice CD's...

'Whiskey For The Holy Ghost' - Mark Lanegan
'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot' - Wilco:

Don't let the RealPlayer fool you. Wilco's YHF isn't really alt-country. The first two Wilco records clearly were, and there are glimmers of the old alt-country in later records, but by the time YHF rolled around, I think RealPlayer should classify Wilco as straightforwardly "alternative."

I think Lanegan's solo stuff, particularly Whiskey, is close enough to call it alt-country. His covers record (I think it's called Field Songs) is good, too.

Well dang...just what is alt-country anyway? Country flavored alternative music? Alternative flavored country music? Country music too cool for country radio? Is Norah Jones alt-country? Most would probably say not, but "Lonestar" certainly sounds "alt-country" to me (check out http://www.countryreview.com/other/norahjones/). Cool thing about alt-country is that it is fuzzy at the edges. There is punk-alt-country, old-time-alt-country, jazz-alt-country, rock-alt-country, too country-alt-country, disco-alt-country (well, I dunno 'bout that one!). What is your favorite 'borderline' alt-country music?

After Bob's thread about folk recommendations, I had to go back and listen to Dolorean's album Not Exotic. They came out just a little early to catch all the critical drooling last year over the 'new folk' sound, but I think their first album is probably better than anything Devendra Banhart has released yet. Better than Sufjan Stevens also. Their sound really falls somewhere between folk and alt-country, and I had forgotten how much I like them. I had such a nice time remembering that album that I went out and picked up their follow-up, Violence in the Snowy Fields, and it seems on first listen just as good. Anyone else happen across this great little band that doesn't get enough press?

quote:

Originally posted by keylimetrev:
After Bob's thread about folk recommendations, I had to go back and listen to Dolorean's album Not Exotic. They came out just a little early to catch all the critical drooling last year over the 'new folk' sound, but I think their first album is probably better than anything Devendra Banhart has released yet. Better than Sufjan Stevens also. Their sound really falls somewhere between folk and alt-country, and I had forgotten how much I like them. I had such a nice time remembering that album that I went out and picked up their follow-up, Violence in the Snowy Fields, and it seems on first listen just as good. Anyone else happen across this great little band that doesn't get enough press?

I've got Violence in the Snowy Fields. I've only played it once or twice, and none of it ever stuck with me strongly, but I found it a nice, slow-core alt-country record. I'll pull it back out and give it another listen.

Hey, I've been lurking here for a few weeks and thought this might be a good thread for my first post. So, no further delay, here is my list of favorite alt. country/americana albums:

The Jayhawks - Rainy Day Music
I bought this on a whim after having the band recommended to me countless times. It's great, although I gather it's not their best work.

Rhett Miller - The Instigator
From the frontman of The Old 97's, this album may be a little more pop-oriented than the band's work, but the songs are killer.

Jason Collett - Motor Motel Love Songs
Collett is a member of Broken Social Scene, although this album wouldn't really suggest that. It's very folky and sounds like it should be playing in a smoke-filled bar.

Neil Young - Harvest
Okay, this is turning into a list of my favorite country-inflected records, regardless of how alternative they are or are not.

Ryan Adams & the Cardinals - Cold Roses
I must admit my general ignorance of Adams' catalogue, but I absolutely love this two disc set, full of gorgeous heartache and music.

Grand Champeen - Battle Cry for Help
This is some raucus, energetic country-rock done indie-rock style. Great songs, great disc.


I suppose that will do for now. I look forward to engaging in lively debate elsewhere on the forums.

I'm glad you're looking for lively debate elsewhere on the forums, KH, because it awfully hard to argue with such a quality list. Grand Champeen is news to me. I'm going to have to check them out.

Welcome!

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I enjoy both of my Grand Champeen discs, as well.

If you like Cold Roses, you should really dig into Ryan's back catalog. And into Whiskeytown, his old band. I think you'll find the new one pales in comparison...

Someone mentioned Richard Buckner's "The Hill" previously. I'd also recommend Buckner's "Since"

And I'm shocked no one's mentioned "Down to the Promised Land: 5 Years of Bloodshot Records". It's a must have for any alt-country fan.

I'm coming in way late on the board, but just to add my two cents, in response to pE's Tuscon area question and mention of Sand Rubies/Sidewinders I wanted to encourage a visit to http://www.sanjacintorecords.com and catch up on lead singer/guitarist Rich Hopkins solo albums, notably The Fifty Percenter with Billy Sedlmayr. Very good 'desert influenced' Americana. I'd also put a good word in for the dirty south stylings of the Drive By Truckers. I could go on forever but super stoked to see Gear Daddies included more than once in this thread (my all time personal fave - followed closely by Uncle Tupelo) and would again suggest following up with lead singer Martin Zellar http://www.martinzellar.com - he's gone a bit mellow singer songwriter but still has the chops! While I'm at it I'll add Chris Mills (his The Silver Line is a pop American classic that far too many have not discovered) http://www.chris-mills.com ... and along the same lines I encourage everyone to check out Knotworking (unfortunatley now defunct band out of NY, but lead singer and songwriter Ed Gorch soldiers on as a solo act!) - thier "lawn plastic santa" is an all time classic!! ... I'll also not shut up and add Clem snide as a a slightly poppy americana band that would fit perfectly with the other amazing bands mentioned previously.....

This message has been edited. Last edited by: LinnTate,

Great post, great links, and a great nickname, a_s. I hope you don't mind that I closed a few tags for you. The entire text was showing up in italics, which was a little hard to read.

pE included Chris Mills' Wall to Wall Sessions in one of his year-end lists and as is my practice I check out everything pE lists that I've not heard yet. It's not taken it long to get near and dear to my heart, so I'll look forward to checking out The Silver Line.

Thanks!

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LT -- thanks for the kind welcome, and for the assistance! I haven't picked up Mill's Wall to Wall Sessions yet but the few tracks I have heard sound great ... I can't beleive I left off one of my favorite new acts, Lucero http://www.luceromusic.com/ I saw them live about two years ago and have been hooked ever since (if they come to your town, seriously, check them out!), I haven't picked up thier two latest releases but Tennessee will stand as a classic in my book, a bit more on the rocking side of alt-country but so damn good.

I'm a big fan of almost all of the acts you mention, alex, including Lucero, Chris Mills (amen to The Silver Line being an Americana classic...I saw Chris 4 times in 3 years in St Louis, and he was great each time!), and the underappreciated Gear Daddies.

I'll check out Knotworking ASAP...