#Chris Ruston

[rbolick]

Books On Books Collection - Carol Barton

Land Forms and Air Currents (2014) Land Forms and Air Currents (2014) Carol Barton Leporello (with 11 pop-ups) fixed to inside cover of case, cloth over board, debossed with fitted, pastedown artwork on front cover and spine. Cover: H292 x W192 x D50 mm. Leporello: H275 x W175 mm. 37 panels. Edition of 25, of which this is #21. Acquired from the artist, 27 October 2023. Photos: Books On Books…

[cuubism]

i lived in florida for one (1) year and lost my soul to country music so here's something extremely cursed, dreamling playlist but ONLY country songs

drink, swear, steal & lie / michael peterson mockingbird / ruston kelly something in the orange / zach bryan unchanged and alone / jo harman blue / leann rimes i don't wanna live / chris cagle when in the night hour / jo harman amazed / lonestar this kiss / faith hill you're still the one / shania twain heaven / kane brown from here to eternity / michael peterson every light in the house / trace adkins when you say nothing at all / alison krauss & union station i swear / john michael montgomery i hope you dance / lee ann womack the keeper of the stars / tracy byrd i love the way you love me / john michael montgomery son of a sinner / jelly roll it's your love / tim mcgraw & faith hill

[alwayscompletelyforever-blog]

Rebroken Playlist

Love You Anyway- Luke Combs

Broken Coastline- Down Like Silver

I’ll Be Waiting- Cian Ducrot

The Weakness- Ruston Kelly

Beautiful Lies- Tanner Usrey

This Time Tomorrow- Candlebox

heartLESS- You Me At Six

3:59 AM- John Moreland

Wannabe- Dalton Domino

You Don’t Care for Me Enough to Cry- John Moreland

Lies I Chose to Believe- John Moreland

Caroline (Acoustic)- Old Sea Brigade

Dawns (ft Maggie)- Zach Bryan

Scared to Love You- Tristan Bushman

Can’t Help Me Now- Rob Thomas

Never Love You Again- Cheat Codes

Running Up That Hill- TITUS

When was it over?- Sasha Alex Aloan

The Wire- Patrick Droney

On Your Way Home- Patrick Droney

Love Again- The Kid LAROI

Fade Away- Morgan Page

In A Heartbeat- Ryan McMullan

Hope It’s Something Good- The Chicks

BEST FOR ME- The Kid LAROI

What If I Never Get Over You- Ryan Hurd

Breakups- Seaforth

The One I Was Then- William Clark Green

Favorite Ex- Maisie Peters

What Brings Life Also Kills- Kolton Moore & The Clever Few

A Little Bit Yours- JP Saxe

Dancing On My Own- Calum Scott

Hurts like hell- Wrabel

Exile (ft Bon Iver)- Taylor Swift

I miss you, I’m sorry- Gracie Abrams

Say Something- Alex & Sierra

Someone You Loved- Lewis Capaldi

Over You (Acoustic)- Marc Scibilia

Can’t Miss You Anymore- Avery Anna

Falling- Harry Styles

Love Like Ghosts- Lord Huron

Wish You’d Miss Me- Chase Wright

Forget I Exist- Sam MacPherson

Missing Piece (Sofi Tukker Remix)- Vance Joy

Don’t Give Up on Me (with R3HAB)- Andy Grammar

Someone Else- Mason Lively

Love Ain’t Done a Damn Thing-  Mason Lively

Do That Again (demo)- Taylor Acorn

Ghost- Josiah and the Bonnevilles

Another Go- Logan Michael

Leaving- Zach Bryan

Leave Me Alone- Logan Michael

Pick Up Your Phone- Tanner Usrey

Alright- The Lowdown Drifters

Blue- Zach Bryan

Memory to Drown- Bryan Martin

I Loved You Then (And I Love You Still)- Woodlock

Losing You- Kolby Cooper

Wondering- Dylan Wheeler

Crying Over You- The Band CAMINO

better off without me- Matt Hansen

Watch Me Bleed- Scary Kids Scaring Kids

Thinking ‘Bout Love (acoustic)- Wild Rivers

I Found- Amber Run

Mending Song- Ruston Kelly

Pictures- Judah & the Lion, Kacey Musgraves

Wildflower- Ruston Kelly

you’d never know- BLU EYES

Half A Man- Dean Lewis

A Letter To Everyone Who’s Hurt Me- Chandler Leighton

enough for you- Olivia Rodrigo

never knew a heart could break itself- Zach Hood

Like That- JP Saxe

Over For You- Morgan Evans

July- Noah Cyrus

i tried- Camylio

Trying My Best- Anson Seabra

Trying Not To Fall- No Justice

Don’t Walk Away- No Justice

HALF HEARTED- We Three

When You Think of Me- JP Saxe

Let It Rain- David Nail, Sarah Buxton

What Are You Listening To?- Chris Stapleton

Crazyland- Eric Church

break my heart- Matt Hansen

Toxic Heart- Logan Michael

Before You Go- Lewis Capaldi

NIGHTMARES- Jordan Nix

Blue- laye

Self Sabotage- Abe Parker

Backseat (All I Got)- Sam MacPherson

Cold Black Mile- Ruston Kelly

Moving Target- Wild Rivers

Golden- Becca mancari

Part Of Me- Cian Ducrot

[theart2rock]

HammerFall kündigen Avenge The Fallen für August an

HammerFall kündigen stolz ihr 13. Studioalbum „Avenge the Fallen“ an, das am 9. August 2024 über Nuclear Blast Records erscheinen wird. Richtig, weniger als ein Jahr nach der letzten Verbeugung der „United Forces“-Tour ist das Quintett, bestehend aus Gitarrist Oscar Dronjak, Sänger Joacim Cans, Bassist Fredrik Larsson, Gitarrist Pontus Norgen und Schlagzeuger David Wallin, mit zehn brandneuen, soliden Stücken klassischen Heavy Metals zurück. „Dies ist unser 13. Album“, sagt Joacim Cans mit Stolz. „Wie kann man nach 13 Alben immer noch relevant bleiben? Es ist so ähnlich wie die erste Zeile des Songs 'Avenge The Fallen': 'Was ist schlimmer, derjenige zu sein, der gestorben ist, oder derjenige, der überlebt hat'. Denkt darüber nach, denn es ist eine schwierige Frage“. Er fährt fort: „Wollen wir eine Band sein, die neue Musik veröffentlicht, nur um wieder auf Tour zu gehen, oder wollen wir uns immer wieder selbst herausfordern und pushen? In Zeiten, in denen die Leute immer weniger Aufmerksamkeitsspanne haben, denken wir immer noch in Form von ganzen Alben. Ein paar gute Songs machen noch kein starkes Album. Ein starkes Album entsteht durch ein Album voller großartiger Songs, und das ist es, was wir mit 'Avenge the Fallen' abliefern“. Um den Fans einen Vorgeschmack auf das zu geben, was sie erwartet, veröffentlicht die Band die erste Single und das Video zu „Hail to the King“. Ein Song, der auf der Straße geboren wurde. „Ich begann mit der Arbeit an ‚Hail to the King‘, während ich mit Helloween auf Tournee in den USA war“, erinnert sich Oscar Dronjak. „Gegen Ende der Tournee war ich kurz davor, den Song fertig zu stellen, also ging ich direkt nach dem Gig in Los Angeles zum Bus, wo ich wie ein Verrückter arbeitete, um die letzten Teile zusammen zu bekommen. Das war dann auch die Show, bei der einer meiner Lieblingswrestler, Chris Jericho, zu Besuch kam. Es war auch die Show, bei der Fredrik sein Idol Frank Bello von Anthrax traf, und Joacim traf Jay Ruston, den Produzenten von Armored Saints, Avatar, Anthrax, Corey Taylor und anderen, der nach diesem Treffen zustimmte, die Vocals für 'Avenge the Fallen' zu produzieren! Das habe ich alles verpasst, aber ich habe wenigstens einen tollen Song daraus gemacht, haha“! Tracklist: 01. Avenge the Fallen 02. The End Justifies 03. Freedom 04. Hail to the King 05. Hero to All 06. Hope Springs Eternal 07. Burn It Down 08. Capture the Dream 09. Rise of Evil 10. Time Immemorial Line-up: Joacim Cans – Vocals Oscar Dronjak – Guitar Fredrik Larsson – Bass Pontus Norgen – Guitar David Wallin – Drums Weblinks: www.hammerfall.net www.facebook.com/hammerfall Lesen Sie den ganzen Artikel

[chorusfm]

Garrett Lemons’ Top Albums of 2023

Man, what a year. It was dominated by Taylor Swift and I wrote one of my favorite pieces about attending two stops of The Eras Tour. I attended Furnace Fest for the third year in a row, but didn’t write about it this time. It’s been a tough year with a lot of loss. But music has really helped me through. It’s been the year of the EP, with some absolute juggernauts represented below including as my AOTY. Gonna share some of my favorite songs of the year interspersed with their albums. Definitely check them out if you haven’t. Happy New Year! 1. Kelsea Ballerini – Rolling Up The Welcome Mat 2. Silent Planet – SUPERBLOOM 3. Zach Bryan – Zach Bryan 4. Koyo – Would You Miss It? 5. Kelly Clarkson – Chemistry 6. Spiritbox – The Fear of Fear 7. 100 Gecs – 10,000 Gecs 8. Taking Back Sunday – 152 9. Skrillex – Quest for Fire 10. Spanish Love Songs – No Joy 11. Manchester Orchestra – The Valley of Vision 12. Sufjan Stevens – Javelin 13. The War and Treaty – Lover’s Game 14. Chris Stapleton – Higher 15. The Maine – The Maine 16. Explosions in the Sky – END 17. Anberlin – Convinced 18. The Gaslight Anthem – History Books 19. Ellie Goulding – Higher Than Heaven 20. Militarie Gun – Life Under The Gun 21. Story of the Year – Tear Me To Pieces 22. Yellowcard – Childhood Eyes 23. Sigur Ros – ATTA 24. Fall Out Boy – So Much (For) Stardust 25. NF – Hope 26. Blink-182 – One More Time… 27. City & Colour – The Love Still Held Me Near 28. Ruston Kelly – The Weakness 29. Hot Mulligan – Why Would I Watch 30. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Weathervanes Other Favorite Songs: --- Please consider becoming a member so we can keep bringing you stories like this one. ◎ https://chorus.fm/blog/garrett-lemons-top-albums-of-2023/

[losangeleslovesyou]

RUSTON KELLY : SCREAMING INFIDELITIES (FEAT. CHRIS CARRABBA) (DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL COVER)

[will-work-for-music]

* 2017 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR

two thousand + seventeen birthed fantastic records that found me like friends, over + over again. these masterpieces lead me to people + experiences on adventures far better than i could have dreamed. these collections songs kept me company through the highest highs, the lowest lows + the walking in between of this year marked by hardship + madness, for most of the world. these are the tunes i smiled + screamed + cried + danced to the most, this year. i’m wildly grateful for each artist + the remarkable melody-wrapped memories they’ve gifted me. here’s to the songs that stay. 🖤

loved in no particular order:

* LOVELY LITTLE LONELY - the maine

brilliant + poetic + free. this band has been liberating me since i was seventeen. before lovely little lonely was even born i jumped at the chance to celebrate 10 years of this band of brothers who’ve grown up alongside their family of fans. to truly live the lyric: “let’s fall back in love with the world + who we are + do the things we talked about but never did before..” i’m grateful to the maine for adventures i only ever dreamed + for the soundtrack to them all.. she’s a masterpiece.

* THE SEARCH FOR EVERYTHING - john mayer

“And that ends an era. August ‘14-April ’17. I made this record for *you*. May you hear and see and feel yourself in these songs.” 🌊♥️🌊 - @johnmayer

she’s stunning from beginning to end.. i kept telling everyone this show felt like experiencing a film.. it’s surely safe to say JM has made another stellar, artistic set of songs for the soundtrack of my life. wow, wow, wow.. as he kept saying to us, “thank you, thank you, thank you.”

“[On The search for everything, Mayer] succeeds because he’s not donning a new costume: instead, he’s settling into a groove he can claim as his own, and it feels like he’s at home.” - AllMusic

* HARRY STYLES - harry styles

(on album release day) every once in awhile, a record comes along that surprises you in a great way. as i put it to my best friend, [on release day].. “oops, i think i like harry’s album.” THE cameron crowe recently wrote a truly stunning, intriguing rolling stone cover story with styles as the subject.. (the cover that my mom thought featured “a young mick jagger,” without a clue about the previous week’s SNL sketch, ha). as someone who was never into one direction (sorry, rob sheffield), i likely wouldn’t have given this album a shot, but it’s everything you wouldn’t expect to hear in a “former pop star” solo record. thanks to two of my favorite writers (rob sheffield, who penned the RS review like only he can, + crowe) for encouraging me to see harry for more than the kid from the boy band.. as crowe put it (on the RS music now podcast), “he’s a music geek, in the best way..” his love of classic rock shines through, while still capturing a sound all his own. well done, HS. “from the dining table” + “two ghosts” are early favorites.. which i chose just before ryan adams tweeted it.

Rolling Stone’s Rob Sheffield put HS at number 3 on his 2017 album list: “What a revelation to see Styles live the same week as Paul McCartney – a tutorial on the connection between joy and brilliance. So is this album. The songs are built to last, standing up to months of ridiculously heavy listening. The only rock star who can come on like Macca and Mick at the same time. The only rock star who could earn all six minutes of "Sign of the Times.” The only rock star using his hard-won artistic freedom to craft the kind of hilariously anti-commercial old-school personal statement where every song counts, making big guitar moves everybody else this year was too timid to try. The only rock star who thinks cigarettes in New York are “cheap.” The only rock star.“

* PRISONER - ryan adams

"i think ‘prisoner’ has so much more hope + sensuality in it—to me, it’s liberating. those songs are more a celebration of becoming something as it’s broken apart.”

a note to ryan, as tour came to a close:

i feel the most alive inside of these songs.. the ones that break me open + somehow heal me, all at once. RA, i know this time out on the road stole your health + your joy, at times, but the wonder with which you kept playing was magic to witness. i’m grateful for your pursuit of growth + grace, no matter what comes your way. be it bronchitis, haters or heartbreak, you never let anything keep you down. thank you for not one, but two flawless dates in two sparkling cities on the prisoner tour. rest up + stay weird.. xo

* ONLY THE LONELY - colony house

just shy of two weeks into 2017, franklin, tennessee born + bred band of brothers colony house released a creative, impactful collection of songs for the soul. the rocknroll band’s strong sophomore effort landed them spots in the year’s finest festivals across the country (homegrown pilgrimage fest, chicago’s lollapalooza, new orleans’ voodoo experience). it will be exciting to see where these driving, honest story songs take them in the coming year.

* WONDERFUL WONDERFUL - the killers

the fifth studio album from brandon flowers + co has been called their strongest in over a decade. the frontman said the lead single, “the man,” was written through the lens of what his 20-something self thought it was to be a man..“being tough + bringing home the bacon, when really it’s about being compassionate + empathetic.”

For NME, Flowers shared that the lyrics of the album are “the most personal and bare” that he has ever been: “I’m looking in the mirror on this record and focusing a lot on my own personal experiences. Instead of just drawing upon all these experiences and maybe using them in other songs, I am going straight for it with this and singing about my life and my family and that’s something different for me.” The track “Rut” was inspired by the struggle of Flowers’ wife Tana with PTSD. He said: “Usually I feel protective of her but I decided to take it head on. So 'Rut’ is about her submitting to it. That doesn’t mean that she’s gonna let it beat her, but rather that she’s gonna finally acknowledge that it’s there and promise to break this cycle.” Flowers also added that putting his wife’s battle into a song helped him understand better what she is going through. “Have All the Songs Been Written?” was originally the subject line of an email Brandon Flowers sent to Bono, in the midst of a bout of writer’s block, before the latter suggested it would make an excellent song title.“

'wonderful wonderful’ is altogether driving + poignant + strong, intricately crafted for the artist + his listener.

* METAPHYSICAL - the technicolors

as soon as i experienced the technicolors–friends/labelmates/co-creators of the maine–live, i knew they would be in my life from that day forward. it seemed previous projects couldn’t quite capture the passion + enthusiasm of that short set, so 2017’s "metaphysical” was highly anticipated by many.

the title’s defined as “relating to the transcendent or to a reality beyond what is perceptible to the senses. beyond ordinary experience.” the aptly named project evokes a raw, ethereal energy that draws outside the lines, while remaining true to a rock solid focus. “sweat,” “imposter!” + “congratulations you’re a doll” would be welcome additions to any playlist, however it’s recommended listeners follow the sparkling sonic story from start to finish.

* CONCRETE + GOLD - foo fighters the ninth record from foo fighters is born + it is a freaking force. dave says it’s motörhead meets sgt. pepper’s. i sure do dig the super crunchy guitars + layered vocal melodies. paul mccartney plays drums + justin timberlake sings bgvs, just cause he wanted to + it makes me the happiest human.

“I feel an earthquake coming on,” Dave Grohl sings on “Dirty Water,” a moment of fragile guitar poetry from Foo Fighters’ ninth album. Of course, keeping things steady amid chaos has been one of Grohl’s signature themes since the Foos were born from the wreckage of Nirvana a couple of forevers ago. Musically and emotionally, Concrete and Gold is their most balanced record yet – from stadium-punk dive bombers like “Run” and “La Dee Da” to the acoustic soul that opens “T-Shirt,” in which Grohl gets his Nina Simone on, singing, “I don’t wanna be king/I just wanna sing a love song.” “Sunday Rain” is a guitar weeper so late-Beatles great it even has Paul McCartney playing drums on it.

Adele co-writer Greg Kurstin’s production adds big-studio texture without diluting the band’s raw tumult; even Justin Timberlake’s appearance – as a backing vocalist on the space-truckin’ “Make It Right” – is subtle rather than ostentatious. The highlight is “The Sky Is a Neighborhood,” a hulking dream-metal anthem: “Trouble to the right and left,” Grohl sings, driving into the darkness with a Bic lighter raised to the heavens.“ - Rolling Stone

* HALLOWEEN - ruston kelly

ruston kelly captured me, years ago, with the single release of his flawlessly raw, haunting "black magic.” ever since, like a ghost itself, the song was never far from me.

Rolling Stone writes, “Black Magic” is a crescendoing rocker that ponders the bewitching pull of romance –and how it can easily disappear in a cloud of smoke.“

"Kelly is just as adept at making catchy country grooves – Tim McGraw and Josh Abbott Band have cut his tracks –as he is capturing life’s darkest, most introspective moments. The songwriter’s debut EP, the Mike Mogis-produced Halloween, is a solemn meditation on the inevitable end of things, and the spirits that tend to haunt us. Kelly came to Tennessee as a last-minute decision after attending high school in Belgium (he jokes that his father might have been a spy). Once he landed in town, he held tenure in the jam band Elmwood and battled addiction, writing songs on Music Row while exploring his demons on Halloween and his forthcoming full-length. Current single "Black Magic” shows a powerful grasp on storytelling gleaned from his love of the Carter Family and Townes Van Zandt, but also a more ragged rock & roll soul: it’s Americana, if your Americana is Bruce Springsteen with an acoustic guitar, sung by someone who spins a little heavy metal too. “Sometimes I wear both a cowboy hat and a Slayer T-shirt, just to throw people off,” Kelly says.“

* REPUTATION - taylor swift

"hold on to the memories, they will hold on to you” at her core, i still believe taylor to be the fiercely strong, quietly brilliant songwriter she’s always been. the power of the song comes through when you strip it down + it still shines just as bright. thank you for making music that meets me where i am + takes me away, since that very first day, at fifteen (2006). thank you for this one + for playing it for jimmy fallon + his momma (go watch that performance + weep!) i look forward to growing into this record as i have the five that came before.. i’ve never doubted her prowess as a storyteller.. + i won’t start now.

see also: Rob Sheffield’s glorious write up. i wholeheartedly agree. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/taylor-swift-reputation-sheffield-review-most-intimate-lp-w511359

rob is my favorite RS writer/author on all-things music. from his books on life through the lens of pop music–bowie, beatles + duran duran songs, respectively, i wouldn’t trust anyone else’s TS review. he articulately captures how i feel, as a fan from album one.. i look forward to better understanding 'reputation’ with each spin, though i can’t help but miss the classic introspective ballads.

* DIVIDE - ed sheeran

a fantastically diverse record. once again, sheeran proves he can break all of the boundaries + stay true to himself as an artist. he does it all so well, without appearing to care what anyone else thinks. “dive” is a bold, beautiful statement i continue to come back to + feel just the same. the record punches + dances in all the right places, from beginning to end, begging to be played on repeat.

* LIFE CHANGES - thomas rhett

thomas rhett gifted us the quintessential road trip singalong soundtrack record of the year. the day after it was born was spent on a bus from chicago to nashville, so when it wasn’t playing through my earbuds, it was spinning on repeat in my mind. the title track still stands out clear + strong, though i thoroughly enjoyed a live taste of the addictive early maren morris duet–“craving you”–back in february on the hometeam tour. it’s no wonder his career has catapulted with his seamless versatility in blending country’s storytelling with pop music’s neverending ear candy likeablity. this record excellently showcases rhett’s range from anthemic radio jams to heartbreaker ballads and true-to-life tales in between.

* FROM A ROOM (vol 1 + 2) - chris stapleton

stapleton released music this year in two parts, dubbing them “from A room” volumes 1 + 2–not just any room, “'A’ room” being nashville’s historic RCA studio A. some songs included in the collection were written up to a decade ago; ones chosen as they still ring true to the bearded, believable-as-they-come singer/songwriter.

on the authenticity of his craft, stapleton says, “I can’t really speak to why people like what we do. Hopefully, they know what we do is authentically us, and that goes over no matter what kind of music you’re playing. People will kind of hear that and connect with that in ways they wouldn’t if you were trying to be something that you think might be popular; I think that’s always a mistake in music, maybe even in life. Do something 'cause it’s in your heart, do something 'cause it’s what you’re supposed to be doing.”

“broken halos” + “second one to know” will, to me, always conjure up memories of seeing him open for tom petty and the heartbreakers at wrigley field, on their 40th anniversary tour, this summer. music is medicine and these honest-to-the-bone tunes are instant classics as well as a balm for the soul.

* FIRST CIGARETTE - travis meadows

“we rise. we climb. we shine like broken stars.”

the above is perhaps the defining statement of next-level nashville singer/songwriter, travis meadows’ 2017 studio album, 'first cigarette.’ the veteran of a different kind of war, there’s not much meadows hasn’t faced in life–cancer, heartbreak, addiction, depression.. and no story is off-limits for the wonderfully raw-voiced, honest-as-they-come artist. each song stays true to travis’ heart, some a little more uncomfortably authentic than accessible (ie radio-friendly), but that’s the way meadows prefers his craft.

“underdogs,” “pontiac,” “hungry,” + “better boat” stand out from first listen, yet each track was chosen to land where they do in the lineup + in the heart of the listener.

Rolling Stone writes, “To his most ardent fans and peers, including Eric Church, Dierks Bentley and Jake Owen, who have all cut Meadows’ songs for their respective albums, his open-book approach to his craft is his greatest gift. But Meadows lives in fear of rejection. That ever-lingering sense of distrust remains…

[On having label support backing a project for the first time]:

"It validates all of the suffering that I went through to get here,” Meadows says. “It gives it purpose.”

“I try not to be too hard on myself,” Meadows continues, “but I don’t deserve any of this. So I’m grateful for every inch I get walking that mile.”

* STEEL TOWN - steve moakler

steel town had only been out for nine days + i’d woken up with these songs in my head, every morning. i’m partial to “wheels” + “gold” + “summer without her” (co-written with + ft. my favorite-for-so-long, sarah buxton!!) + the title track, but i cannot pick a favorite, friends. the long wait from 'wide open’ to this one was oh-so-worth it. thanks for another heartfelt record filled with story songs i can spin for years + years to come. seriously, don’t sleep on this love letter to a historically hardworking hometown.

* BRETT ELDREDGE - brett eldredge

“Brett Eldredge’s self-titled third album is the Number One country album this week. The Illinois native also scored the highest all-genre chart position of his career, landing at Number Two on the Billboard 200, behind Kendrick Lamar’s LP Damn.” - Rolling Stone (August 15)

eldredge is both effortless + earnest, perfectly showcasing his ability + personality on the record he calls, “the most [himself].” from the playful first single, “somethin’ i’m good at” to the heartfelt vulnerability of “castaway,” listeners experience all-sides of the equal parts smooth sinatra, fun-loving country crooner. the standouts are story songs–“the long way” is dreamlike while “no stopping you” is wistful–both shine brilliantly on studio LP number three.

[blakeboldt-blog]

Best Albums of 2018

Highest honors:

"May Your Kindness Remain," Courtney Marie Andrews.

"Negro Swan," Blood Orange.

"boygenius," boygenius.

"Good Thing," Leon Bridges.

"Port Saint Joe," Brothers Osborne.

"By the Way, I Forgive You," Brandi Carlile.

"Hell-On," Neko Case.

"Chris," Christine and the Queens.

"Freedom," Amen Dunes.

"Double Negative," Low.

"Be the Cowboy," Mitski.

"Dirty Computer," Janelle Monae.

"Sparrow," Ashley Monroe & "Interstate Gospel," Pistol Annies.

"Golden Hour," Kacey Musgraves.

"Ventriloquism," Meshell Ndegeocello.

"SASSAFRASS!" Tami Nielson.

"Hope Downs," Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever.

"Soil," serpentwithfeet.

"Clean," Soccer Mommy.

"What a Time to Be Alive," Superchunk.

High honors:

"Invasion of Privacy," Cardi B.

"Head Over Heels," Chromeo.

"Last Building Burning," Cloud Nothings.

"Look Now," Elvis Costello & the Imposters.

"Passwords," Dawes.

"God's Favorite Customer," Father John Misty.

"Sweetener," Ariana Grande.

"See You Around," I'm with Her.

"Dying Star," Ruston Kelly.

"Vide Noir," Lord Huron.

"Dirty Pictures (Part 2)," Low Cut Connie.

"Girl Going Nowhere," Ashley McBryde.

"Room 25," Noname.

"Wide Awake!" Parquet Courts.

"Honey," Robyn.

"Young Romance," Roosevelt.

"The Window," Cecile McLorin Salvant.

"Devotion," Tirzah.

"Isolation," Kali Uchis.

Honors:

"A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships," The 1975.

"Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino," Arctic Monkeys.

"Tell Me How You Really Feel," Courtney Barnett.

"Hollywood Africans," Jon Batiste.

"7," Beach House.

"The Mountain," Dierks Bentley.

"Find a Light," Blackberry Smoke.

"Sex & Cigarettes," Toni Braxton.

"Black Velvet," Charles Bradley.

"All Nerve," The Breeders.

"Camila," Camila Cabello.

"The Thread That Keeps Us," Calexico.

"Caution," Mariah Carey.

"Twin Fantasy," Car Seat Headrest.

"Everything Is Love," The Carters.

"She Remembers Everything," Rosanne Cash.

"Wanderer," Cat Power.

"Desperate Man," Eric Church.

"Providence Canyon," Brent Cobb.

"Historian," Lucy Dacus.

"Cactus," Elise Davis.

"Scorpion," Drake.

"Encore," Anderson East.

"The Crossing," Alejandro Escovedo.

"Ruins," First Aid Kit.

"High As Hope," Florence & the Machine.

"Nearer My God," Foxing.

"The Now Now," Gorillaz.

"Anthem of the Peaceful Army," Greta Van Fleet.

"Mr. Jukebox," Joshua Hedley.

"My American Dream," Will Hoge.

"Hive Mind," The Internet.

"Primal Heart," Kimbra.

"Go to School," The Lemon Twigs.

"I'm All Ears," Let's Eat Grandma.

"Wouldn't It Be Great," Loretta Lynn.

"Among the Ghosts," Lucero.

"One Stone," Trixie Mattel.

"The Tree," Lori McKenna.

"All the Things That I Did and All the Things That I Didn’t Do,” The Milk Carton Kids.

"Other Arrangements," Parker Millsap.

"Golden," Kylie Minogue.

"Kin," Mogwai.

"Tearing at the Seams," Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats.

"Last Man Standing," Willie Nelson.

"Volunteer," Old Crow Medicine Show.

"Liberty," Lindi Ortega.

"Oxnard," Anderson .Paak.

"C'est La Vie," Phosphorescent.

"The Tree of Forgiveness," John Prine.

"All Aboard," Punch Brothers."Daytona," Pusha T.

"Loner," Caroline Rose."Care for Me," Saba.

"Sunset," Amanda Shires.

"Years," Sarah Shook & the Disarmers.

"Route One," Sigur Ros.

"E.G.O.," Lucie Silvas.

"Bloom," Troy Sivan.

"Lush," Snail Mail.

"FM!" Vince Staples.

"Karma for Cheap," Aaron Lee Tasjan.

"13 Rivers," Richard Thompson.

"Record," Tracey Thorn.

"Life Is Good on the Open Road," Trampled by Turtles.

"Western Movies," Traveller.

"WARM," Jeff Tweedy."Offerings," Typhoon.

"In a Poem Unlimited," U.S. Girls.

"Restoration: Reimagining the Songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin," Various.

"Bottle It In," Kurt Vile.

"Healing Tide," The War and Treaty.

"Heaven and Earth," Kamasi Washington.

"My Dear Melancholy," The Weeknd.

"Greetings from the Wild Frontier," Wild Feathers.

"Yolk in the Fur," Wild Pink.

"One Drop of Truth," The Wood Brothers.

"The Louder I Call, the Faster It Runs," Wye Oak.

"There's a Riot Going On," Yo La Tengo.

"Suspiria," Thom Yorke.

[junctionthirtyone]

8 Outlaw Country Artists Changing the Sound of Nashville for the Better

Spotify Playlist - Modern Day Country Outlaws by Junction 31

In a time of auto-tune and digital beats, it’s hard to find that gritty, authentic sound in country music that we grew up with and love. The sound of Willie, Waylon and the boys has been replaced with a soft, feel good sound that is more city pop than downhome country. The commercial influence of the big Nashville labels has neutered country music into a systematic formula and it has lost its heart.

The good news is there are modern day artists fighting against the Big Machine. Heart is being put back into country music with authentic storytelling. These artists are breaking all the rules the “Nashville” sound has worked so hard to establish. And finally, their outlaw voices are being heard.

1. Chris Stapleton

Photo courtesy of the artist It’s hard to believe Chris Stapleton spent almost 15 years of his professional career as an undiscovered songwriter. Originally from Lexington, KY he moved to Nashville in 2001 to pursue a career in music. He had much success writing hit tunes for Allan Jackson, Tim McGraw, Travis Tritt, Luke Bryan and others. It wasn’t until his debut album Traveller came out in 2015, that his authentic voice was heard. Traveller sold over 2.5 million copies, won all the awards including a Grammy for country album of the year. His humble down to earth persona contrasted with his unparalleled vocal range is impossible to ignore, not to mention he’s one hell of a guitar player. Stapleton is an outlaw country pioneer. He paved the way back to good country music for our generation and is responsible for the success of many of the artists listed below.

2. Jason Isbell

Michael Wilson/Courtesy of the artist

In the early 2000’s Isbell cut his teeth as a member of southern rock band the Drive-By Truckers out of Athens, GA. In 2007, Isbell came out with his first solo album Sirens of the Ditch. Isbell has won many awards including 4 Grammys. On his Something More Than Free Tour, Isbell sold out 4 consecutive nights at the Ryman in 2015. Unlike Stapleton, there’s no flashiness to Isbell’s vocals. The magic is in the lyrics. He is one of the best songwriters of our time. His simple, yet profound lyrics have a way of cutting straight to the heart of it.

3. Sturgill Simpson

Photo by Douglas Mason

Sturgill not only progresses the sound of modern country, but pushes the boundaries of what’s considered the cultural norm. His open stance on the use of psychedelic drugs is prevalent in his music. In 2014, he released his breakthrough album Metamodern Sounds in Country Music which was named best album of the year by American Songwriter magazine.

4. Cody Jinks

Photo courtesy of the artist

A modern day Texas outlaw, Jink’s breakout album I’m not the Devil was recorded at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas in 2016. The album put Jinks on the map, topping the Billboard country charts without the help of a label. His no bullshit attitude and drinking songs harken back to the days of Merle Haggard.

5. Lukas Nelson

Photo by Myriam Santos

When your dad is Willie Nelson, you have big boots to fill. Lukas, maybe the most underrated name on this list, took a different path than his father. Rather than picking up Willie’s nylon string “Trigger,” Lukas became one hell of an electric guitar player touring with his dad for many years. His solo work has such soul and depth.

6. Ruston Kelly

Photo courtesy of the artist

Ruston is most recognized for his marriage to the queen of modern country — Kacey Musgraves, but his music speaks for itself. The melancholy sound and harmony effects give a Bon Iver’ish quality to his music. He has supernatural way of transporting you to a time and a place.

7. Brent Cobb

Photo by Chris Phelps

Brent Cobb’s laid-back acoustic storytelling is easy like a Sunday morning. You can’t mention Brent without talking about his cousin Dave. Dave Cobb is arguably the most influential name on this list. This “man behind the music” has produced many of the artists on this list including: Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, Brandi Carlile, Shooter Jennings, and of course his cousin Brent.

8. Tyler Childers

Photo courtesy of the artist

The powerful raspy vocals of Tyler will transport you to the coal mines of West Virginia. There’s a mountain bluegrass quality to Childers’ sound.

Other notable artist progressing outlaw country music include: Colter Wall, Brothers Osborne, Turnpike Troubadours, Ryan Bingham, & Whitey Morgan.

by Matt Holloway

[edwad]

What country/folk musicians do you recommend edwad (besides edwad)

jason isbell, john moreland, chris stapleton, josh ritter, lori mckenna, ruston kelly, janis ian, others probably

[rbolick]

Books On Books Collection - Chris Ruston (II)

[statesangriaold]

spell out your URL using song titles. then, tag as many people as there are letters in your URL

Sangria  -  blake shelton The bones  -  maren morris A life that’s good  -  lennon & maisy Tennessee whiskey  -  chris stapleton Every time i hear that song  -  brandi carlisle Slow burn  -  kacey musgraves Alaska  -  maggie rogers Neon moon  -  brooks & dunn,  kacey musgraves Good woman  -  maren morris Ride out in the country  -  yola I got so high that i saw jesus  -  noah & miley cyrus All too well  -  ruston kelly

tagged by:  @otvechet tagging:  that’s too many letters,  STEAL IT

[firststarisee]

My Top 100 Albums of 2020

Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher

Taylor Swift - folklore/evermore

Halsey - Manic

Hayley Williams - Petals for Armor

Ruston Kelly -  Shape & Destroy

Deep Sea Diver - Impossible Weight

I’m Glad It’s You - Every Sun, Every Moon

Laura Marling - Song for Our Daughter

The 1975 - Notes on a Conditional Form

Paris Jackson - Withered

Hannah Georgas - All That Emotion

BTS - MAP OF THE SOUL: 7

Stand Atlantic - Pink Elephant

Courtney Marie Andrews - Old Flowers

Ryan Adams - Wednesdays

Run The Jewels - Run The Jewels 4

I DON’T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME - RAZZMATAZZ

Miley Cyrus - Plastic Hearts

Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia

PVRIS - Use Me

The Naked and Famous - Recover

The Weeknd - After Hours

Nightly - night, love you

Waxahatchee - Saint Cloud

Everything Everything - RE-ANIMATOR

Empathy Test - Monsters

HAIM - Women in Music Pt. III

Caroline Rose - Superstar

Maita - Best Wishes

Thad Cockrell - In Case You Feel The Same

Katie Pruitt - Expectations

Fiona Apple - Fetch the Bolt Cutters

E^ST - I’M DOING IT

Charli XCX - how i’m feeling now

Soccer Mommy - color theory

beabadoobee  - Fake It Flowers

Jessie Ware - What’s Your Pleasure?

Bright Eyes - Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was

Caitlyn Smith - Supernova

NIKI - MOONCHILD

Whale Bones - Close All the Blinds, Lock All the Doors, Say No One's Home

Matt Beringer - Serpentine Prison

Brian Fallon - Local Honey

The Aces  -  Under My Influence

Ava Max - Heaven & Hell

Vistas - Everything Changes in the End

Dream Wife - So When You Gonna…

Oh Wonder - No One Else Can Wear Your Crown

Yours Truly - Self Care

Derek Webb - TARGETS

Tired Lion - Breakfast for Pathetics

Fenne Lily - BREACH

Smokey Brights - I Love You, But Damn

Movements - No Good Left to Give

Cold Years - Paradise

Seer Believer - Bent

Some Stranger - Meet in Secret, Speak in Code

Pinegrove - Marigold

Overcoats - The Fight

Enter Shikari - Nothing is True & Everything is Possible

Lauv - ~how i'm feeling~

Sam Smith - Love Goes

Delacey - Black Coffee

Bartees Strange  - Live Forever

The Secret Sisters - Saturn Return

Slaughter Beach, Dog - At The Moonbase

Spanish Love Songs - Brave Faces Everyone

Weathered - Everything All at Once

Rina Sawayama - SAWAYAMA

Ariana Grande  - Positions

RJ Thompson - Lifeline

Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - Reunions

Gordi - Our Two Skins

Coin - Dreamland

Delta Spirit - What Is There

Liza Anne - Bad Vacation

Kate Miller-Heidke - Child In Reverse

Into It. Over It. - Figure

The Classic Crime - Paterns in The Static

Fleet Foxes - Shore

Chris Stapleton - Starting Over

Lydia Loveless - Daughter

Seahaven - Halo of Hurt

Seaway - BIG VIBES

W O L F C L U B - - Runaways

Allie X  - Cape God

Dogleg - Melee

Beach Bunny - Honeymoon

Oldsoul - You Were Overwhelmed

Neon Trees - I Can Fell You Forgetting Me

Ball Park Music  - Ball Park Music

Lady GaGa - Chromatica

Niall Horan - Heartbreak Weather

Eden - No Future

Johanna Warren - Chaotic Good

Early James - Singing for My Supper

Mandy Moore - Silver Landings

Lizzy Farrall - Bruise

O’Brother - You and I

5 Seconds of Summer - CALM

[williamsockner]

I saw your comments about country music on the Chicks thread and I’m curious about your opinion. I grew up on country music and feel like “9/11 killed country” is pretty valid. But I’d love to hear your take because I miss it [country music].

Hi! So, my major issue with the “9/11 killed country music” post, as someone who listens to a ton of musical genres but has both a history of and soft spot for country, is that it’s a reductive, cherrypicking way to define an entire massive genre based on a handful of individual songs and high-profile artists that had their heyday at this point nearly two decades ago (Toby Keith, Big & Rich, etc.). It’s a very slanted read on pop radio country, and it’s not even remotely accurate to quantifying the broader genre.

It’s just bizarre that people allow their idea of the whole genre to be molded by a spate of reactionary right-wing songs that found traction immediately after 9/11 and then largely lost dominance in the genre. Most country songs on the radio are not about jingoism - they’re still about a lover done you wrong, or drinking after a hard day’s work, or finding happiness without much money, or teenagers in love, or about the tragedies of alcoholism and domestic abuse, or appreciating your small town, as so much of this genre has always been. If you look at the top 10 right now, there isn’t a patriot song in the whole thing (although two of the songs have overtly Christian references, but that’s always been part of country music too). The militaristic patriotism songs tend to just be one or two songs a year that end up in heavy rotation around the fourth of July and in September, but they get outsized attention comparatively because they’re so offensively grating.

And even after 9/11, for the last two decades most country songs on the radio still haven’t been “nationalist pop with twang”. Yes, in the 2000’s we had “Courtesy of the Red White and Blue” and “Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning” and “American Soldier”, but this was also LGBT+ supporter Shania Twain’s* and avowed Democrat Tim McGraw’s imperial phases, the era of “Before He Cheats” and “Concrete Angel” and “Red Ragtop”, the years that made a Blake Shelton song about breaking out of prison his calling card and gave Miranda Lambert a massive hit with a song about burning her abuser’s house down.

This isn’t to say that country is progressive. Country music has a major problem with being dominated by straight white men, and even straight white women spent several of the last years underrepresented** (to say nothing of LGBT+ artists and artists of color). But that issue predates 9/11, as does the whitewashing of country’s history; the aforementioned Ken Burns documentary does go into how white country musicians forced black musicians out of the scene and erased their accomplishments going back decades before 2001. “Proud to Be an American” and “God Bless the USA”, for the record, were recorded in 1980’s.

Country, as a genre, does lean more conservative than many other genres, but it still holds a wide array of political viewpoints, even on the pop charts. I’m not just talking about indie alt-country darlings, although I’ll get to those in a minute - even pop country megastars are a varied bunch. Eric Church, who currently has a hit on the top 10, just dropped a scathing track called “Stick That in Your Country Song” that cusses out underfunding schools and mass incarceration; Luke Bryan got a #1 hit in 2017 with a chorus that included “I believe you love who you love and ain’t nothing you should ever be ashamed of”; Carrie Underwood pinned an entire album and tour cycle around a single about escaping domestic abuse and recently released a song criticizing gun proliferation; Kacey Musgraves won a CMA for her hit single where she criticizes slut-shaming and encourages women to “kiss lots of boys or kiss lots of girls if that’s something you’re into”, then she won a Grammy for an album where she sings about smoking weed and dedicates an empowerment anthem to the LGBT+ community; Miley Cyrus had an explicitly bisexual song on her most recent “back to her roots” country album; Tim McGraw discussed running for governor of Tennessee as a Democrat and threw his support behind Obama way back during Obama’s 2008 campaign. I’ve been relatively unplugged from country radio for the last few years, but this is all stuff relatively off the top of my head.

And that moves us to alt-country. I die a little inside whenever someone says that they “just mean radio country” when they say they “hate country music”, because alt-country is just the tits. It just is. It’s the best. If someone says they listen to rock music, we don’t assume they only mean Nickelback and Shinedown - and yet somehow we’ve shut country out so much that we don’t even consider that there’s an entire world of the genre beyond what charts - and that world is rich and powerful and thoughtful and as valid a form of music as any other genre. Some favorites contemporary alt-country artists of mine (including some songs about immigration, opiate addiction, protesting war, sexism, agricultural exploitation, homophobia, one bashing Trump directly and even one about female cunnilingus): Courtney Marie Andrews, Ruston Kelly, Tyler Childers, Margo Price, Jason Isbell, Colter Wall, Ian Noe, Kathleen Edwards, Lydia Loveless, Lori McKenna, Amanda Shires, Ashley Monroe, Lucinda Williams, Over the Rhine, Samantha Crain, Shooter Jennings, Cam, John Moreland, Chris Stapleton, Lindi Ortega, Lavender Country, Cody Belew, Honey Harper, Lera Lynn, Nina Nastasia, Patty Griffin, Holly Williams.

The problem with the “9/11 killed country” attitude, to me, is that it’s a stance that requires limited knowledge of country that happened after 9/11 and a selective memory for the country that existed before 9/11. Jingoist country songs existed and found massive success before 9/11; more progressive country songs existed and found success after 9/11. Contrary to what people on tumblr seem to believe, the genre of country music was not just outlaw country, “Jolene” and Woodie Guthrie folk songs until Toby Keith came along; it was already highly Christian/gospel-influenced and highly patriarchal. And it was already full of goofy songs about getting drunk and partying and driving tractors, the predecessors to “bro country”.

I think, personally, we lose so much by centering “Courtesy of the Red White and Blue” and Florida Georgia Line as the first things we think of when we think about country music, because those songs and acts aren’t representative of the genre, or even of the pop country charts. We lose a lot because we lose sight of all the fantastic progressive or apolitical music in the genre, and we lose a lot because we ignore the sins of pre-9/11 country and the opportunity to critique its history of whitewashing, heteronormativity and cultural Christianity by likening it to some sort of good ol’ days.

Thank you for letting me ramble!

*I’m aware of Shania’s ignorant-ass Trump comments, but those reflect more recent political developments for her and came with a hasty retraction.

**Although lol the pop, rock and rap charts have all been brutal to women for the last several years.

[gravedrt]

𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠.   —   yeehaw n folk tunes for lazy mornings and easy quiet.

olivia - rayland baxter  /  if we were vampires - jason isbell and the 400 unit  /  wildflowers  -  trampled by turtles  /  stealing romance - the milk carton kids  /  to june this morning - ruston kelly & kacey musgraves  /  starting over - chris stapleton  /  st. peter’s autograph - jason isbell and the 400 unit  /  penny, heads up - caamp  /  you are my home  -  amanda shires  /  when you say nothing at all - keith whitley  /   carry me - the secret sisters  /  i follow rivers - jason isbell & amanda shires  /  the promise - sturgill simpson  /  after the storm - shovels & rope               ( @pcrtysovcr )

[deathxproof-archive]

        h e l l o , t h o s c h e i

a very gay spotify doctor/master playlist made by a very gay man. ft. hozier, musicals, the mountain goats, folk punk & more! track list (50) under the cut!

From Eden - Hozier

Cherry Wine - Hozier

Mykonos - Fleet Foxes 

Death Proof - Kate Nash

Happy Birthday, Johnny - St. Vincent 

Up the Wolves - The Mountain Goats

The Origin of Love - Hedwig & the Angry Inch

The Dismemberment Song - Blue Kid

Bad Idea - Reprise - Waitress 

The Way That I Love U Has Changed - Chris Farren

Thank You for the Venom - My Chemical Romance

Riches and Wonders - Eliza Rickman, Jherek Bischoff 

Our Love is God - Heathers

I Was An Island - Allison Weiss 

Letterman - Gay Nineties 

Photos from When We Were Young - Nana Grizol 

Sick of Losing Soulmates - dodie 

I Can’t Decide - Scissor Sisters

Tainted Love - Soft Cell

Diamonds - Atta Boy

The Sun - Summer Salt 

What Would I Do? - Falsettos

Teenage Talk - St. Vincent 

Baby You’re A Haunted House - Gerard Way

Disloyal Order Of Water Buffalos - Fall Out Boy

Old College Try - The Mountain Goats 

The Night We Met - Lord Huron 

Saint Bernard - Lincoln 

No Children - The Mountain Goats 

Heroes - David Bowie

Please Leave a Light on When You Go - Brittain Ashford, Dave Malloy

Wasteland, Baby! - Hozier

It Will Come Back - Hozier

Nolsey - Sorority Noise

Once Upon a Time - Bare

Wait for Me (Reprise) - Hadestown 

Holy Ground - BANNERS

Drumming Song - Florence + the Machine

Ancient Names (Part 1) - Lord Huron

Ancient Names (Part 2) - Lord Huron

Bare - Bare

Killa - tUne-yArDs 

Doth Make Cowards - Local News Legend

Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy - Queen

Arms Tonite - Mother Mother

Achilles Come Down - Gang of Youths

Angel, Please - Ra Ra Riot

See America Right - The Mountain Goats 

House in Virginia - PWR BTTM 

Like Real People Do - Hozier

Dino Damage - Miniature Tigers

International Small Arms Traffic Blues - The Mountain Goats

Falsettoland-Reprise - Falsettos

Angel Eyes and Basketball - Foot Ox 

Love Love Love - The Mountain Goats 

Blackdog - Local News Legend (AJJ Cover) 

Getting Naked Playing With Guns - Local News Legend (AJJ Cover)

Heartilation - AJJ

Gender Ender - Mary Wander 

Tattooed Tears - The Front Bottoms 

Love Me - Charly Bliss 

Animal Skin - Bryan Dunn

Teenage Dirtbag-Acoustic - Ruston Kelly 

Long Gone - Mary Epworth 

GB Eating GB Whilst Listening to GB - Crywank 

Mischief - Blubird

Everywhere - Ex Hex

Community Gardens - The Scary Jokes, Louie Zong 

Anything I Want You To - The Rizzos

Good Grief - Bastille 

All or Nothing - The Dream Masons

I Love You Oddly - Rebecca Angel 

High Tide Rising - Fox 

Cubs In Five - The Mountain Goats 

Maker of My Sorrow - Eliza Rickman 

Alpha Rats Nest - The Mountain Goats