Chris Gaffney & the Cold Hard Facts – s/t (ROM)
I stumbled across the late Chris Gaffney’s rare first album in the used bin at my favorite record store and decided to check it out. Now I understand why he was so beloved by roots music fans. He’s an excellent writer, singer and accordianist, and while his music is rooted in honky-tonk country, there’s enough blues, norteno and rock & roll to make him so much more. Soulful stuff.
Charlie Pickett – Bar Band Americanus: The Best of Charlie Pickett and (Bloodshot)
I read about this guy in Trouser Press numerous times and finally get a chance to hear him, thanks to Bloodshot Records. Pickett’s punked up, slide-driven roots rock is raw, heartfelt and real, just like the style oughta be.
Mark Olson & Gary Louris – Ready For the Flood (New West)
It ain’t the Jayhawks – how could it be? – but these two old friends still make beautiful music together.
Tommy Keene – Songs From the Film (Geffen)
Power pop glory from the mid-80s. This CD copy has a flaw that makes one song unlistenable, but it’s such a rare treasure I’ll happily hold onto it until I find another copy that won’t ravage my bank account.
The Fuzztones – Horny As Hell (Electrique Mud/Al!ve)
Godfathers of the modern garage punk movement, the ‘tones keep on truckin’, cranking out the usual mania with the aid of a horn section.
Justin Townes Earle – Midnight at the Movies (Bloodshot)
Steve Earle’s kid continues his journey to his own voice on his second album. Contains a great Replacements cover.
Muddy Waters – The Anthology (MCA/Chess)
Two glorious disks of the emperor of the electric blues.
The Soundtrack of Our Lives – Communion (Yep Roc)
A real return to form after the lackluster Origin Vol. 1, this double-disk set is a reminder of why we love this Swedish psychedelic rock/pop outfit.
Rhys Marsh and the Autumn Ghost – The Fragile State of Inbetween (Better Place)
Norway’s Rhys Marsh updates the sound of Nick Drake’s first two albums with beautiful results.
Buddy Holly – Gold (Geffen/Chronicles/Decca/Universal)
When the anniversary of Buddy Holly’s death rolled around this past week, I realized I had no Buddy on CD. Gold rectifies that oversight nicely, with a ton of great music, including a lot of cool stuff I’d never heard. What a great artist.
