Coming Through

Travelling to Bakersfield with the late great Vic Chesnutt, albatrosses and all.
Vic Chesnutt - Bakersfield

Ace In The Hole

If you're an aficionado of modern country rock, anything Drive-By Truckers remains a sure bet for quality. Be it dropout Jason Isbell, who just delivered another classy album with Reunions, or the remaining Truckers. Last February, that innocent time when there was still live music going, Patterson Hood & co recorded three subsequent shows in the intimate 40 Watt Club in Athens, Georgia. The registration, which means a whopping 82 tracks, can now be yours through Bandcamp. So what are you waiting for?
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - Only Children
Drive-By Truckers - Where The Devil Don't Stay (live)

Always Be Sung

Many happy returns to the poet laureate of rock & roll. 79 today with a new album on the way. Forever young indeed.

Bob Dylan - Forever Young (live Paris '02)

I Will Roam

A second helping of the Rose City Band, countryrock hobby horse of Ripley Johnson, the bearded one of Wooden Shjips and Moon Duo. Summerlong is a tad more country - with prominent pedal steel - than the selftitled debut, but plenty trippy and krauty nonetheless. Guess I'll really be spinning it summerlong. Pick this wildflower, folks.
Rose City Band - Wildflowers

Plant My Flag

Quite a cool concept: each song on Mark Lanegan's new record is linked to a chapter in his recent autobiography Sing Backwards And Weep. Dark, experimental and often dissonant, Straight Songs Of Sorrow is no easy listen, and that's cool with me, but to be honest not everything works as well as the Lou Reed-channeling highlight below.
Mark Lanegan - Ketamine

Make Time

A fun song for troubled times - in Funkadelic lite mode - by the one and only Archdruid. "Deep in the lost luggage of your mind, time for a rummage sale..."
Julian Cope - That Ain't No Way To Make A Million

Day Is Done

Just got the sad news that Phil May has passed away. The founder and frontman of the legendary Pretty Things, one of the longest running bands in history who invented the rock opera with their fine SF Sorrow album, was 75. Miss him.
The Pretty Things - I See You
The Pretty Things - Rosalyn

First One's Always Free

"We're catching bullets in our teeth, it's hard to do but they're so sweet..." Presenting yet another six pack for your listening pleasure, with explosive artwork by Tinca. Number one with a silver bullet, baby, and it's got your name on it.
Observer All Stars & King Tubby - Silver Bullet
Tom Waits - The Right Bullets
The Dream Syndicate - Bullet With My Name On It
Cosmic Psychos - Bullet
Tunng - Bullets
Calexico - Bullets & Rocks

Bring Your Own Thing

This double live album was my introduction to the late great Gil Scott-Heron, and this here marathon funk version of Angel Dust never fails to lift my spirits. Ain't no turning back...
Gil Scott-Heron - Angel Dust (live)

On My Way

Hey now, you'll probably agree one can never have enough early seventies live Dead. And this clear-sounding 34th installment of Dave's Picks proves the point with verve. The sunny location is the magic city of Miami, the year is 1974, and Garcia & co. sound remarkably mellow. Don't think twice, my amigos da musica.
Grateful Dead - Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo (live Miami '74)

Fool No' Mo'

Just got the sad news that Richard Wayne Penniman, better known as Little Richard, no longer walks among us. The flamboyant rocker, who wasn't called the innovator, the originator, and the architect of rock & roll for nothing, was 87. Miss him.
Little Richard - Long Tall Sally
Little Richard - Slippin' And Slidin'