Burn The Candle

Some steaming live Hiss for a good local cause. Forward, Children is a fundraiser for students in Durham's public schools, which makes sense as Hiss mastermind M.C. Taylor calls that fair town in North Carolina his home, and his wife is a teacher there. Recorded at the Cat's Cradle club in nearby Carrboro last January, it's a fine-sounding bunch of songs full of fire and hope. So make it lasting, make it faithful, and get it here.

Hiss Golden Messenger - My Wing (live Carrboro '20)

Purple Roses

And here we go with For The Sake Of The Song's dirty dozen of 2019, so take a step behind if you please. Unseen and out of sight, between the country and the mountains and the sea, and with ripping artwork by Tinca, these are the albums that moved and shook us this year.

1. Rose City Band - Rose City Band
2. Ian Noe - Between The Country
3. Purple Mountains - Purple Mountains

4. Garcia Peoples -  One Step Behind

5. Joan Shelley - Like The River Loves The Sea

6. Steve Gunn - The Unseen In Between
7. Jake Xerxes Fussell - Out Of Sight
8. Dire Wolves - Grow Towards The Light
9. Nick Cave - Ghosteen
10. James Matthew VII - Stoned When I Pray
11. Simon Joyner - Pocket Moon
12. Hiss Golden Messenger - Terms Of Surrender

Rose City Band - Rip City

Open Your Eyes

A new Hiss record is always welcome around here, and Terms Of Surrender proves no exception. This one's intimate and atmospheric without trying too hard to resemble an old Van the Man album, and always uplifting despite MC Taylor's ongoing searches of the soul. "Daddy, take down your sorrow..."

Hiss Golden Messenger - Cat's Eye Blue

Oh Yes

Groovin' with Scott, the guy who used to play with MC Taylor in the Court & Spark and Hiss Golden Messenger, and currently runs a studio in rural California. This one's from his second solo album, out as we speak. Good vibes and a whole lot of soul.

Scott Hirsch - No No

To The Center

Levon's daughter Amy's new album opens with a composition especially written for her by Hiss Golden Messenger's MC Taylor. Works a treat: this is rich and soulful Americana at its finest. And speaking of Hiss: I didn't buy their Devotion boxset of old albums as I owned 'em already, but had to shell out for the outtakes disc Virgo Fool of course. Some delightful tunes there for the completists among us, like this sweet ode to Karen Dalton. "Long hair, sitting in the sun, you were so young, so full of devastation..."

Amy Helm - This Too Shall Light
Hiss Golden Messenger - Karen's Blues

Beating Hearts

If you like Hiss Golden Messenger, here's two new releases that may pique your interest. First up is Durham's Phil Cook with his second longplayer People Are My Drug, on which the current HGM guitarist and organist takes another soulful, often New Orleans-inspired trip. Modern gospel by MC Taylor's main man.

Phil Cook - Another Mother's Son

Next stop Asheville to meet the Dead Tongues, brainchild of former HGM guitar slinger Ryan Gustafson. If you like your Americana a tad more subtle, Unsung Passage is a must-have release. Bonus points for the lovely album cover, which takes one back to them dear private press albums of the early seventies.

The Dead Tongues - Won't Be Long

In My Face

Mount Moriah frontwoman H.C. McEntire goes at it alone, and her soulful, gospel-tinged, and above all very southern brand of Americana sure proves a treat. She's from Durham in North Carolina, which has come to be known in some well-informed circles as Hiss Golden Messenger country, so it's no surprise their Phil Cook is involved here. Others from the Hiss orbit - Tift Merritt, Angel Olsen, William Tyler - and beyond - Bikini Kill's Kathleen Hanna - lend a helping hand, too. Out now on the still cool Merge label.

H.C. McEntire - Baby's Got The Blues

What Love?

It's that time of year again, my amigos da musica, so hallelujah, here we go. FTSOTS presents the ten push and pulls of the year, not forgetting the finest reads around. Always a pleasure. Winning artwork - 'his dreams of music', yes sir - comme d'habitude by Tinca. Dig in and crack up.

1. Jake Xerxes Fussell - What In The Natural World
Jake Xerxes Fussell - Pinnacle Mountain Silver Mine
2. Colter Wall - s/t
Colter Wall - You Look To Yours
3. Joan Shelley - s/t
Joan Shelley - The Push And Pull
4. Fleet Foxes - Crack-Up
5. The Feelies - In Between
6. The Weather Station - s/t
7. Hiss Golden Messenger - Hallelujah Anyhow
8. Here Lies Man - s/t
9. Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile - Lotta Sea Lice
10. John Moreland - Big Bad Love

Flamenco dept:
Luis Moneo - Mi Cante, Mi Palabra

Top books on music:

1. Erin Osmon - Jason Molina: Riding With The Ghost

2. Clinton Heylin - Trouble In Mind: Bob Dylan's Gospel Years

3. Reinhard Kleist - Nick Cave: Mercy On Me

4. Allan Jones - Can't Stand Up For Falling Down: Rock'n'Roll War Stories

Darker Darkness

The new Hiss album is getting rave reviews almost everywhere, but I'm not completely bowled over yet. It all sounds a bit tinny to my ears, which doesn't fit the fat Caledonian soul vibe they're after, while the new drummer sure could use a bit of funk in his playing. Don't get me wrong, the wonderfully titled Hallelujah Anyhow is a decent record, and one with an uplifting message at that, but it somehow lacks the magic of MC Taylor & crew's earlier work. Here's hoping it will grow on me.

Hiss Golden Messenger - Harder Rain

Blow My Horn

Now here's a great initiative: Hiss Golden Messenger just offered a fine - and free - recording of one of their recent live shows via their Bandcamp page. Live at the Parish, Austin TX was lovingly curated by the Dick of Durham's finest: their trusted soundman Warren Parker. Keep 'em coming, good buddies!

Hiss Golden Messenger - Like A Mirror Loves A Hammer (live Austin '16)

Down That Road

Another straggler from last year, and a pleasant one it is, too. Scott Hirsch, like Phil Cook before him, is another member of His Golden Messenger with his own album to do. Blue Rider Songs has got that laid back Tulsa sound written all over it, and that's not a bad thing of course. And is that a Feat homage we hear in the cool Sundown Highway? Bonus points earned for the weed, whites, and wine.

Scott Hirsch - Sundown Highway

Tower Of Song

The golden sings of 2016? Look no further, my amigos da musica. You want it darker? Shine on.

1. Heron Oblivion - Heron Oblivion
Heron Oblivion - The Desert
2. David Bowie - Blackstar
3. Hiss Golden Messenger - Heart Like A Levee/Vestapol
4. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Skeleton Tree
5. Leonard Cohen - You Want It Darker
6. Brent Cobb - Shine On Rainy Day
Brent Cobb - Black Crow
7. Cian Nugent - Night Fiction
8. William Tyler - Modern Country
9. Ryley Walker - Golden Sings That Have Been Sung
10. Kikagaku Moyo - House In The Tall Grass
Kikagaku Moyo - Trad

Upon My Knees

Thanks to the good people over at nyctaper, you can now enjoy a solid recent show by Hiss Golden Messenger, who are currently on tour promoting their wonderful Heart Like A Levee album. Special treat: a rather obscure Faces cover. Dig in.

Hiss Golden Messenger - Flags And Banners (live)
The Faces - Flags And Banners

Tough All Over

Just in case you weren't in the know already: there's a new Hiss Golden Messenger album out. And as expected, Heart Like A Levee is another sure-fire winner. Loose and funky, honest and true. Country got soul indeed. Exceptionally well sequenced, too, which seems to be quite a rarity these days. Do try to find the deluxe version, which gives you a splendid extra disc of intimate hotel room recordings called Vestapol.

Hiss Golden Messenger - Biloxi
Hiss Golden Messenger - Blackeyed Boy

Doin' Things My Way

Thanks to the unsurpassed New York Taper, here's yet another fine live cover by my fave band of the last couple of years, Durham's Hiss Golden Messenger. These guys can boogie, lord. Most of you will know Lonesome, On'ry And Mean by way of Waylon Jennings, but it is in fact a Steve Young original.

Hiss Golden Messenger - Lonesome, On'ry And Mean (live Brooklyn 2015)
Steve Young - Lonesome, On'ry And Mean
Waylon Jennings - Lonesome, On'ry And Mean

Can't Go Back

"When I cut my hair and I rode away (...) with the sun in my eyes..." Sure thing that head Messenger MC Taylor had Dylan's Isis on the brain when he penned the lovely Mahogany Dread last year. Dude knows his classics well. Hell, the pic above even shows him toting that infamous Fender Dylan went electric with back in '65 at the Newport Folk Festival. A clear case of love and theft then so, which is cool in my book. And Bob's too, I guess.

Hiss Golden Messenger - Mahogany Dread
Bob Dylan - Isis (live Waterbury '75)
Bob Dylan - Isis (live Oklahoma City '76)

He Will Shine

I'm really looking forward to the upcoming solo album of Phil Cook, the former Megafaun man who shines on guitar and soulful organ in Hiss Golden Messenger at the mo. Want a sneak peek? Here goes. All together now: gonna be a...

Phil Cook - Great Tide

And in case you overlooked 'em, Megafaun was a pretty cool combo, too. Here they honour Phil Kaufman, the producer and tour manager who really made a name for himself when he stole the corpse of countryrock legend Gram Parsons and burned it near Joshua Tree.

Megafaun - Kaufman's Ballad

Can't Help It

As surprisingly covered by Hiss Golden Messenger on their recent European tour, here's Sweet Baby James. His Angry Blues features the one and only Lowell George on slide, which is always a joy to behold. "Gonna sit back here, gonna watch this cloud roll by..."

James Taylor - Angry Blues

Heard The News

Caught the wonderful Hiss Golden Messenger in the fair town of Brussels last Friday. Grooved like Crazy Horse or even Feat incarnate, no lie, with Phil Cook's funky organ and sharp slide as special delights. But there was time for an acoustic version of that wonderful ditty called Jesus Shot Me In The Head, as requested by yours truly, as well. Diamond!

Hiss Golden Messenger - Jesus Shot Me In The Head

Jive Five

Haven't heard that much exciting new tunage recently to be honest, but these babies struck me as pretty cool. Let's start off with Woods, who sound a lot more poppy all of a sudden on what is already album #8, With Light And With Love. A track like Shepherd proves they haven't lost that magic touch though. Tasty pedal steel, lads! Meanwhile up in Scotland, King Creosote composed a way interesting soundtrack to a documentary about his home country. It's titled From Scotland With Love, and I love it right back. After the demise of the mighty Black Swans, Jerry David DeCicca now goes it alone. If you like your folk real dark and moody, the resulting Understanding Land will be right up your alley. Amy and Dan from Village Of Spaces have been at it again, too. Welcome In is out on their own Turned World imprint, and if Wheels doesn't charm your socks off I don't know what will. And last but not least, let me present Alice Gerrard, a lady who's been playing folk and bluegrass for over fourty years. Her new offering Follow The Music was produced by none other than Hiss Golden Messenger's MC Taylor, which is a recommendation in itself methinks.

Woods - Shepherd
King Creosote - Cargill
Jerry David DeCicca - Before The Storm
Village Of Spaces - Wheels
Alice Gerrard - Boll Weevil