Album Review : Claude “Butch” Morgan : Talk About
Jul 31, 2010 Album Reviews
Here is another review of someone who I was previously unfamiliar with. Morgan has been around for quite some time playing with just about everyone on the Texas music scene at some point. He has released a number of albums that after hearing this one I will be acquiring.
Talk About was produced by one of my favorite songwriters, Jonathan Byrd. Morgan decided to bring in someone that he respected to help him put together an album for him. Together they picked through a bunch of songs that Morgan had lying around and came up with what you hear on this one.
Morgan has a great sense of humor and that shows in his songwriter, with songs like “Shoes” and “Man in the Mirror”. He has a very unique storytelling style of delivering his lyrics that makes you feel like you know him and that he is right in front of you singing the songs when listening to the album.
“Man in the Mirror” is my favorite tune on the record. Morgan recounts looking at himself getting older through a mirror with some amusing references to standing in his underwear and cowboy hat and the graying of his hair.
Another great song on the album is the title track. “Talk About” is an upbeat folky song that invokes thoughts of Cat Stevens in his heyday. “I’ve never really had much to say, I never let that get in the way, I can move my mouth a mile a minute, even with my boot in it” , sings Morgan.
Standing aside from the general good vibe of most of the album is the foreboding, “Sad Cafe” a song about where you go when you’ve lost your love or your way. I love the feel of this song, cold coffee and stares lingering in a place no one wants to be but eventually ends up in.
Byrd and Morgan have put together a great album here. One that really showcases Morgan’s songwriting abilities and does not muddy up the songs with unnecessary sounds. Morgan seems to mostly play in the Texas area, but he does make it out and about sometimes and I am hoping a stop in Ohio is in his future because I have a feeling that the show would be endlessly entertaining.
You can find Morgan on Facebook and his homepage and I would suggest doing so.
Tags: album review, cat stevens, claude "butch" morgan, jonathan byrd
Album Review : The Mystiqueros : Agave
Jul 31, 2010 Uncategorized
The Mystiqueros are a band put together and fronted by Walt Wilkins, who has been a staple on the Americana music scene for quite some time. Personally, I was only turned on to Wilkins recently and I have one of his solo records, Vigil, which is a great singer/ songwriter driven album. With the Mystiqueros, Wilkins has found a way to keep the songwriting credibility and make a rock, soul and pop infused record.
Agave is the second release from the band, which features members that have all had successful careers of their own in the Texas music scene. When I listened to the album for the first time, I couldn’t help but, smile it just feels good all the way through. Wilkins’ voice is perfectly complimented by the others and the harmonies on the record are amazing.
As with so many great albums, love or finding love is a general theme that permeates throughout this one and Wilkins and company have the ability to write these songs without a hint of hokeyness that makes them universally relatable.
The album opens with “I Would Not Make it Through” which is an homage to the one who waits at home for the weary traveler who longs to be home. The line “I say my name twice into the bricks just to hear it bounce back” really goes a long way in describing the feeling of being alone that often comes with being on the road.
“Worry” chronicles the narrator’s realization that sometimes worrying about everyone else proves detrimental to your own development. “I thought you just wanted me to shake your hand, you held it out for a hand out and took my last dime” sums up what happens all too often when you attempt to please and help everyone and that feeling is captured perfectly in this song.
My favorite on the record is “Just Keep Driving”, an ode to life on the highway. With all of the downfalls of living on the road, it still continues to offer a sense of freedom that life settled down cannot provide. There is something to be said about not being tied down to everyday responsibilities and Wilkins does a great job of conveying that here.
Billed as Walt Wilkins and the Mystiqueros most places you can find the album, this is no way just a backing band. The cover in my opinion appropriately is labeled without Wilkins’ name. While Walt contributes most of the writing to the record, all of the members loan their vocals to the songs and when you hear them sing together you get the feeling that they have been playing together forever instead of just a few years. If I had to compare this record to something, I would say think of the better Paul Thorn records, and that is way this album feels.
You can learn more about Wilkins and the Mystiqueros at his website. While I really dig his solo stuff, I hope that this combination of band members continues to release albums even if they are sporadic.
Album Review : Mark Robinson : Quit Your Job, Play Guitar
Jul 31, 2010 Album Reviews
Quit Your Job, Play Guitar, advice that seems to have worked out pretty well for Mark Robinson. Unfortunately for most of us with a lack of six string ability, that would result in homelessness.
Robinson, originally from Bloomington, Indiana spent many years playing guitar as a sideman for various acts while still working that day job. A few years ago he quit that day job and moved to Nashville to play full time. Since arriving he has played on studio sessions, done some producing and songwriting, taught guitar and most importantly focused on songwriting and fronting his own band.
The results of which can be found on this great Rock n Roll infused Blues record. This album was a breath of fresh air in my Blues loving lungs, especially in a week that Rolling Stone ran a revue of Cyndi Lauper’s “Blues” record (which I have not heard, but the thought makes me nauseous).
Robinson is a master on the guitar and delivers a formidable vocal performance on this album which consists of mostly originals. The album feels very Chicago Blues with a modern twist and a little Delta and Southern Soul thrown in for good measure. Robinson shows that no style is safe around him and it’s a great driving album (I know I say that a lot but that is an important test for an upbeat album to pass in my book).
I have a few favorites including, “Memphis Won’t Leave Me Alone” which is one of the songs that embraces the slide and a modern Delta sound. A story of a small town kid who is enticed by the sights and sounds of Memphis.
“The Fixer” is a slow Blues jam where the narrator is the solver of all problems and has a great feel. Robinson sings in a way that shrouds his meaning in mystery and lures us into wanting “The Fixer” to come help us out. Along the way he wraps some winding guitar riffs around the words further solidifying the sound and feel of the song.
Finally “I Know You’ll Be Mine” is a pretty straight forward song that follows the Blues formula lyrically and spiritually. Very few words, lots of repetition, and truck loads of emotion give this song it’s kick and damnitt she will more than likely fall for it and be his.
This is a great debut release from a guy who has obviously put in the work over the years to gain the respect of listeners, critics and his peers. So many times people leave that day job to be a musician and really it wasn’t a good idea, well in this case the world should be happy that Robinson has not only decided to make music but write some songs and give us a great record to listen to.
Find Mark online on his website www.markrobinsonguitar.com .
Tags: album review, Mark Robinson
Podcast, Episode 3 : Will Kimbrough
Jul 24, 2010 Podcasts
As I have been promising for a couple weeks now here is the newest installment of the Broken Jukebox Podcast series. The Alien was kind enough to sit down with us for an hour or so after a show in Columbus on July 8th. We talked about his start playing the guitar at 13, the recent Daddy and solo releases, playing with his influences and he gave us the real reason he continues to work with Tommy Womack.
As always you can download this from iTunes as well, just search Broken Jukebox and leave us a review if you’d like.
Also you may have noticed the donate button added to the right hand side of the page. If you like what you hear and read and feel obliged please donate. All donations help contribute to paying the bandwidth charges, equipment buying and other expenses that are beginning to add up to make the site go. All contributions are highly appreciated.
Thank you and enjoy the Alien.
Tags: Daddy, Podcasts, Tommy Womack, will kimbrough
Album Review : Elizabeth Cook : Welder
Jul 22, 2010 Album Reviews
For those of you following my facebook pages, you know that I have been obsessed with this album the last few days since buying it. I wasn’t going to review it, being that is now two months old. Then I thought why not? That’s why write on this site, who gives a damn if it’s a couple months old? It is a great album that people need to know about.
I saw Elizabeth for the first time a few years ago opening for Todd Snider in Dayton and really enjoyed the show, even bought her last album but then largely forgot about her until the last few weeks. I started hearing talk of how good this album was and when my emusic subscription came in this month I saw it and bought it.
This record showcases all of Cook’s numerous talents: her playfulness, her extremely well crafted lyrics, her penchant for writing a catchy tune, her unique voice and her ability to marry Tim Carroll and get Rodney Crowell, Buddy Miller, and Dwight Yoakam to appear on the record.
Seriously though, I am not a huge fan of many female country singers, but Cook has something that most don’t, as a matter of fact she all those things I mentioned in the last sentence. Right off the bat this album is amazing and I’m not sure there is a letdown at all along the way for the entire 14 tracks. That’s right, 14 tracks another thing to love about this album it actually has a considerable amount of music on it.Damn, I love it more by the minute.
Cook’s exuberance and cleverness are all over this record. Starting with the absolutely hilarious recount of an one night stand with a 1980′s, mullet wearing, quaalude popping, beer drinking leftover, “El Camino”. Her humor returns in her pleas to a lover to say no to beer and “Yes to Booty” on the 5th track.
The absolute standout on the album is “Heroin Addict Sister” which is easily the most emotionally stirring song I’ve heard in quite some time. The story follows the path you’d expect from a song with that title, but Cook’s feeling and ability to write great lines raises goose bumps on your arms from the start to finish of the song. I have played this song for everyone I have seen in the past week and the reactions range from tears to just absolute amazement. I have been told that she has implied truth to the story but, I do not know for myself and if it is true all that does is make her brave on top of being able to create a song that is this stirring.
Another song that jumped out at me, was “Girlfriend Tonight”. This is basically something that will hit home for anyone who has been in a long term relationship. There is always a point when you want to put aside comfort and responsibility and revert back to being that young couple who partied and only gave a shit about each other.
Another Cook original I want to point out is “Rock n Roll Man”. A seeming ode to her husband guitar player, Tim Carroll, it contains some great lines such as “He likes to talk about Elvis, but only the Sun years” and “He thanks the Devil for his story and God for his gift”. Carroll who plays all over the record also contributed two songs to it.
Along with the Carroll songs “Follow You Like Smoke” and “Til Then”, Cook does a couple of other covers. “Blackland Farmer” is credited to Frankie Miller, “Not California” to Dan Messe and “I’m Beginning to Forget You” to Joyce Cook, Elizabeth’s departed mother (incidentally it follows Elizabeth’s original “Mama’s Funeral” on the record).
Now that I have seemingly touched on every song on the album, have you figured out that I think you should rush out and get your copy right now? If not re-read this article and visit Cook’s website to buy it here.
Cook has managed to put together one of the most well thought out, planned, and executed albums of the year. I also need to give credit to producer Don Was for allowing Cook to be herself in the studio and staying out of the way of the songs. While some may find her delivery a little odd, to me it is part of what makes her songs stick out and makes you listen to the lyrics.
I cannot believe she has not had a radio hit because of the way her songs seem to reach everyone that hears them. For my money she can continue to hang out with the rest of the hooligans in East Nashville and release brilliant records like, Welder.
Here’s a reward for making all the way through my long-winded Cook loving rant of a review. A video of her and Carroll performing “El Camnino” on a radio program.
Tags: album review, buddy miller, Dwight Yoakam, Elizabeth Cook, Rodney Crowell, tim carroll, todd snider, Youtube Clip
Album Review : Robert Larisey : Nights Take Forever
Jul 18, 2010 Album Reviews
We all know someone whose life should be a song. He hangs out in all of the hole in the wall bars in town, telling stories to whomever will listen to them. You are not sure how old he is because he still drinks, smokes and gets in trouble like he might still be in his twenties, but the lines on his face, the bad prison tattoo and his seemingly endless tales of wisdom suggest he is approaching sixty. You are glad you are on good terms with this guy because although you’ve never seen it, you’ve heard all kinds of stories about what he is capable of if in the wrong mood.
Meet Robert Larisey, he’s just that guy from Carlton Place, Ontario and he plays guitar and has finally gotten around to writing those songs. I’m not sure how old Larisey is, but hearing the songs on Nights Take Forever I think he may have been around for quite some time before recording this, his debut album.
This record should come with a bottle of cheap bourbon, a pair of work boots and perhaps a pistol to protect you from the singer. The entire album exudes honesty and experience, even in the songs that Larisey himself hasn’t lived.
The sound on the record goes from Merle Haggard country to Fred Eaglesmith type bluegrass. The core of the band on the album is well, mainly Blair Hogan whom I only had ever heard play bass. On this recording Hogan steps up alongside the great songwriting as the co-star and plays everything that was needed in the studio, including guitars, mandolin, piano and organ. Filling out the band for all of the record is first time producer, Brock Zeman who plays rhythm guitar and bass.
Highlights of the album include “3 Squares a Day”, the story of a man who who is on death row and his grieving mother. Larisey writes about the main character, “Some souls can’t be saved” before the man is executed.
Another standout on this record is “Yesterday” which follows a few characters as they longingly look back at the things they once had and come to the realization that their time may be numbered.
Perhaps the finest song on the album is the almost assuredly autobiographical, “Whiskey Plowboy”. We follow Larisey as he happily raises hell throughout his entire countryside, making friends and enemies along the way.
We live in an interesting day for music. Twenty years ago this album probably never would have gotten made. I get the feeling that Larisey is happy just playing some shows in local bars and going about his life. With the lowered cost of recording and the lack of reliance on major record labels to get things heard, Zeman was able to capture what is an album that needed to be heard.
Hopefully this record is met with some success so that Larisey continues to show up in the studio and share the songs that he has lived with us. After you listen to this you will want to teach your town’s version of Robert how to play guitar and write great tunes so that you too can have some great entertainment as you sit in your work boots, drinking a few shots and clutching that pistol just in case.
You can find this album on iTunes and CD Baby and learn more about it on Zeman’s Mud Music page on his website.
Tags: album review, Blair Hogan, Brock Zeman, Fred Eaglesmith, Merle Haggard, Robert Larisey
Album Review : Jerry Castle : Don’t Even Ask
Jul 13, 2010 Album Reviews
Todd Snider sang, “There isn’t nothing wrong with Nashville” a couple of albums ago. Unfortunately all too often when I am forced to listen to country radio I have to disagree. Then a record like Jerry Castle’s Don’t Even Ask is released and I am completely floored and I feel like Todd was indeed correct.
Castle who hails from East Nashville, home of so many great artists, has bounced around the music industry for awhile as a songwriter, publicist, and a touring musician but with this release he seems to have cemented his place as a singer/ songwriter.
Billed as a singer on the rockin’ side of country music, Castle delivers what I would just simply call a great record. His vocals have a bit of gruffness in them but enough of a melodic feel to fit the positive vibe of the songs’ lyrics.
The music on the album is not completely over produced as so much is coming from the Music City. However there is quite a lot going on instrument wise with guest appearances from an all star cast that seemingly has played with everyone in the world. The guests include Audley Freed of Black Crowes fame on guitar for 5 tracks, Doug Lancino (Steve Earle, John Hiatt) on guitar for two songs, and Molly Thomas (Todd Snider) shows up on fiddle for a song.
As for the songs on the album, almost all of them reflect a new found zeal for life that Castle has do to a new daughter (who appears on a duet of “You are My Sunshine”) and renewed since of self through his music.
My personal favorite on the album is “Rainbows” which was written for his daughter. If you are not a parent the lyrics to this song may come off as being cheesy. But if you, like me, have a bit of a misspent youth (and maybe a partially misspent adulthood) that was turned around by the arrival of a child then this song will really hit home. “I pray my life storms help you find rainbows” sings Castle and that sums up what we all feel for our children quite succinctly.
Another great track this one is “Writing My Own Ending” a song of defiance in a way. You get the feeling that Castle is tired of dealing with everyone else’s bullshit and he is just going to worry about what makes him happy.
The first single off of the album is going to be “Bend”, a song of a love gone cold. The narrator has finally come to grips with the fact that the problems can not be rectified and you know what he’s okay with that.
At the end of the day, Castle has produced an album that is full of universal yet personal and honest songs. He is a man that has made it past all of the hangups that afflict so many of us and come through okay on the other side. Listen to this one when you want to know that “Life Gets Better As It Goes”
The album is officially released late this month and you can find out more about the record and Castle himself on his website.
Tags: album review, Audley Freed, Doug Lancino, Jerry Castle, Molly Thomas
Concert Review: Will Kimbrough
Jul 12, 2010 Concert Reviews
“I’m nobody, from nowhere”
Those were the the first words sang by Will Kimbrough last Thursday at the Spruce Street Studios in Columbus, OH. From that point forward we were in for an absolute treat. Armed throughout most of the show with his new Gretch and a looper, Kimbrough delivered the first solo Rock n Roll show I have ever seen.
The venue was a nondescript brick commercial building that looked like a very large garage inside. The vibe was very relaxed and the guys who promoted the show went all out to make everyone comfortable. It was a great listening room experience with a quality sound system and house concert feel. They have done a few shows over the last years and this was the first one in this new room and hopefully there will be many more.
I’d never seen Will live before due to the repeatedly inopportune timing of his trips to Ohio. After finally experiencing this show I am extremely disappointed that I had not been able to make it out before to see this guy live.
Will’s alien like abilities on the guitar are well documented but until you see him playing in front of you, you do not get the true sense of how damn good this guy is. I am now convinced that the understated and tasteful guitar parts he puts down on recordings are even better knowing exactly what he is holding back. Kimbrough is just a monster guitar player and that is putting it lightly.
Besides those guitar chops on display we were also given a three hour show full of great songs from Will’s catalog. I think with all the talk of six string skills sometimes the fact that Kimbrough is a very accomplished songwriter gets lost. Let me tell you, he does not let you forget it when he’s playing.
I did not keep a running setlist (I can post one after I listen to the show if anyone is interested) but I do remember the basics and there were some definite standouts.
As previously mentioned Will kicked off the night with “Nobody From Nowhere”, co-written with Tommy Womack, from the Daddy release, For a Second Time. From the same album, he played “Wash and Fold, a song I had overlooked for the most part prior to the show and now have a new found love for. Seeing someone live and hearing songs that I have heard numerous times and gaining a new appreciation for them is a phenomenon that will never cease to amaze me. Will accomplished that a few times that night.
Another example of that was the version of “This Modern World” he played. It was playful and intense. The delivery really made me sit and listen to the lyrics (which are by the way excellent).
Will also played quite a few of my favorite tunes from his repertoire. Entertaining a request from yours truly, he did “Diamond in a Garbage Can” and while he did not pack the resonator he normally uses on that song, he did a fine job with it on the Gretch that he so proudly showed off during the show. Another favorite of mine from the Daddy debut was “You Made Your Bed”, a song that I have often times found myself listening to over and over again on the album. Will’s solo version became a sing a long rocker with the crowd and did not leave anything to be desired.
Other crowd favorites included an acoustic version of “Godsend”, the always ramped up “Yo Yo Ma” and the heart breaking “Hill Country Girl”.
I also have to mention the songs from Will’s latest solo effort, Wings. I have been quite taken with this album since its February release and Will seems to adapted them quite well in the solo set. “Three Angels” has become a favorite of mine and was fantastic live. The title track, a co-write with Jimmy Buffet was one of the songs that really hit you live. He played most of the tunes from the album during the show but the one that impressed me the most was the loungy, “It Ain’t Cool” a song written with old friend, Todd Snider. I was amazed how Will was able to keep that groovin’ feel to the song with the help of the loop machine on stage.
At the end of the night about 50 of us were completely knocked out by what we had just witnessed. Will played two full sets both stretching over an hour as well as a four song encore. I don’t think anyone really wanted the show to be over when it was including Will, who genuinely seems to enjoy what he gets to do for a living.
I always admire an artist who appreciates what they do and the people who come out to see them. Will was nothing short of gracious throughout the whole evening. He spent the time before the show, during set break and for almost an hour after the show signing things and just chatting with various members of the audience. I think everyone who attended came away feeling that they got more than their money’s worth for the night.
One final note, I was talking with a lot of the people at the show afterward and we all sort of shared a similar feeling. With the way Will’s career seems to be taking off (Will appeared live with Buffet, Zac Brown, Sonny Landreth and others on CMT Sunday night), this may have been one of our last chances to see him in such an intimate setting. While this remains to be seen, I do feel honored to have been there even though I arrived so late in the game.
After the show Will was also gracious enough to sit down and record a podcast with us which should be available here and on iTunes later this week.
All pictures taken by Lori Aliff
Tags: Jimmy Buffet, todd snider, Tommy Womack, will kimbrough, Zac Brown
Live Show Download: Brock Zeman with Dan Walsh
Jul 8, 2010 Live Shows
This is the first show that Zeman played on his first extended U.S. tour with Dan Walsh on lead guitar. The show was recorded on November 6, 2007 at Paul’s Nite Club in Lancaster, OH. Right Click Save as to download the show.
Tags: Brock Zeman, dan walsh
Youtube Clip : Peter Cooper and Eric Brace
Jul 7, 2010 Youtube Clip
Here is the first video I am uploading from last month’s Brace/ Cooper shows. This one is from Columbus where I didn’t shoot much video and I forgot the tripod so what I did shoot was kind of shitty quality. However, the performance is great and they mention their appearance on our podcast. Hope you enjoy.
Peter Cooper and Eric Brace : “Down to the Well” : June 5, 2010 Red Door Tavern Columbus, OH
Tags: eric brace, peter cooper, Youtube Clip
