Justin Townes Earle - What I Mean to You off his 2009 album Midnight at the Movies
Earle's songs are what you would expect from a classic americana artist. However, he's 29, lives in the East Village, is a recovering drug addict, and is Steve Earle's kid. It's guys like him and Ryan Bingham and bands like Son Volt that should introduce people to country music rather than the junk they pump on the country radio stations. It can be really good music that has meaning, and it's not all just trucks, dogs, and patriotism done wrong. And it's music that anyone can relate to. He's not just some Southern hick that doesn't know what life is like off of the farm. He lives in Manhattan. "What I Mean to You" is a song about trying to figure out just where he stands with his girl. Yeah, it's got a slide guitar and that really simple drum beat that backs so many slow old school country songs, but it shows off his voice and doesn't rely on clever plays on words to distract you from how overly produced it is like radio country does. It's simple. And that's why it's good.
New
Generationals - Greenleaf off their 2011 album Actor-Caster
This album came out two days ago, and this is the first time I've listened to it. They are from New Orleans, and might be the first non-jazz band that I know from New Orleans, which could just be an indictment of my lack of knowledge. For some reason I'm reminded of Peter Bjorn and John when I listen to Generationals. In a good way, because I like Peter Bjorn and John. If you listen to "Young Folks" and then "Greenleaf" back to back, you'll hear the similarities.
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