Chuck Mead has way too much fun marrying the story songs back to the emphatic and energetic music. And about dang time it is for this long awaited solo album from the BR549 frontman: Journeyman's Wager. What you have here is a full spectrum of flavors. Finger licking good, I might add. Lots of wonderful layering of instruments, thanks to the deft production hand of Ray Kennedy, and stellar sidemen Kenny Vaughn, Audley Freed, Mark Miller, Mark Horn, Dave Roe, Mike Henderson, Pat Sivers and Jen Gunderman.  And Chuck is in fine form, it will make you feel good! Pay special attention to:

Out On The Natchez Trail - pure spunk, oh yeah, it takes you there!

Gun Metal Gray - slow burning blues

I Wish It Was Friday - this one bounces and rolls so easy

After The Last Witness Is Gone - Southern roadhouse swagger

In A Song - stone country, major sweet, sing along

Old Brown Shoe - hypnotic drums and keys, with touches of 60's sensibility, this kicks

--With love from Jessie Scott

Here in a word is why I love going to my PO Box. Every day is like Christmas. And there is always the possibility of the thrill of discovery when you take off the shrink wrap. It came in a slim case, no frills, and for whatever reason, I popped it in my CD player first on the way home. And wow! As I came to find out after perusing the one sheet, five time Grammy Award winner Lou Adler has come back to produce this CD, of uprooted Oklahoma born JD Thompson. Chasing Demons lives in that Southern Gothic pocket that I love so much. Dark, percussive, insistent. Check out:

Walking Tall - as good a point of entry as there is

Swingin' - strips it down to unveil the folk behind

Mary Anne - haunting spaghetti western

Gone Gone Gone - gentle country infused sorrow

--With love from Jessie Scott

'Choke' by JD Thompson from Sabrina Franz on Vimeo.

It's always a joy to welcome new music from the Austin supergroup The Resentments (Stephen Bruton, Scrappy Jud Newcomb, Bruce Hughes, and John Chipman). Hard to believe that Roselight is their fourth album! Here's the deal...if you are EVER in Austin, a Resentments performance is a MUST SEE, as it is a joyous bubbling up of great groove and it will move you. I promise. But in the meantime, here are the tracks I'm digging the most from the new CD:

What Love Can Do  - an easy, sitting-on-the-front-porch, groove

Look Up  - tuneful, tasty pop

Wish the Wind  - stews a lovely funky r & b Americana fusion

Where Did the Time Go?  - a bit of Exile On Mainstreet swagger

Nice to Meet You - I do so love this country rocker

Getting's Good  - how bout some bluesy stripped down southern boogie

--With love from Jessie Scott