Americana Revolution R...

Cross Canadian Ragweed - Happiness And All The Other Things

Jessi is intrepid! There are deer that roam free all over the place here, and she perks up her ears and looksDoggie Jessie as if she will stalk them. She weighs all of three pounds. We are dogsittin' for Jessi (named after Jessi Colter) and she is the little love of Shannon and Cody Canada.

After all, it is release week, and there is much to do. And much to listen to on this wonderful CD ! First off, Cross Canadian Ragweed is celebrating their 15th Happiness_ Anniversary, and they also are dedicating Happiness And All The Other Things to the memory of long-time Willie stage manager Poodie Locke. Now let me tell you that I love Ragweed….and this album, well!!! There is a maturation to this collection, and they have never sounded better. It totally steps it up, and that's saying something. Here's my favs:
Cut 1: "51 Pieces" - drivin', haunting, hook-y as hell
Cut 3: "Burn Like The Sun" - guitars scorching, great harmonies
Cut 4: "To Find My Love" - Jeremy Plato at the mic, tight, tuneful, tasty
Cut 5: "Drag" - sweet swagger and 'tude
Cut 7: "Overtable" - balls to the wall rocker
Cut 9: "Pretty Lady" - restrained yet jubilant, in the pocket sonic layers
Cut 10: "Tomorrow" - instantly memorable
Cut 12: "My Chances" - just beautiful: lyrics, production, everything!

And there are not to miss live bonus tracks…heck…collect them all!

- Jessie -

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Elliot Randall "Take The Fall" - Here's Jessie

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As we await a brand new release and the tour getting started, we are revisiting the album that turned us on to Elliot Randall at X Country, Take The Fall. San Franciscan Randall has a sweet voice, a keen eye, a deft hand with lyrics, and a great command of production dynamics. By the way, a couple of bonus tracks have been added since the original release! What a good album this is! We can hardly wait for the third one! My recommended tracks for you POD-ing pleasure:

 

Cut 1 "How To Get Old" -  great hook as country meets rock meets popElliot Randall album cover

Cut 3 "Second Time Around" - a modern classic

Cut 4 "Take The Fall" - Luscious, brooding

Cut 5 "Everything Reminds Me of You" -  countrified singer songwriter fare

Cut 6 "Don't Give Up On Me" - tuneful, sentimental, and driving

Cut 9: "We Don't Talk Like We Used To" - gentle, aching

Cut 10: "Leaving This Town" - pure fun- hands in the air

Cut 11 "Red Velvet Curtains" - new bonus track - cogent, relatable, rockin'

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Gina Villalobos new CD "Days On Their Side"

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It's our first sponsored event! Music Fog is getting ready for the California tour with Elliot Randall and Gina Villalobos, and so we are going to bring you review of Gina's 4th CD, which just came out. She of the reedy voice, and that wonderful tough -yet vulnerable dichotomy. You might recall that legendary BBC announcer Bob Harris heralded her 2005 debut Rock N Roll Pony as "a contender for album of the year." Villalobos music is informed by her California childhood, and the stuff her parents turned her on to from the 70's, Willie and Waylon, Kristofferson, and Ronstadt. Her music resonates with the tunefulness, the attention to craft, plus brings an Alt. sensibility that anchors it firmly in TODAY.

- Jessie -

 
Cut 1 "Take A Beating" - aching lyrics, stop time instrumentationGinadays
Cut 3 "String It Out" - a bit of talk-singing, beautiful guitar fills
Cut 4: "Ring Around My Room" - love the melody, pure and true
Cut 5 "Crazy"- the jingle jangle lives here
Cut 8 "Pictures Of Pictures" -dreamy, beautiful
Cut 9 "Falling Away" - alternately quiet and big
Cut 11 "Second Chance" - wound tight lyric, driving chorus