THE MAN

"Rock and roll is all about sticking it to THE MAN."

- someone, probably from the '60s.

I haven't been blogging much lately because THE MAN has been keeping me down. You know THE MAN, the people of authority who make your life miserable. THE MAN (my lesbian landlords) wants the rent. THE MAN (my Indian boss) wants data. The corporate MAN is driving up my oil bills so he can buy another yacht. The political MAN is trying to suppress the working class, per usual, and taxing the bejesus out of me.

Fuck THE MAN!


The broadcasters bought off the FCC
Big oil's got the EPA
Halliburton Halliburton Halliburton Halliburton
What else do you have to say

Kieran Kane, Kevin Welch, Fats Kaplin - Everybody’s Working for the Man Again.mp3
Buy: You Can't Save Everybody (2005)


So fuck the FCC
Fuck the FBI
Fuck the CIA
Livin’ in the motherfuckin’ USA

Steve Earle - F the CC.mp3
Buy: The Revolution Starts...Now (2004)


What do you mean, I couldn't be president of the United States of America?
Tell me something, it's still "We the people," right?

Megadeth - Peace Sells.mp3
Buy: Peace Sells...But Who's Buying? (1986)


Negotiation's just no fun
And it don't serve our interests none
Gonna turn up the heat till it comes to a boil
So we can go get that Arab oil

James McMurtry - God Bless America.mp3
Buy: Just Us Kids (2008)

McMurtry is the master of the modern protest song. From the brilliant Childish Things.

The Bird List

So I am several days late and several hundred dollars short on this one, but better late than never. On December 15 a collective of like-minded bloggers launched the premiere of The Bird List. This list acknowledges what we in the blogging community consider the best in country music for 2009, while flipping the proverbial bird at the mainstream country music establishment. 30 amazing blogs participated in making this list, and I encourage you to check all of them out. Each blogger ranked their Top 20 albums with each album being rewarded points inversely proportional to their ranking (i.e. Number 1 = 20 points, Number 2 = 19 points, and so on). Here are the Top 20 twang albums for 2009, as voted on by the little people like me:

1. Justin Townes Earle - Midnight at the Movies

My number one too! JTE's second full length album was in the top five for 10 different blogs.

2. Lucero - 1372 Overton Park

I ranked this as #10. I was surprised it was ranked so highly overall as so many bloggers complained about Lucero's use of horns.

3. Ryan Bingham & the Dead Horses - Roadhouse Sun

I totally missed this one. I will be buying it with the Amazon gift certificated that I got from Santa.

4. Buddy & Julie Miller - Written In Chalk

Another one I missed. Grrrrr....

5. Dave Rawlings Machine - A Friend of a Friend

I gave this one a few spins but it didn't do much for me. I will have to revisit it.

6. Slaid Cleaves - Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away

My #5!

7. Todd Snider - The Excitement Plan

Another one that didn't knock me out. But usually I do love me some Todd Snider.

8. The Avett Brothers - I and Love and You

A lot of people are raving about this album, but to me it is a glossier version of 2007's Emotionalism. Its a good album, but not great.

9. Band of Heathens - One Foot in the Ether

So much music, so little time...

10. Tom Russell - Blood and Candle Smoke

Great album! My #14.

The Most Dangerous Woman in America.mp3

11. Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Dare I say this album is even better than Isbell's first solo effort? I struggled ranking this one, but I finally landed it at #12.

Good.mp3

12. Corb Lund - Losin' Lately Gambler

I am thrilled to see this album ranked so highly as I think I am the only blogger in this group based in Canada. I ranked it #6.

13. Charlie Robison - Beautiful Day

Another one that a lot of people really liked, but didn't do a lot for me.

14. Drive-By Truckers - The Fine Print (A Collection Of Oddities And Rarities 2003-2008)

I rated this one #7. Like I said in my review, "pseudo-new Drive-By Truckers is better than most brand new releases."

15. Steve Earle - Townes

A good effort from Earle, and I appreciate him trying to keep the legacy of Townes Van Zandt alive, but I much prefer the original TVZ recordings. I do like Earle's version of "Lungs."

Lungs.mp3

16. Deer Tick - Born On Flag Day

Another one I missed.

17. Wrinkle Neck Mules - Let The Lead Fly

I didn't get this one until December and didn't have time to properly listen to it before my rankings were due.

18. Magnolia Electric Co. - Josephine

The first half of this album is really good, but the second half fizzles out.

19. Guy Clark - Somedays The Song Writes You

And yet another one I never got to.

20 (tie). Those Darlins - Those Darlins

My best new artist of 2009. There are some great songs on this album. I also rated it #20.

20 (tie). Miranda Lambert - Revolution

I don't know very much about Miranda Lambert, but I do know that she is one of the few Nashville country artists that still has a lot of credibility among alt country fans.

Its been quite an amazing year in music, especially when you consider that seven of the above 20 albums I never even got to. Can't wait to see what 2010 brings!

Steve Earle Sale!

Steve Earle's latest album was released this week. The album is a tribute to one of Earle's heroes, Townes Van Zandt, and is appropriately entitled Townes. Our friends at Amazon are having a sale on this release - only $2.99 (US) for the digital download. Sale ends tomorrow (Friday, May 15). Love me some Townes Van Zandt, by whoever is performing it.

I dig the below track because it is more of a reworking than an actual cover.

Lungs.mp3
Buy: Townes (2009)
($2.99 DRM-free digital download, US only)

Also, check out a great article on this release from last week's New York Times.