John Prine Tribute Album Recently Unveiled - Feat. Old Crow Medicine Show and More!

Recently I was G-Chatted by a good friend, JT Kennelly, who let me know about a new musical sensation: a John Prine Tribute album! titled Broken Hearts and Dirty Windows.  This album is to feature a great group of bands and singers including The Avett Brothers, OCMS, My Morning Jacket, Conor Oberst, and many more.  This is pretty exciting!

Short Bio from The Prine Shrine

Born in Maywood, IL on October 10, 1946, John Prine’s body of work has become the high-water mark of American songwriting and his songs have found a home in the repertoire of musical luminaries such as Bonnie Raitt, Johnny Cash and George Strait.

On March 9, 2005, at the request of Poet Laureate Ted Kooser, John Prine became the first singer/songwriter to read and perform at the Library of Congress.

Prine takes his own sweet time dancing with his muse -- and truly writes what's in his soul. So if it takes him a little longer to compose the songs that capture the moments that reveal the gently folded human truths that bind us all together, it's always worth the wait.

Listen to Prine on youtube or grooveshark, but you ought to at least hear some of his work, it's quite good, sometimes a little cheesy and sometimes old-timey.

Pre-Order and Sample some of the songs from the upcoming release here:

http://www.amazon.com/Broken-Hearts-Dirty-Windows-Songs/dp/B003JDQJLE/ref=pd_krex_fa_t_dp_img

Real Country

Dear All,

The Country genre has been pretty badly maimed; it's been dominated by pop artists for far too long.  Although not all country music is bad, I would say the majority of it is.

There have been a few bright stars: Jonny Cash, Steve Earle (played a song with the Pogues once!), Uncle Tupelo, and Chris Ledoux (to name a few of the few).    Many bands that may be labeled as "Country" go for "alt country" or "American" or "Bluegrass."  But I haven't yet seen a band label themselves as pure country and not sound like plastic shit - until I heard Ryan Bingham.

This guy is for real totally legit.  He's had a tough life.  He's got a deep whiskey cigarette voice that tells stories.  He labels himself as Country music.  His music is moving, energetic, charged by the Texas landscape from which he hails.  I thoroughly enjoy listening to him.

Go to his website and play some of his music.  Listen to this song from the Dave Letterman show.  He wrote the theme to the movie Crazy Heart (staring Jeff Bridges).

If you like Brandi Carlile, Patsy Cline, etc.

Check out Joe Firstman

His song "The One that Makes You Happy" is like an alt country version of John Mayer.

His other music consists of a more energetic and alternative rock n roll style; overall, Joe Firstman is quite enjoyable.

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