Molina and Johnson:

Molina and Johnson:(2009)

This is a mournful record that moves at it's own pace, and that pace is slow. As slow, and sad as it can get at times, I love this album. It feels like you're driving back in time through a vintage painting of broken American scenes. When I purchased this album I had no idea who either of these songwriters were. In fact this was one of my many "album cover based" purchases. See kids, artwork is important. Anyway, I enjoy spinning this album in the early morning hours, just as the sun is ascending through the trees.

Guided By Voices:

Isolation Drills:(2001)

Suitcase 2(Abridged-The Return of Milko Waif):(2005)

Class Clown Spots A UFO:(2012)

English Little League:(2013)

Cool Planet:(2014)

Like a lot of bands in the collection, the vinyl records I have only represent a fraction of their albums I have in various other media forms, and such is the case with Guided By Voices. I can thank my good friend Dave Roda for turning me onto GBV many years ago when we first started playing, and hanging together. Needless to say the influence of both Dave, and this band have been great on me. In my alternate universe GBV have Top 40 hits left and right, and drown out the clatter of contrived pop bands.  

Floating Action:

Body Questions:(2014)

I first heard about Seth Kauffman in the pages of Tape Op magazine, and thought, "I gotta check this guy out." Turns out I dig the hell out of his stuff. This album, like the others I've heard, is a great blend of lo-fi indie rock with a dollop of 60's R&B pastiche that adds this endearing nostalgic feeling to brand new tunes. 

Range Rats:

Range Rats:(2010)

So, this one is completely out of alphabetical order, I know, but I had this dream last night... I was riding in the backseat of a car with no driver, just cruise control, with Fred and Toody Cole. We were late for a gig, and weren't sure where to go. We were also trying to find the house, in the country mind you, of a person who might know where we should go. Anyway, on this driverless journey where many things were discussed, talk shifted to them reviving the Range Rats. Now I'm sure this dream came about because of Andrew Loomis' recent passing, and Fred and Toody announcing that they will no longer tour as a rock band. In any case I had to spin this record this morning. Their lost country classic, recorded in the Eighties, and not released until 2010.

Beirut:

March of the Zapotec/Holland EP: (2009)

This was the first album I heard by Beirut, which is Zach Condon, and really it's not an album, it's two EPs in one package, and they couldn't be more different. March of The Zapotec features a 19 piece brass band from Oaxaca, Mexico. This part of the album spirits you away to another realm, and another time. The other part of the album, Real People of Holland EP, is light and whimsical and electronic. The old and the modern living hand in hand. 

The Riptide: (2011)

This is my favorite Beirut album. This one feels fully realized. The atmosphere on this record is excellent as well, giving each song a wonderful lift. For me the key tracks here are: Payne's Bay, and East Harlem.

Roy Acuff:

Jeff Tweedy once sang, "Name me a song everybody knows, and I'll bet you it belongs to Acuff-Rose." The Acuff of which he sang was none other than the "King of Country Music", Mr. Roy Acuff. So it is here that I'll start this blog at the top of the alphabetical setup of this section of the collection with four Acuff records.

Country Music Hall Of Fame's Roy Acuff and His Smokey Mountain Boys: Twelve of Their Most Famous Songs of The Smokey Mountains (1964)

When this Best Of album came out, they certainly didn't skimp on the title. Could it be more of mouthful? In any case, it's a nice selection of highlights from a towering figure in music history. Why limit his name to the field of Country when so many artists from parades as different as Punk to Indie to Hardcore to Jazz have all reminisced about influence of either hearing Roy on the Grand Ole Opry, or discovering that a song they love had been made famous by him.

Great Speckled Bird (1958)

 Great Speckled Bird is a tune the Acuff first recorded in 1936, and has enjoyed great longevity with covers by Johnny Cash, Lucinda Williams, and many others. Acuff himself recorded it many times in his career, and this 1958 rendition is a fine example of his yelping vocal style that Hank Williams sited as a great influence on his own style. But maybe my favorite on this album is Wreck On The Highway. Which I can't help but feel might have had some sway on the Springsteen song by the same name. It's a great take on the morality play song serving as a warning that without true fine religion in your life you could be left high and dry when you really need help. 
"When I heard that crash on the highway
I knew what it was from the start
I went to the scene of destruction
And a picture was stamped on my heart
There was whiskey and blood all together
Mixed with glass where they lay
Death played her hand in destruction
But I didn't hear nobody pray"

This album also holds a great version of Tennessee Waltz, which would inspire an amazing retelling from Jesse Winchester, but more on that later. We've got a long way to go to get to the W section of the collection. I'd like to mention at this time that Great Speckled Bird has some killer album art. A classic bit of Western pastiche.

Waiting For My Call To Glory (1966)

Acuff's success was deeply rooted in his spirituality, and connection to a religious core. After all, his father was a Baptist preacher. That said, I've never felt that he was heavy handed with it, even on albums like this, which I think speaks to his aptitude as an entertainer. He always maintained a jaunty bounce in his brand of Country that went right along with the friendly smile he plied on every audience he came in contact with. A key track for me is The Devil's Train.

I Saw The Light (1971)

Hank Williams was one of the monuments Roy Acuff helped to erect, and on this release from '71 Acuff pulls out two Williams penned tunes. One of which being the title track, which might be the next best version to Williams' own... I'll state that now, and reserve the right to recant later. Turn Your Radio on is a tune that makes me giggle. Why? Well, because the first time I heard this song it was being sung by Ray Stevens, and as a kid I didn't know he did anything by funny songs. So in my child's brain I tried to find humor in all the songs he did, and you know, I did. So even this serious Acuff cut still tickles me. Wait For The Light To Shine is a favorite of mine on this record.