R-right n-now I feel like telling you about some contemporary music that strikes my fancy. Some people label these three artists as being alt-country (......?) or americana or whatever, but I'm just going to go ahead and say they all make me feel warm and happy. Like a snuggie. So bundle up nice and cozy on your sofa and check 'em out vato! (you can go ahead and click the links on the pics if you'd like)
Calexico- Here's a band that'll be fun yet difficult to describe. They're a genre of their own. You'll just have to hear them to understand. I think their name fits their sound just about too perfectly. But let me attempt to use a bunch of words in order to detallar what they are. Okay, close your eyes. Just do it. Now envisage that you're driving with the window down on the freeway in the middle of the desert. There's not a lot of traffic and the sun scorches the desolate terrain that surrounds you. Eventually you approach an exit to some city near the U.S.-Mexico border. You take the exit, park the car, and proceed to take a walk. You are surrounded by a diverse array of gente. Spanglish scatters the conversations between the groups of people you pass by on la calle. You look to the left and see a mysterious cowboy staring at you from his caballo, loaded pistol at his side. The subtle undertones of a jazz band blows through the dry wind between distant coyote howls and static AM radio ranchera. And... there you go. That's what Calexico sounds like. (Must albums: "Feast of Wire" and "Carried to Dust".)
Neko Case- This chica's voice could travel through the vacuum of space. She makes me think of canyons or mountains or something else big and magnificent and echo-ey. This ginger's defintitely got soul power. Her sound has evolved quite impressively through the years. She started off with a lot of twang but she's managed to take her country-ish sound to less-confined places. Neko's a fine lyricist and her songs don't tend to stick to any typical structure. (Must albums: "Middle Cyclone" and "Fox Confessor Brings The Flood".)
Justin Townes Earle- I happened upon one of Justin's albums unexpectedly and found myself pleasantly surprised to have discovered someone who actually knows where country came from. His sound definitely fits that particular genre. The son of Steve Earle knows how to make rock 'n roll, folk, country, and the blues all find their happy place in the same room. (Must albums: "Harlem River Blues" and "Midnight At The Movies".)
For more look up these artists: Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, Son Volt, The Jayhawks, Townes Van Zandt, Bob Dylan ("John Wesley Harding"/"Nashville Skyline" records).
A little country-ish music won't kill you. So don't be afraid. I won't tell anybody. I love you friend.