The Official Country Music Thread Genre • Page 71

Would you mind sharing which songs you are referring to...? You have been on point for me for recommendations lately especially in this genre, but I've listened to the self-titled a couple times now and I enjoyed the whole thing but no particular songs stood out to me at all... With their first two albums it's like I have trouble picking a favorite song because there are so many great ones vying for that spot.

I am definitely gonna spend more time with both albums though.

 

“The Bird Hunters” and “Long Drive Home” I think are indisputable Felker’s two best songs ever. Lyrically, musically, and in terms of full band arrangements, those two are just some of the best work anyone has done in this genre this decade. “Down Here” and “Ringing in the Year” are my other two.

 

I'm gonna spin this today and look out for those songs.

I was bummed when their last two didn't really resonate with me like their earlier stuff because I've been a long time fan of these guys. It felt like I was the only one who'd ever heard of them with my friends and coworkers, which blew me away because they were so good.

I had one of their songs on a 'mix-tape' burned CD that I made for my now-wife when we were coworkers but I liked her.

 

I think the last two records are probably less "catchy" than something like Diamonds and Gasoline, which has really top-notch hooks, but I also think that Evan Felker has become a better storyteller. Something like "The Bird Hunters" could be a seriously terrific literary short story, but he turns it into this soaring song about getting over a heartbreak. And "Long Drive Home" is such a gut-punch look at divorce. Also, the "They all want to be Hank Williams/They don't want to have to die" line is maybe my favorite lyric from a song this decade.

 

I'd have to completely agree. I fell in love with the self titled my senior year in college. Something about listening to The Birdhunters, The Mercury, or Ringing in the Year (plus the others you mentioned) brings me instantly back to crisp fall Virginia nights, huddled around with my friends with a pack of terrible beer. Now that I'm in law school, I can put it on and go back to my friends teaching me (the blind guy) to shoot a beebee gun at the lake.
Their newest one is still really good, but it's not at the same level as the s/t.

 

Only songs truly loved on first listen on self titled was the Mercury and Bird Hunters.
A number of them grew on me: Ringing in the Year, Easton and Main, Down Here.

As opposed to the first two albums: I pretty much devoured Diamonds and Gasoline right away. The first 8 songs on that album to me are about as good as it gets.
Goodbye Normal Street: while I think there a few duds (Call a Spade, Gone Gone Gone, Southeastern Son ) I just loved Gin/Smoke/Lies, Morgan Street, Lorrie, Wrecked, Quit Ahead

What are the 3-4 best songs on self titled you are referring to?

 

I feel like we are the same person lol.

 

3 of those (Bird, Down here, Ringing) happen to be some of my favorites on the self titled, though they didn't jump out at me like previous albums did.

 

Not sure if it counts as country, but Aaron Lee Tasjan's new one is super cool and is streaming on NPR today. Kind of a cross between the Beatles and Tom Petty. His last record reminded me of Sturgill, but this one does not.

First Listen: Aaron Lee Tasjan, 'Karma For Cheap'

 

Anyone been listening to the little Patrick Droney EP?

 

Saw the LSD (Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Dwight Yoakam, with King Leg opening) tour the other night and it kicked ass. Steve wasn't shy about his disdain for Trump on stage, which I loved.

 

Steve isn’t shy about his disdain for anything.

 

This new Ryan Culwell is all over the place, but it’s got some great tunes on it. I especially liked Tie My Pillow to a Tree.

 

I got that one a few weeks ago and I’ve struggled with it. It’s a very odd record.

 

Yeah it’s a little bit of a mess. Seems like he can’t decide what he wants his sound to be.

 

Yeah I agree it's a little all over the place but I actually quite like most of the songs, even if they don't always flow from song to song. At least initially I don't care much for dig a hole or I have a dream

 

I really like his ballads. Not a big fan of the rockers. Kind of felt that way about the first record too, but that one was more cohesive.

 

Yeah I tend to think those are his weakest songs also. I especially hate the ones where he uses the weird effects on his voice that makes it sound like he’s singing into a coffee can or something.

 

Is this where I can discuss my newfound love for Miranda Lambert? Because I really love Miranda Lambert. She's my boyfriend's favorite artist and we went to go see her this weekend so I've spent the last week listening and I've been hooked. How great is White Liar?? And the Weight Of These Wings is also a really cool album, I just love the vibe to that one and I'm excited to dive in more since I've mostly been listening to the songs from her setlist.

 

I find her really overrated.

 

Adam Hood is releasing a new cd on October 12th.

 

Becky Warren has a new album out Oct 19th. Her last album was a real hidden gem.

 

Aint nothing new but digging Charley Crockett lately.

 

I’m seeing Jason Isbell tonight th for the first time

 

Ugh "Somebody's Daughter" just came up on my phone and a little part of me can't hear this song without thinking about how they play on ruining it for the full length.