Artist:Williamson Branch Hometown: Murfreesboro, Tennessee Song: “Which Train” Album:Heritage & Hope Release Date: March 12, 2021 Label: Pinecastle Records
In Their Words: “At our first writing appointment, my co-writer Michelle Canning presented the idea for ‘Which Train’ — and from that moment, I was hooked! The result was a mournful, almost haunting tune. As the rest of the band and I prepared to record Heritage & Hope, this song came to life! The unique blend of all-female harmonies singing the train whistles and a driving rhythm in drop D give ‘Which Train’ a classic bluegrass feel. It reminds each of us that we have an eternal destination to choose. Two trains are pulling into the station: One leads to life, the other to death. ‘Which Train’ are you gonna take?” — Melody Williamson
Artist:Samantha Crain Hometown: Shawnee, Oklahoma Single: “Bloomsday” Album:I Guess We Live Here Now EP Release Date: April 9, 2021 Label: Real Kind/Communion
In Their Words: “‘Bloomsday’ is the kind of song I never thought I’d be able to write. There is a certain peacefulness and stillness that I’d never thought I’d be able to write about, let alone experience personally. That old traditional gospel song ‘This Little Light of Mine,’ it feels so childlike and so ancient and wise at the same time and it has such a calming effect on me. I wanted to incorporate that feeling of hope and lightness in with my lyrical explorations of mindfulness and fortitude in my own life. With the video, I wanted to expand on that idea and show how easily those good and kind characteristics are passed on to others if we practice them in our own lives.” — Samantha Crain
Artists:Greg Loiacono & Jamie Drake Hometown: Novato, California / Los Angeles, California Song: “Bound to Fall” Release Date: March 12, 2021 Label: Blue Rose
In Their Words: “A few years back I had become obsessed with a recording called ‘Please Stay’ by The Cryin’ Shames. It inspired me to dive back into old records of singers singing heartbreak songs from way back like Patti Page, The Everly Brothers, and so on. I hoped to convey that lonely, faraway sound on this record. Once Jamie and I started working on the song together we focused in on this unrequited love that drives the singer almost into a sense of delusion. It was really enjoyable finding ways to convey this through words and melody. This is the second duet that Jamie and I have done together. Her powerful, versatile voice can pretty much do anything. It’s a joy to sing and write with her.” — Greg Loiacono
“In October 2018, Blue Rose introduced me to Greg Loiacono to sing on a duet he’d written called ‘San Felipe.’ Recording that day flowed naturally and led to us wanting to collaborate again in the future. Greg invited me to open for him — along with Scott Hirsch (Hiss Golden Messenger) — at the Sweetwater in Mill Valley, California, and I had a day off, so I took a drive to Greg’s hometown of Novato to work on some co-writes. The photo we used for the art was caught on film during the writing session. ‘Bound to Fall’ became a world for us to step into that was different from ‘San Felipe,’ but similar in that we captured a specific, vintage, musical vibe in an authentic way. It’s quite enjoyable to have musical friends you can accomplish different worlds with; I’m grateful to have found this kind of collaborator in Greg Loiacono.” — Jamie Drake
One of Texas’ brightest stars has just released new music in honor of a musical hero. Charley Crockett, the velvet-voiced monolith with a country and western sound, was a devoted student and fan of legendary Texas artist James “Slim” Hand. “If you listen to his writing style and the portraits he painted in his music, or that plaintive one of a kind voice he had, then you know he was without equal in our time,” said Crockett of the beloved singer-songwriter, who died in 2020.
To fulfill a promise made to his dear friend, Crockett released the full-length album, Lil’ G.L. Presents: 10 For Slim Charley Crockett Sings James Hand, in February. The record is a beautiful homage to a great artist, musician and Texan, and of course the music itself is performed with the highest degree of touch and style, two things for which Crockett is well-loved. Ahead of the record release, Crockett released a music video for “Lesson In Depression” that heavily features steel guitar and Crockett’s sultry baritone. Get your fix of classic country and celebrate the life and music of James Hand all while taking in the fresh yet familiar stylings of Charley Crockett.
Artist:Sara Petite Hometown: San Diego, California Song: “Missing You Tonight” Album:Rare Bird Release Date: February 26, 2021 Label: JTM Music
In Their Words: “‘Missing You’ is a cool California country song about a broken heart. It takes place at sunset in Ocean Beach with a cotton candy pink sunset and the palm trees swaying… just like the hippies dancing on Newport Avenue to Michael Franti. Trying to enjoy yourself in the beauty while nursing a broken heart. Here’s the lyric: ‘We can’t be together, it’s hell being apart, it’s ripping through my soul and tearing up my heart. I try to move through the pain and wonder how you are? Do you think of me when I think of you or am I just scar? I’m missing you, missing you baby tonight.'” — Sara Petite
Adults who have happened to spend any amount of time watching children’s TV and cartoons – say Winnie the Pooh, or Looney Tunes, or The Amazing World of Gumball – know that plenty of jokes and gags aren’t written for the kids tuning in at all. Certainly the same fact is true of many soundtracks and scores. Originally intended for younger audiences, these nine songs from popular cartoons supersede their animated film origins. Some have gone on to become modern classics, others popular karaoke anthems, Americana covers, and even a drag queen number or two. No matter the context, each of these songs stands on their own.
Bonnie Raitt: “Will the Sun Ever Shine Again,” Home On the Range
A ragtag group of livestock must save their family farm, “Patch of Heaven,” from a thieving-cowboy-would-be-rancher-and-real-estate-magnate. Along their journey, quite a few problems arise for the cows and crew, and right when you realize all hope is lost, Bonnie Raitt’s voice comes wafting on the Western wind. A nearly perfect, succinct package at 2:30 long, “Will the Sun Ever Shine Again” deserves a spot in the modern country canon. Instead, it’s nearly hidden away on this 2004 Disney release.
Linda Ronstadt: “Somewhere Out There,” An American Tail
Immigrant mice find themselves journeying to America in this 1986 Steven Spielberg-produced classic cartoon, which was so popular a sequel was released in 1991. (Hear a track from its soundtrack later in this list.) The main character Fievel’s sister, Tonya, has designs on starhood, singing “Somewhere Out There” exquisitely and mournfully — and apparently poorly by mouse standards. But her family uses the tomatoes flung at her for dinner. Linda Ronstadt reprises the track on the soundtrack, belting the epic arrangement as only she can.
Randy Newman: “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” Toy Story
Randy Newman’s soundtrack offerings for all of the Toy Story movies epitomize the central concept of this list: Songs that are just good, whether they’re from an animated film or not. Other soundtracks from the franchise feature Riders in the Sky, Sarah McLachlan, Judas Priest, and Chris Stapleton. All are fantastic, but “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” is certainly the piece de resistance.
Shelby Flint: “Someone’s Waiting for You,” The Rescuers
A haunting, morose, nightmarish — and hilariously entertaining — tale of an orphan kidnapped by treasure hunters, The Rescuers follows two mice from the Rescue Aid Society as they join an albatross to attempt… well, a rescue. “Someone’s Waiting for You” captures the melancholy of loneliness and isolation so well, with a tinge of solemn hope. The classic Disney animation style and southern bayou setting are simply gorgeous and the Golden Age of Hollywood orchestration is decadently nostalgic.
Helen Reddy & Sean Marshall: “It’s Not Easy,” Pete’s Dragon
A groundbreaking film for its time, 1977’s Pete’s Dragon combined live action and animation — so we’re sneaking it onto this list on that technicality. Another song from the film, “Candle on the Water,” was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song, but “It’s Not Easy” might be the movie’s best. Helen Reddy, who passed away in September of 2020, had multiple Top 10 hits in adult contemporary and pop. Her performance — on this song and throughout the film — certainly sell it.
Bryan Adams: “Get Off of My Back,” Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron was one of the first feature-length animated films to effectively and seamlessly combine traditional animation with more modern, computer-generated 3D animation. It’s a hugely popular film, but somehow still grossly underrated, and Bryan Adams’ deliciously early 2000s soundtrack is still impeccable. Several songs could’ve made the cut for this list, but we’ve gone with the high-energy, joyfully defiant “Get Off of My Back.”
Lea Salonga: “Reflection,” Mulan
A ballad and anthem that’s something of a queer rite of passage for Disney millennials: “If I were truly to be myself/ I would break my family’s heart….” This rendition of “Reflection” is a rare instance of the score version being better than the credits version. (No shade to Christina Aguilera.) Lea Salonga so relatably embodies Mulan’s longing to live her truth. Just try not to sob-shout along.
Whitney Houston & Mariah Carey: “When You Believe,” The Prince of Egypt
All epic cartoon powerhouse ballad duets must be second to this one, a smash hit from Dreamworks Picture’s The Prince of Egypt. How blessed are we to have Whitney and Mariah trading runs on this loosely Bible-themed melodrama-via-song? If you didn’t start out at the beginning of the song as a believer in miracles, by the end you will. “When You Believe” reached number 13 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart and was released by Carey on her Number 1’s compilation album.
Linda Ronstadt: “Dreams to Dream,” An American Tail: Fievel Goes West
We simply had to include Linda Ronstadt — and the An American Tail franchise — twice. “Dreams to Dream,” another credits reprise by Ronstadt, nearly blows the doors off “Somewhere Out There” with its soaring modulations and Ronstadt pulling out all of the stops. How one voice, one woman, could out-power an entire orchestra and rock band combined defies reason. Except, with Linda, that level of energy, charisma, and raw presence is the norm rather than the exception. Try to listen through to this song just once. It almost begs being played on repeat.
This week, we call in to Philadelphia for a conversation with the highly-theatrical pianist and tireless, much-adored performer Adam Weiner, who for the last decade has gained a cult following around the world fronting his soulful bizarro-rock outfit, Low Cut Connie.
Some artists have retreated into obscurity during the pandemic shut-down, some have turned lemons into personalized, livestream lemonade. But Adam Weiner took it to another level when he launched his often twice-weekly vaudevillian interactive web show “Tough Cookies” in March. Charging around his small home stage like a schvitzing piano preacher, often losing clothing along the way, Adam has learned nearly six hundred covers in the last eight months alone — from Barry Manilow to Cardi B’s “WAP” to Macho Man to an entire Little Richard set, which he performed to honor his hero after his passing. He then interviews anyone from Beyonce’s dad to members of Sly and the Family Stone. In short, it’s a rollercoaster every week — one that you kind of have to watch to believe.
Alongside his 2020 LP Private Lives, Low Cut Connie’s heartfelt and sweat-dripping sets have gained Weiner some famous supporters: Elton John for one, fellow New Jersey-born hero Bruce Springsteen for another. Up-and-coming playlist presenter Barack Obama unexpectedly placed Low Cut Connie’s defiant cabaret rocker, “Boozophilia,” on his must-listen list. Indeed, this taping, which often showed Adam jumping from his piano to his guitar to play favorites (like the Kinks-esque, “Revolution Rock N Roll”) initially had to be delayed so he could play an inauguration event for new president and Philly-piano lover Joe Biden.
While Weiner is basking in some much-earned attention, it hasn’t always been an easy road. He readily admits to scraping by on side jobs into his mid-thirties, for years playing around dim New York City piano bars as his sequined alter-ego, Ladyfingers. If Low Cut Connie has learned anything during this strange era, it’s that people desperately still need live music. In all its spur-of-the-moment, sweaty glory. One of the more moving stories he tells is seeing groups of nurses in beleaguered hospitals taking a much needed break to watch his livestreams. Much like his role model and patron Elton John, Low Cut Connie’s songs can leap from intimate folk-rock to greasy soul to bombastic musical theater and back with ease and his relentless spontaneity keeps fans waiting for that he will do next.
Artist:Emily Moment Hometown: London, England Song: “Master of One” Album:The Party’s Over Release Date: March 26, 2021
In Their Words: “I was really interested in talking about the idea of people being compulsively drawn to behaviours that harm them. I was in Thailand at the time, reading Murakami’s What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, and he referred to the Fugu fish — a delicacy in Japan — which is poisonous and can kill a person if prepared incorrectly. Allegedly, the ‘tastiest’ portion of this fish is the part nearest to the poison. That was a light bulb for me. I waded out into the South China Sea, zoning out on the passing boats, and wrote most of the song by singing it out loud to myself, finishing it later on my guitar back in London. Recorded live with the band, the combination of the djembe, the dreamy electric riff, and the woody warmth of the room at Urchin Studios just magically clicked the song in place.” — Emily Moment
Sarah Jarosz’s songwriting is otherworldly to begin with, but throw in a finely aged instrument and the wisdom in the wood adds an extra glow to her already shining music. A testament to her timelessness and acumen, Jarosz’s musicianship pairs perfectly here with the round, warm sound of a 1938 Martin 000-45 featured by Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville.
Since the release of her album World on the Ground back in June, Jarosz has been doing it all, from uploading covers to her YouTube channel to hosting a masterclass for Oregon State University. She also landed a pair of Grammy nominations in 2020, including one for World on the Ground, on the ballot for Best Americana Album. In this particular performance, Sarah sings “I’ll Be Gone” from the new record, and if the song wasn’t striking enough already, the delivery in front of one microphone with such a rich instrument is the icing on the cake. Enjoy this special rendition of “I’ll Be Gone,” live from Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville.
Bluegrass has an instrumental tradition going back to its Bill Monroe origins and its old-time forebears. Over time, the playing and composing became more refined and exploratory.
This show features three young masters of contemporary acoustic music who’ve released all-instrumental albums in recent months. I speak with Wes Corbett, banjo player currently with the Sam Bush Band, Jeff Picker, bass player for Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, and Andrew Marlin, half of the married duo Mandolin Orange. They talk about their new recordings and about the path that led them to write and record without words.
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