No More Indie Rock.

Sometimes indie-rock gets a little much. Too much synth, too much reverb, too much everything. That's when you need those fall-back records; something that you can listen to that reminds you of nothing modern at all. These two country records have recently brought me through the times that I couldn't stand one more goddamn noise punk record. One album was made a long time ago, and the other was shockingly made this year. See the records after the jump.



Murry Hammond
I Don't Know Where I'm Going But I'm On My Way
Myspace

Murry Hammond has been the long running 2nd in command of the band Old 97s. He usually get's a few songs per record, and they're always quite enjoyable affairs. They aren't usually the best songs on the album, but they lighten the mood and are almost always well crafted songs. Even though we knew he had the chops, we didn't know Murry Hammond was capable of making I Don't Know Where I'm Going But I'm On My Way (Hummin'bird Records). This record is a haunted country classic. I sometimes don't even know what I'm listening to. It's like the spirit of some dead train conductor inhabited this record. Yeah - there are lots of songs about trains, and even some country yodeling - but that's what makes this album a timeless affair. It's solemn, dark and lonely - the way some of the best country music albums are. I can't say enough good things about this album. Just get it. The songwriting is great, and honestly, doesn't sound anything like any Murry Hammond song on any Old 97s album.

Hank Williams
Rare Demos: First to Last

We found this goddamn gem of a record at a used CD store. It's a collection of rare demos recorded by Hank Williams. Whereas most country music was always produced with the utmost care precision, what we have here is just Hank and the gee-tar. No bells, no whistles, no pedal steel, no back up singers. It's really incredible how strong the material is, and how well it holds up in demo form. I can listen to this stuff all day and night. The collection features a few well known tunes, but almost all are new to us at least. A must own for any Hank fan.

Featured Releases This Week

Just wanted to take a quick second to post on some nice under-the-radar releases this week. Most notably, the newest posthumous release from noted downtown NY artist Arthur Russell. While relatively unknown during his time, Russell produced several groundbreaking records in the worlds of electronica and disco. Russell's newest release, Love is Overtaking Me, draws from his acoustic/folk background and showcases his wonderful songwriting. The songs echo the feel of his home state, Iowa, as he sings lonesomely of lost love and cornfields.

Also released is the striking and highly autumnal new record from Larkin Grimm. While we may have just gotten into her, Grimm's record, Parplar, has quickly found it's way into regular rotation. It's much more eclectic than your traditional folk/singer songwriter record, yet it doesn't stray too far into the "freaky" world that people seem to have grown quickly tired of. Grimm's voice is fantastic, but still has enough of that backwoods grit to make it believable and interesting. Definitely recommended.

Other records released today are the aforementioned debut Exposion from White Denim as well as Ryan Adams' follow up to Easy Tiger, Cadinology. Further records we recommend are the new Hank Williams collection, Deerhunter's excellent Microcastle and the new Bloc Party record Intimacy.

Hank Williams Compilation Hits Next Week

Fist pump to ND on this one.

Does your bucket have a hole in it? Well then fill it with Hank Williams: The Unreleased Recordings set to release next week -- we think it's going to be pretty, pretty, pretty cool. It's coming out in installments over the next three years. Yeah, the William's recordings are plentiful. Let's see, 143 unreleased songs/three years = let me do the math, about 46.666, repeating of course, songs per year. Go Hank

Anyway, there is a blog devoted entirely to these tunes. Hank Unreleased. Dig it.

After the jump.