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Hayes Carll - Flowers and Liquor CD

In this extraordinary debut, Houston's Hayes Carll plants himself square in the tradition of Texas barroom balladeers, and pretty close to their front ranks at that. He sings in a dusty whine, delivering lyrics that recall those of Townes Van Zandt in their slouching, unforced artfulness. His writing conjures broad and weary vistas and holds up as well under close scrutiny; the opening line to ''Heaven Above,'' ''six pack of somethin','' boils a song's worth of ennui into one tiny package and brilliantly sets the stage for all that follows. Carll's band complements this raggedy eloquence with an emphasis on acoustic textures (except for the milky electric tremolo on ''Lost and Lonely'' and ample use of twin slide guitar or a slide/Dobro combination. But Carll also shines on solo tracks such as ''Arkansas Blues'' on which his vocals fill the space left by the absent band with a nuanced expressiveness that rivals that of the early Dylan. Above all, there's not a whiff of affectation in this music: From the laconic yodel at the end of ''Live Free or Die'' to the sly seductiveness of ''Naked Checkers'' and the title track, Flowers and Liquor is the real thing, done about as well as it can be done. Review by Robert L. Doerschuk allmusic.com

Puscifer - Donkey Punch the Night EP 12"

2013 7-tracker from Maynard Keenan's outrageous, hardcore side-project; 2 new tracks ("Breathe"& "Dear Brother") as well as two covers, "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen & "Balls to the Wall" by Accept + remixes!

Torres - Torres CD

When does a musician finally hit upon his or her particular 'sound'? For some, it bursts forth from their body fully formed; for others, it takes months or sometimes years of trial-and-error. For Mackenzie Scott, the singer-songwriter from Nashville who performs under the name Torres, the foundation and framework of her distinctive sound were already in place but it just needed that one crucial final piece. 'My family pitched in to get me a Gibson 335 last year for Christmas,' she says. 'I didn't quite find the sound I was looking for until I started playing electric.' Listen to her self-titled debut album and you'll hear just how crucial that instrument is to her songs now. The delicacy and intimacy that was born from acoustic roots are still there, but now that she's fully plugged in, her music has intensified, with deeper shades of darkness creeping into the mix. The album also carries with it a rawness and humanism that only serves to increase the feelings of isolation, longing, fear, guilt, revelation, and resolution that Scott expresses beautifully throughout. 'Torres' was recorded over the course of five days in a Tennessee home owned by fellow singer-songwriter Tony Joe White (he of 'Polk Salad Annie' fame), and recorded live to tape with as few overdubs as could be managed. 'I wanted this record to be the most honest version of itself that it could be,' the 22-year-old songwriter says, 'and ultimately that meant that it needed to remain unpolished and fairly raw. I left in a few imperfect vocal takes because I thought it sounded more human that way.' The effect provides the album with a rough-hewn beauty. The cracks that sharpen the edges of songs like the pointed 'Jealousy & I' or the drum machine-driven 'Chains' gives listeners an even starker look into the heart of these deeply felt songs. And if you lean in close, you might be able to hear the creak of the wooden floors in the house and the hum of the tape machine capturing it all. To preserve the sonic warmth and integrity of this gritty, heartfelt album, 'Torres' will be available on double vinyl, as well as on CD and digital formats. No matter how you listen to it, though, the songs will cut right to the bone. Scott spills every inch of her soul on these tracks, reflecting the joys and sorrows, and the unpredictability and uncertainty of life and love.

Rockabye Baby! - Lullaby Renditions of The Flaming Lips LP

Rockabye Baby transforms timeless rock songs into beautiful instrumental lullabies. Guitars and drums are traded for soothing mellotrons, vibraphones and bells, and the volume is turned down from an eleven to a two. Rockabye Baby is the perfect way to share the music you love with the littlest rocker in your life.

Lucero - Live at Sun Studios 7"

Lucero recorded some songs at the famous Sun Studios in Memphis TN where The King got his start along with many other legends.
A. I Want Your Love
B. Nights Like These

Lucinda Williams & Michael Chapman - That Time of Night 10"

Lucinda Williams covers Michael Chapman's "That Time of Night," taken from Tompkins Square's recent tribute album 'Oh Michael, Look What You've Done : Freinds Play Michael Chapman." Chapman on the other side with his own version of the tune.

Grant-Lee Phillips - Walking in the Green Corn

Walking in the Green Corn, is the newest album by Grant-Lee Phillips. It’s ten songs are drawn from Phillips’ intensive investigations into his native Muskogee (Creek) lineage.

Infamous Stringdusters - Silver Sky LP

This latest installment by The Infamous Stringdusters, Silver Sky, is a great collection of works by this band of dynamic musicians. It's got plenty of the great traditional fun you'd come to expect from the fellows and delivers some sweet musical surprises, too. It kicks off with a real treat to tap your toes to with "Don't Mean Nothin'" and then quickly shifts gears into Rockets - a track reminiscent of the late John Denver.

Infamous Stringdusters - We'll Do It Live LP

Simply put this is an excellent snap shot of the live sound of the Infamous Stringdusters live which was taken from a series of shows in the Spring of 2011. A bit jammy, a bit loose in feel, but tight in playing and still at it's core bluegrass.

Old Crow Medicine Show - Carry Me Back

Title Single from the 2012 album from the acclaimed string band. Carry Me Back is the band's fourth studio album, and first since 2008's Tennessee Pusher, and features 12 brand-new tracks that sonically span the band's career while still pushing them forward in new directions as musicians and songwriters. The album was recorded at the legendary Sound Emporium studios in Nashville. Carry Me Back was produced by Ted Hutt.