Thursday, December 30, 2010

TERRELL'S TUNEUP: TOP ALBUMS OF 2010

A version of this was published in The Santa Fe New Mexican
December 31 , 2010





Here’s the 10 albums released in 2010 that I liked best.

* Reform School Girl by Nick Curran & The Lowlifes. Curran plays some of the roughest, rawest R & B/rockabilly being made today, with raspy voice, banging piano, wailing sax, and a guitar that sounds as if Chuck Berry used it in voodoo rituals. It should remind you of that era when crazed DJs unleashed their sinister communist plot of corrupting America’s youth by playing wild, primitive sounds oozing with sex and rebellion.


* Agri-dustrial by Legendary Shack Shakers. The title is a pretty apt description of the basic Shack Shakers sound. It’s rootsy but with a hard-rocking edge. Singer and frontman J.D. Wilkes plays a mean harmonica and occasional banjo and jew’s-harp, while co-conspirator Duane Denison, formerly of punk-noise patriarchs The Jesus Lizard, makes some crazy noise on his guitar. The rhythm section is grounded in metal as well as in cowpunk. This might be considered a concept album about the South. Or maybe it’s a collection of horror stories, with song titles like “Two Tickets to Hell,” “The Hills of Hell,” and “God Fearing People.”



* Grinderman 2 by Grinderman. The first album by Nick Cave’s Grinderman is an intense burst of bile, anxiety, rage, obscenity, and loud, sloppy rock ’n’ roll. This year’s follow-up, while slightly less ragged than the original, is almost as good. On “Mickey Mouse and the Goodbye Man, “ Cave howls like Howlin’ Wolf on “Smokestack Lightning.” You can hear echoes of Patti Smith’s “Gloria” and The Doors’ “When the Music’s Over,” as well as an intentional nod to blues belter Lucille Bogan’s “Shave ’Em Dry.” “Worm Tamer” — full of fun innuendo and double-entendre — rocks even harder, with a mutated Bo-Diddley-conquers-the-Martians beat. “Super Heathen Child” takes us right to a nightmare world. A girl is “sitting in the bathtub sucking her thumb,” though she’s fully armed as she waits for the Wolf Man.



* Wig! by Peter Case. Case is so good in his acoustic troubadour role that many of his listeners might not even realize that he’s also an accomplished rocker. In the late ’70s and early ’80s, he was the frontman for The Plimsouls and, before that, The Nerves. Now, aided by guitarist Ron Franklin and D.J. Bonebrake, the drummer for X, Case recorded a bunch of blues-soaked, swampy rockers for this album. And it’s some of the toughest music he’s ever made.



* I’m New Here by Gil Scott-Heron. Produced by Richard Russell, this album, Scott-Heron’s first in 16 years, is harrowing. It’s mostly low-key and somber and almost like an encounter in a dark alley with a ghost. The album kicks off with a sweet memory of being raised by his grandmother. But at the end of the song, his granny dies “and I was scared and hurt and shocked,” Scott-Heron says. And then the music gets louder, the beat turns harsher, and suddenly the singer finds himself in an electronic mutation of one of Robert Johnson’s most frightening blues, “Me and the Devil.” Scott-Heron drifts from nightmare to revelry and back again. In “New York Is Killing Me,” he sings a blues melody over persistent hand claps and a clacking rhythm, punctuated by bass drum. A gospel choir comes in a couple of times but disappears like a dream figment. The album is less than 30 minutes long. But it’s one intense half hour.



* Self Decapitation by Delaney Davidson. Traces of Salvation Army marching bands and dark blues permeate this New Zealand native’s album. You can hear influences of American blues, early jazz, and Eastern European/Gypsy sounds. Davidson performs “In the Pines” as an industrial-edged blues tune with an acoustic guitar and altered vocals yielding to over-amped guitar and crazy-loud drums. But my favorite is the delightfully filthy “Dirty Dozen,” a foul-mouthed country-blues stomp that reminds me why I love music in the first place.



* A. Enlightenment, B. Endarkenment (Hint: There Is No C) by Ray Wylie Hubbard. As with other recent Hubbard efforts, this record features a minimalist bluesy sound. There are lots of slide guitar, fierce but simple drums, and lyrics concerning sin and salvation — but little else. Some songs have echoes of bluegrass, with mandolin, banjo, and fiddle occasionally emerging from the primordial blues bog.



* The Big To-Do by Drive-By Truckers. This is the DBT’s best album since 2004’s The Dirty South. It’s full of sex, crime, humor, strippers, circus acts, and girlfriends who say, “I’m too pretty to work and you’re uglying up my house.” All that and loud, loud guitars. Unfortunately, the only mediocre song on the album is one titled “Santa Fe.”



*A Poison Tree by Movie Star Junkies. Images of murder, torture, and betrayal color the lyrics of this album, which features dark but melodic tunes colored by with spaghetti-Western guitars over Farfisa organ and drums that evoke marching bands. The Junkies proudly cite The Birthday Party as an influence, and sure enough, you can hear echoes of early Nick Cave. The last song, a seven-minute epic called “All Winter Long,” ends in a dense instrumental with fuzzy guitar licks that bring back memories of The Electric Prunes.



* Descending Shadows by Pierced Arrows. Back with his previous band Dead Moon, singer Fred Cole bragged that he’s “been screaming at the top of my lungs since 1965.” That’s true — he was in a band called The Lollipop Shoppe that produced a garage-band classic “You Must Be a Witch.” The good news for Dead Moon fans is that Pierced Arrows sounds like a continuation of Moon’s basic guitar/bass/drums sound. Fred Cole and wife/bassist Toody Cole still sound wild and ferocious.



Honorable Mention:
* You Are Not Alone by Mavis Staples
* Wake Up the Snakes by Johnny Dowd
* $ by Mark Sultan
* The Wages by The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band
* Phosphene Dream by The Black Angels

Sunday, December 26, 2010

TERRELL'S SOUND WORLD PLAYLIST

Sunday, December 26, 2010
KSFR, Santa Fe, N.M.
10 p.m. to midnight Sundays Mountain Time
Host: Steve Terrell

Webcasting!
101.1 FM
email me during the show! terrell@ksfr.org


OPENING THEME: Let it Out (Let it All Hang Out) by The Hombres
Waves of Fear by Lou Reed
Monkey Mess by Thee Vicars
Rosalyn by The Pretty Things
On the Move by Pierced Arrows
Music is the Magic by Kim Fowley
Pimples and Braces by Ric Gary
Corruption by The Plasmatics
Don't Blow Your Mind by The Spiders
People Look Away by Death
Are You For Real, Girl? by Mystic Five
What Kind of Fool Am I?by Sammy Davis, Jr.

Coming Back Alive by The Stomachmouths 
Dope Fiend Boogie by The Cramps
Wig-Wag by Manby's Head
Battle Cry by Monkeyshines 
Muck Muck by Yochanan 
The Egyptian Thing by The Syndicate 
Part of Your Plan by The Oblivions 
Farmer John by Ross Johnston with Monsieur Jeffrey Evans

Quicksand Love by Macy Skipper
Honey Bop by Wanda Jackson
Boppin' Wigwam Willie by Ray Scott
Sugar Doll by Johnny Jay
Evil Hearted Me by Jody Reynolds 
Old Black Joe by Jerry Lee Lewis 
Betty Lou' s Got A New Tattoo by Creep  
Love Bug Crawl by Jimmy Edwards
Switch Blade Sam by Jeff Daniels
Loaded Gun by The Rev. Horton Heat
(Mama) You Got To Love Your Negro Man by Dewey Cox 
Shadow My Baby by Ray Condo & The Ricochets 

Lick My Decals Off Baby by Captain Beefheart
Mencerminkan Mahkota Kotor by Arrington de Dionyso 
Sports Car by Thinking Fellers Union Local 282
New York is Killing Me by Gil Scott-Heron
Withered and Died by Elvis Costello 
Cast No Shadows by The Mekons 
CLOSING THEME: Over the Rainbow by Jerry Lee Lewis
Subscribe to The Big Enchilada Podcast! CLICK HERE

LAST BIG ENCHILADA OF THE YEAR: BELOW TOBACCO ROAD

THE BIG ENCHILADA



"From the land of shotgun weddings and child brides ..." comes the last Big Enchilada podcast of 2010 featuring hillbilly, honky tonk, rockabilly and crazed country sounds. Among the artists represented here are  Hasil Adkins, Tav Falco, Hank III, Rev. Beat-Man, Angry Johnny & GTO, The Defibulators and, from the chic salons of Espanola, N.M., The Imperial Rooster! Plus there's an entire of segment of songs from the mysterious Twisted Tales from the Vinyl Wastelands series. You don't need champagne on New Year's Eve. Just drink a jug of this musical moonshine from Below Tobacco Road!

Play it here:


DOWNLOAD | SUBSCRIBE| SUBSCRIBE TO ALL GARAGEPUNK NETWORK PODCASTS

Here's the playlist:

(Background Music: Buster's Crawdad Song by The Tune Wranglers)
Tobacco Road by Tav Falco
Pig Fork by The Imperial Rooster
Corn Money by The Defibulators
49 Women by Jerry Irby & His Texas Ranchers
Blue Moon of Kentucky by Rev. Beat-Man
Punchy Wunchy Wickey Wacky Woo by Hasil Adkins

(Background Music: The Magnificent Seven by Jon Rauhouse)

TWISTED TALES FROM THE VINYL WASTELANDS SET
Burn Your Bra, Baby by Bennie Johnson
Dark Angel by Benny Joy
Arson Carson by Willie Swanson
Swamp Gas by The Space Walkers
Auctioneer Lover by Wendy Powers
The Guy Who Looks Like Me by Big Shorty
Marijuana, the Devil Flower by Johnny Price
Lover Man Minus Sex Appeal by Cousin Zeke

(Background Music: Steel Guitar Stomp by Hank Penny)
Feelin' Right Tonight by Marti Brom
Okie's in the Pokie by Jimmy Patton
In the Nuthouse Now by Angry Johnny & GTO
Long Hauls, Close Calls by Hank III
Good Morning Judge by Louis Innis & His Stringdusters
(Background Music: Tobacco Road by Southern Culture on the Skids)

You like this hillbilly stuff? If so, then you'll probably like some of my previous episodes like:

Episode 26: Hillbilly Pigout
Episode 22: Honky in a Cheap Motel
Episode 16: Hillbilly Heaven
Episode 10: More Santa Fe Opry Favorites
Episode 8: Santa Fe Opry Favorites Vol. 2
Episode 2: Santa Fe Opry Favorites

Listen to this podcast 7 p.m. Mountain Time Tuesday December 28 on Real Punk Radio

Sunday, December 19, 2010

TERRELL'S SOUND WORLD PLAYLIST

Sunday, December 19, 2010
KSFR, Santa Fe, N.M.
10 p.m. to midnight Sundays Mountain Time
Host: Steve Terrell

Webcasting!
101.1 FM
email me during the show! terrell@ksfr.org

THE STEVE TERRELL CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
Ain't No Santa Claus on the Midnight Stage by Captain Beefheart
Santa Can't Stay by Dwight Yoakam
Jingle Bell Rock by The Fall
I Believe in Father Christmas by Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Christmas Lights by Wild Billy Childish & The Musicians Of The British Empire
Eggnog by The Rockin' Guys
Real Live Doll by The Trashmen 
Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto by James Brown 
Put The X Back In Xmas by Candye Kane & Country Dick Montana
I Know What You Want For Christmas by Kay Martin & Her Body Guards

The Rocking Disco Santa Claus by The Sisterhood
I'm Givin' You the Blues (For Christmas) by Thee Fine Lines
Sleigh Bells, Reindeer & Snow by Rita Faye Wilson
Shake Hands With Santa Claus by Louis Prima
Santa Claus is Surfin' To Town by Soupy Sales 
Santa Claus by The Sonics 
Santa Claus by Thee Headcoatees 
Dinosaur Christmas by Wee Hairy Beasties
North Pole Boogie by Billy Briggs 
A Christmas Carol by Tom Lehrer 
White Christmas by Otis Redding 

God Rest Yee Merry Gentlemen by Legendary Shack Shakers
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas by Johnny Maestro & The Brooklyn Bridge 
Christmas Night in Harlem by Louis Armstrong 
It's Christmas Time by The Qualities
Hey Santa Claus by The Chesterfield Kings 
B.C Clark's Anniversary Sale by (anonymous jingle singers)
Sleigh Ride by Alvin & The Chipmunks 
Monster's Holiday by Lon Chaney Jr.
Christmas at K-Mart by Root Boy Slim & The Sex Change Band 
The Jesus Song by The Persuasions 
Lucy's Tiger Den by Terry Allen
Sausage and Sauerkraut for Christmas by The Polkaholics

Merry Christmas from the Family by Robert Earl Keen
Christmas Everyday (Maybe It'll Help) by Giant Sand
Christmas is a Special Day by Fats Domino
A Change at Christmas by The Flaming Lips
Christmas Lullaby by Shane MacGowan & The Popes
Oh Holy Night by Brian Wilson


Subscribe to The Big Enchilada Podcast! CLICK HERE


Friday, December 17, 2010

THE SANTA FE OPRY PLAYLIST

Friday, December, 2010
KSFR, Santa Fe, NM
Webcasting!
10 p.m. to midnight Fridays Mountain Time
Host: Steve Terrell

101.1 FM
email me during the show! terrell@ksfr.org


OPENING THEME: Buckaroo by Buck Owens & The Buckaroos
Bang Bang Baby, Bang Bang Merry Christmas by Angry Johnny & The Killbillies
11 Months, 29 Days by Johnny Paycheck
Take an Old Cold Tater and Wait by Little Jimmy Dickens
Oh! You Pretty Woman Asleep At The Wheel with Willie Nelson
Sweet Baby of Mine by Marti Brom
Friends by Cracker
Bad Road, Good People by Boris McCutcheon & The Saltlicks
All I Want For Christmas is My Upper Plate by Homer & Jethro 
Can Man Christmas by Joe West with Mike the Can Man

Law and Order on the Border by Gary Pinon 
Touch of Evil by Tom Russell with Eliza Gilkyson
Hot Tamale Pete by Bob Skyles & His Skyrockets 
Queen of Skid Row by Luke Gibbons 
If The River Was Whiskey by Charlie Poole & The North Carolina Ramblers 
Santa's Birthday Feast by Cootie Leroux & Nat King Kong 
Pick a Bale of Cotton by Flathead

That Christmas Moon by Leon Redbone 
Pots and Pans by Ray Wylie Hubbard 
Half a Boy, Half a Man by Queen Ida 
Must Be Santa by Brave Combo
The Polkaholics Are Comin' to Town by The Polkaholics 
Sugar Creek by Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band 
Stealing Hubcaps by Billy Ledbetter 
Dump Road Yodel by Legendary Shack Shakers 
Wine, Women and Loud Happy Songs by Ringo Starr 
Kiss Me Quick and Go by The Maddox Brothers and Rose
Someone Stole My Santa Suit by The Christmas Jug Band with Dan Hicks

Something Funny in Santa's Lap by The Moaners
The Wig He Made Her Wear by Drive-By Truckers 
Your Hearty Laugh by The Defibulators
Blue Christmas Lights by Chris Hillman & Herb Pederson
Snowin' on Raton by Doug Jeffords 
Old Toy Trains by Roger Miller
CLOSING THEME: Comin' Down by The Meat Puppets


Subscribe to The Big Enchilada Podcast! CLICK HERE
Steve Terrell is proud to report to the monthly Freeform American Roots Radio list

TERRELL'S SOUND WORLD PLAYLIST

Sunday, October , 2024 KSFR, Santa Fe, NM, 101.1 FM  Webcasting! 10 p.m. to midnight Sundays Mountain Time Host: Steve Terrell E...