January Podcast Picks

Dori Freeman’s album “Letters Never Read” met with universal praise upon its release in October. Photo by Scott Simontacchi

Stream or download January Podcast Picks: January ’18 Podcast Picks

Seemingly out of nowhere, Dori Freeman’s eponymous debut album took alt-country nation by surprise in 2016 with its refreshing, straight-ahead approach. All talent, no schtick — and the media praise flowed.

Same story late last year when Freeman’s follow-up, Letters Never Sent, hit the streets in October, just in time to make it on an endless list of “Best of 2017” rankings. No sophomore slump for Freeman, who picked up right where she left off with “If I Could Make You My Own,” the lead song from the album that tops this month’s Podcast Picks.

Rowdy good fun: Banditos will be at Doug Fir Lounge in Portland on Sunday, Jan. 28. Photo by David McAllister

We also feature new music from a few more of our favorites, including Caleb Caudle, First Aid Kit, Courtney Marie Andrews and the legendary Mavis Staples.

As for bands heading our way for shows in the upcoming weeks, we offer a little rowdy fun from Banditos, another song from Whitney Rose (we featured her last month as well), a spooky little tune from Canada’s Deep Dark Woods, and some excellent red-dirt country by The Randy Rogers Band.

And speaking of legends, we’ll forgive country’s true outlaw, Billy Don Burns, for misspelling Gram Parsons’ name in the song we include here. Famous for his association with Willie Nelson and his many scrapes with the law, Burns is a criminally underappreciated talent who will appear at Dante’s here in Portland tonight! (That’s Wednesday, Jan. 17 for you folks scoring at home).

So dial it up and settle in for a fun little ride — you can download or stream this month’s Podcast picks right here at our home page.

Here’s the playlist:

If I Could Make You My Own, Dori Freeman
Fine Fine Day, Banditos
Empty Arms, Caleb Caudle
Long Lonely Road, Valerie June
Trying Times, Carrie Nation and the Speakeasy
Graham Parsons, Hank Williams and Me, Billy Don Burns
Whole Lotta Highway (With A Million Miles To Go), Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives
Fireworks, First Aid Kit
Just A Drink Away, Charley Crockett
Arizona, Whitney Rose
Delta Dawn, Hellbound Glory
Little Drunk Fists, Slobberbone
Something To Hold On To, Turnpike Troubadours
Way Out, John Calvin Abney
If All I Was Was Black, Mavis Staples
San Antone, The Randy Rogers Band
Without Your Love, Chris Stapleton
San Juan Hill, The Deep Dark Woods
May Your Kindness Remain, Courtney Marie Andrews
Sid and Nancy, Micah Schnabel

 

Springtime Podcast Picks

margoprice

East Nashville’s Margo Price, leading the new pack of country traditionalists.

Stream or download Podcast Picks: Podcast Picks 3-28-16

The momentum’s been building for the first part of 2016, with appearances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and the Conan O’Brien Show. Finally, with the release last week of her debut solo album, “Midwest Farmer’s Daughter,” Margo Price takes the spotlight as country’s next big thing.

We kickoff our latest playlist with the epic “Hands Of Time,” a six-minute sample of the kind of traditional country that has helped Price stand above the noisy din of cookie-cutter country that dominates radio playlists across the dial. Expect to hear plenty more from Ms. Price the rest of the year — she’s recently made her debut at the Grand Ole Opry and we’re sure she’ll be making headlines through the summer concert season.

With Price setting the stage, we attempt to shatter the mold with this playlist by featuring some of the best new voices in roots and country, including Parker Milsap, Caleb Caudle, Brent Cobb, Australian Emma Swift and our hometown favorite sons, Portland’s Richmond Fontaine. We also feature a brand-new song from Mudcrutch, the Tom Petty side project that will be releasing its first album in 10 years in May, and a terrific song from 2015 podcast guests Indianhead. You may remember them debuting “Angelina” live in The Helm on Episode #57 of That Much Further West Podcast.

We round out the playlist with songs from several of our well-established favorites, including a tune from veteran bad-ass Paul Thorn and cuts from Drunken Prayer, Two Cow Garage, Austin Lucas (new album soon!), Cory Branan, Steve Earle, Valerie June and Sturgill Simpson. And we’d be remiss if we didn’t take a moment to honor a lost brother, Phife Dawg, the five-foot assassin of A Tribe Called Quest. R.I.P. Phife Dawg . . . thanks for the rhymes and inspiration. You’ll be missed!

Here’s the songlist. Enjoy!

Hands Of Time, Margo Price
Wherever You Are, Parker Milsap
Wasted Thursday, Caleb Caudle
Love Looks Like A Master, Drunken Prayer
Trailer, Mudcrutch
Diggin’ Holes, Brent Cobb
Angelina, Indianhead
What The Hell Is Goin’ On?, Paul Thorn
Let’s Hit One More Place, Richmond Fontaine
My Great Gatsby, Two Cow Garage
Let Me In, Austin Lucas
All The Rivers In Colorado, Cory Branan
Buggin’ Out, A Tribe Called Quest
Seasons, Emma Swift
You’re The Best Lover That I Ever Had, Steve Earle
Trials, Troubles, Tribulations, Valerie June
Brace For Impact (Live A Little), Sturgill Simpson