CD-Charts Position 41
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Gold

CD-Charts > Music > Alt. Country
by: Ryan Adams

Release Date February 05, 2001
This is the first Ryan album I bought and now I have all of his stuff it's still one of my favourites. He's unquestionably (to me) one of the most talented singers/songwriters there has ever been, and how other less deserving artists continuously receive more attention and sales remains beyond me, but the sensible people know who's best!

Gold is Ryan's most accessible album, in the sense that the songs are catchy (and most of them are radio-playable), but that doesn't mean they are any less intelligent than any of his other material. He sings thought-provoking, challenging lyrics which always repay careful listening.

Highlights for me include New York, New York, Answering Bell, Rescue Blues, Wild Flowers, Firecracker... ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 42
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The National

CD-Charts > Music > Alt. Country
by: National

Release Date November 25, 2002
I explored the National's back catalogue because I enjoyed Alligator & Boxer so much. This album is truly excellent, and stands up well to their later work. I think one of the best things about the National's music is their amazing lyrics - complex, bittersweet, emotional without going anywhere near slushy. I thought this album was as accessible as Alligator & Boxer, so even if you're new to the National then give it a go.

By the way, they are great live. Nothing like I imagined from their albums - the lead singer is truly manic on stage. Catch them if you can.

CD-Charts Position 43
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Pneumonia

CD-Charts > Music > Alt. Country
by: Whiskeytown

Release Date May 26, 2003
This is definitely my favorite CD to listen to when going to bed, and I mean that in a good way. These songs are so gentle, and it's hard to believe Ryan Adams was like, what, 24 when he put this album out?

CD-Charts Position 44
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Another Country

CD-Charts > Music > Alt. Country
by: Tift Merritt

Release Date April 14, 2008
Another Country doesn't actually refer to some kind of re-inventing of Country Music (or Americana in it's other guise) but to the fact that how, in a time of personal turmoil, Tift Merritt emigrated to France. The problems aren't quantified in any great detail, but its clear that the Tift Merritt of her third album is more disillusioned and introspective than the Tift Merritt of her earlier albums.

And whilst one wouldn't wish to inflict such emotional pain onto anyone, it is clear that these problems have gone some way to raising her music up to another level.

There are a handful of up-tempo numbers, Tell Me Something True, with it's Mowton-esque backing is one such highlight, but most of the album is a more subdued affair. It's none ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 45
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Demolition

CD-Charts > Music > Alt. Country
by: Ryan Adams

Release Date May 26, 2003
'Demolition' is Ryan's collection of demo's "left over" from the various recording sessions in Nashville, Los Angeles and Stockholm circa 'Gold'. Indeed, this album seems to be the flipside of his second album proper and is best described as 'a bit of a mixed bag, but mostly good'. On the record he works with backing band the Pinkhearts, Gillian Welch, 'Heartbreaker' collaborator David Rawlings, 'Heartbreaker' and 'Gold' producer Ethan Johns, Carrie Hamilton Chris Stills, Bucky Baxter and Greg Leisz.

Tracks include the pleasant country tracks, but mildly disappointing, 'Desire' and 'Hallelujah', which is nothing more than a second rate 'Firecracker' from 'Gold'. In contrast, acoustic ditties such as the Nick Drake-like 'You Will Always Be The Same' and ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 46
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Decoration Day

CD-Charts > Music > Alt. Country
by: Drive By Truckers

Release Date August 28, 2006

This one of those albums that creeps up on you and catches you unawares. On the first listening you think, well, that was all right. But pretty soon you're thinking it's as good as anything DBT have done. And on each subsequent listening there's something new, something you didn't notice before because there's so much other stuff going on.

That's the way it went down for me, anyway.

Stylistically DBT never deliver the same package twice running. Take two adjacent songs - Marry Me and My Sweet Annette. Both matrimonially themed, the former could have been written by The Faces and performed by The Stones. It sounds like something omitted from Forty Licks, the Stones' greatest hits package, but only because in a moment of supreme negligence ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 47
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This World Is Not My Home

CD-Charts > Music > Alt. Country
by: Amy LaVere

Release Date August 18, 2008

This one of those albums that creeps up on you and catches you unawares. On the first listening you think, well, that was all right. But pretty soon you're thinking it's as good as anything DBT have done. And on each subsequent listening there's something new, something you didn't notice before because there's so much other stuff going on.

That's the way it went down for me, anyway.

Stylistically DBT never deliver the same package twice running. Take two adjacent songs - Marry Me and My Sweet Annette. Both matrimonially themed, the former could have been written by The Faces and performed by The Stones. It sounds like something omitted from Forty Licks, the Stones' greatest hits package, but only because in a moment of supreme negligence ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 48
Average Rating:

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The Good Life

CD-Charts > Music > Alt. Country
by: Justin Townes Earle

Release Date March 31, 2008
I really enjoyed this. It is full of well crafted, intelligent country songs, which establish the artist in his own right. Play it again and again, and it remains a great listen.

CD-Charts Position 49
Average Rating:

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Bulletproof

CD-Charts > Music > Alt. Country
by: Reckless Kelly

Release Date July 07, 2008
I really enjoyed this. It is full of well crafted, intelligent country songs, which establish the artist in his own right. Play it again and again, and it remains a great listen.

CD-Charts Position 50
Average Rating:

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Washington Square Serenade

CD-Charts > Music > Alt. Country
by: Steve Earle

Release Date October 01, 2007
'washington square serenade' represents change on all fronts for Earle. There's a change in mood from the last few intensely political releases. This is a more personal album, reflecting his own life, a move to the big city, married life, more settled, more satisfied. Yet Earle has always been a liberal artist favoured by urban americana fans, rather than heartlands country. Musically there are changes too: electronic beats, world music. From Steve Earle, Mister Organic, Mister American Roots. Who'd have thought? Yet this too reflects Earle's move to New York, as kick off song 'Tennessee Blues' waves "Goodbye Guitar Town", in 'Down Here Below' a NY celebrity hawk whose position at the top of the food chain serves as a metaphor for the city's lords of the universe, contrasts with the lot ... Read More: