I've been working through my backlog of albums I've been meaning to listen to. Just got to Robinella and the CC String Band's self-titled major label debut and I'm overwhelmed by the music! It's jazz-infused bluegrass with a very sweet undertone provided by smooth guitar work and some vocal work clearly inspired by Ella Fitzgerald. I wouldn't say this is easy listening bluegrass but it is certainly goes down nicely and leaves behind a very nice flavor.

Personally, I was struck by "God's Unchanging Hand" because I recall that old gospel hymn and the new take sounds like something from a West Virginia one room church on Sunday. "Tennesse Saturday Night" which puts a little boogie woogie into the album is a fun romp while "Marie Laveaux" is a talking sort of song that Shel Silverstein wrote and is bound to delight anyone who has never heard it.

Regardless of which tracks you like best, this album has a shine that few debuts possess. The arrangement and musicianship is extremely tight but manages to feel more laid back than a Sunday drive.

I don't know that much about the wonderful artists behind this album but I know they've hit a groove pretty early in their career. What I do know is that you can find Robinella and the CC String band at their homepage and coming up September 11, 2003 on Soundstage, the PBS show hosted by John Hiatt.

Todd Snider's road manager and one of Americana's best-liked personas, Uncle Skip Litz, passed on this week at his home. He was known by just about everyone in the genre for his affable smile, bushy moustache, and willingness to live life to its fullest. I only met him once, said few words, but he was kind in that brief period. It was a few weeks ago in Tampa and he passed my wife and I backstage to talk with Todd and Melita. Hate to see such a lovable guy that so many people liked and knew go, but he clearly lived life on his own terms and for that I am glad.

If you buy Americana music online, buy it from Miles of Music. They feature stuff to read, stuff to listen to, stuff to watch, and stuff to stick on walls among other things. Nicely built and easy to find the aforementioned stuff, "MoM" as it refers to itself is a fantastic spot for all things good. It somewhat bothers me that a store refers to itself in the third person using an acronym, but hey, it's like that quirky cousin that dresses and talks funny but has a great album collection.

In the past I've found an album here and there that are worth listening to. Lucky for me I received two new albums on the heels of Kris Kristofferson's Broken Freedom Song that were very good! Also of note, both of the artists are from my home state of Indiana.

First, John Hiatt and the Grifters' Beneath This Gruff Exterior is a heap of fun! It's got some rockabilly tendencies but never strays far from the Hoosier songwriting sensibility we've come to know from Hiatt. The revved-up guitar work on the album is reminscent of other Hiatt songs such as "Tennessee Plates" and if you've heard that song you know that means fun. As always, Sonny Landreth's guitar is almost always as stellar as the songwriting. Futher, this album just plain rocks--it's bluesy, driving, roots punk at it's best.

Second, and a surprise of sorts, is John Mellencamp's Trouble No More from Columbia. Say what you will about Mellencamp, but his heart shines on what may be the most-rootsy major-label release in years! Mellencamp covers some of the most influential artists of roots music like Robert Johnson and Hoagy Carmichael. Listening to the barebones approach of the album's production delighted me--I felt like I was sitting on the front porch of John's house outside of Bloomington. Hearing Mellencamp growl out classic songs he's clearly made his own is moving. Further, the closing protest song is nearly as brave as Kristofferson's recent political statements on Broken Freedom Song and certainly going to gain him few friends. This is a brave album both musically and politically. Way to go John!

So despite a few bad albums I've heard recently, which will go unnamed, the recent batch has been very good. Hope you get a chance to hear them!

It's been a great year for Americana music. As I've contemplated my nominations and votes for this year's Americana Music Awards, I realized how much this genre has grown since the days when we could not even agree on a name. I can now go to the local bookstore and find No Depression. There's an Americana section in several stores around town where I can get Rounder, Lost Highway, and OhBoy albums among a growing number of other independent labels. While talking with friends more people have heard the albums I love and seen the artists live in some cases. We have a published weekly chart and reporting stations! Of course, no one will ever forget the first annual Americana Music Awards--the Cash family performance and Billy Joe Shaver's gracious acceptance of his first award. It's been an wonderful year for the genre.

Thinking this over I have some wishes for the coming year in Americana Music. First, I hope that more radio stations and venues welcome the fine musicians that we've been fortunate enough to call "Americana." If more people are exposed to the culture and capabilities of the talent these songwriters and performers put on display when given the chance, the artists will finally get the recognition they deserve. Second, I hope that when radio and venues catch on to the sound they never forget that given their freedom the artists can and will produce marvelous works of art. Often, genres of music are destroyed by over-production and forcing the artists to supress their own creative vision. Americana thrives on personal voices and vision--let's keep it that way.

Anyway, thanks for the fantastic year.

By the time I'm actually ready to walk outside today the rain will be upon us. Someone told me it rained every day in Florida at some point. Being a rather general statement and a fairly large state I assumed this was a minor part of living here. My assumption was incorrect--it rains everyday over most of Florida in the summer months. Today is no different.

The best part about the rain however is that more often than in other places it is that warm summer rain that comes in mammoth drops and has it's own scent. There's plenty of the regular cold, dark rainstorms but more than I'm used to it's that pleasant cleansing feel of summer rain.

Let's hope for summer rain today.

Like most days, today's commute was slow. Unlike most days, I at least had a little break from the monotony in my rearview mirror. In a perfectly conservative four-door sedan, wearing a quite austere pair of glasses, was what must have been James Brown's white half-brother. This man was around sixty and nearly grooved his way out of his starched oxford as he drummed his steering wheel and sang along. He gave absolutely no thought to those watching him as they waited for the line to move. His head jerked and shoulders twitched in spasms unlike you seen outside of a hospital. Clearly not feeling the same about his commute as I, he made my drive a little easier. Thanks!

A good bit of my life I've enjoyed breakfast during the normal dinner hours. As a child it was a treat and a great way to get something sweet in place of the normally frightening array of vegetables. My high school days were fueled primarily by packaged foods and caffeine so cereal and a Coke made for a great energy boost. In college Denny's $2.00 Grand Slam was a great way to begin the recovery from a variety of libatious liquids. Now that my hair has begun migrating from my head, breakfast during the evening is simply a way to avoid any more work than needed while preparing dinner. Through the various stages of life to this point, breakfast for dinner has been a constant.

Anyone else eat breakfast at night?

We went to see the "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" with guarded but high hopes. The comic book is a fantastic read and Sean Connery is always fun. As with most comic-film translations, we were somewhat unsure because movies more likely than not ruin the fun between the panels.

Let's start with what I liked. The casting of Naseeruddin Shah as Captain Nemo is perfect as is the portrayal given the script. The good captain gets to show off his fighting skills in several fun scenes. Also, Jason Flemyng puts in a very credible Dr. Jekyll.

Unfortunately just about everything else about the film is bad. The cinematography is really poor and it shows during the fast-paced fight scenes. The directors switch between a CGI Invisible Man and painted actor too frequently to not get annoyed at the quite obvious differences. Mr. Hyde, while benefitting from good character design, suffers from poor CGI as well. Futher, the campy transitions and ads that made the novel such a fun read are remarkably absent in the film. If it weren't for photography and some poorly-done CGI you wouldn't know this was a period piece.

The script is really flat in comparison to the graphic novel, which it should be said is nearly disregarded in this storyline. The plot begins with recruiting the League but unfortunately does not take advantage of the fun the novel presents. We make time to pick up Dorian Gray which turns out to be a rather poor addition. We also add Tom Sawyer as a son-like figure for Quartermain which dilutes the story to just a sappy pile of garbage. Instead of attempting to save the world from an anti-gravity-fueled madman, we're attempting to first save Venice from explosives then finally an army of League duplicates which sadly never fully appear. It really bears next to no resemblance to the book which spawned this stinker of a film.

Also exceptionally flat is the depiction of what could and should otherwise be very dynamic characters. Connery's Quartermain has become the focus of the movie while Mina Murray is now a bit player. Peta Wilson's Mina comes off terribly with horrific dialogue that she's forced to murmur. Somehow Connery has managed to turn the graphic novel's flawed, bitter, yet courageous Quartermain into a redux of just about every other character he's played--honorable and strong yet predictable and boring.

That may just be the cause of all the problems--Quartermain is portrayed as without flaw, his pain a curse set upon him by poor luck. In the book Quartermain is a man with vices, cautious trust, and reluctance if not inability to lead. It endears him to the reader as somewhat of a grouch with a soft-side. He's portrayed in the book as older and more feeble, relying more on his wit than brute strength. The film sadly takes the low road and paints him as an action hero which left me feeling quite unfulfilled. It's almost as if Connery refuses to play the role of a drugged-up whoring Quartermain which would have made for much more interesting dynamics with Mina. Anyway, the change just plain sucked.

If you liked the comic or actually like good films, skip this movie. It has so many holes and inconsistencies in both script and performance that it would be a serious waste of anyone's time. Further, the movie simply looks awful! I haven't seen a worse film all year.

Kris Kristofferson is perhaps better known in popular circles as an actor. However, anyone with any kind of musical acumen recognizes Kristofferson as one of America's songwriting treasures. Through the decades of his quite productive career the Texan songwriter has helped shape the musical tastes of the world. Credited with crowd favorites such as "Sunday Morning Coming Down", "Help Me Make It Through The Night", and "Me and Bobby McGee" among throngs of other hits, Kristofferson has been one of the first songwriters that other musicians cite as their hero. He's run with the Highwaymen, discovered John Prine and Steve Goodman, and scored hits on the big screen with "Payback", "Planet of the Apes", the Blade films, and my personal favorite, "Convoy".

Of course we could list his movies, albums, and successes until my pen was out of ink, but his latest effort makes me nearly forget all of that. The newly released Broken Freedom Song on OhBoy is classic Kristofferson live mixed with a few new tunes. The song selection is moody and haunting; the stripped-down arrangements and recording are a perfect match for these songs and in some ways steals the show. There's not a bad song on this album--in fact most songwriters would kill to have written any of them. Yet as with all of his work, there are profound observations and meaning behind each. When speaking of the songs, Kristofferson said, "I like that some of the old songs that are meaningful with current events. ‘Darby’s Castle’ makes me think of post-9/11 America. All the materialism, we're losing the eye on the real prize." That's a theme that is certainly the current beneath this album's surging river: America today seen by those living in the thick of everyday life.

This is one of the finest albums of the year in Americana, and for that matter, any genre. It is rare for me to pick up an album and not skip around seeking the tracks I like best, but this album should be listened to from end-to-end as it tells a story. While the songs don't all tell the story from the same vantage, they paint Kristofferson's picture of America in it's gritty glory with all it's flaws before the listener yet heralded for it's realness. I can't recommend this album enough nor find the words to explain how good this man really is.

I've been working some long days recently which lead me back to the ambition to get paid millions to work at the local Dairy Queen. After applying for a position and using my best negotiating tactics I found I couldn't get them to budget on minimum wage. Millions is a pretty unrealistic expectation so I would settle for hundreds of thousands.

Until then I trudge daily to a job I actually like. The problem is the drive. If I have to work long days, driving an hour each way makes it a rough row to hoe if you have ever hoed a row. Of course, having hoed many rows I can say that farming is a much more difficult life in many regards. But to get back to the drive, it's these idiots on the road that make my life blow for about two hours a day. Either they're rubbernecking at a dude changing his tire on the shoulder or their talking to someone on the phone who probably is just in front of them on the road. Sometimes drivers play blind-spot bingo jumping from car-to-car attempting to sit in each blindspot along their trip. When I drive it's a beeline from one place to the next. I meander only on pleasure trips--the morning commute is a place for business in my mind.

So if you're on the road today and some moron comes careening buy WITHOUT a cell phone glued to his ear, it's probably me.

The rain here might never quit. I wouldn't mind very much should it actually rain Monday through Friday during normal business hours. Raining during my hard earned weekends and evenings have quickly become the norm rather than exception. Rather than attempt to derive some inspiration from the recent weather, I thought I would simply express my frustration.

That being said, my thoughts turned to how many of my favorite songwriters have been inspired by the rain. For instance, John Fogerty wrote "Who'll Stop the Rain" and "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" The Jayhawks' most recent album is called Rainy Day Music. John Hiatt wrote "Feels Like Rain" many years ago while more recently Todd Snider confronted the rain in "Forty Five Miles." Willie Nelson sang Fred Rose's "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" and Johnny Cash performed Loudon Wainwright's "The Man Who Wouldn't Cry." Robert Earl Keen took a taxi through the pouring rain to return to his wife in "I'm Coming Home"--a song that made Sleepy John famous.

So screw it, let it rain.

Yesterday was rainy so we decided to stop at The King's Head Pub on US1 for a bit of comfort food. It's inviting ivied walls and classic double-decker out front have called us often but this is the first time we've stopped. The interior is dark and comfortable with a fireplace, church pews for booths, and armchairs and stools gathered around small tables. The walls are covered with memories of England and the ceiling is draped with the kingdom's flags.

The food was decidedly British with the typical bangers and mash, steak and kidney pie, cottage pie, sheppard's pie, and what's been called the best fish and chips on the first coast. The beer selection was fairly limited with Guinness, Harp, Bass, and Fuller's as well as some ciders. Lot's of half-and-half mixes were available.

We started with a German Reisling and an Imperial pint of Fuller's London Special. The first thing I noticed is that the beer was served at the proper temperature instead of the normal ice cold state of most beer at local stops. The beef and barley soup sounded like the perfect way to warm up a rainy day and it did not fail. It was perfect. From there I had bangers and mash wish was served with brown gravy. The sausages were quite nice and the potatoes were a nice partner. They sent two plump sausages but I could only eat one. After we split a nice piece of chocolate cake and had coffee.

After finishing we noticed the time. We had spent almost two hours in the little pub without waiting impatiently for our meal. The pace was relaxed and that was in great contrast to most restaurants we visit. There were several distractions including some British ex-pats, a couple of guys playing darts, and the decor to keep us entertained during the course of the evening. Saturday evenings usually feature a pub sing-along as well.

So if you get the time, tip a pint at the King's Head Pub outside Saint Augustine on US1. You can reach them at 904.823.9787.

CNN reports that Stonehenge's mystery has been unlocked--it is a vagina. Maybe I'm missing something here but for some reason I doubt scientists around the world are smacking their foreheads and thinking "how could I miss that!"

Viewed from above, Perks suggests Stonehenge's inner bluestone circle represents the labia minora and the giant outer sarsen stone circle is the labia majora. The altar stone is the clitoris and the open center is the birth canal.

Just got back from Pirates of the Carribbean. Hate Johnny Depp in general, loved him in this film. He put on quite a show as does the rest of the cast. I expected to come away unfulfilled but entertained. Surprisingly, this is a very rich film even if not intellectual. The dialogue is superb and performances brilliant. Mix in a little action, lots of in-jokes, and rum and you have yourself a winner. I wouldn't call it Oscar material but I rarely like the snobbish bores that make that show anyway.

What the movie is however is the redefinition of a pirate film. This pays tribute to the genre while Depp rebuilds what a pirate should be. Geoffrey Rush as the very snide villian is beyond comparison and only pales to Depp's effort. The remaining cast deliver nice supporting efforts with only a few exceptions. Ultimately, it casts a hypnotic spell as you journey along Jack Sparrow's--I mean Captain Jack Sparrow's path where you only find yourself realizing how immersed you've become when hearing "Davy Jones' locker" seems natural.

In hindsight, this movie really makes me want to get on the ride this weekend and relive little pieces of the movie. In fact, the story in the movie seems to deeply enrich the ride. So maybe I'll ride the ride and then immediately head over to Downtown Disney and see the flick. Pretty dorky but tons of fun.

Everyone seems to have been quite willing to participate in the LeBron James buildup--from shoe companies, media outlets, and agents to the simple NBA fan. Now LeBron would like to deny those same people from seeing his debut at his first pro game in Orlando during the upcoming summer league. His agent apparently preferred that the wunderkind be kept under wraps and not face the pressure of playing before a crowd because after all "he's just 18."

Maybe I'm missing something here but it seems to me that if James wanted privacy to play basketball without a crowd he should have refused the huge contracts to perform in front of fans and gone to college or taken a different job. Whining about earning your buck or in this case bazillions of bucks is just what we expect from a child.

But that's not the least of his antics. James also has asked Orlando to cough up part of the ticket proceeds for a Cleveland charity. Orlando had planned on donating to an Orlando charity. Should Mr. James wish to earn some charity moolah he could write a check himself or convince his Cavaliers to hold a charity game for his choice of groups.

Regardless, he's clearly not ready for this game even if they are ready for him. Original story at ESPN.

Today in my inbox was a variety of Americana news that I thought I would share. First, I'll have a review of Kris Kristofferson's new album Broken Freedom Song: Live From San Francisco in a few days thanks to some help from Kris' agent, Tamara Saviano, and OhBoy Records. They've been so very kind as to provide a transcript of a wonderful, but as yet to be published interview with Kris that covers his thoughts on the album, his reunion with Prine, his current pursuits, and comments on a variety of Americana topics. I'm quite excited as the interview was fantastic.

Second, we'll also have new pictures from the recent Todd Snider show in Tampa soon. The show was great and the pictures were quite entertaining as well.

Next, just want to send well wishes out to Tommy Womack who has decided to trim back the tour schedule to spend more time at home. Tommy's a good songwriter and while you can't see him on the road as much these days, you should pick up his albums to fill the time.

Also, Kent Finlay, the owner of the famous Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marco, TX needs your help. Since 1974 Cheatham Street has been the hot spot for some of country's finest songwriters including Billy Joe Shaver, Willie Nelson, Todd Snider, Jerry Jeff Walker, and the legendary Townes Van Zandt. Kent also is a fine songwriter in his own right. Unfortunately, he is fighting bone cancer and his medical bills have quickly outpaced his insurance. You can help by sending a donation to:

Kent Finlay Medical Assistance Fund
Account #150625
c/o Chere Garza, Assistant Branch Manager
Austin Area Teachers Federal Credit Union
P. O. Box 14867
Austin, Texas 78761

Todd Snider once saw Jerry Jeff Walker and at that moment decided he too could and should be a gypsy songwriter. Last night at Skipper's Smokehouse Snider showed off what he had learned on the road in the last 18 years and the crowd was clearly pleased with the results. Snider's setlist included crowd favorites such as the opening "Vinyl Records" as well as some surprises like "Forty Five Miles", "Georgia On A Fast Train", and a perfect rendition of "A Pirate Looks at Forty." Like other recent shows, Snider strapped on a mandolin for his OhBoy labelmate John Prine's "Fish and Whistle" to which the ample crowd, yours included, delighted.

Most crowds respond very favorably to Snider's storytelling, adept guitar work, and his sometimes wry, yet soulful songwriting. Skipper's packed house however was starving for this man's work and showed it by singing nearly every song with their troubador idol--something aptly applied to Todd's merriment as he crooned "Doublewide Blues."

WMNF, a great Tampa public station, and Skipper's did a fantastic job putting together a magical night at which Todd clearly shined. It was the best Americana show I've ever seen.

My wife and I got a few minutes backstage with Todd before the night was over and he very kindly introduced us to his wife Melita and thanked me for my review of his last album Near Truths and Hotel Rooms. It was good to catch up for a little bit and wish them well on their way south. As many of you who have met Todd know, he is a very appreciative and humble man which despite his incredible talents makes him an even bigger star in our eyes. Thanks Todd!

Today is a good day to do a little bit of nothing. Lunch by the ocean at the Conch House, a little nap, maybe some firewords on the oldest bayfront in the nation, and then bright and early tomorrow we're off to see Todd Snider. Todd's gig is tomorrow night in Tampa. He played last night in Lake Worth after an apparent day at the beach and tonight he's at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville on Duval Street in Key West.

That's the plan. I hope your holiday is just as much fun as you can stand.

I watched an episode of Project Greenlight for the first time tonight. The magic of moviemaking is now gone for me. The collaborative team working on the next film in the Ben Affleck and Matt Damon experiment are no different than any other working team. In fact, they share more with the cast of Survivor or The Real World than they do with most work environments. These people are truly difficult individuals!

Tonight they bickered over the cast and the script. Countless actors and actresses passed over offers to be a part of the film. The directors hated everything about the casting director. The writer was more territorial than a new mother hen. The rest of the team fought with the budget when the more difficult of the two directors asked for a car to replace his aging Eagle Summit. A director of photography candidate apparently is an interrupter which bothered the same prissy ass of a director that wanted a car enough that he called him out. Even though the directors wanted to hire the guy, that candidate pulled out because of the way he was treated. While this all happens, the producer and CEO of Liveplanet attempt to keep the ship from sinking.

Essentially, it looks to me like a bunch of arrogant twits got lucky by winning a contest but now can't play nicely together. At this point making a real film looks to be a long shot for this bunch of morons. Ahh...sounds like good television to me. Or should I say stinks like good television?

Doc says:

Maybe I'm tired of blogging about blogging because now marketers think it's about marketing.

Hmm. Disagreeing with such a respected pundit may be foolish but I'm going to risk it. Blogging is about whatever the reader thinks it's about. Also, blogging is about whatever the author thinks it's about. Interpretation is a key aspect to any media including blogging. Personally, I'm glad marketers think its about marketing--that means they see their opportunity. Likewise I hope environmentalists, technocrats, and soccer moms all think it's about them too. That does not mean I like the fact advertisers see the opportunity or that I'll put an ad on my site. It does mean however that some bloggers are reaching out and finding an audience.

He also makes the point that blogs are journals and he hates the "audience stuff." He's half right on this one. Blogs are journals, but they are also conversations and publications. However, people reading blogs are not simply readers. They can interact, express emotions and feelings just like an audience at a play. They can respond thereby influencing the author. Readers generally just read and from time-to-time perhaps write a letter to the editor which may appear in the next edition. Blogs are much more interactive than other forms of media that have readers. Blogs have audiences.

I'm not down on Doc by any means. In fact I believe he has just coined a great term: BLARG - being tired of blogging. I'm pretty sure his sentiment is that he's not happy that marketers are moving into the blogosphere. Marketing can ruin just about anything decent yet thankfully that is not always the case.