I’d never heard of Truckstop Darlin’ until I did a Spotify search for songs named South Carolina.  Great song.  Sounds a little cleaner on Spotify.

The Flirtations were formed in 1962 in New York, by four women from South Carolina.  Lestine Johnson and sisters Ernestine Pearce, Shirley Pearce and Betty Pearce.

I don’t know anything about this band, but this song has a cool vibe.

Likewise, I know nothing about the band Tennis, but this one also has a cool sound.

Last, but not least, The Outlaws.

Yep.

More.

Somehow, though, I managed to totally miss their new record, Apprentice to Ghosts, released back in February.  Fortunately, the excellent music blog Twangville alerted me to this ear-pleasing development.

Sadly, I don’t see the record on Spotify.  It’s available via Amazon, via Google Play or via iTunes.  Look for a review shortly.

As usual, there were a couple of great songs in the episode, including this beautiful number by Alialujah Choir (featuring the Portland Cello Project).

Simply beautiful song, with an excellent video to go along with it.

Alialujah Choir is not a one-trick pony either.

More great music.

I get a bunch of records to review, and discover and review a lot of good music that way.  But it’s not everyday that a new record by the original lineup of one of the best bands of all time hits my inbox.  But that just happened.

The dB’s have a new record!

It gets better.  Lots better.  This record is excellent.  Better than excellent.  Wonderful.  Perfect.  Holsapple, Stamey, The frickin’ dB’s!

‘Falling Off the Sky’ is the first new dB’s album in a quarter-century. It’s also the first in three decades to feature the band’s original lineup of Peter Holsapple, Chris Stamey, Gene Holder and Will Rigby — the same lineup that recorded the beloved early-’80s classics for deciBels and Repercussion.

Street date is set for June 17 on Bar/None Records.

Listen for yourself.  That Time is Gone.  Is that The dB’s or what?

The second track, Before We Were Born, is even better.  Far Away and Long Ago sounds like a great, undiscovered Beatles song.  There’s not an average song on this record.  It is excellent, from start to finish.  It’s a beautiful blend/mash-up of 80s alternative rock/indie rock/Americana.

She Won’t Drive in the Rain Anymore is as wonderful as its title.  Beautiful.  Wistful, like most great music.

Early leader for my record of the year.  If you buy one record this year, it should be two copies of this one.  One for you and another for some poor soul who doesn’t know about The dB’s.

I gotta go, so I can listen to this record over and over.

I just came across this short documentary about the best band (OK, maybe second best if you consider Tres Hombres era ZZ Top as a separate band from whatever they became later) to ever come out of Houston.  Great records, even better live shows.   One of my all-time favorites.

The Judy’s

Here’s a very good playlist, courtesy of YouTube

While I am still deeply into Spotify, I also enjoy the ability to roll some mixes that are available to those who stubbornly refuse to sign up.

My current favorite of the mix-tape sites is 8tracks.

Here’s our fourth mix.  30 great songs you’ve probably never heard.

Enjoy.  Share.  Tell your friends.

Rancho Mix, Volume 4 from newsome on 8tracks.

@ The EARL (2/22/12)

@ The Earl (2/23/12)

@ The Melting Point (2/24/12)

Among these shows are versions of two of my all-time favorite songs:

Women Without Whiskey

Panties in Your Purse

and a great cover:

Behind Closed Doors

Good stuff!

I love the garage band sound on some of the Stones’ early records.

Speaking of the garage band sound, an awesome song by The Stone Roses.

And finally some newer garage band vibe from The Raveonettes.

My current favorite of the mix-tape sites is 8tracks.

Here’s our third mix.  25 great alt. county songs you’ve probably never heard.  Probably the best mix I’ve ever rolled.

Enjoy.  Share.  Tell your friends.

Rancho Mix Volume 3 from newsome on 8tracks.

Archive

Rancho Mix Volume 1
Rancho Mix Volume 2