This page is part of an opinionated overview of "alt.country" music, with record reviews by me, Joe Sixpack... Naturally, it's a work in progress, and quite incomplete, so your comments and suggestions are welcome.
The Maines Brothers Band "Route 1, Acuff" (Texas Soul, 1980)
The Maines Brothers Band "Hub City Moan" (Texas Soul, 1981)
The Maines Brothers Band "Panhandle Dancer" (Texas Soul, 1982)
The Maines Brothers Band "The Boys Are Back In Town" (Mercury)
The Maines Brothers Band "High Rollin' " (Mercury, 1984)
The Maines Brothers Band "Red Hot And Blue" (Texas Soul, 1987)
The Maines Brothers Band "Wind Storm" (Texas Soul, 1990)
Raul Malo/Pat Flynn/Rob Ickes/Dave Pomeroy "The Nashville Acoustic Sessions" (CMH, 2004)
A nice, relaxed set, featuring country crooner Raul Malo (of the Mavericks), along with fusiongrass studio cats Rob Ickes (best known for his work with Alison Krauss), Pat Flynn (of Newgrass Revival) and bassist Dave Pomeroy, all longtime veterans of the Nashville studio scene. Here they indulge a passion for the simpler side of the country-folk tradition. Malo's mellow vocals on the album's opener, a sweet version of "Blue Bayou," is an album highlight. It's also a pleasant surprise to hear versions of two Louvin Brothers oldies, "When I Stop Dreaming" and "Great Atomic Power," and even a lazy version of "Moon River" and Van Morrison's "Bright Side Of The Road." In places, they overplay their hand -- Ickes' dobro work is mixed too hot throughout much of the album, and Malo goes a little overboard on the Gram Parsons white soul weeper, "Hot Burrito #2." Overall, though, this is a warm. Welcoming album that listeners in search of a softer sound will probably enjoy... Mavericks fans, in particular, will appreciate the chance to hear Malo back in a more mellow setting.
Mark David Manders "People And Places" (Campfire, 1996)
Mark David Manders & Nuevo Tejas "Chili Pepper Sunset" (Blind Nello, 2000)
A throaty Texas outlaw crooner, following in the footsteps of Steve Fromholtz, Rusty Weir, Robert Earl Keen, Jr. and all them kinda fellers. There's some good songwriting here, but if the truth be told, he wasn't quite ready for prime time on this disc... Mostly it's in his phrasing: Manders rushes his lines and falls out of the tempo a little too often; still, it's an enthusiastic, cheerful performance, with a few good boozin'-losin' songs. Worth checking out.
Mark David Manders "Highs And Lows" (Blind Nello, 2002)
Also kind of uneven, tho' the loopy talking-blues ramble, "Suicidal Pigeon" -- a surrealistic shaggy dog story starring a sad, speaking pigeon and a concerned good Samaritan hitchhiker -- is a kooky classic.
Carolyn Mark "Party Girl" (Mint, 2000)
Carolyn Mark & The Room-Mates "Terrible Hostess" (Mint, 2003)
Meditations on social drinking, late night parties, dirty dishes, bad sex and the more intoxicating side of the night life. Downbeat, kinda depressing, material, but with a wicked sense of humor and a more accomplished feel than other Mark outings. It seems like these are subjects nearer to her heart than the trailer trash-isms of her alt.country work... She also veers into jazzish torch singing and a bit of melodic indiepop. The stylistic variety helps, as does the moodiness of the bummerific songwriting. Probably her strongest work to date.
Carolyn Mark & The New Best Friends "The Pros And Cons Of Collaboration" (Mint, 2004)
Carolyn Mark & The Room-Mates "Just Married: An Album Of Duets" (Mint, 2005)
Mars Arizona "Love Songs From The Apocalypse" (Big Barn, 2002)
Mars Arizona "All Over The Road" (Brown Bear, 2005)
Mars Arizona "Hello Cruel World" (Big Barn, 2008)
The Mavericks - see Commercial Country
Kimberly M'Carver "Breathe The Moonlight" (Philo-Rounder, 1989)
Kimberly M'Carver "Inherited Road" (Philo-Rounder, 1994)
Kimberly M'Carver "Cross The Danger Line" (Prime CD, 2001)
The vocal (and stylistic) similarity to Dolly Parton is the very first thing you'll notice with this Houston gal... Debts to Nanci Griffith and Rosie Flores also seem likely. At any rate, even though her material is patently derivative, she has her moments. Tunes such as "Death and Texas" and "When I Hear Trains" may point to future greatness... who knows?
Delbert McClinton - see artist discography
James McMurtry "Too Long In The Wasteland" (Sony, 1989)
James McMurtry "Candyland" (Sony, 1992)
James McMurtry "Where'd You Hide The Body" (Sony, 1995)
James McMurtry "It Had To Happen" (Sugar Hill, 1997)
James McMurtry "Walk Between The Raindrops" (Sugar Hill, 2003)
James McMurtry "Saint Mary Of The Woods" (Sugar Hill, 2002)
James McMurtry "Live In Aught-Three" (Compadre, 2003)
I've never really "got" McMurty's vibe... His studio albums seem too controlled and cerebral for my tastes... But here on this fine live album, he lets his hair down and gets a little rough, playing several long, grungy Americana jams (the average song length here is about six minutes), suggesting a mix of Warren Zevon, Neil Young and Steve Earle... I gotta say, I liked it, and I didn't really expect to... Worth checking out!
James McMurtry "Childish Things" (Compadre, 2005)
Alt.Country Albums - More Letter "M"
Hick Music Index
