According to the little sidebar tool I built I’ve got 31 days until this blog is 10 years old. In order to have 300 posts by then, I still have 20 posts to write. Continue reading “Home Stretch to 300 in 10”
Tag: USSS
USSS: Ross Durand
takes a lot of songwriting confidence to take on the challenge of writing an entire song for each line in Bob Dylan’s Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall. Takes a lotta songwriting chops to pull it off.
This year it looks like Ross Durand is going to finish this seriously ambitious and musically satisfying project. Continue reading “USSS: Ross Durand”
USSS: resonance
I don’t even know his real name; he signs his emails res, but resonance is not just a brilliant songwriter, but a world-class performer. More than one of his songs sound like Styx got back together. Except maybe with even better lyrics. Continue reading “USSS: resonance”
USSS: Phil Norman
Newgrass: it’s what’s for dinner. Okay, maybe that’s not how it goes, but I’ll have Phil Norman‘s take on American bluegrass and folk any day. Continue reading “USSS: Phil Norman”
USSS: Phil Henry
Simply the finest story-telling songwriter I know, Phil Henry will make you cry, guaranteed. Continue reading “USSS: Phil Henry”
USSS: Old Lost John
Out of the dark woods of far northern Scandinavia comes one of the most authentic American folk songwriters I’ve heard. I’ll let Old Lost John tell you where his music comes from: Continue reading “USSS: Old Lost John”
USSS: oddbod
Why isn’t oddbod famous? Proof positive that talent and fame are not connected. Tim “oddbod” Conway is one of the finest songwriters and performers I’ve ever heard. His new songs at FAWM turn into a mad rush to comment. A week in, his first song Instamatic has nearly a hundred comments from other songwriters who are supposed to be scrambling to write 14 songs of their own.
Gorgeous instrumentals. Tear-worthy love songs. Yes, but also a half-song called The Pig of Loveliness wherein oddbod shows he can shred hugely, and A Letter from Nigeria, a hysterical but musically brilliant tune taken almost entirely from spam emails he’s received. Listen to both, and more, at oddbod’s website. (His tune And the Starlight made it onto Handmade & Homespun. My definition of “Americana” is musical, not geographical.)
Not just a songwriter’s songwriter. Stop what you’re doing and go to oddbod’s FAWM profile to see what the good songwriters are wearing this year.
USSS: Nicole Ponder
Voices like this are made for country, and Nicole Ponder knows it. Not syrupy or overblown, just powerful and honest.
USSS: Mike Debenham
Achingly beautiful, deceptively effortless. Another prolific songwriter, Mike Debenham has written tunes that will live in my head forever. Continue reading “USSS: Mike Debenham”
USSS: hoopshank
Falling far outside the swingabilly world, Paul “hoopshank” Turrell is irresistible. How can you resist someone who writes a song about what a really big number a billion is, and turns it into something between Led Zeppelin and Yes? Continue reading “USSS: hoopshank”