heard... shared

I added four new or almost new albums to my Front Porch rotation this week and thought I would share them real quick. The first being the most heralded, The Harrow and the Harvest by Gillian Welch. A very melodic album with incredible storytelling laid on top of immensely interesting layers of acoustic instrumentals. There is plenty being said elsewhere about this album so I will leave it to others.

The Harrow and the Harvest album artwork has a life of its own. See the story below.

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Back in April John Hartford, Tony Rice & Vassar Clements was released to almost no fanfare, which is probably why you are scratching your head wondering why you haven't heard of this album. With Roy Huskey on bass this album brings together some of the most influential acoustic artists of the past 20 years and definitely worth your money. Don't expect a ton of improv and solo work here. It's just straight-forward standards without much flash but still a lot of good music.

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Sarah Jarosz has followed up her debut 2009 release Song Up in Her Head with an equal effort. Follow Me Down presents 11 individually unique and entertaining tracks. Only two of the tracks are not originals including a Dylan and Radiohead cover (with help from fellow Radiohead fan Chris Thile) and there isn't a bad song in this package. The whole album leaves we wondering just how good can she become?

Hear Sarah talk about the new album.

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The Greencards latest release The Brick Album is out. This one may be more of a stretch for some. There are times when this album is pretty awesome like when Same Bush joins them for the groovy/pop/earthy "Make it Out West" but there are some songs that drag this album down as well. Take a good listen to previews on this one before you buy the whole thing.

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Related articles

• Gillian Welch - The Harrow & the Harvest (twangville.com)
• CD Review: Sarah Jarosz, "Follow Me Down" (popdose.com)
• Sarah Jarosz: Follow Me Down, CD review (telegraph.co.uk)
• This Weekend I'll Mostly Be Listening To...Dave Rawlings Machine (with apologies to WBS for stealing his spot) (cedarlounge.wordpress.com)
• Sarah Jarosz - The Tourist (station18andahalf.wordpress.com)
• Sarah Jarosz: Follow Me Down (Review) (popmatters.com)
• The Greencards - The Brick Album (amberwavesoftwang.blogspot.com)
• The best summer albums for 2011 (heatworld.com)
• TBTS Reviews: Sarah Jarosz - Follow Me Down (thebrowntweedsociety.com)
• Music Review: The Greencards - The Brick Album (blogcritics.org)
• Sarah Jarosz and the local legend of Annabel Lee (charlestoncitypaper.com)
• Gillian Welch: New Album, Tour (jambase.com)

Infamous Stringdusters Debut on The Front Porch 05-24-08

The new Infamous Stringdusters album hits the shelves on June 10 but we are featuring 10 cuts from the album this morning on The Front Porch. The Infamous Stringdusters are currently on tour in Europe so a live interview isn't a possibility. I will try and collect as much information as possible right here for you to explore.

After the immensely popular debut "Fork in the Road"and with all of the awards and accolades poured on these guys, the bar of expectation left only the sun and clouds as a backdrop. With the sophomore, self-titled release The Stringdusters have matched the hype with yet another top-notch project.

This is the first album without Chris "Critter" Eldridge (Now a Punch Brother) in the lineup on guitar. Replacing Eldridge is Andy Falco who has worked with Alecia Nugent, The Greencards, Vanessa Carlton and Levon Helm (The Band). Falco takes no backseat here and the instrumentation is still the signature of the band as the instrumentals on this album are as good as it gets in modern bluegrass. The vocals here can be a bit flat and forced in a few spots but mostly they work very well and overall this is yet another incredible release from a great band. The album flows well and you will find many enjoyable hours spent with this release!

The Band
Andy Hall (dobro)
Andy Falco (guitar)
Chris Pandolfi (banjo)
Jeremy Garrett (fiddle)
Jesse Cobb (mandolin)
Travis Book (upright bass)


Track List ( -<::: denotes favorites)

1. Won't Be Coming Back -<:::
2. Well, Well -<:::
3. When Silence Is the Only Sound
4. Bound for Tennessee
5. Glass Elevator -<:::
6. Three Days in July
7. The Way I See You Now
8. Golden Ticket -<:::
9. I Wonder
10. Get It While You Can
11. You Can't Handle the Truth
12. Lovin' You
13. Black Rock -<:::

• Clips of all of the songs from The Infamous Stringdusters at CMT.
• The Infamous Stringdusters in Europe - VIDEO

Tour Dates (with my favorites highlighted)
May 24 8:00 pm - Günter Eich Haus SWR Mitschnitt - Baden-Baden, Germany
May 25 8:00 pm - Music Academy - Regensburg, Germany
May 28 8:00 pm - Kulturforum - Fürth, Germany
May 29 8:00 pm - Bürgerhaus - Dreieich, Germany
May 31 (all day) - Strakonice Bluegrass & Country Festival - Strakonice, Czech Republic
Jun 1 7:00 pm - Culture House Zrkadlovy Haj - Bratislava, Slovakia
Jun 6 9:00 pm - The Station Inn - Nashville, Tennessee - RECORD RELEASE PARTY
Jun 7 1:00 pm - Capitol Theatre - Greeneville, TN
Jun 12 8:00 pm - The Grey Eagle - Asheville, NC
Jun 13 9:00 pm - The Visulite - Charlotte, NC
Jun 14 6:20 pm - Georgia Mountain Roots & Music - Hiawassee, GA
Jun 20 12:00 pm - Wenatchee River Bluegrass Festival - Cashmere, WA
Jun 21 12:00 pm - Wenatchee River Bluegrass Festival - Cashmere, WA
Jun 26 5:30 pm - Ryman Auditorium - Nashville, TN
Jun 28 1:00 pm - ROMP - Owensboro, KY
Jul 9 8:00 pm - The Ark - Ann Arbor, MI
Jul 10 (all day) - Winnipeg Folk Festival - Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Jul 11 (all day) - Winnipeg Folk Festival - Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Jul 12 (all day) - Winnipeg Folk Festival - Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Jul 14 7:30 pm - The Birchmere - Alexandria, VA
Jul 15 7:30 pm - World Cafe Live - Philadelphia, PA
Jul 16 8:00 pm - The Bowery Ballroom - New York City, NY
Jul 18 (all day) - Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival - Oak Hill, NY
Jul 19 (all day) - Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival - Oak Hill, NY
Jul 21 1:00 pm - RockyGrass Academy - Lyons, CO
Jul 22 1:00 pm - RockyGrass Academy - Lyons, CO
Jul 23 1:00 pm - RockyGrass Academy - Lyons, CO
Jul 24 1:00 pm - RockyGrass Academy - Lyons, CO
Jul 25 (all day) - RockyGrass Festival - Lyons, Co
Jul 26 (all day) - RockyGrass Festival - Lyons, CO
Jul 31 8:00 pm - Club Passim - Cambridge, Ma
Aug 1 (all day) - Podunk Bluegrass Music Festival - East Hartford, CT
Aug 2 8:00 pm - Shangri-LA Arts and Music Festival - Blue Hill, ME
Aug 8 12:00 pm - Targhee Bluegrass Festival - Alta, WY
Aug 10 1:00 pm - Blue Waters Bluegrass Festival - Spokane, WA
Aug 21 7:00 pm - Courtyard @ City Hall - Culver City, CA
Aug 23 (all day) - Summergrass - San Diego, CA
Aug 24 (all day) - Summergrass - San Diego, CA
Aug 29 1:00 pm - Four Corners Festival - Pagosa Springs, CO
Aug 30 1:00 pm - Four Corners Festival - Pagosa Springs, CO
Aug 31 1:00 pm - Four Corners Festival - Pagosa Springs, WA
Sep 6 1:00 pm - High Country Bluegrass - Boone, NC
Sep 7 1:00 pm - Pickin’ In the Panhandle - Martinsburg, WV
Sep 13 8:00 pm - Center for the Performing Arts- Illinois State Univ - Normal, IL
Sep 19 (all day) - Rhythm and Roots Reunion - Bristol, VA
Sep 20 (all day) - Rhythm and Roots Reunion - Bristol, VA

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