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 | BRUCE HUGHES Shorty About shorty...myself and some of my friends, Bob Schneider, Billy Harvey, Steve Poltz, Jason Mraz, Matt the Electrician, Bushwalla, Eric Hutchinson (and anyone else Bob could corral into it) started killing time on the road by writing songs under a strict time limit (usually 48 hrs.) with the only inspiration being a title, picked at random by one of us. After several comments about how long some of my songs were, I decided to try to write songlets 3 minutes in length or less. 2 minutes suddenly became my goal. Some songs naturally want to spread their legs a little, but I kept my head down and got to work. I ended up with several dozen of them, and decided to put my favorites out in album form. I kept taking bits away, starting the songs immediately, getting rid of bothersome solo breaks and trying to dovetail as much as possible in between the silences. Most of the songs started with a guitar and a laptop running some sort of recording software, I didn’t care which. I’d steal drum breaks from favorite songs, create sounds with software or the occasional lonely beat up piano in the dressing room, and sing em where ever there was a place to sing: hotel stairwells, hotel rooms, dressing rooms, hockey arenas, the back of the bus or van. These songs were written on highways & in parking lots across the US, in Europe and Canada, even back home in Austin. I took my laptop over to the Aerie, a studio in the country outside of Austin run by Mark Addison, peeled off the stuff I liked and recorded new stuff (like real drums and pump organs and standup bass and electric guitars) that I couldn’t make sound like I heard em in my head on the originals. We holed up during the ice storm of Jan 2007 and worked for 4 days straight getting started, and then continued to work off and on for the next couple of months whenever I wasn’t on tour. I kept writing, so we kept recording, and finally had 2 dozen finished that I liked. The songs were all very different, probably because of where they were conceived, and the only unifying factor was that they had to be no longer than 3 minutes. Some of my favorites didn’t want to be shorties, so they’ll come out on the next one. Til then, enjoy yourself.  CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | CRAIG MARSHALL Point of View Point of View, the third solo release from Craig Marshall, clearly places Marshall in the pantheon of pop songwriting in the vein of Aimee Mann, Neil Finn and Freedy Johnston. While best known as the crooning front man and creative force behind The Lucky Strikes - a Sinatra-style swing band that predates the resurgence of the ‘90’s - Marshall now emerges as a prominent figure in the pop scene. The ten songs on Point of View are smart and infectiously catchy as Marshall once again proves his ability to put forth radio-friendly pop songs. Resisting categorization, critics cite artists as diverse as Richard X Heyman, Badfinger, Marshall Crenshaw and XTC to describe Marshall’s sound. Evident is his natural “McCartney-esque” melodic sensibility coupled with smart lyrics that speak to the universal. Point of View is also Marshall’s first foray into producing and he demonstrates that his talents go well beyond the lyric sheet with arrangements that are succinct and appropriately lush, yet dynamic. Point of View tips the hat to iconic pop styles but is clearly in step with contemporary indie-pop records. CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | THE ALLEN OLDIES BAND Ride the Wild Surf Summer is fun. Summertime has more freedom than any other season. I can still taste the excitement of the final school bell on the last day of class. Rrrrrring - you're FREE. Free for (almost) three months! You can hang with your non-school pals, go to the beach, jump into the swimming pool, play sports all day long, stay up late, and goof off just about anytime you like. Most of us spend twelve formative years being conditioned to love summer just because we're not in school! School is cool, but summer is cooler! And while we can all dream about an endless summer, summer always ends. In fact, it's the ending of summer that creates such a strong sense of urgency for HAVING FUN NOW!! This urgent call to HAVE FUN NOW drew me to the OLDIES and lives in all of the tunes on this CD. ?Down on the Beach is the ultimate beach party. Ride The Wild Surf puts you on the surfboard on waves some 30 feet high. California Sun radiates chaos and dancing. Roy Head's Summertime Love states simply that summertime is the right time and that lovin', not love in, is the way to really treat summer right. 'Summer in The City', rightly or wrongly, points to night time as the best time to have fun. 'Yummy Yummy Yummy' brings out the peaches and cream, Peanut Butter is so hard to chew, and Sweets for My Sweet puckers with sweetness. With a belly full of food songs it's best to jump right into the deep end, along with our incomparable horn section, for C'mon and Swim. Landis makes sure you stay in the water on Miserlou. Crazy Elephant's Gimme Gimme Good Lovin' gives us all a great reason to head back to the dance floor. 'Then Let's Twist Again' before we really let our bodies bounce with a Little Bit O' Soul and get loose with the Hanky Panky. Next up we hit the dock and issue an invitation to Come on Down To My Boat. Insanity prevails as we attempt to out-trash The Trashmen on Surfin' Bird. The wild surf returns us to the beach as we finish this party with the Isley Brothers-penned Nobody But Me. Enjoy your summer and your OLDIES! CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | DOLLY PARTON Backwoods Barbie Track List: 1. Better Get To Livin' / 2. Made of Stone / 3. Drives Me Crazy / 4. Backwoods Barbie / 5. Jesus & Gravity / 6. Only Dreamin' / 7. The Tracks of My Tears / 8. The Lonesomes / 9. Cologne / 10. Shinola / 11. I Will Forever Hate Roses / 12. Somebody's Everything Orders for this item will not ship until 2/26/08 CD $16 or ONLY $13 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | JIM LAUDERDALE Honey Songs Track List: 1. Honey Suckle Honey Pie / 2. I Hope You're Happy / 3. Hittin' It Hard / 4. It's Finally Sinkin' In / 5. Borrow Some Summertime / 6. Daughters Of the Majestic Stage / 7. Molly's Got a Chain / 8. Those Kinds Of Things Don't Happen Every Day / 9. Stingray / 10. I'm Almost Back Orders for this item will not ship until 2/19/08 CD $16 or ONLY $13 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | GARY LOURIS Vagabonds Through his two-decade stint as singer, guitarist and principal songwriter of The Jayhawks and as a member of alt-supergroup Golden Smog, Gary Louris has built a deeply compelling body of music whose artistry and integrity has earned him a loyal audience and the respect of critics and his peers. With his solo debut, Vagabonds, Louris steps out to deliver some of his most evocative and personal music yet with the aid of Black Crowes frontman and longtime fan, Chris Robinson, who co-produced the album s organically soulful performances. Louris trademark introspection and uplift is reflected on the standout True Blue, which offers a compelling blend of acoustic and electric textures. The title track acts as the musical and conceptual centerpiece of the record, with bittersweet, vivid imagery and a surging vocal chorus featuring Robinson, Susanna Hoffs and Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley. Natural, resonating collaborations such as these are at the heart of Vagabonds. Orders for this item will not ship until 2/19/08 CD $16 or ONLY $13 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | ALLISON MOORER Mockingbird Working with producer and acclaimed roots artist Buddy Miller on this release, Moorer has conjured a rich pastiche of the phases of women's hearts, lives, needs, and yearnings on this recording of other peoples' songs. It's about honoring the women who inspired her. "Mockingbird" is an album of subtlety, sensuality, and grace. Moorer is a 2008 Grammy Award nominee for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals (Steve Earle & Allison Moorer). Orders for this item will not ship until 2/19/08 CD $16 or ONLY $13 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | MATT KING Rube In the cracks between mournful mountain music, bright bluegrass and straight up rock, North Carolina native Matt King has found a unique style that fits his tales of backwoods saints and sinners. All tattoos and attitude, King has a smooth rolling tenor that makes him sound convincing when he croons about falling for the devils daughter, dirt floor methlabs, mountain justice and the evil that lurks in the hearts of man on his record "Rube". While King says he enjoys the gentile art of dumpster diving and ciphering prime numbers, don't mess with this singer who claims to be kin to the Hatfield side of the Hatfield and McCoy fued. CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | DAILEY & VINCENT Dailey & Vincent The most eagerly-anticipated bluegrass debut in recent memory, Dailey & Vincent introduces a powerful new ensemble steeped in bluegrass and country music traditions, but blessed with the drive, talent, and charisma to assert those timeless values proudly onto today's stage. Co-leaders Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent have already had a profound impact on much of the best modern bluegrass via their contributions to such estimable performers as Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, and Rhonda Vincent & The Rage. Stepping out on their own for the first time, Dailey & Vincent make breathtaking music that seamlessly connects country music's roots in brother duet singing to its future in exhilarating, full-throttle bluegrass - without ever sacrificing heart, sincerity, and soul. CD $16 or ONLY $13 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | RHONDA VINCENT Good Thing Going Blending soul, intensity, and tenderness, Rhonda Vincent's unique brand of bluegrass is rich in tradition while remaining unmistakeably modern. Among the most beloved figures in today's bluegrass scene, Vincent has earned an unprecedented seven consecutive Female Vocalist of the Year awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association, is a top concert and festival draw, and, with her road band The Rage supporting her, is one of the most dynamic and high-energy performers in any genre of music. Encompassing heartfelt ballads and hard-driving bluegrass, along with dashes of swing and country, Good Thing Going is her most varied, personal, and accomplished album to date. It is also her most joyously uplifting, from the celebratory, autobiographical title track to the touchingly heartfelt "I Give All My Love To You." CD $16 or ONLY $13 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | THE STEELDRIVERS The Steeldrivers With one foot in the field and the other in the factory, The SteelDrivers are a beacon beaming their own version of rhythm'n'bluegrass far across the musical landscape. Highly regarded behind the scenes as songsmiths and session men - with innumerable hits, cuts, and licks to their credit - The SteelDrivers are stepping out at long last. In their ten capable hands, back-country high-lonesome collides with Delta soul, resulting in the freshest sound to emerge from Music City in recent memory. Via eleven original songs, their debut album offers revealing new takes on classic themes of redemption and loss, hope and home delivered with urgency and heart. CD $16 or ONLY $13 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | KIMMIE RHODES Walls Fall Down Kimmie Rhodes delivers a superb set of all new recordings, with nine self-penned songs never before heard, a Townes Van Zandt classic and a new tune written by Rodney Crowell. Recorded in her Austin studio with a stellar cast of friends including Irish pals Keiran Goss and Ann Kinsella, multi-instrumentalist and co-producer Gabriel Rhodes, rock-solid rhythm section stars John Gardner and Glen Fukunaga (Dixie Chicks, Joe Ely, Don Williams), and cello master Brian Standefer (Alejandro Escovedo, Patty Griffin), the music ranges from Americana country to contemporary folk to Texas rock. Once again we are treated to the brilliant lyrics, fantastical imagination, positive inspiration, and pointed irony of Kimmies writing, which has earned her many platinum-selling songs and famous admirers over the years. CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | MIKE RUNNELS Jukebox Boulevard Just good and solid honky tonk songs from a guy who has a knack of recreating the sounds and styles of such classic singers as Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Faron Young and Porter Wagoner - Music News Nashville CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | WILLIE NELSON Moment of Forever Moment of Forever, matches Willie with Kenny Chesney. The very idea of these seemingly disparate characters coming together is intriguing enough on paper. What really counts, however, is how it works on disc -- and work it does, with Chesney's production bringing out Nelson's natural warmth and grace. CD $17 or ONLY $14 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | BAND OF HEATHENS Live at Antone's Step inside Antone's Nightclub and witness the Band of Heathens call on the ghosts of rock and roll from the walls of this legendary club in Austin, Texas. Capturing the Heathens at their best, the two-disc DVD/CD set features previously unreleased songs, interviews, and candid footage of an American band that will make you believe in the power of music. CD $25 or ONLY $22 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS Brighter Than Creation's Dark DBT s brand new album is a Southern gothic rock n' roll masterpiece with 19 songs adding up to over 75 minutes of pure rock n roll. The band continues its notorious 3-guitar attack with the promotion of longtime sidekick John Neff to full member. Patterson Hood contributes 9 songs to the album (The Righteous Path, Daddy Needs A Drink), 7 songs from Mike Cooley (A Ghost To Most, Lisa's Birthday) and 3 songs from Shonna Tucker (The Purgatory Line). This it the first time Shonna has written the songs for a DBT album. All this is enhanced with musical contributions from he legendary Spooner Oldham. CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | JASON RINGENBERG Best Tracks and Side Tracks 1979 2007 After 30 years in the music business Jason Ringenberg is ready to look back. The new 2-disc retrospective Best Tracks And Side Tracks 1979 - 2007 includes tracks from all phases of Ringenberg's storied solo career - new versions of Scorchers classics, re-mastered original solo material, rarities and new unreleased tracks. Re-worked Scorchers classic, "Shop It Around" starts out the Best Tracks disc and "Help There's a Fire" from Side Tracks represents Jason's pre-Scorchers band Shakespeare's Riot, making this the definitive Jason Ringenberg compendium. The set even includes material from Ringenberg's children's music persona, Farmer Jason. CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | TOWNES VAN ZANDT Rear View Mirror Originally given limited release in 1993, it provides an overview of the songwriter's career, reaching back frequently to his most productive period, 1968-72. Backed by second guitarist Danny Rowland and fiddler Owen Cody, Van Zandt works his way through tunes he'd performed hundreds--perhaps thousands--of times in coffeehouses and clubs from Arkansas to Australia. He does so, however, with enduring verve and veracity. CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | STEVE POLTZ Traveling Steve Poltz's journey has just re-started with the releases of Travling. The sky is the limit for this prolific writer and performer with a dual citizenship- that's right, two passports. Poltz is the only songwriter in the world with the range to have written tunes with Jewel ("You Were Meant for Me" ...the longest charting song in Billboard history), Glen Tillbrook ("Hot Shaved Asian Teens"), and Mojo Nixon ("UPS My Heart"). Currently, another song he co-wrote, "You Remind Me," is featured in a national Jeep commercial (the "Sandbox" ad). He's also the bandleader and musical director for AT&T's new "Hugh Thompson Show," a tech talk show that gets 30,000 hits a day. CD $16 or ONLY $13 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | OWEN TEMPLE Two Thousand Miles Temple's ten years of songwriting have resulted in four studio records and a 50 song demoed catalog (that includes co-writes with fellow songwriters Cory Morrow, Wade Bowen, and Randy Rogers, among others) for the prolific 30-year old. Two Thousand Miles is the latest in a series of recordings that shows that Owen has come a long way in his work as a songwriter, and he shows no signs of slowing down. CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | JOHNNY CASH The Best of the Johnny Cash Show 1969-1971 Country and rock 'n' roll legend Johnny Cash hosted his own variety television series from the summer of 1969 to spring 1971, and by all accounts the weekly program was destination TV. The Johnny Cash Show: The Best of Johnny Cash 1969-1971 is an 83-minute summary of everything Cash tried to do in his hourlong format, from presenting an eclectic and even-handed overview of popular music to promoting a humanitarian perspective on issues that mattered most to him: drug use, poverty, reliance on faith, compassion for criminals. CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | JEFF KANZLER Black Top Road This Seattle-born, Alaska-based singer-songwriter debuts with a jaw-dropping set of beautifully crafted country-folk. Kanzler has a fine, expressive voice with a touch of gravel and his melodies are often sublime, reminiscent at times of early Dylan. The warm, rich production is also flat-out gorgeous, with trumpets, mandolin, dobro, pedal steel and harmonica adding lots of rootsy color to a variety of stunning, fully-realized songs. Incredibly, Kanzler has been living in the woods of the Alaskan interior for the past few years in a cabin with no running water and recorded this album up there with locals it s just mind-blowing, considering how great it sounds. CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | BILLY HARVEY Grow Garden Grow Billy Harvey's new release "Grow Garden Grow" is a delightful journey into the mind and processes of a songwriter. All the songs off of this double cd were born out of a songwriting game Harvey plays with friends Bob Schneider, Steve Poltz, Jason Mraz and Matt The Electrician. You will be utterly compelled as the cd reveals gem after gem of flawed yet flawless renderings of the human condition. CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | THE GOURDS Noble Creatures The Gourds, perennially unpredictable, include several gorgeous, slower tunes here, from the plaintive "Steeple Full of Swallows" to the sashaying "Moon Gone Down," and the aching "Last Letters." But these Texans are old-school itinerants, invoking wide-prarie country and Cajun and sloppy bar-room cow punk in equal measures--witness the Tom Waits-tinged "Dr. Spivey" for one growly-blues, off-center example. CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | CHRIS KNIGHT The Trailer Tapes Ten years and four acclaimed albums later, The Trailer Tapes remain a remarkable moment in time, less captured than cornered, a portrait of the artist as a ferociously talented young man. And for the artist The New York Times would soon call 'the last of a dying breed...a hard-nosed iconoclast with an acoustic guitar and a college degree," The Trailer Tapes have now arrived as the long-long missing first chapter of one of the most uncompromising careers in music today. CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | IRON AND WINE The Shepherds Dog The Shepherd's Dog succeeds in accomplishing a cathartic recasting of the artist's intentions. The arrangements here are kaleidoscopic and rich. "White Tooth Man" rocks with a desperate, menacing intensity while "Boy with a Coin", the album's first single, is darkly playful with a handclap hook tumbling under its cascading melody. The whole album breathes. Its seductive rhythms percolate and undulate, from the Psych-Bhangra-redux of "Pagan Angel and a Borrowed Car" to the album's last dance a waltz "Flightless Bird, American Mouth". Compositionally, it is Iron and Wine's most ambitious and accomplished recording to date. It's also the most satisfying. CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | RUTHIE FOSTER The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster Ruthie Foster's the newest voice in old-school soul. Her fifth album is a remarkable flashback to the genre's '60s and '70s heyday, framing her warm butter-and-cayenne-pepper singing with organ, electric piano, shimmering guitar textures, and strong backbeats. That sound, along with her strength as a song interpreter--rippling with beauty on Lucinda Williams's "Fruits of My Labor," stunningly emotional on Son House's cautionary Delta spiritual "People Grinnin' in Your Face"--and her fine-tuned social politics, makes Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack, and Nina Simone reasonable artistic references. CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | STORYVILLE Live at Antones With dual guitarists Davis Grissom and David Holt, The Double Trouble Rhythm section of Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon and the high energy spiritual vocals of Malford Milligan, a Storyville live show was nothing less than legendary. This band racked up numerous Austin Music Awards in the late nineties including Band of the Year, Album of the Year and Song of the Year. Storyville has now released a new live CD/DVD recorded on January 20th, 2006, at the legendary Austin music venue Antone's. CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | GHOSTLAND OBSERVATORY Paparazzi Lightning Paparazzi Lightning is the second full-length release from Austin duo Ghostland Observatory. It's tough to believe just two dudes create this monstrosity of sound. They pack a smacking aural punch of whip-snap dance music in the post-punk vein (i.e., it's angsty, but no less danceable). CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | IDGY VAUGHN Origin Story No doubt Vaughn has a great voice; she's "a loaded gun" as well as a good songwriter. She treads the country music landscape ably, with songs about heartbreak and disillusionment bucking in the stable, and Origin Story is a good starting point. CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | EILEEN JEWELL Letters from Sinners & Strangers It's hard to tell where the traditional ends and the original begins in the music of Eilen Jewell, a sweet-voiced young singer who steeps her material in the hard times of old, reviving the stories and musical styles of the Depression. On her own "Rich Man's World," she casts herself as a "lonely rambler girl" while conjuring comparisons with Gillian Welch. Another original, "In the End," sounds uncannily like Lucinda Williams, while a revival of Eric Andersen's train-hopping "Dusty Boxcar Wall" and the double-entendre blues of the traditional "If You Catch Me Stealing" reinforce the sense of Jewell as a musical throwback to a time before she was born. CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | HA HA TONKA Buckle in the Bible Belt Buckle in the Bible Belt is the groups terrific new record (and first as Ha Ha Tonka, following 2004s Beatchen, released as Amsterband). Its 10 tracks clock in at just under a half-hour. Its the best rock record Ive heard this year. Josh Timmerman PopMatters CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | JOE NICHOLS Real Things With his third CD, Real Things, Nichols has outdone himself once again, crafting a record that, song-for-song, performance-for performance, never lets up and never lets go. With the debut single "Another Side Of You" already igniting at radio, Nichols fans are getting a taste of what's to come - a country album full of real songs, sung by a real artist, who's always been and always will be all about nothing but the REAL THINGS. CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | PORTER WAGONER Wagonmaster Porter and Marty Stuart decided to build an album, Wagonmaster, around Committed to Parkview, revisiting the classic feel of his chilling concept albums, interwoven with stomping barroom honkytonk that rides with the best of Hank Williams and Ernest Tubb. The results are magnificent, a record of raw beauty capturing a proud, ragged man looking back unflinchingly at his life. At 79, and celebrating his 50th anniversary at the Grand Ole Opry, Porter has never been more vibrant and relevant. CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | TWO COW GARAGE III Built upon songs dealing with coming to terms with the differences in the life one lives versus the life one dreamt of; politics, death, and the ever troubling aspects of relationships, Two Cow Garage has recorded something with III that not only demands that you listen to it but that you do so loudly preferably live, in concert or solo in your car out on the highway, cranked. CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | DAVID SERBY Another Sleepless Night The common thread throughout Another Sleepless Night is heartbreak, something that almost anyone who has been in a relationship can relate to. Serby has a way of taking all those little things that hurt the most, writing about them in his lyrics, and putting them to his style of music. Its easy to get lost in the stories, but each track is accompanied by superb instrumentation from people who have played with other well known artists. CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | THE AVETT BROTHERS Emotionalism Though the banjo might seem to relegate this decidedly non-bluegrass trio to the alt-country fringes, the buoyant melodies and heart-tugging harmonies on the album-opening "Die Die Die" and "Will You Return?" owe more to the early Beatles. Despite the stripped-down, largely acoustic arrangements, the 14 cuts here cover an impressively expansive musical terrain, with "Pretty Girl from Chile" and "Pretty Girl from San Diego" full of twists and surprises. Elsewhere there are echoes of influence from the Band, the Burritos, the Everlys, and beyond, but the music of this North Carolina family band refuses to be pigeonholed. CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | KASEY ANDERSON The Reckoning Publications from No Depression to Punk Planet praised Kasey Anderson as "one to watch in the alt.country scene" (Punk Planet). Expectations were high when Anderson entered the studio to record the follow-up to Dead Roses. Working once again with producer Eric "Roscoe" Ambel (Ryan Adams, The Bottle Rockets, Blue Rodeo), 'The Reckoning' will undoubtedly expand and broaden Anderson's audience and leave a lasting impression on critics and listeners alike. CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | PETE ROSE Second Time Around Rose is a singer/songwriter/recording artist and music publisher who loves to write and record original music. His influences were and still are Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings. Rose is back in the music business after 30 years having raised three beautiful children. CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | LEVON HELM Dirt Farmer ...his first solo studio release in 25 years represents a rich return to his Southern roots. With co-production and musical support from daughter Amy (of Ollabelle) and multi-instrumentalist Larry Campbell (long a mainstay of Bob Dylan's band), Helm gives organic unity and rough-hewn vitality to a selection of Cajun fiddle waltzes, country blues, hardscrabble folk, and some more contemporary material (from the likes of Steve Earle and Buddy and Julie Miller). Following his recovery from throat cancer, Helm's voice has a slightly different timbre, but his phrasing is unmistakable as the same vocalist who sang "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" and "Rag Mama Rag." With Amy providing harmony and duet vocals and Levon's drumming evoking his signature work with the Band, Helm takes material from a variety of sources and makes it all his own. --Don McLeese CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | DWIGHT YOAKAM Dwight Sings Buck Most of the songs on Dwight Sings Buck are faithful recreations of Owens' originals. Owens' songs wouldn't tolerate stiff, note-for-note duplication, however. Yoakam manages to sound like he's channeling Owens at his peak, while his band eerily summons the spirits of Don Rich and the rest of the Buckaroos with classics like "My Heart Skips a Beat", "Cryin' Time", and "Above and Beyond". - PopMatters.com CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | DALE WATSON For Fans Only - Live (DVD) On the first day of his European tour in the autumn of 2001, Dale Watson was invited to perform in front of a select group of enchanted fans, adding a new chapter to his impressive discography. Those present spoke of a historic event: the intimacy of the session and the enthusiasm of his hardcore fans created a special, home-like atmosphere that made Dale truly feel at ease. He and his ever-excellent Lone Stars rose to the occasion and allowed the interaction between fans and artists to take the music to rare heights. Dale's choice of material included a number of songs that he had never recorded before. This DVD recording shows the champion of hardcore country at his very best. CD $18 or ONLY $15 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | WILL KIMBROUGH Will Kimbrough (EP) Essentially a folk record, EP showcases Kimbrough's slide, flattop guitar and banjo work, and most of all, his warm voice and literate songwriting. Recorded mostly at home, with floorboards creaking, birds singing, cars passing, and children sneaking by, EP is Will Kimbrough's most intimate work yet. CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | JIM LAUDERDALE The Bluegrass Diaries Following two albums recorded with the legendary Dr. Ralph Stanley and 2006's solo effort, Bluegrass, Lauderdale's latest exploration of the genre, The Bluegrass Diaries, is one of his finest albums, easily ranking among the standout releases in a very strong year for country music." - Slant Magazine CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | PATTI GRIFFIN Live From the Artist's Den (DVD) Patty Griffin seems to inhabit a timeless era in her recordings. Each record sounds as if it could have been recorded either yesterday or 50 years ago, as a mix of immediacy and classic songwriting happily co-mingle from song to song. She is often described as a singer's singer or a songwriter's songwriter, which is just a fancy way of saying that she's good. - David Perry - BlogCritics ...One viewing of this and you'll wonder how they ever thought they could keep this under wraps. Working acoustic and with a small group she electrifies the crowd with her rapturous music. You'll watch this DVD more than a few times that's for sure. - Village Records CD $18 or ONLY $15 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | CHIP TAYLOR & CARRIE RODRIGUEZ Live from the Ruhr Triennale Fiery and feisty, swinging and ringing loud and clear, the old man and his muse are truly hitting on all cylinders here, and you undoubtedly have to return to any of their earlier duet recordings to hear so natural and unpretentious a pairing of talents and voices as you'll hear on this captivating new disc. Live From The Ruhr Triennale offers highlights galore, as Taylor and the irrepressible Rodriguez intertwine on Merle's "Today I Started Loving You Again"; Taylor's quiet gospel "Oh Set A Light", "Laredo", and "Must Be The Whiskey"; the duet's ageless "Once Again One Day You Will Be Mine" and a kick-ass hoedown on Chuck Berry's "Maybellene". With Bill Frisell, Greg Leisz, David Piltch, and Kenny Wollesen supplying the driving dynamics and laid back grooves as needed, even Buddy Miller shows up for "Wild Thing". CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | DOUG SAHM Live From Austin, TX (CD) LIVE FROM AUSTIN, TX, finds the king of Tex-Mex rock & roll on his home turf cranking out his classic blend of country, R&B, rock, and south-of-the-border sounds with both effortless grace and infectious enthusiasm. From his '60s garage-rock staple "She's About A Mover" to such Tex-Mex standards as "Mendocino" and "(Is Anybody Goin' to) San Antone," Sahm reminds listeners of the unique power his idiosyncratic-but-accessible musical paradigm possesses. - Waterloo Records CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | BUKKA ALLEN Confidante Confidante, Allen's second disc, was seven years in the making. It's filled with songs dark and beautiful, music that recalls the Southern gothic side of Tom Petty and the cinematic sweep of Alejandro Escovedo. His father's influence is most evident on the brooding stomp of the title track, but the epic "World of Pretend" and the shadowy "Cadillac Hotel" prove unique to the younger Allen's musical sensibilities. While Confidante feels mostly like a work of art, Allen never takes himself too seriously, and his distinctive flavor emerges, one that haunts long after its final chord has been rung. - Jim Calguri, Austin Chronicle CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | GORDY QUIST Here Comes the Flood Gordy Quist is hitting his stride with the release of his second solo album, "Here Comes The Flood". Gordy likens this release to "...a soundscape catalog of the ride I'm on. The slice of Americana I've been served. Highways, Heathens, Gypsies, Demons. Austin, Kerrville, Sydney, Nashville... The best songs I've written at a time when I'm playing in the best band I've been in." By far one of the best releases of 2007 - MyTexasMusic.com CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | MERLE HAGGARD Bluegrass Sessions Merle Haggard first incorporated bluegrass into his sound 40 years ago with his 1967 hit, "The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde," which featured Glen Campbell on banjo. While honky tonk, Western swing and blues remain his primary touchstones, Haggard again turns to acoustic mountain music for inspiration, presenting 12 new recordings with banjo, fiddle, mandolin, dobro, upright bass and acoustic guitar for "The Bluegrass Sessions." At age 70, Haggard's voice sounds remarkably resonant and expressive, and on new songs like "Pray" and "Holding Things Together," he shows he's perceptive as ever at writing about the struggles of working families. - Michael McCall, AP CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | CROSS CANADIAN RAGWEED Mission California Their 4th studio album on Universal Records South titled, mission california., not only holds true to their signature sound but also delivers a few surprises including multiple appearances by Lee Ann Womack. Fans new and old alike are sure to get what they've been waiting for with Cission California. CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | TIFT MERRITT Live From Austin (DVD) The performance features songs from her Grammy nominated album, Tambourine. This appearance was taped for television at the end of the Tambourine World Tour, which covered over 40,000 miles and eleven countries "By the time she"s finished, you're convinced you have just seen the most accomplished new American female singer-songwriter to emerge in a decade." CD $18 or ONLY $15 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | BLEU EDMONDSON Lost Boy ...There's heart, soul, and substance in this CD and great sound too. It'll grow and grow on you, or at least it has with me. ...Bleu Edmondson doesn't sing rock and roll; on Lost Boy he bleeds it. Don Ford (Americanaroots.com) CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | TOM GILLAM Never Look Back Blending the edgier side of alt.country & Americana with bombastic '70s style guitar rock, Gillam, along with his band Tractor Pull, have crafted the perfect follow up to 2005's successful and critically acclaimed release "SHAKE MY HAND". CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | RYAN BINGHAM Mescalito From his bordertown upbringing to his years on the Southwestern rodeo circuit, Bingham's poignant songs, sung through his whiskey-soaked voice, reflect his experiences and the wisdom he has gained from them. His songs are raw, honest and born out of a genuine soul. From the opening track "Southside of Heaven" to the bluesy slide of "Bread & Water" to the Mexican-flavored "Boracho Station", Bingham's songs come straight from the heart. His influences blend seamlessly with his own style creating a traditional sound that also sounds fresh and original. Bingham has the unique ability to transport audiences into the center of the place from which they came. - antiMUSIC reviews Standard CD CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | JON DEE GRAHAM Swept Away A portrait of the artist film cum concert documentary, 'Jon Dee Graham: Swept Away' is the story of a largely overlooked figure in American music. A local hero in Austin, Texas, Graham struggles to build a national name for himself. Appearances in the film from roots rock heroes Alejandro Escovedo and James McMurtry, and also Andrew Duplantis of the band Son Volt. National rock critic and journalist Geoffrey Himes (NY Times, Washington Post, Paste, No Depression) also appears as does Katherine Cole, influential host of Voice of America's 'Roots and Branches' radio program. CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | HEYBALE The Last Country Album This is Heybale's first studio album. It was recorded at Bruce Robison's Premium studios with an all-star cast including Cindy Cashdollar, Erik Hokannen, Elana James and Casper Rawls. CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | JESSE DAYTON & BRENNEN LEIGH Holdin' Our Own After 10+ years of rockin' the international honky tonk circuit with his bands, as a solo artist and playing guitar for the likes of Waylon Jennings, Ray Price and The Supersuckers, Austin's Jesse Dayton made the decision to pay homage to the classic country duet recordings that he grew up on in the '70s. He found the Tammy to his George in the up and coming Austin singer/songwriter Brennen Leigh. Track Listing: Let's Run Away / Holding Our Own / Two Step Program / We Hung the Moon / Somethin' to Brag About / Brand New Heartache / Take Me / Long Legged Guitar Pickin' Man / Back Street Affair / We Lost It / Somethin' Somebody Said / Everything Looks Good (On the Outside) CD $14 or ONLY $11 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | DALE WATSON Christmas Time in Texas TBD CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | MONA MCCALL Memories Love a Melody TBD CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | DON WALLACE Texas Dance Hall Memories TBD CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | JUSTIN TREVINO More Loud Music and Strong Wine TBD CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | JUSTIN TREVINO Take One As Needed for Pain TBD CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | GUY CLARK Hindsight 20/20 The Anthology 1975-95 CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | AMF She Rocks Calendar The 2008 She Rocks calendar celebrates 13 months of women in the Austin music community and is a cool collectible. Just in time for the holidays, treat someone on your list to some delicious eye candy that they can enjoy year round! Not only that, but all proceeds benefit Austin Music Foundation's educational programs. It's a great way to show your support of local music! You can view images from the calendar at http://www.myspace.com/sherocksaustin The 2008 She Rocks calendar features: Hell's Belles featuring Adrian Conner, Tameca Jones, Hope Irish, Deb O'Keefe from 101X, Kimberly Freeman of One-Eyed Doll, Christine Ely of She Craves, Kitty Korvette of Black Molly, Patrice Pike, Kristin Bybee of Sabbath Crow, Melanie Price of SINIS, Lady Legacy, Shelly Knight, and The Applicators. CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | ANA EGGE Lazy Days Lost songs from artists you love - reborn by a voice you'll never forget. Featuring songs written and originally recorded by The Kinks, Arcade Fire, Stephen Stills, Sandy Denny, The Zombies and more! "Ana's the folk Nina Simone" - Lucinda Williams CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | MICE AND RIFLES Beginner's Luck (EP) With the 2006 debut EP "All Kites Up", Mice and Rifles began receiving accolades from every corner of Austin, Texas. The Austin Music+Entertainment hailed the release a "morbid country masterpiece" and The Austin Chronicle included them on the "Top 10 Bands to Watch in 2007" list saying "Mice & Rifles' ominous Americana conjures a nostalgia for lost highways..." Keeping their momentum alive following their Big State Festival appearance, Mice and Rifles presents "Beginner's Luck". The brand new EP that "promises to be equally impressive." (Doug Freeman, The Austin Chronicle) CD $8 or ONLY $5 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | TERRI HENDRIX Spiritual Kind If you're inclined to learn anything at all about Terri Hendrix, all you really need to do is listen to "Acre of Land" - the centerpiece de resistance of her ninth and latest album, The Spiritual Kind. In a little under four minutes, you'll come away with more than just the perfect introduction to the San Marcos, TX-based songwriter's music at its absolute best. You'll have a veritable map of her heart and a soul, a keen understanding of the philosophy by which she lives her life, and even the secret to her success as a wholly independent businesswoman. The Spiritual Kind is the first record she's ever made where she felt like everything "just kind of clicked in gear." A lot of that "clicking" had to do with her longstanding drive to continue to evolve as a songwriter and musician every time she steps up to the proverbial plate. It's a fire Terri's carried with her ever since she abandoned her classical music scholarship in college, hungering for a form of expression truer to her own heart than opera. CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | TONI PRICE Talk Memphis - Blues songstress Toni Price releases her latest effort, "Talk Memphis," a combination of blues, country and rock inspirations. "Talk Memphis" is a flawlessly produced record, bringing in bits and pieces of several different genres. "Mean Man" is a blues and country twist on the classic early 1960s song structure and vocal styles. Price makes it her own by using blues influenced backing vocals. "Right Where I Belong" has a country pop feel to it, but loses none of the integrity found throughout the rest of the record. "Sorry About That" prominently features Prices vocal work, showing off both her range and variety of singing styles. "Talk Memphis" will be a tough competitor for any other blues-country album out there. Jenna Horan Celebrity Café CD $14 or ONLY $11 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | MARY CUTRUFELLO 35 Texas honky-tonk stalwart turned Minnesota heartland rocker Mary Cutrufello is back...and back in Texas! Seven years after moving to Minnesota, and three years after being sidelined with vocal nodes, Cutrufello returns to Austin with "35", a taut and rockin' collection of songs showcasing her writing, her guitar playing, and her once-again powerful voice. CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | BOBBY FLORES Neon Lights 1. Country Girl/2. I'm So Afraid Of Losing You Again/3. The Same Old Memories/4. Spanish Eyes/5. Talk Back Trembling Lips/6. Case Of Sorrow/7. I Hate You/8. Who'll Be The First To Say (I Told You So)/9. I Let My Mind Wander/10. A Stranger Was Here/11. Make The World Go Away CD $14 or ONLY $11 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | BILLY JOE SHAVER Everybody's Brother Spiritual songs have long been a strength of Billy Joe Shaver, the Texas songwriter championed by such stalwarts as Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson. Here, Shaver and producer John Carter Cash (son of Johnny and June) balance songs of sin and salvation with those of love and loss, as a reflection of how the deaths of his beloved mother, wife, and son have reinforced his religions faith. Guest vocals from John Anderson, Marty Stuart, Tanya Tucker, Kristofferson, and Cash (in a 1970 duet) enhance rather than compete with Shaver's rough-hewn vocals, while the American Indian instrumentation of Bill Miller on the title track deepens the spiritual resonance. For all of the stately reverence of "When I Get My Wings," Shaver displays his more rollicking, raucous side as well, particularly on "If You Don't Love Jesus" ("go to hell"). --Don McLeese CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | BROTHERS LAZAROFF Pure Delight Releasing their first record under the name BROTHERS LAZAROFF, the songwriting team of Jeff and David Lazaroff present their singular approach to crafting songs. Pure Delight is the summation of two years of writing, and two days of recording live in Austin, TX with a collection of 10 musicians in a single room belonging to computer game music guru "The Fat Man." While Jeff Lazaroff puts out records and plays gigs in St. Louis, MO, and David Lazaroff does the same in Austin, TX, they maintain their collaboration long-distance, performing together throughout both regions. In putting out their first official Brothers record, they looked to David Sanger (6-time Grammy Award winning drummer for Asleep At The Wheel) to facilitate the project; playing drums, engineering, co-producing, and mixing the sessions. The result is Pure Delight, a collection of songs aiming to maintain sanity in a shrinking world that functions in a state of panic. CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | V/A Live at the Bugle Boy 1 Introduction - Lane Gosnay/2 Everybody Knows - Sidehill Gougers/3 Stormin' in the South - Shelley King/4 Sitting Here in Limbo - Sloan Wainwright/5 We May Never Know - Woody Russell/6 Just to Get By - Amy Speace/7 Ease Your Mind - Jimi Lee/8 Besame - Erika Luckett/9 Soon Love Soon - Vienna Teng/10 Crying (like you are) - The Bluehouse/11 Wrong Direction - The Hudsons/12 Old Stuff - Donnie Blanz & The Accoustics/13 Misunderstood - Carolyn Wonderland/14 Mystery Girl - Patrice Pike/15 Hung Up on You - A.J. Croce/16 Fool's Gold - Natalia Zukerman/17 Great Day in the Mornin' - Dana Cooper/18 Up Above My Head (I hear music in the air)- Ruthie Foster CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | SAM BAKER Pretty World Texas songwriter Sam Baker is not that well known even in his adopted hometown of Austin. However, since the 2004 release of his debut mercy, word of Baker's songs have slowly, but surely spun its way around the world. On August 7, Baker returns with the second part of the story, the self released pretty world. Co-produced by fellow Texan and songwriter Walt Wilkins, the new songs reflect a life lived well and nearly lost. Austin producer/songwriter Gurf Morlix said of mercy "It's the best writing I've come across since Mary Gauthier." The UK's Maverick Magazine awarded mercy five stars and writers that have discovered this raw talent often compare him to fellow Texans Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark. CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | LOST COUNTRY Scattered Bands that produce, engineer, mix, and master their own albums run the gamut from cream to crap, and Lost Country is consistently among the creamiest. Scattered, their fifth album, is almost as good as 2005's Long Gone Thrill, which was a gem. Like many Americana bands - the good ones, at least - they're tough to pin down. They jump from country to rock to blues to folk, channeling Bob Dylan here, Neil Young there, The Band, Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, and any number of influences. While their sound might dance with the derivative, it maintains a welcome freshness and exuberance. - Jeff Prince, Fort Worth Weekly CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | THE JUKE JUMPERS On Stage 1. Farther Up The Road* (Vessey/Robey)/2. Georgia Slop (McCracklin)/3. Hot Dog ( Owens/Dedmond))/4. Lips 'n' Fingers Bar-B-Q (Colegrove)/5. Lone Star Saturday Night* (Colegrove)/6. Never Make Your Move Too Soon (Hooper/Jennings)/7. Merry Christmas Baby (Moore/Baxter)/8. Okie Dokie Stomp (Davis)/9. Rocket In My Pocket (McAlpin/Logsdon)/10. T-Bone Shuffle* (Walker)/11. Somebody's Been Rockin' My Boat (Witcher/Walton)/12. Long Distance Call* (Morganfield)/13. Bluebird Boogie (Colegrove/Foster/Simecheck) *(Previously unissued) CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | BETH WILLIAMS Steady Conversations with the Lord The least "arranged" of her CDs with only Beth on acoustic guitar/ lead vocals & harmonies and Ric McRae playing lead guitar (George Straits lead guitarist for over 15 years), a number of listeners have declared this to be their favorite recording of hers. Many have said they feel as if they're sitting in Beth's living room listening to songs that take them back to a simpler, more innocent time...a time of love for each other, God & country. CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | BETH WILLIAMS First Class Although living in Texas, Beth's musical journey led her to recording in Nashville in 1987, where she was embraced with her debut, First Class, produced by Ed Penney. "Man at the Back Door," "Wrong Train," and "These Eyes" all charted in Billboard right in the middle of Steve Warner and Roseanne Cash. With producer Ed Penney, and musicians such as Sonny Garrish, Greg Galbraith, Pig Robbins, & Johnny Gimble, Beth's recording led to her being named one of the Top 10 "Best New Female Vocalists of the Year" by the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC, "Best Female Performer" by INDEPENDENT NEWS, and "Best Independent Female Vocalist" by CASHBOX Magazine. CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | ALEX COKE New Texas Swing 1. Round Trip: Ornette Coleman/2. Go Down Ol' Hannah: Huddie Ledbetter/3. The 13th Floor: David 'Fathead' Newman/4. Human Being: Charlie Haden/5. The Saturn Line: Tina Marsh/6. Mothers of the Veil: Ornette Coleman/7. Happy 2CU: Alex Coke/8. Out on the Western Plains: Huddie Ledbetter CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | ALEX COKE Through the Years 1988-2001 The Worthy Constituents Through the Years: Alex Coke/The Worthy Constituents, chronicles saxophonist/flutist Coke and his Constituents via recordings made from 1988 to 2001. Coke's constituents through the years appearing on the CD include composer and piano virtuoso Rich Harney, Martin Banks on trumpet, bassists Jeff Haley, David Morgan, Edwin Livingston and Arjen Gorter, and drummers A.D. Mannion and Steve Schwelling. The cd is dedicated to A.D. Mannion, jazz drummer extraordinaire, who died in 2000. CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | JOHNNY BUSH AND JUSTIN TREVINO Texas On A Saturday Night "Texas On A Saturday Night" is the real deal-authentic Texas Country Music. It is music with heavy emphasis on the steel guitar and fiddle. Music that you can dance to while enjoying a cold beer and memories and thoughts of that lost love. This project brings two individuals together that perform the true form of Texas Country each and every week in honkytonks and dance halls throughout our great state. Johnny Bush is a legend with fans all over the world. Justin Trevino is continuing in the legendary traditions created for him by John, Lefty, George, Hank, Ernest and Ray. CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | RECKLESS KELLY Wicked Twisted Road Rockin' and eclectic, this Austin quintet aims to brighten honky-tonk nights with their fifth album, Wicked Twisted Road. Sure, there's a sense of regret in the opening title track and "Dogtown"--mostly for squandered youth and aspirations--but Celtic fiddle lines and singer Willie Braun's lilting melody makes the tour story "Seven Nights in Eire" a genuine pub song, and "Motel Cowboy Show" celebrates all-night boozin' and lovin' with hot pickin' and a rollicking drum beat. A revving motorcycle kicks off the bad -boy-on-the-run stomp "Sixgun." And there are bad girls, too, like the cruel lover who's "bitter and sweet as a death-row meal" in "Nobody Haunts Me Like You." There's also no shortage of big guitars, growling through half of these numbers and happily rubbing up against the spiky blues harmonica of the post-breakup slammer "Wretched Again." The album winds down with a lovely acoustic instrumental version of the title track--proof that even a wicked twisted road dotted with robberies, heartbreak, and drunkenness can turn back home, peacefully, again. --Ted Drozdowski CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | RECKLESS KELLY Reckless Kelly Was Here As is true with so many roots-rocking bands based in Austin, Texas, a sweaty club brings out the rambunctious best in Reckless Kelly, giving them a chance to stretch out and let loose on their first live recording. From the pulverizing opener of "Sixgun," which owes as much to AC/DC as the roadhouse, through the new party anthem, "Wiggles & Ritalin," and the reflective, acoustic "Wicked Twisted Road," the band feeds on the call-and-response energy of the hometown crowd and pays it back. The set offers tribute to Lone Star natives Alejandro Escovedo ("Castanets") and the Texas Tornados ("Guacamole"), as well as farther-flung inspirations such as Richard Thompson ("1952 Vincent Black Lightning") and the Beatles (a bluesy "Revolution"). "Baby's Gone Blues" begins as a riff-rocking piledriver and ends as a fiddle-driven breakdown, an encapsulation of the musical progression embodied within the band. On twangier fare such as "Nobody's Girl," frontman Willy Braun could pass as a vocal ringer for Steve Earle. --Don McLeese CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | CHARLIE ROBISON Step Right Up wrote: the touching "Photograph" and the haunting "Always" (the former is written in little brother Bruce Robison's style; the latter is pure heartbreaking Charlie Robison). CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | CHARLIE ROBISON Good Times GOOD TIMES does indeed feature an ecclectic selection of songs. There're the tongue-in-cheek honky tonkers that Robison fans have come to expect: "Good Times," "Love Means Never Having to Say You're Hungry," "Something in the Water,"and others. There's a driving, bluesy, absolutely intoxicating Keith Gattis tune ("El Cerrito Place", featuring perfect harmonies by Natalie Maines). There're also the two best songs (in my opinion) that Robison ever CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | KEVIN FOWLER Bring It On Kevin Fowler makes 100% pure country music. Not the slick, homogenized stuff that tends to dominate the country radio airwaves today, but the country music that keeps the throngs dancing and drinking in the honky-tonks, dancehalls, nightclubs, roadhouses, and cantinas across the land. CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | MIRANDA LAMBERT Kerosene Serious artists don't usually get discovered via TV talent shows, but this 21-year-old former Nashville Star finalist has become an important songwriter and vocalist with her debut album, Kerosene, which immediately sprang to the top of the country charts. Overall, it's a set of amiable country pop, but the title track and "What About Georgia?," which open the disc, are rock songs at heart--driven by a hard-smacked snare drum and layers of guitar. But what's really at the core of these excellent performances is Lambert's romantic lyrics and versatile singing. When she's playing the angry lover in "Kerosene," she's loaded with punky attitude. When she's brokenhearted and moving on in "New Strings," her soft, delicate tones and gentle phrasing perfectly capture a rich blend of sadness and hope. There's even a bit of Dolly Parton's sweet vibrato and rustic charm in "Me and Charlie Talking," a nostalgic contemplation on love and life's simple virtues. Lambert authored or co-penned 11 of Kerosene's dozen tunes, but what she's really written is the first chapter in what may be a long, impressive career. --Ted Drozdowski CD $15 or ONLY $12 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase |
 | MIRANDA LAMBERT Crazy Ex-Girlfriend There's no sophomore slump for Miranda Lambert, who follows her chart-topping debut, Kerosene, with a knockout punch. Both the title cut and the album-opening "Gunpowder & Lead" ("what little girls are made of") show that Lambert hasn't lost her edge or her appetite for revenge. Yet the quieter "Desperation," the more tuneful and tender "Love Letters," the wistful "More Like Her," and the primally intense "Down" show her emotional range and maturity. While her songwriting remains a strength, Lambert also displays superb taste in other people's material, with "Dry Town" (by Gillian Welch), "Getting Ready" (a new song from Patty Griffin), and "Easy from Now On" (with the lyric that provided the title to Emmylou Harris's classic Quarter Moon in a Ten-Cent Town) reinforcing |