I love music.

​I love listening to it, writing about it, interviewing artists and learning about their process, songs, and records, and I love helping to spread the good word about tunes I like. This site means a great deal to me, but writing doesn't pay the bills and finding a writing job is incredibly difficult. Therefore, due to some unforeseen personal stuff, I need to up the hours at the day job which means cutting back on TDC. So, for the remainder of 2017, TDC will not be taking on anything new. I will be completing interviews and anything that was already in process, but posts will be sparse. I thank ya for the support of the site and look forward to bringing you more great content after this break.

Thanks, Tara

Second Release in Acclaimed Willie's Stash Archival Recordings Series Premieres 11 Country Classics and One Brand-New Song Performed by the American Music Icon and His Sons, Lukas Nelson and Micah Nelson

Legacy Recordings will release Willie Nelson and the Boys, the eagerly-awaited second installment in the acclaimed Willie's Stash archival recordings series, on Friday, October 20.
 
Following in the musical footsteps of 2014's December Day, the first volume in the Willie's Stash series (featuring Willie's Sister Bobbie), Willie Nelson and the Boys is another family collaboration, this time showcasing Willie and sons, Lukas Nelson and Micah Nelson, performing a selection of well-loved American country music standards and classics, including seven penned by the immortal Hank Williams Sr.
 
The Willie's Stash series will present a variety of archival releases, each personally curated by Willie Nelson, culled from decades of recording and touring, providing unique perspectives on one of America's most vital musical forces.
 
Consisting mainly of studio recordings laid down during the extraordinary 2011 sessions for Heroes, Willie's Legacy debut, Willie Nelson and the Boys (Willie's Stash, Vol. 2) is produced by Willie's longtime friend and collaborator Grammy-winning Buddy Cannon and recorded by Steve Chadie at Pedernales Recordings Studio in Austin, Texas.

Nashville, TN - Following their Top 10 debut on the iTunes Country Album chart, saddle bronc rider turned singer-songwriter, Chancey Williams and the Younger Brothers Band debuts their music video for the title track - "Rodeo Cold Beer," off their newest album on The Country Network.

Earning the #1 spot on the Billboard Heatseekers Mountain chart, the ten song collection features tracks about love, endurance, brotherhood and soul searching, among other topics, includes the single “Down With That,” which won 2016 Rocky Mountain CMA Song of the Year. Also among Rodeo Cold Beer’s tracks is “Silhouette,” a seductive and sultry song, penned by Josh Thompson (“Any Old Barstool”), Josh Dorr and Andrew Paul Petroff. The Band has shared the stage with stars such as Old Dominion, Toby Keith, Billy Currington, Eli Young Band, Aaron Watson, and more.
 
Click here to purchase Rodeo Cold Beer.

​NASHVILLE, Tenn. (press release) – Country singer and GMA DOVE Award nominee Bradley Walker has just completed an all-new, studio recording and LIVE concert DVD of gospel songs and hymns that will be released on October 6. Produced by Ben Isaacs (The Oak Ridge Boys, The Isaacs) Blessed: Hymns and Songs of Faith (Gaither Music Group) captures many of the songs that inspired Bradley to become a singer.

“As a singer, I’d have to say an album like this has always been on my ‘bucket list,’” said Walker.“I have always hoped I would have the chance to make a record full of classic gospel songs that I’ve grown up on, with some new ones thrown in, and make it a good representation of who I am musically. I believe we’ve done that.”

That accomplishment not only finds the Alabama native fulfilling a lifelong dream, but doing so alongside some of his musical influences and heroes.

“Ben [Isaacs] and I wanted to capture the combination of country, bluegrass and gospel that we both love so much. I’m so thrilled for folks to hear how it came together,” said Walker. “We also asked several of my favorite singers on the planet to be on this album with me. These are folks who I’ve listened to and admired for many years and who I’m proud to say have all become friends.”

Birmingham, Alabama-based singer-songwriter Joel Madison Blount is set to release his new album, Our New Moon, on September 29th. Merging the influence of Southern literary authors with a musical response to the rhythm and melody of life, Blount writes songs about the human experience that are meant to inspire and offer hope.

The songs appearing on Our New Moon were written in response to the birth of Blount's first child and represent a new beginning for his family, and a new phase of life for Blount and his artistic career. “A new moon marks the start of the first phase of Earth’s moon during the course of the lunar cycle,” says Blount, “and it also alludes to the mystery surrounding what we will encounter on our journey ahead, as neither are visible from our perspective.” Themes on the album, which was produced by Brian T. Murphy, wind their way through a time of sorrow and brokenness, but ultimately lead the listener to witness redemption and an outpouring of grace.

Today, TDC is extremely pleased to share one of the album's tracks, "Arms Open Wide," a spacious, beautifully serene and incredibly sincere ode to his son. Blount discusses the song's origins, "I wrote this song not long after my wife and I found out we were going to be parents.  I initially wanted to communicate some important life lessons to my son, but as it evolved, I felt it was best to focus on a simple, clear message - I’ll always be here for you. I never really intended for the song to be widely shared, but my band played it at a few shows and people seemed to connect with the music and the lyrics - so, it stuck. The song also ended up being one of the first written for my new album “Our New Moon,” which, in many ways, was inspired by experiences I’ve had over the past few years trying to learn how to be a father."

An intensely poignant song for anyone with, or expecting, a child, Blount says it does indeed make him emotional when he performs it, The first few times I played it live, my wife was still pregnant. I don’t know how much a baby can hear in the womb, but I hope he’ll always feel comforted by the song and it’ll be a reminder that he is loved no matter what." 

Blount notes further that his son is fond of the tune as well, "He loves it and we sing together all the time. He loves to “play” the drums and I’m sure we’ll have our own family band in a few years."



"An ordinary man chosen as a part of the plan
To love and raise you up stand by when times get tough
With shelter and protection some advice, a little direction
I hope one day you’ll see you are the best part of me
And I’ll be here for you yes, I'll be here for you
With arms open wide" 

With lyrics that are honest, touching, and relatable, Blount says his favorite lyric is from the song's second verse, "I like “life can be a hard lesson, or a joyful progression” because our experience in life depends so much on how we choose to respond to difficult situations. I’ve struggled with being a father - it has forced me to realize how selfish I really am. I’m still learning how to “joyfully” sacrifice my own desires for the benefit of my wife and our family. I know that we’re better off as a family when I’m present, but as a musician I feel drawn to be out sharing my songs with others. I hope the choices I make will allow my kids to know me because I’m present in their lives and see me passionately pursuing my dreams as a musician, but it’s a hard line to walk."

Joined in the studio by guitarist Josh Vigneulle, bassist Will Weir, and drummer Alex Hinson, production in the studio was intentionally limited to a four-piece band in order to ensure the songs were presented in a simple, yet elegant manner. However, there were light moments. Joel shares, 

"During rehearsals, the guys in my band couldn’t keep the song titles straight, and my guitar player Josh kept calling this one “With Arms Wide Open” - which was a hit for Creed. I’m still not exactly sure why I never changed my own song title, and now, every time we play this one live, it’s hard to shake the thought of Scott Stapp propping his foot up on a stage monitor to sing for my son. Thanks, Josh."

Just for fun, Blount was asked if an album of covers of his songs was being put together, who would he choose to record them? He replied that his choice would be Bill Withers because "There’s something comforting and true in the way he sings."

And those qualities are ones that you will find present on Our New Moon as well. Of the personal collection of lovingly crafted tunes, Joel says, "This is who I am."


For more information visit his official website
Find him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Pre-order Our New Moon:  http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/joelmadisonblount

Austin, TX - September 11, 2017 - Walker Lukens has teamed up with Ones To Watch to premiere his new video for "Don't Wanna BeLonely (Don't Wanna Leave You Alone)." Watch the video HERE.
​

"Don't Wanna Be Lonely (Don't Wanna Leave You Alone)" is the newest single to release off of Walker's upcoming album Tell It To The Judge, which is set to drop on September 22nd via Modern Outsider Records. Produced by Spoon's Jim Eno, this highly anticipated record brings together some of Walker's most prominent tracks to date, such as "Every Night" and "Lifted", with new tunes for fans to enjoy.
 
Walker has been called "one of the best songwriters in Texas" (Free Press Houston.) The Austin-based, Houston-bred singer, multi-instrumentalist has been called "wonderfully inventive" (NPR World Cafe,) a "non-sexually intimidating version of Prince'" (Austin Chronicle,) and a "veteran balladeer with sudden indie rock ambitions" (Indy Week).

On September 8, the Amazon Original playlist "Amazon Acoustics" relaunches with twenty fresh tracks including newly recorded songs from artists like Tift Merritt, Philadelphia punks Beach Slang, and buzzworthy newcomers Middle Kids, ALA.NI, LPX and Gabriel Garzón-Montano. These new songs and more additions join the playlist, which already features original acoustic recordings from Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires, Ashley Monroe, Deer Tick, and many more. “Amazon Acoustics” will be available for streaming exclusively through Amazon Music Unlimited and Amazon Prime Music at www.amazon.com/acoustics.

 
James Alex on "Hot Tramps" (Quiet Slang):
I wrote this song on the same day David Bowie died. I don’t know. I felt like making something was the best way to punch through it, to figure it out . I suppose, some of it’s about Bowie. Most of it’s about a girl. All of it’s about patching up the cracks. So, that’s the deal, you know? A few chords, some clumsy words and a title you swiped from a hero—it doesn’t fix it all, but it numbs the sting. Maybe that’s enough.

And, yeah, Amazon has been a gigantic sweetheart in all of this. I mean, there's something really cool about supporting art-making for nothing more than supporting art-making. Thanks for letting me ride. Thanks for having soul. And thank you for Glenn Schick—man, you mastered some real magic into the thing.