Texas Music Round-Up: Texas Music Mailorder Catalog

PETER STONE BROWN
Up Against It
A roots-based singer-songwriter whose first professional gig was opening for blues great, Mississippi Fred McDowell. Involved in music, his entire life he has also been a strand mapper, record store manager, disc-jockey, newspaper production manager, free-lance writer, music journalist, and associate editor of an alternative weekly. But all the while he was writing songs, performing and leading various bands in the Philadelphia area.

Peter Stone Brown’s first Tangible Music album Up Against It was recorded at Bismeaux Studio in Austin, Texas, and features several Austin-based musicians including members of Asleep at The Wheel. The album was released in October ‘96 and reached the Americana Chart that December. The songs reveal a diversity of influences from folk and country to blues, R&B and rock, with an emphasis on melody and poetic lyrics.

"If (Bob) Dylan came out with Brown's batch of songs as his own, we'd all be hailing that Dylan's back." -On The Tracks Magazine
LISTEN - MP3 Clip! Matter of the Heart
CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase

GUITAR PETE
Burning Bridges
Burning Bridges showcases Pete’s smoking blues-styled guitar playing. Included is an ass-kicking version of "Mustang Sally," the smoldering "Gasoline", the intense lead track "Turnin' Off", and his personal tribute to, shall we say, well-bottomed women - the swampy "Jellyfish." The blues haven’t sounded this intense since the days of Eric Clapton with the Bluesbreakers.

Some of Pete's other music credits include: Session guitarist for David Bowie and Tears For Fears; Guitarist for Michael Monroe and co-writer of "Don't Dog Me" for Raging Slab.

"Guitar Pete Brasino is one of the leading "rockin' blues" players around. His technique and imagination are the equal of many a more famous guitarist. (4 stars)." -EXPERIENCE HENDRIX MAGAZINE
LISTEN - MP3 Clip! Turnin' Off
CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase

IAIN MATTHEWS
A Tiniest Wham
Back with his follow-up to 1999's Excerpts From Swine Lake, Matthews chooses the all-acoustic route this time around. Produced once again by Bradley Kopp, A Tiniest Wham was recorded in Austin, Texas. His smooth, rich vocals are once again at the center of a wonderful set of songs. The majority of production is centered around acoustic guitars, mandolins, percussion and kontra bass. Coming on the heels of the long-awaited Plainsong release, New Place Now, Matthews shows why he's still one of the most respected singer-songwriters around.

"The trademark easy tunefulness of his original, heartfelt miniatures remains constant, and -- incredibly -- the lilting, wistful sweetness of Matthews' unmistakable vocal instrument is virtually unchanged, even at age 54. As a lyricist, he's generally been more craftsman than poet, relying on earnestness and melody to carry the day. They do. In short, there aren't any windows or barriers broken here, but A Tiniest Wham is yet another illuminated page from an extraordinarily durable troubadour." -CDNow
CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase

IAIN MATTHEWS
Excerpts From Swine Lake
An Austinite since 1990, Iain was a founding member of Fairport Convention back in '67, along with Richard Thompson, Ashley Hutchings and Simon Nicol, Matthews appeared on the bands' first three recordings. He has also performed with Matthews Southern Comfort, Plainsong, Hamilton Pool and has had an impressive solo career.
"This is one fine album. Filled with wonderful acoustic rhythms and jangling, echoing riffs held together tightly with Iain's strong vocals. An album for the ages. There is no doubt that this recording will be considered a landmark piece of the genre. All the new faces and up-and-coming acts should give this a good listen. It is an exceptional effort." -Muzikman.com
LISTEN - MP3 Clip! Break A Window, Break A Heart
CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase

GARY MYRICK
Waltz of the Scarecrow King
In addition to the impressive list of accomplishments in his solo career, Myrick has also worked with Bonnie Raitt, Todd Rundgren, The Eagles, Brian Wilson and Big Audio Dynamite among many others.

Gary's most recent efforts reflect a more organic sound, led by his desire to return to his Texas roots. After writing with Victor Bicetti, drummer and percussionist with Los Lobos, Gary rekindled an old friendship with engineer/producer, TChad Blake, who had just finished Los Lobos' new album. Blake best known for his work with Bonnie Raitt, Tom Waites and Elvis Costello, and is a two-time Grammy winner as producer for Sheryl Crow. After spending a year writing, Myrick hit the local clubs to test his new all-acoustic, story- telling songs. Convinced they were ready, he took to a 100 year-old Southern style house in the Hills of Hollywood to begin recording, with friend, Michelle White, engineering. The songs were recorded in full, using only an 1894 Washburn Parlor acoustic guitar, a 1970's dobro and vocals. Each song was recorded in its entirety, with no "punch-ins." A string quartet was added later. TChad Blake mixed the songs and help put the finishing touches on the recording, along with Gary.

"This eclectic finger-pickin' Texan serves up unexpected treats of Tumbleweed Vampirology to the Ghost of Elvis." -Los Angeles Times
LISTEN - MP3 Clip! Honk If You Love Jesus
CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase

PLAINSONG
New Place Now
Plainsong was formed in 1971 by Iain Matthews and Andy Roberts. Their critically-acclaimed debut, In Search Of Amelia Earhart, was released in 1972, and has become a much sought-after classic, having been out-of-print for many years. After touring extensively for almost a year, they set about recording a second album. Before these sessions were completed, the band disintegrated. In less than one year, Plainsong had been born, made an indelible mark on musical history and then disappeared.

Almost twenty years later, Iain and Andy decide that the time is right to revive the band and recruited bassist Mark Griffiths and singer/songwriter, Julian Dawson. 1993 introduced Dark Side of the Room both in the US and Europe. Europe would see two more albums - Voices Electric (1994) and Sister Flute (1996). Whilst touring to promote these recordings, Plainsong built up a strong following: a com-bination of devotees of the original line up, fans of solo projects by group members and people hearing them for the first time. As 1996 drew to a close, Julian left the band to concentrate on his solo career. His replacement was Clive Gregson.

New Place Now was produced by the legendary John Wood (Fairport Convention, Nick Drake, Richard Thompson, John Martyn, Squeeze, Sandy Denny and The McGarrigles) and the collaboration has been enthusiastically received by fans and critics alike.

"There's an air of The Traveling Wilburys here, and you half expect to glance at the sleeve and find names such as Otis or Lucky. Drop in a John Wood production and the whole things got the comfort of familiarity tempered with the strength of experience." -Froots/UK
CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase

ANDY SCHEINMAN
Make Amends
Make Amends was produced by Tommy Spurlock and includes an eclectic sampling of what Andy terms as folk-western songs. Spurlock, who has produced albums for Dave Olney and Chip Taylor, has worked with Rodney Crowell and The Band.

Scheinman's songs provide a rare combination of storytelling, real life, and genuine passion. His heartfelt ballads and uptempo tunes pack a powerful punch, and his music is as wonderfully diverse as Andy himself. Assuming you know how to swoon, you will to songs like "Blue In The Face," "Just Because" and ""I've Been Thinking" and you'll rock to tracks like "Slow Down" and "What's The Use of Talking." We guarantee no dogs die and no trucks get repossessed. However, we cannot guarantee you won't cry in your beer or that your wife or husband won't run off.

"The only way to describe this music would be to combine Merle Haggard and Elvis Costello; Marty Stuart with the Monkees; or The Osborne Brothers and The Who. This kid is crisp and creative… something new that Nashville can be proud of…what happens when we dare to push the envelope." -Bill Filipiak, Nashville's Flipside
LISTEN - MP3 Clip! Slow Down
CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase

MONK WILSON
Hillbillys and Gypsys
He spent ten years in Austin experimenting with multiple musical forms. This would ultimately lead to the sound that has become uniquely his signature -"" Monk" music was born. He learned that silence is the perfect sound, and space in music is as critical as are the notes. Words and sounds are one and the same and to separate them is to ask for a security that the freedom of music is not meant to offer. Martin Fullington, editor of Music Review Quarterly says of Wilson, "Good art generally comes from those who stretch the edges of expectations, and this is good art."

"Prepare to hear the name Monk Wilson a good bit in the days to come, unless he confuses people to the point where they just don’t know what to do with him. This guy has a batch of talent, an oddly endearing voice, and one of the most intriguingly eclectic approaches to putting pieces together of anyone out there. Hillbillys and Gypsys is as wild and strange as a combination of those two groups might be were they to meet in real life." -Music Reviews Quarterly
LISTEN - MP3 Clip! Hit the Nerve
CD $13 or ONLY $10 as part of Round-Up Special 5 CD purchase

TANGIBLE MUSIC