Jericho Jones - Junkies, Monkeys & Donkeys (1971)

JERICHO JONES BABIES!!!

Where to begin with this rock solid gem from 1971!  I'm sure a few of you folk may be familiar with this obscure album from the most righteous era of music, but for those who don't, I've got a treat for you today!  A little history about these lads, they were originally called The Churchills, who were an Israeli  beat/psychedelic group that had a string of singles in the late 60's before relocating to England and changing their name and sound to the powerhouse that is JERICHO JONES!  This album really has every element you've come to love from the likes of Leafhound, Irish Coffee, and Three Man Army (also three highly recommended bands if you haven't listened!).  With whiskey drenched growling vocals, soaring vibrant guitar solos, and dominating bass lines, this album grabs you from the opening tone of "No School Today"(and just wait for the chaotic noise break around the 1:50 mark) to the driving riff of "Mona Mona" and the laid back space jam of "Junkies Monkeys & Donkeys", not to mention the twin lead guitars of "So Come On", this LP envelops you fully to the bitter end.  I must say though, beware before listening, as this album will find itself getting progressively louder on your stereo as the album moves forward!  Accompany with 6 pack and a tailgate party on your buddies El Camino!

Highlighted tracks include "Mona Mona" and "Man In The Crowd"

Wiki Page

Losless Part 1

Losless Part 2 

Fred Eaglesmith - 6 Volts 2011

Righteous Empire music lovers!!  I must first and foremost apologize for the lack of posts in the latter part of 2011, but I've found a woman that has inspired me to take control of this Empire once again, and infuse all of our lives with the most emotional captivating tunage I can dig up from the corners of this little blue marble!  So, if I can, introduce to you, a veteran of therighteousempire.blogspot.com, Mr. Fred Eaglesmith and his latest prolific offering, "6 Volts"....

Now, for those of you righteous cats that are familiar with the raw country-esque intricacies of the blue collared, red blooded, black lunged stylings of our hero, this should be no shocker that Fred is back with yet another musical innovation that will vibrate your essence in every meaning of the term....

And, for those of you who aren't, I can't think of a better introduction to Mr Eaglesmith, (well... maybe than "lipstick, lies and gasoline") that will truly make your heart ache and your bones chill....

With fender amps and mandolins made of spiritual steel, combined with the broken-souled vocals of a man who has lost his will to live yet keeps on going, this album has reminded me of why I fell in love with music.  Not just music, sorry, the very essentials that make up the fundamentals of true, honest passion.  I know in earlier posts, said that "Josh T Pearson" was my favourite release of 2011, but Fred slipped in there at the tail end with a total game changer.  It saddens me that Toby Keith will be more recognized as a country artist at the Grammy awards next spring than Fred, but... than again... you gotta just love the little obscure soul-shakers that we call kin!!

So, my musical soul mates, please enjoy and make sure to check out Fred, as chances are, he will be playing a show near you in a tiny town in front of 45 people.... very soon!!!  MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Highlighted track include "Katie" and "Cigarette Machine"

Download@320

Fred's homepage

Scott H. Biram - Bad Ingredients 2011

SCOTTY IS BACK BABY!!

And man alive..... he's back in style!!  So lets get right down to the meat and potatoes from this album....

Scott has followed the formula of his last couple releases with a combination of tunes about whiskey, highways and broken hearts.... does this mean he's rehashing past glories?? Of course in a sense, but still do we really care??  I mean it's Scott doing what he does best, and kicking the mainstream music industry in the proverbial balls!  This guy can release an album of drunken voicemail messages and I'll buy it, and love it..... and SO WILL YOU!!  So my dearest RighteousEmpire followers, enjoy this album as much as I have been, and take this little slice of dirty cuts.... your ears will thank you..(and me)!

DIG IT BROTHERS AND SISTERS!!

Highlighted cuts include "Open Road" and "Killed A Chicken Last Night"

Scott's Website

Bad Ingredients @ 320

Hank William III - Ghost to a Ghost/Gutter Town 2011

Well Mr Hank Williams the third... I must say thank you for this release!!

His seventh solo record, and first release on his own label "Hank 3", this is 2 of 4 albums he released simultaneously in September of 2011... and what a pair of records they are!!  Filled with neotraditional, zydeco and outlaw country tones, and accompanied with guest appearances from the like of Tom Waits, Les Claypool, and Dave Sherman, Hank takes you back to the swamp and makes you long for an El Camino and a bottle of moonshine!  If this is to be the new direction of Hank, than we are all in store for one HELL of a righteous ride my friends!  So clear your schedule for the next couple hours, let your freak flag fly, and get into Hank 3's magnum opus!  Did I mention this little miracle was recorded in his home studio on "Haunted Ranch"...  I mean how cool must this guy be!  Between his DIY attitude and his 3 hour powerhouse live shows, this country antihero is THE REAL DEAL!

Hank III website

DL link 1

Dl link 2

If God drove a car, (and existed) he would drive this.

Sunn O))) - "Monoliths & Dimensions" (2009)

Welcome back all!  Sorry about my lack of posts as of late, but I assure you with summer coming to an end I will have more time to focus on the Empire and bring you righteous tunes!  So let's get down to it.... Sunn O)))'s 2009 monster album, "Monoliths & Dimensions".  Now I will say this is a departure from what I normally post on here, but that's no reason to deprive you of a noise/doom/experimental masterpiece  such as this!  Steven O' Malley and Greg Anderson have been putting out there avant-garde  tunage since 1998, and have had a variety of eccentric collaborators from Merzbow to the Japanese rockers Boris, and this album is no different!  Featuring Atilla Csihar, the Hungarian black metal vocalist from the group "Mayhem" and an array of other musicians bringing different aspects to the table such as trombone, viola, and conch shell, the serve up a supremely diverse, dark, evil, mystical offering that's sure to have your eardrums ringing and your brain vibrating in and out of this dimensions for the 53 minutes this epic album lasts(and possibly longer!!).  With only four songs I won't highlight any of them, just a recommendation that you clear your schedule for the evening as this will leave you on a new ethereal plane.......  For those of you bong-tokers out there, blaze your grass and sink your teeth deep into this slab of heavy, intense and punishing drone fueled, cataclysm of doom!  Dig It!

Wiki Link

Download @ 320

Fred Eaglesmith and the Flathead Noodlers - Balin (2003)

Let's keep this country train going!!

Up on the chopping block today we've got a good ol' fashioned country pickin' album from Mr Fred J Eaglesmith and the Flathead Noodlers, 2003's "Balin".  For those of you who aren't familiar with the bluegrass road warrior,  this Ontario born blue collar hero has been cutting records and touring the backroad towns of Canada and the US for the last 30+ years with little to no recognition from the mainstream world.  And why, you may ask?  Well I can't answer that question, but I assume it's cause he doesn't have flashy videos with strippers or songs about life in LA. But in lieu of this Fred writes about about farming, tractors, drinkin' and guns, and all of these are apparent on this album.  Loaded with banjos, mandolins, washboards and all the elements of bluegrass you love, this album delivers a pure slice of country bliss, accompanied with outrageous themes such as accidental dog shootings and rooster fights, this album is sure to deliver!  I'll ramble no more, go get yourself a case of Pabst Blue Ribbon, a pack of colts and fire up the oil drum BBQ and get ready to have your noodle cooked good and proper... Eaglesmith style!!  Don't forget to check his tour itinerary, because I guarantee he's coming to a town near you, and soon!  Highlighted Tracks are "Bailing Again" and "I Shot Your Dog"

Fred's Website

Download

Josh T. Pearson - The Last Of the Country Gentleman - 2011

POWERFUL, PAINFUL, HONEST AND PURE.

It's albums like this that remind us of the passion we are capable of pouring into music and the emotions it can unravel within us.  Recorded in just 2 nights, Josh T. Pearson has put together a collection of 7 of the most authentic country tunes I've heard in decades.  This is not pretentious or mimicry, there is no paying homages or tipping hats, this is music directly out of his soul and into your ears.  Although I normally like to make comparisons between artists so you have an idea what you're in store for, I simply can't do that this time.  All I can tell you, is that the songwriting prowess of this man is unmeasured and these tunes were written in the key of righteousness.  One unusual thing about this record, is that 4 of the songs clock in at over 10 minutes, which for an acoustic country/folk record is quite unheard of, but after listening to the songs it becomes clear, that NOTHING could have been cut.  This album is bar none, BAR NONE my favorite release of 2011.  It's truly a breath of fresh mountain air amongst a a metropolitan city of filthy music and disease riddled songwriters.  This is as about as perfect as your gonna find this year.  With unconventional fingerpicking and dangerously original timing, paired with the vocals of a man who sounds like he has lost the last piece of happiness the universe has to offer, Josh serves up a whole new kind of malevolent fulfillment.  I can honestly say, with no restrictions, this album will be in my top 5 for the rest of my natural(and possibly, after) life..  So without further ado, "The Last Of The Country Gentleman"... Mr Josh T Pearson!

The songwriting is so deep and emotional I might suggest staying off heavy psychs for this one ;)

Highlighted Tracks Include "Woman When I've Raised Hell" & "country dumb" 

Josh's Website

Download FLAC

JOSH T. PEARSON - Woman, when i've raised hell (FD Acoustic session)