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)

YOU HAVE TO BE FUCKING KIDDING ME

His down syndrome inspired smile says it all.

OK i am going to have to make a point with this fucking idiot today.  This photo was taken at a "Jesus rally", or "god conference" or "zombie march", whatever they're called, in Calgary, Alberta.  Believe it or not, this fuckin' maroon, and all his little occult buddies were wearing shirts that read "jesus died for you".  Beyond that, this guy has a j-pouch, which is an internal pouch in place of his colon, which was removed due to colitis.  First off, I can ramble on about this delusional prick, cause I myself have crohn's disease and I can assure you Jesus played no role in my recovery.  So did jesus save you from colitis, you cunt? NO no no no no I think I'd have to say that modern science, your surgeon and IBD research played a much bigger role than your invisible friend.  I mean, really, how bloody retarded does one have to be to believe in god in 2011??  Don't tell me "blind faith".... faith means not wanting to know what is true (F. Nietzsche). Religion is a neurological disorder, and one that has completely enveloped this personified piece of human filth.  Grow the FUCK up you mindless, senseless, ignorant, cretinous, uneducated, unenlightened, uninformed, uncultured, dense, insensible, naive, uncultivated, shallow, obtuse, oblivious, UNCONSCIOUS  fucking robot.

The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully. – Richard Dawkins


Of all religions the Christian is without doubt the one which should inspire tolerance most, although up to now the Christians have been the most intolerant of all men. – Voltaire


It ain’t the parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand. – Mark Twain


Properly read, the bible is the most potent force for Atheism ever conceived. – Isaac Asimov


I refuse to believe in a god who is the primary cause of conflict in the world, preaches racism, sexism, homophobia, and ignorance, and then sends me to hell if I’m ‘bad’. – Mike Fuhrman


Fundamentalism, of any type, due to its prerequisite lack of intelligent thought, could prove to be the worst weapon of mass destruction, of all. – David J. Constable

Acid Mother's Temple - Pink Lady Lemonade You're From Inner Space (2011)

With a Week left of spring this is the PERFECT way to usher in a new season.

I'm sure many of you already know the reputation of these cats from Japan, and are probably familiar with the title track, as its a staple of their live sets.  Its been released in various forms over the years, but a couple months ago they decided to make it available once  more with 4 cuts totaling 66 minutes of psychedelic fuckin mayhem!!  If you haven't heard these guys, HERE'S YOUR CHANCE TO START!  Play start to finish as I can't really give you highlighted cuts for this record.  You're best off to drop a quaalude or 2, crank your stereo and let your mind wander into the abyss that is ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE!!  DIG!

Download @320

Carlos Santana with Buddy Miles LIVE!! 1972

                       

WEll WEll WEll!!!

Back for my latest installment on TheRigtheousEmpire, I'm posting this from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.Its Been a few years since i decided to spin this record, but last saturday It made its way to the front runner of my nostalgic psych albums.With "Free Form Funkified Filth" clocking in at a slice under 25minutes of pure jam rock, enough to appease the SkyDog, Duane, himself, this GEM of an album

features all the righteous elements of 1972.  With other guitarists such as Neal Schon... yeah thats right.. of JOURNEY, Greg Errico and other players from "The Family Stone" this slice of heaven is sure

to bring back everything you loved about the 70s from bellbottoms to 65 cent cigarettes, Both of which accompany this solid record quite fittingly, and of course a bag of your favorite hallucinogenics, will all help you enjoy the blistering funked up version of "evil ways" and soar to the Buddy Miles vocals that brought him to prominence among Jimi Hendrix, Mike Bloomfield and to many other groovy cats to mention.  Dig deep into this album and stay RIGHTEOUS!!

Wiki Link

Download

UFO - Strangers In The Night - 1979

Gather Around UFO fans!  We've got a MONSTER of an album up for ya today!

Notable for being the last UFO album to feature guitar wizard Michael Schenker, and why do call him a wizard you ask... well just listen to the cut, "Rock Bottom" in its 11 minutes of guitar glory!

This is one of my fave live albums, up there with "at filmore east", Humble Pie's "king biscuit flower hour" and "Double Live Gonzo'.  Enough said about this powerhouse of a record........ download....listen...... and always accompany such an album with cocktails and bong tokes!!

As mentioned above, the highlight on this gem is "Rock Bottom"!!

Download

Wiki

Television - Marquee Moon 1977

Well first off, I apologize for the long delay between posts, but january brought about an eclectic variety of struggles and challenges.... so without further ado.... Here it is....TELEVISIONS debut album ..MARQUEE MOON!! I wont bother with a lengthy review trying to sell you on this classic and legendary album..... just a link and a promise you'll love it!  More posts coming soon.

Dr S. L. Baltimore

Download

You See Me Laughin' - DVD 2005 (Fat Possum)

Welcome back delta blues fans!! Oh do i have a gem for you today!!  This doc. needs little intro, as do the players!  Junior Kimbrough, RL Burnside, and many other heavy hitters of the low down delta tunes, plow through mind and matter with the force of a whiskey fueled freight train and the grace of a rabid vulture.  Dirty, heavy, and raw would best describe this music, but I'll let you be the judge! *be warned however, there is a brief 2 minute interview with bono, that shows up around 20 mins into the movie.  My deepest apologies for this abomination, but it seems, as always, bono, the fuckhead that he is, has managed to weasel his bullshit face into another part of our lives..... not to worry it is brief, and leaves him looking like a douchebag..... even moreso if thats possible.....*

DOWNLOAD

DVD at Amazon with track listing