New releases: Week of Aug. 31
Oklahoma-Texas band Cross Canadian Ragweed released its seventh studio album, “Happiness and All the Other Things,” on Monday (rather than on the typical Tuesday release schedule).
I’ve been listening to my copy of the album nonstop for the past day or so, and I have yet to find a song on it that I don’t love. From the heartfelt ballad “My Chances” to the rollicking road song “51 Pieces,” the red dirt rockers deliver the goods with “Happiness.”
My favorite songs are probably the evocative “Pretty Lady,” which I can’t wait to hear played live, and “Bluebonnets,” a loving tribute to childhood with an intro from frontman Cody Canada’s little boy Dierks (yes, he was named for Canada’s pal and fellow country singer-songwriter Dierks Bentley).
“I feel like every record we make is a little more thought-out. You know, used to, we would be so excited to make a record, we would just get in there and bang it out and then get back on the road. And now, we have the luxury of saying we’re gonna take off a month and gonna spend the entire month recording. Whether it’s a week of preparation, at least we’re still taking off and getting ready for a record. Because you know, we would practice songs live and then go into the studio and do it and then get back out on the road and do it live and it had changed. Completely changed. And now, we’ll write one and we’ll get to know it and do it the way it needs to be done,” Canada told me in a phone interview earlier this summer.
“And the material, the subject matter, definitely, you can tell I’m getting older. You can tell that the topics are a little more serious. I think every band that starts off has songs about how weary you are on the road. You don’t really know, it just seems first nature to write a song about being on the road because that’s all you know. And the older you get, the more things around you start affecting your writing.”
The band, which was founded in Yukon and nutured in Stillwater, is celebrating its 15th anniversary on Oct. 1. A 15th anniversary deluxe limited edition of “Happiness” is available; it includes a commemorative retrospective poster, three live bonus tracks (“Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground,” “Train To Birmingham,” “Soul Agent”), two hidden tracks (“Carmelita,” “Poopeye”) and a live video download (“Confident”).
Hear Ragweed play some of their new songs and old favorites Thursday at the second annual Cross Canadian Ragweed Border Jam at First Council Casino, 12875 N Highway 77. The show also will feature Stoney LaRue & The Arsenals and other red dirt bands. For more information, call (877) 725-2670 or go online to www.ticketstorm.com.
Here are more CDs, DVDs and books out this week, from Amazon.com, VideoETA.com and BarnesandNoble.com:
CDs
Reverend Horton Heat, “Laughin’ and Cryin’ with Reverend Horton Heat.”
Sam Baker, “Cotton.”
Simple Minds, “Graffiti Soul.”
Robin Guthrie, “Carousel.”
Andrew W.K., “55 Cadillac.”
Casey Donahew, “Casey Donahew Band.”
DVDs
Bring It On: Fight to the Finish
Brothers & Sisters: The Complete Third Season
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation – Ninth Season
Desperate Housewives: The Complete Fifth Season
Earth
Heroes: Season 3
Rescue Me: Season 5, Volume One
Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory: Season One
Sin Nombre
State of Play
Sugar
Supernatural: The Complete Fourth Season
Terry Fator: Live From Las Vegas
Two and a Half Men: The Complete Sixth Season
Books
“Catching Fire (Hunger Games Series No. 2)” by Suzanne Collins.
“Clean Food: A Seasonal Guide to Eating Close to the Source with More Than 200 Recipes for a Healthy and Sustainable You” by Terry Walters.
“The Death of Bunny Munro” by Nick Cave.
“The Death of Conservatism” by Sam Tanenhaus.
“Evil at Heart” by Chelsea Cain.
“A Gate at the Stairs” by Lorrie Moore.
“Green: The Beginning and the End (Circle Series No. 0)” by Ted Dekker.
“Homer & Langley” by E.L. Doctorow.
“Spartan Gold” by Clive Cussler.
“Spire” by Richard North Patterson.
“Viola in Reel Life” by Adriana Trigiani.
-BAM
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