Tag: Song of the Day

Song of the Day: “Rock Salt and Nails” Sung by Tyler Childers

Rock Salt & Nails

Chimesfreedom previously wrote about Tyler Childers’ wonderful voice on his excellent debut album Purgatory (2017).  The Kentucky native is not only an outstanding songwriter, he is great at interpreting songs too.  And his interpretation skills show in his take on “Rock Salt and Nails,” which was written by Utah Phillips.

As we noted in a previous post, the Phillips classic is a song about heartache and pain.  Then, it adds a touch of anger with the reference to filling a shotgun with rock salt and nails.

“Rock Salt and Nails” has been covered by a number of artists, such as Joan Baez, Waylon Jennings, Bob Dylan, Steve Young, and Buddy and Julie Miller.  The version by Tyler Childers is a worthy interpretation that stands with the best.  And it is one of my new favorite covers.  Check it out.



What is your favorite Tyler Childers song? Leave your two cents in the comments.

  • Tyler Childers: “Whitehouse Road”
  • Nina Simone: “To Love Somebody” (Cover of the Day)
  • Allison Russell: “The Returner” (Song of the Day)
  • Allison Russell’s “Nightflyer” (Song of the Day)
  • Connie Smith: “Once a Day” (Song of the Day)
  • Etta James: “Almost Persuaded” (Song of the Day)

    • (Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

    Buy from Amazon

    Matthew Ryan’s “Then She Threw Me Like a Hand Grenade” (Song of the Day)

    matthrewryangrenade

    I love Matthew Ryan‘s recent album Boxers (2014), which Ryan has described as sounding “like Crazy Horse meets early Replacements with nods to more recent bands I love like the National.” One of the many highlights on the album is “Then She Threw Me Like a Hand Grenade.”

    The title of “Then She Threw Me Like a Hand Grenade” gives away the broken-hearted theme underlying the song. But with Ryan’s poetic lyrics, one may often find something more complex and beautiful beneath the surface: “Three fires lit a spark in me /
    It took me years to understand the weight / If you’re a prisoner to anything you’re not free / Then she threw me like a hand grenade.”

    In the video below, Ryan performs “Then She Threw Me Like a Hand Grenade” as part of the Yellow Couch Sessions. Check it out.

    Dave Cantrell at Stereo Embers calls Boxers “Ryan’s finest work yet” and “the record that should bring the too-many that have missed it to discover this artist’s long, deep, and riveting catalog.” I agree that Boxers shows that Ryan is still at the top of his game, and hopefully it will lead listeners to explore his other albums too.

    Leave your two cents in the comments.

  • Official Video for Matthew Ryan’s “Boxers”
  • Matthew Ryan: “Boxers”
  • Nina Simone: “To Love Somebody” (Cover of the Day)
  • Allison Russell: “The Returner” (Song of the Day)
  • Allison Russell’s “Nightflyer” (Song of the Day)
  • The Pines at Night (Matthew Ryan) Releases Full Album,”A Year of Novembers”

    • (Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

    Jason Isbell Is Thankful For Work

    Something More Than Free Chimesfreedom‘s song of the day is Jason Isbell‘s new song, “Something More Than Free,” the title track off his new album released July 17, 2015. It is a rare song that is somewhat of an ode to work: “And I don’t think on why I’m here where it hurts / I’m just lucky to have the work.”

    But the song is about more. “Something More Than Free” meditates on how we give meaning to our lives (“Guess I’m doin’ what I’m on this earth to do”). While the singer is thankful for the work, he also looks for something more.

    And the day will come when I’ll find a reason,
    And somebody proud to love a man like me;
    My back is numb, my hands are freezing;
    What I’m working for is something more than free.

    So, check out the title track from Something More Than Free by the Alabama-born and former Drive-By Trucker Isbell. Here, Isbell performs an acoustic version of the song at KUTX Studio 1A.

    Leave your two cents in the comments.

  • Nina Simone: “To Love Somebody” (Cover of the Day)
  • Allison Russell: “The Returner” (Song of the Day)
  • Allison Russell’s “Nightflyer” (Song of the Day)
  • The Inspiration for Jason Isbell’s “Elephant” (Song of the Day)
  • Connie Smith: “Once a Day” (Song of the Day)
  • Etta James: “Almost Persuaded” (Song of the Day)

    • (Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

    Song of the Day: “Birds Fly South” from The Mastersons

    The Mastersons

    There’s something about real-life lovers singing about relationships where you know you have a good chance of getting down to something truthful and raw, as in the best work by bands like Fleetwood Mac. And when the couple is married or in a committed relationship, you know you had better listen. The work by the duo of Chris Masterson and Eleanor Whitmore, otherwise known as The Mastersons, brings some heartfelt lyrics to their great voices in songs like “Birds Fly South.”

    “Birds Fly South” is the title track from the 2012 debut album by The Mastersons. In the song about escape, the singer asks “Will you be right by my side?” but later in the song the request turns into a plea. Check out this performance from the Spring 2012 Music Fog Marathon at Threadgill’s WHQ in Austin.

    The Mastersons, who started out in Texas and are now based in Austin, lived in Brooklyn for awhile, hence the reference to escaping the city. They have also played as part of Steve Earle’s band, The Dukes. Their most recent album is Good Luck Charm“ (2014).

    Leave your two cents in the comments.

    Buy from Amazon

  • Nina Simone: “To Love Somebody” (Cover of the Day)
  • Allison Russell: “The Returner” (Song of the Day)
  • Allison Russell’s “Nightflyer” (Song of the Day)
  • Connie Smith: “Once a Day” (Song of the Day)
  • Etta James: “Almost Persuaded” (Song of the Day)
  • Cover of the Day: Mo Pitney Sings “If Hollywood Don’t Need You”

    • (Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

    No Sinner’s Cover of Gram Parson’s “She”

    Colleen Rennison

    Today’s song of the day is Gram Parson’s classic song “She” as covered by the Vancouver band No Sinner. Lead singer Colleen Rennison pours her soul into her performance of the song.

    The video is of an acoustic rendition of the song at the Indaba Bowery loft in New York. Check it out.

    If you are not familiar with the young Canadian band No Sinner (whose name comes from Rennison’s name spelled backwards), check out some more of their soulful music, including their album Boo Hoo Hoo (2014).

    Leave your two cents in the comments.

  • Nina Simone: “To Love Somebody” (Cover of the Day)
  • Allison Russell: “The Returner” (Song of the Day)
  • Allison Russell’s “Nightflyer” (Song of the Day)
  • Connie Smith: “Once a Day” (Song of the Day)
  • Etta James: “Almost Persuaded” (Song of the Day)
  • Cover of the Day: Mo Pitney Sings “If Hollywood Don’t Need You”

    • (Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

    Buy from Amazon