Hoskinwood Family

My absolute favorite singers, that I'm mentioning in case you want to check them out too (just 'cuz I like to share...obviously):


Kasey Chambers - she is from Australia and is kind of country. And usually when I say country, it's not that pop-country crap you hear on the radio. Sometimes it's "alternative country" (so I've heard it called) and sometimes it's just more traditional, but more old school country. She has this slightly gravelly voice and is pretty young, 25 or so. She traveled across the Australian bush with her family growing up and they performed music together and would always play around the campfire. I love her songs not only for her voice, but her lyrics really speak to me. (as do most of the singers on the list...guess that's my two requirements for fanatical devotion - great voice and lyrics that speak to me) Some bango here and there, a little slide guitar, and she has this amazing way of hitting a flat note...juuust right.

Susan Tedeschi - She is very blues, in some ways a Bonnie Raitt protege. Although, I much prefer her to Bonnie Raitt, her voice at least. Her voice is just amazing, made for blues. And she can really rock to, as in the aptly named, "Rock me Right." "Angel from Montgomery" is another amazing one. She kind of makes me think of my Dad. I think he would love her.


Patty Griffin - I can't say where she is from, I'm not sure. Again, her voice is amazing as well. (god..i'm so 'tom cruise' with my overuse of 'amazing'!) She has a very Nashville singer/songwriter quality about her. And in saying that, you'd think I actually know what I'm talking about. I don't really. But when I think of the Nashville singer/songwrite style, this is what I envision. Her songs really jump around too. They are not monotonous. Some are up tempo, some really slow, bluesy, etc. I reallly love her lyrics. They're those kind of lyrics that you make you wish you were in your car, driving across country, with the stereo turned up loud, and big cumulous clouds floating across a blue sky. My favorites are 'Goodbye' and 'Long ride home.' 'Let him fly' is quite great as well.

The Waifs - These gals are from Australia as well. Kelley turned me onto them when she returned from her first trip over there. She said she knew I would love them. And she was right. I was instantly hooked. You know something really speaks to you when it doesn't even hardly take a listen-through to get familiar before proclaiming your devotion to them. Their band consists of two sisters, Donna and Vicki, and a male guitar player and occasional vocalist as well. The sisters harmonize perfectly. They both play the harmonica, sometimes the fiddle, and the guy does wonders with acoustical guitar. They toured w/ Willie Nelson a couple of years ago and are huge in Australia. I have been lucky enough to see the twice here in the States, once for SXSW in Austin. There were maybe 40 people at the little show! It was so awesome!! I had them sign a CD cover and got to chat w/ them. They can be bluesy and folksy, and sometimes even a litte pop I guess. 'Lest we forget' is one of my faves! 'Haircut' and 'Billy Jones' are really fun ones too. They're all freakin' great.

A few others I didn't mention that are growing on me recently: KT Tunstall (only heard a couple of songs), Loretta Lynn (her songwriting and lyrics and that accent! are one of a kind), PJ Harvey, and Neko Case!!! She is awesome!!! (neko pictured below)