Subterranean Finds

Joe Ely & Joel Guzman

Live Cactus

ely.com

Though he hails from the same West Texas environs that birthed Buddy Holly and he practices the same roots regimen as his fellow Flatlanders Butch Hancock and Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely is still an original. A crossover country troubadour, his dust-blown narratives and tall tales resonate with a grit and determination that echo through every endeavor. Here, he joins forces with accordionist Joel Guzman for a stirring live set of vivid Americana, one fully fueled by just the two musicians and their easy affinity with each other. Anyone trying to locate the essence of the heartland needn't look any further.

Eric Brace & Peter Cooper

You Don't Have to Like Them Both

redbeetrecords.com

What with the rapid decline of newspapers as we know them, it's comforting to know that there's life beyond journalism. Take Peter Cooper, music editor of the Nashville Tennessean and current collaborator with Eric Brace, leader of Nashville's Last Train Home. Cooper's a more-than-credible singer/songwriter, and when he meshes with Brace's abilities, the results yield a mix of authentic Americana and back-porch banter. Their songwriting shows promise, but their taste in covers stands out, as they cull the likes of Kris Kristofferson, Jim Lauderdale, Todd Snider, and David Olney, among others. Despite an equally impressive array of contributors, it's the two's obvious rapport and down-home designs that are most apparent here. So while the title suggests otherwise, there's plenty to like about them both.

Richard X. Heyman

Intakes

richardxheyman.com

Richard X. Heyman is so talented that even his castoffs sound exceptional. No wonder then that this collection of outtakes titled Intakes measures up to the finished product procured by the competition. Of course, those who have followed this New York-based retro rocker over the course of the past 20 years or so won't find that surprising; Heyman's penchant for power pop has set a standard that raises the bar for others of his ilk. Heyman's methods bring echoes of the Who, the Kinks, and the Hollies, but his effusive harmonies, exuberant melodies, and riveting arrangements make an even more indelible impression when one considers that he plays the bulk of the instruments himself. Besides, anyone who allows himself to be pictured on the cover inhaling from a hookah is definitely a cool dude to start with.