Palo Duro Records

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Popularity: 84% [?]

Review by Jerome Clark

Though the independent label Palo Duro champions Texas music, it’s based in a suburb of Chattanooga, Tennessee. I don’t understand it either. No matter. Those of us who like our music with roots in deep soil are glad that wherever it is, it’s there.

Mostly acoustic, Texas Unplugged, Vol. 2 samples the sorts of songs and artists Palo Duro has to offer. Proceedings open with a captivatingly Roy Orbison-flavored tune, the Derailers’ “I’m Still Missing You.” In the 11 cuts that follow, Unplugged rambles the range of approaches that (mostly) younger Texas hillbilly traditionalists ride, many sustaining careers — rather incredibly — without ever leaving the Southwest, or even their native state.

Besides straightforward country numbers, selections include Devin James’s “Dog Days Blues” — literally a blues piece, shaped by the old-time Lone Star sounds of Blind Lemon Jefferson, Henry Thomas, Lightnin’ Hopkins and other downhome songsters — and Two Tons of Steel’s rockabillyin’ rave-up “Car Seat.” Not to mention a superb, jazz-accented slide-guitar/guitar instrumental, “Turtle Bayou Turnaround,” by Cindy Cashdollar and Carolyn Wonderland (neither of whom, we may safely presume, arrived in the world with that name).

The one unadulterated honkytonker, “As Long as the Bottle’s Full,” comes, naturally, courtesy of Dale Watson, the barstool-classicist’s barstool classicist, who never fails to serve it straight up. Less expectedly, veteran honkytonk master Johnny Bush — best known outside Texas for his composition “Whiskey River,” long a Willie Nelson concert theme — shows up with the uncharacteristic “Rio Grande Runs Red,” which could easily pass as an antique frontier folk ballad. With a chilling narrative and a brilliantly restrained reading, it’s the cut you’ll notice immediately on the occasion of your initial listening.

Musical droughts come and go, but whatever the climatic conditions elsewhere, the musical well of Texas never seems in danger of running dry. Texas Unplugged is a drink of cool, cool water.

Popularity: 24% [?]

Austin, TX - September 13, 2006 Palo Duro Records (“Country Music, Texas Spirit”) is in the midst of a rash of releasing and re-releasing records — debut efforts by new artists as well as albums by veterans on its roster of the past few years — as part of its distribution agreement with Fontana and to go the distance for music fans around the globe who can’t get enough of the sound of the Lone Star State.

For five years, Palo Duro has lived up to its original mission, to release the best of Texas-made music in a way that reflects the authenticity of its artists. Its releases are heard on radio stations from Austin to Boston to London and beyond. Its efforts are documented in the September issue of Southwest Airlines’ in-flight magazine, Spirit.

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Popularity: 78% [?]

This is the second volume in the Palo Duro series of acoustic albums from their stable of Texas musicians. Included are the Derailers, Dale Watson, Johnny Bush, and Two Tons of Steel. This albums serves as both an introduction to the label as well as a look into Texas music in a particular style. The low-key, but not quite “stripped down”, nature of the acoustic constraint gives a little more prominence to the songwriting in most cases, although Cindy Cashdollar and Carolyn Wonderland supply a wonderful Dobro/Guitar duet instrumental.

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Popularity: 20% [?]

Review by George Peden, Country Stars Online

They’re small, innovative and inspiring. It’s the Texas label Palo Duro. With an ambition to bring the best of country music to the fans, the label, over a short period of years, has assembled a vibrant and talented roster. Now a with a secure line-up including Dale Watson, The Derailers and Darryl Lee Rush among others, the label keeps its fan promise by releasing Texas Unplugged Volume Two. The album follows the successful Texas Unplugged debut from 2004.

The aim is still the same, and the music is as exciting as ever. Label founder and this album’s producer, Chris Thomas, has brought together 12 Texas regional acts. With tunes only produced for the Unplugged series and all stripped down and acoustic, the series is a primer for those who want more from their music than just a catchy hook and something to hum. Here you’ll find substance. Here you’ll discover singers and songwriters, tunesmiths, who contribute to their art in a positive, honest, shared and revealing manner.

Many of the names are already known. Many others should be.

The reformed Derailers open the set with melodic heartache on “I’m Still Missing You”. The SideHill Gougers, with “One Tiny Sin”, add some fiddle and Dobro flavor to engaging three-part harmony. “Turtle Bayou Turnaround” is instrumental artistry at work courtesy of Cindy Cashdollar and Carolyn Wonderland, while humor and the profound benefits of “Duct Tape” come shared by a couple of good ol’ boys from Dallas, Morrison–Williams. Listen out also for Belton, Texas, locals Wild Horses. “You And Me And San Antone” is a perfect showcase for Angela Rae’s spirited and driving lead vocal.

Hank Williams 111’s favorite country music savior, Dale Watson, offers thanks to the honky tonk on the whiskey-inspired and beer-drenched “As Long As The Bottle’s Full”. As always, Watson delivers. It’s a knockout tune. Rusty Weir shines a lyrical spotlight on compelling patriotism in “Texas Love And War”, while Davin James gets bluesy on the slap bass primed “Dog Days Blues”. Jumping jive arrives with Two Tonnes of Steel on “Car Seat”, while respected performers Max Stalling and Walt Wilkins enjoy welcomed appearances.

If you’re finding your way to Texas music, both these albums are the needed signposts. Raw and real, with inspired lyrics and performance – a fan’s dream realized.

I wrote a review on the debut Volume One some time ago. It’s included below. Check these albums out and do yourself the favor. And when you do, you’ll understand more fully why when it comes to labels, in the words of chart-climbing Joe Nichols, size matters. Smaller is better.

[Review of Texas Unplugged, Vol 1]

Popularity: 31% [?]

Review by George Peden, Country Stars Online

After listening to this solid roundup of 12 tracks from the best Texas has to offer, I have only one thing to say – roll on Volume 2. I can’t wait, as Volume 1 is a fine introduction to talent reliant only on stripped down instrumentation, good voices and even better tunes.

As the label rightly asserts, this is country music with Texas spirit. From the opening strains of TC Taylor’s “Don’t It Make You Wanna Dance,” you know this is something special. Again like Ed Burleson’s album, he, incidentally, appears here with “The Way You’re Treating Me,” there are no disappointments.

On an album sprinkled with Dobro, guitars, slapped bass, snare-brushed drums and other minimal musical interruptions, these singer songwriters come to the microphone with treasured tunes. They’re tunes that, if given a receptive ear, are sure to win fans to an often overlooked genre – that being, the singer songwriter.

On an album of highlights, listen out for a killer song from Deryl Dodd, “Old Time Sake”. It’s not the pearl snaps which claim the attention here; rather, it’s an old guy with a love for the music of bygone days of Hank and Lefty. A guy captured in all his aging innocence by the gentle simplicity of Dodd’s album offering.

Brian Burns brings humor with a perilous tale of culture clashes in a border town. The lyrical high jinks involve dietary resolve and the art of staying in the saddle, as heard on the aptly-named “Bicycling In A Border Town”. It’s a standout tune. Terri Hendrix wins with her banjo-led TV tales of Springer and other annoyances on “Clicker”. Eleven Hundred Springs engage the rockier elements of acoustic playing on “Kick Me When I’m Down,” and Texas stalwart Larry Joe Taylor impresses with the inviting “Welcome To Paradise”.

If you’re looking for musical magic, you’ve just found it. The unplugged mix of tried and tested Americana, country, and blues is a ready-made gift for the discerning lover of Texas music.

Popularity: 22% [?]