DinoScore: The Rifles

I've been listening to The Rifles for a couple of years, after downloading a sampler from their label. One thing I like about this band is that not every song sounds the same. Sure, they still sound like themselves, but some bands/musicians get in a rut and every song is so similar sometimes.

The Rifles have a sloppy, fun sound that makes you think you're just sitting around in your buddy's basement listening to his band have a little jam session. Now, don't let that make you think that the music is poor quality; that's a complement, really.

They have a new album coming out very soon "None the Wiser". I'll be checking it out. You probably should too.

Recently Unearthed: Mandolin Orange

If you asked me to write a history book about music, the chapter about hipsters and country music would probably start with Johnny Cash. I grew up on country music, so at first I thought it was cute when Johnny Cash got the attention of hipsters, but I'm really, so sick of hearing his version of Personal Jesus, I really start to vomit every time I hear it. I really didn't like that song to start with and listening to him drag it out just makes it worse.

Anyway, today's topic isn't Johnny Cash. Personally, I don't have a problem with hipsters or Johnny Cash, was just trying to show the evolution of country music into a modern time that doesn't include Trace Adkins or some of the Jersey Shoresque country music that is out there today.

I've listened to my share of country music in the past. Remember how old I am. I was country when country wasn't cool, then stopped being country, then went back to country in the mid 90s. I've seen Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, and several other well known country acts live. I'm still planning to go see Kenny Rogers live before he's not live anymore. You might recall David Allan Coe's song "You Never Even Called me by my Name" that gives the recipe for a country song:

Well, I was drunk the day my momma got out of prison,
And I went to pick her up in the rain.
But before I could get to the station in the pick-up truck,
She got runned over by a damned old train.

The kind of country music I like now is not about beer or cheatin', but its more of a sound, I like acoustic sounds: mandolins, banjos... dammit I even like a steel guitar when you do it right. So, on days like today, a band like Mandolin Orange hits the spot. I first found them on Daytrotter. Anyway, long story short...I like them, you might too.

Dinoscore: Ane Brun

I keep a list of songs I come across that I like. That way, when I finally get around to telling you about them, I remember what they are. Problem is, today I went halfway through the list before I found anything that I liked enough to tell you about. I guess there are days I'm in a different mood and that makes me pick songs that don't strike me at other times.

Another dilemma was a couple of bands/musicians that seem to not find it as important to have a way to find them on the internet as it is for them to record their music because their online identities were too non-existent for me to be able to find anything else.

Well, with all that out of my way, I think I'll tell you about Ane Brun. You might already know about her. I don't own a lot of her music. I've had Treehouse Song for awhile and Do You Remember came through Paste in the last year or so.

Her sound is a little different for me, but I find myself liking her music, I think it kind of works as a palette cleanser for me. If you haven't heard her, give her a chance.

Rambling Around Town: Stalk Baby Dino

Here's a little "contest" I made up a few months ago. This is a repost of the basic details. When I'm out and about, I'll tweet my approximate location. It's up to you to do the rest.

See if you can follow my tracks... I'm not getting a legal department involved, so let's try to just have fun and not be all whiny and picky about technical rules. 

Here's what I'm going to do:

I will post on Twitter the business or general location that I am leaving my tracks (@Clau_HMFIC). After doing so, I will leave my business card(s) somewhere at that location. The business card will have a secret word/phrase written on it. Example #BeepBopBoop

Follow me on Twitter to get the clue.

• Find the business card.
• Go to Twitter.
• Tweet me, include secret word/phrase that is on the business card. (Example: Hey #beepbopboop @clau_HMFIC ...)
• Sit back and relax.
• One winner per secret word/phrase and you can only submit One secret word/phrase. So, if you find more than one business card, leave it for someone else and don't think 12 of you can send me the same secret word/phrase. First correct submission for each one according to the order they reach me on Twitter will be declared winner.

I will get in touch with you within a few days and you will get some kind of prize. (Yet to be determined, but I'll try to make it worth your while).

Please note, you will need to be willing to provide me with a mailing address. I will not use this for anything unsavory, such as mailing lists, fake craigslist ads, or the like. I will only use your address to send you the prize.

Don't freak out if it's a few days before I contact winners.