text:
A big step up from her last few projects, Dolly Parton's Blue Smoke is her most balanced album since Backwoods Barbie. While it lacks cohesion due to so many different styles being used, there's a solid entry from every kind of Dolly – country Dolly, pop Dolly, mountain Dolly, gospel Dolly, duet-with-fellow-legend Dolly. While it isn't likely to be anyone's favorite Dolly Parton album because of this, it's also unlikely that any fan of hers won't find something here that reminds them of why they became a fan in the first place.
Tag Archives: Bob Dylan
Album Review: Emmylou Harris, Wrecking Ball: Deluxe Edition
Emmylou Harris
Wrecking Ball: Deluxe Edition
Nonesuch has released an impressive deluxe edition of the landmark Emmylou Harris album, Wrecking Ball. For those who are new to the set, this is the edition you should buy. But it's also worth the upgrade for those who already have this set in their collection.
Produced by Daniel Lanois, this album was a stunning departure for Harris, so much so that she personally requested that it not be eligible for the country charts. That's funny in retrospect, given that alongside legends like Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, and Neil Young, the album was anchored by compositions by up-and-coming songwriters like Gillian Welch, Lucinda Williams, and Julie Miller. With further cuts by writers like Anna McGarrigle, Steve Earle, and Rodney Crowell, Wrecking Ball helped set a template for what would become a vibrant Americana scene over the years that followed.
Nice history lesson, right? But the reason this album sounded great then, and still does now, is because the songs are fantastic and the production is evocatively original. It still sounds fresh today, and while Emmylou would hold on to remnants of this sound for next few projects, it has both its birth and its zenith on this record. It might be her best album, period, and it's definitely her most ambitious and interesting.
The deluxe edition's best element is its second disc of demos and outtakes, which help tell the story of how some of these songs took shape. I was most fascinated by the revved-up, rapid-fire "Deeper Well", and the melancholy reading of the self-penned "Gold", which she would include in a (slightly) more upbeat version on her 2008 album, All I Intended to Be. It didn't quite fit with the rest of Wrecking Ball. All of the outtakes and demos included indicate the album was released in its best possible form, and most are for the completist only.
The bonus DVD is a 1995 documentary called Building the Wrecking Ball. It's an overlong puff piece that's most entertaining for its showcase of mid-nineties "serious musician" garb. Emmylou in sleeveless flannel aside, the doc also features what I consider the most maddening editorial choice films like this can make: playing the final album version of a song over mixed footage of said song being recorded and being performed live. For me, it made watching it unbearable.
But the packaging is worth the upgrade, with a fantastic new essay by Gillian Welch and nearly typo-free lyrics for both the original album and the second disc of rarities. Some nice photos, too. Overall, it's a more serious deluxe take than we've gotten on any Emmylou Harris album to date, putting those Rhino reissues of her earlier work to shame.
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Filed under Album Reviews
What are You Listening to? – 2014 Edition
There have been a lot of new releases in the past few weeks. What tracks are resonating with you the most?
Here are three of my current favorites, all of which have been recorded before:
Carlene Carter, "Me and the Wildwood Rose"
from the album Carter Girl
"Me and the Wildwood Rose" was always one of my favorite Carlene Carter tracks. Back when the original recording was released in 1990, it had a wistful nostalgia for the grandmother that she had lost. In 2014, all of the other folks mentioned in the song, including her little sister "the Wildwood Rose", have also passed on. The new version is so heavy with grief, it is only Carter's effervescent spirit that keeps it from being too heavy.
Rodney Crowell, "God I'm Missing You"
from the album Tarpaper Sky
Speaking of grief, Rodney Crowell's "God I'm Missing You" is a gut-wrencher. Widows don't often get the chance to speak in pure poetry: "Time stretches to shape you right out of thin air. But it can't hold the image. If I blink, you're not there. God I'm missing you." For me, it's the highlight of an excellent album, with his best songwriting since The Outsider. Lucinda Williams recorded it before him, and she does it well.
Dolly Parton, "Banks of the Ohio"
from the album Blue Smoke
Parton's latest set is a welcome return to form, and it features compelling covers of songs by Bob Dylan and Bon Jovi. But the highlight for me is "Banks of the Ohio", an oft-recorded standard that she breathes new life into by framing it with a narrative device that has her retelling the story being told to her. This allows for Parton to speak in the male voice of the murderer, and still infuse the song with her trademark empathy. (She's never shied away from a suicide number, but homicide really isn't her style.)
So we still have to wait from some country lady besides Olivia Newton-John to fully embrace the murderess within her, but until then, the stunning harmonies and heartfelt vocal of Parton has newly minted this treasured classic.
That's what I'm listening to. What are you listening to?
Filed under Recommend a Track
Country Universe's Best Albums of 2013, Part One: #40-#21
For the second year, Country Universe is publishing a 40-deep list of the year's best albums. Part One includes releases from talented newcomers, genre legends, and quite a few entries from the outskirts of country music. As usual, that's where most of the cool stuff can be found.
Country Universe will close out our year with the conclusion of this list tomorrow. As always, share your thoughts and opinions in the comments!
Dan Grimm
Individual rankings: #12 – Jonathan
The EP format doesn't leave much margin for error, but with a knack for unconventional imagery and a style that blends vintage SoCal rock with authentic honky-tonk, Dan Grimm ensures that every track on his freewheeling, endlessly likable Ventucky is a standout. - Jonathan Keefe
Recommended Tracks: "Skeletor," "300 Beers"
Magpie and the Dandelion
The Avett Brothers
Individual rankings: #12 – Sam
Since moving up to a major label, the Avetts' album releases have strayed further and further away from their ragged-but-right indie albums. There aren't as many reckless moments, though "Another Is Waiting" and "Open Ended Life" come close. The trade is that their slower, introspective songs are increasingly sophisticated. "Good to You" is beautifully written, and Bob Crawford's rare vocals are a dagger to the heart for any dads who spend too much time traveling. - Sam Gazdziak
Recommended Tracks: "Good to You", "Another is Waiting", "Morning Song"
Love's Truck Stop
Matraca Berg
Individual rankings: #11 – Kevin
Originally released in Europe last year, Matraca Berg's latest collection builds on the strength of 2011's Dreaming Fields. She embodies the characters of her song so fully that she allows you to walk as easily in the shoes of a truck stop waitress as those of a grieving, abused daughter clutching flowers at her father's graveside. Her vulnerable vocals shine best on "My Heart Will Never Break This Way Again", which was sung by Patty Loveless many years ago. - Kevin Coyne
Recommended Tracks: "Her Name is Mary", "Fistful of Roses", "My Heart Will Never Break This Way Again"
Feels Like Home
Sheryl Crow
Individual rankings: #11 – Leeann
It was inevitable that Sheryl Crow would eventually make a country album, since she's dabbled in it over the years on various tribute projects and has collaborated with country stalwarts like Willie Nelson and Vince Gill, not to mention that even her pop albums have had elements of country in them. So, Feels Like Home seems appropriate for the title of her first official country record.
While certainly not a traditional country record, as I had personally hoped it would be, Crow is instead authentic to her way of doing things, while also being able to draw from the good parts of the modern sounds and styles of country music. - Leeann Ward
Recommended Tracks: "We Oughta Be Drinkin'", "Stay at Home Mother"
They Called it Music
The Gibson Brothers
Individual rankings: #11 – Ben
On the title track of They Called it Music, IBMA Entertainers of the Year Leigh and Eric Gibson pine for the days when music was honest, simple, and "helped the hard times heal" – when it was a medium of art and self-expression rather than a mere moneymaker. Whether lighthearted ("Buy a Ring, Find a Preacher"), melancholy ("Dying for Someone to Live For") or introspective ("Something Coming to Me"), the entire album is a beautiful realization of that very standard. - Ben Foster
Recommended Tracks: "Buy a Ring, Find a Preacher," "They Called It Music," "Something Coming to Me"
Mando Saenz
Individual rankings: Sam – #11
The third album from Texas-raised, Nashville resident Saenz is the most eclectic and best of his career. While the focus is still on his sharp songwriting skills, the mood varies from introspective to rocking to, on "Tall Grass," downright playful. Saenz collaborated with an A-list batch of co-writers, including Kim Richey for "Break Away Speed" and Wade Bowen for "Bottle into Gold," and the mix of songs with Saenz's pleasant vocals and a hot band is a winning combination. - Sam Gazdziak
Recommended Tracks: "Break Away Speed", "Bottle into Gold", "Pocket Change"
Build Me Up from Bones
Sarah Jarosz
Individual rankings: #17 – Jonathan; #19 – Ben
On her third album, Build Me Up from Bones, Sarah Jarosz found her voice as both a singer and a songwriter. Her sense of phrasing draws from both her expansive knowledge of contemporary folk and her conservatory training in improvisation, and sharply observed original songs like "Gone Too Soon" and "1000 Things" more than hold their own alongside Joanna Newsom and Bob Dylan covers. - Jonathan Keefe
Recommended Tracks: "Over the Edge," "Build Me Up from Bones," "1000 Things"
Opening Day
Peter Cooper
Individual rankings: #16 – Leeann; #18 – Sam
eter Cooper's second album was entitled after the great pedal steel guitar player, Lloyd Green. While Opening Day is not named after him, Green is still the other star player on Cooper's third stellar solo album. Along with Green's prominent steel and cooper's own emotionally conversational voice, Cooper once again proves that he is as an adept songwriter as he is a journalist. Themes of living life well, baseball (Of course!), and even drone strikes. Each of these songs with its various themes are all presented with either insight or witty humor and sometimes both. - Leeann Ward
Recommended Tracks: "Much Better Now", "Quiet Little War"
Holly Grove
The Whiskey Gentry
Individual rankings: #8 – Sam
It's hard to say if The Whiskey Gentry will be the next big thing to come out of Georgia, but they have the talent to spare. The band mixes in bluegrass, country, a bit of Celtic and a dash of punk rock, resulting in a high-energy, hard-to-classify sound. "I Ain't Nothing" and "Dixie" wouldn't sound out of place in a honky tonk, while "Colly Davis" is a bluegrass-on-amphetamines winner. The title track is a four-and-a-half minute epic that was one of the most moving songs of the year. - Sam Gazdziak
Recommended Tracks: "Holly Grove", "Particles", "I Ain't Nothing"
When We Fall
Rebecca Frazier
Individual rankings: Ben – #7
Rebecca Frazier is a genuine triple threat – a great picker, a great singer, and a great songwriter. She shows that she can throw it down with the best of them on "Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow" as well as a trio of stellar instrumental tracks, while her delivery of ballads such as the deeply personal "Babe in Arms" resounds with humanity and vulnerability, the result being one of the year's finest bluegrass albums. - Ben Foster
Recommended Tracks: "When We Fall," "Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow," "Babe in Arms"
Not Cool
Tim Easton
Individual rankings: #7 – Jonathan
Even if its self-deprecating title isn't at all accurate, singer-songwriter Tim Easton's Not Cool proves that, despite the glut of counter-evidence 2013 presented, it's still possible to incorporate a heavy rock influence into folk and country styles without sacrificing wit, craft, or genre know-how. Spirited, ramshackle cuts like "Lickety Split" and "Crazy Motherfucker from Shelby, OH" make the underrated Easton's seventh outing one of the year's most raucous and, yes, coolest albums. - Jonathan Keefe
Recommended Tracks: "Troubled Times," "Lickety Split," "They Will Bury You"
Brad Paisley
Individual rankings: Sam – #7
Did you know that Brad Paisley released one of the best albums of his career this year? The humorous songs, like "Harvey Bodine" and "Death of a Single Man," stayed humorous after multiple listenings, and unlike most other country singers, Paisley blended in pop elements, like sampling Roger Miller in "Outstanding in Our Field," and did it without turning them into pop or rock songs with token country elements. "Southern Comfort Zone" and "Those Crazy Christians" showed more depth than their titles would suggest. And all anyone wanted to talk about was that damn "Accidental Racist" song. - Sam Gazdziak
Recommended Tracks: "Southern Comfort Zone", "Beat This Summer", "Death of a Single Man"
In the Throes
John Moreland
Individual rankings: #6 – Jonathan
A difficult meditation on what happens when one has experienced losses of love and faith, John Moreland's In the Throes is a testament to the redemptive power of music. He may sing, "Nobody Gives a Damn About Songs Anymore," on the album's most keenly observed song, but Moreland's spectacular songwriting is something everyone should hear. - Jonathan Keefe
Recommended Tracks: "Nobody Gives a Damn About Songs Anymore," "Break My Heart Sweetly," "Blues & Kudzu"
Dos Divas
Lorrie Morgan & Pam Tillis
Individual rankings: #13 – Kevin; #16 – Ben
A lively and entertaining collaboration between two nineties, second-generation country stars. The album features six full collaborations, along with four solo tracks from each artist. The pairings are funny and loose, recalling the best of those old-school duet albums from the sixties and seventies. But the biggest surprise is in the solo turns by Lorrie Morgan, who turns in some of her strongest moments ever put down to tape. - Kevin Coyne
Recommended Tracks: "Last Night's Makeup", "Next Time it Rains", "I Know What You Did Last Night"
Good Wine and Bad Decisions
Julie Roberts
Individual rankings: #13 – Ben; #16 – Tara
Roberts' comeback album is best approached with an aching heart and a glass of something smooth – all the better to absorb its combo of earthy blues and provoking, damn-that's-depressing stories. But don't mistake Good Wine and Bad Decisions for a downer; Roberts lures you into her dark places with such emotional gusto and groovy, engaging vibes that you somehow end up celebrating in misery. - Tara Seetharam
Recommended Tracks: "Arms of Jesus," "He Made a Woman Out of Me," "Bones," "Old Strings"
Finally Home
Blue Sky Riders
Individual rankings: #4 – Dan
With their considerable powers combined, Georgia Middleman, Gary Burr, and Kenny Loggins (Kenny Loggins!) produce the year's most relentlessly positive LP. No time for cynics here; this is distilled country-poptimism, a set of songs that could easily soundtrack a self-help seminar ("Just Say Yes"! "How About Now"!) and like it that way, thanks. And are you gonna complain? The songs are so catchy, you will help yourself. - Dan Milliken
Recommended Tracks: "Little Victories", "Just Say Yes", "How About Now"
To All the Girls…
Willie Nelson
Individual rankings: #12 – Tara; #15 – Leeann
Only Nelson could create an album akin to a mug of hot chocolate on a lazy Sunday afternoon that still feels elegant and impeccably thought-out. There's no doubt he was tickled to record with all 18 female acts, from current stars to genre darlings to his own family, and it shows. He plays to each of her strengths with grace – stepping back in "Grandma's Hands" to let Mavis Staples take it to church, standing quietly still in "Always On My Mind" so Carrie Underwood can inhabit the classic, waltzing right alongside Norah Jones in "Walkin." It's all comfort food, to be sure, but comfort food of the classiest, most tasteful order. - Tara Seetharam
Recommended Tracks: "Far Away Places," "Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends," "Grandma's Hands," "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?"
Thorn in My Heart
Kim Richey
Individual rankings: #15 – Kevin; #18 – Ben; #19 – Tara
Built around full-bodied melodies, subtle yet evocative arrangements, and authoritative vocal performances, Thorn in My Heart is another excellent collection of mature, compelling roots country songs by one of the genre's most underrated singer-songwriters. - Ben Foster
Recommended Tracks: "Thorn in My Heart," "London Town," "Breakaway Speed"
Lori McKenna
Individual rankings: #3 – Kevin
Whereas the previous, excellent Lorraine dealt heavily in the themes of loss and grief, the finest moments on McKenna's latest collection surround matters of the heart. McKenna captures the quiet desperation just under the surface of life's mundanity better than any writer today. - Kevin Coyne
Recommended Tracks: "Shake", "Salt", "Smaller and Smaller"
The Stand-In
Caitlin Rose
Individual rankings: #10 – Dan; #11 – Jonathan
Liz Rose's daughter once again proves her family can school yours all day long, with a sophomore set of songs every bit as sharp as her debut. Her soft, demure singing style belies her ability to slip powerful blows—whether aimed at others or herself—into a song. Call her Nashville's ninja. - Dan Milliken
Recommended Tracks: "I Was Cruel", "Silver Sings", "Menagerie"
Country Universe's Best of 2013:
- Best Albums of 2013, Part One: #40-#21
- Best Albums of 2013, Part Two: #20-#1
- Best Singles of 2013, Part One: #40-#21
- Best Singles of 2013, Part Two: #20-#1
Filed under Best of 2013
2013 CMA Awards: Staff Picks & Predictions
They're as hope-dangling and ridiculous as they've ever been, those Country Music Association voters, and the CU staff has picked and predicted their 2013 awards below. Let us know what you think, and check back for our live blog on Wednesday at 7 p.m. CST!
Entertainer of the Year
Should Win:
- Jason Aldean
- Luke Bryan
- Blake Shelton
- George Strait
- Taylor Swift
Will Win:
- Jason Aldean
- Luke Bryan
- Blake Shelton – Dan, Ben, Jonathan, Tara, Kevin
- George Strait
- Taylor Swift
Dan: Sadly, it's become hard to care about the night's biggest prize. Swift and Strait are the two I can stomach right now, and neither of them actually had much to do with the country scene this past year—the former because she was flexing her pop muscles, the latter because he's winding down.
Ben: I want to care, but I really don't. There's only one artist whom I could have supported unequivocally, and she didn't get a nomination.
Jonathan: The CMAs have a tendency to lag a few years behind peak commercial trends, so I think Bryan will have to wait another year or two before he takes this award. While Bryan, Aldean, and Shelton could split votes among the bro contingent (presumably, to the benefit of Strait), I think Shelton's visibility will be enough to earn him another win here.
Tara: This was Carrie Underwood's year. I'm angry, unsurprised and completely apathetic about the rest of these contenders.
Kevin: Shelton won last year and if anything, his star has only shone brighter this year. That being said, if I was a CMA voter, I'd leave this category blank. Carrie Underwood was this year's Entertainer of the Year.
Should Win:
- Jason Aldean
- Luke Bryan – Kevin
- Eric Church – Ben, Jonathan, Tara, Dan
- Blake Shelton
- Keith Urban
Will Win:
- Jason Aldean
- Luke Bryan – Dan, Ben, Jonathan, Tara
- Eric Church
- Blake Shelton – Kevin
- Keith Urban
Dan: Again, pretty indifferent here.
Ben: Church was between albums this year, but he's the one whom I feel has represented country music the best. With Urban being past his commercial peak, I'm going to give the edge to Luke Bryan for his current red-hot momentum, but I honestly couldn't care less which of the three dudebros gets it.
Jonathan: I'd replace four-fifths of this lineup with Gary Allan, Dierks Bentley, Darius Rucker, and Chris Young. If Bryan won't win Entertainer of the Year, this will be his consolation prize.
Tara: I feel a little guilty rewarding Church's residual awesomeness from Chief over Aldean's admittedly solid year, but I'm still one redeeming single away from getting over "She's Country." Like Jonathan said, though, I think this is where the voters will reward Bryan.
Kevin: I'd give it to Bryan simply because he's had a good year and has a good voice. Another Shelton win seems inevitable to me.
Should Win:
- Kelly Clarkson
- Miranda Lambert
- Kacey Musgraves
- Taylor Swift
- Carrie Underwood – Dan, Ben, Jonathan, Tara, Kevin
Will Win:
- Kelly Clarkson
- Miranda Lambert – Dan, Ben, Jonathan, Kevin
- Kacey Musgraves – Tara
- Taylor Swift
- Carrie Underwood
Dan: Who knows? Voters could give Lambert a record-tying (with Reba McEntire) four-peat, or maybe give Underwood her fourth trophy instead, or maybe give Swift a second one just to be zany, or dismiss the stats entirely and make a surprise investment in Musgraves. I can imagine any of those scenarios playing out.
Ben: I'll probably be 100% Team Kacey at next year's ACMs, but right now I want to see Underwood recognized for her incredible Blown Away era. As Dan noted above, this category is difficult to predict this year. I'm going to play it safe and bet on Lambert, but Kelly Clarkson is the only one without a shot.
Jonathan: Since there are far stronger albums than Blown Away in contention for Album of the Year, this is where I'd prefer to see Underwood recognized for the artistic gains she's made during her current era. Lambert basically told voters to do just that during her acceptance speech for Female Vocalist of the Year during the ACMs a few months back, but it seems doubtful that they will. She seems poised to repeat, even though she's coming off the most poorly received and lowest selling run of her career. Based on the quality of what was released during the eligibility period, I would have preferred to see Brandy Clark, Ashley Monroe, Kellie Pickler, and LeAnn Rimes squaring off against Underwood.
Tara: Just going out on a limb here with Musgraves; it feels like this category is due for a change. Or maybe that change will be a throwback to Underwood? One can hope.
Kevin: I think Lambert will win out of force of habit, with bonus votes for having the good taste to cover Musgraves and Clark before they both became breakout artists this year. Underwood made the best music and, as always, sang it better than the rest.
Should Win:
- The Band Perry
- Eli Young Band
- Lady Antebellum
- Little Big Town – Ben, Jonathan, Tara
- Zac Brown Band – Dan, Kevin
Will Win:
- The Band Perry – Kevin
- Eli Young Band
- Lady Antebellum
- Little Big Town – Dan, Ben, Jonathan, Tara
- Zac Brown Band
Dan: I suppose that Little Big Town will repeat—but with "Your Side of the Bed" having doused their white-hot momentum, it's hard to say for sure. Perhaps voters will finally throw Zac Brown Band the bone, if Brown's Luke Bryan comments didn't ruffle too many feathers. [Update: And ditto what Kevin says below.]
Ben: Little Big Town may have lost some steam with "Your Side of the Bed," but they're still going into the ring with a platinum album and two big hit singles, and they're one of the only groups with multiple nominations this year. The trophy is theirs to lose.
Jonathan: Had The Band Perry scored more across-the-board support, I'd say they might have been able to pull off the upset here, but this remains Little Big Town's to lose. Hopefully, a repeat victory will lend "Sober," one of the year's finest singles and arguably a new career-best for LBT, greater momentum at radio.
Tara: Cheers to that, Jonathan. Agreed.
Kevin: The Band Perry had a new album this year that was well-received. My personal pick is Zac Brown Band, only because I want last year's Little Big Town win to start a new era in this category of acknowledging the overdue. Having the Dixie Chicks rack up four wins in five years is one thing. Rascal Flatts and Lady Antebellum dominating in the same way robbed the award of its luster. Last year, it got a little back. Let's keep it going.
Should Win:
- Big & Rich
- The Civil Wars – Dan, Ben, Jonathan, Tara, Kevin
- Florida Georgia Line
- Love and Theft
- Sugarland
- Thompson Square
Will Win:
- Big & Rich
- The Civil Wars
- Florida Georgia Line – Dan, Ben, Jonathan, Tara, Kevin
- Love and Theft
- Sugarland
- Thompson Square
Dan: After years of sluggish Sugarland and shruggish Thompson Square, at least this year's winning duo will have clear commercial heft behind them. Too bad I'm talking about Florida Georgia Line and not the also-quite-successful Civil Wars.
Ben: Whatever.
Jonathan: Same as it ever was: This category is years overdue to merge with Vocal Group. And the nomination for Sugarland is absurd.
Tara: I can't decide what's more amusing: Sugarland's nomination or Florida Georgia Line's inevitable win. (Although it does kind of feel like Sugarland is still haunting country radio with that new Band Perry single, no?)
Kevin: The Civil Wars. I swear they're only nominating them so we can feel extra bad when they lose to Florida Georgia Line. (See: Rascal Flatts over Alison Krauss & Union Station, Martina McBride over Dolly Parton and Patty Loveless…)
Should Win:
- Lee Brice
- Brett Eldredge
- Florida Georgia Line
- Kacey Musgraves – Dan, Ben, Jonathan, Tara, Kevin
- Kip Moore
Will Win:
- Lee Brice
- Brett Eldredge
- Florida Georgia Line – Dan, Ben
- Kacey Musgraves – Jonathan, Tara, Kevin
- Kip Moore
Dan: Musgraves is class valedictorian, and Moore's a solid B+ student, but expect the boys of Florida Georgia Line to cruise in on baseball scholarship and come out on top.
Ben: Musgraves has a chance, but I don't know if her critical clout will be enough to compete with the "Cruise" phenomenon.
Jonathan: That Musgraves is the night's leading nominee gives me hope that she can overcome Florida Georgia Line's commercial heft. That she had the balls to push "Follow Your Arrow" as a proper single puts me firmly in her corner.
Tara: Moore is my personal favorite here, but Musgraves outclasses them all. I'll throw my optimism in with Jonathan and Kevin.
Kevin: This is a defining moment for the CMA's. Musgraves will help restore their credibility. Florida Georgia Line will destroy what's left of it. FWIW, Ricky Skaggs beat Lee Greenwood and Mark Chesnutt beat John Michael Montgomery. Then again, Rascal Flatts beat Nickel Creek and Terri Gibbs beat Rosanne Cash…
Should Win:
- Little Big Town, Tornado – Jonathan
- Kacey Musgraves, Same Trailer Different Park – Dan, Ben
- Blake Shelton, Based On a True Story…
- Taylor Swift, Red
- Carrie Underwood, Blown Away – Tara, Kevin
Will Win:
- Little Big Town, Tornado – Ben, Tara
- Kacey Musgraves, Same Trailer Different Park – Jonathan
- Blake Shelton, Based On a True Story… – Dan
- Taylor Swift, Red
- Carrie Underwood, Blown Away – Kevin
Dan: Tough call. In recent years, the CMA has coalesced around the album with the most "story" value, whether that story was total domination (Fearless, My Kinda Party) or a respected artist finally hitting pay dirt (Revolution, Chief). Tornado seems like a fit for that second grouping, except that Little Big Town's pay dirt was already last year. So the field seems open.
Ben: Of the four albums that have any real business being nominated for country awards, I consider the Musgraves set to be the strongest, but my gut says that it's going to come down to either Shelton or Little Big Town. I'm going to be optimistic and predict an LBT victory.
Jonathan: I'm not nearly as bullish on Musgraves' album as many others are, but it seems like this is safest place for voters to recognize her distinctive, critically acclaimed work. Tornado is my pick for the most consistently excellent set of this line-up; Red hits some glorious highs, but it's also wildly uneven and has little business being recognized as a country album.
Tara: Tornado has some really fantastic production, and Blown Away is a stand-out showcase of Underwood's interpretive abilities. Personal investment puts me in Underwood's camp, but based on momentum and the fact that Musgraves is new, I think Little Big Town will take this.
Kevin: Musgraves has the most critical support, but Underwood made a much better album, in my opinion. I'm going out on a limb here and saying Underwood will win. My logic is that she had an incredible year and this is the best category to acknowledge that in. Also, a debut album has never won this award. There's always a first time, but Musgraves has a lot of history up against her here.
Should Win:
- Florida Georgia Line, "Cruise"
- Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, "Highway Don't Care"
- Miranda Lambert, "Mama's Broken Heart" – Jonathan, Tara, Kevin
- Kacey Musgraves, "Merry Go 'Round" – Dan, Ben
- Darius Rucker, "Wagon Wheel"
Will Win:
- Florida Georgia Line, "Cruise" – Dan, Jonathan, Ben
- Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, "Highway Don't Care"
- Miranda Lambert, "Mama's Broken Heart"
- Kacey Musgraves, "Merry Go 'Round"
- Darius Rucker, "Wagon Wheel" – Tara, Kevin
Dan: "Cruise" is the behemoth here, and behemoths tend to win Single.
Ben: Dan said it.
Jonathan: I'd like to think that a record-setting run atop Billboard's ridiculous mongrel chart would be its own reward, but it probably won't be.
Kevin: There have been some goofy winners in the past. "Elvira." "Achy Breaky Heart." "Bop." But there aren't any in the recent past. I think that "Wagon Wheel" allows the CMA to pick a big mainstream hit that has a bit of alt-country cred, should they decide against a Musgraves sweep.
Tara: I agree with Kevin that "Wagon Wheel" seems like a nice compromise for the voters. I'd be cool with any of the latter three winning, but to me, "Mama's Broken Heart" has the most momentum from start to finish.
Should Win:
- "I Drive Your Truck" (Lee Brice) – Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington and Jimmy Yeary
- "Mama's Broken Heart" (Miranda Lambert) – Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally and Kacey Musgraves – Kevin
- "Merry Go 'Round" (Kacey Musgraves) – Kacey Musgraves, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne – Dan, Ben, Tara
- "Pontoon" (Little Big Town) – Barry Dean, Natalie Hemby and Luke Laird
- "Wagon Wheel" (Darius Rucker) – Bob Dylan and Ketch Secor – Dan, Jonathan
Will Win:
- "I Drive Your Truck" (Lee Brice) – Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington and Jimmy Yeary - Dan, Jonathan
- "Mama's Broken Heart" (Miranda Lambert) – Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally and Kacey Musgraves
- "Merry Go 'Round" (Kacey Musgraves) – Kacey Musgraves, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne – Ben, Tara, Kevin
- "Pontoon" (Little Big Town) – Barry Dean, Natalie Hemby and Luke Laird
- "Wagon Wheel" (Darius Rucker) – Bob Dylan and Ketch Secor
Dan: "Wagon Wheel" is a proven standard, but voters will probably want to go with something newer, and I guess I do, too. There's a decent chance that Musgraves will get acknowledged here with "Merry Go 'Round," but with two co-writes in the pool, her danger is vote-splitting—and if that does happen, I defer to Jonathan's logic below. Plus, frankly, CMA voters love songs about deceased loved ones.
Ben: It's definitely possible that vote-splitting may be turn out to be Musgraves' undoing in this category, but my guess is that "Merry Go 'Round" will ultimately overshadow "Mama's Broken Heart," and that this will be where she gets her trip to the podium.
Jonathan: I'm all-in for the idea of recognizing brilliant songs that should have been hits a decade ago. Next year, can we get Drive-By Truckers' "Outfit" or Neko Case's "Deep Red Bells," please? This year, I just can't see the CMA giving an award to Bob Dylan, and, as much as I'd love to see Brandy Clark win, I think the Musgraves co-writes will split votes. Which leaves a frivolous holdover from last year to face off against the only "truck" song in years that's worth even half a damn. I think the latter pulls off the night's only real upset.
Tara: Lots of solid choices here; even "Pontoon" has a melody worth respecting. "Merry Go 'Round" just edges out "Mama's Broken Heart" for me, but I think the voters will be more pointed with their choice and reward Musgraves for her breakout song.
Kevin: "Merry Go 'Round" fits in well with previous female writer wins. Distinct point of view, attention to details, and some quiet feminist commentary. My pick is "Mama's Broken Heart", which I think is just brilliant. "Line your lips and keep them closed." Wow.
Should Win:
- Carrie Underwood, "Blown Away" – Ben, Kevin, Tara
- Blake Shelton featuring Pistol Annies, "Boys 'Round Here"
- Lady Antebellum, "Downtown"
- Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, "Highway Don't Care"
- Miranda Lambert, "Mama's Broken Heart"
- Little Big Town, "Tornado" – Dan, Jonathan
Will Win:
- Carrie Underwood, "Blown Away" – Dan, Ben, Jonathan, Kevin, Tara
- Blake Shelton featuring Pistol Annies, "Boys 'Round Here"
- Lady Antebellum, "Downtown"
- Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, "Highway Don't Care"
- Miranda Lambert, "Mama's Broken Heart"
- Little Big Town, "Tornado"
Dan: The Underwood clip was made to win this award, but I find it silly. Why does she have lie around all sexily on that bed in the tornado shelter?
Ben: Little Big Town's "Tornado" is also a worthy contender, but Underwood's "Blown Away" video is an absolute tour de force.
Jonathan: The idea that this could be how the Pistol Annies win a CMA award just makes my teeth hurt. As big a fan of hers as I may be, Miranda's mugging in the video for "Mama's Broken Heart" makes her laughable acting gig on Law & Order: Perverts Unit seem measured and subtle by comparison.
Kevin: Because why shouldn't there be two winners in this category that give homage to Oz?
Tara: Tornadoes scares the crap out of me.
Should Win:
- Blake Shelton featuring Pistol Annies, "Boys 'Round Here"
- Florida Georgia Line featuring Nelly, "Cruise" (Remix)
- Kelly Clarkson featuring Vince Gill, "Don't Rush" – Jonathan, Ben, Tara
- Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, "Highway Don't Care" – Dan, Kevin
- Jason Aldean with Luke Bryan and Eric Church, "The Only Way I Know"
Will Win:
- Blake Shelton featuring Pistol Annies, "Boys 'Round Here"
- Florida Georgia Line featuring Nelly, "Cruise"
- Kelly Clarkson featuring Vince Gill, "Don't Rush"
- Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, "Highway Don't Care" – Jonathan, Ben, Dan, Kevin, Tara
- Jason Aldean with Luke Bryan and Eric Church, "The Only Way I Know"
Ben: Clarkson and Gill made the best record of the lot, but it doesn't have the commercial muscle to pull off a victory, so I'm giving the edge to McGraw and Company.
Jonathan: Cosigning Ben's comment, word for word.
Dan: "Highway Don't Care" is kinda weird and meh, but it's not "Boys 'Round Here" and "The Only Way I Know". For this, I am grateful.
Tara: I swear I'm not throwing this to Clarkson and Gill just because they're Clarkson and Gill – I can stomach not one of these other songs. Part of me thinks Aldean and co. might take this, but McGraw and co. seems more likely.
Kevin: "Highway Don't Care" made me enjoy both McGraw and Swift as singers, not just song pickers/songwriters. For that alone, the win.
Should Win:
- Sam Bush (Mandolin) – Jonathan, Ben
- Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar) – Kevin
- Dann Huff (Guitar)
- Brent Mason (Guitar)
- Mac McAnally (Guitar)
Will Win:
- Sam Bush (Mandolin)
- Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar) – Jonathan, Ben, Kevin
- Dann Huff (Guitar)
- Brent Mason (Guitar)
- Mac McAnally (Guitar)
Ben: I'll be all for Paul Franklin next year thanks to Bakersfield, but this year I would like to see Sam Bush get his due.
Jonathan: Bush may not have a MacArthur fellowship like Chris Thile, but his progressive mandolin work is certainly overdue for recognition. Hard to begrudge Franklin, though, as Bakersfield is one of the year's best albums.
Kevin: Until he wins. I will pick him until he wins.
Filed under CMA Awards
Retro Single Review: Alan Jackson, "Gone Country"
"I hear down there, it's changed, you see. They're not as backward as they used to be."
"Gone Country" is a snapshot of country music at the peak of the boom years, when forces within the music industry and larger shifts in the social landscape of America coalesced to launch country music from its long-suffering redheaded stepchild status into a billion dollar business.
Penned by Bob McDill, a pop songwriter who'd gone country himself many years earlier, the song's sing-along chorus lends itself to "Born in the U.S.A." syndrome. Many sang along without realizing that it was actually an indictment of musical artists who manipulatively decided to go country, rather than a celebration of the explosive new audience that had embraced the format in the early nineties.
Who but Alan Jackson could have delivered it so masterfully? Even during the hat act years, when every young new buck was falling over himself to declare his affinity for Haggard and Jones, Alan Jackson stood out as the real deal. But despite his staunch traditionalism and reverence for the genre's greats, he still skillfully incorporated fifties rock, sixties pop and seventies rock into his sound, which is why he could cover "Tequila Sunrise" just as credibly as "A Good Year for the Roses."
The man singing the song had reached mega-superstardom, selling more copies of one album than many of his heroes had sold of their entire catalog. Even as he played the cocked-eyebrow guardian of the genre, looking at these carpetbaggers with disdain-laced suspicion, he also knew that the gold rush that was calling their names had made him successful beyond his wildest dreams.
So while there's a whiff of condescension toward the Vegas singer going "back to her roots", the folkie who thought "some of that stuff don't sound much different than Dylan", and the pop executive who was sure he'd "be back in the money in no time at all", his confident air throughout the song was a reminder that all of their perceptions were based in truth.
Nineties country really did share some roots with the pop and rock music that lounge singers would belt out in Vegas. Mary Chapin Carpenter, a folkie if there ever was one, was selling multi-platinum and dominating the award show circuit. And while pop music was at its lowest nadir, languishing in the shadows of both grunge rock and hip-hop, country radio was the only place on the radio dial where bright production and lyrical emphasis could be found.
It was a golden moment in the genre's history, the first and last time when country dominated the entire American musical landscape without having to compromise its own identity to capture the interest of the crossover audience. They made smart, contemporary music that acknowledged and built upon the genre's rich legacy, and the audience came to them.
These days, of course, they're as backward as they've ever been. Hillbilly pride songs compete for airtime with songs so blatantly pop that they don't even need remixing for pop and AC airplay. But "Gone Country" is a beautiful snapshot of a time when buy generic viagra online the genre had risen to the top of the music scene, simply on the twin strengths of authenticity and artistry.
Written by Bob McDill
Grade: A
Next: A Good Year for the Roses (with George Jones)
Previous: Livin' on Love
Filed under Retro Single Reviews
100 Greatest Men: #61. Charlie Daniels
100 Greatest Men: The Complete List
A cornerstone of country, southern rock, and gospel music, Charlie Daniels and his fiddle have made an indelible impact on the fabric of American music.
Born and raised in North Carolina, Daniels first achieved notoriety through his astonishing fiddling talent. Since he was also efficient with a guitar, he started off by assembling the instrumental band the Jaguars. They played throughout the late fifties and early sixties, and were signed to Epic Records for a period of time. While the band was slowly fizzling out, Daniels got his first taste of real success as a songwriter and a backing musician. Elvis Presley recorded his composition, "It Hurts Me", in 1963. By the end of the sixties, Daniels had played on the seminal Bob Dylan album Nashville Skyline, and toured with Leonard Cohen.
His recording career entered full stride in the seventies. After a self-titled solo album in 1970, Daniels expanded his act into the Charlie Daniels Band. In this incarnation, Daniels would enjoy his greatest notoriety as a singer, songwriter, and performer. By deftly tackling societal issues from a fiercely Southern perspective, Daniels added powerful and remarkably effective social commentary to his songs, surrounding his worldview with scorching fiddle.
A series of classic singles like "Uneasy Rider", "The South's Gonna Do It", and "Long Haired Country Boy" firmly established Charlie Daniels and his band as a force to be reckoned with. After a series of critically acclaimed albums that sold well, the band reached its peak of mainstream success in 1979, with "The Devil Went Down to Georgia." It became Daniels' biggest hit on both the country and the pop charts, and powered Million Mile Reflections to sales of over three million in the United States alone.
Daniels and his band coasted on their success throughout the eighties, touring extensively and continuing to score country hits, along with the occasional pop crossover. Some of his most high-profile hits remained political in nature, most notably "Still in Saigon", his remarkable attempt to shed light on the Vietnam War veterans struggling with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. In 1989, he had his last major commercial success with the band's album, Simple Man. Though the title track just missed the country top ten, the vigilante hit received wide media exposure, and pushed sales of the album to platinum status.
For the past two decades, Daniels has remained a widely popular draw on the road, and a widely respected media star, appearing regularly on political talk shows to share his views on issues of the day. Always a fan of gospel music, he's released several spiritual sets in recent years. Songs from the Longleaf Pines, a bluegrass gospel collection from 2005, was released to overwhelming praise. In 2007, he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Always a patriot, his latest release is 2010's Land That I Love, which features a handful of new songs alongside his many America-themed songs from the past.
Essential Singles:
- Uneasy Rider, 1973
- The South's Gonna Do It, 1975
- Long Haired Country Boy, 1975
- The Devil Went Down to Georgia, 1979
- In America, 1981
- Simple Man, 1989
Essential Albums:
- Charlie Daniels, 1970
- Fire on the Mountain, 1975
- Nightrider, 1975
- Million Mile Reflections, 1979
- Simple Man, 1989
- Songs From the Longleaf Pines, 2005
Next: #60. Don Gibson
Previous: #62. Red Foley
Filed under 100 Greatest Men
Country Music Hall of Fame Welcomes Garth Brooks, Connie Smith, and Hargus "Pig" Robbins
Garth Brooks, Connie Smith, and keyboardist Hargus "Pig" Robbins will join the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2012.
Brooks is the top-selling country music artist in history. At fifty, he is one of the youngest living inductees ever.
Smith is the fifth female artist to be inducted since 2008, when Emmylou Harris ended a nine year drought for female inductees.
Since playing on the George Jones classic "White Lightning" in 1957, Robbins has recorded with countless legends of country and rock music, including Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, Alan Jackson, and Bob Dylan.
What's your take on the 2012 inductees? More importantly, who deserves to join them in 2013?
We'll run a list of our picks for the next round. Share your suggestions in the comments!
Filed under News
iPod Playlist: Originals And Covers
As I'm sure the rest of you do, I make playlists all the time. Many of them are lists of individual artists, but some of them have a concept.
My latest playlist is of covers. First, I have the original version (or the one that's famous for being the original) followed by my favorite cover of it. My only rule is that I have to like both versions. So, songs where I like the cover but not the original won't make the list.
I'll share a sampling of what I have so far, as long as you share your latest or greatest concept playlist in the comments:
1. Buddy Miller, "Somewhere Trouble Don't Go" (Miranda Lambert)
2. Hank Williams, "Hey, Good Lookin'" (The Mavericks)
3. Elvis Presley, "Suspicious Minds (Dwight Yoakam)
4. Dolly Parton, "Coat of Many Colors (Shania Twain/Alison Krauss)
5. Waylon Jennings, "Dreaming My Dreams with You" (Alison Krauss and Union Station)
6. Johnny Cash, "Understand Your Man" (Dwight Yoakam)
7. Merle Haggard, "The Way I Am" (Alan Jackson)
8. John Prine, "That's the Way the World Goes 'Round" (Miranda Lambert)
9. John Anderson, "Swingin'" (LeAnn Rimes)
10. Buddy Miller, "Don't Tell Me" (Alicia Nugent)
11. Kasey Chambers, "Pony" (Ashley Monroe)
12. Tammy Wynette, "Stand by Your Man" (Dixie Chicks)
13. Bill Monroe, "Blue Moon of Kentucky" (John Fogerty)
14. Conway Twitty, "Goodbye Time" (Blake Shelton)
15. Hank Williams, "I Saw the Light" (Blind Boys of Alabama/ Hank Williams Jr.)
16. Bob Dylan, "Shelter from the Storm" (Rodney Crowell/Emmylou Harris)
17. Merle Haggard, "Today I Started Loving You Again" (Buddy Jewell/Miranda Lambert)
18. Nitty Gritty Dirtband, "Fishing in the Dark" (Garth Brooks)
19. The White Stripes, "Dead Leaves in the Dirty Ground" (Chris Thile)
20. Al Green, "Lets Stay Together" (John Berry)
21. David Allan Coe, "You Never Even Called Me by My Name" (Doug Supernaw)
22. The Decemberists, "Shankill Butchers" (Sarah Jarosz
23. Steve Earle, "My Old Friend the Blues" (Patty Loveless)
24. Eric Clapton, "Lay Down Sally" (Delbert McClinton)
25. Fred Eaglesmith, "Time to Get a Gun" (Miranda Lambert)
26. Dolly Parton, "Jolene" (The White Stripes)
27. Johnny Cash, "I Still Miss Someone" (Suzy Bogguss)
28. Pearl Jam, "Better Man" (Sugarland)
29. Kris Kristofferson, "From the Bottle to the Bottom" (Dierks Bentley/Kris Kristofferson)
30. Don Williams, "Lord, I hope this Day is Good" (Lee Ann Womack)
31. Bob Dylan, "Don't Think Twice, It's all right" (Randy Travis)
Filed under iPod Check
Grammy 2010 Staff Picks & Predictions
Even in Grammy's darkest hours, CU brings its picking powers!
– Superhero television show about our blog from the 50's.
We won't be live-blogging this time around, but will be reacting to the show in a full post tomorrow, and welcome your reactions in comments on this post. The awards telecast starts at 8 pm Eastern, and I imagine there will be some red carpet action in the hour prior.
- Beyonce, "Halo" – Kevin
- Black Eyed Peas, "I Gotta Feeling"
- Kings of Leon, "Use Somebody" - Tara
- Lady GaGa, "Poker Face" - Dan
- Taylor Swift, "You Belong with Me"
- Beyonce, "Halo"
- Black Eyed Peas, "I Gotta Feeling"
- Kings of Leon, "Use Somebody" – Kevin, Dan, Tara
- Lady GaGa, "Poker Face"
- Taylor Swift, "You Belong with Me"
Kevin: Am I wrong for preferring Eric Cartman's rendition of "Poker Face" over the original? This is a pretty lightweight slate of contenders. I really like "Halo", but I suspect Kings of Leon will win, simply because it's the only rock song in a lineup of pop hits.
Dan: "Poker Face" just feels very representative of popular music in 2009. I wouldn't whine if it got passed over so that "Bad Romance" could take this award next year, though.
Tara: I would've pulled for "Single Ladies" in a heartbeat had it been submitted, but "Use Somebody" is just as deserving of this award. It's a fantastic song even outside the context of its moment in pop culture, and it's the kind of larger-than-life song that the voters have picked to win in the past.
- Beyonce, I Am…Sasha Fierce
- Black Eyed Peas, The E.N.D.
- Lady GaGa, The Fame – Kevin, Tara
- Dave Matthews Band, Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King
- Taylor Swift, Fearless - Dan
- Beyonce, I Am…Sasha Fierce
- Black Eyed Peas, The E.N.D.
- Lady GaGa, The Fame
- Dave Matthews Band, Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King - Kevin
- Taylor Swift, Fearless - Dan, Tara
Kevin: I'd like to see dance music get some respect in the big category, even if there are a half-dozen Madonna albums at this point that would've been worthier winners than The Fame. Again, I think the Top 40 votes are going to be split, leaving Dave Matthews Band the winners.
Dan: In little over a year, Fearless has grown from success story to cultural artifact. It's that rare pop album that seems to have a personality all its own, like Jagged Little Pill in a yellow sundress (and sung about as well). I could see anyone but the Peas taking this, but I think Swift's support in both Nashville and the Top 40 crowd will take her to the top.
Tara: I have to say I was fairly shocked to see Swift's truckload of Grammy nominations, so I'm having a little trouble wrapping my mind around the Academy's thought process – but, I suppose a Swift win in this category is inevitable. However, I fully back Lady GaGa, who is the perfect storm of creativity, vision, swagger and raw vocal talent (remember that, pop world?). Continue reading
Filed under Grammys


text:
Wildlife &
Waterfowl Production Areas
Funds to acquire WPAs are provided by the 1934 Duck Stamp Act which was amended by Congress in 1958 to authorize acquisition of uplands and wetlands as WPAs.
Nearly 95% of the WPAs are located in the prairie pothole areas of North and South Dakota, Minnesota, and Montana. North Dakota alone has 39% of the Nation's WPAs. The Chase Lake Wetland Management District (WMD) has a total of 136 WPAs for a total of 43,344 acres. The smallest WPA is 0.97 acres (Medicine Lake) and the largest is 3,013 acres (Chase Lake).
WPAs, often referred to as the "Prairie Jewels of the Refuge System," are open to a variety of public uses including hunting, fishing and trapping. These uses are subject to all applicable state and federal laws. Small game hunters using shotguns are required to use and possess only approved non-toxic shot while on WPAs. Other public uses include wildlife observation, interpretation, photography and environmental education.
WPAs are managed to attract and produce migratory waterfowl, migratory non-game birds and resident wildlife. Management techniques such as prescribed burning and grazing, haying, planting nesting cover, noxious weed control, installing and repairing water control structures are just a few of the activities performed in the WMD.
Who We Are | Wildlife & Habitat | District Programs | Public Use
Maps | Arrowwood NWR Complex | Links | Site Map | Home
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Home Page | Department of the Interior
USA.gov | About the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Accessibility | Privacy | Notices | Disclaimer | FOIA

subset: commoncrawl


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The Mount Fuji Is a Ticket to Paradise
By Kevin Galaba
By Mark Antonation
By Gretchen Kurtz
By Cafe Society
By Mark Antonation
By Mark Antonation
Great Divide's New Beer Campus
By Jonathan Shikes
By Mark Antonation
Yeast -- a lowly, single-cell fungus -- is the living, breathing wonder that makes beer possible. Paul Gatza, director of the Institute for Brewing Studies, an arm of the Association of Brewers that presents the GABF, recognizes this by reciting an old brewing axium. "Brewers make wort," says Gatza, referencing the unfermented liquid. "Yeast makes beer."
Yeast cells consume the sugars in beer, excreting alcohol and carbon dioxide in the process. Thanks to yeast, grape juice is turned into wine, and wort is converted to alcohol-rich, naturally carbonated beer. Without yeast, life would be a dry, sobering existence.
Katie Kunz knows this better than most folks. Her Colorado Springs company, the Brewing Science Institute, is one of the nation's three major yeast suppliers for the craft-brewing trade. Kunz is the company's founder and lone employee. "I'm a one-woman show," she says. "I work very hard."
Most of that work involves propagating slants of individual yeast strains (stored under refrigeration in her lab) into larger amounts needed for "pitching" yeast. To make those amounts, a few pure yeast cells are added to a sterile blend of malt powder, water, zinc, calcium carbonate and other minerals, and the yeast is then allowed to propagate. Kunz's typical order from a craft brewer, for a seven-barrel batch of beer, involves making about twelve gallons of yeasty slurry that she centrifuges down to a two-quart paste of trillions of living cells. She packs the paste into chilled, insulated packaging and ships it overnight to customers across Colorado. In addition to yeast, Kunz also provides brewers with consulting services, isolating good and bad yeast strains and helping breweries make the most of their stock.
It sounds like a science-class dropout's nightmare job, but Kunz loves it. "Yeast is a lot of fun," she gushes. "I love yeast; I do. It's a neat organism. It smells nice while it's propagating. It's interesting to look at under the microscope: You can see it budding, and it's very hardy. And there's the fact that it makes such an interesting product."
Kunz owes her career to her entrepreneurial spirit, the craft-beer trade and a home-brewing boyfriend. After graduating from the University of Colorado's Colorado Springs campus in 1995 with a degree in biology, she was unable to find a job. So she took a tip from mentor James Mattoon, a yeast-genetics professor at CU who saw opportunity in the growing craft-beer trade and let Kunz use the school's lab (for a modest fee) to start BSI.
In the company's first year, Kunz saw her monthly income go from about $50 to a few hundred, and from there she was off and running. By 1998, she was able to open her own lab. Today she makes a good living doing what she loves -- even if most people don't understand the importance of her work. "The average person, the Bud drinker who doesn't think a lot about it, doesn't know that yeast is used in fermenting beer," Kunz explains.
But Kunz finds her work exciting as well as important. The yeast business offers "a lot of intrigue," she reveals. Much of that intrigue revolves around brewers with covert samples of yeast, snuck out of the world's breweries in bottles of beer or small vials. "I have people who come in and say, 'Here's this sample; here's how I got in on the plane. I want you to isolate it and sell it only to me. I'll call it my proprietary strain.'"
Is that legal? "It's genetic material, an organism created by nature," Kunz says. "Pilfering yeast has gone on forever."
Her firm can also make sure that yeast buyers get what they pay for; she even offers DNA testing. Major brewers spend fortunes maintaining their yeast and protecting its secrecy, Kunz notes.
But craft brewers should pay attention to their yeast in other ways, according to AB president and home-brewing/craft-beer guru Charlie Papazian. "Brewers need to love their yeast," he says. "Yeast is a living organism, and it has all kinds of behavioral traits, like human beings. Alter its living conditions and, like any living creature, it won't do what it's supposed to do."
Louis Pasteur is the man who discovered that. The godfather of yeast science, he was the first to isolate yeast and its unique abilities -- research that makes his milk efforts pale in comparison. Before Pasteur figured things out, fermentation was an unexplained gift from the gods that magically converted starchy concoctions, honey and various juices into a heady cocktail. The person who controlled the ferment-inducing goods was a holy man. In the fifteenth century, Gatza points out, the slurry from batches of Brit beer was called "godisgood" and was protected by English law that made sure the common folk had access to it.
Today yeast is just as crucial. "Yeast is the most important element in beer," Gatza says. "Yeast is more important than the malt, the hops, the water." The craft-brewing renaissance has inspired a yeast renaissance, too, and both fields benefit from greater variety. "Ten years ago, the brewer had access to maybe fifteen or twenty strains of good quality," he adds. "Now brewers can get over a hundred different strains of extremely high-quality yeast."
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Tower shields and full face helms.
Our community managers at the EverQuest 2 site have updated the Guardian Class Guide with spell/skill comparisons! We're going out on a limb and pretending that they wrote this:
" Thanks to Alaric of Oggok, The Guardian's Shield now has a side-by-side combat ability comparison in Chapter 2: Abilities List. Now you can make an informed decision on which ability upgrades are worth your hard-earned gold, and which ones, well, are less so! "
You can read the entire Guardian Class Guide at EQ2.TenTonHammer.com.
We have ways of making them talk.
MMORPG.com interviewed Gilles Zedde of Dark and Light. Either we made it up or they wrote this:
"Today we kick off a bi-weekly Monday series of Q&As with Farlan, the folks behind the highly anticipated virtual World Dark & Light. In this first Q&A we discuss the progress of the game with Gilles Zedde, the Lead Designer of Dark & Light."
You can read the entire Dark and Light Interview at MMORPG.com.
Betavus for the Restovus.
MMORPG.com is giving away 180 beta accounts to Roma Victor. It's possible that they wrote this:
"MMORPG.com is proud to announce that we have teamed up with RedBedlam to bring you a new and exciting contest! We are giving away 180 tester accounts for Roma Victor which will enable you to play the game before it goes live in September!"
You can read about the Roma Victor Beta contest at MMORPG.com.
Is a Dwarf a good choice for you? I guess it depends on how far you want to toss him.
RPGVault has posted their weekly WoW tips. This week covers the Dwarven race and equipping your hunter. It's conceivable that they wrote this:
"Should you decide to play a Dwarf, you'll be able to choose among five classes. My impression is that Hunter and Warrior are the most popular."
You can read the entire WoW Tips article at RPGVault.
It tastes good, but the texture turns me off.
Tim Rhoades of Shadowpool Studios tells us about texturing process in Trials of Ascension. They may have written this:
"In this months dev journal I would like to take a few minutes to talk
about, (you guessed it), textures! I will also see if I can catch Brax
napping and sneak into the vault to grab a little more to look at
besides the all ready posted screen shots."
You can read the entire Trials of Ascension Developer's Diary at The Official Site.
A patch that is short and sweet.
Data Node One has posted the very brief patch notes for Matrix Online. They probably wrote this:
Items listed on this page will be part of the update scheduled for June 7, 2005.
You can read the entire patch notes at Data Node One.
Someone removed their finger from the dyke and another Guild Wars review spilled out.
BonusStage has posted a review of Guild Wars. We are nearly certain that they wrote this:
"When it comes to Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPG), gamers either love them or hate them, there's rarely a middle ground. Something fans and non-fans alike would agree on hating however is the "pay as you play" monthly fee MMOs charge to play. Who with a sane mind actually likes paying 10 to 15 bucks a month after laying down a fifty-spot just to buy the game in the first place? As someone who absolutely loves a great MMORPG, even I have grown sick and tired of the fees. That's why when NCsoft announced Guild Wars, a quasi-MMORPG with completely free online play, I gave up any care I had for the rash of upcoming (and now released) high profile titles like World of Warcraft and EverQuest 2 and held out for its arrival. After a long wait and numerous squelched urges to give those "other" MMOs a try, Guild Wars has arrived at long last and I'm so thankful for its creation, and you most certainly should be too."
You can read the entireGuild Wars review at BonusStage.com.
Shiver me timbers.
The team at Pirates of the Burning Sea have posted their current milestone goals. With no guarantee we believe that they wrote this:
"Now that E3 is over, we can take a bit more time polishing some of the new elements that went into the game. This list looks a bit smaller than previous milestones, because some of the bullet items (such as Missions and Avatars) encompass several people."
You can read the entire Pirates of the Buring Sea Milestone list at The Official Site.
It's coming, but we can't tell you when.
The Saga of Ryzom team has posted an In Development page allowing players to discuss upcoming changes. We're almost confident that they wrote this:
"This section contains items that we have decided to put on the schedule, plus bug fixes and other items we might be working on and that you need to know about. There is no time estimations for completion for any item in this list, either; development items and bug fixes can slip, after all."
You can read the entire Saga of Ryzom In Development section at the Official Site.
A Celestial Sigil to call your own.
The folks at GuildWarsGuru are giving away a Celestial Sigil. It's within the realm of possibility that they wrote this:
"In conjunction with the guild Idiot Savants, Guild Wars Guru is proud to host this contest of Guild Wars knowledge and acumen. By next week, the lucky winner will receive a Celestial Sigil donated by Idiot Savants."
You can read all about the Celestial Sigil contest at GuildWarsGuru.
Need more Guild Wars information? Your next stop should be the TenTonHammer.com Guild Wars Community.
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Feature trailer for Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas.
Brad Pitt, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michelle Pfeiffer and Joseph Fiennes lend their voices to the animated adventure Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas. Pitt is the voice of Sinbad, the most daring and notorious rogue ever to sail the seven seas. Zeta-Jones voices the beautiful Marina, who joins Sinbad on his greatest adventure. Together, they must battle Eris (Michelle Pfeiffer), the powerful goddess of Chaos, to save the fabled Book of Peace and the life of Sinbad's best friend and most dangerous rival Proteus (Joseph Fiennes).
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Dennis Johnson enters the Hall of Fame tonight
There is no greater compliment I can give a basketball player than to say that, when I have a son, I hope he grows up to play like Player X. Which brings me to Dennis Johnson. A rugged defender. Selfless. Heady. Clutch. All about winning. In Larry Bird's words, the best player Bird ever played with. Yeah, when I have a son (who will obviously be a stud), I'll be a proud man if he ever learns to play the game like DJ.
I could write a million words about Johnson's career and not do him justice, so I'll turn it over to Bob Ryan. I would quote the piece, but it's too good. Just do yourself a favor and go read it.
I can only wish DJ were alive to see himself inducted into the Hall of Fame. But if there is a God, if there is a place somewhere above earth where we all go when life as we know it is done, I imagine DJ will be there, looking down on Springfield, MA with his freckled face spread in a big ole grin.
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Sun May 26, 2013
Three-Minute Fiction Readings: 'Compromise' And 'The F'
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Originally published on Sun May 26, 2013 3:25 pm
NPR's Bob Mondello and Susan Stamberg read excerpts of two of the best submissions for Round 11 of our short story contest. They read The Art of Compromise by Lindsey Appleford of Boerne, Texas, and Claudia Who Found the F by Sean Enfield of Denton, Texas. You can read their full stories below and find other stories on our Three-Minute Fiction page or on Facebook.
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Opinion: Chris Matthews should be fired for his Offensive Interview of Bishop Tobin Comments
Matthews showed how inept he is as an interviewer, how misinformed he is as a Catholic, how rude he is as a person and how threatened he is by the Moral truth. Continue Reading
101 - 110 of 228 Comments
5 years ago
Forget Matthews. What is impressive is that some of the U.S. Catholic bishops are starting to defend the teachings of our faith! Deo Gratias.
5 years ago
Deacon, perhaps a mirror is in order.
5 years ago
Matthews was effective in turning the argument from what it is (A Bishop advising a Catholic layman how to live a moral life) to what it never has been about (how the Church would impose morality on civil law). The Bishop was brave to even agree to be interviewed, but there are certain things he could've done to "even the playing field".
5 years ago
Chris Matthews�question is one we must answer. What will be the practical and inevitable consequences if we of criminalize abortion? Bishop Tobin gave no indication he had ever given it any thought.
I have worried that our bishops often resort to unhelpful rhetoric (Culture of Death) and selective scripture in the place of reasonable argument. Now I�m worried they�ve barely considered the consequences of their �non-negotiable� demands.
5 years ago
Chris Martews did not conduct an interview but gave a ranting monologue. Matthews was very disrespectful of Bishop Tobin.
5 years ago
Christopher Matthews....You are in need of prayers. You KNOW that God determines when LIFE begins and when LIFE Ends. Let us Pray. Eddie from Florida
5 years ago
I did not see the interview mentioned (as I'm outside the USA) but, based on what the article said, the whole circus smacks of something that was clearly not fit for airing. In other words, it was sub-standard and should never have been broadcast. Is there a memo that goes round US TV stations which states "throw the broadcasting standards textbook out of the window when dealing with devout, informed Roman Catholics, lay , religious or clergy. Forget about impartiality and go hell for leather with your own agenda and opinions by laying into these people. If they fight back with any calmness, quoting citations from sources with gentleness, shout and scream them down like a fishwife.' This is abuse of position on the part of Chris Matthews. He should have the book thrown at him.
5 years ago
God bless the deacon for trying, and for his obvious fierce devotion to Catholic orthodoxy. But he descended to the same base name-calling and arrogance of which he accuses Chris Matthews, and therefore loses cred. Everyone back off, please. Bishop Tobin would have done better to publicly teach the Church's position while privately engaging Kennedy. To get into a public pissing match (that's not profanity, editors, it's just what it was) with a celebrity politician meant this was guaranteed to be a mess from the get go, and someone at the level of a Bishop should have known better. Everyone knows what Chris Matthews is like so why bother trying to engage him? We will not win hearts by strident speech nor aggressive action. When half the country believes abortion is a right, "because I say so" does not work. All this has done is fan flames, not solve problems.
5 years ago
As Jesus says give to ceasar what is ceasar's and give to the the Lord what is the Lord's . We should not condemn this man , but pray that the scales from his eyes be removed so the he may be closer to the Word . The Word of Jesus must be used to cleanse all . Everyone has the right to hear His wisdom .
5 years ago
May God extend to Chris Matthews the same courtesy he has given to Bishop Tobin.
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Archive for April 2013
Spokane County Sheriff's Office shared surveillance stills of a man suspected of robbing a Spokane Valley head shop. | Photo: Spokane County Sheriff's Office
Spokane County Sheriff's Office needs help identifiying a man suspected of stealing a pack of Captain Kratom Thai powder from a Spokane Valley Puffin Glass store on April 11, according to a Sheriff's Office news release.
The suspect asked to see the product, described as an organic pain reliever by an Puffin Glass employee, but he ran out of the store with the tablets around 7:15 p.m. and didn't pay for them, an employee told authorities.
The employee chased the suspect out of the 12023 E. Sprague store, but the suspect pulled out a knife and threatened him.
Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect. To report a tip, call 1 (800) 222-TIPS or go online to www.crimestoppersinlandnorthwest.org.
WOODINVILLE, Wash. (AP) — A homicide victim's body has been found at a Washington state home owned by the man who packed the parachutes used by infamous airplane hijacker D.B. Cooper.
King County sheriff's detectives responded to the Seattle suburb of Woodinville on Friday night after a woman called to say she had found her father dead. She reported that she had gone to the house to check on him because she hadn't heard from him in several days.
The victim's identity has not been released. But Sgt. Cindi West said Saturday that investigators have ruled the case a homicide.
Property records show the house is owned by 74-year-old Earl Cossey.
When DB Cooper hijacked a passenger jet from Portland, Ore., to Seattle in 1971, demanding $200,000 and four parachutes, it was Cossey who packed the chutes.
After asking to be flown to Mexico, Cooper jumped out somewhere near the Oregon line. Some of the cash has been found, but his fate is unknown, and investigators doubt he survived.
Spokesman-Review archives: In 2008, Cossey was quoted as saying: "They keep bringing me garbage. Every time they find squat, they bring it out and open their trunk and say, 'Is that it?' and I say, 'Nope, go away.' Then a few years later they come back."
Reports described Cossey as a man from Woodinville, Wash., who packed the parachutes demanded by fabled airplane hijacker D.B. Cooper, after telling authorities that the chute found recently in southwestern Washington was not used in Cooper's 1971 crime.
Federal agents caught a fugitive in Spokane Valley after he was found hiding in an outhouse.
Travis W. Beavers, 20, fled authorities and ditched his car near Dishman Mica Road and Appleway Boulevard around 9 p.m. on Wednesday.
Spokane Valley Sheriff's deputies helped federal agents set up a police perimeter to find the convicted felon. Spokane County Sheriff's K-9 dog Laslo tracked Beavers to an outhouse several blocks from the abandoned car.
Beavers refused to leave the bathroom because he was scared of Laslo based on his prior history with K-9 units, but Deputy Jeff Thurman released the dog to get him.
Beavers was taken into custody by federal agents after being treated by a local hospital. He's in custody at Spokane County Jail for federal charges of possessing a firearm, according to recently filed federal court documents. Investigators found a .270 caliber rifle on his person.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigators sealed the probable cause for arrest in U.S. District Court because it talking about an ongoing investigation from confidential informants, court documents show. Beavers is expected in court on April 30th at 1:30 p.m.
Beavers was previously convicted of stealing a car and possessing stolen property in 2012, in addition to burglary and possessing drugs.
Previously released footage from Pullman Police Department on Youtube shows the assault suspects leaving the Adams Mall parking lot following last month's assault of a Washington State University instructor.
A video containing excerpts of surveillance camera footage from the night a Washington State University instructor was assaulted was released to The Spokesman-Review by police and published on the news company's website for several hours on Thursday.
A Pullman Police records clerk mailed a disk containing 30 minutes of footage from five surveillance cameras to staff writer Nicole Hensley in response to a public records request.
Shortly after the video was posted Thursday afternoon, Pullman Police Chief Gary Jenkins informed the reporter that the video had been released in error, but did not request that it be taken down from spokesman.com. Several hours later, however, Jenkins asked that it be removed from the website because its release "could potentially hamper and impede our active investigation of this case."
The Spokesman-Review agreed to that request, but reserves the right to re-post the video if formal charges are filed in the case. Three people have been arrested but not charged in connection with the assault.
Editor Gary Graham noted that the video was obtained legally, given to the newspaper by the Pullman Police Department. However, "In the spirit of cooperation with an active police investigation, we have agreed to remove it from our website."
The video shows a confrontation between the instructor, David Warner, his friend, and the suspects identified by Pullman police. It also also shows emergency responders arriving on scene and a large crowd gathering around Warner's prone body.
Warner was transported to Providence Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane and remained there in critical condition for two weeks. His condition has improved and he's now at a rehabilitation center in Post Falls.
Warner can be seen stretching his arms out between two feuding parties before he's tackled to the ground by a group of men around 1:57 a.m. on March 30. He fell to the ground, out of sight behind a parked car near 600 NE Colorado Street.
Justin C. Werle appeared in court Wednesday afternoon and was given a $500,000 bond. Photo: Nicole Hensley
A missing work glove led to a shooting between a Browne's Addition apartment tenant and his building's handyman.
Spokane Police officers arrested Justin C. Werle Tuesday night after they closed off several blocks in the neighborhood and called a SWAT team to find the alleged shooter at the Pacific Terrace Apartments in the 2200 block of West Pacific.
The victim, identified as Zachary Bergstrom in court documents, told authorities a feud began earlier on Tuesday when Werle confronted him about a missing work glove, he told authorities. A shoving match started later that day between the two and Werle pulled out a gun and shot Bergstrom in the neck in the building's alleyway.
Bergstrom clutched his neck and ran to the manager's office where 911 was notified of the shooting, court documents show. He was alert and talking when medics took him to the hospital.
A K-9 unit dog tracked an unsuccessful lead to another apartment, officers said, but detectives called Werle's mother, Donna Werle, and learned he wasn't there.
She told detectives Werle called her and said he did not want to be taken alive and would shoot himself, but she convinced him to wait for police at her home. Officers found Werle walking near 13th Avenue and Coeur d'Alene Street.
The shooting of two Spokane County sheriff's deputies last year by a reputed heroin trafficker with a penchant for firearms and a long history of felony convictions is now getting national attention.
Above is a YouTube trailer for a new documentary, produced by the NRA as part of its Life of Duty series, which takes viewers on an in-depth look at the shocking case from the perspectives of those who survived it. Called "Catch & Release," the documentary takes a critical look at U.S. Magistrate Judge Cynthia Imbrogno's decision to release accused drug kingpin Charles Wallace into an unsecured drug treatment facility in Spokane Valley while awaiting trial — over the objections of the cops and federal prosecutors familiar with the case.
As those of us in Spokane know all too well, Wallace quickly walked away from the American Behavioral Health Systems facility to a waiting car. A few days later he would open fire on Deputies Matt Spink and Mike Northway, critically wounding both and sparking a rolling gun battle and wild chase that ended north of Deer Park when Wallace crashed at a police blockade and then took his own life.
The Spokesman-Review interviewed the deputies last year for a gripping story about their ordeal. The magistrate, Imbrogno, has a history of controversial pre-trial release decisions but she's also been accused by defense attorneys of being too tough.
The full documentary can be viewed here.
Spokane County Sheriff's Office detectives found several firearms inside a South Hill home where a man shot and killed himself Sunday.
Detectives seized five assault rifles and four hand guns from the 4500 block of East Sumac Drive where 62-year-old Warren C. Schrempp, Jr. was growing marijuana at a foreclosed home, according to recently filed court documents.
Detectives cataloged three of the weapons as loaded including an AK-47-style rifle, a Glock and Makarov pistol. They also found four adult marijuana plants and 10 starter plants. Schrempp had authorization to grow medical marijuana, court documents show.
Spokane County Medical Examiner's Office called Schrempp's death a suicide. A real estate agent called police after a locksmith smelled marijuana at the property and saw a car in the garage, they told authorities.
Sheriff's detectives found a sliding door open and announced their presence, but they heard a muffled gunshot and called a SWAT team, previous reports said.
Spokane Police officers have arrested a man suspected of stabbing a man several times outside a downtown Spokane bar last month.
Tony M. Noble, 35, was identified by employees of Bowl'z, Bitez and Spirtz as a possible suspect for stabbing a male victim ten times on March 31. The victim, identified as Sean Rushing, had stab wounds all over his body and was rushed to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center. He had two collapsed lungs, officers said in recently filed court documents.
Rushing told police he left the bar around 1:45 a.m. and got into a fight. He thought he was being punched, but later woke up and learned he had been stabbed in the head, left eye, back neck, left arm and chest, court documents said.
A friend drove him to the hospital after she found him bleeding in the passenger seat of her car.
The next day, Noble told his manager at a north Spokane Zip Trip that he was jumped by some men from California. He had a black eye, the manager told police.
Detectives watched surveillance footage and saw Rushing approach someone and grab their arm. The person hit Rushing in the face. Another person held a shiny object in their hand that appeared to be a knife, detectives said.
Detectives charged Noble with first-degree assault. Noble is in custody at Spokane County Jail with a $35,000 bond.
SEATTLE (AP) — Washington state is delaying its timeline for granting marijuana growing and processing licenses — and that means legal marijuana sales likely won't begin before spring of next year.
Rather than issue growing licenses this summer and processor licenses this fall, as called for in a tentative prior timeline, the Liquor Control Board will issue all licenses Dec. 1, spokesman Brian Smith said Wednesday.
That means the growers likely won't be able to get to work until December, and the final product won't be ready for a couple of months after that, Smith said.
Washington joined Colorado last fall in becoming the first states to legalize recreational marijuana for adults over 21, and to allow the sale of taxed pot at state-licensed stores. Washington's Liquor Control Board has been devising rules for the industry, covering topics such as how the plants will be grown, how marijuana products will be tested for strength and quality, and how many retail stores will be allowed.
Issuing all the licenses at once will help growers because they'll have a better picture of the industry before they begin growing, Smith said.
"If you were interested in becoming any of our licensees, you'd want to have a good idea of what the business landscape is going to be," he said. "For example, if you want to grow, how much competition will you have? How many retailers will there be? You'll be able to get a sense of that right from the beginning."
The official timeline announced Wednesday was based on input from public forums that the board held around the state regarding its implementation of Initiative 502.
The board will begin vetting draft rules for all license types with stakeholders in mid-May. The rules are expected to become effective in August, and the board will begin accepting applications for growing, processing and retailing licenses in September.
With tax day looming, career criminals should take note.
The IRS is advising that all earnings, including those obtained illegally, must be reported as income for tax purposes. Additionally, criminal enterprises are ineligible for the types of business deductions enjoyed by companies engaged in lawful activities.
Before simply dismissing this as a bunch of bureaucratic nonsense, keep in mind that uber gangster Al Capone was taken down not for extortion or murder but on tax evasion for failing to report his ill-gotten gains to the IRS.
Here's how the advisory appears on the IRS website:
Illegal activities. Income from illegal activities, such as money from dealing illegal drugs, must be included in your income on Form 1040, line 21, or on Schedule C or Schedule C-EZ (Form 1040) if from your self-employment activity.
Potential benefits for disclosing illegal income include the possibility of being able to deduct it from future tax returns if you're ever convicted later and ordered to pay restitution.
Remember, don't shoot the messenger.
A confidential informant led Spokane County Sheriff's Office detectives to a married couple dealing meth out of a Spokane apartment, according to criminal complaint filed in United States District Court Tuesday.
Spokane County Sheriff's detectives arrested Mark W. Bush (pictured left) and Crystal K. Peterson on the morning of April 4 after serving a search warrant to their apartment at 1717 E. Mallon Avenue.
Court documents describe the informant as a felon with several convictions including theft, burglary, and lying to authorities. The informant was compensated financially for the information leading to the arrest of Bush and Peterson, documents show.
The informant bought meth from Bush three times during the investigation, they told detectives, but Peterson was only present during a deal on one occasion.
Investigators seized 11 ounces of meth from the home during the search including four small bags inside a box of Nilla Wafers. Additional bags of meth were found in the bedroom in a black bag, a dresser drawer and in the kitchen freezer.
Investigators also found a purse under a mattress in the master bedroom with a cell phone and a spiral notebook with a variety of names and phone numbers.
Although the Drug Enforcement Administration was not present at the time of the search warrant last week, a special agent is filing the complaint against Bush and Peterson after Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich pushed for federal charges to give him a longer prison sentence if convicted.
Knezovich compared Bush's criminal record to convict Eddie Ray Hall who was sentenced to a 16 years in a federal prison last year. Bush is in custody at Spokane County Jail for his 39th arrest in Washington state.
Pursuing federal charges against a repeat offender is a common tactic, Knezovich said, because it can give them a longer prison sentence and keep them off the streets.
Knezovich described this drug ring as localized and the meth was most likely not produced in Spokane.
Related content: Sheriff exasperated with repeat offender
A man wanted by authorities was discovered hiding out at a South Hill apartment complex on Monday night.
Spokane County Sheriff's deputies were looking for Raymond S. Wheatley, 44, a felony warrant for violating his court order, according to a Sheriff's Office news release. A deputy learned he was hiding at 2800 E. 27th Avenue and filed an arrest warrant to get him, the news release said.
Authorities also called in the SWAT Team to help serve the arrest warrant around 10 p.m. because of Wheatley's 22 years of violent history against law enforcement. Deputies arrested Wheatley in 2007 after he grabbed a Spokane Valley police officer's Taser and tried to use it against him, prior reports said.
The SWAT Team made their presence known and Wheatley reportedly came out on his own. Deputies took him into custody without incident, the release added.
Wheatley was booked into Spokane County Jail for his felony charges of violating a court order.
A Newport man being booked into Pend Oreille County Jail on Thursday was caught smuggling a stash of drugs into his shorts.
The inmate, identified as 25-year-old Clinton E. Trickel, cut holes into his waisteband to hide hydrocodone, oxycodone, marijuana and a pipe, but jail staff found it, according to a Pend Oreille County Sheriff's Office news release.
Trickel had several outstanding warrants on bail jumping and lying to authorities from last month, Pend Oreille County dispatch confirmed. He failed to appear to his court dates and was arrested on those warrants.
He now faces an additional felony charge of possessing drugs.
A garbage can in Browne's Addition was the target of about four fires starting on Saturday morning.
Ray Ekins lives nearby and was walking his dog Duchess around 7 a.m. when he saw the first set of flames inside the barrel at Second Avenue and Chestnut Street. The same garbage can was on fire again about an hour later, he said.
"Poor garbage can," Ekins said. He ended up calling 911 to report three of the fires.
Fire crews from Station 4 kept responding to the reported garbage fires and a Spokane Police officer parked nearby to keep an eye on the can, Spokane Police Sgt. Dan Ervin said.
The officer saw a man, later identified as Philip B. Lewis, 47, walk up to the can and allegedly light it on fire around 4 p.m, Ervin added.
Officers took Lewis into custody for two counts of second-degree arson and the fire was extinguished.
File this under the FYI category.
The fatal shooting of a fleeing SUV thief March 25 by a gun-toting Spokane homeowner apparently has done little, if anything, to curb auto theft across the city.
In fact, the number of cars and trucks stolen across the city in the days following the the shooting climbed 15 percent over the previous week, according to crime stats compiled by the Spokane Police Department. There were 45 autos reported stolen during the week ending March 30, compared to 39 during the previous week.
Community debate over homeowner Gail Gerlach's decision to open fire on the fleeing thief, 25-year-old Brendon T. Kaluza-Graham, has continued to rage. Gerlach told police he thought the thief was armed and raising a weapon at him while driving away in the stolen SUV.


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