Just wanted to start a thread with the title of the new CD.

I've listened to Common Rotation's latest CD several times now and here are some thoughts. I'm sorry I don't know the proper musical terms and I'm worthless at picking out musical instruments. I also don't know what exactly is the difference between country and bluegrass so when I use those terms it's entirely my interpretation of the feeling.

1. No Love At All - written by David Mansfield/Billy Swan
Adam and Eric both have a turn at the lyrics and harmonize on the chorus. How I love it when Adam and Eric harmonize! Banjo, steel guitar(?), shaker, and autoharp are among the instruments I can identfy.

2. Here to Stay - written by Matthew Stephen Young (DBC)
I love this bouncy tune! When I first heard it I thought, "Wait! Is that Adam? Wow!" Lots of harmonica and the percussion really enlivens the mood. I think this may be my favorite song on the whole album. The backup vocals on the chorus are lovely.

3. Get on the Idol - written by Eric Kufs & Adam Busch
Eric takes the lead on this song. The song is kind of a sad story. Guess that would make it country. 8^)

4. White House Blues - traditional song arranged by CR & DBC
You really hear the supporting guest vocals in this bluegrass song. Love the pickin' session in the middle.

5. My Kingdom - written by Eric Kufs
This sounds just like how Eric does the song at the CR shows. Ok, with more instrumental support. Love the harmony in the chorus. Is that harmony? What do you call it when Adam comes in but Eric is still the dominant voice as opposed to when their voices are blending equally?

6. Let's Go for a Drive - written by Matthew Stephen Young (DBC)
A fun more-bluegrass-than-country song. There's a touch of Mexico with the horns.

7. Easy Chair - written by Mark McConville (DBC)
There's an easy chair in My Kingdom, but it's not the same one. A slower song. I have to say it's my least favorite song on the CD but I think it's because the rest of the songs are lively, bouncy, or familiar from the shows or the UMs, where this song is more reflective. I like the sentiment at the end of the song, "I spent my life standing up for what's right so I could sit down in that easy chair."

8. Union Maid Fight Song - written by Eric Kufs
An old favorite, with a big horn section. Sounds like a party there at the end. And hey, now I know the full title of the song!

9. Travel Late - written by Adam Busch, Jordan Katz & Eric Kufs
I love this song and my only complaint is that it's too short! Made me grin at the end. Adam sounds, hmm, rather wistful to me. Is that a mandolin or is it a banjo there?

10. Bitter Honey - written by Eric Kufs
One of my favorite songs, you just have to sing along. Ok, I'm pretty sure I hear a mandolin here along with the banjo.


Those are my initial thoughts. So, what do you think?

Well done watcher, I will join you with the SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE and BOUNCE Common Rotation vs The Dust Bowl Cavaliers CD discussion as soon as is humanly possible.

I dont have the official copy yet , however I have ordered four NO not just because I am a sado {glares} one for myself and others for friends that need educating on the ways of CoRo { I am loving this new album by the way get out there and buy it folks!}

So until I return to SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE talk about the complexity of the album and the BOUNCE of hearing a very blue grass sound mixed with being all folky way CoRo and TDBC really seem to work on a professional level very well together, I will leave you with the words I have thus far picked out of Travel late


As always please change the bits that are wrong those of you that havent ordered this delight yet, get cracking .. your ears are in for a real treat

We come home late
If we come home at all
We travel heavy
Were hiding something small
We are not ready
We are just passing through
On our way to you

We take no stand
We hold it in our hands
We will not dance
We will not get the chance
So when you go
No one will follow you

How much do you recall?
Do you remember me at all?
Just,. what the singer did to a song?
Why do you look so surprised?
I looked you in the eyes
And told you, it would always be this way!

We will not vanish
We will not wait
Your early morning
Born too late
We are not finished..

lovely lovely song. thank you Christy - I have no corrections. Just more of the squeeeeee.

I will also join in - when I can calm down from my excitable ways, assemble words in the correct order and I have recieved my shiny CDs (who orders just one copy anyway? - weirdos lol )

Ohhhhhhh dear, lookie here...

28/08/2009
23:00
at The Hotel Cafe
1623 1/2 N. Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90028

CD Release w/The Dust Bowl Cavaliers !!!!!!!

that is a show I could defy credit crunches to attend.

oh dear.

Seriously need some restraint now. And a few pints of reality.

B-B-B-BUT this is a one off? Pour me a pint - someone - now.

Random uncalm excitable fact This tracklist takes the EXACT same time as my daily commute to play. Handy I can switch on the ignition without any love at all and park the other end with some bitter honey. Sweet.

Also means I am leaving my scooter in the garage despite the gorgeous Californian type sunshine! .. No headphones in a helmet

oh dear.

Since it's at the Hotel Cafe, maybe a Live CD will come out of it? One can hope!

Christy, how about putting your lyrics in the Lyrics thread? Just one tweek:

Were hiding something small

I think is

We're hiding something small

Here you go Julia {hands over a barrel of beer} lead me not into temptation girlie!... too late, I am looking

Watcher Please feel free and bung the lyrics over into the lyrics thread if you wish to, I on the other hand am going to bung myself into looking at cheap flights and praying hard

A CD of a CD launch???
No no no .... show! show! show!
Want to go go go
601 days and dying counting over here!

Christy. That is not helping
forgive us our sins.

"Here to Stay" and "Easy Chair" are up at the Dust Bowl Cavaliers Myspace and Facebook pages.

Uncle Billy is playing in Santa Monica on the 29th ... EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH ..that is helping even less {Checks bank account and prays to Jesus just a bit more!}

Eek, I'm a weirdo, well I knew that anyway

The Hotel Cafe is one temptation that could lead me into bankruptcy but I'm happy to encourage everyone else to blow the budget, life's too short, you'll regret it forever, and just think of all those people who'll be deprived of your excellent reviews if you don't go.

Love this CD. Listened to it twice in a row yesterday.

Stand out tracks = Here to Stay, Idol, UM Fight Song, Bitter Honey

I was lucky enough to catch the last Hotel Cafe gig the guys played with DBC and they performed Union Maid Fight Song pretty much exactly how it is on the album, except the jam at the end went on for at least 5 extra minutes of Naw'lins goodness. Such a fantastic song.

The lushness of the album is incredible. I'm really glad to hear these songs recorded with so much musical incorporation. Honestly, it brings me back to the days of 28 Orange Street. In fact, this album (at least the CR tunes) are the perfect evolution, or blending if you will, of the old and new Common Rotation sound. The songs are more simple and poignant, and yet just as jam-packed with interesting musicianship.

I have to admit that I'm a little thrown by the tempo of My Kingdom, which I kind of like better as a slower number. But, it's growing on me. Travel Late is such a wonder, though a teasing one at that

Kudos to both bands for a brilliant album.

When there there the first whisperings of this record - didn't really know what to expect - how the collaboration was going to work, you know - In terms of material chosen, instrumentally, vocally, how it would be arranged, how the bands would blend together .....would there be enough Common Rotation input to satisfy the needy! etc? - but from the first round to the final bell it's been a contest well worth the waiting for. Versus? .. or a tag team?

Enough of the fight speak - on with the glee. I have the beautifully packaged real deal now - and the Royal Mail can throw all the additional charges at me they obviously wanted to, for my privilege - bring it on!

What a production! It's genius! It's gorgeous! Both bands - let's not beat around the bush - I love you! It's all such delicious harmony and amazing musicality that you cannot wipe the huge big smile from my face - it's one of those smiles you wear from the inside out! At the moment these tunes are epitomising lazy summer days - even turning rainy UK commutes into long desert highways of heaven! But I'm going to have no trouble in finding a place for the cold winter nights too. [Insert references to Easy Chairs here]

Favourite Union Maids, songs recognisable by name alone from MBar show reviews, and brand new ear treats .. oh Travel Late, you are a tease indeed. I'm glad that you are.

Hard to pick a favourite track - but Here To Stay I adore, with Get On The Idol - and Bitter Honey and My Kingdom, and and and ... yes all of it.

Not forgetting the immensness of

White House Blues! It's a thigh-slapper yessirree! IMMENSE! standing ovation! Worthy of a full mention .. or my go at it I give you The Common Dust Bowl Rotation Cavaliers

McKinley he hollered, McKinley he squalled
The doc said "McKinley, I can't find that ball
You're bound to die, you're bound to die"

Doc told the horse, he'd throw down his rein
Said to that horse, "You've got to outrun that train"
From Buffalo to Washington

Yonder comes this train, she's a-comin' down the line
Throw the station message, McKinley's a-dyin'
These are hard times, it's hard times

Doc came a-running, he took off his specs
Said "Mr McKinley, better cash in your checks
You're bound to die, you're bound to die"

Look here, you rascal, you see what you've done
Shot down my husband, now I got your gun
I'll carry you back to Washington

Roosevelt in the White House, he's doin' his best
McKinley in the graveyard, takin' his rest
He's a-gone a long,long time


For those of you attending the Release Show - have some envy ... have a lot! ... no, here, HAVE it, it's yours !! ONE. INCREDIBLE. PARTY. A STAGEFUL of of those "Dignified/Handsome Gentlemen of The Ring". There's no denying it is heart-achey not to able to see and hear these tracks played LIVE. Loud and PROUD. I could cry... Who - me? Haha! However ... Frankie - you going? .. la la la. you are my hero

In summary.

I draw a heart in the dust on the windshield for the love of this CD.

And I thank you sirs.

Bravo! Three (thousand) cheers (each)! Eric, Mark, Adam, Ryan, Jordan, John, Cory, Matthew, Brian et al!

(you WILL be praised)

Jules x

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH .. You squee'd *YAY* I will add my thoughts once I have thought about them in a way that other people will understand but for now ....

I bow down before your squee and second, and third it all!

Adam tweets:

Great review of our new record "Common Rotation vs. The Dust Bowl Cavaliers" -http://tinyurl.com/nvojkm

Perfect description of Common Rotation -

"Common Rotation, fronted by Adam Busch and Eric Kufs, with Jordan Katz on trumpet and banjo, has moved between pop, rock and folk, currently residing for the past few years primarily on the folk/country border. They are distinguished by soaring vocal harmonies, thoughtful, highly original (if sometimes enigmatic) lyrics and forms that change from song to song."