Oklahoma troubadour John Moreland has seen it all. He has played it all, too. Maybe that’s why his sparse, spellbinding folk songs bleed the sort of inimitable heartland wisdom they do; he has crossed the web of American highways performing music from opposite ends of the spectrum. You wouldn’t guess it stumbling upon In the […]
Moreland
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RECAP: South by Southwest, day one
Day 1 was a scorcher, at least according to the standard set by Oklahoma City’s frozen tundra. The high for the day peaked at about 83, but at times, it felt even warmer. Thankfully, The Buffalo Lounge had just the remedy. I arrived at the downtown Austin venue — this year at Avenue on Congress, […]
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The Best Local Albums of 2013
10. Johnny Polygon — The Nothing 2013 belonged to the introspective rappers — the ones who found their strength in going soft and whose heads, hearts and souls lay open for listeners to poke around in. Tulsa emcee Johnny Polygon tips open his brain like a cap on The Nothing, baring weed-soaked nuggets of self-truths that are […]
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John Moreland — In the Throes
He moves through the 10-song collection with The Boss’ swagger, too, effortlessly swaying between fully fleshed folk-rock anthems and quiet, dirt-road ditties. “Nobody Gives a Damn About Songs” anymore marries a lament of the loss of substance with an impossibly catchy — and classically American — melody. “Blacklist” is just as powerful in its heartbreak, […]