Album Review: Cahalen Morrison & Eli West - I'll Swing My Hammer With Both My Hands

All it takes to appreciate I'll Swing My Hammer With Both My Hands, the latest from the acoustic duo Cahalen Morrison & Eli West, is to listen to the first track Fiddlehead Farm.The song includes all the attributes that I have come to appreciate from these two: outstanding picking, melodies, and balanced harmonies. What a song. The rest of the album mixes gospel, Appalachian themes, and Irish folk, with special guest fiddlers Ryan Drickey and Brittany Haas as well as bassist Erin Youngberg played bass, and Tim O’Brien. In fact O'Brien produced the release, ensuring a CD well worth grabbing - all you need is a Pocket Full of Dust (my 2nd favorite track).  Since it was recorded in the Colorado Rockies, pair with Fort Collins based Odell Brewing Company or New Belgium Brewing Company. Cheers.

A Plethora of New Music in the Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine's Trail Mix

Last month we stumbled upon Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine's Trail Mix series where they feature musicians tailored for the great outdoors. We have recently reviewed many of these songs or they are waiting in our cue for a later review. (Annie Ford Band, Chase Gassaway - Certain Circles, The Farewell Drifters - Tomorrow Forever, Levi Lowrey, Cahalen Morrison & Eli West, Charlie Parr, The Steel Wheels, and Travis Book) Put them in your cue now - we guarantee you will enjoy it. Click the images to download the entire month's songs or each link for single mp3. Cheers.

1. Odessa – I Will Be There
2. Adrian Krygowski – Roam
3. Cahalen Morrison and Eli West – James is Out
4. Charlie Parr – Clearlake
5. Chase Gassaway – Feeling Good
6. Dirk Powell – Rollin’ Round This Town
7. Drive-By Truckers – Pauline Hawkins
8. Hurray For The Riff Raff – I Know It’s Wrong
9. Jimbo Mathus & The Tri-State Coalition – White Angel
10. Lake Street Dive – Bad Self Portraits
11. Levi Lowrey – Picket Fences
12. Lydia Loveless – To Love Somebody
13. Naomi Wachira – Burn Me
14. Nate Jones – Another Night, Another Town
15. Nicole Atkins – Girl You Look Amazing
16. Peggy Sue – Idle
17. Robert Ellis – Only Lies
18. Scott Biram – When I Die.mp3
19. St. Paul & The Broken Bones – Call Me
20. The Deer Run Drifters – Burn
21. The Far West – On The Road
22. Farewell Drifters – Modern Age

1. Railroad Earth – When the Sun Gets in Your Blood
2. Annie Ford Band – Buick 1966
3. Blackie & The Rodeo Kings – South
4. Elizabeth & The Catapult – Like It Never Happened
5. Iain Matthews – Ghost Changes
6. Leo Welch – Praise His Name
7. Lone Justice – Nothing Can Stop My Loving You
8. Los Lonely Boys – Blame It On Love
9. Mode Moderne – Baby Bunny
10. Sleepy Sun – Galaxy Punk
11. The Blushin’ Roulettes – Purple Clouds
12. The Pixies – Blue Eyed Hexe
13. The Railsplitters – Jackson Town
14. The Sacred Shakers – All Day, All Night
15. The Steel Wheels – Winters Coming
16. Travis Book – 50 Miles of Elbow Room