Topo Tracks Volume 1: No Trip To Cleveland Side B

Midnight at the Movies (2009) Justin Townes Earle is able to play old time Texas swing and not-Nashville country music with an authenticity that so many alt-country bands feign. At least we think so, without a reference point I can only rely on the way his voice on this track melts me. The lyrics drip like honey through a light Texas-waltz and make a lonesome activity turned casual encounter sound as American an outing as attending a high school football game.

Sugar (2009) We know very little about Birmingham Alabama's Vulture Whale. Along with their B-Town brethren, The Dexateens, this band was recommended by the good folks over at the Adios Lounge. Now there is a blog worthy of your eyeballs. So when Lounge Chief Proprietor LD raved that Sugar was what "pop music should sound like" we knew we had a safe bet.

Mother and Child Reunion (2007) Good piece of trivia: Paul Simon got the name for this song at a Chinese restaurant where the menu featured an egg and chicken dish called the Mother and Child Reunion. We love that story. The Morning Benders set up a four track in their bedroom, recorded some of their favorite songs on whatever instruments were available and posted them on-line. This might be the best of "The Bedroom Covers" but it’s worth downloading here and judging for yourself.

Rhapsody (2001) While Alejandro Escovedo was awarded "Artist of the 90's" by No Depression in 1996, he saved some of his best work for this 2001 release. We’re not sure if Rhapsody is the best song to post, but it has the rare quality of sounding familiar on the first listen but not derivative. For you fans of political miscellany, when informed that his rocker "Castanets" was on the jogging mix of President George Bush, Escavedo decided to stop playing the crowd favorite live.

Kingpin (1996) This Wilco song is a favorite. Bob Egan's peddle steel makes its way inside of your body, slides under your spirits and wiggles them right on up to the top.

The Weight Possibly the best cover of the one of the best songs out there. Enjoy.

Tex Mex Mile (2009) God bless the Gourds. The ever brilliant Kevin Russell captures the fun, slightly sloppy, irreverent essence of Americana at its finest. Originally titled the "Tex Mex, Tattoo Pakistani Package Mile" Russell turns the shady legal and illegal commerce between hookers, hippies and other undesirables into a romantic and joyous depiction of a South Austin that had changed long before we knew it. Much like the South Congress streetwalkers described here, the Gourds "ain't good looking but they got that freaky style".

We're Making You a MIX

Since starting Topo Ranch we’ve been mixing music in whenever possible, but now we’re turning it up a notch. Inspired by one of our latest tees and determined to save a dying art we’re going to start making up some mix tapes. Just like the kind we made in high school, minus the Maxells. To help us out we’ve moved a team of curators onto The Ranch and have charged them with putting together a monthly compilation. We’ll post them every couple of weeks. We’ll post a side every two weeks along some information; inane trivia or personal takes on each selection. The final product each month might have an underlying theme, it might be inspired by Topo Ranch clothing, or it might just be a collection of songs we can’t stop playing in the stores or in our warehouse. Our goal isn’t to keep up with the cutthroat world of mp3 blogs or to dive into any one particular style or time period. Instead, we just want to share the stuff that gets us excited about creating. So make yourself comfortable and don’t be afraid to tell us what you think or pass on what’s playing in your 8 track. If you’re making music send some stuff in for a listen. We won’t know what to do if we love it, but who knows, a few years ago we didn’t know how to make the clothes we love either.

Topo Tracks Volume 1: No Trip To Cleveland Side A

Mendocino (1969)- San Antonio native Doug Sahm was originally signed to cash in on the popularity of British invasion bands. The marketing wizards came up with the name The Sir Douglas Quintet to give these Texans an air of aristocracy to match their regal sound. Sahm and the other blokes in the band headed to San Francisco in 1966; where for the only time in the city's history it was a cultural center, creating something on par with its physical beauty. Even though SDQ was a centerpiece in the creation of the scene, Texas was never far from Sahm's heart and he returned to Texas in 1969. But to show that it was nothing personal, Sahm penned this love letter to his adopted city. It’s hard to find a better example of the window between garage rock and psychedelic sounds.

Second Hand News (1970) This under-appreciated album opener provides a refreshing balance to the played to death tracks off of Rumors. Along with the jaunty acoustic guitar work and dynamic harmonies “Second Hand News” stands alone atop an all too long list of catchy, not so subtle pop songs that address the mysteries of becoming the odd man out.

40 Day Dream (2009) We were lucky enough to catch Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros during south by southwest. I left impressed and convinced that I had discovered something new. I soon learned that Columbus had already found them, and I was an old man. Nonetheless, “40 Day Dream” captures the organic, join the band, no shower no problem, hippie energy of the outfit.

Kick Drum Heart (2009) The Avett Brothers have caught some flack from fans for this faux lo-fi, new wavy cut on the otherwise sonically rich “I and Love and You”. I guess I can see that, but screw it - the song makes us want to dance.

Abandoned Love (1975) Widely bootlegged and revered by Dylan hardcores it took ten years for this song to surface on an official Dylan recording. Recorded in 1975 as his first marriage dissolved, this chestnut is as well written and fresh sounding as any of the material released while Dylan was busy inventing rock and roll a decade earlier.

Use Your Love- (2007) KT Perry's classy cover of the Outfield 80's classic tale of guy who turns to a young impressionable girl for comfort while his current steady is out of town. Working with epic lines like "don't you know I like my girls a little bit older" Perry adds her own twist to this wholesome family favorite. Surprising fact: Along with their chosen handle, The Outfield expressed their love for America’s pastime in several different tracks. The kicker? They're limeys.

The Man Behind the Drums (2009) Like the Grateful Dead, the ardor of Robert Earl Keen's hardcore fans results in him being dismissed by tastemakers. But along with the glory of binge drinking, southern frat boys are right about this guy. REK is a serious songwriter who doesn't let that get in the way of having a great time. On this tribute to Levon Helm, Keen falls short of besting the Drive by Truckers' Danko/Manuel in the quest for the best song about The Band, but that's stiff competition and Man Behind the Drums serves as a worthy companion piece.