The Freight Train Boogie is a website dedicated to Americana Music: which includes the edgier country & folk singers, Hillbilly Twang, some bluegrass, blues and rock. We place a special emphasis on "Alt.Country", Roots Rock and many small label and independent releases. We love Country music, as long as its "real" Country.

One of the first CD releases of 2005 is Local Color from SOLID AIR. Here's Don Grant's review.

Here's the FTB reader's votes for the Best CD's of 2004 ... 1 . Loretta Lynn- Van Lear Rose    2. Slaid Cleaves- Wishbones 3. Buddy Miller- Universal United House of Prayer       4. Moot Davis- Moot Davis 5. Wilco- A Ghost is Born 6. Allison Moorer- The Duel    7. John Fogerty- Deja Vu All Over Again     8. Grey DeLisle - The Graceful Ghost      9. Charlie Robison- Good Times   10. Jim Lauderdale- Headed For the Hills   Check out more here!

Americana music is influenced by elements of rock, country, blues and folk. Many people come to this music after feeling disconnected from rock and country that's heard on commercial radio or found in the chain record stores. Americana music is played from the heart, it may tell a story, it may make you cry and it may make you laugh.

Perhaps the best way to illustrate what Americana music is, is to list a hundred or so Essential Freight Train Boogie Artists. Some you may have already heard of (Emmylou Harris, Lyle Lovett, Steve Earle), but there is a bunch of excellent "under the radar" singers who deserve to be heard. That's what we're here for, to spread the word on this type of music and to help and promote the many fine artists.

The Reviews section is where we review new CD releases, and there's a huge archive of past reviews. The FTB News is mostly links to current Roots music articles and information on the web and in other media, including info on upcoming CD releases. The Links section is of course, links to other good, interesting or useful websites, although it's far from complete. Finally, FTB Radio is heard on Live365 and is a random mix of Freight Train Boogie music with a special emphasis on small label and self released CD's. FTB Editor Bill Frater also does a weekly radio show on KRCB-FM in Sonoma County, CA. A local affiliate of the Freight Train Boogie!

Some of our other Best of 2004 choices...

MARK ERELLI Hillbilly Pilgrim (Signature Sounds)

POLECAT CREEK Leaving Eden (Yodel-Ay-Hee)

STEVE EARLE The Revolution Starts...Now (Artemis)

GURF MORLIX Cut 'n Shoot (Blue Corn)

SLAID CLEAVES Wishbones (Philo)

OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW

JOLIE HOLLAND Escondido

MOOT DAVIS Moot Davis

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