To all the good folks of the Nation,

Through a message from Uncle John, where he brought my attention to the marvelous Justin Townes Earle, I was moved to bore him about my love of Bloodshot Records. Whilst reminiscing and re-listening to some of the artists and music they've released over the last 15 or so years, I thought some of you guys on the Nation, if you were unfamiliar with the label, might find some interest in their stable of artists. So, if Uncle John doesn't mind, I though I'd re-post my message about the label here.

"Bloodshot Records are a Chicago based label that started out in the mid nineties releasing music they described asInsurgent Country. It was a home for a collection of left field artists who melded punk attitude with a love of country music. In those days few Bloodshot releases tuned up in the record shops of Yorkshire, so I used to order them direct from Chicago. Bands like Moonshine Willy, The Pine Valley Cosmonauts, Split Lip Rayfield, Devil in a Woodpile, and Rex Hobart & the Misery Boys introduced me to country music, by making it cool and relevant. Artists that would go on to bigger things like Ryan Adams and Neko Case released their first albums on Bloodshot. They've branched out into other styles of music since the early days, but they still produce great albums, Justin Townes Earle being a fine example.

Check out the Bloodshot Records website: http://www.bloodshotrecords.com/

Most artist's albums have at least one song you can download and sample, so you could put together your own Bloodshot sampler album. Here are some of my favourites they have available for free:

Split Lip Rayfield - Movin' To Virginia [MP3]

Rex Hobart & the Misery Boys - Bridge Burners Union (Local 36) [MP3]

The Sadies - One Million Songs [MP3]

The Waco Brothers - Do You Think About Me? [MP3]

Devil in a Woodpile - Big Boat [MP3]

The Pine Valley Cosmonauts - Roly Poly (vocals by Brett Sparks of The Handsome Family) [MP3]

I'm getting carried away! One more then you can check out more...if you so wish.

Justin Townes Earle - Lone Pine Hill [MP3]"

I hope that was of interest to some of you, and you forgive my preachy post.