Handmade & Homespun

Premium Quality Americana

is a collection of 14 songs by 14 artists

covering slices of Americana from almost traditional folk tunes to fairly assertive rock with stops nearly everywhere in between.

Ordering

Visit any artist's website for contact and ordering information. To order from Joel D Canfield, use the 'Buy Now' button to the left.

Track List

Unless otherwise noted, each track is performed entirely by the writer.

Hold Up (Friday Night 4:55)—Phil Henry
Driven more by Phil's storytelling voice than the insistent ticking of the banjo, Hold Up felt like a natural place to set the stage for the rest of the album; folk, but not totally without rock; a great story about no one or anyone, and a clear voice you can't help but listen to.
Buried at Spindley Hill—Erin Maeflower
Another story in the only feminine voice on the album, Erin's dulcimer augments her beautiful voice. A very traditional folk tune, with a fairly non-traditional ending.
My Heart's Under Renovation—Eric Agner
Swingabilly like daddy used to play. Rousing near-rock with construction-grade drumming behind solid bass and plenty o' twang in those guitars.
Groceries and Rent—Charlie Cheney
A slice of life; perhaps a troubled life, but knowing Charlie, we can't help but feel everything's gonna turn out alright. A subtle ganache of jazz between layers of folk.
And the Starlight—Oddbod
oddbod was not convinced this was his best effort for this compilation. We ignored him completely, knowing that it's a rousing feel-good wonder (and the only song on the album to mention wave particle duality.)
Flypaper—Josh Woodward
The first of two instrumentals on the album, both of which are so lyrically evocative that words were, perhaps, superfluous. Listen for some subtle organ near the midpoint. Lovely.
Symbols, Signs and Portents—Mike Skliar
Mandolin, 12-string guitar, and philosophy, with a pinch of Warren Zevon for good measure. Pensive; excellent with an old vine Zinfandel, perhaps.
It's Cold Out There—Joel D Canfield
Joel's musical goal is to be Roger Miller, now that Roger's not doing it any more. Wry humour and an occasionally biting wit in a country song that thinks it's living in the city.
Railway Car—Old Lost John
From a cabin in Scandinavian hinterlands comes a folk paean to love. Or trains. Or lost love, not on the train. Another voice well worth hearing.
No One Will Ever Love Me—Des McKinney
Rock and/or roll jumped all over this. Enough guitar goodness to balance the poppy bounce, making for a satisfyingly balanced meal.
Rookie of the Year—Ross Durand
Excerpted from an entire album devoted to America's pastime; a joyful romp of a folk-rock tune about a pretty important moment in baseball's history.
Fades to Dawn—Will Farmer
Newgrass, mountain music, alt-country; who knows what people are calling it this year. Consider this one color-fast; does not fade. First of two from members of new mountain music hot-shots Blue Moonshine.
Old Brown Shoes—Phil Norman
Folk music can be crunchy. This ain't no love song, it's a leavin' song. Many guitars, all subservient to an imperative voice.
Dust on the Guitar—Billy Sea
Here's the sappy emotional part: this was chosen because on first listen, Joel felt he'd gone back in time to hear his father play the guitar one more time. The only instrumental solo on the album, it is at once sweet and sad; nostalgic, in the very best sense.

The Story Behind the Album

In February of 2008 we all met in the website forums of February Album Writing Month. FAWM has fostered our songwriting immensely (thanks, Burr!) and we wanted a way to celebrate how good it feels to actually accomplish something musically.

Every year, FAWM issues an official compilation which rather than a 'best of' is more of a snapshot of what happened (the compilation team considers themselves more akin to museum curators than disk jockeys.) Listening to some of the stunning demos posted, Joel was compelled to do something more personal; something he could nurture and guide. Although it's not an official FAWM compilation, the 14 of us credit FAWM for bringing us together and helping us to have a way share.

During the eleven-and-a-half months it took to go from concept to completion, we met roadblocks, of course. Some artists disappeared; others had scheduling conflicts; still others had obligations to other band members to put their original projects ahead of this. Some songs were pulled by their writers and replaced by others; we songwriters are often as cautious about our songs as we are with our children.

In the end, this is, perhaps, less than it could have been. It is, however, more than we ever imagined, and that's good enough.

Until next year, that is.

Other Details We Thought We Should Provide, Seein' as How You've Read This Far

Mastered by Mr. Beefy at Beeftone Studios

Compiled by Joel D Canfield