It’s been 25 years since the inception of Chicago’s iconic indie label Bloodshot Records and with that anniversary comes another great compilation, Too Late to Pray: Defiant Chicago Roots. If you are new to Bloodshot or new to their anniversary releases, start with Down to the Promised Land: 5 Years of Bloodshot Records, which still remains my favorite of the lot. Much like previous releases, Bloodshot brings together an eclectic mix of artists significant to Chicago’s country-punk roots. On the 25th anniversary LP, there are some familiar friends like Robbie Fulks, Freakwater, The Handsome Family, Kelly Hogan, and Jon Langford as well as new-comers like David Quinn, Half Gringa, and Wild Earp and the Free for All’s. A few notable tracks include: “The Last Honky Tonk in Chicago” by Wild Earp; Sima Cunningham’s “Weeds and Daisies”; Half Gringa’s “Wearing White”; Kelly Hogan’s cover of Ella Fitzgerald’s “Gotta Have My Baby Back”; The Handsome Family’s take on Leonard Cohen’s “Tower of Song”; and Freakwater’s cover of the Rolling Stones track “Sway.” There’s not a bad single on Bloodshot Records’ – Too Late to Pray: Defiant Chicago Roots and they continue to curate the best of the up-and-comers in defiant country and roots music. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Wild Earp, Robbie Fulks, Half Gringa, The Handsome Family, David Quinn