Music Stores have traditionally reflected record company influence and other commercial pressures in their choice of stock, but Smart Choice Music are taking a radical new approach and investing in the grass roots development of new music. Our latest initiative has been to produce a sampler compilation album, showcasing the cream of the independent artists being sold in-store.

Not a new concept, but it is rare to find a record store inviting up-and-coming artists to appear on a sampler album without asking them or their labels to contribute financially, but this is exactly the approach Smart Choice Music has taken, demonstrating our commitment to the development of new music.

Copies of the 18-Track compilation CD are cover mounted on the July 2006 edition of this influential and highly respected UK Based Americana magazine, Maverick.

We have Audio previews here or read on for more information about the artists ...

1. Lyle Lovett - Sold American * EXCLUSIVE *
An exclusive preview from the forthcoming independent-released tribute album for maverick and thought-provoking Texas songwriter Kinky Friedman. Sold American is a Friedman classic, recounting the tale of a faded Opry star and performed by Lyle Lovett, an artist with a similar considered and alternative take on country music.

Taken from the album Why The Hell Not ... The Songs of Kinky Friedman (not yet released - keep checking our listings for this album)

2. Kevin Montgomery - Cherokee City
Any regular gig-goers will certainly have heard of Kevin Montgomery - either for his rocking, full-on all-star band shows, or in his guise as an introspective singer-songwriter. This track is most definitely one for connoisseurs of fine vocals, moving, heart-on-the-line lyrics and high production qualities - pretty much summing up this enigmatic and engaging performer.

Taken from the album 2:30am

3. Jessi Lynn - Anywhere But Here
A compilation highlighting the best in Americana wouldn't be complete without a show-stopping country ballad, and Jessi Lynn provides just that on this, a track taken from her self-penned album. This is popular country music with the schmaltz and glitz stripped away leaving just the bare bones of true Americana. As Jessi herself says, 'Just a backpack full of songs and my guitar'.

Taken from the album You Ain't Seen Nothin' Like This

4. Bruce Robison - Virginia
Bruce Robison is responsible for quietly penning some of Nashville's biggest hits, including Travelin' Soldier for the Dixie Chicks, Angry All The Time for Tim McGraw and Faith Hill and Desperately for George Strait. However, take a listen to his own albums for the original (and frankly superior) versions of his famous songs. Warm vocals and a dedication to the traditions of country music personify this much underestimated singer's style.

Taken from the album Eleven Stories

5. Six Mile Grove - Bus Stop Revelation
Think the energy of American rock and the simplicity of classic country music, delivered with pure farm boy charm. A twang from a guitar string ignites a flashback to a college town southern bar with a big hound dog at the foot of a barstool. Six Mile Grove are one of the new wave of alt-country college bands making a big impression on a whole new generation of country music and rock fans.

Taken from the album Bumper Crop

6. Sounds Like Fall - The Dirt
Described variously as subtle, organic and engaging, this album is a perfect platform for Joe Young's earthy, nuanced vocals. Mostly built around rich acoustic guitar sounds, the electric instrumentation is restrained and haunting. SLF manage to be deep without ever becoming melancholy.

Taken from the album The Wolf Is At The Door

7. Willy Clay Band - Soldier
Produced by the redoubtable Will Kimbrough and featuring the remarkable talents of Garth Hudson and Bucky Baxter, this is the band everyone is tipping for great things. Managing to shrug off the inevitable cynicism surrounding an Americana band from Sweden, Willy Clay Band are going from strength to strength and building a loyal following amongst fans and critics alike, which is no easy feat.

Taken from the album Rebecca Drive

8. Frog Holler - Pepper & Salt
Pennsylvania's own alt-country standard bearers started out playing Bluegrass, but somewhere along the way employed the services of a rock guitarist and drummer and have wound up producing a sound that is totally unique. Soaring harmonies and lap steel compete with dissonant guitar sounds over instantly memorable hooks and choruses.

Taken from the album Haywire

9. TJ McFarland - Sweet Little Melody Jane
Enlisting the talents of Dwight Yoakam's and Lucinda Williams' bands, the TJ Mcfarland sound is an eclectic mix of folk, rock and West-Coast country, sounding somewhere between Blonde on Blonde-era Dylan and Exile on Main Street-era Stones. Listen out for spectacular B3, fiddle, slide guitar and mandolin in the backing.

Taken from the album Rosenbum's Gin

10. Wade Bowen - God Bless This Town
Wade Bowen cites this song as his favourite since day one of recording his latest album. Bowen's musical influences stretch from A to Z, from Aerosmith to Zeppelin, and his music has been described variously as roots rock, guy rock, alt-country. It could be said that Wade Bowen today is defining the genre of Texas Music.

Taken from the album Lost Hotel

11. Leaving TX - If The Bottle Doesn't Kill Me
Leaving TX came to life in the Washington DC music scene. A classic lineup of two guitars, drums and bass, this is where true country gets reconciled with rock, punk, whiskey, bad women and tough bars. Compared favourably to Drive By Truckers, Reckless Kelly and Steve Earle ... and not without good cause.

Taken from the album 100 Miles To Sunday

12. Ray Wylie Hubbard - Snake Farm
A leading figure of the progressive country movement of the 1970s, this iconic singer/songwriter is continually in touch with what makes roots music what it is today. Snake Farm is taken from his new album of the same name, and sees RWH continuing to build a new audience with his clever lyricism and driving Texas rock.

Taken from the album Snake Farm (not currently available - keep checking our listings for this album)

13. Grayson Capps - Get Back Up
Descending from the celebrated American southern literary tradition, Grayson Capps writes about the South and the idiosyncrasies of its people, landscapes and tempos. His songs take form as laid back, front porch blues and road-wise Americana. Close your eyes and you can almost feel the steamy heat.

Taken from the album If You Knew My Mind

14. Stereopool - Amazed By You
The Stereopool sound is sometimes folky, sometimes funky, sometimes funny and almost always simple and sparse. The result is edgy, jagged, acoustic alternative pop. Singer Bob Sima would certainly not argue with the fact that he wears his Jack Johnson, Violent Femmes, Train and Dave Matthews influences on his sleeve.

Taken from the album Freedom Finds You

15. Michelle White - Let Love
Michelle's Dad is one Tony Joe White, a fact that will surely be recounted in every article written about this fine singer for some time to come. But Michelle, reared as she was in the musical hotbeds of South Texas and Memphis is building her reputation rightly on the strength of her songwriting and fiery Janis Joplin-like stage performances. Pat McLaughlin drops in as a guest vocalist on this cut.

Taken from the album Wandering Road

16. Gail Davies - A Friend Like You
Forever known as country music's first female staff producer, Gail Davies has had many run-ins with the mostly male musical establishment in Nashville. In 1995 she promoted and released her own album Eclectic, which was denied radio-play by many US stations who were still carrying a grudge. She has determinedly carried forward the fight and continues to produce top-drawer country music that is a symbol of proud, independent Americana.

Taken from the album Eclectic

17. Al Perkins - Western Man
There is little more needs to be said about guitarist Al Perkins than the albums and artists he is associated with; Gram Parsons' GP and Grievous Angel, Manassas, Flying Burrito Bros, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton and countless more household names. This special version of a self-penned cut taken from his solo album sees him trading licks with his buddy Terry Talbot and recently reformed 70's cult band Mason Proffit.

Original version available on the album Triple Play

18. Peter Rowan - Howlin' At The Moon
Though his music has incorporated rock, Tex-Mex and reggae as well as bluegrass, Bill Monroe's music has remained a touchstone throughout Peter Rowan's career. This track taken from a new release of a live recording made in 1994 features Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas and other stellar musicians, and conveys the energy of the Telluride Festival and sees them pulling our every trick in the book in this masterclass of traditional musicianship.

Taken from the album Crucial Country