Backwoods sleigh ride

>> Drinkin' up the roots music this holiday season

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

Are nü-metal's thumping and electronica's bleeps giving you the Christmas blahs? Well, have no fear, my tumblin' tumbleweeds, because we here at the Mirror have come up with some sure bets if you like things that strum, pluck, twang and howl.

First up is Toronto's Hayden. The charm of his new record Skyscraper National Park lies in the fact that in the middle of a slow, melancholic acoustic strum, Hayden isn't afraid to let a bit of sonic blast put a bustle in your hedgerow. C'mon, even Neil Young likes him.

Rhino records, in their infinite wisdom, consistently put out the best CD collections--take the new Tom Waits anthology Used Songs. Taken from Waits' more prolific years, from '73 to '80, the man's 16 best songs are packaged together here. If you prefer Wait's beat-jazz tales of hookers, drinking and Burma Shave over his more quirky tunes that sound like broken air conditioners, then look no further.

One of the most anticipated releases this year would have to be Lyle Lovett's first anthology Cowboy Man. Blessed with one of the sweetest voices since Roy Orbison, Lovett knows how to deliver the goods when it comes to cryin' in your eggnog. Check it out, the man gets to date his pick of the Hollywood babe list while being ugly as birth--he obviously must be doing something right, right?

If you feel like gettin' even more downright lowdown, look no farther then late glum chum Townes Van Zandt's new two-CD anthology 1968-1979. Feeling bad never felt so damn good.

Champion songwriter John Hiatt bellies up for the massive drinking season with The Tiki Bar Is Now Open. His whiskey-and-Winstons vocals will provide the perfect drinking partner when no one else will answer your phone calls.

American alcoholics aren't the only ones refurbishing roots music--just check out Germany's One Bar Town as they muster up Midwestern twang on Power of Principals. Better yet, look no farther then your own backyard with the unadulterated rockabilly holler of locals Rosekill and their new CD Rocked! Shocked! Thrilled! Singer Lili Sweet's Wanda Jackson wail is guaranteed to have you kickin' the floorboards.