With the launch of Napster in 1999 the proverbial Pandora’s Box of the digital age was more than opened, it was pillaged and burnt to the ground. No longer would the record companies and movie studios that we had relied on to provide for our entertainment needs control the playing field. Napster drew criticism early on from many artists, such as Dr. Dre and Metallica because their music was being freely distributed without the collection or payment of any royalties. 

For nearly fifteen years Corb Lund and The Hurtin’ Albertans have taken their brand of country music from the Canadian Prairies of their homeland to America’s heartland, steadily building a growing fan base one show at a time. With the release of Cabin Fever in 2012, Lund achieved the commercial success to go along with the critical acclaim that he had been receiving for years. The album debuted at the top of the Canadian Billboard Chart, overtaking pop stars Justin Bieber and One Direction. 

Nineteen ninety-four will go down as one of the most eventful years in music history, a year full of landmark releases where little-known bands would sell millions of albums and enjoy critical as well as commercial success. One of the albums released that year, The Toadies’ platinum-selling album Rubberneck has just been re-released on Kirtland Records, in a remastered edition with five bonus tracks.

It's five a.m. when most of us are asleep or trudging toward the shower, Kevin Ridgeway sits in his home office with a cup of coffee, an abundant supply of cigarettes, and Warren Zevon or the Stones or Muddy Waters on the record player, which is always within reach.