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Reading paper books is an emotional experience for which many of us have developed nostalgia. We remember our Dr. Seuss books, our early school readers, our library adventures, then the teen years and really ranging into our individual tastes. Right now, most of us did that with paper books. Ten years from now? I think not.

My first music of my own was a scratchy Rod Stewart vinyl LP I found in a dumpster (yeah, we were poor and didn't have much besides my dad's old-school country 8-tracks). I have a cassette tape of that scratchy vinyl LP, and that is my version of the experience--right down to the skip in the middle of "I'd Rather Go Blind." Even if I hear the song on a CD, my brain puts in the skip, because that's the way I know the song. If I sing it to myself, the skip is in there. That's my experience and my nostalgia.

Have you ever tried to play a vinyl album for a kid? They think you're nuts. Some people get fighting mad over the very idea of ebooks, as if this were Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451." Paper books are "real books" or "true books," they say. Yet they still call CDs and iPod downloads "records" or "albums," the same name they used when the format was a large vinyl disc. And music wasn't harmed in the least. In fact, most of us who aren't crotchety old fuddyduds will allow that music is vaster, broader, and more experimental than ever because it is more easily shared and experienced.

Read more: Paper or Plastic: Is A Book Still A Book?

They are two of the hottest and most nationally recognized Texas touring bands in the country. Separately, Cross Canadian Ragweed and Reckless Kelly have long led the Red Dirt Revolution and, after partnering for charitable events and awards shows in years past, the two bands will finally join together for a truly Ragged and Reckless tour beginning March 3 in Nashville, Tennessee.

"I'll probably come back with a couple of good stories from [that run], I imagine," laughs Willy Braun of Reckless Kelly. "It's been a while since we've done a full-on tour with those guys, so that will be pretty fun."

Read more: RAGGED AND RECKLESS TOUR ANNOUNCED

Check Out Their New Single "American Dream"

Recently this band has cut a single and is starting to come together nicely. The single is pretty good and here's just a small sample of where TKO is with their progress as a band. They will have a complete CD coming in the future so be on the lookout.

CrankIt Mag: I hear some big things are coming. What’s been happening with you guys lately?

Arron - TKO: We just got out of the studio with our new single “American Dream.” “American Dream” is a song about living the American dream, letting go of your comforts, and just going for it–whatever it may be for you. For us it’s being starving musicians and living the American dream by trying to make it in a rock band. It’s what makes us happy, besides family, in our lives.

We are going back to the studio to work some more on our CD. We do not have a release date at this time. It is a pretty cool and exhausting experience in the studio and we were in there with our new singer, James Dean, who has brought us to another level. He fits in like we were brothers from birth–and that goes with all of us. We feel complete.

Read more: Trend Kill Omega

The music industry suffered an incredible loss last month, with the death of the irreplaceable Les Paul. The guitarist, songwriter, and instrument maker made substantial contributions to the field of music, and is credited with some of the most pertinent innovations of the 20th Century.

Read more: Les Paul - The True Guitar Hero