Farce the Music: John Fullbright

Jun 25, 2014

Favorite Songs of 2014: 1/2 Report

Here are my favorite songs of the year thus far. No rankings yet; they're arranged only in alphabetical order at this point. You may notice a glaring omission, namely Sturgill Simpson. Problem is, even after 30+ listens to Metamodern Sounds in Country Music (which you'll see on the best

albums list later today), I still can't pick out a favorite. If forced, I'd probably go with

"Turtles All the Way Down." A Spotify playlist has been added below.

Jan 3, 2013

FTM Top 75 Albums of 2012: 21-50

We're getting close now. Almost any of these could have easily made the top 20 in a lesser year.

Did I miss anything? Well, wait and tell me tomorrow when I reveal FTM's top 20 albums of 2012.

For now. 21-50:

21. Corb Lund - Cabin Fever

Full of wit and askew approaches, Corb's Cabin Fever has nearly completed my transformation from respectful admirer to fan to obsessed fan. He's an acquired taste,

but it's well worth the effort coming around to his unique vibe and sound.

Standout tracks: Bible on the Dash, One Left in the Chamber, Cows Around

22. EL-P - Cancer for Cure

23. The Gaslight Anthem - Handwritten

24. American Aquarium - Burn. Flicker. Die.

25. Kellie Pickler - 100 Proof

Who'd have ever thought you'd see Kellie on a Farce the Music "best of" list and not just

in ridiculous memes and jokes about her "blonde-ness" and amplifications to her figure? Well here she is.

She said she'd put out a classic country album and she followed through. 100 Proof is not just an experiment either - it's full-blown, cry in your beer, lock your cheatin' spouse out, burn down the honky tonk country music. And for her effort? No hits and dropped from her label. Nashville sucks.

Standout tracks: Long As I Never See You Again, Mother's Day.

26. Blackberry Smoke - The Whippoorwill

27. John Fullbright - From the Ground Up

A late discovery that probably would have ended up much higher on this list if I'd had more time with it.

RIYL: Ryan Adams, Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark.

Standout tracks: Jericho(!), Forgotten Flowers

28. Wade Bowen - The Given

29. Ray Wylie Hubbard - The Grifter's Hymnal

30. Soundgarden - King Animal

31. Japandroids - Celebration Rock

32. Dirty River Boys - The Science of Flight

33. The Deadfields - Dance in the Sun

34. Rodney Hayden - Atascosa Sand

35. Father John Misty - Fear Fun

Another album that might have climbed higher if I'd heard it earlier. Imagine Fleet Foxes with (100x)

the vitality and actual hooks. Makes sense because J. Tillman was a member of Fleet Foxes.

Fear Fun retains a lot of the indie vibe with its off-kilter lyrics but delivers for those of us who prefer a rootsier sound with a true alt-country delivery and even some Gram Parsons-esque desert rock.

Standout tracks: Nancy From Now On, Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings