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| This is modern country! (????) |
Jan 10, 2013
FTM Top Albums of '12: Matthew's Top 10
-By Matthew Martin
1- Lee Bains III & the Glory Fires, "There is a Bomb in Gilead"- My God! No band surprised me more this year than Birmingham's own Lee Bains III. I witnessed them open up for Alabama Shakes in Baltimore and was just floored by these guys. Evoking that Southern, soulful voice akin to fellow Alabama native Jason Isbell, Bains and his incredibly gifted band-mates have created an album that continues to grow stronger and stronger with each listen.
2- American Aquarium, "Burn. Flicker. Die"- We've all heard it before, right? Band hits road. Band tries to make it. Band gets weary. Band breaks up. This is where we meet BJ Barham and his band American Aquarium on their latest release: between weary and callin it quits. What makes an album great is taking a subject we've heard and making it sound new and fresh. Barham has done this to perfection with his road weary songs. American Aquarium has had some really good albums, but this album achieves far beyond good- it is truly great.
3- The Pollies, "Where the Lies Begin"- Another great band from Alabama- there must be something in the water down there. Listening to this album for the first time was such an awesome experience that I wish I could listen for the first time again. I'm not sure you can get much better for a debut album. Everything on this album works perfectly- from the interplay of instruments to the Jim James-esque echo vocal effects. Just try to listen to this album and not be taken aback.
4- Titus Andronicus, "Local Business"- Everyone's favorite Nihilistic band came back from their massively heavy and successful 2010 album "The Monitor" to record a more basic rock and roll record. Recorded with the same 4 folks who had been touring for the last few months as Titus Andronicus, this album hits the ground running and really never lets up. This album has less of the bombast than the previous 2 albums (i.e., no spoken intros, no droning noise, etc.), but Patrick Sickles and crew still run through 7+ minute songs at break-neck speed.
5- Lucero, "Women & Work"- I don't know how Lucero continue to get better, but they do. Taking the Memphis soul sound they incorporated on "1372 Overton Park," they honed their sound in to make this incredible album. The songs on this album are your typical Lucero songs, but then you add in songs such as "Sometimes" and "Go Easy" and you have possibly their best album since "That Much Further West." Some folks don't like the horn section Lucero have taken up, but I couldn't be more on board. It works incredibly well for their sound and Nichols' gruff voice. (Also, anyone else notice "Like Lightning" being played during some college and pro football games this year?)
6- Shovels & Rope, "O Be Joyful"- To truly appreciate Shovels & Rope, you should see them live, immediately. Until then, this album serves as a great snapshot of their energy, harmony, and chemistry. There have been a ton of "husband/wife" duos lately, it seems, but Shovels & Rope are doing everything right. Some songs may initially seem sappy, but they play them with such sincerity and gusto that any sap is quickly overshadowed by their keen emotion. There is no better song from 2012 than "Bimingham," which alone makes the album worth purchasing.
7- Arliss Nancy, "Simple Machines"- "I don't believe that we've been properly introduced.." So begins the newest album from Arliss Nancy. I'd say that is a fair statement from the Denver rock band. Their first album ("Dance to Forget") was a good album but this album shines much brighter due to upped production values, added instruments here and there, and a damn near perfect set of songs. I'd say if you were just now hearing of Arliss Nancy this album would no doubt be the place to start and if you've been hesitating on listening, stop. It's a great, catchy rock and roll album.
8- Natural Child, "For the Love of the Game"/"Hard in Heaven"- After seeing Natural Child open up for The Hold Steady this year, I went crazy for these guys. The 3-man band from Nashville, TN were busy in 2012 releasing both "For the Love of the Game" and "Hard in Heaven." I know it's probably cheating to include both albums here at #8, but when I was thinking about this list I couldn't pick a clear favorite. Sounding like a combination of the Stones and the Ramones, Natural Child rock and roll through sleazy guitar licks and songs about women, partying, and drugs. Just try to listen to these guys without moving. I think it's impossible.
9- Alabama Shakes, "Boys and Girls"- I fell for this album and band hook, line, and sinker. Talk about a powerful voice! I think this is a fun, well-played, and well-written record. While Alabama Shakes aren't really breaking new ground lyrically, they are laying down really great music and the songs are perfect vehicles for Brittany Howard to showcase her incredible vocals. Also, it's really amazing how fast Alabama Shakes rose to stardom. I'm sure it happens all the time, but it had never happened to a band I was on board with when they were just Alabama's best kept secret.
10- Justin Townes Earle, "Nothing's Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now"- Lots of folks aren't crazy about JTE's new album due to its subdued nature. I, on the other hand, think it is the perfect Sunday morning album. Once again, an artist added a horns section to an album and it worked perfectly. The contemplative mood of the album works for Earle and the band he gathered to record with. This is a fine album that I believe will get much stronger with time.
Other albums just missing the top 10 include: The Bohanons- "Unaka Rising," The Gaslight Anthem- "Handwritten," Cory Branan- "Mutt," Shooter Jennings- "Family Man," and Patterson Hood- "Heat Lightning Rumbles in the Distance."
Jan 9, 2013
FTM Top Albums of '12: Kelcy's 14
-by Kelcy Salisbury
This list is by no means exhaustive.
2012 has been an absolute banner year for good music. I’m sure
there are several great albums released in 2012 that I haven’t even
heard yet and will discover some time down the road & wish I’d
included them. I tried doing a top 5 list, then I tried for 10 but in
the end these were the albums I just couldn’t bring myself to cut
off the list.
14) Corb Lund - Cabin Fever
The Canadian musician released some of
his finer work with this album (get the deluxe edition with multiple
acoustic versions of several songs.) Don’t miss Down On The
Mountain, Drink It Like You Mean It, One Left In The Chamber &
the hilarious Hayes Carll collaboration of Bible On The Dash (as a
former rodeo cowboy who’s done his share of traveling I found this
to be one of the most truthfully humorous compositions I’ve heard
in years.)
13) Ray Wylie Hubbard - The Grifter’sHymnal
Texas music godfather reaches out to an
under-served demographic. Grifters need hymnals too, right?
Seriously, Coricidin Bottle & Lazarus are as good as any work
he’s done. My favorite Ray Wylie Hubbard album since Delirium
Tremolos.
12) Shooter Jennings - Family Man
The album is a touch uneven in places
but songs like The Long Road Ahead, Summers Dreams and Daddy’s
Hands are so good that they elevate the entire thing. There’s not
a song on here I skip, but there are a few I look forward to more
than others. Can’t wait to see what the next project sounds like.
11) The Trishas - High Wide And Handsome
Not sure I can really describe this one
but to say that The Trishas are easily the best female duo or group
in country music right now and it’s not even close (sorry Pistol
Annies but you could take some notes from these ladies). I hate to
distinguish them as a “female” act though. Isn’t it about time
we just acknowledge that this is one incredibly good bunch of
musicians? They can play, they can sing, and they can write…How
they can write! I’d tell you what my favorite songs are on the
album, but that changes every time through. Last time around it was
Mother Of Invention, John Wayne & Gold&Silver. Listen for
yourself, if you haven’t heard this album you’re missing
something great.
10) Dwight Yoakam - 3 Pears
I’m a Dwight fan, I’ll admit that.
I’ve also appreciated Pete Anderson’s production work, so when I
heard that Dwight’s new album would not employ Pete as producer I
was a little worried. I’m sure the folks who want to hear
“Guitars, Cadillacs” re-made over and over won’t care for this.
It’s unabashedly Dwight’s “rock” album, but it’s
outstanding. Top songs are Waterfall, It’s Never Alright and Long
Way To Go.
9) Jason Eady - AM Country Heaven
Probably the best pure country record
of the year, this one saw Eady take a slight detour from his more
folk oriented material and record a straight ahead country album that
draws heavily on the Merle Haggard school of writing & playing.
The end result is simply astoundingly good in its simplicity. Don’t
miss the scathing songwriting of the title cut, the heartbreaking
Wishful Drinking or the Patty Loveless duet of Man On A Mountain.
8) Dirty River Boys - The Science Of
Flight
I have to thank Brad Rice (the drummer
from Jason Boland & The Stragglers, not the one from Son Volt)
for bringing this band to my attention. I was honestly getting a
little burned out on “new” Texas/Red Dirt/Independent bands. I
hadn’t heard a new one doing anything original in a few years &
even with all the buzz about these guys I hadn’t paid a bit of
attention. Brad told me they were “original” and “different”
and was he ever right! I’d venture to say that this album would be
top 3 material if I’d only picked it up a little sooner. I’ve
only had time to listen to it twice but it absolutely blew me away
and forced me to include it on this list. Dirty River Boys sound is
a hard thing to describe, but I’ll try. Let’s imagine that the
Black Crowes & Nick Cave had a baby that was raised by a group of
Celtic musicians who also happened to be bluegrass fans & the
baby ran away from home at age 14 to tour with Ray Wylie Hubbard &
Gram Parsons. These guys aren’t scared to try a mixture of styles
and influences and the end result is something amazing to hear. I
can’t wait to get a chance to see them live. Best songs on the
album (and there isn’t a bad one) are the title song & Six
Riders, but you’d better get the whole thing.
7) Soundgarden - King Animal
The best voice in 90s rock is back
where he belongs as Chris Cornell has reunited with Soundgarden &
put out an album that sounds like a worthy follow-up to Superunknown,
not the album that showed up a decade plus after Down On The Upside.
There’s no Get On The Snake, Blow Up The Outside World or Fell On
Black Days (my 3 personal favorite Soundgarden songs) here but what
there is, is more than enough to be the hard rock album of the year.
Soundgarden was somewhat unfairly labeled as “just another grunge
band” in the 90s & were never completely able to break free
from that. They may never break away from it completely but
hopefully this album will earn them a whole new generation of fans as
well as reminding their legions of Gen X fans (how’d we all get so
old anyway?) that Soundgarden are still kings of the rock universe.
6) Jack White - Blunderbuss
Jack White may be the direct spiritual
descendant of Keith Richards & Led Zeppelin. Nobody in
mainstream music is doing anything remotely close to his sound. Just
great rootsy rock 'n roll that comes straight from the heart. This
album, along with most of his output is proof that 3 chords and the
truth are really all you need.
5) Turnpike Troubadors - Goodbye Normal
Street
Turnpike Troubadours are one of the
finest live bands to come out of the rich musical scene of eastern
Oklahoma in the past several years. Their first two albums showed
tremendous promise due to the great songwriting and musicianship.
What sets this album apart is the addition of backing vocals of Jamie
Wilson of The Trishas. Like most of the albums near the top of this
list, there simply is not a single throwaway track. The album needs
to be heard in it’s entirety. The musicianship has actually
improved over their first two albums (Bossier City & Diamonds and
Gasoline) if that is even possible. Either this or Eady’s album
are the best true country albums of this year, if not the best of the
past 2-3 years. The only country album I’ve heard in the past
couple of years that can stand on the same level is Jason Boland &
The Stragglers Rancho Alto.
4) The Departed - Adventus
After This Is Indian Land came out last
year I was intrigued to see what this band could do with their
original material. I’m happy to report that they exceeded all my
expectations. This isn’t a country album, it’s a bluesy, rootsy,
gospel influenced trip through the prodigious talents of a band that
(while made up of an all-star cast of players) is truly much more
than the sum of it’s parts.
3) Chris Knight: Little Victories
Mr Knight (I feel like I should refer
to him as Mr., just because I’m pretty sure anybody with the kind
of body count usually exhibited in his songs might stab me if I don’t
call him Mr.) has released the finest album of his remarkable career.
It’s not quite a protest album, but there is a theme of social
commentary running through the entire thing. In almost any other
year this would be my album of the year. I’ve only had the album
since early October, but all the songs are among my most played for
the entire year. I can’t hear Jack Loved Jessie, Nothing On Me or
The Lonesome Way while driving without risking a speeding ticket.
2) Matt King - Apples & Orphans
First a bit of background: I am such a
fan of Matt’s 2005 album “Rube” (right down to the Marilyn
Manson sounding drums, and other industrial sounding touches) that I
have worn out two CD copies, and it’s been one of the top 2 most
played albums on my iPod every year since I got the digital copy,
something like 5 years running now. I liked the Matt King & The
Cutters EP. I loved the bare bones approach of Raw, which is also an
album that’s been in heavy rotation for the past couple of years.
(I’ll admit to not being a huge fan of Matt’s mid 90s Nashville
country output, but hopefully Matt will forgive me for that…) Point
is, I had very high expectations for this album even though I didn’t
really know quite what to expect. If you’re looking for real
stories of real life Matt is one of the three songwriters I’d point
you toward to start with (Chris Knight & Javi Garcia would be the
other two.) I’d be doing this album and the listener a disservice
to point out one song over another as the “must have” tracks on
this album. It’s an album that’s meant to be heard from start to
finish. It’s clearly a labor of love, care was paid to the
sequencing of songs - so get the album and listen to it the way it
was meant to be heard, start to finish. My brother once asked me
what Matt King sounded like and I told him that if Trent Reznor &
Loretta Lynn had a child who was raised in the Appalachians by Woody
Guthrie, he would be Matt King. That was meant as a compliment &
hopefully it’ll be taken that way.
1) Lincoln Durham - The Shovel vs. The Howling Bones
This one came out early in the year, February I believe. Anyway, the first time I heard Drifting Wood I was hooked. This album is proof that you don’t need “top of the line” equipment or fancy production to make a great album. The pure soul of the vocals, the simple blues influenced music suits each song perfectly. There’s great variety here. Clementine & Truckers Love Song are simple yet beautiful (if somewhat unconventional) love songs. Mud Puddles, Drifting Wood, Living This Hard and Reckoning Lament are haunting rootsy slices of goodness. I had the privilege of catching Lincoln opening for Billy Joe Shaver last fall in San Marcos,TX and he blew me away. The most amazing thing I’ve ever seen in terms of a single person making sounds that one person shouldn’t be able to. Lincoln is a young man with an old soul and a clear appreciation for the traditions of such influential acts as Robert Johnson and Ray Wylie Hubbard. If you’ve somehow missed the greatness that is The Shovel VS The Howling Bones, go pick it up today. You can thank me later.
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Albums I’m looking forward to in 2013:
New music from Jason Boland & The Stragglers: The best traditional country band going has a new album (produced by Shooter Jennings) on the way early in '13.
Javi Garcia & The Cold Cold Ground are finally coming with a follow up to A Southern Horror. March is the targeted release date.
Tyler McCumber (he’s a star in Italy of all places) plans to release some new music in '13. In an interesting side note, Javi Garcia was a member of Tyler’s first band.
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