10 for '09

Lots of records I thought might, haven’t made this list (Richard Hawley, The Gaslight Anthem, Steve Earle, Monsters of Folk, Dylan, The Lemonheads, Drive-by Truckers, Iron & Wine, The XX, Wilco, Lisa Hannigan), so although the industry’s f***ed, by all accounts, it’s been a good year for music in my book…

1. Richmond Fontaine - We Used to think the Freeway Sounded Like a River
They just get better, and the songs here sounded phenomenal live, at the Garage in September (best record sleeve of the year too).

2. The Duke & The King - Nothing Gold Can Stay
Brilliant debut, sounds like a '70s country-soul classic, but with lyrics about growing up in the 80s. Also very good live.

3. Mariachi El Bronx
Hardcore white LA punks do straight mariachi album, shouldn't work but does, discovery of the year (although worst record sleeve of this list, by a long way). Turn it up!

4. The Low Anthem - Oh my God, Charlie Darwin
Came late to this, warily, but it's fantastic and a real grower, a superb one-sitting-listen kind of album.

5. Vetiver - Tight Knit
You need to play this loud on a good stereo to get it's full effect - gorgeous songs, fantastic band, still haven't seen them live.

6. AA Bondy - When the Devil's Loose
Maybe not quite as great as his debut, but still a brilliant winter record. Again, one to listen to in a single sitting, probably late at night

7. Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit
Rock and soul, recorded at FAME studios no less, and a step-up from his first post-DBT record.

8. The Felice Brothers - Yonder is the ClockStrangest of their albums yet, moodier and more diverse than the previous two, but still with its barnstorming moments. missed them live in October sadly (with support from AA Bondy).

9. M. Ward - Hold TimeAlways great - has the cover of the year on it, his version of 'Rave On', and some nice duets with Zooey Deschanel (sigh) and Lucinda Williams.

10. Backspacer - Pearl Jam
First album i've bought of theirs since Vitalogy – won’t claim it’s a classic, but it’s really pretty good and it sent me back to those first three albums.

'Who's that a-writing?'

well done to Peter Murphy, Hot Press journo and author of the very fine John the Revelator, just shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award

Roll up, roll up

Not only is it nearly the end of the year, but it's nearly the end of the decade too. Perfect for a list or seven, so coming up over the next few weeks will be some top tens, from me, and maybe some friends/special guests too... watch this space (i know the world won't be short of lists over the next month or so, but hey this is a list based blog and i guarantee any posted here will be better than anything in, say, the OMM).

In the meantime, i can't find any footage of Bettye Swann to post (no matter how many times i look on youtube), but if you fancy a piece of genius heartbreak soul, check out her song '(My Heart is) Closed for the Season'

radiohead... with guitars

and this is a great version...

Drive-By Truckers

nice article at AD, from a couple of days ago, on the DBTs The Dirty South. It leads onto a bit of a debate as to what their best album is. Well, for my money it's a tough call between this and Decoration Day, and i think last year's (Jason Isbell-less) A Ghost to Most is a flat out classic too... so that doesn't answer that question.

Goin' to Acapulco

Been listening to lots of Jim James recently, old My Morning Jacket and the Monsters of Folk record, and it reminded me of this great cover of Dylan's song which he first did with Calexico for the 'I'm Not There' s'track. Here's a great live version of it.

King Solomon and The Blind Boys...

if you don't own 'Don't Give Up On Me' Solomon Burke's 2002 'comeback' album, that also came out on Fat Possum, go buy it immediately...

Record for the Winter?

I loved AA Bondy's debut American Hearts, which came out in 2008, so i've been looking forward its follow up, and the good news is it's sounding just as great. There's a slightly fuller band - with various Felice Brothers helping out at times - but again it's the strength of the songs and the overall feel of it that marks it out. I've seen next to no reviews for this (apart from an ok one in today's Guardian), and being on Fat Possum i don't see any Fleet Foxes style marketing attack happening on it, but honestly if you like things like Bon Iver or Elliott Smith, then check this out, it's another lovely record, and kind of perfect for this time of year...

In EAR FARM we trust

Great feature just up:
'an incredibly fun read' full of 'musical nerditude' (apparently)

Check out their choice of the 'Top Ten Lists from Hang the DJ', and a fine choice it is too.

Back down South...

well, Pacific North West to be accurate, here's the final video of this US related series - a great song from Laura Veirs, and i kind of love this old school animation too...