Top 5:
Dirty Sweet – American Spiritual
Of any release this year, Dirty Sweet’s sophomore release was, hands-down my most highly anticipated. Ever since their 2007 debut Of Monarchs and Beggars easily made it to my elite best-albums-of-all-time list, I’d been patiently waiting this record. Fortunately I was able to catch them live last March at Austin’s South by Southwest festival and the band was selling copies of the new CD before it had even been officially released. Score! For those who don’t know, Dirty Sweet is one of the most authentic roots-rock bands I’ve heard in a long time. Difficult to pigeon hole but if you like Zeppelin, Humble Pie, Terry Reid, Yes, Cream, etc. you’ll most definitely want to check these guys out.
Karen Elson – The Ghost Who Walks
Fashion model, longtime cabaret performer and wife of Jack White surprised everyone this year with her wonderfully refreshing debut of neo-60s-style alt-country/folk. Her sound reminds me at times of Nancy Sinatra or Jenny Lewis; perfect for a great Tarantino soundtrack.
Over The Rhine – The Long Surrender
This record holds a very special place in our hearts, partly because we helped make it. As any OTR fan knows, Karen and Linford have, for years, relied solely on the support of their fans, rather than corporate backing, to continue to create, release, and tour their beautiful music. Since 2006 they have release records exclusively on their own independent record label, Great Speckled Dog. As financial times have gotten tougher over the last few years, I can only imagine how difficult it can be as a self-supported band to continue for as many years as OTR have. This past year they humbly requested donations to assist with the production of this record. To say that the response they received from their loyal fan base was overwhelming would be a grave understatement. These two amazing musicians were literally brought to tears by the staggering generosity garnered to make this record happen. Faith and I were part of that generous giving and, as could be expected, our friends from Cincinnati have done it once again. We will treasure this album for the rest of our lives. Whenever we uncase the simple black and white liner notes from their dusty sleeve, reading our names listed as “co-conspirators, allies, guardian angels,” we’ll remember our little place in history when we helped make a record happen.
The Dead Weather – Sea Of Cowards
Refreshing sophomore release from this rock super-group of Alison Mosshart (The Kills), Dean Fertita (Queens of The Stone Age), Jack Lawrence (The Greenhornes & The Raconteurs), and Jack White (The White Stripes & The Raconteurs). I saw them live last year at Stubb’s in Austin, which I blogged about here. Not ones to be compartmentalized it’s really nice to hear a new rock sound that no one has really done before.
The Fling – When The Mad Houses Appear
Ever since the unfortunate conclusion of one of my favorite bands of all time, Havalina Rail Co., I’ve followed the multifarious adventures of HRC lead vocalist/guitarist, Matt Wignall. He’s traveled the world photographing bands, producing records, co-founding his own fashion line and promoting off-the-grid living. Matt was instrumental in helping now big name indie bands Mondo Diao and Cold War Kids make a name for themselves, and I am confident in saying that The Fling will join that roster. This brilliant four-piece blend wonderful vocal harmonies with psychadelic-folk/rock reminiscent of mid-career Beatles-meets-Simon & Garfunkle, with a touch of Crosby Stills & Nash.
Below are listed the remaining honorable mentions from this past year. Definitely check them out:
A Rose By Any Other Name – One For My Master And One For My Dame
Airbourne – No Guts, No Glory
Arthur – Watch The Years Crawl By
Belle & Sebastian – Belle & Sebastian Write About Love
Beneath The Massacre – Marée noire EP
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Beat The Devil’s Tattoo
Blue Giant – Blue Giant
Brain Drill – Quantum Catastrophe
Carolina Chocolate Drops – Genuine Negro Jig
Celldweller – Wish Upon A Black Star, Chapter 03
Celldweller – Soundtrack For The Voices In My Head, Vol. 2
Cold War Kids – Behave Yourself
Mike Coykendall – The Unbearable Being Of Likeness
Daughters – Daughters
Delta Spirit – History From Below
Earl Greyhound – Suspicious Package
Eluveitie – Everything Remains As It Never Was
Exhale – Blind
Flatfoot 56 – Courage
GRITS – Quarantine
Sarah Harmer – Oh Little Fire
Insomniac Folklore – Lp
Jenny and Johnny – I’m Having Fun Now
Lilium – Felt
Lissie – Catching A Tiger
Living Sacrifice – The Infinite Order
Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can
Norfolk & Western – Dinero Severo
Nico Vega – Nico Vega Covers Nico Vega & Rod Stewart
Night Horse – Perdition Hymns
Norma Jean – Meridional
Elvis Perkins – The Doomsday EP
Darrell Scott – Crooked Road
She & Him – She & Him, Vol. II
Sufjan Stevens – All Delighted People EP
Sufjan Stevens – The Age of Adz
The Cassettes – Writing Analogue Letters
The Chariot – Long Live
The Dillinger Escape Plan – Option Paralysis
The Innocence Mission – My Room In The Trees
The Love Language – Libraries
The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza – Danza III
The Weakening – Chaos Harmony
Toby Mac – Tonight
Tomatito – Sonanta Suite
Tumbledown – Empty Bottle
Patricia Vonne – Worth It
Joel Willoughby – Rain & Pocket Change
Joel Willoughby – Canadian Winters
Wovenhand – The Threshing Floor
Year Long Disaster – Black Magic; All Mysteries Revealed
Zikrayat – Cinematic
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