My friend Tim’s effort to guilt all his friends into providing him new music to listen to — otherwise known as his annual “Top Tunes” email, has finally made it online on his new blog. Of course, this is a mutual benefit society and everybody in the loop finds some great new tunes this way…soooooo, without further ado, I present my list for the year.
There are likely some glaring omissions to this list since I put it together ad-hoc, but it’s all solid music. Add a couple of “rediscovered” gems at the end as a bonus incentive for paying attention. Enjoy.
Recent Stuff….
Avett Brothers, I and You and Love
Wussy, heart-on-your-sleeve, jam-grass…and I love it. More production on this record, but it doesn’t suffer because their material just keeps maturing. Love these guys.
Monsters of Folk
I’m not typically a big fan of supergroups. They are the musical equivalent of NBA All-Star games. Enough said. However, this one is more like the first Dream Team. It works and everybody brings their A-game and top quality material. And really with Conor Oberst and M. Ward, I don’t see how you could go wrong (Somebody from My Morning Jacket, too).
Rench, Worn Down Low
Everything I’ve heard from this guy is great. Mixed hip-hop DJ’ing with classic country and a sharp political wit and well selected covers. He was also involved in the great (free for download) Rap/Country mashup, Gangstagrass.
The Dodos, Visiter
Not really anything to say about this one, other than that it’s a fine record. If you like the Animal Collective, you’ll probably dig this…
Deer Tick, Born on Flag Day
This Brooklyn band reeks great influences, but keeps it’s own voice in there….great mix of mello and hard rocking stuff. I expect we’ll here more from them in the coming years. Their first record, “War Elephant” is excellent as well. They do a lot of great covers, too. Not on the record, but if you look around YouTube.
The Gourds, Haymaker!
Ok, so it’s getting boring that the Gourds are on my list every other year, I suppose. I just never find any bands that really stack up to them in my book. They’re records have been a little spotty on the last couple outings, but this one is solid back to front in both material and performance – one of their best.
Todd Snider, The Excitement Plan
Todd Snider is a gem. He’s a performer you may never quite grasp without listening to live performances, but he is our generation’s John Prine and you can’t really go wrong with his insight, humor and storytelling ability. If you don’t know Todd, I’d start with “Near Truths and Hotel Rooms” — but this is a fine record, too.
Tinted Windows
Oh crap…this, technically, is another “supergroup” — though it doesn’t really feel like it. Cheap Trick’s drummer, some guy from Smashing Pumpkins and that MMMBop kid (Yea, Hanson)…but, f*ck, it’s a great power pop record. This is a killing upbeat driving record, good at work, too.
Rediscoveries…
Richard Buckner, Bloomed
I liked this record when it came out in the mid-90s, and it has aged really well. I didn’t have a copy for years and re-downloaded it this year, and have listened to it dozens of times this year. I’d put it up against anything from Jay Farrar or any of the other alt-country songwriting heros for song quality. It’s also a really, really awesome rainy day record.
Yo La Tengo, Fakebook
Another old favorite that I spun again this year and found it holds up well. It is actually the only Yo La Tengo record I’ve connected with, but I love it. It’s a unique blend of folk/country/indie pop with a very happy edge to it. Also probably one of the only bands that really captured some of the Velvet Underground influences in a way that reflected the lighter, more pop side of that band that I loved.
