Music Friday: "Another New World"

I was listening to the Punch Brothers this morning and was reminded of this great song that I saw them perform years ago in Terre Haute at Rose-Hulman after maybe the band's second album. 

They eventually recorded this cover of Josh Ritter's song on Ahoy!

And I'm providing it here. 

Have a good weekend. 

Top Twentysomething Albums of 2015

It's that time of the year again.

Like I did in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, I'm providing my top twenty some albums that came out this year. After the top twenty, there's a list of albums that deserve honorable mention. 

As for the year in music, I see it as a decent year. On a personal level, halfway through the year, my car's cd player malfunctioned, so I've had the misfortune of having to listen to the radio stations around here. iTunes and my iPad have given me solace. 

The year saw some solid albums from artists who have been on my end-of-the-year list before, but there are some new bands featured. 

If there are other albums you would recommend, please let me know in the comments section.

1. Josh Ritter, Sermon on the Rocks

I listened to this album a lot this year. Like his other albums, Ritter puts together interesting arrangements and lyrics. On first listen, some of the songs will surprise you from a musical standpoint. Some sonic curveballs. This is one guy who has the misfortune of not getting noticed enough by the mainstream music scene. If we were still in the 90s, he would have racked up a number of hits. "Getting Ready to Get Down" is one of my favorite tunes of the year. 

Favorite songs: "Homecoming," "A Big Enough Sky," "Where the Nights Goes," and "Getting Ready to Get Down"

2. Jason Isbell, Something More Than Free

Some readers might be surprised that Isbell's album got second on this year's list. He shows off his songwriting craftsmanship again on this album. It's an opus that bears witness to listening to it from start to finish, especially the lineup of songs five, six, seven, and eight in the middle of the album. My only minor complaint is that I want more uptempo, rock-oriented songs. Isbell is a very good guitarist, and I wish he showed that off more often. Still "Speed Trap Town" is the best song of 2015, and in these times it's easy to understand these lyrics from "24 Frames": "You thought God was an architect./ Now you know he's something like a pipe bomb ready to blow./ And everything you built was all for show goes up in flames." 

Favorites songs: "Palmetto Rose," "Speed Trap Town," "24 Frames," and "The Life You Chose"

3. The Bottle Rockets, South Broadway Athletic Club

Huzzah for straightforward rock and roll. As is the band's character, this album gives you the perspective of the everyman, the regular joe who might visit the South Broadway Athletic Club in South St. Louis to watch wrestling matches. Themes include Monday sneaking up on you, just relaxing, building cars, and man's best friend.

Favorite songs: "Building Chryslers," "Big Fat Nuthin'," "Shape of a Wheel," and "Monday (Everytime I Turn Around)"

4. Punch Brothers, Phosphorescent Blues

This outfit has put out albums and EPs at a steady clip over the past few years, which makes me wonder what will happen once Chris Thile takes over for Garrison Keillor on Prairie Home Companion. Regardless, this is a stunning album with the usual intricate arrangements and soaring lyrics. I've sat on the couch and just let the album wash over me. It's something. 

Favorite songs: "Little Lights," "Magnet," "My Oh My," and "I Blew It Off"

5. Chris Cornell, Higher Truth

Soundgarden is one of my favorite bands, and Chris Cornell is one of the major factors why I like the band so much. I only have one other of Cornell's solo albums. I like this one much more. And it's not often you see an artist put out an album with sixteen songs. There's a lot to listen to here. The album's lineup generally alternates between slower and more uptempo songs. It's a fun ride. Lyrics to ponder: "Time ain't nothing if ain't fast,/ Taking everything that you ever had,/ Giving nothing in return but a cold bed in the quiet earth." It's a modern day "Thanatopsis." 

Favorite songs: "Before We Disappear," "Let Your Eyes Wander," "Our Time in the Universe," and "Murderer of Blue Skies"

6. Courtney Barnett, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit

This is a fun record. Though this description could lurch toward an oxymoron, this album could be described as introspectively peppy. Barnett is an Australian singer-songwriter who was recommended to me by a reader of this blog. I guess if people are going to label her work, it could get filed under alternative rock or college rock. The songs certainly have a young person's perspective to them although the lyrics reveal an old soul. 

Favorite songs: "Nobody Cares If You Don't Go to the Party," "Dead Fox," "An Illustration of Loneliness (Sleepless in New York)," and "Pedestrian at Best"

7. Dawes, All Your Favorite Bands

Dawes' fourth album is another strong offering. If you like their sound like I do, you'll enjoy this album. Like Ritter, this band would have done well in an earlier musical era. They compose strong rock-pop musical arrangements and have good lyrics. "I Can't Think about It Now" is yet another song that makes me wish the band had more songs in which Taylor Goldsmith had guitar solos. That song has great lyrics too. 

Favorite songs: "I Can't Think About It Now," "All Your Favorite Bands," "Things Happen," and "Somewhere Along the Way"

8. Langhorne Slim & The Law, The Spirit Moves

Even if you're not familiar with this artist, you've probably heard the first part of one of his songs, "Changes," via a commercial for something I can't remember. Once again, Mr. Slim brings his distinctive voice to the fore often with jangling guitars that remind me of early R.E.M. (to a small degree). The album is gritty, fun, and jaunty. 

Favorite songs: "Strangers," "Bring You My Love," "Southern Bells," and "Spirit Moves"

9. The Bad Plus Joshua Redman

Combine one of the most innovative jazz trios with one of the best jazz saxophonists, and you get a fine album. Pretty simple math.

Favorite songs: "Dirty Blonde," "County Seat," "Lack the Faith but Not the Wine," and "Friend or Foe"

10. Brandi Carlile, The Firewatcher's Daughter

This young lady has some pipes. Offering a mix of rock, country, and bluesy tunes, this album is on par with Bear Creek. 

Favorite songs: "Mainstream Kid," "The Eye," "The Things I Regret," and "The Stranger at My Door"

11. James McMurtry, Complicated Game

The salty singer-songwriter put out another fine album this year. Like Isbell and The Bottle Rockets, he spins narratives about common folks. One of my favorite songs on the album, "These Things I've Come to Know," has the persona talking about and admiring a female bartender. 

Favorite songs: "How'm I Gonna Find You Now," "Deaver's Crossing," "These Things I've Come to Know," and "Carlisle's Haul"

12. Lucero, All a Man Should Do

Some fans of Lucero complain about the band's new sound. I don't. I certainly like the older albums that are gritty and very guitar oriented. But I like the more recent sound (with horns) that Lucero is putting out. I like this album better than Women & Work. It seems like a more complete album. 

Favorite songs: "Can't You Hear Them Howl," "Young Outlaws," "Baby Don't You Want Me," and "I Woke Up in New Orleans"

13. The Yawpers, American Man

This is one of the stranger album covers I've seen in a while. I have very little background on this band, but they play a strong brand of rock ~ no frills, guitar-oriented rock and roll.  They take their name from Walt Whitman's Song of Myself, and their music is reminiscent of "barbaric yawp"s. I'd like to see them perform. I imagine they'd put on a fun show. 

Favorite songs: "Doing It Right," "Burdens," "Deacon Brodie," and "Walter"

14. JD McPherson, Let the Good Times Roll

I got introduced to this artist this year. This is his second album, and it's a raucous, 50s-rock-inspired affair. Good stuff, people.

Favorite songs: "Let the Good Times Roll," "It's All Over But the Shouting," "It Shook Me Up," and "Mother of Lies" 

15. Radkey, Dark Black Makeup

The Wikipedia article on this band describes them as a "garage punk band." That's a fair description of what they do. The band consists of three brothers who were home-schooled in St. Joseph, Missouri. Their first major performance was opening for Fishbone. That's awesome.

Favorite songs: "Love Spills," "Le Song," "Feed My Brain," and "Glore"

16. The Railsplitters, The Faster It Goes

I always have time for some traditional bluegrass, and this album fills that need. The singers have beautiful voices backed by sometimes traditional sounding arrangements. 

Favorite songs: "It's a Little Late," "The Estuary," "Goosetown," and "Tilt-A-Whirl"

17. American Aquarium, Wolves

I've enjoyed AA's raucous rock over the years. Dances for the Lonely and Small Town Hymns are excellent albums. Wolves is a good one though some of the lyrics tend to either complain about the road or discuss personal demons. Those are decent themes, but the former can get tiresome. "Southern Sadness" is one of my favorites: "There's a certain kind of despair/ that hangs heavy in the air./ And everywhere I go I always smell the Piedmont pines./ There's a Southern sadness that won't let go of this heart of mine." 

Favorite songs: "Southern Sadness," "Wolves," "Wichita Falls," and "Old North State"

18. JJ Grey & Mofro, Ol' Glory

If this dude puts out an album, it's highly likely it'll be on my annual list. His soul-rock-funk sound moves me. I wish he'd play the harp more often because he's an outstanding harmonica player. Regardless, it's another fine album by Mr. Grey. 

Favorite songs: "Light a Candle," "Turn Loose," "Brave Lil' Fighter," and "Everything Is a Song" 

19. The Turnpike Troubadours, self-titled

Along with Sturgill Simpson and Hayes Carll, this outfit is one of finest country artists out there right now. There isn't Nashville-inspired pop-country @#$% smeared all over their sound. It's good stuff.

Favorite songs: "Bossier City," "Ringing in the Year," "Down Here," and "The Bird Hunters"

20. Joe Pug, Windfall

It's not that he ever had a weak voice, but on this album Joe Pug's voice sounds stronger. Maybe it's just me. If you like traditional folk-rock songs, this is a good choice.

Favorite songs: "Stay and Dance," "Burn and Shine," "Bright Beginnings," and "Veteran Fighter"

Honorable Mentions

Blitzen Trapper, All Across This Land

Ben Folds, So There

John Moreland, High on Tulsa Heat

The Lone Bellow, Then Came the Morning

Robert Earl Keen, Happy Prisoner: The Bluegrass Sessions

Death Cab for Cutie, Kintsugi

Jayme Stone, Lomax Project

Gary Clark Jr., The Story of Sonny Boy Slim

Justin Townes Earle, Absent Fathers

Calexico, Edge of the Sun

Craig Finn, Faith in the Future

(Belated) Music Friday: "Little Lights" plus "Look Up"

I'm way late with this post. The boy and I drove over to the Cincinnati area on Friday for my daughter's dance competition. The ladies de Nasty had already gone over there on Wednesday, and we came later because the boy had rookie league games on Wednesday and late Thursday. 

But enough of my excuses. Let's get to the music. 

If you look at the back of the cd case of the Punch Brothers' The Phosphorescent Blues, you'll find all members of the band starting at smart phones with their faces illuminated. 

"Little Lights" closes the band's recent opus. 

While I guess you can read the lyrics as being positive, I see the song as negative and morose, a commentary on our "connectedness" via technology. Turkle's Alone Together comes to mind. 

These verses support my reading: "Look at us we're glowing/ tripping the dark fantastic," "I can love it all to distraction/," Look at us hold each other spellbound/ Every moment a polished silver/ link in a chain forever," and "Guide us back to where we are/ From where we wanna be." 

Here are the full lyrics to the song: 

"Little Lights"

Look at us we're glowing
Tripping the dark fantastic
Singing the phosphorescent 
pinks and blues
To beloved tunes
In beloved rooms
I can love it all to distraction
With this...

Look at us hold each other spellbound
Every moment a polished silver
link in a chain forever
rattling through
Our beloved tunes
In our beloved rooms
God I've loved you all to distraction
With this

This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine

Shine little lights of ours
Like Orion's belt of stars
Connected only from afar
Shine little lights of ours
Like Orion's belt of stars
Guide us back to where we are
From where we wanna be

The tune reminds me of the video "Look Up," which I got introduced to this year at one of my daughter's other dance competitions when a large group of ladies danced to the audio of the video. See below. 

[Belated] Music Friday: "Phosphorescent Blues"

I would have gotten to this yesterday, but I was just exhausted from being a keynote speaker, driving home from downtown Chicago in rush hour traffic, and then making it just in time to catch the last thirty minutes of the Daddy-Daughter Dance last night. 

But let's get past all this apologizing. 

The fine fellows of the Punch Brothers have a new album out. Check out the title track. 

Music Friday: "Sometimes" & "Elephant in the Corn"

WORDS

Words

words

The past two weeks I've been bogged down with reading lots of words and writing lots of words. Two more weeks to go. 

Today I offer a duo of great bluegrassish songs without words. 

When I was walking the dog last night, these two tunes came up back to back, random causal effects of the shuffle from my iPod musical universe. 

Thank the Gods for songs without words.

Music Friday: "Flippen (The Flip)"

Bluegrass or newgrass bands don't have enough songs that feature bass solos. 

I found one though. 

The bass player of the Punch Brothers begins solo in this performance of "Flippen (The Flip)." 

Enjoy. 

Top Ten/Twenty Albums of 2012

It's that time of the year again. 

As I did in 2010 and 2011, I'm providing my top twenty albums that came out this year. In contrast to the other two lists, I've changed the honorable mention category to come after the twentieth album. 

If there are any albums that you feel are worthy of my top ten/twenty list, feel free to provide 'em in the comments section. I look forward to your recommendations. 

1. Soundgarden, King Animal

It's only been, what, sixteen years since the these fine fellows from Seattle put out their last album. They're back, and now the drummer has to split his time between two hard rock icons, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam. This album reminds me of Superunknown though it seems a bit harder. King Animal is forcefully consistent as though the years between albums never happened. And that, for this listener is a very good thing. Favorite songs: "Non-State Actor," "Blood on the Valley Floor," "Attrition," and "Rowing." 


2. Langhorne Slim & the Law, The Way We Move

Though I don't have any of his other albums, I was a little familiar with Mr. Slim before I bought The Way We Move this year. The album is certainly one I've listened to a lot, which is how I pretty much rank these albums. If you're not familiar with this guy's work, he plays what I would describe as garage folk, and he has a distinctive voice. The album puts me in a good mood, its fare is mainly uptempo songs with interesting lyrics. Favorite songs: "Fire," "Great Divide," "Wild Soul," and "Coffee Cups." 


3. Jay Farrar (Son Volt), Anders Parker, Will Johnson (Centro-matic), and Yim Yames (My Morning Jacket), New Multitudes

I highly recommend purchasing the deluxe edition because the two albums are worth it. The first disc features all four of those dudes, but the second disc only has Farrar and Parker singing. The story of the project is that Farrar spent some time researching Woody Guthrie's notebooks and sketchbooks, and other artists became interested. So what the album provides is a group of talented musicians playing 23 previously unrecorded songs by Guthrie. It's wonderful stuff, and the album inspired me to read Joe Klein's Woody Guthrie: A Life, which is the definitive biography of the man. Favorite songs: "My Revolutionary Mind," "V.D. City," "Angel's Blues," "No Fear," "Whereabouts Can I Hide," "I Was a Goner," and "San Antone Meat House." 


4. Punch Brothers, Who's Feeling Young Now?

It's clear as I survey the first four albums and the one that's coming next, the first five could be ranked in any order really. What I'm saying is that any of the top five albums could be number one depending on my mood. 

Regardless, this release by the Brothers de Punch is outstanding because it provides a balance of uptempo, midtempo, and slower tunes that range from traditional bluegrass to "alternative," however that may be defined. There are a couple of solid instrumentals, "Flippen (The Flip)" and "Kid A" (a cover), and the other offerings are excellent all around. I might like this even better than Antifogmatic, and I'm looking forward to going to their show in St. Louis in late January. Favorite songs: "Who's Feeling Young Now?," "Clara," "New York City," and "Don't Get Married Without Me." 


 5. Todd Snider, Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables

Mr. Snider got all kinds of love in the music press for this release, and it's warranted. This album provides some of the best lines of the year. The chorus of "New Yorker Banker is "Good things happen to bad people." In "Too Soon to Tell," Snider opines, "They say that 'living well is the best revenge.' I say, bullshit. The best revenge is revenge." And in the middle of "Big Finish" there's this darkly humorous nugget: "It ain't the despair that'll get you. It's the hope." Snider explores the invention of religion, takes on the bank bailout, gives you the perspective of an unemployed person, among other personas, topics, and issues. In addition, the incredibly talented Amanda Shires plays fiddle and provides backing vocals on most of the tunes. Favorite songs: "In the Beginning," "New York Banker," "In Between Jobs," and "Too Soon to Tell." 


6. Patterson Hood, Heat Lightning Rumbles in the Distance

The frontman of the Drive-By Truckers created a fabulous solo album this year. It's thematically consistent. Listeners used to his DBT tunes will find a different m.o. on this album. I mean, there's a cello on some songs, so it's not your in-your-face rock-n-roll. The lyrics are reflective and personal -- like confessional poetry. Favorite Songs: "Disappear," "Better Off Without," "After the Damage," and "Depression Era." 


7. Bela Fleck & The Marcus Roberts Trio, Across the Imaginary Divide

I suppose the "imaginary divide" the title refers to is the perception that the banjo shouldn't be used in jazz music. If that's the case, this collaboration between the best banjo player on the planet and one of the best jazz trios out there destroys that perception. It works, and the album is fine music. Favorite songs: "Some Roads Lead Home," "Across the Imaginary Divide," "Petunia," and "That Ragtime Feeling." 

8. Craig Finn, Clear Heart Full Eyes

Like Hood of DBT, the frontman of The Hold Steady decided to make a solo record this year. The album is not the guitar-oriented fare of THS; Finn's vocals are the focal point. Songs explicate the tactics of womanizer, contemplate mortality, recount hard living, and other interesting narratives. "No Future," in particular, has a great line about the persona seeing the devil at the "riverside Perkins." Favorite songs: "When No One's Watching," "No Future," "Jackson," and "Balcony." 

9. Joe Pug, The Great Despiser

This fellow, who at one time was going to school to be a playwright if I remember right, has his stuff together. He's probably a guy who gets labeled with the singer-songwriter moniker. He writes damn fine songs and arrangements. The title track for this album is probably one of my favorite songs of the year. It's a fairly simple song lyrically speaking, but the affective dimension is just right. Then there is "Ours": "So we took what we inherited,/ and we dug a hole to bury it,/ all our property and marriages./ All we wanted was a narrative/ that was ours." Favorite songs: "The Great Despiser," "Ours," "Neither Do I Need a Witness," and "Deep Dark Wells." 


10. Brandi Carlile, Bear Creek

Where the hell have I been that I didn't know about Brandi Carlile? What's wrong with me? If last year was the year I discovered the wonderful Amanda Shires, one of the discoveries of 2012 was Ms. Carlile. A mix of folk and rock supported by an incredible voice, I'm hooked. Favorite songs: "Long Way Home," "Raise Hell," "Keep Your Heart Young," and "Rise Again." 


11. Gary Clark Jr., Blak and Blu

On the opening track of the album, "Ain't Messin' Around," Clark sings, "I don't believe in competition./ Ain't nobody else like me around." This year marked his first major full length album, which includes revised versions of a few songs he had on his EP last year. And there aren't many people like Gary Clark Jr. around these parts. While there are a couple of songs I skip over on the album when listening to it, he shows his range on his debut. From a old school blues number of "When My Train Pulls In" to the R&B "Blak and Blu," from the Chuck Berry-like "Travis County" to the Hendrix homage of "Third Stone from the Sun/If You Love Me Like You Say," Clark delivers. I prefer the bluesier and rock-focused affairs, but this album is a solid effort, one that makes me want much more. Favorite songs: "When My Train Pulls In," "Glitter Ain't Gold," "Ain't Messin' Around," and "Next Door Neighbor Blues." 

12. Bruce Springsteen, Wrecking Ball

Springsteen's sparse albums seem to get all kinds of critical acclaim -- Nebraska, The Ghost of Tom Joad, and Devils & Dust. I like those albums, don't get me wrong, but I tend to be a bigger fan of albums like Born to Run, Darkness on the Edge of Town, and The Rising. So Wrecking Ball works well for me: anthem rock. I played this album a lot in my car because my kids enjoy the Celtic-inflected tunes on the disc. "American Land" is tattooed on my brain. Favorite songs: "Jack of All Trades," "Death to My Hometown," "Wrecking Ball," and "You've Got It." 

13. Shovels & Rope, O' Be Joyful

I read about the duo of Carrie Ann Hearst and Micheal Trent on Hear*Ya this year, listened to some videos on YouTube, and promptly bought this album. As far as a genre of music, I guess it's Americana because it's a mix of country and rock with a folk do-it-yourself sensibility. I bet they're a lot of fun watching live -- just those two having fun and playing tunes. Favorite songs: "Birmingham," "O' Be Joyful," "Hail Hail," and "Shank Hill Street." 

14. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Live from Alabama

  

It was really difficult for me to not put this album in the top ten because I'm a huge fan of Isbell & the 400 Unit. This release distills songs from performances in the Birmingham and the Shoals this year. It's a great album, but because I'm a connoisseur of  his work, I'm thinking about the songs I want on Live from Alabama Part II. I want more, so I might as well get it out of my system. Here's my fantasy Live from Alabama Part II track list: 

• "The Day John Henry Died"
• "Never Gonna Change"
• "Chicago Promenade"
• "Grown"
• "Seven-Mile Island"
• "Good"
• "However Long"
• "Soliders Get Strange"
• "Streetlights"
• "We've Met"
• "Codeine"
• "Stopping By"
• "Never Could Believe"
• "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" (cover)

Favorite songs on Part I: "Goddamn Lonely Love," "In a Razor Town," "Outfit," "TVA," and "The Blue."

15. Heartless Bastards, Arrow 

What a great name for a band. And what a distinctive voice the lead singer has with a fully charged band. Just wonderful. When you listen to "Marathon," you're bound to get reflective when you hear the lead singer say, "on this long road home..." I got intrigued about the band when I saw them play "Gotta Have Rock and Roll" on Letterman. Indeed, mofos. Favorite songs: "Parted Ways," "Only For You," "Skin and Bone," and "Late in the Night." 


16. Regina Spektor, What We Saw from the Cheap Seats

I like an excellent pianist. Regina Spektor fills that role, and she's a damn fine singer.  "Firewood," in particular, provides a powerful bundle of pathos, especially if you've ever visited someone in a hospital.  And she's gets all wonderfully beat-boxy and surreal on "All The Rowboats." Then there's the lyric of "Work it. Work it, baby. Work it round that room." on "Ballad of a Politician." Brilliant work. Favorite songs: "All The Rowboats," "Firewood," "Ballad of a Politician," and "The Party." 


17. Bob Mould, Silver Age

This year Mould got back to voicing his barbaric yawp over the rooftops of the world. If you're looking for ballads, look elsewhere. Easy listening? Move along. This album reminds me more of his work in Husker Du than Workbook and Black Sheets of Rain, which are two very fine albums by the way. It's a great album to listen to when you're working out. Favorite songs: "Star Machine," "Fugue State," "Keep Believing," and "Silver Age."


18. The Lumineers, self-titled

Most people will recognize these folks by "Hey Ho" because it was used for some commercial, but overall it's a solid debut album. Whether they're part of this "roots revival" or whatever, this is a fun listen. Favorite songs: "Classy Girls," "Submarine," "Big Parade," and "Flapper Girl."


19. Truckstop Darlin', Hope & the Heart It Breaks

These fine fellows churned out a second album quickly. At least it doesn't seem that long ago that their debut came out. They do seem like an unlikely band to come out of Portland though. TD is pure alt-country, like the early albums from Lucero. I would imagine the best venue to hear this band's music is in a bar after a few good whiskey drinks. Favorite songs: "Southern Ghosts," "Sad Sweet Songs," "Dead Roses," and "They Don't Mind." 


20. Trampled By Turtles, Stars and Satellites

TbT albums have a tendency to grow on me. I'll listen to one a couple of times, and I'll think, "Eh, it's all right." Then I listen to it a few more times, and I think, "I'm liking this more for some reason." And so on. The same goes for Stars and Satellites. Favorite songs: "Alone," "Risk," "Beautiful," and "The Calm and the Crying Wind." 


Below is the Honorable Mention category. I've provided an extra ten albums (in alpha iTunes order) that I enjoyed quite a bit, but they didn't make the top twenty. I only provided the albums with image -- no commentary. 

Honorable Mention: 

Avett Brothers, The Carpenter

The Bad Plus, Made Possible

Baroness, Yellow & Green

The Barr Brothers, self-titled

Calexico, Algiers

Caroline Herring, Camilla

Gaslight Anthem, Handwritten

Horse Feathers, Cynic's New Year

Justin Townes Earle, Nothing's Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now

Sara Watkins, Sun Midnight Sun