#20- Julian Lage- Speak To Me
It's hard to nail down just what you'll hear on this record, but I
assure you, if you are put off by jazz guitar in general, you are in for
a surprise. This is one of the most musical records I have heard in a
long time, with gorgeous arrangements and melodies that will stick
immediately. And boy, could he play guitar!
#19- Leyla McCalla- Sun Without The Heat
Leyla McCalla was the cellist in the Carolina Chocolate Drops and in
2010, she moved to New Orleans to hone her craft on the streets of the
French Quarter. Her 2016 solo debut was terrific, and she really hit
the mark on "The Capitalist Blues," one of my very favorites of 2019. I
saw her perform at the 2022 New Orleans Jazz Fest where she played most
of her then new release "Break The Thermometer." I thought the record
was a bit of a disappointment after "The Capitalist Blues," and still
her live set was one of the hottest of the fest. McCalla's new one, "Sun Without The Heat" is her best work yet. She can go from
traditional to avant-garde with the flick of a switch, and she manages
to pull it all off convincingly.
#18- Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks- True
The
story of Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks is a good one. The latter are
some of the best musicians in the game who post note perfect videos of
classic rock songs that even some of the original artists no longer
attempt live. Yes singer saw the Geeks performing "Close To The Edge"
and asked them to be his backing band for a tour. I'm sure I am missing a
few details, but that is basically it. The tour was a success and now
we have the studio recordings in "True." If you're not a fan of Yes, I
don't imagine this record will impress you anymore than "Fragile"
didn't. But if you are a fan, "True" is pure joy.
#17- His Lordship- S/T
I've been following His Lordship on Instagram for some time
now. James Walbourne, one half of The Rails with wife Kami Thompson,
daughter of Richard & Linda, as well as long-standing guitarist with
The Pretenders started posting these short, explosive videos with
Danish drummer Kris Sonne, covering their favorite rock and roll and
rockabilly hits. Their debut is, in one word, relentless! It's rock and roll as punk and rockabilly as thrash.
#16- Iron & Wine- Light Verse
I hadn't heard a note of Iron & Wine's music before this release. Too often, the records were compared to other indie mope fest records I didn't care for and so I thought, "Why bother?" But I found myself enthralled by every word and
melody. This isn't a mope fest. Though it can be somber at times,
it's mostly just beautiful music.
#15- Richard Thompson- Ship To Shore
Richard Thompson hasn't really ever made a terrible record. Some are weaker than others, but generally even the weak ones are worth your time. I think the reason he has been so consistent for so long is because he has a template and he stays with it. He doesn't genre hop they way say Todd Rundgren tried his hand at EDM or hip hop, or the way McCartney and Jagger call on the current pop stars du jour for some additional spice. If you are a fan of Richard Thompson, you pretty much know what to expect. You just keep your fingers crossed that it's a brilliant release as opposed to simply a solid release. "Ship To Shore" is pretty damn close to brilliant.
#14- Linda Thompson- Proxy Music
In case you missed it, the one and only Linda Thompson has dysphonia and
she can no longer sing. So she wrote some new songs and asked friends
and family to sing them for her. The brilliantly titled "Proxy Music,"
with one of the most genius album covers to boot, could have easily been
a hit and miss tribute album. That it plays like a coherent record has
everything to do with the cast of vocalists including Linda's kids, Kami
Thompson and Teddy Thompson, who also produced, Rufus and Martha
Wainwright, The Unthanks and John Grant among others. Even with the
changing of the leads, "Proxy Music" never comes across as a hodgepodge
of styles. It's damn miraculous, if you ask me. There isn't a bad
track here.
#13- v/a- Silver Patron Saints
It's no secret, at least among my friends who swear by Jesse Malin, that I am not a fan. I won't go into why except to respectfully say, the records just didn't click with me. But Malin's story and his life took a weird and tragic turn last year, and I couldn't help but pay attention. This record is a start-studded tribute to Jesse and his recovery from a spinal stroke that left him unable to walk. Jesse Malin has some big time friends, and they are all here from Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello & Lucinda Williams to Ian Hunter, Susanna Hoffs, Dinosaur Jr. and Graham Parker. These songs made me appreciate Malin's talent. Not everything works, but most of it does and that's saying a lot since there are over two dozen tracks here.
#12- The Weeklings- Raspberry Park
Bands trying to sound like Beatles over and over and over again can shred my nerves rather quickly, yet I am still playing "Beatles For Sale" and "Revolver" like they were just released. I guess I need the real thing. The Weeklings started out a little too cute for their own good, but have grown into a really smart band thanks to the songwriting ability of Glen Burtnick & Bob Burger. They are good enough to dump the Beatles covers from their setlist. But they shouldn't! Their Beatles' covers are just as clever as their originals, often mashing-up two or three songs into one arrangement. "Raspberry Park" has all of this and it is their best yet.
#11- Paul Kelly- Fever Longing Still
I had lost track of Paul Kelly over the years. I mean, between solo records, records with The Messengers, records with The Coloured Girls and records with The Dots, I just couldn't keep up. And then, once every few years, I remember what I love about him and I start digging out my favorites. He is a legend in Australia for good reason. "Fever Longing Still" shows that Kelly still hasn't lost the touch as both a singer and a songwriter. This is a wonderful record.
THE TOP TEN
#10- Boss Capone Meets George Dekker- Blackfire
Boss Capone and George Dekker, the latter
being the half brother of legendary ska king, Desmond Dekker, and a
legend in his own right as a member of The Pioneers, have released "Blackfire," a new, old school ska record and each track is more fun
than the last. It's not just the sparkling vibe of the whole session
that does it for me. It's the brilliant production, making it feel like a
lost classic from the vaults.
#9- Fantastic Cat- Now That's What I Call Fantastic Cat
Pure joy from head to tail. Four vocalists who are also songwriters and multi-instrumentalists, having the best time playing good ol' rock and roll...and country...and bluegrass...and folk...and powerpop, too. This is never boring.
#8- X- Smoke & Fiction
Over forty years after two of the greatest punk records of all time, "L.A." and "Wild Gift," X say goodbye with one of the best records of their career and of the year. Close your eyes and you will think it's 1980.
#7- The Black Crowes- Happiness Bastards
I wasn't immediately on board when this record was released. I am a loyal Steve Gorman fan and I believe his drumming was as important to the Crowes sound as anything else, including the Brothers. Plus, the first single reminded too much of "Jealous Again" and it turned me off. But, I love this band, and something made me play it again and again. I am glad I stuck with it, because it's a very fine Black Crowes record, worthy of sharing a shelf with their best records. And Brian Griffin on drums ain't no slouch, either.
#6- Gillian Welch & David Rawlings- Woodland
It was a long time coming, but "Woodland,"the first new
music from Gillian Welch & David Rawlings in 13 years, if you don't
count 2020's COVID covers release, was absolutely worth the wait. There are no less
than six absolute classics within. The harmonies are still impeccable,
and as usual, often sound like one voice, as Welch and Rawlings weave in
an out of each other perfectly, sometimes eerily. The songs and styles will be familiar, though one really surprised the
hell out of me. "What We Had" sounds more like a classic David Gates hit
than anything out of the Appalachian Mountains, and it's a beauty.
"Woodland" deserves attention, especially since we will all probably be
dead before these two get it in gear for a follow-up
#5- Jack White- No Name
"No Name" is one of the best rock records I have heard in ages. The music you will hear on this record, at least to these very Zep
friendly ears, is what Jimmy and Robert were doing on their first three
records. It's swampy and funky, and it reeks of Son House and Skip
James, just like those White Stripes records were purported to be, only
"No Name" nails it.
#4- Chuck Prophet w/Qiensave- Wake The Dead
Chuck Prophet continues to make some of the best records on the planet, though when I heard he was recording a record of Cumbia music with Qiensave, I held my breath. But of course, I should have had more confidence in the man who has one of the best streaks of solid releases in all of music. "Wake The Dead" is special. Yes, it's different, but not so different. This is pure Chuck Prophet. Fresh, exciting, emotional, funny and brilliant.
#3- Paul Weller- 66
47 years after The Jam's debut and 20 solo albums later, Paul Weller,
about to turn 66, has delivered "66," and it is arguably the finest set
of songs of his career. It certainly is the most consistent. If
you had asked me what my favorite Weller solo album was before "66" was
released, I would have said 2020's "On Sunset," without hesitation. But
"66" is giving it a run for its money. Weller's solo work tends to try
too hard, jumping on every whim and trend, with results that are often
uneven. "66" sounds like the record Paul Weller should be making. It is
age appropriate, filled with epic melodies and gorgeous arrangements.
I bemoan the lost art of record making way too often. Playlists and sampling are fine from time to time, especially with genres that aren't necessarily in your wheelhouse. But if you have ever been a fan of Paul Weller, either with The Jam or The Style Council, or his solo work, "66" needs to be taken whole. There are reasons why "Ship of Fools" starts the proceedings and "Burn Out" finishes things up.
#2- St. Vincent- Todos Nacen Gritando (All Born Screaming)
My original review of Annie Clark's 2024 release can be read here. In a nutshell, I really dug it and predicted it would be in my Top Three of the year. Something I don't think anyone could have predicted was a Spanish language version of the album, something Clark was inspired to make after witnessing the passionate sing-a-longs at her concerts in Mexico and South America. And I certainly would have never predicted that this version would take the original to greater heights. This is special.
#1- The Lemon Twigs- A Dream Is All We Know
As you must have figured out by now, I am a fan of The Lemon
Twigs. I have been singing their praises since that first late night
T.V. appearance several years ago when they were still teenagers. Some
of you heard what I heard. Many of you did not. And in listening back to
those first three records, I can understand how much of it was a bit
hard to swallow. Still, it was the Twigs audacity that kept me
listening. I heard musical genius underneath the insanity. Some of my
favorite artists of all time took chances and occasionally fell on their
asses.
But last year's "Everything Harmony" was a life changer,
both literally and figuratively. Even the D'Addario Brothers themselves
called some of their early work "naive." But on "Everything Harmony," it
seems that Brian and Michael grew up, offering a collection of stunning
folk pop that evoked the best in that field, with melodies and
harmonies rivaling greats like Simon & Garfunkel and The Mamas &
The Papas. It was a critical success, as well.
Now, a year plus later, the previews from the new album have been nothing less than brilliant and it seems more people have finally gotten on board. The Lemon Twigs have taken that maturity and plugged it in, with pop candy that references everyone from the Raspberries and The Beach Boys, to The Byrds, The Who and their hero (and mine) Todd Rundgren.
With the exception of "Sweet Vibration," a fine but somewhat "twee even for the Twigs" pop concoction that just misses the mark and the closer, the Raspberries-ish "Rock On," that just doesn't rock hard enough, "A Dream Is All I Know" is one brilliant gem after another. Listening to it felt like I was riding in my father's 1968 Pontiac Catalina, with the AM radio dial tuned to the summer countdown.
"Peppermint Roses" finds the brothers hitting their "Nuggets" boxed set, and the Sean Ono Lennon collaboration, "In The Eyes Of The Girl," is in a word, stunning.
Most of what I read so far about this new record has been the same, with many already calling it the "Record Of The Year." I couldn't agree more.
No comments:
Post a Comment