Best Americana Music of the Year... So Far
We’re halfway through the year already, so it’s time to present half of a Top 10 list for our Best of the Year So Far. The following top 5 picks are the standouts in the ever-growing americana genre that pulls from all brands of alt country, bluegrass, folk, rock, and blues music. Each of the following titles fall somewhere in that spectrum, if not covering all of them in some cases.
Song Up In Her Head, by Sarah Jarosz (CD, MP3)
Arriving on the scene in her early teens on the strength of her own written material, 18 year old bluegrass singer/songwriter Sarah Jarosz already has the right voice and music for anyone to notice that the young songstress has bluegrass in her soul and can express it with just the right tone. Offering listeners a brand of musical honesty and depth that’s mature beyond her years and mixing it with the rustic reflections of an observant troubadour, Jarosz holds her own with an apparent comfort and ease that bodes well for what she can do for years to come. Playing on the album with some venerated bluegrass greats (including Jerry Douglas, Tim O’Brien, and Samual Grisman of the David Grisman Quintet) but not content to rest on the shoulders of such giants, Jarosz wrote all but two songs on the album herself, with interesting cover choices of Tom Waits and Colin Meloy (the Decemberists) on the other two tracks. This rising bluegrass singer has laid down a solid foundation on Song Up in Her Head and is poised for great things to come. Let’s hope she will continue to burn as brightly as she has out of the gate.
Middle Cyclone, by Neko Case (CD, MP3)
Long-time fans of Neko Case will be happy to know that dark and obscure themes continue to rule the day in her musical world. Neko’s signature caterwauls and crooning refrains call like a siren beckoning listeners to come to her shores in a perilous world filled with fairy tale creatures whose purpose as either friend or foe is not always apparent. That’s to say that Neko’s off-center lyrics keep the listener just out of reach of her inner circle. There’s a continuous sense that her songs are intentionally obscure as if offering more literal insights might expose her to too much intimacy with the listener. Instead, she offers broad lyrical strokes that give an impressionistic feeling that remains compelling, if not always clear. With a litany of cameo appearances on the album from some great artists including members of The New Pornographers, Los Lobos, Calexico, Giant Sand, The Sadies, Visqueen, and The Lilys, not to mention those in her own band, the volume of talent around her manages to thankfully remain in the pocket of the album instead of overflowing into it. Ultimately, we’re left to scrutinize the finer points of Neko Case’s songs to see what clues they can offer about her fairy tale worlds, but we love hearing her sing about them nonetheless.
Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away, by Slaid Cleaves (CD, MP3)
Singer/Songwriter Slaid Cleaves
has been building his musical momentum for a while. And by some accounts, this is the album that defines the best of all 8 of his
albums to date since the mid-90s. Speaking of some accounts, partly
because it’s close to deadline, and more because our customers know
the music AND how to write, I’m highlighting a few lines from
our customer reviews to
help explain why this album is here. I’ll just add that the even keeled blend of folk, country, and
blues with a hint of rock is what propelled this into my list. Fans of Son Volt, T-Bone Burnett, Whiskeytown, and The Jayhawks (all on elevated status in my world!) will gravitate to this release and its
amalgamation of all things Americana. And now for some customer raves:
Hyperbolium says, “Cleaves sings with a warmth that infuses an element of hope in the crushing blows he delivers. Is there hard-won pain or only a clever couplet in singing ‘Every man is a myth, every woman a dream / Watch your little heart get crushed when the truth gets in between… The album winds down with a bitter critique of politicians, global industrialists and sleepwalking media, somehow managing to retain a belief in the goodness of man. The closer, "Temporary," resigns itself to existential impermanence.”
Tim Brough “author and music buff” says, “I've long posited on Amazon reviews that Slaid Cleaves is America's best working young folksinger and one of our finest interpretive singers. I considered his Unsung to be one of that year's best records…. The music, downbeat as the descriptions sound, is thoroughly likable. The hopeful "Beautiful Thing" swings hard at the liars and manipulators in the belief that "the goodness of man" sees us through "the new dark ages."
Colin Spence "grey mist" says, “His 'matter of fact' delivery of the songs belies the potency of their lyrics - a qualitative combination that would spell out a recipe for disaster for some artists. But with SC, his somewhat impassive vocals serve only to emphasize the intensity of the lyrics - then again, with some songs I detected just a little more edge to his singing than on previous albums.”
Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women, self-titled, (CD, MP3)
Fans of Dave Alvin, who know him from his years with The Blasters and all the goods they delivered in equal turns of blues, rockabilly, and vintage country sounds, should fall nicely into the groove of his latest CD. It offers the added twist of an all-star line-up of some of the biggest female stars in folk and bluegrass yesterday and today. Dubbed The Guilty Women, the group consists of Americana scene vets Christy McWilson, Cindy Cashdollar, Nina Gerber, Laurie Lewis, Sarah Brown, and Amy Farris
Do Wrong Right, by The Devil Makes Three (CD, MP3)
Easily capturing the moniker of most-whimsical band on this list, the rough and tumble sounds of The Devil Makes Three leave their mark sounding like a jug band high on hay fever during a night of partying at the county fair where their music shuffles along in shades of half-sober Dixieland and Cajun styles. With lyrics that are peppered with references to all-nighter pop-offs, it’s fun to imagine what could happen during one of their set breaks: “No one’s getting arrested / no one’s having any fun / doctor’s orders for your heart beatin’ / go ahead and take you one / now you’re dumber than a singin’ saw playing ‘Uncomfortably Numb,’ it’s a thorazine work party with free fluorite bubble gum” and: “You drink a cheap malt liquor from a 40 ounce bottle / a fifth of bourbon and some pills if you got ‘em / but you know you’re goin’ to come down every night / and there ain’t no way that it’ll ever feel satisfied.” If you’re looking for a little entertainment under-the-influence, no prescription needed, check out Do Wrong Right. You won’t have to worry about a hang-over, but be aware of the quick onset of do wrong fun.
More contenders for Best of the Year:
Just to keep things interesting and honest, here are a few more albums that may very well end up on our final best of the year list, but for now they are worth noting to round things out.
Townes, by Steve Earle (CD, MP3)
It doesn't get much better than this: Classic Steve Earle covering classic Townes van Zandt. Since this is cover album (albeit with incredible songs and equally stunning renditions), this one is not currently in my top 5 list, but as the year goes on, we’ll see if any other better contenders can do a one up.
Roadhouse Sun, by Ryan Bingham (CD, MP3)
A solid sophomore follow-up to a good first release, Mescalito. I’m still debating in my head whether the style is overly derivative of Dylan, but the voice definitely is. I think it's probably a vocal preference thing for me. I'm also wondering if there’s a hint of Tom Petty(?!). Still on the fence with it as stylistic questions linger, but definitely some good tracks: “Day is Done,” “Change Is,” and “Hey Hey Hurray.”
American Central Dust, by Son Volt (CD, MP3)
This one is being released today as we go to print, so with not enough quality time for a critical listen I’ll have to relegate it to the second tier for now. But judging by the latest video clip, sound samples, and decade-spanning collage from Jay Farrar’s work (including Uncle Tupelo), there is little doubt that this will probably rock-it to the top of my list by the end of the year.
And with that, we wait for more to come in the second half of the year, including those sleepers in the ranks and some anticipated releases later in the year.
--Lucas Hilbert
north face jackets on sale on August 26, 2011 at 08:17 AM
It's just another Son Volt album. Nothing new, nothing special. Just like the last one. And the one before that. It's the last one I buy.
goraka on August 13, 2011 at 01:00 PM
the pocket of the album instead of overflowing into it. Ultimately, we’re left to scrutinize the finer points of Neko Case’s songs to see what clues they can offer about her fairy tale worlds, but we love hearing her sing about them nonetheless.
San bernardino real estate listings on July 01, 2011 at 12:54 AM
The Son Volt album is the one where I get off the train. It's just another Son Volt album. Nothing new, nothing special. Just like the last one. And the one before that. It's the last one I buy.
pandora bracelets gold on June 30, 2011 at 10:47 PM
Romance novels are legen - wait for it - dary! My favorite is 'Timetraveller's wife' by Audrey Niffenegger. And NO I did not JUST watch the film, I actually read the book before I even knew a film was about to be shot... :)
s video cable on September 19, 2009 at 03:27 AM
Thanks lucas for the awesome collection and tracks.
I appreaciate it lol.
Thanks.
helltoupee on July 08, 2009 at 04:25 PM
The Son Volt album is the one where I get off the train. It's just another Son Volt album. Nothing new, nothing special. Just like the last one. And the one before that. It's the last one I buy.
Now the Slaid Cleaves album, on the other hand, made me buy several of his earlier albums and relisten to the others I already owned.
Hugo Munday on July 08, 2009 at 11:58 AM
Just got through the Son Volt. - I'm really taken with a bunch of tracks, but especially "Roll On." Thanks Lucas.
Bri Nguyen on July 08, 2009 at 10:58 AM
I think Sarah Jarosz is a revelation. I can hardly believe she's just 18--her music is amazing, and she knocks her cover of the Decemberists' "Shankill Butchers" out of the park. Great post!