10) DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS – The Fine Print (a Collection of Oddities and Rarities 2001-2008)
Unsure of whether I can technically list this as an “album,” since it’s a collection of leftovers, but holy crap, if these are leftovers – bring on the next “real” album, you guys (Update: New album “The Big To-Do” due 3/16/10)! After listening to the unearthed Jason Isbell track “TVA,” originally recorded for “The Dirty South,” I’m sure I’ll miss his presence all the more in the future (he’s no longer with the band). This track is a mini-rock opera in itself. I also enjoy the alternate takes on “Uncle Frank” and “Goode’s Field Road,” their cover of Tom Petty’s “Rebels” plays better than the original IMO, and Patterson Hood’s “George Jones Talkin’ Cell Phone Blues” and “Mrs. Claus’ Kimono” are delightful, showcasing Hood's quite twisted sense of humor. A great collection from one of the best-sounding live bands around.09) SAM BUSH – Circles Around Me
The elder statesman of Newgrass returns with another solid collection of originals, traditionals, and covers. Guests like Jerry Douglas, Edgar Meyer and (original Bluegrass Boy) Del McCoury don’t hurt, but it’s Bush’s virtuoso picking which wins the day. So many good songs here, but my favorites are “The Ballad of Stringbean & Estelle,” “Blue Mountain,” and “Souvenir Bottles.”08) THE FELICE BROTHERS – Yonder is the Clock
These upstarts from upstate New York continue to concoct a brew which shifts between sounding like The Band on an acid bender and a genre I will call folk punk. Nothing on this disc is as memorable as “Whiskey in My Whiskey,” from their self-titled 2008 release, but “Penn Station,” “Chicken Wire,” and especially “Run Chicken Run” come mighty close. For quieter moods, try “Cooperstown.”07) JEFF BUJAK – Alive Like the Spine
Electronica isn’t my favorite genre, but Bujak has put together an extremely listenable album here. The titles take some work remembering – not only because many of them are instrumentals, but also because I’m not sure some of these words are actually words. I’m especially fond of “Nomadd,” “Yogoque,” which is the most likely to get airplay outside my show since it has lyrics (but is also unlikely to get airplay because it’s over 8 minutes long and has a title few could guess at pronouncing – Bujak told me it’s YO-go-cue, BTW), and “Prodigium,” which incorporates a great JFK sample.06) THEM CROOKED VULTURES
Probably not for everyone. Super-retro heavy psychedelia from Dave Grohl, Josh Homme, and the one-and-only John Paul Jones. Most of my favorites are on what would’ve been “side B” in the old vinyl days: titles like “Scumbag Blues,” “Caligulove,” and “Spinning in Daffodils” may imply a tongue-in-cheek approach and maybe history will prove this album a one-off novelty. Endure the lengthy “Bandoliers” and the lengthier “Warsaw or the First Breath You Take After You Give Up” before passing final judgement.05) SHEMEKIA COPELAND – Never Going Back
The first thing that impressed me was the personnel: John Medeski, Chris Wood, Ike Stubblefield, Kofi Burbrudge, among others. But Copeland’s voice is the real star, pulling everything together into a heady blues/jazz/gospel fusion. Try “Never Going Back to Memphis,” “Limousine,” or “Dirty Water” on for size and tell me, with a straight face, that blues is a dead genre.04) CASEY DREISSEN – Oog
How Driessen takes a style of music that pre-dates my own grandparents and somehow makes something progressive out of it is a mystery indeed. He may piss off the bluegrass traditionalists in the process, but I hope he keeps these coming. Guitarist Darrell Scott impresses even as a hired studio gun. “Uncontinental Breakfast” and “Lunar Cages” both flirt with being “world music” and remind me of some of Béla Fleck’s more experimental fancies, but my favorite is Driessen’s take on “Conversation with Death,” with the knockout “The Day Before Halloween” chaser.03) ASSEMBLY of DUST – Some Assembly Required
This album’s biggest strength may also be its greatest weakness. Though it boasts an incredible roster of guest artists, it lacks a certain aesthetic cohesion and, therefore, doesn’t rank as highly as it might have. As an assemblage of sparkling singles, rather than a proper album, it definitely works. Personal favorites include “All That I Am Now” with Richie Havens, “Arc of the Sun” with Mike Gordon (of Phish), and “High Brow” with Al Schnier (of moe.).02) OUTFORMATION – Fastburn
Sam Holt really knocks this one out of the park. Some of my favorite songs of 2009 are here, including my absolute favorite song this year: “Faded Memory.” You can call it simplistic, by-the-book, rock songcraft, but its hooks still make me smile after multiple spins. The jaunty instrumental “Eleventeen” is another favorite, as is the title track, “Fastburn.” This album is proof that simple doesn’t necessarily equal boring.01) SON VOLT – American Central Dust
Jay Farrar outdoes Jeff Tweedy in the Uncle Tupelo derby this year. I would call this a true return to form for Son Volt, except I’ve never heard them sound this good. “Sultana” alone is worth the purchase price – this sprawling, heartbreaking epic is a perfect vehicle for Farrar’s talents. “When the Wheels Don’t Move” recalls a saying from the birth of union labor and fits perfectly among these folky gems. Also great are “Down to the Wire,” “Exiles,” and “Jukebox of Steel.” This is not only the best album of 2009, but the best album of Son Volt’s career.
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TOAST’s FAVORITE SINGLES of 2009
These may or may not have been officially designated singles by their respective labels, and a lot of my favorite “singles” are already included on my favorite albums. These are songs which I feel deserve recognition even though the album from which they’re taken might not’ve made the “best of” list as a whole. That being said, some of them actually were singles.
10) PAOLO NUTINI – 10/10
His album “Sunny Side Up” kicks off with this lively, 2 Tone-ish number and rambles through varying degrees of Mowtown-era soul, early Van Morrison, and nouveau swing. He’s got a unique voice and I expect we’ll be hearing more from this Scotsman in the future.
09) BLOODKIN – The Viper
One of the dirty south’s best-kept secrets, and “Baby, They Told Us We Would Rise Again” may be their best album to date. This track almost hurts to listen to, in a really, really good way.
08) NATHAN MOORE – Hard Times
I imagine all folk singers go their entire lives without being able to say, “yup, just like Dylan woulda done.” Congrats, Nathan. Bring the new Surprise Me Mr. Davis lineup to Santa Fe sometime!
07) EILEN JEWELL – Shakin’ All Over
From outta left field, this oft-covered 1960 gem gets the surfabilly treatment via Jewell’s old-timey flavor. The whole “Sea of Tears” album is pretty good, but this track really stands out.
06) THE SOUL of JOHN BLACK – I Knew a Lady
Simply the single most memorable funk song of the year. I was singing it to myself for days after the first listen. Why this guy’s so underrated is beyond me.
05) One eskimO – Kandi
Hypnotic, tender, yearning. Like U2 in the old days but with a more minimalist approach. Many of my friends actively HATE this song.
04) WILCO – You Never Know
Jeff Tweedy continues to try his hand at being the new Beatles, this time focusing mostly on George. Wilco (the Album) is another solid effort, just not as solid as SBS or YHF.
03) RODRIGO y GABRIELA – Buster Voodoo
One of the most memorable instrumentals ever. The porn-guitar break is awesome.
02) DAVY KNOWLES & BACK DOOR SLAM – Coming Up for Air
Seventies guitar-rock is back – courtesy of a British twenty-something.
I should also mention that thirty-something Joe Bonamassa, whom I've only recently discovered, has also added some tasty riffs to the 70s guitar-rock "lictionary."
01) CAGE the ELEPHANT – Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked
Three minutes of perfect, crunchy, post-millenial angst. Can’t wait to see these guys live.
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TOAST’s BEST of 2009 – SPECIAL CATEGORIES
BEST WIDELY-CIRCULATED LIVE PERFORMANCE –
PHISH – Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO (7/30 – 8/2/09)
Especially the “Boogie on Reggae Woman > Morrison Jam #3” from 8/2 – Quite possibly the perfect jam.
BEST UNCIRCULATED LIVE PERFORMANCE –
OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW / THE FELICE BROTHERS / CHUCK MEAD –
Santa Fe Brewing Company, Santa Fe, NM (9/22/09)
Even members of the bands seemed to agree with me on this one, though no one was taping – sadly.
BEST LIVE ARCHIVAL REISSUE –
TOM PETTY & the HEARTBREAKERS – The Live Anthology
Beats SCI’s “Trick or Treat” box set (which reminded me why I fell in love with String Cheese Incident in the first place) by reminding me why I fell in love with rock’n’roll in the first place.
BEST LIVE DVD RELEASE –
OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW – Live at the Orange Peel and Tennessee Theatre
I popped it in to “check it out” while making dinner, and ended up glued to it straight through. Raucous, feel-good, old-timey charm with an undercurrent of cynical, almost sinister, worldliness. Like a subversive tent revival.
BEST LOCAL RELEASE –
The GumboProject – roux EP
Despite my distaste for bands who insist on unusual capital letters (or lack thereof) as some kind of grammatical fashion statement, my only real problem with this disc is it’s only an EP! More, please!
BEST SUPERGROUP –
Forget MOSTERS of FOLK – gimme THEM CROOKED VULTURES!!!
Don’t get me wrong, I love Jim James, and the M.O.F. is a great listen, but the FOO FIGHTERS / LED ZEPPELIN / QUEENS of the STONE AGE combo wreaks Godzilla-like havoc by making lo-fi retro rock somehow modern. Agreed, the M.O.F. also accomplished this, but TCV made it HEAVY (^_^)
BEST DISC to PLAY while FALLING ASLEEP –
IRON & WINE – Around the Well (disc 1)
This is no insult, but a high honor in my book. One of my favorite Neil Young albums makes this category as well. Honest.
BEST SONG NO ONE OUTSIDE SANTA FE HAS HEARD YET –
JOHN COURAGE – Stuck in Encinitas
A nearly-perfect rock’n’roll record. Hopefully available in 2010 from Frogville Records!
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I asked a few contributors to the show what their favorites of 2009 were, and many of their replies were new to me, which just goes to show how much great music is out there. Keep diggin' for treasure y'all, and keep the "best of" lists comin' (^_^) TOAST
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ANONYMOUS / NM Guitarist
BOOKER T. JONES – Potato Hole
PELICAN – What We All Come to Need
VINYL – Fogshack Music Volume Two
PIGMENT – Pigment
CHRISTOPHER ROBIE / Homegrown Music Network
MEMORY TAPES – Seek Magic
BIBIO – Ambivalence Avenue
THE NEW MASTERSOUNDS – Ten Years On
MYKA 9 – 1969
BLAKROC
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