Live at Corazón in Santa Fe tonight (12/29/10) - the show's been moved from the Brewing Company, but brave the snow if you can. You won't be sorry! Some of the finest songcraft you're likely to see for months, if not years (^_^) TOAST
# # #
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
DEAD OFFERS ROAD TRIPS SUBSCRIPTIONS for 2011 thru 1/31
From dead.net:
"For 2011, we're offering our four regularly-scheduled Road Trips (February, May, September and November), as part of a subscription package. Subscribe now, and you'll be sent the next four Road Trips as they're released. These will all be 3-CD sets, and as a thank you for subscribing to the series, we're offering free shipping (U.S. domestic standard shipping, that is) on all four releases. (If you’re an international customer, please choose the “International” version which includes standard, International shipping).
Additionally, as an extra thanks for subscribing, we'll be including a bonus disc to go along with Road Trips Vol. 4 No. 3, the May, 2011 release. We haven't yet completely finalized the details of that release, but rest assured the bonus disc will feature all previously unreleased music, mastered in HDCD, and will be limited to only those who subscribe by January 31, 2011.
We're just putting the finishing touches on the next couple of Road Trips, and all we can tell you at this point is that they'll both be complete shows (with plenty of additional material to round out the 3-CD format!). So don't delay, sign up today, and get free shipping and an exclusive bonus disc!
2011 SUBSCRIPTION INCLUDES:
- Road Trips Vol. 4 No. 2 (ships in February)
- Road Trips Vol. 4 No. 3 + Bonus disc (ships in May)
- Road Trips Vol. 4 No. 4 (ships in August)
- Road Trips Vol. 4 No. 5 (ships in November)
Please note: Purchase of subscription is nonrefundable. Bonus Disc is ONLY available with subscription."
# # #
"For 2011, we're offering our four regularly-scheduled Road Trips (February, May, September and November), as part of a subscription package. Subscribe now, and you'll be sent the next four Road Trips as they're released. These will all be 3-CD sets, and as a thank you for subscribing to the series, we're offering free shipping (U.S. domestic standard shipping, that is) on all four releases. (If you’re an international customer, please choose the “International” version which includes standard, International shipping).
Additionally, as an extra thanks for subscribing, we'll be including a bonus disc to go along with Road Trips Vol. 4 No. 3, the May, 2011 release. We haven't yet completely finalized the details of that release, but rest assured the bonus disc will feature all previously unreleased music, mastered in HDCD, and will be limited to only those who subscribe by January 31, 2011.
We're just putting the finishing touches on the next couple of Road Trips, and all we can tell you at this point is that they'll both be complete shows (with plenty of additional material to round out the 3-CD format!). So don't delay, sign up today, and get free shipping and an exclusive bonus disc!
2011 SUBSCRIPTION INCLUDES:
- Road Trips Vol. 4 No. 2 (ships in February)
- Road Trips Vol. 4 No. 3 + Bonus disc (ships in May)
- Road Trips Vol. 4 No. 4 (ships in August)
- Road Trips Vol. 4 No. 5 (ships in November)
Please note: Purchase of subscription is nonrefundable. Bonus Disc is ONLY available with subscription."
# # #
Monday, December 27, 2010
TnJ BEST of 2010
TOAST’s FAVORITE ALBUMS of 2010
10) WHITEWATER RAMBLE – All Night Drive
Like Leftover Salmon before them, this amp-up Colorado newgrass combo has invented their own genre: “High-Octane Rocky Mountain DanceGrass.” On “All Night Drive,” they gather a few guest stars to (presumably) up the “High-Octane” factor, but seem to have plenty of that on their own. The best first 6 songs in a row I’ve heard on a CD in years. Josh Clark (of Tea Leaf Green) adds a great electric guitar jam to track 11: “Riptide.” Not (repeat, NOT) for bluegrass purists!
09) BROKEN BELLS – Broken Bells
One of a spate of supergroups to come down the pipe in the last few years, and it doesn’t even have Jack White involved! Danger Mouse and James Mercer (from the Shins) have a very pleasant chemistry in the studio. I was particularly drawn to “Trap Doors,” “The High Road,” and “The Ghost Inside;” the latter also sports a spiffy lo-fi sci-fi music video starring Christina Hendricks. Broken Bells’ sound owes as much to 60s psychedelia as to any of the contributor’s previous projects.
08) LUBRIPHONIC – The Gig Is On
Funkified with essential grooves and melodies, this Chicago sextet (though their publicity photos would lead me to think septet) continues to revive 70s-style proto-funk and R&B with flair. Guest keyboardist Ivan Neville, while not unwelcome in these proceedings, hardly seems necessary. Especially impressive are 3 tracks buried deep on the play list: “The Chicken Is Worth More Alive than Dead,” “The Getaway,” and the searing title track, “The Gig Is On.” All are a call to booty-shaking action, and threaten to derail themselves with breakneck pacing, but hold together miraculously.
07) MOKSHA – Mammal or Machine
Great, possibly un-classifiable sounds are coming out of Las Vegas, NV on this disc. Sure, lots of people combine funk and rock and electronic music, but no one else combines them quite like this. True to the jamband manifesto, if there is one, Moksha (pronounced MŌK-sha) weaves several different pre-existing genres into their musical tapestry. Favorites include “Easy A,” “Open the Door (with DJ Logic on turntables),” and 2 tracks guest-starring Brian Stoltz on guitar, “Blind to the Time,” and “Bran Nu Junk.”
06) GREAT AMERICAN TAXI – Reckless Habits
Not sure I remember what I expected Vince Hermann (Leftover Salmon) to do with his new project, but it probably wasn’t this. Nevertheless, this is an outstanding album bursting with memorable ditties I can’t wait to see live. None have the frenetic mania of Leftover Salmon at their craziest, but songs like “One of These Days” and “Unpromised Land” are nearly anthemic, something Salmon rarely managed to accomplish. Shades of Dr. John, the Band, and Little Feat permeate the album, and keyboardist Chris Staehly tosses a little Gram Parsons twang into the musical salad via “American Beauty” and “Albuquerque, NM.” There are a few goofy duds in the batch, but if “Get No Better,” a choice John Hartford cover, doesn’t lodge itself in your memory for at least a week, see a brain specialist.
05) JIMI HENDRIX – Valleys of Neptune
Just to show how ahead-of-his-time Jimi Hendrix really was, consider this: these tracks were relegated to collecting dust for years – nay, decades – never to see the light of day, because they didn’t measure up to his other material. And yet, even Hendrix’s leftovers are compelling enough to be ranked on someone’s top 5 list for the year. A good number of these tracks are even “alternate takes” on classics we’ve come to know and love, and in some cases, decidedly unnecessary ones. But his genius can only be held down by lifestyle excess for so long; the “Hear My Train A-Comin’” here is possibly the most memorable of all recorded versions, “Bleeding Heart” and “Ships Passing through the Night” are phenomenal jams which only suffer through lack of an associated melody upon which to sun themselves, and the title track is just short of being a polished diamond on the order of his canonical tracks. My favorites in this collection, however, are an instrumental arrangement of Cream’s “Sunshine of your Love,” a song he was obviously fond of, and a re-worked “Red House,” originally a Hendrix B-side from 1967. Both of the versions here better imply the true greatness of these songs than their original recordings.
04) TROMBONE SHORTY – Backatown
An impressive collection of varied musical styles on the order of scrubbing through a WWOZ play list or walking down the street in old New Orleans and taking the sounds wafting out of each dive bar as they come. Sure, sometimes the spirit grooves you, and you linger for a few moments, but then amble onward, determined to soak it all in. Tracks like “Neph” and “In the 6th” are thunderously confident, with just enough swagger to make them soulful. Speaking of which, there are some genuinely sizzling R&B turns here as well, like “Fallin’” and “Something Beautiful,” which guest stars Shorty’s old boss, Lenny Kravitz. Shorty has already proved himself a great musician, now he seems intent on proving himself as a great composer as well. The variance in musical styles could almost be taken as a calling card or résumé-style of album building, where the only ones really listening are the club owners whose venues you hope to book or possibly the reviewers who might give you some press and, sadly, maybe that’s where all printed CDs are headed. Luckily for now, though, a few of us music fans are feasting our ears on a well-plotted album for a change.
03) LOS LOBOS – Tin Can Trust
Their best album since 1992’s “Kiko,” Los Lobos show the kids how rock’n’roll is done, like it’s going out of style. Wait. Is it? Well, maybe it’s only as alive as its practitioners. So, keep rock alive kids! Start here. It’s a good choice. Cesar Rosas teams with Robert Hunter on a new track (“All My Bridges Burning”), and the whole team burns through a great reading of the Dead’s “West L.A. Fadeaway.” So, Deadheads probably have this one already. Everyone else who wants to believe Los Lobos can be great again, listen to tracks like “On Main Street,” “Tin Can Trust,” “the Lady and the Rose,” oh, hell, they’re all so good. The instrumental “Do the Murray” is a charming little number. “Jupiter or the Moon” is a trippy slow-burner on par with the best. Even the radio single, “Burn It Down,” deserves a few listens in the context of a great album. A modern classic from masters of the craft.
02) DIERKS BENTLEY – Up On the Ridge
I haven’t looked to see whether I’m the odd-man-out in the jam world for picking this album, but I think he played Bonnaroo not too long ago, so that makes him fair game in my book. Normally a pop country star, Bentley takes a detour into bluegrass territory and produces one of the most listenable albums of the year. The song-smithery is like fine carpentry, with consistent aesthetic fervor evident throughout. And if you think he’s just fiddling around, at least he roped in Kris Kristofferson, Del McCoury, and Jamey Johnson for this go-round, and it’s a great ride. Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers add their painterly, evocative touches on 3 tracks. Two of my favorite songs of the year are on this album: the title track and one called “Bad Angel,” featuring Jamey Johnson and country’s official angry chick, Miranda Lambert. As an aside, Bentley also does a little guest-starring of his own on the latest Infamous Stringdusters album, “Things That Fly,” this year. If this album is any indicator of what’s to come, I vote he stick around the newgrass stable for a while.
01) WIDESPREAD PANIC – Dirty Side Down
Where to begin? The Georgia road warriors are hitting on all cylinders here, with Jimmy Herring settling into some tasty grooves and seeming a little more comfortable in the lead guitarist’s chair. John Keane is back on board as producer, and adds some really nice touches (especially in arranging the sprawling opener, “Saint Ex,” I hear). I don’t think there’s any debate that this is the best album since co-founder Michael Houser died, as Panic solidly step in to claim what is their rightful inheritance: the psychedelic southern rock crown. “Dirty Side Down” is one of the most exciting tracks John Bell’s ever graced, and with a throaty, Leonard Cohen-esque delivery to boot. Expansive and multi-layered, you might even say thick at times, the sound could knock you over if you turned it up loudly enough. On real speakers. Not those crappy earbud things. JoJo’s “Visiting Day,” on the live set list since 2000, benefits from the studio treatment and reveals itself to be fine songsmanship. And how can you not pump your first, or at least tap your foot when “St. Louis” segues into “Shut Up and Drive?” Turn this album up in the car, roll down the windows, and let the wind blow, primal, hard, and free.
# # #
TOAST’s FAVORITE SINGLES of 2010
10) THE REVEREND PEYTON’S BIG DAMN BAND – Everything’s Raising
An anthem for hard economic times. Woodie Guthrie on meth.
09) DR. DOG – Shadow People
Retro rock strutting its stuff. Cheap Trick with a dollop of trippy and a dash of nerd.
08) FISTFUL of MERCY – Father’s Son
Best supergroup this year, and one of the best outlets for Ben Harper’s talents ever.
07) JOHNNY CASH – Ain’t No Grave
Crikey! Godzilla vs. Giant-Zombie Johnny Cash? Cities topple. Cash wins.
06) CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS – Hit ‘Em Up Style
Just plain catchy. I dare you not to love this one on first listen. Olde timey!
05) SOULFÈGE – Do Right
Funkiest of the funky. Your booty will shake like rarely before!
04) CEE-LO GREEN – Fuck You
Greatest, happiest, grooviest profanity-laden song ever.
03) TOM PETTY & the HEARTBREAKERS – I Should’ve Known It
Will literally rock your socks off if you let it.
02) WIDESPREAD PANIC – Dirty Side Down
See caption for #3 (above).
01) JAMEY JOHNSON – Macon
Best song in any genre this year. Imagine Marvin Gaye and Waylon Jennings having recorded a song together. It might be as good as this one.
# # #
TOAST’s FAVORITE COVER SONGS of 2010
Sometimes a great cover stays close to the original arrangement, and sometimes it’s a whole different ball game. My general preference is for the latter.
KELLER & the KEELS – Rehab [originally Amy Winehouse – 2006 Back to Black]
Definitely not the first time Keller’s surprised me by re-working an R&B song with his bubbly, acoustic sheen; probably not the last. I dare you to listen and not smile.
SOULIVE – I Want You (She’s So Heavy) [originally The Beatles – 1969 Abbey Road]
A friend of mine dismissed this entire album (Rubber Soulive) as being mere muzak, but I think Soulive have proven their worth as musicians over the years, and if they want to do a whole album of instrumental Beatles covers, who am I to tell them no? This particular track comes off as the most psychedelic of the bunch.
LOS LOBOS – West L.A. Fadeaway [originally The Grateful Dead – 1987 In the Dark]
Probably the truest to the original of any cover song on this list, Lobos tweak the sound ever-so-slightly and, in the process, beef up the song’s sense of impending dirtbag menace. Like past Dead covers by Lobos, respectful of the material, but unafraid to make it their own.
JESSE McREYNOLDS & FRIENDS – Black Muddy River [originally The Grateful Dead – 1987 In the Dark]
Astonishingly, I like this version better than the original, and can’t help but wonder if this is how Jerry always meant it to be done.
DIERKS BENTLEY f/ DEL McCOURY and THE PUNCH BROTHERS – Pride (In the Name of Love) [originally U2 – 1984 the Unforgettable Fire]
Who knew that country folk had even heard of U2? Despite my long-standing dislike of Chris Thile’s needlessly baroque Punch Brothers project, this cover packs so much jubilance it sounds like this was how it was meant to be arranged in the first place. Del McCoury adds a certain bluegrass authenticity to the proceedings. Well done!
THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – In God’s Country [originally U2 – 1987 the Joshua Tree]
Another incredible newgrass re-working of U2 – like a little mini-trend! The arrangement as it appears on the studio track is a little lifeless compared to some of the expansive live versions I’ve heard them perform, but it’ll suffice until I can see them again.
SOL DRIVEN TRAIN – Look at Miss Ohio [originally Gillian Welch – 2003 Soul Journey]
Sometimes I don’t even recognize a song as a cover until the song’s halfway through. In this case, I don’t think I realized it was a cover until after the 3rd or fourth time through the entire song. This arrangement seems to owe as much to Pink Floyd as Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings.
BLACK PRAIRIE – Red Rocking Chair [now in the public domain, or “traditional,” as they say]
Wow, they managed to turn this standard into a hypnotic heroin-trip funeral dirge! Like Ralph Stanley meets Mazzy Star.
NOTE: Though many of these songs may have appeared in live performance set lists for years, these covers were released as studio recordings in 2010.
# # #
TOAST’s BEST of 2010 – SPECIAL CATEGORIES
BEST OFFICIAL LIVE RECORDING:
AVETT BROTHERS – Live, Volume 3
BEST UN-OFFICIAL LIVE RECORDING:
FURTHUR – 3/3/10 Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL
BEST LIVE VIDEO:
PHISH – Coral Sky DVD [11/2/96 Coral Sky Amphitheater, West Palm Beach, FL]
BEST ARCHIVAL REISSUE:
JERRY GARCIA ACOUSTIC BAND – Almost Acoustic [originally released in 1987]
BEST ANTHOLOGY:
VARIOUS ARTISTS – Jerry Jams for Rex
BEST BANDS I SAW LIVE in 2010:
PHISH
GOV’T MULE
WIDESPREAD PANIC
DELTA SPIRIT
INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS
DUMPSTAPHUNK
ORGŌNE
NEKO CASE
JAMES McMURTRY
GIFT of GAB
BEST LIVE BAND THAT’LL PROBABLY NEVER PLAY SANTA FE:
GOGOL BORDELLO
BEST LOCAL BAND to SEE LIVE:
ANTHONY LEON & the CHAIN
BEST LOCAL ALBUM:
D NUMBERS – Onda
BEST COVER ART:
JENNIE ARNAU – Chasing Giants
U-MELT – Perfect World
WIDESPREAD PANIC – Dirty Side Down
BEST ALBUM by SOMEONE I’D NEVER HEARD BEFORE:
GUGGENHEIM GROTTO – the Universe Is Laughing
LEAST FAVORITE GENRE of the LAST 30 YEARS:
Pseudo-Reggae
BEST ACTUAL REGGAE ALBUM:
SIERRA LEONE’s REFUGEE ALL STARS – Rise & Shine
MOST PROMISING, WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE from THESE:
HILL COUNTRY REVUE
STATESBORO REVUE
PO’BOYZ
DAN HUBBARD
THE DEFIBULATORS
WTF?
Katy Perry. Fashion Disaster. Train wreck mish-mash. Does anyone in her organization know WHO she’s trying to market to? ‘Cuz it seems like they’re just throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks. The fact that it’s sticking somewhere is the most amazing part. I guess it would make more sense if she was as hot as the other brain-dead pop stars, but she’s like a total average nerd chick. I guess I just don’t get it.
WHY ISN’T THIS GUY MORE FAMOUS?
RAY WYLIE HUBBARD
# # #
10) WHITEWATER RAMBLE – All Night Drive
Like Leftover Salmon before them, this amp-up Colorado newgrass combo has invented their own genre: “High-Octane Rocky Mountain DanceGrass.” On “All Night Drive,” they gather a few guest stars to (presumably) up the “High-Octane” factor, but seem to have plenty of that on their own. The best first 6 songs in a row I’ve heard on a CD in years. Josh Clark (of Tea Leaf Green) adds a great electric guitar jam to track 11: “Riptide.” Not (repeat, NOT) for bluegrass purists!09) BROKEN BELLS – Broken Bells
One of a spate of supergroups to come down the pipe in the last few years, and it doesn’t even have Jack White involved! Danger Mouse and James Mercer (from the Shins) have a very pleasant chemistry in the studio. I was particularly drawn to “Trap Doors,” “The High Road,” and “The Ghost Inside;” the latter also sports a spiffy lo-fi sci-fi music video starring Christina Hendricks. Broken Bells’ sound owes as much to 60s psychedelia as to any of the contributor’s previous projects.08) LUBRIPHONIC – The Gig Is On
Funkified with essential grooves and melodies, this Chicago sextet (though their publicity photos would lead me to think septet) continues to revive 70s-style proto-funk and R&B with flair. Guest keyboardist Ivan Neville, while not unwelcome in these proceedings, hardly seems necessary. Especially impressive are 3 tracks buried deep on the play list: “The Chicken Is Worth More Alive than Dead,” “The Getaway,” and the searing title track, “The Gig Is On.” All are a call to booty-shaking action, and threaten to derail themselves with breakneck pacing, but hold together miraculously.07) MOKSHA – Mammal or Machine
Great, possibly un-classifiable sounds are coming out of Las Vegas, NV on this disc. Sure, lots of people combine funk and rock and electronic music, but no one else combines them quite like this. True to the jamband manifesto, if there is one, Moksha (pronounced MŌK-sha) weaves several different pre-existing genres into their musical tapestry. Favorites include “Easy A,” “Open the Door (with DJ Logic on turntables),” and 2 tracks guest-starring Brian Stoltz on guitar, “Blind to the Time,” and “Bran Nu Junk.”06) GREAT AMERICAN TAXI – Reckless Habits
Not sure I remember what I expected Vince Hermann (Leftover Salmon) to do with his new project, but it probably wasn’t this. Nevertheless, this is an outstanding album bursting with memorable ditties I can’t wait to see live. None have the frenetic mania of Leftover Salmon at their craziest, but songs like “One of These Days” and “Unpromised Land” are nearly anthemic, something Salmon rarely managed to accomplish. Shades of Dr. John, the Band, and Little Feat permeate the album, and keyboardist Chris Staehly tosses a little Gram Parsons twang into the musical salad via “American Beauty” and “Albuquerque, NM.” There are a few goofy duds in the batch, but if “Get No Better,” a choice John Hartford cover, doesn’t lodge itself in your memory for at least a week, see a brain specialist.05) JIMI HENDRIX – Valleys of Neptune
Just to show how ahead-of-his-time Jimi Hendrix really was, consider this: these tracks were relegated to collecting dust for years – nay, decades – never to see the light of day, because they didn’t measure up to his other material. And yet, even Hendrix’s leftovers are compelling enough to be ranked on someone’s top 5 list for the year. A good number of these tracks are even “alternate takes” on classics we’ve come to know and love, and in some cases, decidedly unnecessary ones. But his genius can only be held down by lifestyle excess for so long; the “Hear My Train A-Comin’” here is possibly the most memorable of all recorded versions, “Bleeding Heart” and “Ships Passing through the Night” are phenomenal jams which only suffer through lack of an associated melody upon which to sun themselves, and the title track is just short of being a polished diamond on the order of his canonical tracks. My favorites in this collection, however, are an instrumental arrangement of Cream’s “Sunshine of your Love,” a song he was obviously fond of, and a re-worked “Red House,” originally a Hendrix B-side from 1967. Both of the versions here better imply the true greatness of these songs than their original recordings. 04) TROMBONE SHORTY – Backatown
An impressive collection of varied musical styles on the order of scrubbing through a WWOZ play list or walking down the street in old New Orleans and taking the sounds wafting out of each dive bar as they come. Sure, sometimes the spirit grooves you, and you linger for a few moments, but then amble onward, determined to soak it all in. Tracks like “Neph” and “In the 6th” are thunderously confident, with just enough swagger to make them soulful. Speaking of which, there are some genuinely sizzling R&B turns here as well, like “Fallin’” and “Something Beautiful,” which guest stars Shorty’s old boss, Lenny Kravitz. Shorty has already proved himself a great musician, now he seems intent on proving himself as a great composer as well. The variance in musical styles could almost be taken as a calling card or résumé-style of album building, where the only ones really listening are the club owners whose venues you hope to book or possibly the reviewers who might give you some press and, sadly, maybe that’s where all printed CDs are headed. Luckily for now, though, a few of us music fans are feasting our ears on a well-plotted album for a change.03) LOS LOBOS – Tin Can Trust
Their best album since 1992’s “Kiko,” Los Lobos show the kids how rock’n’roll is done, like it’s going out of style. Wait. Is it? Well, maybe it’s only as alive as its practitioners. So, keep rock alive kids! Start here. It’s a good choice. Cesar Rosas teams with Robert Hunter on a new track (“All My Bridges Burning”), and the whole team burns through a great reading of the Dead’s “West L.A. Fadeaway.” So, Deadheads probably have this one already. Everyone else who wants to believe Los Lobos can be great again, listen to tracks like “On Main Street,” “Tin Can Trust,” “the Lady and the Rose,” oh, hell, they’re all so good. The instrumental “Do the Murray” is a charming little number. “Jupiter or the Moon” is a trippy slow-burner on par with the best. Even the radio single, “Burn It Down,” deserves a few listens in the context of a great album. A modern classic from masters of the craft.02) DIERKS BENTLEY – Up On the Ridge
I haven’t looked to see whether I’m the odd-man-out in the jam world for picking this album, but I think he played Bonnaroo not too long ago, so that makes him fair game in my book. Normally a pop country star, Bentley takes a detour into bluegrass territory and produces one of the most listenable albums of the year. The song-smithery is like fine carpentry, with consistent aesthetic fervor evident throughout. And if you think he’s just fiddling around, at least he roped in Kris Kristofferson, Del McCoury, and Jamey Johnson for this go-round, and it’s a great ride. Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers add their painterly, evocative touches on 3 tracks. Two of my favorite songs of the year are on this album: the title track and one called “Bad Angel,” featuring Jamey Johnson and country’s official angry chick, Miranda Lambert. As an aside, Bentley also does a little guest-starring of his own on the latest Infamous Stringdusters album, “Things That Fly,” this year. If this album is any indicator of what’s to come, I vote he stick around the newgrass stable for a while. 01) WIDESPREAD PANIC – Dirty Side Down
Where to begin? The Georgia road warriors are hitting on all cylinders here, with Jimmy Herring settling into some tasty grooves and seeming a little more comfortable in the lead guitarist’s chair. John Keane is back on board as producer, and adds some really nice touches (especially in arranging the sprawling opener, “Saint Ex,” I hear). I don’t think there’s any debate that this is the best album since co-founder Michael Houser died, as Panic solidly step in to claim what is their rightful inheritance: the psychedelic southern rock crown. “Dirty Side Down” is one of the most exciting tracks John Bell’s ever graced, and with a throaty, Leonard Cohen-esque delivery to boot. Expansive and multi-layered, you might even say thick at times, the sound could knock you over if you turned it up loudly enough. On real speakers. Not those crappy earbud things. JoJo’s “Visiting Day,” on the live set list since 2000, benefits from the studio treatment and reveals itself to be fine songsmanship. And how can you not pump your first, or at least tap your foot when “St. Louis” segues into “Shut Up and Drive?” Turn this album up in the car, roll down the windows, and let the wind blow, primal, hard, and free.# # #
TOAST’s FAVORITE SINGLES of 2010
10) THE REVEREND PEYTON’S BIG DAMN BAND – Everything’s Raising
An anthem for hard economic times. Woodie Guthrie on meth.
09) DR. DOG – Shadow People
Retro rock strutting its stuff. Cheap Trick with a dollop of trippy and a dash of nerd.
08) FISTFUL of MERCY – Father’s Son
Best supergroup this year, and one of the best outlets for Ben Harper’s talents ever.
07) JOHNNY CASH – Ain’t No Grave
Crikey! Godzilla vs. Giant-Zombie Johnny Cash? Cities topple. Cash wins.
06) CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS – Hit ‘Em Up Style
Just plain catchy. I dare you not to love this one on first listen. Olde timey!
05) SOULFÈGE – Do Right
Funkiest of the funky. Your booty will shake like rarely before!
04) CEE-LO GREEN – Fuck You
Greatest, happiest, grooviest profanity-laden song ever.
03) TOM PETTY & the HEARTBREAKERS – I Should’ve Known It
Will literally rock your socks off if you let it.
02) WIDESPREAD PANIC – Dirty Side Down
See caption for #3 (above).
01) JAMEY JOHNSON – Macon
Best song in any genre this year. Imagine Marvin Gaye and Waylon Jennings having recorded a song together. It might be as good as this one.
# # #
TOAST’s FAVORITE COVER SONGS of 2010
Sometimes a great cover stays close to the original arrangement, and sometimes it’s a whole different ball game. My general preference is for the latter.
KELLER & the KEELS – Rehab [originally Amy Winehouse – 2006 Back to Black]
Definitely not the first time Keller’s surprised me by re-working an R&B song with his bubbly, acoustic sheen; probably not the last. I dare you to listen and not smile.
SOULIVE – I Want You (She’s So Heavy) [originally The Beatles – 1969 Abbey Road]
A friend of mine dismissed this entire album (Rubber Soulive) as being mere muzak, but I think Soulive have proven their worth as musicians over the years, and if they want to do a whole album of instrumental Beatles covers, who am I to tell them no? This particular track comes off as the most psychedelic of the bunch.
LOS LOBOS – West L.A. Fadeaway [originally The Grateful Dead – 1987 In the Dark]
Probably the truest to the original of any cover song on this list, Lobos tweak the sound ever-so-slightly and, in the process, beef up the song’s sense of impending dirtbag menace. Like past Dead covers by Lobos, respectful of the material, but unafraid to make it their own.
JESSE McREYNOLDS & FRIENDS – Black Muddy River [originally The Grateful Dead – 1987 In the Dark]
Astonishingly, I like this version better than the original, and can’t help but wonder if this is how Jerry always meant it to be done.
DIERKS BENTLEY f/ DEL McCOURY and THE PUNCH BROTHERS – Pride (In the Name of Love) [originally U2 – 1984 the Unforgettable Fire]
Who knew that country folk had even heard of U2? Despite my long-standing dislike of Chris Thile’s needlessly baroque Punch Brothers project, this cover packs so much jubilance it sounds like this was how it was meant to be arranged in the first place. Del McCoury adds a certain bluegrass authenticity to the proceedings. Well done!
THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – In God’s Country [originally U2 – 1987 the Joshua Tree]
Another incredible newgrass re-working of U2 – like a little mini-trend! The arrangement as it appears on the studio track is a little lifeless compared to some of the expansive live versions I’ve heard them perform, but it’ll suffice until I can see them again.
SOL DRIVEN TRAIN – Look at Miss Ohio [originally Gillian Welch – 2003 Soul Journey]
Sometimes I don’t even recognize a song as a cover until the song’s halfway through. In this case, I don’t think I realized it was a cover until after the 3rd or fourth time through the entire song. This arrangement seems to owe as much to Pink Floyd as Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings.
BLACK PRAIRIE – Red Rocking Chair [now in the public domain, or “traditional,” as they say]
Wow, they managed to turn this standard into a hypnotic heroin-trip funeral dirge! Like Ralph Stanley meets Mazzy Star.
NOTE: Though many of these songs may have appeared in live performance set lists for years, these covers were released as studio recordings in 2010.
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TOAST’s BEST of 2010 – SPECIAL CATEGORIES
BEST OFFICIAL LIVE RECORDING:
AVETT BROTHERS – Live, Volume 3
BEST UN-OFFICIAL LIVE RECORDING:
FURTHUR – 3/3/10 Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL
BEST LIVE VIDEO:
PHISH – Coral Sky DVD [11/2/96 Coral Sky Amphitheater, West Palm Beach, FL]
BEST ARCHIVAL REISSUE:
JERRY GARCIA ACOUSTIC BAND – Almost Acoustic [originally released in 1987]
BEST ANTHOLOGY:
VARIOUS ARTISTS – Jerry Jams for Rex
BEST BANDS I SAW LIVE in 2010:
PHISHGOV’T MULE
WIDESPREAD PANIC
DELTA SPIRIT
INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS
DUMPSTAPHUNK
ORGŌNE
NEKO CASE
JAMES McMURTRY
GIFT of GAB
BEST LIVE BAND THAT’LL PROBABLY NEVER PLAY SANTA FE:
GOGOL BORDELLO
BEST LOCAL BAND to SEE LIVE:
ANTHONY LEON & the CHAINBEST LOCAL ALBUM:
D NUMBERS – Onda
BEST COVER ART:
JENNIE ARNAU – Chasing Giants
U-MELT – Perfect World
WIDESPREAD PANIC – Dirty Side Down
BEST ALBUM by SOMEONE I’D NEVER HEARD BEFORE:
GUGGENHEIM GROTTO – the Universe Is Laughing
LEAST FAVORITE GENRE of the LAST 30 YEARS:
Pseudo-Reggae
BEST ACTUAL REGGAE ALBUM:
SIERRA LEONE’s REFUGEE ALL STARS – Rise & Shine
MOST PROMISING, WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE from THESE:
HILL COUNTRY REVUE
STATESBORO REVUE
PO’BOYZ
DAN HUBBARD
THE DEFIBULATORS
WTF?
Katy Perry. Fashion Disaster. Train wreck mish-mash. Does anyone in her organization know WHO she’s trying to market to? ‘Cuz it seems like they’re just throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks. The fact that it’s sticking somewhere is the most amazing part. I guess it would make more sense if she was as hot as the other brain-dead pop stars, but she’s like a total average nerd chick. I guess I just don’t get it.
WHY ISN’T THIS GUY MORE FAMOUS?
RAY WYLIE HUBBARD
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Thursday, December 23, 2010
TnJ 149 (12/23/10)
*** BEST of 2010 SAMPLER ***
Obviously it would be impossible to cram all of 2010's great sounds into one show, but this list is a pretty solid representation!
-HOUR ONE-
PHISH – Reba (10/11/10 Broomfield, CO) livephish.com
D NUMBERS – Insomniac (2010 Onda) dnumbers.com
SIERRA LEONE’S REFUGEE ALL STARS – Global Threat (2010 Rise & Shine)
TROMBONE SHORTY – Neph (2010 Backatown) tromboneshorty.com
WIDESPREAD PANIC – Visiting Day (2010 Dirty Side Down)
TOM PETTY & the HEARTBREAKERS – I Should’ve Known It (2010 Mojo)
RAY WYLIE HUBBARD – Drunken Poet’s Dream (2010 A. Enlightenment B. Endarkenment) raywylie.com
AVETT BROTHERS – Ballad False Start > the Ballad of Love and Hate (2010 Live, Volume 3)
-HOUR TWO-
BLACK CROWES – Sugaree (2010 Jerry Jams for Rex, 8/1/06 LC Pavilion, Columbus, OH) nugs.net
DIERKS BENTLEY f/ DEL McCOURY and the PUNCH BROTHERS – Pride [In the Name of Love] (2010 Up On the Ridge)
JERRY GARCIA ACOUSTIC BAND – Here to Get My Baby Out of Jail (1987/2010 Almost Acoustic)
WHITEWATER RAMBLE – Drawing Straws (2010 All Night Drive) whitewaterramble.com
MOKSHA – Bran Nu Junk (2010 Mammal or Machine) mokshatime.com
SOULIVE – Eleanor Rigby > I Want You [She’s So Heavy] (5/20/10 the Doug Fir, Portland, OR) soulive.bandcamp.com
# # #
Keep an eye on the blog over the holiday for my full Best of 2010 listmania (^_^)
# # #
Happy holidays everybody! Thanks for tuning in and turning on for another year of kind musical vibes. Next week: the 150th episode extravaganja!
# # #
Obviously it would be impossible to cram all of 2010's great sounds into one show, but this list is a pretty solid representation!
-HOUR ONE-
PHISH – Reba (10/11/10 Broomfield, CO) livephish.com
D NUMBERS – Insomniac (2010 Onda) dnumbers.com
SIERRA LEONE’S REFUGEE ALL STARS – Global Threat (2010 Rise & Shine)
TROMBONE SHORTY – Neph (2010 Backatown) tromboneshorty.com
WIDESPREAD PANIC – Visiting Day (2010 Dirty Side Down)
TOM PETTY & the HEARTBREAKERS – I Should’ve Known It (2010 Mojo)
RAY WYLIE HUBBARD – Drunken Poet’s Dream (2010 A. Enlightenment B. Endarkenment) raywylie.com
AVETT BROTHERS – Ballad False Start > the Ballad of Love and Hate (2010 Live, Volume 3)
-HOUR TWO-
BLACK CROWES – Sugaree (2010 Jerry Jams for Rex, 8/1/06 LC Pavilion, Columbus, OH) nugs.net
DIERKS BENTLEY f/ DEL McCOURY and the PUNCH BROTHERS – Pride [In the Name of Love] (2010 Up On the Ridge)
JERRY GARCIA ACOUSTIC BAND – Here to Get My Baby Out of Jail (1987/2010 Almost Acoustic)
WHITEWATER RAMBLE – Drawing Straws (2010 All Night Drive) whitewaterramble.com
MOKSHA – Bran Nu Junk (2010 Mammal or Machine) mokshatime.com
SOULIVE – Eleanor Rigby > I Want You [She’s So Heavy] (5/20/10 the Doug Fir, Portland, OR) soulive.bandcamp.com
# # #
Keep an eye on the blog over the holiday for my full Best of 2010 listmania (^_^)
# # #
Happy holidays everybody! Thanks for tuning in and turning on for another year of kind musical vibes. Next week: the 150th episode extravaganja!
# # #
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
TnJ BEST of 2010
Alright, gloves are off, no pussyfooting around, these will be some of the best sounds available to your ears and brain all year long. This Thursday night (12/23/10) - tune in or miss out!
(^_^) TOAST
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(^_^) TOAST
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Monday, December 20, 2010
PHISH NEW YEAR'S EVE
Now you can celebrate New Year’s with Phish, even if you’re nowhere near New York City. Kicking open the doors to their highly anticipated three-night stand at Madison Square Garden Dec. 30 through Jan. 1, Phish have announced that they will stream all three concerts through cable television’s Pay-Per-View. The three shows are now available for pre-order and can be purchased together for $39.99 or individually for $14.99 (Dec. 30 and Jan. 1) or $19.99 (Dec. 31). For more go here.
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And, TnJ regulars - don't forget Santa Toast is giving out free copies of the new Phish@Alpine Valley DVD/CD combo pack every Thursday night during the show in December (^_^)
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Thursday, December 16, 2010
TnJ 148 (12/16/10)
-HOUR ONE-
WIDESPREAD PANIC w/DEREK TRUCKS – Henry Parsons Died (7/10/10 All Good Festival, Masontown, WV) livewidespreadpanic.com
GREG MERRITT’S HEAVY ROAD – Ain’t No Fool (2010 Everything Changed) gregmerritt.com
RAILROAD EARTH – Spring-Heeled Jack (2010 Railroad Earth) railroadearth.com
ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND – In Memory of Elizabeth Reed (2006 Eat a Peach [deluxe edition], 6/27/71 Fillmore East, New York, NY)
-HOUR TWO-
DARRELL SCOTT – Take Me Back to Yesterday (2010 a Crooked Road) darrellscott.com
JACKIE GREENE – 1961 (2010 Till the Light Comes)
ORGŌNE – Cali Fever (2010 Cali Fever)
PHISH – Harry Hood > a Day in the Life (2010 Coral Sky DVD, 11/2/96 Coral Sky Amphitheater, West Palm Beach, FL) phish.com
JOHN COURAGE – We Are All Infidels (2010 Lovers Without a Care) frogvilleplanet.com
RAY WYLIE HUBBARD – Pots and Pans (2010 A. Enlightenment B. Endarkenment) raywylie.com
JERRY GARCIA ACOUSTIC BAND – Deep Elem Blues (1987/2010 Ragged But Right)
TEN TON CHICKEN – Efitol (2010 Efitol) tentonchicken.com
# # #
Personal note to the producer of the new Dave Diamond disc, “Return of the Slowpoke”: I would’ve played something from the disc tonight, but it wouldn’t cue up in any of the players due, I presume, to some mastering defect or other. I’m all for D.I.Y., folks, but please do it right. I know hardly any stations actually use CD players these days, but some still do – thanks for giving my listeners a big ol’ dose of dead air!
Anyone who’s curious as to what track I would’ve played from that unplayable disc, it was “Concrete & Stone.”
# # #
WIDESPREAD PANIC w/DEREK TRUCKS – Henry Parsons Died (7/10/10 All Good Festival, Masontown, WV) livewidespreadpanic.com
GREG MERRITT’S HEAVY ROAD – Ain’t No Fool (2010 Everything Changed) gregmerritt.com
RAILROAD EARTH – Spring-Heeled Jack (2010 Railroad Earth) railroadearth.com
ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND – In Memory of Elizabeth Reed (2006 Eat a Peach [deluxe edition], 6/27/71 Fillmore East, New York, NY)
-HOUR TWO-
DARRELL SCOTT – Take Me Back to Yesterday (2010 a Crooked Road) darrellscott.com
JACKIE GREENE – 1961 (2010 Till the Light Comes)
ORGŌNE – Cali Fever (2010 Cali Fever)
PHISH – Harry Hood > a Day in the Life (2010 Coral Sky DVD, 11/2/96 Coral Sky Amphitheater, West Palm Beach, FL) phish.com
JOHN COURAGE – We Are All Infidels (2010 Lovers Without a Care) frogvilleplanet.com
RAY WYLIE HUBBARD – Pots and Pans (2010 A. Enlightenment B. Endarkenment) raywylie.com
JERRY GARCIA ACOUSTIC BAND – Deep Elem Blues (1987/2010 Ragged But Right)
TEN TON CHICKEN – Efitol (2010 Efitol) tentonchicken.com
# # #
Personal note to the producer of the new Dave Diamond disc, “Return of the Slowpoke”: I would’ve played something from the disc tonight, but it wouldn’t cue up in any of the players due, I presume, to some mastering defect or other. I’m all for D.I.Y., folks, but please do it right. I know hardly any stations actually use CD players these days, but some still do – thanks for giving my listeners a big ol’ dose of dead air!
Anyone who’s curious as to what track I would’ve played from that unplayable disc, it was “Concrete & Stone.”
# # #
Friday, December 10, 2010
TnJ 147 (12/9/10)
-HOUR ONE-
J.J. CALE – Call Me the Breeze (1971 Naturally)
ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND – You Don’t Love Me (7/29/95 Walnut Creek Amphitheater, Raleigh, NC)
RAY LaMONTANGE & the PARIAH DOGS – Devil’s in the Jukebox (2010 God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise)
BORIS McCUTCHEON & the SALTLICKS – Mullein People (2010 Wheel of Life) borismccutcheon.com
JERRY GARCIA ACOUSTIC BAND – Ripple* (1987/2010 Almost Acoustic)
JIM LAUDERDALE – Jawbone* (2010 Patchwork River) jimlauderdale.com
LOS LOBOS – All My Bridges Burning* (2010 Tin Can Trust)
7 WALKERS – Louisiana Rain* (2010 7 Walkers) 7walkers.com
STRING CHEESE INCIDENT – Pygmy Pony (2010 Rhythm of the Road Volume One – Incident in Atlanta 11/17/00) stringcheeseincident.com
-HOUR TWO-
SUPERFROG – Astronautical (2010 Call from the Moon) superfrogmusic.com
PHISH – Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley > Weekapaug Groove (2010 Alpine Valley [box set], 8/14/10 Alpine Valley Music Theatre, Troy, WI) phish.com
EVAN GOODROW BAND – Middle St. (2010 Say It) evangoodrow.com
SOL DRIVEN TRAIN – Toda la Gente (2010 Believe) homegrownmusic.net
IMPERIAL ROOSTER – Pigfork Jamboree (2010 Old Good Poor Crazy Dead)
THE DOORS – Peace Frog > Blue Sunday (1997 the Doors [box set], c. 1970 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY)
TOM WAITS – Trampled Rose (2009 Glitter and Doom Live)
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*all songs with an asterisk – lyrics by Robert Hunter
# # #
Check out a great review of New Mexico’s own Imperial Rooster here.
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J.J. CALE – Call Me the Breeze (1971 Naturally)
ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND – You Don’t Love Me (7/29/95 Walnut Creek Amphitheater, Raleigh, NC)
RAY LaMONTANGE & the PARIAH DOGS – Devil’s in the Jukebox (2010 God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise)
BORIS McCUTCHEON & the SALTLICKS – Mullein People (2010 Wheel of Life) borismccutcheon.com
JERRY GARCIA ACOUSTIC BAND – Ripple* (1987/2010 Almost Acoustic)
JIM LAUDERDALE – Jawbone* (2010 Patchwork River) jimlauderdale.com
LOS LOBOS – All My Bridges Burning* (2010 Tin Can Trust)
7 WALKERS – Louisiana Rain* (2010 7 Walkers) 7walkers.com
STRING CHEESE INCIDENT – Pygmy Pony (2010 Rhythm of the Road Volume One – Incident in Atlanta 11/17/00) stringcheeseincident.com
-HOUR TWO-
SUPERFROG – Astronautical (2010 Call from the Moon) superfrogmusic.com
PHISH – Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley > Weekapaug Groove (2010 Alpine Valley [box set], 8/14/10 Alpine Valley Music Theatre, Troy, WI) phish.com
EVAN GOODROW BAND – Middle St. (2010 Say It) evangoodrow.com
SOL DRIVEN TRAIN – Toda la Gente (2010 Believe) homegrownmusic.net
IMPERIAL ROOSTER – Pigfork Jamboree (2010 Old Good Poor Crazy Dead)
THE DOORS – Peace Frog > Blue Sunday (1997 the Doors [box set], c. 1970 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY)
TOM WAITS – Trampled Rose (2009 Glitter and Doom Live)
# # #
*all songs with an asterisk – lyrics by Robert Hunter
# # #
Check out a great review of New Mexico’s own Imperial Rooster here.
# # #
Thursday, December 2, 2010
TnJ 146 (12/2/10)
-HOUR ONE-
KARL DENSON’S TINY UNIVERSE – Shake It Out (2009 Brother’s Keeper)
Interview > Karl Denson (recorded 11/22/10, KBAC-FM, Santa Fe, NM)
KARL DENSON’S TINY UNIVERSE – the Bridge (2002 the Bridge)
ACTUAL PROOF – Eric Is Jive (2009 Paradigm Shift) actualproofband.com
MOKSHA – Bobbin’ on the Sea (2010 Mammal or Machine) homegrownmusic.net
FISTFUL of MERCY – Fistful of Mercy (2010 As I Call You Down)
-HOUR TWO-
NEIL YOUNG – Peaceful Valley Boulevard (2010 Le Noise)
JERRY GARCIA ACOUSTIC BAND – Ragged But Right (1987/2010 Ragged But Right)
WHITEWATER RAMBLE f/ JOSH CLARK – Riptide (2010 All Night Drive) whitewaterramble.com
YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND – Traffic Jam > Years With Rose > Winds o’ Wyoming > Traffic Jam (2004 Mountain Tracks – Volume 3, 9/12/03 Planet Bluegrass, Lyons, CO) yondermountain.com
B.D. LENZ – Juxtaposition (2010 Five & Live) bdlenz.com
# # #
The Karl Denson interview was great - listen if you missed it here.
# # #
KARL DENSON’S TINY UNIVERSE – Shake It Out (2009 Brother’s Keeper)
Interview > Karl Denson (recorded 11/22/10, KBAC-FM, Santa Fe, NM)
KARL DENSON’S TINY UNIVERSE – the Bridge (2002 the Bridge)
ACTUAL PROOF – Eric Is Jive (2009 Paradigm Shift) actualproofband.com
MOKSHA – Bobbin’ on the Sea (2010 Mammal or Machine) homegrownmusic.net
FISTFUL of MERCY – Fistful of Mercy (2010 As I Call You Down)
-HOUR TWO-
NEIL YOUNG – Peaceful Valley Boulevard (2010 Le Noise)
JERRY GARCIA ACOUSTIC BAND – Ragged But Right (1987/2010 Ragged But Right)
WHITEWATER RAMBLE f/ JOSH CLARK – Riptide (2010 All Night Drive) whitewaterramble.com
YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND – Traffic Jam > Years With Rose > Winds o’ Wyoming > Traffic Jam (2004 Mountain Tracks – Volume 3, 9/12/03 Planet Bluegrass, Lyons, CO) yondermountain.com
B.D. LENZ – Juxtaposition (2010 Five & Live) bdlenz.com
# # #
The Karl Denson interview was great - listen if you missed it here.
# # #
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
ROGER WATERS in PHOENIX 2010
Last-minute Thanksgiving guest-toast cancellation Tile Steve has redeemed himself by sending photos from "The Wall" in Phoenix (^_^) THX!
Wish I was there!
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Wish I was there!
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