10) SARAH JAROSZ – Build Me Up from Bones
This Texan folkie continues to impress with her third album,
which wields some heavyweight guest stars (Jerry Douglas, Chris Thile, Darrell
Scott, Aofie O’Donovan), though I get the feeling Jarosz could carry the whole
album on her own. Lyrics like, “Kick the
moon and watch it shatter / I don’t mind if it don’t matter,” tickle me to
death.
HIGH POINTS: Over the Edge; Mile on the Moon; Dark Road
09) GARLAND JEFFREYS – Truth Serum
Always nice to see a name from yesteryear pop up with a
release worth recording, as opposed to just going through the motions for a
paycheck. “Truth Serum” finds the
70-year old cooking up an unusual, but wholly competent, blend of roots, rock,
and reggae. This is melting pot music at
its best from a man comfortable in his own shoes.
HIGH POINTS: Dragons to Slay; Collide the Generations; It’s
What I Am
08) PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND – That’s It!
Their first album of all-original material strikes a chord
with me, possibly due to the production assistance of Jim James (My Morning
Jacket). They’re definitely no longer
relegated to the “heritage and nostalgia” bin, and if they’ve got more like
this in them, I hope they take the ball and run with it. Can’t wait to see PHJB live after this one.
HIGH POINTS: Rattlin’ Bones; Sugar Plum;
Halfway Right, Halfway Wrong
07) ROBERT RANDOLPH and the FAMILY BAND – Lickety Split
One of the most dynamic family bands since Sly and the
Family Stone, RRFB notch their best studio album yet. Guest appearances from Trombone Shorty and
Carlos Santana sweeten the deal, but fans of pedal steel are already in, since Randolph continues to be
one of the brightest talents in that arena.
Put this on and get your booty movin’.
HIGH POINTS: Born
Again; Brand New Wayo (featuring Carlos Santana); Welcome Home
06) the MAVERICKS – In Time
Is Tex-Mex-Fusion a genre?
How about Gypsy-Cubano-Cowboy? Are
they an army of one? Who cares? “In Time” is a spectacular comeback album for
the Mavericks. Raul Malo still weaves
painfully beautiful vocals and the band comes rested and refreshed from a
10-year break. They’re difficult to
classify but this window into another dimension hits all the right notes. One of the best live bands I saw this year
(see below).
HIGH POINTS: Come
Unto Me; Dance in the Moonlight; (Call Me) When You Get to Heaven
05) the HANDSOME FAMILY - Wilderness
Another difficult-to-classify entry into the field, this Albuquerque
husband-and-wife duo seem secure in their uniqueness, being equal parts
psychedelia, folk, and goth-pop. Imagine
Alice in
Wonderland on Quaaludes and you might begin to approximate the idea. Lyrically vacillating between dark and
whimsical, they are a walking contradiction that somehow works.
HIGH POINTS: Frogs,
Lizard, Octopus
04) BONERAMA – Shake It Baby
Only New Orleans
could’ve spawned a band this brass-heavy.
However, rather than follow the time-worn tread of traditional Dixieland
Jazz, Mark Mullins and Craig Klein have fashioned a unique hard-rock/funk sound
out of the ether. After several albums
of plying their craft, we can no longer dismiss them as novelty, nor as a mere
cover/bar band. Bonerama are making some
of the most interesting music in a city whose music is legend.
HIGH POINTS: Indian
Red; Close the Door; What You See; Swamped In
03) the BLACK LILLIES – Runaway Freeway Blues
This is a country band you are likely never to hear on a
country radio station. They’re too
interesting. Too psychedelic. Too damn good. Think of them working the same alt-country
anvils which birthed Uncle Tupelo (and their offspring Wilco and Son Volt) or
Lucinda Williams, turn up the harmonies, and submerge yourself in the clever storytelling. You are unlikely to hear a country band this
good again, until the next Black Lillies album comes out.
HIGH POINTS: Gold and
Roses; the Fall; Ruby; Ramblin’ Boy; Baby Doe
02) TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND – Made Up Mind
Aside from some muddy production which is possibly intentional, TTB just keeps recording better and better songs. If this soul stew gets any better, they’re going to earn a place in history, even if it’s only as the best 11-piece band of all time. An object lesson in “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts,” this band is groovier than Susan Tedeschi, catchier than the Derek Trucks Band, and more powerful than a locomotive. I don’t know what took this husband-and-wife team so long to collaborate musically, but they should do us all favor and keep it up as long as possible.
HIGH POINTS: the
Storm; Misunderstood; All That I Need; Made Up Mind; Part of Me
01) BUDDY GUY – Rhythm & Blues
This is a rare album so impressive I can hardly describe how
good it is without using every clichéd hyperbole in the book, but every once in
a while an artist just pulls out all the stops and goes balls to the wall with
an amazing tour-de-force which bumps them up to the next level. This isn’t just the best Buddy Guy album
you’ve heard in decades, it might be the best blues album ever recorded. Seriously, if no one else ever releases
another blues album in the history of the world, at least we have this. Released by RCA on Buddy Guy’s 77th
birthday, “Rhythm & Blues” is a crowning achievement in a most
distinguished career.
HIGH POINTS: Whiskey
Ghost; Meet Me in Chicago;
Blues Don’t Care (w/ Gary Clark, Jr.); Best in Town; the Devil’s Daughter; Too
Damn Bad
COUNTRY BLUES REVUE – a Minor Bit Blue
ANTHONY LEON & the CHAIN – Hell to Pay
ROUND MOUNTAIN – the Goat
An education in obscure instrumentation, like a world tour without leaving your living room.
GRATEFUL DEAD – Sunshine Daydream
-TOAST’S FAVORITE SINGLES of 2013-
10) NONONO – Pumpin Blood
Goofy. Silly. Infectious.
Fun.
09) HANK3 – Hurtin for Certain
Just plain wrong in all the right ways.
08) INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS feat. BRUCE HORNSBY – Road to Boulder
Well-constructed and memorable harmonies.
07) BUDDY GUY – Whiskey Ghost
As addictive and haunting as the title implies.
06) PORTUGAL.
the MAN – Purple, Yellow, Red and Blue
Good, old-fashioned psychedelia.
05) the POLYPHONIC SPREE –
You Don’t Know Me
Meticulous, perfectly-crafted pomp-pop.
04) SERENA RYDER – Stompa
Best Adele substitute all year. Hooky with a vengeance.
03) JOHN FOGERTY – Mystic
Highway
Anyone who may doubt he still has it, just listen.
02) PHOSPHORESCENT – Ride On/Right On
Retro-rock at its finest.
If everyone still made rock this solid, it wouldn’t be a defunct genre.
01) the MAVERICKS – Come Unto Me
I’ve probably heard this one a hundred times and it still
gets my blood pumping. These guys get
“Comeback of the Year,” for sure.
-BEST LOCAL ALBUMS of 2013-
COUNTRY BLUES REVUE – a Minor Bit Blue
Nothing that’s gonna turn the kids on here, just fine
examples of styles fallen out of fashion.
HIGH POINTS: Voodoo Queen; a Minor Bit Blue; Ophelia
ANTHONY LEON & the CHAIN – Hell to Pay
Hardest-hitting country-rock in all the land. Light one up and get lost in the
grooves.
HIGH POINTS: Death & Taxes;
the Devil’s at Reds; Down in Lonely
ROUND MOUNTAIN – the GoatAn education in obscure instrumentation, like a world tour without leaving your living room.
HIGH
POINTS: Hundreds of Ships; Mama Sweet Mama; Doppio Machiatto
-THESE GUYS HAVE POTENTIAL – MORE PLEASE-
DEADLY GENTLEMEN – Roll Me, Tumble Me
Though it seems he would prefer people not notice, this is
David Grisman’s kid’s bluegrass band.
HONEY ISLAND SWAMP BAND –
Cane Sugar
Closest thing to Little Feat-esque swamp rock I’ve heard in
years, and that includes the most recent Little Feat album.
VALERIE JUNE – Pushin’ Against a Stone
Old-school R&B with an edge. Thoughtful lyrics, carefully arranged
songs. She is already a tunesmith of the
highest order.
RUSTY WRIGHT BAND – This, That & the Other Thing
If you think nobody bothers generating a great guitar tone
anymore, give this one a listen. Gritty
blues rock that hits you like a 90-pound hammer.
YO MAMA’S BIG FAT BOOTY BAND – Onward!
As funky as their name implies, with an abstract, spacey
twinge that makes their sound unique, butts bouncing all the while.
-BEST “OFFICIAL” LIVE RELEASE of 2013-
CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL 2013
Always a “who’s who” of consummate guitar work. The real shame is this festival only happens
every 3 years.
Special note: have you seen this Quinn Sullivan kid? I only saw him on the “Crossroads Guitar
Festival 2013” DVD, but if he’s this confident at 14, I expect he’ll be wowing
us on stage for decades to come.
-BEST LIVE ARCHIVAL RELEASE of 2013-
GRATEFUL DEAD – Sunshine Daydream
Actually watching Jerry play (circa 1972) is even more
mind-blowing than hearing him play. The
granddaddy of all jambands at the height of their power.
-BEST BANDS I SAW LIVE in 2013-
AVETT BROTHERS – The only problem I had watching them live
is I wish they would stretch out on the solos more, but easily one of the best
live bands I’ve ever seen. Arrangements
and harmonies are incredibly tight. I
also saw global folk phenoms Mumford & Sons live this year, and Avett
Brothers were just plain better.
ALABAMA
SHAKES – They just don’t make ‘em like this no more. Solid, loud, rockin’, soulful rhythm &
blues. They’re off to a great start and
have a nice foundation to build on in the future. Brittany Howard revealed in an interview what
may make them stand above the rest: they only do originals.
the BLACK LILLIES – Psychedelic backwoods, foot-stompin’
country at its finest. Cruz Contreras
(whom you may remember from Robinella) has a boatload of finely crafted songs,
and the whole combo just seethes with raw, uncut talent. They may come off a little dark to some, but
I think it adds nice flavor.
GRACE POTTER & the NOCTURNALS – Holy smoke, if Grace
Potter was any more of a fireball they’d have to shut the place down for safety
reasons. I saw GPN open for Tedeschi
Trucks Band and, even though TTB was totally awesome, GPN blew them out of the
water. Unrivaled energy and showmanship.
the MAVERICKS – I had heard they were great, but I had no
idea. If every band could take a 10 year
break and come back this strong, I’d recommend they all do it. This tour involved, I think, an 11-piece band
and this well-oiled machine churned out a swirly, festive, fragrant, powerful
wall of sound singular and sublime.
PRIMUS – The band I’ve seen live more than any other
returned with a 3D visual / quad-sound tripfest for the faithful. Nobody does smirky and quirky better than Les
Claypool, joined here by Larry LaLonde and Jay Lane (the latter has since joined up
with RatDog), the atmosphere was thick and getting thicker, like diving to the
bottom of the ocean.
TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE – He seems poised to
inherit the crown of New Orleans
funk music, if the Meters ever give it up.
In a live setting, this combo is much like their albums – effortlessly
veering through jazz, funk, blues, Dixieland, soul – but only live do you
really feel that pervasive, explosive jubilance this outfit carries with them.
TRUTH & SALVAGE CO. – It’s easy to see why they were
tapped early in their collective existence to tour with the Black Crowes, as
their musicianship and swagger also implies a hearty fondness for good, old-fashioned
rock-n-roll. It can’t be easy forging
your band’s identity with several lead singers / songwriters in the fold, but
it can be done, and I hope they persevere into the stratosphere.
WIDESPREAD PANIC – Like the Terminator, they can’t be
bargained with, they can’t be reasoned with, and they absolutely will not
stop. Jimmy Herring seems to be finding
his “voice” within the context of this venerable jam band quite nicely. In these times, rock has almost gone
extinct. This is solid rock. They seem content to stay in that groove and
I am content to follow along for the ride as long as it lasts.
YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND – Certainly not the most
technically proficient band on the planet, nor the most prolific songwriters,
but their contagious enthusiasm makes up for a lot. As the saying goes, they’re “ragged but right,”
and YMSB continues to work the magic only they can to send us
straight into orbit, shimmying and shakin’ ‘til it falls clean off. Possibly the most frenetic and frenzied
string band ever.
Here's some pics from YMSB/Deadly Gentlemen 3/13/13 Sunshine Theater, Albuquerque, NM (photo credit - Andrew Kastner / SantaFe.com):
This was a great show, and you can download the soundboard recording at YonderMountainLive.com
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