lundi 2 Jan 2012, 16h48m
Good year for music it seems. I had a hard time narrowing the list to twenty. Still there's plenty I didn't hear or never even heard about. Would appreciate any recommendations…
1. Old 97's - The Grand Theatre, Vol. 2
I really enjoyed the first Grand Theatre album and for some reason was expecting Volume Two would be a bit of a let down… was I wrong. It picks up right where Volume One left off and just cranks up the awesomeness. Bursting with raw energy and confidence.
2. Beastie Boys - Hot Sauce Committee Part Two
Probably my favourite Beastie Boys album of all time. They somehow manage to incorporate their many diverse influences – hip hop, punk rock, reggae, jazz - without sounding particularly eclectic. And all the while managing to tread a fine line between silliness and genius. Bonus feel-good points for Adam Yauch returning from cancer treatments to sound as cool and as sharp as ever.
3. Drive-By Truckers - Go-Go Boots
One of my favourites of theirs… (I'm probably the only person in the room that thinks the DBTs are better since parting ways with Jason Isbell) A more melodic and soulful turn music-wise, and the lyrics still read like a Southern gothic novel.
4. Wilco - The Whole Love
The new personel are really starting to gel. Well, I guess they're not that "new" anymore… Rock-solid catchy numbers with some really interesting musical experimentation… reminds me a bit of "Summerteeth" in some ways…
5. Alela Diane - Alela Diane & Wild Divine
This year's big discovery… great melancholic metaphor-laden lyrics backed by a solid country-rock unit that is Flying Burrito Brothers-esque with a few jazz flourishes here and there.
6. The Deep Dark Woods - The Place I Left Behind
Continue to gradually evolve their timeless prairie folk noir sound… More keyboards, ever so slightly slightly poppier, maybe slightly groovier, but keeping everything that makes them great. No more are these changes more evident than on the glorious "West Side Street" a surprisingly upbeat song about Saskatoon's poverty stricken west side.
7. Steve Earle - I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive
Less political, less experimental… but I still like it. I will never tire of this man's songwriting. That being said, the title track - an old-timey Hank Williams' cover - is killer.
8. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - Mirror Traffic
Maybe not quite as endearing as 2008's "Real Emotional Trash" but still a very solid outing. Especially like that he's bringing a bit of twang back into the mix and "Stick Figures In Love" is a post-punk guitar marvel.
9. Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring for My Halo
Kind of surprised I enjoyed this album as much as I did… It doesn't seem to be my cup-of-tea of late… but Vile's laconic slacker vocal style and tasty guitar fills sort of remind me of "Green Mind" era Dinosaur Jr. somehow…
10. Calexico - Selections from Road Atlas (1998-2011)
A collection of B-sides, outtakes and alternate versions… Lots of fun and experimental sidetracks. And some very cool instrumentals. Good, good stuff.
11. The Rural Alberta Advantage - Departing
Somewhat of a let down and a more polished sound compared to their awesomely ragged 2009 debut "Hometowns" but still plenty to like. Nils Edenloff's vocal style is as unique and compelling as ever. And their folky post-punk power pop is still powerful catchy.
12. Tom Waits - Bad As Me
I've found some of his recent studio albums a bit too cacophonous if you know what I mean… This album though, with the exception of the crazy (and excellent) "Hell Broke Luce" is mostly a gentler, old school Tom, embracing early rock and pre-rock sounds with plenty of melancholic and sentimental vibes going down…
13. Gillian Welch - The Harrow & The Harvest
Some great individual tracks here but as a whole I found this album a bit monotonous. It's kind of all the same tempo, played on all the same instruments… But still… It's Gillian Welch… and her lyrics and vocal delivery are in fine form. When individual tracks turn up the the shuffle, they are always very welcome.
14. The Decemberists - The King Is Dead
I'm finding the critical acclaim this album is getting a bit surprising somehow…? Yeah, I like it, but maybe less so than some of their earlier material… The lyrics are still great and I find the Brit-folk sound they've adopted here catchy enough but somehow maybe a bit formulaic and not particularly unique? Still good tho…
15. Lucinda Williams - Blessed
Some really great tracks here… Her best since "World Without Tears"?
16. Wye Oak - Civilian
Never heard of these guys before, and a good find. Interestingly constructed indie rock with creepy underpinnings a la the Pixies…
17. The Black Keys - El Camino
I've just picked this up fairly recently and it's only received a few spins so I'm still not sure what to think of it or where to rank it. It's missing much the overt blues and soul references that made "Brothers" such a treat. But it definitely rocks pretty good… so that's cool. I'm hoping it's a grower…
18. Bill Callahan - Apocalypse
I have a few Smog songs kicking around on my hard-drive that I dig but it wasn't until "Apocalypse" where I think I finally "got" Bill Callahan. Not the easiest, most accessible music in the world but well worth the effort. A haunting, poetic and unique voice.
19. Nick Lowe - The Old Magic
I hope I can somehow manage to be half as cool as Nick Lowe when I'm sixty… I must be getting up there as I find this pre-rock style kind of, well, magical…
20. Elliott BROOD - Days Into Years
I've only started listening to this one of late as well. I was initially devastated by all the electric guitars on this album. I loved the BROOD's acoustic/banjo/harmonica/suitcase drum thing that they had going on previous albums… However, my position on this album has softened. There are a few really great tracks, and the roots thing is still there, just less overt and more submerged. And "Northern Air" is about as close to sounding like "Canadiana" as anything I've ever heard…
Other releases I quite liked:
Dan Mangan - Oh Fortune
The Dodos - No Color
Social Distortion - Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes
The Head and the Heart - The Head and the Heart
Caitlin Rose - Own Side Now
The Cave Singers - No Witch
Middle Brother - Middle Brother
The Duke & The King - The Duke & The King
Alabama Shakes - Alabama Shakes EP
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears - Scandalous
Real Estate - Days