Top 10 CDs of 2020

What a terribly strange year 2020 has been. In some respects, it seemed like any other year, but that is coming from a guy that already worked from home full time. But, in other ways it was constant change, a constant struggle to do the right thing while staring in the face of a nation that made it clear that they put their self-interest over the greater good. And here we are praying for vaccine distribution because that is the only thing that can save us from ourselves. It is odd how something so void of activity could simultaneously be exhausting.

 

Whoa, this is a music blog, not sure how I ended up down that rabbit hole, but if you are reading this, you know who I am. You know I follow science. You know I wear my mask because it would benefit my fellow humans. You know I work in healthcare, and I will be eager to take the vaccine because if the Dr’s and Nurses I work with it are good with it, so am I. I am not so pompous or naïve as to assume I know more than them. They trust my Tech. I trust their Medicine.

 

Okay, I think I am done with that, now. So, let’s talk about music. Oddly, I didn’t buy as many CDs as I normally do. I am not sure if it was selection or if I was being more selective or if I was just pre-occupied with all the other shit. Still, the ones I did buy hit hard and made me make some tough choices.

 

For the new readers, let me get you up to speed with my rules. Yeah, I’ve got rules and shit. Number one rule: I had to actually purchase the CD. If I didn’t love it enough to own it, then it is not list worthy. Seems pretty logical to me. The other rules, with no particular weight, include: how often I listened to the album; how good the artist can pull it off live (yes; I know that doesn’t seem to fit an album review, but, again, it’s my list, and I do what I want up in this piece); quality of recording; strength of lyrics; no EPs; no live albums – it has to be new music, if an artist did a live CD of all new songs, I would consider it; and, for artists that have multiple albums under their belts, how this album compares to their other work. I am not saying these rules are fair, but I am saying this is what I use to determine my Top 10. At the end of the day, what was my soundtrack to 2020.

 

 

#10 – Fiona Apple – Fetch The Bolt Cutters

I am pretty sure Fiona has appeared on one of my lists before. It would surprise me if she hasn’t. I’ve been a fan since Tidal, and my support and admiration has been unwavering. I kind of feel like we grew up together. Fetch The Bolt Cutters is art. It is dense and complex and requires multiple listens to pick-up on and embrace all the nuance. Almost every list I have read has it in the Top 10, if not the Top 5. I think the one thing that held it out of the Top 5 for my list is I just didn’t spend a lot of time with it. Maybe I was too tired to really dig in. It’s not the kind of album that you can let be background. It is heavy. It demands and deserves attention. “For Her” transitions out of a bridge with the line, “You raped me in the same bed your daughter was born in.” Yeah, it is the that kind of heavy album. Like I said, it deserves attention, and should be on every Top of 2020 list.

 

 

 

#9 – Sylvan Esso – Free Love

Sylvan Esso has long been my go-to for work jams. For whatever reason, I am able to groove to their music while simultaneously getting shit done. They are like spinach, if I were Popeye. Oh wait, is that reference too old for you? Google it, ya young whipper-snapper. Free Love is exactly what we needed this year. If you follow any of their social, they did the best live stream performances this year, and made incredibly artsy videos. When spinning this CD, you can let it sit in the background while you get in some chair dancing, but be prepared for depth and introspection. They may sound like a fun party band, but trust if you dig into the lyrics, they always have something powerful to say. Oh, they also release WITH this year, which was a dynamic live recording, which deserves a purchase as well. HERE is a link to their YouTube, do yourself a favor and spend some time checking out the multi-media they are putting out. Great stuff.

 

 

#8 – Caitlyn Smith – Supernova

I am gonna be honest, there wasn’t a CD I was anticipating more than Supernova. Starfire caught me by surprise, as I had not heard of Caitlyn Smith, but I instantly loved her voice and songwriting. So, when I heard rumor that she was dropping new music, I was eager like a fat kid on Thanksgiving. Let me tell you, just like sweet potato casserole and stuffing, Supernova does not disappoint. As you’d expect from a disk being produced in Nashville, the production is as clean. Say what you will about country, but those Studios Engineers know their way around a console. I am not sure where I would put this album. I am seeing people call it Adult Alternative on-line, but I feel like it is younger and fresher than that genre. It’s not country. Hell, what is country anymore? Anything with a pedal steel I guess, such a weird genre. Here is the deal, if you dig really great singers that are belting some extremely relatable, yet personal, shit, and are a fan of excellently produced recordings, you are gonna like this CD.

 

 

#7 – Phoebe Bridger – Punisher

I found Phoebe through boygenius which is her side project with Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus, both of whom I am a huge fan. Surprisingly, to me at least, it was Phoebe that stood out in that ensemble, so I started getting all of her stuff. Stranger In The Alps is excellent, and her collaborations are always impressive, my favorite being the one with Noah & Abby Gunderson. Needless to say, when I saw that she was releasing new material, my excitement was palpable. When I step back and look at her body of work, Punisher is just a more mature recording, not just the songwriting, but the recording itself. With her wistful voice and intensely honest lyrics, Phoebe is able to juxtapose vulnerability and fearlessness. Just read the lyrics to “Moon Song” and you’ll understand what I am talking about.

 

You asked to walk me home
But I had to carry you
And you pushed me in
And now my feet can't touch the bottom of you

 

You couldn't have, you couldn't have
Stuck your tongue down the throat of somebody
Who loves you more
So I will wait for the next time you want me
Like a dog with a bird at your door

 

We hate Tears in Heaven
But it's sad that his baby died
And we fought about John Lennon
Until I cried
And then went to bed upset

 

Now I'm dreaming
And you're singing at my birthday
I've never seen you smiling so big
It's nautical themed
And there's something I'm supposed to say
But can't for the life of me remember what it is

 

And if I could give you the moon
I would give you the moon

 

You are sick, and you're married
And you might be dying
But you're holding me like water in your hands
When you saw the dead little bird, you started crying
But you know the killer doesn't understand

 

She creates with abandon and will not be constrained by any box you, or I, want to put her in.

 

#6 – Ashley Ray – Pauline

I think this might be the surprise of the list, not because I haven’t been a fan for a long time, but because it caught me off guard, and despite being an accomplished songwriter and putting in her dues for years, Ashley is still a bit under the radar, for most. I saw her dropping singles, but I missed the album release. August is the busiest time for the youth football season, so I was in full-on coach mode and just missed it. I didn’t pick it up until the week of December 14^th after she dropped her Tiny Desk (Home) Concert which was so good I went out looking for more music. Typically, albums that I buy in December really struggle to get the kind of rotations that would garner a spot on my list, but right out of the gate, Ashley lets you know she is not playing around. “Pauline” is this dirgey ditty about her mom and grandma. It is introspective, vulnerable, and authentic, and the album never lets up. It’s one of those discs that defies the rules. I don’t care that I didn’t get to listen to it 100s of times over the course of the year, because this is like her Southeastern. Those that know, know. The production is exceptional. It has the tones and textures that I love the most about Alt-Country/Americana. So much lovely lush tremolo. If you appreciate really incredible storytelling, this is the disc for you.

 

#5 – All Them Witches – Nothing as the Ideal

When I think about the soundtrack to my 2020, this disc had to be included. Y’all already know that All Them Witches is my son’s favorite band. Every year I set his highlight video to their music – here is his 5^th grade film – and we listen to them before every practice and game, so you know the new disc was in HEAVY rotation.  What is incredible to me is how prolific they are. All Them Witches lives in a world that is sonically undefined, from album to album they seem to be able to reinvent themselves while remaining true to themselves. My son and I had a pretty intense discussion about Nothing as the Ideal. I mean as intense as you can get with an 11 year old. He says it is his second favorite ATW recording, but it falls more to the middle of the pack, for me. They veered a bit from the psychedelic grooves that I love so much on ATW, Sleeping Through the War, Dying Surfer Meets His Maker, and the others. Instead, a few cuts, seemed to be drawing from a more old-school thrash and metal influence, almost reminiscent of Motorhead. I am not saying that is a bad thing, but I really love when they stretch things out, when they let the song breathe. I mean they only had three songs that were longer than five minutes for fuck sakes. That’s abnormal for them. No surprise, but the two that eclipsed nine minutes, “See You Next Fall” and “Rats in Ruin,” are my favorite of the disc.

 

#4 – Katie Pruitt – Expectations

Ya know, I never would have thought that in the middle of a global pandemic the album that I would need was a brutally honest coming of age while coming out of the closet recording, but here we are. Expectations is riddled with track after track of incredible storytelling and authenticity. The instrumentation is timeless. Katie’s guitar playing is tastefully understated, and her voice lilts and sores, commanding an impressive dynamic range that is rare in such a young singer, but really, it comes back to the songwriting. It is just so open and intimate. I genuinely feel like I know this total stranger. I feel like she is a member of my tribe. As a singer/songwriter myself, I suspect that was always my ultimate goal, to open up and let the listener really know me, to find connection. In a year that placed connection at a premium, Expectations helped to fill the void. We talk a lot about love is love, and that is easy for some to understand, but for others they still struggle with that concept. For those that are struggling, I beg you to read these lyrics…

 

I was broken and bent out of shape
Everything was a dark shade of gray
There never was a sunnier day
Than when you decided to get on that plane
Touch down in the Tennessee rain
And I had no clue, it was gonna be you

Then one night we got high on your bed
I had the munchies and your eyes were red
In the grocery store shopping for bread
You looked me dead in my eyes and you said
"Let's have a sword fight with these French baguettes"
And that's when I knew, it was gonna be you...

You came wandering into my life without warning
We stayed up talking, before I knew, it was morning

At a house party just down the street
My band was playing and you came to see
Oh, we both had way too much to drink
We made out all night on some strange balcony
I swear I never wanted to leave
And neither did you
Oh, neither did you...

It was perfect, as if God himself wrote it
I'd be fine dying, if my life were only this moment...
Oh oh oh oh... oh oh
Oh oh oh oh... oh... oh oh... oh

In my bedroom when I was a child
I imagined that same exact smile
In my dreams, oh, you drove me half wild
I thought for sure it was all in my mind
You could never exist in real life
Yet somehow you do
Oh, somehow you do

There must have been angels
Singing sweetly above me
Oh, do you love... me?
There's nobody who
Makes me feel... like you do...
I know that it's always been... you...

 

I am hoping that knowing that is a girl singing about loving a girl will help you understand.

 

#3 – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Reunions

Y’all had to know this was coming right? When has a Jason Isbell album not made my list. When I was compiling the list, Reunions was there, but I initially had it much lower, then, as I do before I write my review, I gave it a listen, and instantly I realized I knew every word to track; I knew all of Jimbo Hart’s bass lines; knew all the slide parts, all the times Amanda Shires’s harmonies kick in. Because it was released in the front half of the year and didn’t get a lot of play during the football season (as a person that works from home, the football season is when I listen to the most music because it is when I am in my car the most, going to and from practice, picking players up, dropping them off, roadtripping to games, etc.) I had forgotten how much of an impact it had already made on me. I had forgotten how strong it was. I am to the point where I would fight someone that didn’t think Jason is one of the best songwriters America ever produced, and it is fuckin’ justified. Album after album the dude is able to paint an authentic American landscape that is accessible, dreamy, and thought provoking. I mean read “Only Children” and tell me that is not the most well written story you’ve read this year?

 

Walking around at night
Fighting my appetite
Every kid in cutoffs could be you
Remember when we used to meet
At the bottom of Mobile Street
And do what the broken people do

Are you still taking notes
The Holy Ghost could get inside you
And do whatever you put your mind to
Will you read me what you wrote
When we were locked outside the building
Over-encouraged, only children

Cold coffee on the fire escape
We bet it all on a demo tape
When we still had something left to steal
Remember when we took too much
To get a little of the human touch
Hand to mouth and reel to reel

And are you still taking notes
Hydrocodone in your backpack
Maybe these words will hold the beast back
And will you read me what you wrote
The one I said you stole from Dylan
Over-encouraged, only children

Heaven's wasted on the dead
That's what your mama said
When the hearse was idling in the parking lot
She said you thought the world of me
And you were glad to see
They finally let me be an astronaut

Are you still taking notes
Will you have anyone to talk to
Castle walls that you can walk through
And do the dead believe in ghosts
Or are you lost in some old building
With over-encouraged only children

 

Honestly, I could just drop the lyrics and let them speak for themselves, but you have to hear the music. The 400 unit is one of the tightest bands making music today. Everyone of them respects their craft; they don’t cut corners; they don’t forsake talent for studios magic; and all of that is evident when you listen to Reunions.

 

#2 – William Wild – Push Ups

No artist got more play in my house than William Wild in 2020. William Wild, which is the moniker of Knoxville based singer/songwriter/producer Garrett Sales, is my go-to to get my head right, to calm me when the kids have terrorized my morning, or I need some calm before bed. Push Ups soothes me. It’s Garrett’s voice. His incredible ability to slide into falsetto with no break is breathtaking. Unlike previous recordings, William Wild and Steady Now, Push Ups is more expansive. The instrumentation has an electronic bend, and his knowledge of production is on full display because every musical direction, every decision that is made is tasteful and intentional. Much like Sylvan Esso and All Them Witches, you can let William Wild be the background to your moment, but if you really listen, if you get beneath the surface, Garrett is opening himself up; he is exposing the rawness of his existence, and it is beautiful.

 

#1 – Nas – King’s Disease

I just went through every Top 10 I have written. I have been at this since 2009, and while several hip-hop artists have appeared on my lists, no one has ever taken the top spot, until this year. If y’all follow any of my social media, you know Nas is my favorite rapper, has been and probably always will be. If Nasir had two more songs, that disc could have made the list, but I put that in the EP category. King’s Disease, however, with 13 terrific tracks, definitely qualifies, and, in my opinion, it is Nas’s best work since Illmatic. So, here is the thing, I just don’t feel qualified to talk about hip-hop. I know what I like. I know I played this CD after every football game, after every football practice. I know my kids know every word on every song. I know it earned it’s spot on my list, but I also know what I don’t know. As a singer/songwriter I feel qualified to speak on the majority of the music I review. I know the history. I understand the instrumentation, the song construction; I can differentiate quality lyrics from shit, but when it comes to hip-hop, I prefer to listen to folks that are more knowledgeable than I am. So, HERE is the Joe Budden podcast discussing the disc.

Top 10 CDs of 2019

Here we are again, me, my wife, my mom, and you, yes you. You took the time to click on a link to see what this old washed-up singer/songwriter was listening to in 2019. Looking back at my blog, if you can still call it that, this is my 10^th year of posting a Top 10 list. There are some familiar faces here, but, like always, some new artists moved me this year.

Like previous years, I’ve got rules and shit. Number one rule: I had to actually purchase the CD. If I didn’t love it enough to own it, then it is not list worthy. Seems pretty logical to me. I know you streamers, who cannot wrap your head around buying an album, are #SYDHs, to which I say, GET OFF OF MY LAWN!!! This is my list, after all. The other rules, with no particular weight, include: how often I listened to the album; how good the artist can pull it off live (yes; I know that doesn’t seem to fit an album review, but, again, it’s my list, and I do what I want up in this piece); quality of recording; strength of lyrics; no EPs; no live albums – it has to be new music, if an artist did a live CD of all new songs, I would consider it; and, for artists that have multiple albums under their belts, how this album compares to their other work.

With the nitty gritty out of the way, I wanted to just mention Homecoming by Beyonce. It’s a live recording from Coachella, not new material; therefore, it cannot be in the running for my Top 10, but, come on, Beyonce at Coachella, with a drumline. The performance was masterful, and the recording is incredible. It deserves to be owned by all. 

Alright, let’s dive in…

#10 – City and Colour – A Pill for Loneliness

I am pretty sure every recording Dallas Green has done since I started doing these Top 10s has made the list. I have a tattoo that pays homage to Sometimes for fuck’s sake. He is brilliant with the voice of an angel. No one. And I mean NO ONE can duplicate the purity of his falsetto, and his instrumentation is always inspiring. The recording is a thing of beauty, the placement of the instruments, the harmonies, the explosions of sound that create interesting sonic layers. It is exactly as it is billed, a pill for loneliness. When I wake-up, and I am just not feeling it, I get it spinning and, immediately, I feel comforted.

#9 – Joseph – Good Luck, Kid

I am a SUCKER for harmonies, if you’ve ever read any of my Top 10s or followed my Facebook Music Page where I post what I am listening to daily, you know this. When the singers are related, the harmonies are always the best. I cannot explain it, but there is something about the shared experiences dancing with shared genetics that makes them glorious. Enter Joseph. Three sisters. Two of them twins. Yeah; glorious. Good Luck, Kid represents real growth for the band. I’m Alone, You’re Not, their 2016 effort always seemed overproduced to me. It didn’t seem authentic. It didn't sound as incredible as they do live, but this album really displays the strength of the unit without overwhelming it with slick production. Lyrically they have always been strong. They provide very personal stories that have universal appeal. Thirteen tracks and not one of them seems forced (Yeah you read that right; 13. In the age of the 7 song CD, they gave us 13). “Green Eyes” stands out to me. The build into the chorus gets me jazzed every time.

#8 – Norah Jones – Begin Again

I mean, it’s Norah Jones. Can Norah put out of flop? I do not think so. She is a genius. She is an incredible musician, lyricist, and singer, and she knows no boundaries. Her creativity is limitless. My only knock on this recording is it is only seven songs. I want more! But the seven songs are so damn strong it could not be denied. I am listening to it as type. My mind is fully engaged, and my ass is busting a move in my chair, feet all tapping and shit. When well written words are married to music that causes your body to move involuntarily, you know you’ve done something right. “Wintertime” may be a perfect song. The instrumentation is tastefully offered with amazing spacing, allowing breath, and the words weave a blanket we can all use to keep us warm.

#7 – Gary Clark Jr. – This Land

Y’all, Clark is a master musician. He plays with an honesty that most of us can only dream of achieving, and he will not allow himself to be boxed in by Blues norms. Yes, he is a Blues musician, but he is pushing those boundaries, and hopefully attracting new artists to the genre. This Land will go down as one of the best protests albums of the 45 era. I could say so much about Clark and this recording, but I want to save the space so you can read the lyrics for “This Land.”

Paranoid and pissed off
Now that I got the money
Fifty acres and a model A
Right in the middle of Trump country
I told you there goes a neighborhood
Now mister Williams ain't so funny
I see you looking out your window
Can't wait to call the police on me

When I know you think I'm up to something
I'm just eating out but still hungry
And this is my analogy
I ain't even near you can't 'til you put me
I remember when you used to tell me

Nigga run, nigga run
Go back where you come from
Nigga run, nigga run
Go back where you come from
We don't want, we don't want your kind
We think you's a dog born
Fuck you, I'm America's son
This is where I come from

This land is mine
This land is mine
This land is mine
This land is mine

Up 'til the sun comes up
No I can't stop grinding
And I can't let 'em break me
No I can't let 'em find me
You can meet my friend the governor
Only if you wanna try me
Or you can meet my other friend the judge
Just in case you think I'm lying

And I know you think I'm up to something
I'm just eating out but still hungry
And this is my analogy
I ain't leaving here you can't take it from me
I remember when you used to tell me

Nigga run, nigga run
Go back where you come from
Nigga run, nigga run
Go back where you come from
We don't want, we don't want your kind
We think you's a dog born
Fuck you, I'm America's son
This is where I come from

This land is mine
This land is mine
This land is mine
(This land is mine)

This land is mine (this land is)
This land is mine (this land is)
This land is mine (this land is)
This land is mine (this land is)

#6 – Brittany Howard – Jaime

Brittany Howard cannot be contained; she is a force of nature that knows no master. Jaime is the height of artistic expression. The recording serves up so many courses for hungry ears. It perfectly balances modern production and vintage instrumentation, never allowing one to dominate the other. Her voice is as powerful as ever, and her story is more honest than ever. “Georgia” opened my eyes and allowed me to get a little closer to this songwriter that I have respected for so many years while “Goat Head” reminded me that there is still a lot of work to be done on this American experiment.

See, tomatoes are green

And cotton is white

My heroes are black

So why God got blue eyes?

My daddy, he stayed

My grandmama's a maid

My mama was brave

To take me outside

'Cause mama is white

And daddy is black

When I first got made

Guess I made these folks mad

See, I know my colors, see

But what I wanna know is...

Who slashed my dad's tires and put a goat head in the back?

I guess I wasn't s'posed to know that, too bad

I guess I'm not 'posed to mind 'cause I'm brown, I'm not black

But who said that?

See, I'm black, I'm not white

But I'm that, nah, nah, I'm this, right?

I'm one drop of three-fifths, right?

#5 – Son Volt – Union

Son Volt, like City and Colour, is one of those bands that always makes the list when they drop a CD, largely based on the strength of Jay Farrar’s lyrics. In my opinion, Jason Isbell, Jay Farrar, and Benjamin Gibbard are the best lyricists of the generation. Union is the quintessential protest album, and Farrar is able to accomplish that without beating the listener over the head with obvious phrases. Sometimes you need a “Fuck you I’m America’s son” and sometimes you need a “They can fill up the jails but it won't make a dent, the sins don't wash away in the sea of discontent,” from “The 99.” Like all of Son Volt’s recordings, this latest album is clean. The production is timeless. The instruments are well placed in the mix with throaty and twangy guitars being featured throughout. The vocals sit upfront, and the harmonies help fill the space beneath. The groove on “Broadsides” is probably my favorite of the album. It’s one of those that just impels you to make a stank face while your body gyrates.

#4 – Andrea von Kampen – Old Country

For most of the year, this album sat at #1. I absolutely love von Kampen’s voice. Her YouTube presence is incredible, dropping multiple live videos making it clear she is the real deal. If I wrote this list next week, she may move back up. The top four are always so fickle. Day to day. After Another Day, Desdemona, and an amazing Audiotree recording, Old Country finally gave us what we have been waiting for, for years, a full disc. Eight songs to sink our teeth into, and they did not disappoint. Not one throwaway in the bunch. What I love most about this recording is it is understated. In the age of electronics and big production, von Kampen stays true to her Americana roots, highlighting the beautiful tones of real instruments that help to showcase her lyrics and incredibly pure vocals.

#3 – Beth Bombara – Evergreen

I always feel somewhat strange about including artists that I actually know, like somehow it invalidates the strength of the recording, but I defy you to find a better recorded CD in 2019. The production on Evergreen is the shit I dream about. The layers are tasty. The vocals are perfectly placed. The harmonies are so beautifully positioned that you don’t even realize they are there unless you are really, really, listening for them. The guitar tones drop my jaw and weaken my knees. Maybe it’s because Evergreen sits in my musical wheelhouse, but damn it I love this CD, and I have been publicly gushing about it since it dropped. It’s a toe tapper. It’s sultry. It’s a showcase of great songwriting and musicianship. It’s everything a timeless CD should be.

#2 – Black Pumas – Black Pumas

Y’all this CD came out of no where for me. I hadn’t even heard of the Black Pumas. I was just using YouTube to listen to music while I was getting shit done at work, and ol’ YT decided I needed to hear “Colors,” and I did. They are a merger of everything I really love about music. So much diversity and soul, paying homage to the past, but pushing the music forward. Marvelous musicianship and songs that actually say something. You can dance to it, get butt-ass naked and make love to it, or just chill while sipping on a nice glass of Woodford Reserve, allowing the sounds to sooth your soul. Hell, if you are really skilled, you could probably push play on Black Pumas, get butt-ass naked and make love while sipping on some Woodford. It’s your world. You do you, just make sure you give this one a spin.

#1.2 – Lizzo – Cuz I Love You (Deluxe)

1.2, you may be saying. Well, I just realized Cuz I Love You was released in 2019. Some singles from the album were release much earlier, so it seems like it has been out forever. Despite bending my own damn rules, I am including it because it is too damn good. “Tempo” is my jam of the year. When I am really wanting to get down, I put that bad boy on and just love life. The thing that is so great about Lizzo is she has broad appeal. I cannot count how many times I have been carting members of my son’s 4^th grade football team around and we are all breaking it down to this album. You want to have a good time. You want to dance your ass off. You want to appreciate an incredible musician that is totally authentic and inspiring, put in some Lizzo and try not to bounce. 

#1.1 – Ex:Re – Ex:Re

Those that are really connected to me saw this coming. Unlike Black Pumas, Bombara, City and Colour, Son Volt, and von Kampen who all make music similar to the music I make, I have no idea how Elena Tonra does it. It’s not just the instrumentation or the the downbeat, it’s her phrasing, her control. It's the sparseness. She is able to get so much out of every beat, every syllable. No CD got more play from me this year than Ex:Re. More than anything, I want music to make me feel, and I do not care what the emotion is, I just want real, true, emotions. I cannot listen to this album without getting all up in my feelings. While Lizzo gave me my party CD, Ex:Re gave me my I’d like a good cry CD. Lyrically it is pure poetry. I’ve listened to “The Dazzler” seven times in a row. I could put it on repeat and never tire. The images Tonra pens are vivid and heart breaking. They are everything I want.  

The night is young at the Dazzler

I spiked my own drink, took myself to bed

Alone I pondered the cheap thrills of hotels

The miniatures, the endless throwaway towels

One for my hair, one for my foot

Another for my other foot

My face, my neck, my spilt beverages

Drunk in my hotel room, I look perfect

I look like I'm 24 before I caught your coldness

God, I'm gorgeous

I keep begging for late checkouts

Let me stay here, let me live here

In room 232 till I expire, I can shower for hours

Leave the lights on, I'm not paying those bills

The neighbours are quiet, no one is back yet

I think about the falsity of hotel sex

Expensive bed sheets and the orange glowing filaments

The way you used to say you love me

In the heat of it, holiday feeling

When it wasn't over too quick

Yeah, I'll throw the TV out the window

And I'll paint the whole room gold

I'll make potions with the minibar here

Yeah, I feel unbalanced, put my feet on the walls

Trying to meet you all night, I'm not paying for calls

Oh, this is heaven

Alone

Yeah, this is living

Alone  

   

I don’t think I’ve ever done this before, but here are the other albums I purchased this year. Again, they were good enough to get beyond a simple stream, good enough that I had to own them, just not enough room in the Top 10. There may be something here you also want to check out.

  

Andrea von Kampen	Twlights & Evening Bell (EP)
Beyonce	Homecoming (Live)
Copeland	Blushing
Glen Hansard	This Wild Willing
Jesse Gannon	Jesse Gannon (EP)
Lowland Hum	Glyphonic
Maybe April	The Other Side
Patty Griffin	Patty Griffin
Sara Bareilles	Amidst the Chaos
Seth Walker	Are You Open?
Silversun Pickups	Widow's Weeds
Tank & the Bangas	Green Balloon
The Black Keys	Let's Rock
The Lumineers	III
Tool	Fear Inoculum

While I do think being a singer/songwriter affords me a certain amount of credibility, I am certainly not saying these are the only recordings worthy of listening to from 2019. I am sure many of you have different lists of great albums I should check out, so please post them in the comments. I am always open to being moved by new music. 

Until next year...

Top 10 CDs of 2018

2019 has wearily made its appearance. Having just returned from a trip out to South Carolina to watch my son play in an All-American Bowl, exhaustion barely allowed us to watch the ball drop before we were all deep in dreams.

At this point, I am usually two clicks away from posting my Top Ten list, but not today; today I am staring at a blank page and a flashing cursor. I’ve been tracking my music purchases and shifting positions, so the list has some form to it, but there will be some last-minute shifts for sure.

In truth, I almost said fuck it. I mean I don’t really have a blog anymore. I write one post at the end of the year that my wife and mom will read, but that’s about it. Okay, you; you’ll read it, and I appreciate that, but that is it, just my wife, my mom, and you.

So why do it?

Because I am a sucker for tradition, and I don’t have it in me to quit.

Before diving in, let’s talk about the albums that didn’t make it because of my rules (Oh yeah, I do have rules. See any of my other Top Tens from past years for a list of the rules. Ain’t nobody got time for that today) but still deserve a mention.

Live CDs, unless they are a live recording of brand new songs, are a no go. It’s apples to honey dew, and that’s not how I get down. That being said, City and Colour released Guide Me Back Home, and it is a gorgeous recording. HIGHLY recommend. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit dropped Live from the Ryman, and it too is worthy of a purchase.

Similarly, EPs are not in contention. I mean, I love that an artist put out 5 amazing songs, but I want more. I deserve more, and so do you. That being said. Nasir by Nas is incredible and is currently my son’s get-up disc before basketball games. Nasir is 7 songs, so it almost made to cut, but I decided more was needed. Boygenius by Boygenius is the collaboration we have all been waiting for, and Your Smith put out Bad Habit, which hopefully foreshadows the great things to come from Caroline Smith’s new project.

With the formalities out of the way, let’s dive in.

 #10 – Amos Lee – New Moon

New Moon was a hard one for me. It barely made the list. Loma, Ume, and August Greene all made a run at it, but the strength of Lee’s vocals and the lyrical content won me over. Here is my issue with New Moon, the production, the treatment of the songs covered their pure beauty. If you stripped anyone of these 10 tracks down to Amos and his guitar, it could have been song of the year for me. And to be clear, it wasn’t the production on every song. “Hang On, Hang On” is everything I love about Lee’s work. “Don’t Fade Away” is uncluttered, allowing the listener to really embrace the emotion of the lyric. Unfortunately, the power of “No More Darkness, No More Light” is clouded by an electronic rendition that seems out of place to these ears, and to select that track as the opener just baffled me. Was that Lee’s decision or some suit trying to grab a younger audience? I don’t know, but I do not approve. “Louisville” elicited the same response from me. There were pluses and minuses for me, and that is why it landed in the 10 spot. On voice alone, there is no other male singer that I would rather listen to. Lyrically, it is definite Top 5, just questions some of the production decisions.

 #9 – Foxing – Nearer My God

You want some last-minute changes? I bought this yesterday after reading an RFT Article. Embarrassingly, I didn’t even know they released new music this year. I am really good about checking iTunes new releases every Friday, going to the Wiki page for new releases, etc., but somehow Nearer My God escaped me. For fans of Foxing it is what you would expect, but better. They got some polish with Chris Walla in the booth, and they are just better musicians. You cannot tour as much as they do and not perfect your craft. The harmonies on “Nearer My God” stand out, as does the musical tapestry that “Five Cups” weaves. As someone that has called St. Louis home since 1998, I loved seeing tracks called “Crown Candy” and “Lambert.” I’d be lying if I said I don’t need to spend more time with this recording, but the elements are all so strong, that it demanded relevance.

#8 – Lori McKenna – The Tree

The Bird and the Rifle snuck up on me in 2016, so when I caught wind that McKenna was releasing new music in 2018, I was ready. Picking up from her 2016 release, The Tree features her incredible way with words and that storyteller’s voice. The combination makes it impossible for me to shift the album to background music. When it is playing, I am there, in the story, watching the images McKenna paints appear before my eyes, each character and old friend that I am happy to see. This is the album that men struggling to appreciate the women in their life and women fighting for their self-worth need to hear. So many tracks with strong messages that need to land on eager ears.

#7 – Jeffrey Foucault – Blood Brothers

I am pretty sure I once said that Foucault was one of the best songwriters of his generation. That has not changed. Blood Brothers opens with “Dishes;” and, out of the gate, I am left thinking, damn, I could never write something that good. It is pure poetry:

Swing the axe
In the hour before daylight
Note the sparks
That attend to the blade
A thing made free
Of itself leaps apart
And the heart divided
Would do just the same

The disc never lets up. The production is clean and understated, highlighting the lyric, the vocals, and the emotions being offered. I’d be hard pressed to pick a favorite track. It is such a complete album. It’s the kind of disc that may get lost on the shelf from time to time, but when you put it on, you immediately regret not listening to it every day.

#6 – Leon Bridges – Good Thing

My guts says if you loved Coming Home you either hated this recording or were obsessed with it. Put me in the obsessed camp. Good Thing starts out with that neo-soul vibe that makes you appreciate Bridges for reclaiming an era that, despite the art that was being created, was pretty fucked up, but immediately it jumps the listener to the jazziest groove I have heard in a long time. If “Bad Bad News” doesn’t make you want to snap a finger and shake your ass, I’d check your pulse. And the guitar work is sick, like take me to the shrink cause this man just blew my mind, sick. Track to track it is solid. So much smoky goodness. I get stank face just listening to it. If I had to pick one track, “Mrs.” is straight-up the sexiest song recorded in 2018. I promise you babies are being made to that song right now. If you are done having kids, press skip when you come to track 9.

#5 – Caitlyn Smith – Starfire

I could not tell you where I heard about Smith, but I sure am glad I paid attention. Every time I spin Starfire I am left thinking, damn what I great recording. It’s got the Nashville polish without the forced crossover appeal. It crosses over naturally, no 808 and some cheesy embedded country rap needed. Her vocals are powerful and clear. The lyrics are exceptional. She is painting movies that unfold before the listeners with closed eyes. Too many standout tracks to list, but “This Town Is Killing Me” is the song every singer/songwriter that has tried to make it wishes they would have written.

I pour my heart out, three minutes at a time

On a J-45, but no one's listening

They're too busy drinking on the company tab

I scream my lungs out, confess my secrets, all my sins

But they don't give a damn

Cause if it don't sound like the radio? Pass

#4 – The Carters – Everything is Love

I always feel like a poser trying to talk about hip-hop. While I am confident in my knowledge of Americana, Blues, Funk, Country, Rock, and Soul, I do not have the pedigree to adequately explain why one hip-hop CD is better than another, so I’ll just say this, my family has bumped to Everything is Love on several roadtrips. The songs are inviting, Beyonce’s rich vocals juxtaposed against Jay-Z’s expert flow, both sitting on-top very musical tracks. “Apeshit” gets the car hype, “Black Effect” gets us thinking, and “LoveHappy” just leaves us feeling good.

#3 – J Cole – KOD

I am going to be flat out honest, I had never heard of J Cole before KOD, and I only heard of him because I became mildly obsessed with Lost in Vegas which is a YouTube Channel where Ryan and George record their reactions to songs. My initial interest was seeing their legitimate joy when hearing Chris Stapleton kill it. They have also done reactions to Jason Isbell, which were incredible, but my favorite videos of theirs are when they review hip-hop. Like I said above, I do not have the pedigree, but they do, and I learn so much when I listen to them talk about the genre. They did a full album review of KOD, and I was sold. That disc has probably received as many plays as any other album that I purchased in 2018. If you’ve got an hour, go watch that video. They do such a great job of explaining why the album is so good. If you want to listen to one track, “1985” is incredible. My favorite line may seem so simple but it is SO slick.

Congrats 'cause you made it out your mama's house

I hope you make enough to buy your mom a house

As a writer, the way he uses the similar sound of “mama” and “mom a” is fuckin’ genius level shit.

#2 – All Them Witches – Atw

They are back, and they are in the same spot. On the heels of the critically acclaimed Sleeping Through the War which was produced by Grammy award winner, David Cobb, All Them Witches flipped the script and decided to produce Atw themselves. They slayed it. It breathes differently, but it is every bit All Them Witches. Like last year, Atw quickly became Teddy’s get-up CD for football games, so we listened to it A LOT. So many times that even Wendy Mae can sing all the songs. He also asked me to use “Fishbelly 86 Onions” for his highlight video this year, so that held some weight. But we also got to see All Them Witches twice this year. Once in Columbia as a four piece and then in St. Louis as a three piece. They fuckin’ killed it. Watching them makes me miss being in a band more than any band I have seen in recent memory. The interplay. The tightness, but the willingness and ability to take the song where it wants to go on that particular night. You can tell they love what they are doing, and that makes all the difference. Atw feels like a live recording. It has that energy that is often lost when a producer is trying to make a hit instead of an album. I love this entire recording, but “Fishbelly 86 Onions,” “Workhorse,” and “Half-Tongue” standout for different reasons – energy, lyrics, and groove. Still, the track I put on repeat is “Harvest Feast.” I mean, a straight slow blues jam? Come on. Ya damn right I am listening to that one again. I started playing guitar because I have a big ass voice, and I want to play the blues like BB. “Harvest Feast” is just an evolved BB, like if BB and Black Sabbath decided to collaborate.

#1 – Lucy Dacus – Historian

For once I am not alone on my number one, NPR and Paste both agreed with me. Historian has been sitting in that spot since March when it dropped, and nothing came along to bump it off. It is not just Dacus’s mesmerizing voice and her intrapersonal but universally accessible lyrics that helped her make the list in 2016. With Historian it is the band, too. They are incredible musicians. The drummer provided some of my favorite tracks, and watching him do it live it is real treat. The bassist solidly lays the foundations, allowing the rest of the band to have maximum expression as they build the track. The lead guitarist tastefully drapes the songs in covers that were made for new lovers, always adding never detracting from the song. And the auxiliary musicians that they brought in for the recording followed a similar pattern, contributing but never overwhelming the recording. The true sign of a great album is the merit of the individual songs, and there are no throwaways on Historian. I’d have to fight myself between “Addictions” and “Pillar of Truth” for favorite song, but then “Timefighter” would step in and kick the shit out of all of them, me, and anyone who is listening.