My Ten Favorite CDs of 2013

I love making lists. I just can’t help it. So once again, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite albums of the year. This was even more difficult than in past years. As always, the CDs I chose had to meet certain criteria. They couldn’t be re-issues or compilations or live albums (which eliminated a lot of great music from contention). They had to be full-length CDs (which disqualified some excellent discs by Henry Wagons and Magnolia). And they had to have at least mostly original material, as songwriting is an important element. And to be clear, I did not get a chance to listen to every CD that was released this year. So obviously my choices are based on what I actually heard. So here they are, my top ten discs of 2013.

10. I See Hawks In L.A.: Mystery Drug

I love I See Hawks In L.A. Last year’s New Kind Of Lonely held the number five spot on my 2012 list of favorites. This year’s release, Mystery Drug, is another great bunch of original tunes. Rob Waller has an excellent voice, full of emotion, pain and wisdom. “Yesterday’s Coffee” is one of my favorite tracks from this album. By the way, these guys put on a good show, so check them out in concert whenever you’re able.

9. Preservation Hall Jazz Band: That’s It!

I’ve long had weakness for New Orleans music. Preservation Hall Jazz Band has been around for decades, but until this year had not released an album of original material. That’s It! shows that this band can write some great tunes as well as play the hell out of others’ material. There are several instrumental tracks, including the excellent title track. One of my favorite songs from this album is “Rattlin’ Bones,” a seriously cool track.

8. The Leisure Society: Alone Aboard The Ark

One of the great joys for me in doing this blog is getting turned on to new bands. There was quite a lot of new music for me in 2013, and one of my favorite new groups is The Leisure Society. Alone Aboard The Ark is actually the band’s third album, though the first I’ve heard. They reminded me at times of Belle And Sebastian. “Tearing The Arches Down,” “The Sober Scent Of Paper” and “Forever Shall We Wait” are three of my favorite tracks.

7. The Brian Kinler Band: Not Your Everyday Amateur

Brian Kinler is someone I’ve been listening to for many years now. I am always impressed by his releases. The new album, Not Your Everyday Amateur, has quite a different feel from the previous release by this jazz pianist. On this album he shows what he can do on keyboards – performing not just piano parts, but several other instruments. Andrea Whitney (nee Gaspar) adds a gorgeous violin to several of the tracks. “When It Comes To You” and “Not Even The Rain” are two of my favorite tracks.

6. Leftover Cuties: The Spark & The Fire

One of my new favorite bands is Leftover Cuties. I had the privilege of seeing these guys perform in August, and they were wonderful. Their second album, The Spark & The Fire, is an impressive collection of songs combining jazz, pop and swing. And I absolutely love the excellent lead vocals by Shirli McAllen. “Clarity,” “If Only It Could Be” and “Shame” are three of the CD’s highlights.

5. Samantha Crain: Kid Face

Samantha Crain’s Kid Face is an album that I instantly loved, right from its opening notes. I completely dig her vocals. Samantha is able to do so much with her voice, to convey so much. In addition to that, she is a damn good songwriter. “Never Going Back,” “Taught To Lie” and “Sand Paintings” are three of the album’s highlights.

4. Marshall Chapman: “Blaze Of Glory

Blaze Of Glory, the 2013 release from Marshall Chapman, is another that features seriously strong songwriting and lead vocals. “Beyond Words” is one of my favorite songs of the year. And there are some other standouts on this release, including “Dreams & Memories.”

 

3. Bombadil: Metrics Of Affection

Bombadil is another new band for me. Their 2013 release, Metrics Of Affection, has a great sense of play and some excellent lyrics. The songs are a combination of catchy pop and folk, and have an original feel (something difficult to achieve these days). Every track on this album is excellent, and its final track, “Thank You,” is one of the best songs of the year. It’s a beautiful tune that I’ve listened to over and over.

2. Willie Nile: American Ride

Willie Nile’s 2013 release, American Ride, is an album full of great energy and passion. Check out the opening track, “This Is Our Time,” a joyful rock tune that will totally raise your spirits. There are plenty of surprises too, like “God Laughs,” with lyrics like these: “God hears, God sees/God knows your tune and changes keys/God cheats, God steals/God crushes us beneath his wheels/God heals, God kills/God does it all for your cheap thrills.” The album’s only cover is a kick-ass version of Jim Carroll’s “People Who Died.”

  

1. Howlin’ Brothers: Howl

My number one pick of the year is the Howlin’ Brothers’ Howl! This album is fantastic, and this band is now one of my favorite bands around. You should definitely check out their live performances if you can. And you should certainly pick up a copy of Howl! This is an album that I quickly found myself raving about to anyone who would listen. Seriously, I was playing it over the phone to friends. The music is a glorious combination of bluegrass, country, folk, blues and even a touch of New Orleans style (on “Delta Queen”), but with a great, raw delivery and energy.

Well, that's it. It's been a great year for music. And there were a lot of other excellent releases that didn't quite make it onto my top ten list (such as Little Village, the 2013 release by Banded Stilts). I have high expectations for 2014, especially as the few 2014 releases that I've already heard have been really good. Happy New Year, everybody!

Blackie And The Rodeo Kings: “South” (2014) CD Review

I feel like I’ve been saying this a lot lately, but there is so much great music coming out of Canada these days. South, the new album from Blackie And The Rodeo Kings, is a really good group of tunes, with all three main members contributing songs. This is the band’s eighth album, and is largely an acoustic endeavor, though with their rhythm section of John Dymond on bass and Gary Craig on drums. There isn’t a weak track here, and some – like “I’d Have To Be A Stone” – are absolutely wonderful.

The album starts off strong, with “North.” The first thing that hits me is the excellent vocal work by Tom Wilson, who sings lead on this track (and also wrote this song). There is a great, almost yodel-like quality to his voice at one moment. And then I love the way certain lines are stretched out, like when he holds on the word “down” in the lines “And the sun goes down way too fast/And the sun stays down too long.” Tom’s voice then gets good and low on the word “tired” in “and leave this dirty, tired town,” a really nice touch, making us actually feel the word, feel precisely what he’s getting at. This is a very cool acoustic tune, with some nice work on guitar. But it’s that steady rhythm that really drives the song and gives it a kind of positive vibe.

They follow “North” with the album’s title track, “South,” written by Colin Linden. This one has a sweeter, sadder, more beautiful vibe. Check out these lines: “I can’t stand to live this way/And I can’t bear to see you cry/So baby, point this engine south/I want to ride ‘til we get our fill/We spent our youth trying make a life/But from here I know we never will.” I love the guitar during the instrumental section. John Whynot plays organ on this track.

“Gotta Stay Young” is a really interesting combination of country and blues. And I dig these lyrics: “Well, I learned about love by playing in a band/I thought I had it good doing one night stands.” This one was written by Tom Wilson and Dave Thomson, and Tom sings lead. “It’s not my head, it’s the room that spins.”

“I’d Have To Be A Stone” is a gorgeous, slow, sad tune written by Stephen Fearing and Tom Wilson. I really like what Stephen Fearing does vocally on this track. He sings, “I’d have to be a stone to forget you/Now I’m living like a stone.” That line is so simple, yet completely heart-rending. The whole song is like that, and so it gets right inside you. This is one of my personal favorite tracks from this album. “I’m singing hymns to the future/I’m digging holy ground.” Kevin McKendree joins the band on organ for this track.

“Everything I Am” is an interesting tune, with an early rock and roll influence as well as a blues influence, particularly in the vocal line, reminding me of Eric Clapton. Stephen Fearing wrote this one, and provides the lead vocals. It has a loose feel musically, which I dig. Check out the instrumental section – it’s very cool.

“Reinventing The Wheel Of Love” at first oddly reminds me of “Sloop John B.” Seriously, you can sing that song’s lyrics while listening to this tune, perhaps just a bit slowly. Despite the song’s hokey title, I like this one quite a lot. It was written by Colin Linden and Gary Nicholson. “Time after time we’re surprised to find a heart could ever hold this much/While we’re busy reinventing the wheel of love.”

“Fleur De Lys” has a sort of pop-country feel, and features some nice blending of vocals by Tom Wilson and Colin Linden (who also co-wrote the tune). But it’s probably the instrumental section that I love most.

South concludes with its sole cover tune, “Driftin’ Snow,” which was written by Canadian folk singer Willie P. Bennett. This is one of my favorite tracks, in part because of the vocals. It begins with some excellent a cappella singing, and there is another a cappella section at the end. Sounds fantastic. This is a powerful track. Interestingly, the first release by Blackie And The Rodeo Kings back in 1996 was a tribute to Willie P. Bennett, and “Driftin’ Snow” was included as the final track of that one as well. The band’s name comes from the title of Bennett’s late 1970s release, Blackie And The Rodeo King.

CD Track List

1. North
2. South
3. Gotta Stay Young
4. I’d Have To Be A Stone
5. Blow Me A Kiss
6. Summertime’s Over
7. Everything I Am
8. I’m Still Loving You
9. Reinventing The Wheel Of Love
10. Try Try Try Again
11. Fleur De Lys
12. Driftin’ Snow

Musicians

Blackie And The Rodeo Kings are Stephen Fearing on vocals and acoustic guitar; Colin Linden on vocals, acoustic guitar, dobro and mandolin; Tom Wilson on vocals and acoustic guitar; John Dymond on upright and electric bass; and Gary Craig on drums and percussion.

South is scheduled to be released on January 14, 2014 through File Under: Music.

Matthew Sweet And Susanna Hoffs: “Under The Covers Vol. 3” (2013) CD Review

Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs released the third volume in their Under The Covers series. This volume is all about the eighties, which of course was the last great decade for pop music. Well, really, it was mainly the first half of that decade that was great. The second half of the 1980s was a mixed bag, with some great stuff from bands like R.E.M. and ‘Til Tuesday, but also a lot of complete horseshit from bands like Cinderella, Europe and Poison.

Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs make some interesting selections on Under The Covers Vol. 3. Some of these tunes were big hits, such as “Our Lips Are Sealed” and “Free Fallin,’” while others are less well known, such as “The Bulrushes.” Most of these tracks are light, fun pop tunes. By the way, this CD’s liner notes feature some silly photographs of Sweet and Hoffs.

They open the disc with an R.E.M. tune, “Sitting Still” (from their 1983 album, Murmur). It’s a fun rendition, and Matthew Sweet does just a bit of a Michael Stipe impression in his vocal approach. They follow that with “Girls Talk,” a song written by Elvis Costello and recorded by Dave Edmunds, who had a hit with it. Susanna Hoffs takes lead vocal duties on this track. This is another bright, fun pop tune.

I’ve been enjoying listening to the dBs lately, and on this disc they cover that band’s “Big Brown Eyes.” It’s a good tune, though at less than two minutes, it’s over so quickly (the original version was short too).

Chrissie Hynde is one of those fantastic kick-ass gals of rock, and Susanna Hoffs does a bit of a vocal imitation of her on this cover of The Pretenders tune, “Kid.” I also really dig the way Susanna handles the vocals on Kirsty MacColl’s “They Don’t Know.”  “Our Lips Are Sealed” was always one of my favorite Go-Go’s songs, and Susanna adds a rawness, a rough edge to her vocals, which is nice.

Their version of “Free Fallin’” is kind of smooth, but it just doesn’t have the energy and power of the original Tom Petty version. This is one of the weakest tracks. But I love their version of “Save It For Later,” which captures the fun spirit of the original. I’ve always really liked XTC, and these guys do a good job with “Towers Of London,” totally getting the energy of the tune.

CD Track List

1. Sitting Still
2. Girls Talk
3. Big Brown Eyes
4. Kid
5. Free Fallin’
6. Save It For Later
7. They Don’t Know
8. The Bulrushes
9. Our Lips Are Sealed
10. How Soon Is Now
11. More than This
12. Towers Of London
13. Killing Moon
14. Trouble

Under The Covers Vol. 3 was released on November 12, 2013 through Shout! Factory.

(Note: I also posted this review on Pop Culture Beast.)