Ok, y'all can stop holding your breath now. You may now slam my list.
Best of 2005:
1. Robbie Fulks- Georgia Hard
Alt-country troubadour Robbie Fulks was previously known for hurling a humorously scathing directive toward Nashville. Here he delivers a humorous, witty and poignant nod to the 1970's Nashville countrypolitan sound.
2. Hot Hot Heat- Elavator
Hmmm. What's a word that goes with "Hot"? Oooh, let's call ourselves Hot Hot Heat. Maybe it's the cheesy band name that makes this one seem a guilty pleasure. But play it when you're home alone, and guaranteed you'll be jumping around playing air guitar in the mirror.
3. Keren Ann- Nolita
Every year I go to Bumbershoot Festival, I discover an artist I had previously criminally
ignored. Two years ago it was Bobby Bare Jr and his criminal cronies, this year it was French chanteuse Keren Ann. Her whispery, moody vocals provide the perfect late night soundtrack.
4. Son Volt- Okemah and the Melody of Riot
Best comeback album of the year from an artist I had given up on. Probably more of a Crazy Horse rock influence than on any of their prevous releases, and easily their best since the debut. Political songs usually bore (I'm looking at you, Mr. Earle), but "Jet Pilot" was on the right plane for me.
5. Josh Rouse- Nashville
Had the tough task of following up one of my very favorite albums of all time. Succeeded in making a very good album, but not spectacular like its predeceasor. Lovely adult pop sound without being middle of the road crap.
6. Richard Hawley- Cole's Corner
One of those albums where the positive critical aclaim really hit the nail on the head. Great retro crooner sound, very reminiscient of Nick Lowe's last (excellent) album, the Convincer.
7. Nada Surf- The Weight is a Gift
Had the tough task of following up one of my very favorite albums of all time. Succeeded in making a very good album, but not spectacular like its predeceasor. Lovely adult pop sound without being middle of the road crap. Easy copy and paste review straight from above. Brendan Benson also was following up one of my favorite albums, but he didn't succeed as well as Rouse and Nada Surf did.
8. Tom Brosseau- What I Meant to Say is Goodbye
His voice is Buckley-esque, but his sound and lyrics are rural Western Americana at it's best. Another reto sounding album (see #6 and #9 on the list), but taking more of a cue from Woodie Guthrie. And he gets bonus points for picking me and my wife out at his show, pointing to us, and saying, "This song is dedicated to that couple right there."
9. Bobby Bare Sr.- The Moon was Blue
The only album this year to feature Bobby Bare Jr, Andrew Bird, and members of Lambchop. But their effort take a back seat to old man Bare's finely aged voice. A damn fine album for a guy who hasn't put one out in 22 years. A damn fine album period. Great retro sound with modern production touches. Not to unlike the Richard Hawley disc, though with a bit more of a country croon.
10. The Moaners- Dark Snack
The Trailer Bride weird-country sound had gotten stale, so Melissa Swingle apparently dumped her band, dumped her husband, became a lesbian, got a girlfriend, decided she was a bluesy garage rocker, and formed a band with her girlfriend. Not sure of the order. I am sure that this album fucking rocks.
11. Feist- Let it Die
I've never seen a Broken Social Scene show, and don't wish to. But I did see a Feist (Tower Records) show, along with about six Tower Records employees and three or four other would be fans, and it was completely underwhelming. Thankfully, her album offers a more fleshed out band sound of lush, gorgous jazzy sound. Sort of like what Norah Jones would sound like with the stick removed.
12. Chatham County Line- Route 23
My favorite bluegrass album of the year. Granted, it's the only bluegrass album of 2005 that I've listened to in it's entirety, but these guys bring some added instrumentation (e.g. steel pedal) to the mix without losing a respect for traditionalism. What Old Crow Medicine show would sound like if they stuck closer to bluegrass and stopped trying the be the country side of the Grateful Dead.
