I should also note that I see no reason to put Paul McCartney's New CD on this list. A: I don't have it yet because I'm expecting Santa to put it in my Christmas stocking; and B: Paul McCartney doesn't need my recommendation to boost his sales. But from the samples I've listened to on Amazon, it does sound as if Macca is back on form, after the cringe-worthy Kisses on the Bottom. (Don't get me wrong; I like standards, I just prefer if they are sung in tune.)
On the other hand, these artists do deserve a shout-out...
The Wood Brothers -- Muse
"Sing About It"
As I've said before, the Wood Brothers are one of my very favorite acts. Don't know why, exactly -- ever since I discovered them, purely by chance, in 2006, they just hit home with me, album after album. And feeling possessive and protective about them, as I always do with My Guys, I worry that they get overshadowed by the Avett Brothers (more on them soon), who have similar close brother harmonies and Americana twang. Dang, I love the Avetts too, but I really love the Wood Brothers. Please check them out.
Are they country? Are they folk? Are they blues? Are they jazz? The answer is YES, and Muse shows them operating with equal fluency in every one of those genres. It was hard to pick just one track to play for you from this brilliant, soulful album, but this one's as good as any.
Unclassifiable as their music is, it's a true synthesis, not just a pair of music nerds showing off by switching styles. In all of their songs, they blend the raw emotion of the blues, the storytelling itch of country, the gentle honesty of folk, the wry wit of jazz. Plus, they don't do songs about getting the girl or about how tough it is to be a celebrity; they write about getting drunk and finding salvation and dying and searching for joy -- the real stuff of life.
I could listen to Oliver Wood's voice for hours, the skillful way he works the grit and rasp in his voice. This is a truly American voice, and a national treasure, in my book.
4 comments:
Not impressed with Modern Vampires, eh? I actually liked it a bunch! Bowie was my big let down this year. Looking forward to more of your lists.
Close but no cigar for the Vampires, IMO -- but then, my expectations were dialed pretty high. I must confess I didn't even buy the Bowie, mainly because I was mad about the big museum show in London being sold out when I got there. S'okay, David Bowie and VW will survive without my thumbs-up....
I remain impressed with your commitment to keeping up with new releases. I feel like I bought more CDs than I needed this year, but looking back over my Amazon orders, I only see four with 2013 release dates.
1) David Bowie's album, which, honestly, I didn't have high expectations for but was willing to buy on the grounds of lifetime achievement.
2) Sarah Jarosz's third album, which was solid but a let-down compared to her previous (which I got knowing nothing about it based on an Amazon recommendation).
3) Janelle Monae's album which I thought was a huge step forward compared to her debut, and which I really liked.
4) "The Blue Room" by Madeleine Peyroux which I liked, but didn't make a significant impression on me -- I should pull that out again.
Best album I got this year might be "Sorry and Smoke" by Slaid Cleaves (also somebody I'd never heard of who Amazon recommended). By my standards that's practically a new release (2011). . . .
err . . . "Sorrow and Smoke" not "Sorry and Smoke" :)
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