1. mewithoutyou - Ten Stories
What a dreamy train ride, what a providential wreck.
I found myself in the smoke, snow, broken branches
and scattered with the animals through each song, and even
pleaded in defense for 'The Elephant'.
The journey of this album was/is a grand and sensory one.
Each song was a page turner of hurts, concern and anger,
golden lyrics, precise and
openly honest with screams and whispers.
2. The 77s - Stick and Stones
plus - ('seeds & stems') - Re-Issue
Greater, stronger and crisp. A nice 77s archive investment. Going back and polishing the
master(s), to me it's like going 'back to the future'. Mike's info said that they were
trying to make the 'big time', and working for that had them, to me, restricted and boxed
in. To me, though, alot of the songs were complementary - Aaron's sharp geared
drumming was the perfect flip with Mike's synched-scat guitar. I've always
considered Mike Roe as one of the best guitarists.
3. The Hunger Games Soundtrack
Another T-Bone Burnett all star production and gathering of singers and bands.
(soon The Secret Sisters will not be a secret anymore).
To me, this album is mega-better than the movie. I saw the movie (sorry, i didn't read
the book) and it reminded me of a Charleton Heston 60's Sci-Fi.
4. Johnny Cash Bootleg 4 - The Soul of Truth
Most people like JC's rebellious, cocaine and 'tall-man finger shot' phase.
I like JC's gospel/dressed-in-black portion of his life (and all the way
through Rick Rubin's American Recording sessions). These 'good-news' songs
were sung, i felt, out of pennance and gratitude for grace after the stormy days.
5. U2 Popmart - 23 disc Las Vegas
rehearsals bootleg!
This plug is more of 'finding' this rare U2 bootleg, than listening/aesthetic pleasure.
This is not as good as the treasure chest of the 4-disc Achtung Beibi out-takes, but
close. 23 discs compared to 4. You kind of wonder with all the rehearsing,
why the 'Lost Wages' opening show still had some show problems.
6. U222
A 'greatgottanabit' package (booklette and music) of the 360 Tour!
7. Jack White - Blunderbuss
I agree with most of the reviews that gave this album kudos, most mentioning that
every song was a different experiment, with the golden thread of JW's guitar.
Blunderbuss 'almost' lost me, with each song being SO DIFFERENT in music frame,
like Hometown buffet, but the more i listened to it, the more a structure surrounded me
and 'the flarred out barrel flintlock' seemed 'reasonable' (is that a good adjective?).
Jack was 'still there', while the 'scenery' changed around him.
(did anyone else notice that's giant crow on his shoulder?!)
8. Bob Dylan - Tempest
Like Blunderbuss, i thought Tempest had it's silly/puzzling moments of lazy lyrics
(from TEMPEST "...they mumbled, fumbled, tumbled...")
[sorry, no Dylanites can convince me that those lines are holy and sacred),
BUT then they were blown off, with lyrics of sage, wisdom and prophecy,
(from SCARLETT TOWN "Good and evil livin' side by side, all human forms
seem glorified").
9. Levi the Poet - Seasons
Are these written down?! Is this reharsed?! Does this just flow out?!
Levi's (if i were to believe in past lives) an old-testament prophet that
gleans from his journal, heart AND from the Bible. It's great that he has an
album to listen to when you're bobbin' at the wailing wall of modern culture.
(I think Levi the Poet and mewithoutyou should tour together or make an album
together!) - http://www.levithepoet.net/info.cfm
10. Waterboys - Cloud of Sound
Remember i gave The Waterboys the number one spot for 2011
with An Appointment With Mr. Yeats?!
This is an album of left-overs, and remember,
left-overs are always better the next day.
--------------------------------------------
(barely out of the top 10 group:)
11. Wovenhand - The Laughing Stalk
David Eugene Edwards has really developed into a high-desert,
dry bones and minor-prophet singer, song writer and guitarist.
This is quite a dark, powerful and aboriginal album that took me
through the red, hot sand-stone canyons of the soul.
12. Rickie Lee Jones (& Ben Harper) - The Devil You Know
Basically a Ben Harper album with Rickie Lee Jones singing.
Not dissing the basic-ness of it, but when Ben and Rickie
create an album, together, it's soulful.
THANX to SKIP'S RECORDS & CD WORLD for
alot of these albums!!
