Best of 2012



There’s so much good new music out there. The best music of 2012:

1. Radio Music Society, Esperanza Spalding: Invigorating blend of R&B, funk and jazz infused with top-shelf musicianship and an enticing lyrical quality. This is perhaps her best yet. Spalding sports a fluid, proficient and pleasing voice that delivers her poignant lyricism over the engaging compositions. Get the Deluxe Edition with a Making of DVD.

2. Locked Down, Dr. John: Black Keys guitarist Dan Auerbach gets an inspiration to record with the N’Awlins legend and they whip up a spooky, funky, voodoo dose of swamp funk mixed with hard rock sensibilities. Some of the best from recent vintage of the good Doctor.

3. Tramp, Sharon Van Etten: One of the truly remarkable and original sounding records from a singer/songwriter whose dense, penetrating lyrics are revealed through inventive arrangements that complement her songwriting.

4. Sunken Condos, Donald Fagen: At his wry, funky, satirical and stinging best. Glossed with a Steely Dan sheen but it still swings like mad.

5. Everybody’s Talkin’, Tedeschi-Trucks Band: Live outing from one of the best ensembles around today. A beautiful combination of blues, rock and pop whipped together with Derek Trucks’ slide lacing through it and the marvelous Susan Tedeschi’s soulful, blazing voice on top. Not to be missed live.

6. Sun, Cat Power: Return of the elusive, mercurial and magnetic singer/songwriter. Her best since The Greatest.

 7. Election Special, Ry Cooder: Venerable American music stylist gives his biting political take on the present state of affairs with his usual entertaining, insightful views served with a helping of exquisite string playing.

8. Driving Towards The Daylight, Joe Bonamassa: Another edition in the evolving style and development of one of our best modern-day blues guitarists, who happens to have a soulful voice as well.

 9. The Lion, The Beast, The Beat, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals: From the opening strains of the remarkable title track through another set of inspired rock and pop, a step forward and upward from this New England-based group. Their roots are firmly planted in the fertile ground of the 1960s and early ’70s. All framing Potter’s gloriously wild and unrestrained voice.

10. Blues Funeral, Mark Lanegan: Love him for his various collaborations over the years, not the least with Isobel Campbell, but there is something dark and compelling about this bluesy and funereal outing that is addicting.

11. Blunderbuss, Jack White: Actually, his very first solo effort. Typically bombastic and creative with help from friends. Nice first outing of sorts.

12. Spectrum Road: Jack Bruce (bass), Cindy-Blackman Santana (drums), John Medeski (keys) and Vernon Reid (guitar) play, not a tribute, but in the style of the Tony Williams Lifetime from the late 1960s and early ’70s, one of the first fusion groups with John McLaughlin, Larry Young and Bruce. It’s a modern take, forward-pushing, not just a rehash. Startling, inventive and courageous in this day and age.

13. Anais Mitchell, Young Man In America: A mini-epic from the American singer/songwriter, graced with Mitchell’s captivating vocal style and compelling songwriting.

14. #Demos In Disguise, Aruba Red: Limited Edition collection of Aruba’s various outings from reggae to hip-hop to R&B, featuring that wonderfully smooth voice in some inspired collaborations.

15. The Bravest Man In The Universe, Bobby Womack: Stunning return to prominence of a singing/songwriting legend. Love his weathered yet accomplished voice over soulful, enticing tracks.

16. Boys & Girls, Alabama Shakes: Wow, the opening riff on the opening track is simple but infectious. Nice blend of southern soul and Band-styled American funk with a beautiful deep-feeling voice on top.

17. Night, Holly Cole: Canadian songstress again hits with a collection of beautiful tunes to show off her amazing pipes.

18. Jack Bruce & His Big Blues Band Live 2012, Jack Bruce: Aruba’s dad keeps making valid, energetic music in an exciting new format. Some tracks with a distinctively Latin groove.

19. Sing The Delta, Iris DeMent: Another return, this one from singer that emerged in the early ’90s. Rich in country and American roots with skillful songwriting and pleasing vocals.

20. When I’m President, Ian Hunter: Good rockin’ in his what decade? Forget it, making vibrant, appealing rock ‘n roll. That’s all you need to know.

21. Love This Giant, David Byrne & St. Vincent: Surprising and interesting effort from Byrne, whose results have been somewhat mixed since Talking Heads. This one is original sounding and truly hits the mark.

22. Old Ideas, Leonard Cohen: Still poetic and hypnotic. An engaging legend.

23. Nothing’s Gonna Change The Way You Feel About Me, Justin Townes Earle: Nice easy flow from this young singer/songwriter, steeped in American folk/country tradition with some twists.

24. The Lion’s Roar, First Aid Kit: Swedish sisters sound like they’re from Appalachia. Their folk-based American-leaning music imported via Scandinavia sounds authentic with nice harmonies to dress it up.

25. I Like To Keep Myself In Pain, Kelly Hogan: Enveloping, world-weary messages come through brilliant arrangements of a full plate of fascinating songs. All rendered with the sensual quality in Hogan’s voice.

Re-issues:

Revelation Road Box Set, Shelby Lynne: To get it you had to pledge a certain amount of money, something more and more artists are trying these days, on Lynne’s web site. It includes the original album from 2011 plus five bonus tracks, a live CD from a McCabe’s Guitar Shop concert, a live DVD from a concert in London and a making of Revelation Road DVD. Lovely set. Can be picked up on secondary market. Well worth it.

Keep Me In Mind, Jackie DeShannon: Amazing third volume of the complete singles and B-sides by DeShannon while at Imperial and Liberty in the 1960s. This completes the picture of an extraordinary artist, singer/songwriter long before the term came into vogue. Though she had world-wide hits, still underappreciated in my book.

DVDs

Living In The Material World, George Harrison: Nice box of the two-part HBO Scorsese film with extras, the CD Early Takes, fantastic, and yet another beautiful book with precious photos. And a few other special extras.

Magical Mystery Tour, The Beatles: The movie, well it’s finally released (!) along with vinyl EPs of the songs released especially for it. Very nice.

Charlie Is My Darling, The Rolling Stones: Although the HBO special was well-done for the most part, I prefer this of an early ’60s tour of Ireland. Five discs, film on Blu-ray and DVD, soundtrack on CD and another live show on CD and vinyl.

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