Finally a list of favorite albums from 2011. I’ve included the best albums of early 2012 as well. Here are the top albums from 2011:
1. El Camino, The Black Keys: No they haven’t lost their way. No, this isn’t a step back or a step to the side. This is infectious, rocking and raw, though not as raw as their early releases, tuneful and driving. They keep moving forward.
2. The Harrow & The Harvest, Gillian Welch and Let England Shake, P.J. Harvey: It’s a tie. Second choices each. Can’t separate them. Welch and her partner David Rowlings have produced an extraordinary duet album underpinned with roots guitar and banjo and enchanting vocals. The songs are spare country-folk pieces beautifully executed. As for Harvey, I’ve already mentioned this one in an early 2011 best-of list. It continues to grow on me if that’s possible. Highly thoughtful, enveloping musical statement featuring Harvey’s and her friends’ expert muscianship and musicality. There, I’ve used a form of music three times in that sentence.
4. I’m With You, The Red Hot Chili Peppers: Talk about an overlooked album. Oh, I’m sure it sold well. The only problem with this album is that it had to follow Stadium Arcadium, which was a career effort in creativity and popularity. Still, it’s more of the Peppers and the Peppers are quite something.
5. Hard Bargain, Emmylou Harris: This was my top choice for the early list. It’s dropped a few places, not because it isn’t worthy, because the later releases were just that good.
6. Tedeschi Trucks Band, Revelator: Another early choice that stood up. Blues, soul, R&B mix with Tedeschi’s heartfelt, soulful vocals on top and Trucks’ dynamic, penetrating slide running through it all.
7. The Majestic Silver Strings, Buddy Miller: A magical mixture of soulful strings and voices with a stellar female cast of guests in a traditional country-folk setting.
8. Bad As Me, Tom Waits: A favorite from Waits’ recent vintage. World weary, sandpaper vocals carry his thoughtful, unique insights.
9. Revelation Road, Shelby Lynne: Another solo effort on the same road as 2010’s wonderful Tears, Lies & Alibis. Lynne is relentlessly promoting her new material on the road, much to all our delight. Catch her.
10. Seeds We Sow, Lindsay Buckingham: All Buckingham’s songs feature extraordinary musicianship wrapped around some of his best writing in recent years.
11. Old School, Nils Lofgren: Not a sideman. A major artist in his own right continuing to make valid, appealing music.
12. Barton Hollow, The Civil Wars: Reminiscent of Gillian Welch but distinctive in their own style and sensibilities. Gorgeous folk-country based duo runs through one memorable tune after another, mostly sparse settings, with the exception of the title track, a real mover.
13. The Road From Memphis, Booker T. Jones: Second solo effort. More of the same soulful rock ‘n rolling with a Memphis base.
14. Low Country Blues, Greg Allman: Surprised me totally. His best solo effort since his first way back when. Outstanding blues renditions of classic tunes with T-Bone Burnett along driving the action.
15. Pull Up Some Dust And Sit Down, Ry Cooder: Sounds like mid-20th century American music and I like it, a lot.
16. Mayhem, Imelda May: Bit of a tumble from the early list, still she’s the best at carrying off rockabilly with modern sensibilities with a move more toward jazz.
17. Rock ‘n Roll Submarine, Urge Overkill: Same as above. Like the return. Will they stick around? Hope so.
18. Blessed, Lucinda Williams: One of the most consistent and insistent songwriters of our times.
19. Hawk, Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan: It’s official, a 2011 release. At least I say so. Like this as much as the first two. Will there be another?
20. The Lotus Effect, Kala Farnham: Keeping a beautiful sense of wonder and depth in her songs. Captivating piano style always pulls you in. Build Me Up a longtime favorite from this set.
21. A Creature I Don’t Know, Laura Marling: Impressive songwriter who strings together fascinating arrangements for her distinctive song constructions. Attractive voice graces the top-notch musicianship and tasteful playing.
22. That Old Magic, Nick Lowe: He’s popping up more and more lately and still making vital music. This one ranges from acoustic-oriented and mellow to early rock and rockabilly leanings.
23. Anna Calvi, Anna Calvi: Forget the comparisons to other female artists. She can play guitar, she can sing, she can write.
Box Sets:
Glimpses, The Yardbirds: Comprehensive five-disc set of alternates, rarities from studio and live shows, and broadcasts from Clapton through Beck to Page. Immersive box for big-time fans but of interest to any with a tie to British ’60s blues and rock. More affordable in England, where it’s a 2012 release.
Winterland, Jimi Hendrix: The complete shows. Now we have more than the compilation previously on the revelatory Rycodisc release from the early 1990s.
The Magic Of Dusty Springfield, Dusty Springfield: You can get this in a $100+ version, which seems to be the going trend. I’ll stick with the $20 version that has practically everything on it, three CDs, one DVD.
Reissues:
Smile, The Beach Boys: Finally completed, sort of. But really I had heard just about all of this stuff previously in one (grey) form or another. Still, it’s the most complete picture of what the album is or was to be. Do you really need a $100 version? Some do. Not me, the two-disc version is just fine.
Projections, The Blues Project: Finally released in individual album form. Previously on the Anthology from Polydor with brutal sound quality. Thank you Sundazed.
Come And Get Me: The Complete Liberty and Imperial Singles Volume 2, Jackie DeShannon: Can’t wait for the next volume. First two have been awe-inspiring.
Early 2012 picks and a few to look forward to:
1. Radio Music Society, Esperanza Spalding: Another entry from an impressive talent who brings a new take on jazz vocals, contrabass and electric bass. Defying genres, she delves more into contemporary rhythms with a very funky, soulful album. Her melodic and vocal flights are intact over the more R&B-oriented base.
2. Locked Down, Dr. John: Look out! Mac Rebennack and The Black Keys. What a combination. Rough edges added to the Dr.’s N’Awlins funk with a heaping of female background singers. So right. Not out yet. Early April.
3. Blues Funeral, Mark Lanegan: Dark, brooding, compelling, accomplished, all the things you would expect from Lanegan.
4. #Demos In Disguise EP, Aruba Red: We’re Gonna Make It is a stellar track. Check the video on YouTube. Out now on iTunes.
5. Not Your Kind Of People, Garbage: Seminal melodic alternative band of the ’90s, early 2000’s is back! Will they have the same edge? Coming in May.
6. Rocket Juice & The Moon: Damon Albarn is at it again with another unusual collaboration, this time with drummer Tony Allen and bassist Flea from the Peppers to good effect. Afro-Cuban rhythms create infectious grooves with variety of vocal stylings. Out this week.
7. Tramp, Sharon Van Etten: Acoustic singer-songwriter from Jersey with a distinctive voice and deft writing touch. Production leans toward echoey, almost spooky backgrounds.
8. Young Man In America, Anais Mitchell: Saw her several years back solo on a Richard Thompson show. She was impressive then. This record is quite a leap forward. She mixes a lot of styles and influences but produces something all her own. Pleasing voice, fascinating instrumentation and powerful songwriting.