Friends, Fellow Music Enthusiasts, Countrymen, and anyone who wants to take the time to read some or all of this, I was asked by Julie Jensen to make a list of music she didn’t know existed. Then Rebecca Deane asked to be CCed; And then Drew Smith wanted in, and so on. As I’m not entirely sure what music any given individual does and doesn’t know exists (and with Rebecca that’s especially a fools errand) I decided to make a list of ten pieces of music from the past ten years that I think everybody should know, if they don’t already. I’ll start with this year’s entry and then step further back into the Great Way Back Machine from there. In each case, I’ll name the year, the band, the album, and then a favorite song from it, along with some brief annotations. If we’re friends on here, there’s a real chance some of these are probably favorites of yours already. But hopefully there’s something on here with which you’re not already intimately familiar. I hope you all get a chance to check at least one of these out (I’m sure they’re all available via all the usual channels). My deepest and most heartfelt gratitude goes out to all the below songwriters and performers, as well all the wonderful friends who have ever turned me on to or experienced with me any of this deeply life-affirming music. 1. 2014 - Nickel Creek – A Dotted Line – Rest of My Life This was the first song I listened to the morning of May 21st this year, when I was getting ready to head out to join so many of my favorite people for one of the most beautiful and meaningful nights of music and friendship in recent memory. I remember thinking that every day should begin with this song. It plays like a great TV theme song. Nickel Creek opened their show at the Wiltern that night with this, which serves the same purpose on their latest album. This feels like the most warm and welcoming invitation, and a beaconing of the best aspects of one’s own life and self. “What a great way to start the first day of the rest of my life.” 2. 2013 – Fiction Family – Fiction Family Reunion – Up Against the Wall This album came out on my birthday last year, and ever since then has been the gift that keeps on giving. Fiction Family is a side project of Nickel Creek’s Sean Watkins and Switchfoot’s Jon Forman. The collaboration, along with the rhythm section of Tyler Chester and Aaron Redfield, provides a great home for Watkins’ more pop and indie rock sensibilities (see “Damaged” and “Never Call” as popular examples of this). And the band’s two albums have given us some really catchy, fun, and resonate indie-rock anthems from Foreman. These songs and this band were integral parts of some of my favorite nights of music from last year, including rocking out with Shianne May at the House of Blues the day after the album was released. This song currently finds itself on my workout playlist, which speaks to the band’s ability to take a bittersweet truth, put it to a lovely melody, and make it rock a little. 3. 2012 – Punch Brothers – Ahoy! EP – Down Along the Dixie Line This third entry marks the final project involving a member of Nickel Creek (at least in a central capacity). But it’s become a favorite of mine over this past year. So like any of these, it justly deserves inclusion here. One of the reasons Chris Thile is the greatest mandolin player - and one of the greatest musicians - in the world, is his desire to constantly be introducing a new influence and direction into the music. These sounds most regularly include fusing bluegrass, jazz, classical, the “progressive bluegrass” Nickel Creek put on the map, and the “indie rock” sound that dominated the Punch Brothers last album “Who’s Feeling Young Now?” This recent EP is by far the best primer for anyone as yet unfamiliar with their music, as it centers on the old-school bluegrass sensibilities of Nickel Creek’s first album while hinting at the gamut of the Punch Brothers musical landscape, and Thile’s career as a whole. That’s an impressive feat for all of five songs. Though they’re all great, see “Down Along the Dixie Line” for the most fun you’ll have all week. 4. 2011 – Dawes – Nothing is Wrong – Fire Away One of the most stupefying mysteries of modern music is why Dawes isn’t a bigger hit in their home market of Los Angeles. This band is the closest thing I can think of to the millennials’ answer to The Eagles, and their sound and songwriting are pure Southern California. At least they’re a big deal around the country. Texas, the Northeast, and parts of the South and Midwest seem to be more successful markets for them. While their last album, “Stories Don’t End” was critically considered more musically adventurous and expansive, their sophomore effort is a more emotionally affecting collection of songs from steam to stern. Maybe it’s the age-old debate of haute cuisine versus comfort food. “Time Spent in Los Angeles” is one of the best songs I’ve ever heard about this fine city. “The Way You Laugh” provides an insightful and entertaining look at a woman who is equal parts vulnerable and sardonic. And “A Little Bit of Everything” weaves different stories of despair in various stages of a journey back to hope. But my pick for favorite song here is “Fire Away,” a narrative collage of stories about interpersonal redemption through human connection. And the guest appearance by Jackson Browne at the end is a pleasant surprise to boot. 5. 2010 – Matthew and the Atlas – To the North – Within the Rose Whenever I talk about Los Angeles being the greatest city in the world, and certainly the greatest music city in the world, one of the first memories that comes to mind is Tuesday, October 18th 2011 when Lauren Shera, The David Mayfield Parade, and Matthew and the Atlas gave all-too rare Southern California performances at the Hotel Café. They were playing a show billed as the “Communion Tour” which was meant to be a traveling festival of sorts, which different acts going on-and-off stage throughout the night sitting in and playing each others songs and favorite covers. “Within the Rose” from Matthew and the Atlas’ 2010 EP “To the North” may have been the musical heart and soul of the whole night. Whoever said that writing about music is like dancing about architecture was talking about songs like this. It’s one of the most purely beautiful pieces of music in recent memory. All I can do is implore you to listen to it, in hopes that it adds something to your life in the way that it has to mine. 6. 2009 – Vienna Teng – Inland Territory – Antebellum I first saw Vienna Teng twice at the Aladdin Theater in Portland, Oregon in 2004, first opening for Joan Baez and then Richie Havens. Her second album, “Warm Strangers” had just been released, following her 2002 debut “Waking Hour.” They both became immediate favorites, and one of the great musical pleasures of the last ten years has been watching her evolve through three more studio albums, a live record, a massively successful Kickstarter campaign, and now seemingly countless stunning live shows in two states and a variety of venues and line-ups. Though it’s impossible to try and pick even a favorite album, 2009’s “Inland Territory” was yet another major evolution in Vienna’s unique sense of combining pop, folk, and classical influences from around the world. The emotional tone of this album really hit home on my first fall out of college (it was released in late August), and “Antebellum” floored me upon first listen and hasn’t stopped since. Massive recognition goes out to Alex Wong, who’s become a remarkable co-conspirator of Teng’s, and whose collaborations here are musically invaluable and immaculate. 7. 2008 - Jackie Greene – Giving Up the Ghost – Uphill Mountain As a blues-infused rock guitarist, Jackie Greene is a throwback to the “Guitar Gods” of the Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Keith Richards mold. As a singer/songwriter, he blends those influences with an array of Americana folk and roots genres along with his poignant yet playful sense of lyricism. Greene’s 2008 album “Giving Up the Ghost” was my introduction, and it remains the best primer for new listeners, as it shows the range of his artistry while feeling consummately approachable and embracing. “Uphill Mountain” is ever a fan and concert favorite, and my personal favorite song of Greene’s. I’ve listened to this song on the road, starting out on a new day, and in some of the best evenings of live music I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying Any song that makes the listener feel this good yet resonates this deeply in any setting has really tapped into something special. 8. 2007 – Josh Ritter – The Historical Conquest of… - To the Dogs or Whoever Of the ninety-six pounds I’ve lost this past year, I owe at least thirty of them entirely to this song, as one version or another is a regular on my workout playlists, and it refuses to take no for an answer. Since May of 2009, I’ve had the immense pleasure of seeing Josh Ritter play solo acoustic opening sets, solo and full band headlining acoustic sets, a Q&A session, and a handful of shows with the Royal City Band that are as epic, intense, and cathartic as any night of music could ever hope to be. More so than anyone else here, this song and this album are really standing-in for Ritter’s entire body of work. This album’s musical kaleidoscope of sounds and themes feels like Ritter’s personal “Revolver,” equally calling to mind the old-school Beach Boys on “Right Moves,” Paul Simon meets Stanley Kubrick on “The Temptation of Adam,” and an expansive latter-day Beatles production throughout. It’s hard to pick a best or favorite song here, and it does feel like a fully-realized, complete piece. But this opener will forever be my favorite song to hear Ritter and the band play live. So it gets singled out here. 9. 2006 – Rhett Miller – The Believer – Help Me, Suzanne Although the alt-country movement of the 1990s never quite got off the ground, it’s best band, the Old 97’s, gave us a handful of indelible albums and songs, earning them a cult following that’s hung on every note for ten studio albums and over twenty years of touring. If the catalogue of the Old 97’s feels like a more whiskey-drenched and country-infused answer to the best albums from the Rolling Stones, the solo albums from lead singer/songwriter offer a dissenting opinion, experimenting with differing blends of folk, rock, and pop influences. If the “Live at Eddie’s Attic” album is still available anywhere (it was available last year on Noisetrade), the document of a solo acoustic show from Miller is the best introduction to his music, shows, and songwriting. Failing that, 2002’s “The Instigator” is considered by many fans to be his best album, owed in large part to the contributions of producer Jon Brion. 2006’s “The Believer” is another standout work, blending a strong pop influence tinged with some acoustic-breeziness and some of Miller’s signature emotional intensity. “Help Me, Suzanne” is as pure pop perfection as one is likely to find. Some fun melody lines and grooves abound, accompanying some intelligently stated expressions of infatuation. 10. 2005 – Jackson Browne – Solo Acoustic Vol. 1 - The Birds of St. Marks Whether you’re a longtime Jackson Browne fan, or coming to his music for the first time, his “Solo Acoustic, Vol. 1” should be considered essential listening. Just like the title suggests, it’s a collection of hits, fan favorites, and stories taken from his solo acoustic performances. Although these performances were from 2005, if someone asked me what one album best summed up the notion of a classic singer/songwriter, this might be it. A storyteller. A guitar and a piano. An audience. Nowhere to hide. This recording is remarkably important, as it’s one of the songs Browne wrote circa 1970 when he was in his very early twenties; Writing songs for others with little thought being given at the time to making his own records. Though circulated on bootlegs and other recordings of various kinds throughout the decades, this was the song’s first official release. It’s one of the most evocative stories and stirring melodies of Browne’s long career. Here’s hoping it makes many more solo shows this summer and in the years to come.
Posted on: Tue, 08 Jul 2014 16:09:03 +0000
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