zondag 26 december 2010

The Shadow's 2010 End of Year list

10. Black Mountain - Wilderness Heart

2008's In The Future, their second album, was one of the absolute highlights for that year. Don't be fooled because the Canadians' new one is just as good even though the songs may be a little more compact.
Heavy prog rock with some acoustic interludes thrown in for good measure. Honestly, I'm looking forward to some new product from their doomier offshoot Lightning Dust.
Essential tracks : The Hair Song, Rollercoaster, Let Spirits ride.


9. Ray Lamontagne - God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise

Music wise Ray's 4th release leans close to his debut 'Trouble'. Back to his acoustic roots after the dark 'Till the Sun Turns Black' and 'Gossip in the Grain' where he lost the plot somewhat.
Recorded in his home with a small backing band, the songs and his voice shine like liquid silver.
Good to see the appearance of Greg Leisz on pedal steel. On of the greatest sidemen ever.
Essential tracks : Repo Man, This Love Is over, Beg Steal or Borrow.


8. Eli 'Paperboy' Reed - Come and Get It

White boy retro soul but what a stupid cd cover. Reed's official second are once more original tunes that wouldn't sound out of place in the late 60's catalogues from Stax or Atlantic.
He sings, he shouts, he growls just like the late Wilson Pickett. 'Come and get it' has a smoother production than the previous 'Roll with it' but that shouldn't spoil the fun. Groovin', funky and some mean ballads too.
Essential tracks : Name Calling, Time Will Tell, Pick A Number.


7. Los Lobos - Tin Can Trust

Los Lobos never made a bad album and that's a fact. These East L.A.'ers have been going for 32 years now and on their latest they're tackling the financial meltdown of America. Never let it be said they are not political aware and they certainly don't hesitate to defend the poor.
I nominate them this year not only for this album but, in fact, for their entire oeuvre. Richly deserved.
Essential tracks : Burn It Down, West L.A. Fadeaway.


6. Woven Hand - The Treshingfloor


Noone will ever take away David Eugene Edwards' crown as the emperor of doom. Not Nick Cave, not Leonard Cohen.
Whether he goes under the moniker of 16 Horsepower or Woven Hand his dark preachings and strong religious lyrics will remain my absolute favorite.
No surprises here, genius songs as usual.
Essental tracks : all of them really.

5. Black Country Communion

OK so forget the supergroup tag for a minute and let's call it this year's Wolfmother album. Solid Seventies hard rock with a modern twist. No sign of fatigue in Glenn Hughes' voice and this album gives Joe Bonamassa an excellent chance to shine outside the blues genre. And shine he does.
Even if BCC proves to be just a one album project they certainly delivered and already added a classic to the genre.
Essential tracks : One Last Soul, Beggarman, Song of Yesterday, No Time, Medusa.




4. Tony Joe White - The Shine

Now this was a very nice surprise. Simply the best album White's made in the last 30 years of his long career. Very directly recorded, no fancy production tricks from his son Jody this time. Voice all to the fore instruments far in the back. Intimate, warm, White's voice a swampy growl, primitive backing and fantastic songs. I'm impressed!
TJ may very well never write another hit but I don't care. He's done enough of that in his 67 years.
Essential tracks : Season Man, Roll Train Roll, All.


3. JJ Grey & Mofro - Georgia Warhorse

From the Louisiana Swamp Fox to the swamps of Florida. Grey's actually from North Florida but who gives? This man goes from strength to strenght and again his 5th album is full of back porch soul, swamp country and a certain kind of southern rock. Majestic music. Grey will probably never be big but you could do worse than check out his music. Your foot will keep tapping I assure you.
Essential tracks : King Hummingbird, Diyo Dayo, Georgia Warhorse, Slow hot & Sweaty.


2. Bruce Springsteen - The Promise

You simply cannot call this a reissue. The songs are over 30 years old but never saw an official release and, above all, come from the best period of his entire career.
Bands could build entire careers with songs like these. Bruce considered them not fit enough to be heard by us. I agree to the fact that only a couple would have fit onto 'Darkness' but there's enough to have made up an album between 'Born to run' and 'Darkness' especially since a lot have that big sound so well knows from the former. A proper historical document that's what 'The Promise' really is.
Essential tracks : Because The Night, Rendezvous, Talk To Me, The Little Things, Ain't Good Enough For You.




1. The Black Keys - Brothers

 First place goes to The Black Keys for - and I quote myself - "Lifting the genre of plodding blues rock to new and exciting heights".
When Dan Auerbach's solo album came out I was thinking hey! I hope he does something similar for the band. And now he did it too.
The Black Keys are no longer simply a guitar/drums duo but have expanded their sound while staying true to their chosen genre. The falsetto voice helps as well.
Plus, and that's a big plus, the whole cd is full of fantastic songs.
While I've been a fan from the beginning I honestly never imagined they would one year take the top spot.
Essential tracks : Everlasting Light, Next Girl, Tighten Up, Howlin' For You, The Only One, Sinister Kid, The Go Getter, I'm Not The One.

Geen opmerkingen:

Een reactie posten