Best Songs of 2010

I have been going over and reading a lot of "Best of" Lists, it somehow seems that picking anywhere between 10-50 songs to represent a year, or heaven help us a decade is somehow going to justify what we listen to. I consider all "Best of" pieces, as an opinion piece. It should be, what is going to make my list may not make your list, and what may make your list, I may frown, scowl and question what it is that you are hearing that I am not. I also think each person's best of list tells the story of their year. I know that mine does. So this is my opinion on the songs that are the best of the year for me. The list is in no certain order because, each holds a spot and is a favorite for its own reason, and I am not going to wage a competition between moments of the year for me.

Songs of  2010

1.Nothing But the Whole Wide World- Jakob Dylan

2.Piece by Piece Frame by Frame- Deer Tick

3. If Time Was For Wasting- Dylan Leblanc

4. Rave on Sad Songs - Jason Collett

5. High Road- Broken Bells

6. War Machine- Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

7. Long Way Down- The Romany Rye

8. New York City's Killing Me- Ray LaMontagne

9. Hand of God- Jason Boesel

10. Hey Lover- Blake Mills

11. One More Night In Brooklyn- Justin Townes Earle

12.What He Wrote- Laura Marling

13. 40 Day Dream- Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

14. We Never Win- Nathanial Ratliff

15. Champaign Illinois- the Old 97's

16. Slipin and Slidin- Justin Townes Earle

17. White Table- Delta Spirit

18. One of These Bottles- Caitlin Rose

19.Angst for the Memories- The Wooden Sky

20. No Better Than This- John Mellencamp

Let's get to 2011 already

Thanks to social networking we no longer have to gaze into have cloudy crystal balls to see what our favorite bands and musicians are doing and when to expect what from them. I already have my top 5 albums that I am looking forward to in 2011.

The Romany Rye
Rumored Title: My True North
Expected Release: February- March

Luke MacMaster hailing from Big Bear California, and his band Whitman Bransford, Ryan Hitt,Joshua and Judson Spillyard  all from Little Rock Arkansas formed the Romany Rye in 2010. The Romany Rye spent the Summer and Fall of 2010 touring on Highway One Looking Back Carefully, opening for Delta Spirit and then going out on the road with Dawes I would not try and classify their music in the Laurel Canyon vein everyone is so fond of touting this year, but there is definitely a Californian feel, mixed with a Southern sensibility that is as compelling as anything that I have heard this year and are drawing comparisons ranging from Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, to Neil Young and Crazy Horse.

Dawes
Rumored Title: Fire Away
Expected Release Date: Early Summer 

I am equally excited for what Taylor Goldsmith and the Dawes guys have in store for us in 2011. Having to follow up the still growing popularity of North Hills, would seem like a feat  for most bands. Though having taken time "off" in September to go make the new record, and with an appearance by Benmont Tench, it would seem that Goldsmith and Co know fully what is being expected and are more than ready to deliver. Having seen and heard a good portion of the new record, it is exciting to hear the growth that they are willing to challenge themselves to both lyrically and musically.

 

Middle Brother

Title: Middle Brother

Release Date: March 1, 2010

Having given away their first single "Me,Me, Me" as a Christmas gift, is capitalizing on the recent buzz that has been generated since changing their name and signing to Partisan Record. The band consisting of Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes), John  McCauley (Deer Tick) and Matt Vasquez (Delta Spirit) recorded this record in December of 2009, but with each bands busy schedules chose to wait until they could properly support the record.  In listening to Middle Brother, the distinction between the three songwriters is clear, and each stay true to their own writing styles, the arrangements and harmonies are what make this band. 

Kathleen Edwards 

Rumored Title Unknown 

Estimated Release Date Unknown:

The status updates from Kathleen Edwards on her facebook page are enough for me to get excited about the record. For two reasons 1) with songs "Change the Sheets" and "I'm Going to Hell"  and 2)  bringing back Jim Bryson to play on the record are two solid moves.  From what I have heard the record reminds me more of her first two records "Failer" and "Back to Me" which are my two favorite records.

 

Tim Easton and the Freeland Barons 

Rumored Title "Beat the Band"

Expected Release Date: Spring

Tim Easton is the one person that I stop any of my SXSW plans to go see. He has a talent that I admire and respect he can play a song with a full band but also deliver an equally resonating version of the song solo. It seems like a simple feat, but when you strip down an artists to him and his guitar its amazing how many fall flat. I am excited that he is going to release a solo acoustic record called "Since 1966" and the full band record with the Freeland Barons (Aaron Lee Tasjan, Mark Stepro, and Alex Livingstone).

I knew it was going to be good,

I am sure that there will be plenty of raving over how good the self titled release from Middle Brother is, and I am sure that I will blog about its greatness with the giddiness of a school girl. However, here is video from Monday Night and the charity benefit for Invisible Children

Having seen the first show at SXSW, and video from this show, I am hoping that the rumored Triple D tour takes place this spring.

The Year That Was 2010

With the exception of New Years Eve, I doubt I will see another concert this year. 2010 has been a year for music for me, it has been my saving grace and those that I go to concerts with and share those experiences with are the friends I hold dearest to my heart. I have said that I would rather let someone read my diary than look at my I pod.  There is no way that I can pick my favorite concert of 2010, because every show was different and every time I thought that it couldn't be beat, someone even the unexpected, and some just simply out did themselves from the time before.

AA Bondy- Lola's Fort Worth Texas

My sister is the one who got me into AA Bondy, she told me that I should be listening to him, and that he was playing on  a weeknight in Fort Worth. I was skeptical, but I tagged along anyway. He was mesmerizing, he was the perfect soundtrack to a cold January night. He commanded the stage with an acoustic guitar and a harmonica, he played for himself, which is a quality that I admire. There was little to no eye contact made, and he made no attempt at engaging the crowd, not that the small crowd, needed to be engaged. We all just contemplated life's questions of how we ended up here only staring into our drinks, the same questions he contemplated only with him and his guitar. It was quiet and beautiful.



Laura Marling- The Loft Dallas Texas 

This was another show that I tagged along, one of my very favorite concert buddies had an extra ticket and on a Sunday afternoon. I knew the name, but nothing more, I believe I Youtubed her song "Me My Manic and I" but other than that had no knowledge. I went in not sure what to expect and in a year I promised to be more open to music I watched a frail 20 something year old girl, from England, make me shut up and listen. It has not been noted here, but I am exceptionally hard on female singer songwriters, and I know it's unfair, but I have my reasoning.. She played a song called "New Romantic" and from that moment it was my theme, and an instant understanding of who she was.

Delta Spirit- The Loft Dallas Texas

They may simply be my favorite live band. There is nothing that Matt Vasquez won't give to get the audience into it. I have seen Delta Spirit, a couple of times but this night it was all in. History From Below their second album to me was such a different side than Ode to Sunshine that I was wondering how it was all going to blend in a live act. the answer is seamlessly. It was the perfect mix of each and it all blended. The way a crowd reacts to Trashcan, is something to be witnessed, and its a sing along and a coming to together, from indie kids, to frat boys, to musicians from local bands all there loving one band, for the reason that they are just fantastic.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club- LaZona Rosa Austin Texas

I had never stood front row at BRMC show, and I am not sure that I will again. This may be my favorite BRMC show ever and there have been many many shows. This is the first time that I felt a venue matched the band, it was an old warehouse and it was a stage, and strobes and a wall of guitars. Standing front row watching Peter Hayes play guitar was perfection, and how much of what they do is sheer talent. The wall of guitar sound, the way that three members can do so much. and the execution of it is RocknRoll perfection. If you wanna see a rock show see BRMC.

Dawes- Cavern, Dallas Texas

Dawes has been the band that I have seen most this year. It has been fun to get to see how fast a band can grow themselves as musicians and capitalize on the opportunities given to them. Though the night at the Cavern can never quite me recreated, it was small and packed, and as good as the show was, it was not the best show that I have seen them play, but I think its one of the most fun shows that I have seen them play. The after hours set of Tom Petty, the Band, CCR and Springsteen showed not only the bands roots, but with out a doubt the talent of these musicians. With only twenty of us left in the room, you knew you were watching something fun, the ten hipsters in the room couldn't sing along except to the obligatory rendition of Petty's "Free Fallin", meanwhile the rest of us were singing along to everything that they wanted to throw at us. My personal favorites were "Cripple Creek', and "You Don't Know How It Feels" There are nothing but good things coming for this band, 2011 will be their year.


Middle Brother (formerly known as MG&V) Ale House Austin Texas

The five song set from McCaulghley Goldsmith and Vasquez three lead singers from three of my favorite bands, their five song set at an over packed Ale House was the South By Show that most didn't see (Muse was playing Stubbs). I went around humming "Daydreaming": and "Thanks for Nothing" for two weeks straight. Though the name was changed from MG&V (guessing it was to close to MGMT, and since Monsters of Fuck didn't stick) they became Middle Brother. There is no release as of now but the self titled is coming, and in a year that I didn't pre order Ryan Adams, I did pre order this record.

Ryan Adams III/IV

I have listened to III/IV and well the best I have is at least it isn't rocknroll. If I had to choose 21 Songs that he had previouslry written just chose not to release this would be my III/IV


1.All You Can Feel
2.Perfect and True
3. Miss Sunflower
4. Cracks in a Photograph
5.Walls
6. Don' Get Sentemential On Me
7. Drunk and Fucked Up
8. Everything's Alright
9. Honey I am Just Trying to Take You Home
10.Kiss and Make Up
11.Funny How I Am Losing You
12.Involuntary Tears
13.Memories Of You
14.One For The Rose
15 Poor Jimmy
16.Can't Take A Lover
17. Tell it to My Heart
18 My California Love
19.Only To Lose
20.When the Music Don't Come
21. Young Winds

I am thankful enough to have these songs, and they will now be listed on my Ipod as III/IV

Daytrotter Dreaming:

Daytrotter could easily be my favorite find of 2010. It has given me more in the form of bands that I already have loved, and a new avenue for finding new music, or bands that I may have previously written off in the past. You can spend hours on the site downloading and listening. Everyone seems to be content with listing their favorite records of 2010 I am going to do my five favorite sessions, all in no particular order .

The Romany Rye

The Romany Rye

AA Bondy

Tim Easton

Justin Townes Earle

Dawes

When the Music Don't Come No More You Shall Be Free

I realized last night that a week away from the new Ryan Adams release "III/IV", I have not started the hour by hour countdown, the scrambling for leaks and unreleased demos, my friends have not been bombarded with requests of a listening party. I for the first time since my onesided love affair  with Mr. Adams music began, have not ordered, the pre release with all the bells and whistles, I have not devoured every article talking about the record, I have not gone to the message boards to see what the latest information was. It simply lingers, a date December 14, 2010 that if on that day the mood strikes me, and if I have the extra cash I will buy the mp3 download, evaluate its worthiness and then decide on a purchase of the vinyl.

For so long, he has been my "it" my musical everything. Some people feel that way about Townes Van Zandt, Neil Young, Gram Parsons, for me it was Ryan Adams. He was the doorway the stepping stone into a world of music that I am incredibly grateful for.  My first two records were Heartbreaker and Pneumonia. I can't describe with out sounding overly dramatic and obssessed what these records mean to me. His records, have been living and breathing with me, they have grown and evolved for me, mainly because of my understanding of them has grown and evolved. I find myself to this day, learning things about songs that even a year ago I would have passed away or listened and hum my way  along, but not shut up and listen.

I have begun to realize that his greatness, may never be realized because some of his greatest work is lost and hung up in battles I presume with Lost Highway. That 48 hours and Suicide Handbook will never see a mass release and that I will never have the pleasure of having these two records on vinyl. That the Cowboy Techinical Sessions are just that sessions, even though the songs that were born are some of the most fascinating work. That he had to rewrite songs to get them out of these battles see "These Girls" formerly known as "Hey There Mrs. Lovely" and then the rewrite of "My Love For You Is Real"  were less than the original versions. That the original versions had so much spite and bitterness that just reverberates in your soul.  I can sit here and talk about the greatness of what was, the lines and the lyrics, and the theory of what the "rose" is and means. I could teach a college level class on these, and if I could get paid to do it I would. Instead my friends have to listen to it, and some still recieve Heartbreaker on vinyl as a Christmas present.

I found enough to like about Rock n Roll to keep me interested and I knew enough about it to speak of it as the joke record that it was meant to be, that it was something he needed to do. Love is Hell once it was released was redeeming enough to make me forget about the akwardness that was Rock n Roll and the relationship I had with it. I was back on the train and full speed ahead. I found myself falling off the train grasping to hold on shortly after Jacksonville City Nights, I understood the concept of 29, though the excecution of the record failed for me and if I am honest with myself that Cold Roses should have been one disc not the self indulgent two that it became. When Easy Tiger came, it lacked the ferocity of what I expected a record to be, when it became a starbucks pushed record, and when it started recieving airplay in department stores, I knew that we were on a slow decline.  Then came Cardinology that made Easy Tiger look genius. The two moments on this record were simply Fix It and Stop. 

It's heartbreaking to me that he has to be so far down, to be able to write a great song. I would never wish a relapse, or heartbreak upon someone, even if the results are so beautiful. I would rather say farewell, and I hope that he has all the happiness that he deserves. Everyone deserves to be happy and none of us should seek pleasure in the pain of others. So maybe he is free of the music, and that there is nothing left for him to write.

Justin Townes Earle, and Caitlin Rose Granada Theater Dallas TX

This is the first show in months that I had been giddy for. I had it marked on my Calendar since early August when the show was announced. I had never seen either Caitlin Rose or Justin Townes Earle live, and I was just beginning to learn about each of their catalogs. Caitlin Rose I found on Daytrotter, and the wit and charm of "One of These Bottles" had me hooked instantly. I immediately adored her session, and added it to the ipod instantly. Then with Justin Townes Earle, I was unsure of what to expect, I started with Midnight at the Movies, and was instantly enamored with the title track as well as the gut wrenching "Someday I will Be Forgiven For This". I anxiously awaited Harlem River Blues, and found its 32 minutes to be my favorite 32 minutes of music this year. As I counted down the days, the troubled days found JTE and I was worried for both him and his tour.  I grew anxious of what the Dallas crowd would be given his recent troubles. Dallas is a weird city, sometimes its the best crowd or it is a nightmare. I have seen performers walk of stage in such frustration that we never saw them again, or decided that the crowd was God's gift to that particular tour and play two encores. It's a strange strange beast this town.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I walked into Granada that night with my friend, and found it to be a relatively older crowd. Immediately relieved, we settled in for the end of Caitlin Rose's set, she was just as charming, and talented with her and her two band mates. I enjoyed her set immensely, and very much held her own on the night.

Justin Townes Earle took the stage with Josh Hedley on fiddle, and Bryn Davies on upright bass. I held my breath as he opened with Move Over Mama, not knowing what to expect. I at this show was as equally spellbound, by the pureness that poured from this man and his band. He was beyond charming as he wound and walked his way across the stage with only his acoustic in hand. He was funny, which was not something I was expecting, I was expecting a solemn somber show. He spoke of his arrest in Indianapolis, someone in the crowd  yelled fuck Indianapolis, he said my sentiments exactly. He talked about his love of fried chicken and women, and how fried chicken had gotten him in less trouble. The stories he told about his mother and his father, were sweet and endearing, he talked about his Mama punching his daddy out, to which I said to my friend "oh the charm of a southern woman", he heard and laughed and said damn straight. It was the songs and the earnestness with which he had to get these songs out, he obliged when someone in the crowd yelled out play some Townes. He put the kaebob on his guitar and stood for a moment  alone on the stage and said I'll give it a shot, but Townes had fucked this song up more than once and he went into a stark version of Rex's Blues, into a slowed down version of "Someday I'll Be Forgiven For This"ending the three song solo with "Midnight at the Movies".  For the time he was on stage he had the entire room spellbound, and for this night he was as on his road as he can be, and I am grateful to have seen that.

Alot has been spoken and written of his susbantance abuse problems, Hell, the man even talked about it on stage. It's not for me to judge, and I am certainly not looking for perfection. I find the haughtiness with which some reviewers are speaking of Harlem River Blues, that NPR has pitched and sold the record for him. As though we are sheep that follow where NPR tells us to go, insulting. Whatever the circumstances are, that he recorded that record in or on, the result at least in my humble opinion is a great record.  As a person I found him charming, speaking to fans as he loaded gear and posing for pictures. Teasing as I didn't know how to operate and Iphone camera, and taking the time to speak and answering questions about tours and what not.


For me this show, at least this time, I can pay it my highest compliment, it was like going to church being spellbound and freed by the time you leave.