everything that's on my mind

For nearly a month I’ve been planning to post my mid-year music list, but just haven’t been able to carve out time to write such a post. I’ve put a list together, but have nothing else so far.

Therefore, due to my lack of time and/or diligence, and while I await the release that will most certainly top my list at year end, here’s an abbreviated version of my mid-year favorites list, lacking any commentary on my part.

These are not in order – again, I didn’t get around to ranking them. But I include my top 10 for the year so far along with my second ten and nine others from 2009 that I missed at the time but have been listening to a lot this year.

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Top Ten

American Slang – The Gaslight Anthem
American VI: Ain’t No Grave – Johnny Cash
Heaven is Whenever – The Hold Steady
Letting Go – Jennifer Knapp
Sea of Cowards – The Dead Weather
So Runs The World Away – Josh Ritter
Something’s Coming – Ty Tabor
The Learner – Griffin House
True Believer – Matthew Barber
Women and Country – Jakob Dylan

Second Ten

Contra – Vampire Weekend
Court Yard Hounds – Court Yard Hounds
End Times – Eels
High Violet – The National
Little Vigils – Mark Erelli
Mojo – Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
Scream – Ozzy Osbourne
Together – The New Pornographers
Transference – Spoon
Volume Two – She & Him

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9 from ’09

Get Lucky – Mark Knopfler
Horehound – The Dead Weather
Love Remains – Alice Peacock
Strict Joy – The Swell Season
Swoon – Silversun Pickups
Them Crooked Vultures – Them Crooked Vultures
The Mountain – Heartless Bastards
This Is War – 30 Seconds to Mars
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix – Phoenix

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That’s it. That’s the list.

I’ve already amassed a lot of music less than five months into the year, and May in particular has already been a monster month, with several outstanding new releases. I’m also looking forward to June releases from The Gaslight Anthem and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. And maybe even Ozzy’s newest. But for now, here’s most of what I’ve been listening to recently.
 

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Something’s Coming – Ty Tabor (2010)
While I’ve been somewhat disillusioned by the newest releases from King’s X (still good, but not great), Ty’s solo stuff seems to keep getting better. Here’s an album preview:
 

 

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Them Crooked Vultures – Them Crooked Vultures (2009)
I intended to get this album last year when it was released, but never got around to it until this March. I wish I had not waited. Here’s “New Fang” live:
 

 

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Under Control – Cary Brothers (2010)
I discovered Brothers’ first album on eMusic a few years ago and really liked it a lot. This one is at least as good, if not better. Check out “Ghost Town”:
 

 

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Volume Two – She & Him (2010)
More retro pop from Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward. I worried that the novelty would wear off and this would disappoint, but it still works. Here is “In The Sun”:
 

 

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Women and Country – Jakob Dylan (2010)
There’s a bit more musically to this album than his largely-acoustic debut, and while I think I prefer the latter, this country-flavored album is quite good in it’s own right. Here’s “Nothing But The Whole Wide World”:
 

 

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Together – The New Pornographers (2010)
You can’t not love “supergroup” The New Pornographers’ brand of power pop. They’re back in form on their newest. Live on Jimmy Fallon, here’s “Crash Years”:
 

 

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Heaven is Whenever – The Hold Steady (2010)
I’ve only managed to listen to it once all the way through since I got it last week, and it did not strike me as being as strong as Stay Positive, but still a solid album. Check out “Hurricane J”:
 

 

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Court Yard Hounds – Court Yard Hounds (2010)
I’ve always shunned ‘country’ music (the big hats frighten me), but albums like this one (by 2/3 of the Dixie Chicks) make me cross over every now and then. Here is “Ain’t No Son”, live from Letterman:
 

 

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Little Vigils – Mark Erelli (2010)
I really love Mark Erelli, and this album (the first of two he’s releasing this year) is no exception. Listen to “Everything in Ruin”:
 

 

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So Runs The World Away – Josh Ritter (2010)
Josh Ritter is simply amazing. This is another must have album. Download it as soon as you finish listening to “Change of Time”:
 

 

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High Violet – The National (2010)
Just got this a couple days ago, and after 2007′s Boxer, I was mildly disappointed in this newest on first listen, but I enjoyed it much more the second time. Here’s “Bloodbuzz Ohio”:
 

 

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Letting Go – Jennifer Knapp (2010)
I’ve always liked Jennifer Knapp and it’s nice to have her back and still at the top of her game. Here’s an acoustic version of “Dive In”:
 

 

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Sea of Cowards – The Dead Weather (2010)
Behold, the newest from one of the creations of Jack White, at whose awesomeness I continue to marvel. Check out “Die by the Drop”:

 

 

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That’s it. That’s the list.