everything that's on my mind

The Top Ten edition

It’s been a fantastic year for music. I actually ended up with more new music this year than any other year of my life, I believe, and it was probably the best collection (as a whole) that I’ve ever acquired in the same year as well. That’s what made this list so difficult this year.

I left out several albums completely that I wanted to include, but there just wasn’t room. I liked new stuff from Andrew Bird, Conor Oberst, White Rabbits, Gomez, Elvis Costello, Echo & the Bunnymen, Thrice, The Mountain Goats, and yes, even KISS, and all were considered but didn’t make the cut.

I’ve spent the last five weeks or so listening to all of these albums again, most of them multiple times, trying to decide where exactly they should fall in the list. I’m sure a month from now I’ll look back and think several of them are misplaced. I always do. Nevertheless, I’ve come to the end of the list and, for the most part, this is pretty accurate.

Before the final list, if you haven’t seen the first three, you can find them here:

• Part 1: 8 from ’08
• Part 2: Honorable mention
• Part 3: The second ten

 
And now, here are my top ten favorites for the year.
 
#10 : Together Through Life – Bob Dylan

Dylan’s voice seems more gruff and strained with each new release, but he’s still getting it done. I don’t think this album is as strong as it’s predecessor, Modern Times, but it’s great in it’s own right. It’s one of those that has continued to get better for me with each listen. And you can’t help but love a song with the chorus line “hell’s my wife’s hometown.” Tracks were hard to come by online, so listen to album opener “Beyond Here Lies Nothin’” and you can also check out this album preview.

#9 : No Line On The Horizon – U2

That U2 can continue to remain at the top of their game after such a long and stellar career is remarkable. Their previous two albums this decade I enjoyed a lot, so for them to finish the decade with this one is amazing. When I first heard the single “Get On Your Boots”, I worried that I might be disappointed. Yet it turns out that this is their best album since Achtung Baby (in my opinion) and I admit it seems wrong to place it anywhere but in the top five. Listen to: “Magnificent“, “Stand Up Comedy“, “Breathe“, “I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight”

#8 : I And Love And You – The Avett Brothers

The “Beatles of Bluegrass” have not abandoned their bluegrass roots, but there’s a definite shift towards a more pop sound on this new album. It’s always been there to some degree, but it’s a bit more pronounced here. There’s a heavy dose of piano and strings added to the expected guitar, banjo and bass, and the results are outstanding. I suspect their fan base has grown significantly with this release, and it should have. Listen to: “I And Love And You“, “Slight Figure Of Speech“, “Head Full Of Doubt, Road Full Of Promise“, “Laundry Room“

#7 : Working On A Dream – Bruce Springsteen

The Boss follows up Magic with a more hopeful and positive album, looking towards a brighter future. He opens this album with the epic western-themed “Outlaw Pete”, perhaps the best song on the album. That’s dangerous, but throughout the rest of the album there is no letdown at all. There have been a lot of mixed reviews and feelings about this album, but I loved it from day one. Like U2, he’s still adding high quality work to his impressive catalog after all of these years. Listen to: “Lucky Day“, “Working On A Dream“, “Kingdom Of Days“, “Outlaw Pete”

#6 : Middle Cyclone – Neko Case

I’ve not really been big on alt-country stuff (though that seems to be changing) but I’m pretty sure I could listen to Neko Case sing the phone book, if you don’t mind that cliche. Her voice is beautiful, powerful and possesses a clarity found in few others. For whatever reason, this album did not immediately click with me, but over the course of the year, the beauty of it was increasingly obvious as I was drawn to it again and again. A very impressive collection. Listen to: “This Tornado Loves You“, “People Got A Lotta Nerve“, “Fever“, “Middle Cyclone”

#5 : Give Up The Ghost – Brandi Carlile

This is the most recent purchase of any album in my list, having only downloaded it a few weeks ago. It shot up my list like a rocket, though, because she has it. Whatever it is, she has it. Singer-songwriter, folk, pop, country, rock, whatever you want to call her music, it’s simply phenomenal. She has an amazing voice – wow, does she have a voice – and it’s equally powerful when she’s singing a ballad like “Pride and Joy” as it is when she’s belting out a rocker like “Dreams”. She is a new favorite of mine and a hat tip to RM for recommending her. Listen to: “Looking Out“, “Pride and Joy“, “Dreams“, “Touching The Ground”

#4 : Big Whiskey & The GrooGrux King – Dave Matthews Band

I never listened to Dave Matthews Band in the 90′s. I probably couldn’t even have named a song of theirs earlier this year. But after hearing a few tracks of their latest I decided to download it. It was a wise decision. The mixture of rock, funk, jazz, and even some eastern flavor and bluegrass, has kept me listening to this album regularly. I wouldn’t have expected a DMB album anywhere in my list at the beginning of the year, but here it is near the top, and it’s well deserved. Listen to: “Shake Me Like A Monkey“, “Alligator Pie“, “Why I Am“, “Time Bomb“

#3 : Backspacer – Pearl Jam

Likewise, I’ve passed on most of Pearl Jam’s offerings over the years and would have never expected they would show up here, either. But due to Matt‘s enthusiastic recommendation, I decided to check out their newest. I was stunned at how much I loved it. Totally unexpected. This is simply a great rock and roll album. It’s short, at only 37 minutes, but perhaps that was intentional, because it simply leaves you wanting more. Listen to: “The Fixer“, “Just Breathe“, “Unthought Known“, “Supersonic“

#2 : Daisy – Brand New

Like others on this list, Brand New was following up an excellent album of their own, 2006′s The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me (#10 on my list two years ago.) I had high hopes for this album, but it really has exceeded my expectations by quite a bit. They live up to their name from a musical standpoint, creating a “brand new” sound with each album, writing high quality songs both musically and lyrically. This has just blown me away. It’s absolutely incredible. Listen to: “At The Bottom“, “Sink“, “Bought A Bride“, “In A Jar“, “Daisy“

#1 : 21st Century Breakdown – Green Day

I didn’t think Green Day could possibly approach the awesomeness (for me, at least) that was American Idiot. I suppose it can be debated, but while I don’t they surpassed it, they may well have produced it’s equal. I knew this would be my album of the year just a few listens in, and nothing has really been in contention since. While some other old fans have not been as happy with the band’s direction this decade, I for one have loved it. This is rock and roll at it’s finest. It’s also pretty cool that a guy touring with them right now (guitar and backing vocals) was sitting in a cube on the other side of my building this time last year. Now he’s touring the world with Green Day, and I’m still sitting in a cube every day. Oh well, at least I have 21st Century Breakdown to make the days a little better… Listen to: “21st Century Breakdown“, “Viva La Gloria!“, “East Jesus Nowhere“, “American Eulogy“, “See The Light”

That’s it. That’s the list.

I mentioned yesterday a desire to post weekly on the things I’m reading. I also plan to do the same regarding the things I’m listening to. This will almost always be music, but I may also include other things (i.e. podcasts) on occasion.

In “blog 1.0″, I usually posted monthly on the new music in my rotation, but this time around I’m going to attempt to highlight a single album (again, usually) each week. It will more often than not be new(ish) music, but I will likely reach back into the past from time to time.

Before I start that, I thought I’d share my 2009 mid-year list. I posted this on Facebook in July, but thought I’d go ahead and share it again now that I am using this forum again. I’ve already acquired a few new titles that will change this list at year end, but here’s what the list looked like in July.

(NOTE: I didn’t go back and check out all of the links to see if any are now broken.)

#10: Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit – Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit (2009)
I first heard Isbell on a Drive-By Truckers album a couple of years ago, and enjoyed his solo album last year. But this newest release is my favorite of the three. If you’re looking for some good southern rock, check it out.
Listen to: “Seven-mile Island“, “Good“, “However Long”
 

#9: Outer South – Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band (2009)
I’ve yet to dislike any of Oberst’s work I’ve heard, and this is no exception. At the moment, I think I like last year’s self-titled album a bit more than this newest release, but it is nonetheless another winner.
Listen to: “Slowly (oh so slowly)“, “Cabbage Town“, “Nikorette“
 

#8: Hold Time – M. Ward (2009)
While I owned a couple of M. Ward albums, I didn’t become a big fan of his blend of musical styles until earlier this year with this newest release. It is really fantastic, and it is his best to date. Also enjoyed the appearance of “She & Him” collaborator Zooey Deschanel on a couple of tracks. Listen to: “Never Had Nobody Like You“, “Rave On“, “To Save Me“
 

#7: Seeing Things – Jakob Dylan (2008)
It seems almost wrong to place this album only one behind his father’s, but I have really loved this album from day one. No, he’s never going to be his father, yet I keep coming back to this one over and over. Listen to: “Evil Is Alive And Well“, “Valley Of The Low Sun“, “Something Good This Way Comes“
 

#6: Together Through Life – Bob Dylan (2009)
I never listened to much of Bob Dylan until I bought the Dylan collection a couple of years ago, so I don’t really know how this new one compares to classic Dylan albums. But I do know that, while I might not have had it in my top 10 a month ago, I continue to love this album more with each listen, and it keeps climbing. Listen to: “Beyond Here Lies Nothin’“, “My Wife’s Home Town“, “I Feel A Change Comin’ On“
 

#5: The Hazards of Love – The Decemberists (2009)
The Decemberists are back with a true concept album, including the expected dark and sometimes disturbing lyrics alongside some outstanding music that could have been recorded 30+ years ago. And, while I’m still quite fond of The Crane Wife, I think this is their best to date. Listen to: “The Wanting Comes In Waves / Repaid“, “Won’t Wait For Love (Margaret in the Taiga)”, “The Rake’s Song“
 

#4: Everything That Happens Will Happen Today – David Byrne & Brian Eno (2008)
I listened to a little Talking Heads back in the 80′s, but not much. Byrne’s collaboration with Eno, however, is more than worth a listen. It is an excellent album with influences from multiple styles of music (Byrne actually describes it as “folk electronic gospel”.) Check it out – you won’t be disappointed. Listen to: “My Big Nurse“, “Everything That Happens“, “Life Is Long“
 

#3: No Line On The Horizon – U2 (2009)
As always, I looked forward to a new U2 album, wondering what would come next. What came is probably my favorite since Achtung Baby, which seems to be a common sentiment. There are few bands who have the success U2 did in the 80′s and remain relevant 20+ years later. U2 is one of those few. Listen to: “Magnificent“, “You Know I’ll Go Crazy…“, title track
 

#2: Working On A Dream – Bruce Springsteen (2009)
The Boss is back, and rather quickly, less than 16 months after releasing Magic. Like U2, his ability to continue to produce such outstanding music so late in his career is remarkable. I thought The Rising and Magic were great records, but this is my favorite from his releases this decade. Listen to: “Outlaw Pete“, “Kingdom of Days“, title track
 

#1: 21st Century Breakdown – Green Day (2009)
I somehow missed Green Day’s American Idiot back in 2004, and just got around to getting it earlier this year. After hearing it, I was certain that it was their highest point, that they would never top that album. I stand corrected. I contend that this album does exactly that, and that’s one of the many reasons why it’s my #1 right now. It is an amazing piece of work by a band that has grown significantly since I first heard them in the early 90′s. Get this album today. Listen to: “East Jesus Nowhere“, “American Eulogy: Mass Hysteria/Modern World“, title track
 

That’s it. That’s the list.