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Top CDs of 2009 (so far)

Why wait until the end of the year to do "Best of" lists? Seems to me there's already been some great albums released this year, so how about a Best of 2009 (so far) discussion. What are your top five CDs of the year (so far). Here are mine. Note: I'm not including Wilco (The Album) yet -- too little Nels Cline for my taste.

Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women -- Self Titled. True, this CD is light on Alvin's signature laid-back blues and there are tracks in which Cindy Cashdollar et al take the lead and Alvin fades to the background. But it's extremely engaging and, to my ears, the most enjoyably listenable album of the year (so far).

Gurf Morlix -- Last Exit to Happyland. Heartfelt, thoughtful and doesn't have a single throw-away. And "Hard Road" is a force of nature -- an eight minute roots-rocker that tells a story without a repeat-chorus.

Buddy and Julie Miller -- Written in Chalk. Hand and glove describes how Buddy and Julie make music together. A varied but unremittingly lovely album.

Gary Louris and Mark Olson -- Ready for the Flood. They over-trade on their signature harmonies and the production, perhaps aiming to give the album a more live feel, is a bit lax. But this is nonetheless a delicately beautiful album that deepened for me as I listened repeatedly.

Andrew Bird -- Noble Beast. Bird rounds off the sharp edges that made Armchair Apocrypha so addictive. But while it's not as catchy as his previous effort, it is far more refined. Closer listens brought me deeper joys.

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Permalink Reply by chris sweeney on July 6, 2009 at 6:42pm

I would have to strongly agree with Gurf Morlix's "Last Exit To Happyland" (Doesn't hurt to have Patty Griffin sing on three songs!) and Buddy and Julie Miller's Written in Chalk.

Still evaluating Steve Earle's "Townes". I like the solo acoustic disc in the deluxe set so far.

I like Randy Weeks' "Going My Way" too.

The year's only half over!

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Permalink Reply by SoCalBert on July 6, 2009 at 11:10pm

Well I'm with you. I think 2009 has well surpassed 2008 already. But I guess everyone is not as into year-end top ten lists as we are. I actually did a similar post on the afternoon of June 30th. It is down the forum a ways and got a few replies before dropping off.

Since I made the list below I've heard Levon Helm's "Electric Dirt" for the first time. A pleasant surprise and very good on the very first listen for me. Stronger than last year's "Dirt Farmer" in my opinion. I have not yet received the Red Stick Ramblers "My Suitcase is Always Packed" but I think it will be in my mailbox very soon.

I keep typing my little comments about my picks and then deleting. I'm a timid critic I guess.

1. Steve Earle - Townes
2. Booker T. & Drive by Truckers - Potato Hole
3. The Gourds - Haymaker!
4. Willie Nelson with Asleep at the Wheel - Willie & the Wheel
5. Beausoleil - Alligator Purse
6. Allen Toussaint - Bright Mississippi
7. Eilen Jewell - Sea of Tears
8. Justin Townes Earle - Midnight at the Movies
9. Old Californio - Westering Again
10. Luke Winslow-King - Old New Baby

Others that might yet play themselves into my Top Ten by the year's end:

Neko Case Middle Cyclone
JJ Cale - Roll On
Son Volt - American Central Dust
Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women
John Boutte & Paul Sanchez - Stew Called New Orleans
Slaid Cleaves - Everything You Love . . .
Ramblin' Jack Elliot - A Stranger Here
Gurf Morlix - Last Exit To Happyland

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Permalink Reply by David Haskin on July 7, 2009 at 3:31am

Thanks for reminding me about Allen Toussaint's Bright Mississippi. It's a remarkable album.

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Permalink Reply by SoCalBert on July 7, 2009 at 4:17pm

David,
I Agree about "Bright Mississippi." Here is a good feature interview with Mr Toussaint from Offbeat, my now-uncontested favorite music magazine. Article Link

I also have been recommending the Booker T. & Drive By Truckers' "Potato Hole" to anyone that will listen.

Cheers

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Permalink Reply by Dangerbird on July 7, 2009 at 5:17am

i was just going through my 09 albums and contemplating where things were at.
Here's my list.. alphabetically.

Antony & The Johnsons - The Crying Light
The Blackwater Fever - Sweet Misery
Justin Townes Earle - Midnight at the Movies
Steve Earle - Townes
Eels - Hombre Lobo
Ronnie Fauss - New Songs for the Old Frontier
Ben Kweller - Changing Horses
Austin Lucas - Somebody Loves You
Charlie Robison - Beautiful Day
Todd Snider - The Excitement Plan

I've not got hold of the new Ryan Bingham or Paul Dempsey yet, and i suspect the new Magnolia Electric Co will just blow all o' these out o' the water.

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Permalink Reply by windfarm on July 7, 2009 at 10:40am

Justin Townes Earle - Midnight at the Movies
Amanda Shires - West Cross Timbers
Monahans - Dim the Aurora
Wilco - Wilco (the album)
J. Tillman - Vacilondo Territory Blues
The Wooden Birds - Magnolia

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Permalink Reply by Jerry Withrow on July 7, 2009 at 11:48am

10 ain't near enough this year.
I'll just list some of my faves that haven't been noted enough -

Wussy Wussy
Marianne Faithfull Easy Come Easy Go
Bill Callahan Sometimes I Wish I Was An Eagle
The Felice Brothers Yonder Is The Clock
The Handsome Family Honey Moon
Laura Gibson Beasts Of Seasons
Jim Byrnes My Walking Stick
Sarah Jarosz Song Up In Her Head
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver Lonely Street
Sonic Youth The Eternal
Blackout Beach Skin Of Evil
Lily Allen It's Not Me, It's You
Chriss Sutherland Worried Love
Tom Russell & Gretchen Peters One To The Heart
The Beyman Brothers Memories Of Summer As A Child
The Flatlanders Hills And Valleys
.... and once it's released, the new Ian Hunter is a lock.

Jerry

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Permalink Reply by denton fabrics on July 7, 2009 at 1:17pm

Very timely post. In no particular order...

* Lee Harvey Osmond - Quiet Evil
* Gougers - A Long Day For the Weathervane
* Wilco - The Album
* Tift Merritt - Buckingham Solo
* Eileen Jewell - Sea Of Tears
* John Doe & The Sadies - Country Club
* Buddy and Julie - Written In Chalk

Also Steve Earle and Justin too, Son Volt, M. Ward, Slaid Cleeves, Deer Tick, Levon Helm, Brigitte Demeyer, and although they're 2008 releases, I gotta give it to my boys DeVotchKa, and Ani's Red Letter Year because they're new to me in 2009.

Hey, here it is July and no releases from Ryan Adams?? What's up with that? I thought he was going to release Suicide Handbook this year?! Damn slacker...

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Permalink Reply by Hillbilly Haiku on July 7, 2009 at 1:25pm

My 2009 faves so far :

The Gourds - Haymaker
Ben Bedford - Land of the Shadows
Eric Brace / Peter Cooper - You Don't Have To Like Them Both
Gretchen Peters/ Tom Russell - One To The Heart, One To The Head
Jeffrey Foucault - Shoot The Moon Right Between The Eyes
Jonathan Byrd - The Law And The Lonesome
Guy Davis - Sweetheart Like You
Various - Keep Your Soul/Doug Sahm
Sara Watkins - Sara Watkins
The Flatlanders - Hills and Valleys
Allen Toussaint - The Bright Mississippi
Slaid Cleaves - Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away
Jesse Winchester - Love Filling Station
Christy Moore - Listen
Ramblin Jack Elliott - A Stranger Here
Diana Jones - Better Times Will Come
Keith Sykes - Country Morning Music
Levon Helm - Electric Dirt
Ryan Bingham - Roadhouse Sun
Phil Lee - So Long It's Been Good To Know You
Larry Jon Wilson - Larry Jon Wilson

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Permalink Reply by Blue Chip on July 7, 2009 at 2:01pm

Just a quick list, probably duplicative...

Todd Snider-- The Excitement Plan
JTE--Midnight at The Movies
Neko Case --Middle Cyclone
M Ward--Hold Time
Elvis--Blah, Blah, Sugarcane
Wilco--Wilco(The Album)
Rhett Miller-Rhett Miller

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Permalink Reply by David Kucera on September 15, 2009 at 4:48am

I've not listened to a CD more this year than Elvis' "Blah blah Sugarcane" I live in Tasmania, Australia and can't believe he's showing up on the island this month. Dylan's "Together for Life" is a close second to Sugarcane. Looking forward to Robert Earl Keen's new one , as well as Charlie Robison's "Beautiful Day." I'm ALWAYS waitin' for a new Tom Waits!