THE BEST NEW MUSIC OF 2019
We've heard lots of great new music this year and the sources of finding continue to change. With all the streaming services it's sometimes overwhelming. This is my humble attempt to share 8 new releases that all got a lot of airplay on my speakers and turntable in 2019.
1. Bruce Springsteen - Western Stars
There was lots of chatter about a new Bruce release early in 2019 - the rumored Jimmy Webb inspired album that had been recorded years ago. I think "trepidation" woud be the word to describe much of the Bruce community. Then the songs started to drop - Hello Sunshine, then Here Comes My Miracle, Tuscon Train and finally Western Stars and the whole album. My first reaction was its really good and then the news of an upcoming movie with a one-off performance. And of course a separate release of the movie versions. And that's when I became all in. The movie is filmed in Bruce's barn in NJ and those versions are spectacular. The sound is beautiful and to be honest the addition of Patti dueting on several songs makes several songs even better. To see a guy who just turned 70 still involved in telling the story is mind boggling at times. These songs are based in the Southwest or West and are very cinematic. If you haven't seen the movie do yourself a favor and rent it on Amazon Prime - it's a great $5 investment. The commentary from Bruce between songs is worth the price of admission. We are all still looking forward to an E Street Band album in 2020 and a tour but we have been blessed with this beautiful album for now.
2. Jade Jackson - Wilderness
On July 15 I was at Minute Maid Park getting to take batting practice and actually hitting a few balls when I received a text from Fort Worth's musical expert Jeff Calaway. "Please tell me you've heard Jade Jackson?" My response was "I have but not extensively, Guess I need to". So I started listening and liking it a lot. I finally got the album a month later and I've worn it out. From the rocking opener "Bottle It Up" followed by "City Lights" and "Don't Say that you Love me" it's a great album. I was able to see Jade and her band at the Heights Theater in late November and she was just as good live. The album was produced by Mike Ness of Social Distortion and his son Julian is her guitar player. They are opening for Lucero next Spring but no Houston date so we may be headed to Baton Rouge to catch that tour - two of my favorites!
3. Caroline Spence - Mint Condition
Many of you have heard my Caroline story. A couple of years ago we were going to Main Street Crossing to see John Moreland for the second time. Jo was tired and decided to stay home so I didn't bother to change clothes and went in my Bruce shirt from The River tour. I didn't even know there was going to be an opening act - it ended up being Caroline. My shirt distracted her and she put a Bruce lyric into her song. I found out talking to her between sets she is a huge Bruce fan - see her video for Motel Amarillo and she might be wearing her own Bruce T shirt. So that's how I learned of Caroline. This year her new release is the great Mint Condition - from a song about her grandma. I've liked this album from the time I first heard it - the second song "Angels or Los Angeles" is my favorite song of 2019. "Song about a City" and "Just Sit there and Love Me" are great as well. I was able to see her at the famous Anderson Fair in Houston in October and always glad to wear my Bruce shirt to her shows - "I know you" was her first comment between sets.
4. Andrew Leahy and the Homestead - Airwaves
I guess a description of my list this year would be - don't miss the opener at shows. A couple of years ago we went to see Amanda Shires (Mrs. Jason Isbell) play at Dosey Doe in the Woodlands. There was an opening band - Andrew Leahy and the Homestead. I had never heard of them before that night but they played a great set with a classic rock sound. Chatting with Andrew after the set I found out he was a huge Petty and Bruce fan and it makes sense. They came back through town a year later and put a great "Darkness on the Edge of Town" in their encore. Not long after that when we went to Nashville to see Lucero we had breakfast with Andrew and then he shared a rough copy of Airwaves with us. The final version added a great cover of "Lips Like Sugar" to go on top of all his originals. I shared with him that the 3rd song "Make it Last" was my favorite - he said of course it is, it's the most Bruce song I've ever written. Check them out for a great rock and roll sound!
5. Tanya Tucker - While I'm Livin'
I grew up listening to Delta Dawn whether I liked it or not. She was 13 at that time and I was just a year younger. Fast forward 48 years later and I'm now listening to her again. This album is a classic country album in the mode of Waylon Jennings which makes sense since his son Shooter is the producer. He brought in one of my favorites, Brandi Carlile, to work on the project and she wrote many of the songs in collarboration with the Hanseroth twins from her band. Great songs include "Mustang Ridge", "The Wheels of Laredo" and " I Don't Owe You Anything". She got a handful of Grammy nominations so this really is a great comeback album. She's touring again next Spring with a show right down the street at the Heights Theater and those tickets are in hand!
6. Son Volt - Union
Sometimes it's hard to believe that Uncle Tupelo was the source of both Son Volt and Wilco. I know lots of the world loves Wilco and Jeff Tweedy but I just don't get their music. I did read Jeff's autobiography this year and it gave me a reason to try and listen to Wilco again but still nothing. Son Volt on the other hand always tells great stories. This is definitley a political record and well done at that. "While Rome Burns", "The 99" and "The Symbol" are great protest songs about what is happening in America right now and "Devil May Care" is another great song. At one point early in the year this was my #1 playing album.
7. Emily Scott Robinson - Traveling Mercies
Following our baseball trip this summer I ended up in Atlanta before some Coca-Cola meetings with a Sunday night to kill. So what better way then to head out to Decatur, GA for some music at Eddie's Attic. It's a great little club where singer songwriters play and although I didn't know Emily's music, a quick Spotify listen said it should be worthwhile. And I definitely wasn't disappointed as she told great stories that turned into great songs. "Ghost in Every Town" brought back memories of my time in West Texas, "Westward Bound" about traveling and "The Dress" is a heartfelt story about surviving an assault. She said the crowd that night was the biggest that had ever come to hear her play except in her hometown and her mom was her merchandise person which just added to the charm.
8. Michaela Anne - Desert Dove
My friend Elliot Wagner from Brooklyn had mentioned Michaela Anne to me earlier in the year when I suggested he catch Caroline Spence in Brooklyn. A few months later I started to listen to her album and it worked it's way into my frequent playlist - especially at night when it's time to relax. After I told Elliot I was listening he sent me a link to a show of hers from 2014. Just shows none of it comes over night. "I'm Not the Fire" is my favorite song off the album and I like the opener "By Our Design" a lot as well. I have not seen her yet but definitely on the 2020 radar.
Other albums that got spun a lot this year but didn't quite make my Top of the year list:
Josh Ritter - Fever Breaks - his best since the Animal Years which I still love
Smooth Hound Smith - Dog in a Manger - a surprise find from the Magnolia Record Club
Liz Brasher - Painted Image - another opener - this time for Rock Hall band The Zombies
Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors - Dragons - I want to like them more than I can
The Highwomen - supergroup of Carlile, Shires, Morris and Hemby - just not sold on this group
Anna Vogelzang - Beacon - met her in line at Willie's Ranch in 2012 - listening to her develop
Robert Ellis - Texas Piano Man - how can you not like an album where the closer is "Topo Chico"
The Avett Brothers - Closer than Together - this just arrived today and it seems the Brothers have a lot to say
It's been a great year and I never know what may be on the turntable next but we'll keep listening and going to shows - support your favorite musicians more than those Spotify pennies!
