Ten Years later it’s still great music

When I think of my favorite albums many classics come to mind – but then also a few that are probably not on anyone’s list.  If you go back to my old, old blog posts from 2010 you’ll see one about a great Friday afternoon at SXSW where I found a bunch of new bands that I still listen to.  Right at the top of that list is Lissie.  Back then she was a young 21 year old from Rock Island, Il.  Not long after seeing her I got a copy of her CD at that point – “catching a tiger”.  Early this year I got an email that her label was reissuing it on vinyl for the 10 year anniversary so I obviously had to order it.  It arrived in early April and it’s been great to revisit this terrific recording.  The album starts out with a great opener “Record Collector” which seems really appropriate for me right now.  The album would probably be considered more pop than my normal listening but it just works for me. “When I’m alone” and “In Sleep” are both strong songs and then the terrific “Bully” with the chorus “mama’s here and your papa too and we are so darn proud of you”. Great lyrics abound on this album for a 21 year old who wrote or co-wrote all the songs.  “Little Lovin” and “Stranger” close out a strong A side.  “Loosen the knot” is a high energy opener to the B side.  In reality as I scroll through this album on Spotify to write this there just isn’t a weak song on the entire album.  Definitely in my most surprising albums and probably in my all time Top 25.  Check out Lissie – she is very popular in Scandinavia and has put out several albums since 2010 but this one is still top of the pile to me. Still thankful for that Friday afternoon in the HearYa tent at SXSW!

My first new release of the month was Morgan Wade’s initial release “Reckless”.  The debut album from this 26 year old Virginian was co-produced by 400 Unit (Isbell’s band) guitarist Sadler Vaden and he is co-writer on several of the songs.  In fact most of the 400 Unit plays on the album so the sound is terrific.  We saw Morgan open for American Aquarium in June in our first true post-COVID show but she played as a solo artist.  She definitely has a unique accent and I would not have guessed Virginia.  I had heard the song “Wilder Days” on Spotify which led to the order.  It’s a classic love song with the “bad boy” from Chicago and she wishes she had known him in his wilder days. “Other Side” is one of her songs and it opens with “you knew my skin back before I had all these tattoos” which is pretty appropriate when you look at that album cover.  Not sure what these kids are thinking with all the tattoos – sports, music, etc. but I guess some days I’m just an old guy!  “Don’t Cry” opens with a classic sad line – “I’ll always be my own worst critic” – aren’t we all?  “Northern Air” is another sad song (guess a tour with AA was appropriate with the king of sad songs B J Barham) as the chorus includes the line “Won’t you bring yourself on home?”.  Do yourself a favor and check out this album – definitely in my Top 10 of 2021 at this point.

There may be no bigger character in the Americana music world than Todd Snider.  I think he is hilarious when I’ve seen him on his Pandemic live streams on Sunday mornings or read his writings.  The liner notes to this album are worth the price of the album.  The songs maybe not so much.  The album is called “First Agnostic Church of Hope and Wonder” which is what he has called his livestream.  There is a tribute to John Prine “Handsome John” that when combined with the notes is really touching.  My favorite song may not actually be a song but is titled the “Agnostic Preacher’s Lament” and its basically just Todd talking with some background music.  He is talking to “OH Heavenly Father If you are up there and I hope you are” and goes on with some questions about the “afterthing”.  In normal Todd fashion he says “There are people here that none of us can get along with and we don’t want them at the after thing someone even suggested they should have an after thing that’s worse LOL”.  I first listened to his album “Peace Queer” which I really liked – if you haven’t listened to Todd that might be a better place to start.  What I do know is the Nashville Americana people think he walks on water so definitely give him a listen.

The last two new albums for the month are my Magnolia Record Club album and discovery artist of the month.  When we lived in Austin Shakey Graves was the hot new artist for a couple of years – a lot of it driven by the terrific song “Dearly Departed” that I’m sure you have all heard = 70 million plays on Spotify!  Magnolia re-issued his debut album “Roll the Bones” on it’s 10^th anniversary.  Guess this reissuing on the 10^th anniversary is the theme for the month.  This was recorded when Shakey (Alejandro Rose-Garcia) was still performing as a one-man band. Most of the songs are too sparse and not enough of a story for me – although there is a very unique cover of Bruce’s “I’m on Fire” that I had never heard before so at least I got that out of this album.  The Discovery Artist of the Month was Valerie June and her new album “The Moon and Stars, Prescriptions for Dreamers”.  I had heard a lot of good things about this album and was looking forward to it.  It is a beautiful sounding album and the liner notes have all kinds of suggestions of what each song is for.  For example “You and I” is for sharing friendship, discovery and intention.  I think my biggest struggle is with her voice – just not one I enjoy listening to.  The cover of the album is striking but sadly the music is not to me.