Front Burner Music in 2010: Fave Raves & Future Sounds
As far as my tastes go 2010 has been a great year for music thus far. This year I have made a concerted effort to cast a wider net and explore a broader selection of sounds. For the past couple years my ears have been tuned into the deep south where the roots of the blues and classic soul find deep Earth. It has been a rowdy, fun and educational ride, but this year it was time to get back on the new(er) sound scene.
I have two playlists that are constantly being topped up with new purchases. One is called “New New 2010″. This is where all new albums from “newer” or more current artists go. The other is “New Old 2010″. This playlist is occupied by “older” artists re-releases or albums from older artists that I am just getting around to sinking teeth into.
Both lists keep true to two of my music listening filters. One is: don’t stray too far from my beaten path of preferred sounds, Basically, what that means is don’t buy shit I know I wont’t listen to. I am using Spotify and other streaming sources to vet curiosities. When I get a new album I apply another filter: I listen to the album back to front at least 10 times (not necessarily in a row). I am applying this last one to Robert Randolph’s new album right now (it’s gonna need it…yikes!).
Here are some 2010 albums that haven’t come off the boil yet for me (in no particular order):
- The Black Keys: Brothers. Vying for top spot as my fave rave for 2010. Crunchy, blues, hooky songs with an ever present looming, soulful feel lurking in the shadows of each tune (vinyl)
- The Drive-By Truckers: The Big ToDo. Neck and neck with “brothers” to fave rave. Great storytelling on this…a true ballsy rockshow record (vinyl)
- Tom Petty & The Ass-Kickers: Mojo. Shit, this band got even tighter in 2010. Mike Campbell owns this record. Glad Petty got his blues on. It paid off (vinyl)
- Derek Trucks Band: Roadsongs (Live). Figures. Since I loved “Already Free”, I knew this would work for me. Trucks is genius…and there is so much more left. I can’t wait.
- Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings: I Learned the Hard Way. Wow…they made a classic Staxian-soul album without sounding dated. Great party starter.
- Ray Lamontagne & The Pariah Dogs: Loved the fact that Ray took over on the knobs. Looking forward to the next to see what Ray comes up with.
- The Hold Steady: Heaven is Whenever. From the get-go, this album sounds big and full-on. I love the action in it…feels like it pushes and pulls me along.
- Dawes: North Hills: This one surprised the hell out of me. I love the Topanga canyon vibe on it. The album is not overwhelming and that is why I like it. It knows who it is.
- Bettye Lavette: Interpretations of the British Songbook. I am a sucker for Bettye. She wrings every last drop of emotion out of every song and syllable. She burns.
- Arcade Fire: The Suburbs, I am a convert here. Maybe I didn’t give Neon Bible enough time, but this album is under my skin. The NYT article pushed me over the edge.
- Jeff Beck: Emotion and Commotion. Another artist that won me over in 2010. His playing on this stunned me. My friend Kip calls him The Professor. School i in…
- Peter Parcek: The Mathematics of Love. I know (and work with) this man and he is a fucking guitar master. Check him out here and here. You won’t be sorry…
- Others from the “New Old” list: Bonnie Raitt (first three albums – Bonnie Raitt,Taking My Time, Give it Up), Johnny Winter (“Johnny Winter”), Tammy Wynette (“Your Good Girl’s Gone Bad”), Django Reinhardt (“Anthology 1934-1937), Delaney & Bonnie (“Home”), Mike Bloomfield (“Live at the Old Waldorf”), Jerry Jeff Walker (“Ridin’ High”), Guy Clark (“Dublin Blues”), Albert Collins (“Frozen Alive”), Jimmy Rodgers (“Chicago Bound”), Mississippi Fred McDowell (“The Best of “), Leon Russell (“Carney”)
There are plenty…plenty…of other albums I bought and listened to, but all of those have many plays.
The rest of 2010 looks ripe for cool releases. Here are the ones on my radar:
- Neil Young: Le Noise (Sep 28th)
- Mavis Staples: You Are Not Alone (Sep 14th)
- Robert Plant: Band of Joy (Sep 14th)
- Ronnie Wood: I Feel Like Playing (Sep 27th)
- Bob Dylan: The Whitmark Demos (Oct 19th)
- Kings of Leon (Oct 19th)
- Justin Townes Earle: Harlem River Blues (Sep 14th)
- Jerry Lee Lewis: Mean Old Man (Sep 7th)
- Jimmy Barnes: Rage & Ruin
- JJ Grey & Mofro: Georgia Warhorse
- Grace Potter & The Nocturnals: Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
- Eric Clapton: Eric Clapton (Sep 27th)
- Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses: Junky Star (Sep 7th)
- Jamey Johnson: The Guitar Song (Sep 14th)
I’m going to give those last two a go. I’ll stream them and but them if they make the cut. The other album I am looking forward to is the collaboration between Elton John and Leon Russell. I am not a massive Elton fan, though I love his Tumbleweed Connection and Honky Chateau albums (best experienced on vinyl). Leon Russell, though…I love this cat. I got to see him for the first time here in London a few weeks ago and he cemented himself in my mind as a legend in music lore. If this album delvers on a Tumble Weed / Leon Self-Titled album level…we are in for a stone cold treat.
Here is the first song off of this new one titled, “The Union”.
What have you been listening to in 2010? What is on your shopping list?
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p.s. Thanks to SML over at @The Frontloader for the tip that the Elton/Leon song was up for grabs
Love ya work, Juddmeister! And man, do I love the assignment you’ve set. Stay tooned . . .
@horringbone I was anticipating your response. I’m sure it will be a shot across the bow of any music fan who thinks they have the soundscape (sound-landscape) covered…including yours truly. Bring it on! (p.s. your email was gold…be back to ya soon)
Jimmy Barnes! Dude you go deep! I didn’t know he had a new one out.Saw the pic of Winwood About Time, great album. Would love to hear your take on it. Did you get the remaster with the bonus tracks?
@ozzybeef Luke, ever since I saw Barnsy come out and sign “When Something is Wrong with My Baby” with Steve Cropper & Duck Dunn at the State Theatre in Sydney, I have been a fan. He’s bonafide. Damn! I owe you a comment on the Winwood recco. Do you think I wouldn’t get the bonus cuts? I got ‘em all. What I love about this album, and I have never loved a SW album, is that it is a sum of parts. There, almost, isn’t a stand out tune in the lot, but it all works as one piece. He owns the vibe on the whole thing…it isn’t some contrived, ‘trying to get a pop hit’ piece of BS. He is playing and enjoying it throughout. It isn’t slick and it jams…a lot. The jams run out, but if you re listening to the entire album they flow nicely. I really like “why can’t we live together”. All up, I love the feel here…it is great music to work to and have a few glasses of Hunter Valley Shiraz to. Great turn-on, mate. Thanks!
Wow you saw him with Steve Cropper!?! He is quiet the axeman.I love how that Winwood disc jams too. Only three guys playing, with some sax/flute work form Karl Denson. Its my go to record now when I have people over. Its got a great groove to it. Nice shout out to the Hunter Valley too…That's where I grew up. You ever go on wine tours there?
Cropper…yeah, he is a hero. Love his sound. Killer show.The Hunter…been there a half a dozen times. I’m a Shiraz freak. Wine Tours galore. You are a lucky man to have grown up there…beautiful area in a beautiful country.
Shiraz man here too. I am sick of the cheap Aussie reds though, too much oak and it pisses me off. Spanish grenache is a current fave.Cropper played with Neil Young quiet a bit. You have any of those bootlegs?
I’m right there with you on the Black Keys… and Dawes took me by surprise as well. That’s one record that has done me right from the start and I cannot WAIT for their next release. I just hope to all things good and Holy that they don’t do another self portrait for the album cover.
@TheFrontloader LOL…that cover is embarrassing.