Top Ten Albums of the Year

Alright, the title here is a misnomer in some ways. I am going to list the top ten albums that I listened to this year and had the greatest effect on my life in this year. These albums did not have to be released within the past year nor do they have to have any critical value which form the basis for other lists. This is just a very personal look at the music that moved me. Don't expect any surprises at number one.

Honorable Mention: "Outfit" Drive By Truckers- "don't tell 'em you're bigger than Jesus....don't give it away", "don't sing with a fake British accent, southern man tells better jokes" and "don't call what you're wearing an outfit". The greatest advice I have ever received.

10) Live Rust-Neil Young and Crazy Horse

Alternately rockin' and sweet Neil cranks out some of his classics in the midst of his glory days of the 1970's. The album kicks off with Sugar Mountain, a touching reflection on life in regards to the changes we undergo and our dreams. The most fitting line from this song, "You can't be twenty, on sugar mountain...."


9) How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb-U2

This one would be higher had it not been brought into being until so late in the year. This drags up great memories of past U2 rocking and more importantly reminds me of my brother's undying love for this Irish quartet out to save the world. Sadly, we will be unable to live our dream of seeing them live on this tour because of William's own tour (of duty). Bono, at least one more album, just for me.

8) Excitable Boy-Warren Zevon

Regreatably it was the death of this great musician that brought him to my ears and unearthed this album from my ancient collection. I am so glad I did. These songs always are good for a laugh or if you just want to hear well made cleverly thought out music. No strong emotional strings here, just good music.

7) Live at Billy Bob's Texas-Pat Green

I hear the boos already soaring in on this pick, but I remind you again that this is indeed a personal list and meant to be debated or judged for it is merely for me. A friend sent me this over the summer with a few studio tracks tacked on and I listened to it on long drives through the night and when cruising in to work, helping my redneck-cred with coworkers. Hey, lets face it, there are always times when we need to hear sentimental country twangs when we're driving dark highways in the country. This opened me up to more the country arena and more to the aforementioned very special friend. So it becomes rather obvious at this point why it was chosen. In addition, I got to see this guy perform, slightly inebriated, and he can shout and dance and croon with the best of 'em in Nashville.

6) Pneumonia-Whiskeytown

I learned who Ryan Adams was this past year, what a musician. Whiskeytown was his alt-country act following his punk days and before his successful solo career. Luckily, Lost Highway Records released this "forgotten" album from Whiskeytown in this year and I could not be more pleased. Tracks like Jacksonville Skyline let me know that Ryan knows what its like to grow up in a town much like mine and how we all end up exactly as we never dreamed we would, "wound up a soldier on the weekends..."

5)A Ghost is Born-Wilco

Even an average album coming from one of my two favorite bands deserves a spot on this list. This album makes it for its association with a great journey with Ben to see these guys live, which is the only way to fully experience the magic of Jeff Tweedy. I really liked Wilco before I saw them, they cemented their place as one of my all time favorites after the show. Meaningful track...."his goal in life was to be an echo"


4)That Much Further West-Lucero

Great writing and some reverbing country guitars and a raspy voice bundled up in 12 great tracks of southern honesty. Listen to Goin Home when you are, surprise, going home. All of these songs are, at the risk of being repetitive, very honest in their telling and its easy to find literal or figurative meaning in all of them.

3) It Still Moves-My Morning Jacket

Another sweet concert memory here with Ben on our quest to Athens to attend the free show through my victory in a musictoday drawing. We rearrived in Greenville about an hour before PT and I nearly died, but it was well worth it for this extended rock and roll feast for the ears. This band knows how to put on a show right and still leave you wanting more, more, more. In a way, I really do believe that I am living one big holiday.

2) Rainy Day Music-The Jayhawks

As Ben noted when Myles cruised by blasting Tailspin that Myles was indeed in a tailspin, I realized we're all in a tailspin in some way at some point and especially for many at this transition period. I passed this album on to a friend at home. This album just has too many standout tracks and introduced me to the back-library of Jayhawks music before it was too later. Thanks to this album, I will always remember not to let the world get in my way. Another disc to pop in when you start out driving fast before the sun goes down and then slows you down and eases into the night.


1)Indian Summer-Carbon Leaf

True to my word, there is no big surprise in the top spot. Hear me out on my reasoning however. I looked forward to this album for monthes on end barely able to contain myself and ordered six copies personally. I attended the release party with a really cool friend of mine and survived the next day at work despite the intense ride to Richmond and back the night before. I sent copies to some dear friends of mine at school and even recently sent one as a Christmas gift. I've had great memories of sitting on the porch of B208 and chilling out with those awesome dudes with this as background music. However, Indian Summer gets the nod for the top spot because it also has negative memories associated with it. My numerous copies arrived in the mail on possible the lowest day of my summer when I was faced with a long midnight drive to retrieve, of all things, a ring, for an old friend that would ultimately signify the end of our friendship. I had received a verbal lashing from another whom I felt I would always have as an ally and it soured my summer. So as I drove slowly into the night I thought and heard what about the ring, what about everything. This music let me know that other people understood this sort of thing and gave me hope to pull myself out and up. Things weren't going my way with school, financially or relationship-wise with friends and family. However, I looked forward to jumping into my vehicle at the end of a workday to soak in these tunes from my favorite group. This record went from positive association to negative and back around to positive and that is what music does. It does not always take us in one direction, but it follows us on the rollercoaster and we can make it what we want it, but it will never change in its physical form. I thank Carbon Leaf for this cd and hope everyone can find an album like this in their life and share it with the people they love.

Getaway and come with me. Come away with me and we'll see
If I was right on that night, that a future was made
Before time takes each year... like a knife cuts it clear
It's school, then work and then life that just sharpens the blade
I think about time for fun. I think about time for play
Then I think about being done, with no resume
With no one left to blame
What about fortune and fame?
What about your love to obtain?
What about the ring?
What about....