A space-filler, while I'm traveling....
My top 10 CDs of 2008. If you've missed some of these (yes, I admit a few are semi-obscure Austin-based bands), walk, don't run to find them (lonestarmusic.com is usually a good choice):
1. Wade Bowen "If we ever make it home"- Y'all know I've been smitten with Wade for a while. This sealed the deal. His best songwriting ever.
2. Reckless Kelly "Bulletproof"- Y'all know I've been smitten with RK for a while. Again, amazing songwriting and great musicianship.
3. Jason Boland and the Stragglers "Comal County Blue"- Has anyone seen my copy of this? No, seriously, it's missing. Thank heavens it's loaded into my itunes. I've said more than once that Jason could sit there and sing me the phone book as beautiful as his voice is. This album provides more evidence of why that's the case. Don't miss "Outlaw band"- bless Noah's heart when they play that live!
4. The Gougers- "Long day for the weathervane"- The Gougers may be the best band you haven't stopped and listened to. Do it. Soon. Especially if you were raised on Emmylou Harris and Townes Van Zandt.
5. Counting Crows- "Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings"- Oh, stop being surprised. Great stuff. Adam Duritz is a genius.
6. Mike McClure Band- "Did7"- McClure's work continues to mature, surprise, and lots of other things. Definitely more on the rock side of things than country, but great.
7. Emmylou Harris- "All I intended to be"- Do I really need to comment on why Emmylou would be in my top 10 list? If you don't have this one, all I can ask is, "Why not?"
8. Jakob Dylan- "Seeing things"- Post-Wallflowers Dylan is a great thing. Very folk-y, very down to earth. It was the late Cassi's (Princess Kitty) favorite CD of the year- she would always come put her head on the computer speakers when I would play it.
9. James McMurtry- "Just us kids"- I personally love McMurtry for his ability to write about the fact that the Emperor is naked. This album is no exception.
10. Band of Heathens- "Band of Heathens"- I'll give Reckless Kelly credit for turning me on to these guys (I have to give RK credit for The Gougers as well). Great songwriting, great harmonies, and they can all sing lead- and do trade off during the live shows. There's a reason these guys have done well in various Austin music awards over the last couple of years.