Measuring Up

Here’s my music picks for the year. Every third page on the web has one right now, so I might as well too. After the first and second ones, they’re not in any order. Also, don’t write any nasty comments, I know some of them aren’t from this year, but it is what I’ve been listening to.

The Decemberists
The Crane Wife
It's been a lot of fun watching some of these tunes grow from solo Colin Meloy performances to full-band arrangements. Has a major label debut ever stayed so true to a band’s soul? It’s the natural evolution of everything that began with 5 Songs and Castaways. And it only helps that a bunch of it sounds like Black Sabbath meets Fairport Convention. Definitely #1 for the year!

Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus Three
Ole Tarantula
Finally, Robyn strapped on that Telecaster and started to rock again—like it’s 1986! This may be one of the all-time great Egyptians albums. Element of Tarantula Globe, I say! And it’s a green album that isn’t strummy (not that there’s anything wrong with that!).

The Hold Steady
Boys and Girls in America
I like it a lot, but not as much as Separation Sunday. Cheezy classic rock riffs never sounded so good!

The Long Winters
Putting the Days to Bed
Very nice. Just good pop. Although if John Roderick never finds true love I’m gonna be real real sad.

Neko Case
Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
Smoky-voiced twang chanteuse of my dreams. What else is there to say?

Laura Veirs
Year of Meteors
Deliciously lispy folk chanteuse of my dreams.

Belle and Sebastian
The Life Pursuit
More 70’s rock pastiches, well done. Nice, but not as nice as DCW. Still, Stuart has some great lines in this one.

Grant Lee Buffalo Gilmore Girl Philips
Nineteeneighties
VERY NICE COVERS OF 80s HITS, invisible ones and otherwise. This guy is just charming.

Daniel Johnston
Welcome to My World
I was touched when I saw the movie about him, and am fascinated by his weirdo world.

Britfolk
Pentangle, Fairport Convention, Incredible String Band, Steeleye Span, etc.
It’s all so so good.

Dylan
All the albums from before the motorcycle crash, plus Blood on the Tracks.
Modern Times has some nice moments, but it’s not really much more than old blues standards with a rockabilly veneer.

The Kids I Know
Johnny K, Maggie Morris, Josh Belville, Steve Goldberg, Tim Koch, Jon C, Jon S, et al.
The future of music looks good!

Oh!
David Bowie
Hunky Dory
Can this album ever be topped? I enjoyed it again many times this year.


Also, Lily Allen was fun for a few minutes.