I am top of somebody's list! O frabjous day!
Wildy's World, a blog that reviews 500+ indie releases per year, decided that
Vanilla merited the #1 slot for 2008. I'm more than a little flabbergasted.
Here's his original review and
here's the entry he posted today to finish his top 40 countdown. I really, really needed this encouragement right now. Things are looking very good for the New Year. Joy!
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I'm currently in northern CA and heading back to the Northwest, and then to
Barrow, Alaska. In January. Yes, on purpose. I'm actually thrilled. No, I won't let vampires or polar bears eat me. Then more Seattle and Tacoma -- Wayward, Mandolin, Borders in Gig Harbor, and more -- then some Anchorage for Valentine's Day. /location update
So I know you don't need more year-end lists, but this is not a list. This is a Mix CD. I actually make this mix CD for my family every year -- I started making mix tapes every Christmas at age 11. I think the first one had Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Quincy Jones, and the King's Singers on it.
If I could make you all a mix CD for 2008, the theme would be "Amazing acts we heard live this year whom you should really hear live too." I had a one-concert-per-week rule that applied to a lot of 2008. And this is what I heard: awesome. Many shows left us shaking our heads and feeling changed. Yesssssssssss! was what we said and thought and felt. Live music makes life good.
So here's the list of songs/artists I couldn't live without this year, and they are really, really worth investigating. Just pick one description that appeals to you and go to their myspace page or website, and listen to one song. That one listen makes a difference. If you see one of these names coming through your area, get out and see them -- your life will be better.*
1. "Like a Juliet" and "Rainbow as My Hat" by The Second Grace
A band from Italy that I want to listen to any time of day or night. Their disc is all scratched now from going everywhere with me. I heard them at a Farmer's Market in Austin, and their self-titled album is one of my favorites of this year.
2. "Hillbilly Heroin" by The Whipsaws
A truly great bar band, best experienced live in Alaska -- though anywhere else will do. Music made by kids who grew up spending time in bush Alaska picking bluegrass and listening to Pearl Jam.
3. "Three Deaths" by Shaun Cromwell
I heard Shaun Cromwell at Cafe Bellissimo in Los Angeles, and immediately fell for his music. Imagine the very best tracks from "O Brother Where Art Thou" with a slightly more modern harmonic vocabulary. This track makes people stop what they're doing and ask who's playing when it comes on.
4. "Jesus Saves, I Spend" by St. Vincent
This is from my favorite album of this year. I have a very short list of perfect albums, and <i>Marry Me</i> by St. Vincent is on it. That said, it's better for folks who enjoy slightly surreal production values and dramatic writing.
5. "Bulletproof" by Rilo Kiley
We like lots of Rilo Kiley and Jenny Lewis, but their innocent little ditties like this are my favorites. "If you think I'm paranoid, that's fine, 'cause I have evidence on my side..."
6. "Might Not be Love" by Raina Rose
I followed Raina Rose to a couple of her gigs in Austin, because though I heard a lot of great female singer-songwriters at SxSW, she really stood out -- sweet & sincere, with an angelic voice and lovely rhymes.
7. "Skateland South" by Cory Branan
Cory, from Memphis, has to be seen live (and solo acoustic) to be believed. His guitar playing is alarmingly aggressive, his singing and use of the mic shockingly raw, his lyrics and song construction oh so right. He's like the burn of Tennessee whiskey, utterly painful and intoxicating.
8. "Club Thing" by Yoav
A discovery from a Paste Magazine mix. I'm normally not much for songs like this, but I kept putting this track on repeat in my car for some reason. I think you'll understand why if you listen to it once.
9. "Born to Hum" by Erin McKeown
Erin is such a fine performer, and I'm so happy she came to Alaska. It would be hard to leave one of her shows feeling anything but joy and enthusiasm for life, even when it's rocky. Seeing her live gave me hope that I could enter this profession.
10. "Boy with a Coin" by Iron & Wine
Iron & Wine refuses to get less interesting. I loved "Our Many Numbered Days," but I love even more the way they've changed since, and the folks they've collaborated with to deliver a marvelous new album.
11. "This Too Shall Pass" by Danny Schmidt
We spent a long weekend with Danny Schmidt in Talkeetna at Wheat Stalk, Whole Wheat Radio's 3-day festival (though I'd seen him in Austin too during SxSW). His poet/philosopher songs are mind-bendingly clever, and his performances haunting. Plus he made me a damn fine gin martini. Thanks, Danny.
12. "Wir Singen Dir, Immanuel" performed by the Baltimore Consort
I have a thing for early music, and when all the dreadful Christmas crap starts coming over the airwaves during this time of year, I turn to the Baltimore Consort. Their album "Bright Day Star" is possibly my favorite Christmas album ever, along with "O Magnum Misterium" by Stephen Layton & Polyphony.
13. "Stone Cold World" by Caroline Herring
Caroline Herring, from Georgia, has one of the prettiest vibratos on the planet. I got to hear her live at the Cactus Café in Austin, but I've admired her agile Southern songbird voice (and writing) for years. This song is from her newest album.
14. "Gasoline Stain" by Lindsay Jane
Hailing from Winnipeg, Lindsay is very strong and no-nonsense in performance, but her sweet voice and vulnerable lyrics are altogether lovely. I bought her CD after hearing her sing only one song, and it stayed in my CD player for a long while.
15. "If Your Mama Knew" by Jim Bianco
I knew we were in for something good when the stage at Hotel Café in LA was cleared of whiny young indie rockers and handed over to the middle-aged, relaxed, capable, entirely rockin' band of Jim Bianco. We hooted, hollered, stomped, and clapped 'til we hurt. See this man soon. He'll make your stomach hurt from the awesome.
16. "Trouble" by Rachael Sage
I played a show with Rachael at Whole Wheat Radio, and it was really an honor -- she's very hardworking and well-known in the indie music world. She came in from New York, and looked a little out of place in muddy Talkeetna. But she's truly an entertainer. (Plus, she lent me her boa.)
17. "So Many Nights" by The Cat Empire
Another song that went on repeat in my car this fall, because it was completely irresistible. I call this song "Put Your Waistcoat On," because it's about a guy who decides to dress up nice for his girl and get her tickets to the opera. Boys, I hope you're taking notes...
18. "The Girl You Lost to Cocaine" and "Academia" by Sia
I usually don't like girls with whiny superstar voices, but Sia won me over completely with her musical choices -- and with the way she really seems to be having fun singing, not showing off, and certainly never whining. Plus, she has my favorite album cover of the year.
19. "Stood for Stand for" and "Wouldn't it be Nice" by Alyse Black
I heard Alyse at an open mic in Austin, and her voice just stuck with me. I traded albums with her, and I'm so glad that I did -- I can't wait to see what else she puts out, because if she finds the right producer, her lovely voice is bottled potential.
20. "Pick Yourself Up" by Evan Phillips
When you're feeling tired, melancholy, even a little sad, put this song on without hesitation. It just doesn't get old. Evan is from Alaska and fronts The Whipsaws, but I love his solo work too and his current project with Tim Easton and Leroy Stagger.
21. "Crane Song" (Live) by Pamyua
You may not have heard of Pamyua, but they've won a Grammy, swept the Nammys, and toured the world several times over. They're Anchorage's own Eskimo funk band, and they're a blast to hear live. Even Alaskans dance to the deeply funky digeridu playing.
22. "Getting Better" by Bob Schneider
Bob Schneider and the Texas Bluegrass Massacre blew my mind, as they are wont to do, at a concert in Austin. This song kicks off every road trip we take, including most trips to and from the grocery store.
[[[I've also been asked several times about Christmas music. I love Christmas music and I have a lot of it. Here's Christmas music that doesn't suck, some popular, some obscure:
All "Songs for Christmas" collections by Sufjan Stevens
"Christmas with Julie Andrews & André Previn"
"In the Town of David" by Keyes/La Grand/Zimmerman
"Bright Day Star" by the Baltimore Consort
"O Magnum Misterium: Twentieth Century Carols" by Polyphony, conducted by Stephen Layton (this choral album permanently changed my musical landscape, Christmas or no)
"Holly Days & Mistletoe," the Christmas compilation by Hear Music
"Hook" soundtrack by John Williams (if you must have some dramatic orchestral music)
And of course the Bach Cello Suites and Beethoven or Haydn string quartets never go amiss.]]]
*We did not see all of these people this year, only most.
**These are in playlist order, not ranked in any way.
***Not all of these fit on one CD. There were a couple of variants on the playlist.
****No, I don't feel bad making a mix CD, because it's a time-honored tradition, and because I would be proud to have one of my tunes on one of your mix CD's someday, just as long as it's only for family and a few close friends. That said, no need to report me to the cops...
*****I meant to link to all these people, and maybe in a universe where I have lots more time, I will come back and fix it. But I want to post it more than I want to post it perfectly. So use Google and locate yourself some good tuneage.
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