MCaputo's 2011 Conclusion to Edison's Dream


It took some doing, but I'm now ready to move towards 2012 and what it has to offer. 2011 was an exceptional year, full of new directions in music, superb songwriting, and the same ol' same ol'.



01. Mike Viola | Electro de Perfecto

The ex-Candy Butcher, mostly known for singing the lead vocal on the track 'That Thing You Do' from the film of the same name, has delivered his best record in years. It's smart, song-focused, hook filled and thematically, a bit off-kilter. The arrangements & instrumentation have been honed down to the bare essentials of guitar, bass & drums, which has not been the case with recent efforts. To be honest, my first listen came across as somewhat dull, but it just kept getting better and better and better and better.....




02. Centro-matic | Candidate Waltz

Seamless, powerful, and songs that require repeated listens, Will Johnson has created his best record to date in an already deep catalogue.




03. Daniel Romano | Sleep Beneath The Willow

Written, recorded & played mostly by Daniel, these songs add up to the traditional country record of the year.



04. The Vinyl Skyway | Return of The Dead Surfer

Excellent "Sunday a.m." pop record with strong melodies, hooks and well done vocals & harmonies. RIYL : Guitars, jangle, vocally, they're channeling their inner 'Byrds', Pernice Brothers and a hint of Big Star. Just about every song was stuck in my head at some point or another. 'Misty Morning Fog' = easily one of the best songs of the year.




05. Richmond Fontaine | The High Country

Concept record (songs done with spoken word & instrumental interludes) set in a rural logging community in Oregon. This is a bleak record set in a world of madness, drugs & loneliness and offers no redemption. It does offer up the moving title track, one of my favorites of 2011, sung by Deborah Kelly of The Damnations. I highly recommend picking up any of Willy Vlautin's three novels >>> RIYL : John Fante, Raymond Carver




06. An American Underdog | Always on the Run

Andy Reed certainly knows his way around a song as he delivers the goods on this exceedingly tuneful record done at his very own 'Reed Recording Co'. I can't help but think of a "young" Jon Brion while listening to this, especially on some of the later tracks on the record. Expect to hear great things from Andy in the future.




07. Peter Bruntnell | Black Mountain UFO

In Britian they call him the godfather of UK Americana and why his songs should be taught in schools. Hyberbole or not, Black Mountain UFO isn't as complete as previous efforts and it took a few plays to kick in, but it's certainly a worthy entry into the Bruntnell book of songwriting.




08. The Booze | At Maximum Volume

I wanted to hate this record cos there wasn't a single, original thing about it. I caved.




09. Pugwash | The Olympus Sound

Thomas Walsh continues the trend releasing his fifth platter of Beatlesque, ELO power-pop, or variant thereof. He's a first class songwriter and the best kept secret in all of Ireland.




10. Hayes Carll | Kmag YoYo

I heard this for the first time in December, 2010 and kept coming back to it again and again all year.
Country, honky tonk and songs of gravity and humour. Hayes is one funny mother-effer. What's not to like?




11. The Gourds | Old Mad Joy

They're back with their best record in years. This time they plugged in the electric guitars.



password - mikkisays.net


12. The Breakdowns | The Kids Don't Want To Bop Anymore

Perfect amalgamation of '77 New York City & 50's DooWop fabulous. Play this shit loud.




13. Jason Isbell | Here We Rest

I heard & read varying opinions on this all year, but finally took the plunge in mid November courtesy of Yail. I'm ostensibly dubious with just about every record I hear for the first time and this was no different. It came across as bland alt-country with paint by number chord changes. After a few plays, and then several more, things started to settle in. Makes me wonder if DBT miss his contributions. Alabama Pines, Codeine, Daisy Mae = some of his best work to date.



14. Gillian Welch | The Harrow and the Harvest

Some find it boring, repetitive and "old timey." As a friend of mine who likes the record pointed out, "the problem with modern music, is that there's too much of it and most of it just isn't good." I may not entirely agree, but here, that's not the case. After eight years, I 'm thankful Gillian & Dave decided to give us another platter of good songs.



15. Raphael Saadiq | Stone Rollin'

Throwback irony ? Retro? My first taste of RS and I'm not ashamed to say I love this record.



16. Dum Dum Girls | Your Only Dream

Guitar & surf beats drowning in reverb with a bit of Chrissie Hynde thrown in for good measure. It doesn't matter if the songs are delivered cleverly or not, cos this record delivers a lyrical punch to the gut.



17. Joe Hennry | Reverie

Mining the same territory of recent efforts, Joe delivers another record of style and class.



18. Robert Pollard | Space City Kicks

The avuncular one from Dayton releases one of his poppiest records in years.



19. Fleet Foxes | Helplessness Blues

My interest in this somewhat waned over the course of the year, but I've been revisiting the last month or so and I've come to the conclusion that it surpasses their debut offering. If lush, orchestral folk is your thing, look no further. The title track is still one of the best of the year.



20. Tommy Keene | Behind The Parade

Power-popper from the 80's releases another record of smart, melodic, power chord, rock n roll.

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Honorable mention :

Cirrone | Uplands Park Road

Italian power pop. RIYL : Badfinger and plenty of melody.


Daniel Tashian | Arthur

70's AM radio done the "right" way. I look forward to the new Silver Seas record.


Richard Buckner | Our Blood

Any other year, this would be Top 5 cos it's Richard Buckner. It does have plenty of redeeming qualities, mostly his delivery & lyrical content. As an aside, I wish someone would've asked him if it was neccessary to employ that horrible sounding Fender Rhodes on just about every song.


John Moreland | Everything The Hard way

RIYL : Lucero meets Slobberbone meets The Replacements.


The Phoenix Foundation | Buffalo

This record moves its way through several genres ending up with an epic, intelligent, pop record.


Ralph Covert & The Bad Examples | Smash Record

Three-chord, old school, Beatlesque pop. Fun record, not meant to be taken seriously. Just play the opener 'Big E Chord' and you'll be hooked.



Lastly, I thought the following "electronica" records , or whatever you want to call it, had some brilliant moments, and were far more interesting than many of the guitar-based "indie" records I heard this year.


Nicholas Jaar | Space is Only Noise
Vetiver | The Errant Charm
Young Montana | Limerence
James Blake | James Blake
Bibio | Mind Bokeh


Happy New Year

Never even heard of this one. Like the cover, like the description... on a search.

I forgot about the Mike Viola and Gourds albums & agree that they're among the best in either artist's discographies.

I really need to get over my repulsion at that bandana/scarf combo the one guy's got going on there and just listen to that one eventually.

Breakdowns also had to contend with my nonsense of confusing them with the Brokedowns. I'll look into eventually.

Hey mCap, you do know about The Fretboard Journal, right? Can't remember if we've talked about that magazine or not but it's definately your kinda thing. The Gillian / Dave thing reminded me.

The Brokedowns had some earlier releases on Big Action Records which is run by a great friend and bandmate of mine. He suffers from dyslexia and frequently has some word association issues. I would say it took him 3 years to say "the Brokedowns" instead of "the Breakdowns".

I'm not sure I knew that Gourds album existed. Must investigate.

i only have one Gourds album. keep meaning to check out some more but always forget. a few comments mcap's list:

- a lot of things on here i've never heard or even heard of which sound interesting (Viola, Vinyl Skyway, American Underdog, Breakdowns, Moreland).
- I just could never get into that Bruntnell or that Richmond Fontaine even though I'm a big fan...maybe will try again
- im a fan of Tommy Keene but never heard that new one

I've liked Richmond Fontaine before this one was too much for me.

Never heard of the Vinyl Skyway but they sound right up my alley. I guess I have another reason to check out the Brokedowns now.

I posted some links above if anyone is interested.

Billy - I have a feeling you'll like The Vinyl Skyway. At times it reminds me of the best parts of Marc Carroll's 'Ten of Swords', yet distinctly better. Apparently there are different versions of the record floating around with the songs sequenced in a different order. I uploaded the 10 song CD version I purchased directly from the band without the bonus tracks.

Some dark material, and certainly not for everyone. I know the way it's presented (in story form) which can be hard to take to begin with, coupled with the subject matter makes it a tough sell.

I posted a link (that's not mine) to The Gourds record.

I posted links to all except for the Moreland rekkid.

If you can't find the Moreland record, I'll up it tomorrow. By the way, I listed the wrong title, which is Everything The Hard Way. I listed the title of his EP by mistake.

Thanks MC

We want more Belleville!

Found 'em both at Sed de Musica. Thx!

thanks man

I am with Bloor on this. Previous Fontaine made me really want to listen to this one, but it was just too labored and pointy elbowed.

Everything about this album said I'd love it. Recorded at Levon Helms studio with Mike Campbell. I've liked their last 2 albums as well. Just totally unpretentious fun music with just the right amout of twang.

I picked this one up early Fall and it just never caught fire with me. While I think it may be one of their better overall albums top to bottom, there is no "How Will You Shine" or "Country Love" to immediately draw me in. I still enjoyed it for a brief time but it just didn't stick to the ribs and the over-earnestness started to wear on me eventually ("Eyes of a Child")



Will def check in to that Mike Viola and Vinyl Skyway rekkids.

Well done per usual MC.

I had no idea Mike Viola did anything new last year. Will definitely check that one out.

Most intriguing description ever...interest PIQUED!

I enjoyed that Gourds album and should have given it an Honorable Mention on my list.

As for Pollard, while SCK has its moments, I vastly preferred Lord of the Birdcage. You no likey LOTB?

This, or an all-original album of Yep. You're too brilliant of a songwriter to do another (almost) all-covers album, M-Cap!