I could have put more thought into this or waited until I got around to hearing a few more things but I don't feel that inclined to do a last push this year so here it is...

20.

The Drive-By Truckers - The Big To Do

This would probably be higher if this hadn't come out at the beginning of the year and didn't seem so easy to forget about. It grew on me after seeing them live but it's still not one of their better albums and I have to downgrade it because I'm already grabbing the older albums over this one when I reach for the DBTs.

19.

500 Miles to Memphis - We've Built Up to Nothing

I was initially really disappointed in this because they changed their sound from the DBT'ish/Deadstring Brothers boozy country rock sound to a much more punk/power pop sound. I kept it in rotation though and regularly found myself enjoying the hooks and having to look to see who it was that was playing.

18.

Alejandro Escovedo - Street Songs of Love

Not as good as his early albums but much better than his last two. There was a period this year I would have ranked this much higher but it still hits me just right when I'm in the mood for it.

17.

I liked their last album but I was still a little surprised by how much I like this. Probably their third best album behind Stoneage Romeos and Mars Needs Guitars. They still bring it live too.

16.

Loudon Wainwright III - Songs for the New Depression

I'm a big fan and this is a fine addition to his catalog. If this hadn't come out so soon after his last album which is still in rotation for me, I probably would have spent a little more time with it and might rank it higher.

15.

One of the more consistent young artists. I'm a big fan. I don't listen to this often but whenever I pull it out for a listen, I wonder why I don't listen to all of his stuff more often.

14.

Marcos Valle - Estatica

Best album in years by one of my favorite Brazilian Artists.

13.

Gilberto Gil - Fe Na Festa

Another really good album by a Brazilian great. I'm a little surprised I didn't put both of these in the top ten. I guess its been a better year than I thought.

12.

A new Brazilian band I don't know much about other than I like.

11.

Steve Dawson - I Will Miss the Trumpets and Drums

Quality alt country/singer songwriter album from the co-leader of chicago based alt country band, Dolly Varden, who are one of my favorite bands that I never talk about.

Need to check out that 500 Miles to Memphis. Completely agree on the Loudan Wainright. Good but too close on the heels of his last album and I loved that album. Think I'm suffering a little fatigue in that regard.

500 Miles to Memphis looks cool.

Also, I should probably check out Gilberto Gil, as I have some other stuff of his that I enjoy.

10.

Howe Gelb and a Band of Gypsies - Alegrias

Howe Gelb and flamenco music - what's not to like?

9.

I'm usually not a big fan of these new albums by former soul greats but I really like this album, especially the title track.

8.

La Troba Kung Fu - A La Panxa del Bou
RIYL Manu Chao

7.

Mombojo - Amigo Do Tempo

Another Brazilian album only I care about

6.

Tony Joe White - The Shine

Really good swamp rock record. Not one of his best but still one of the better albums of 2010.

5.
Dr. John - Tribal

Another album I'm surprised by how much I like. Just a fun record.

4.

Spanish Nuevo Flamenco Singer Amparo Sanchez backed up by members of Calexico. Even better than the Gelb album.

3. Mike Stinson - The Jukebox in Your Heart



Best country/alt country/country rock album of the year.

2.
Lloyd Cole - Broken Record

Another year, another Lloyd Cole record in billy g's top 5

1.

Mary Gauthier - The Foundling

Just great songwriting. Best album of the year and it's not even close.

i almost used a mary gauthier youtube in the burger thread

Since most obs don't care about World Music, Six more that would have made my list if I eliminated the world music:

Free Energy, Teenage Fanclub, Elvis Costello, Jerry Lee Lewis, Robyn Hitchcock, Fred Eaglesmith roughly in that order

Would have needed to spend more time with to consider: Orgone, Jamey Johnson

Intended to listen to but still haven't: Richard Thompson, Saw Doctors, Maximilian Hecker, Darden Smith, Steve Cropper & Felix Cavaliere, Carlinhos Brown, Jair Oliveira, Mynabirds, Solomon Burke, Charles Lloyd, Jason Moran

You probably would like the 500 Miles to Memphis. And while I'm not discouraging you checking out the GG, in the interest of full disclosure, its a forro album. Forro is a kind of Brazilian folk music somewhat similar in style to Zydeco (read: lots of accordian). It's a really good album, just don't expect poppy Tropicalia. If that's what you are looking for, the Garotas Sueca album might be more to your liking.

Really glad the Stinson worked out!

gimme an riyl on stinson

sounds like something i might want to hear

willie delivery, parsons twang, lyle lovett songs. but just straight up country without the need of absurd electric guitars

Who's Mary Gauthier? What's she all about? Also I don't think I realized Tony Joe White released a 2010 album. I should probably try to dig that up somewhere.

She's an alternative folk/alt country/singer songwriter type with a dark/tough streak to her. I first heard her via her song "I Drink" which was on a comp of songs Dylan played on his radio show.

There's a really good bio of her on her website here I was going to quote from it but it's too long to quote the whole thing but is too interesting a read to really just excerpt from. There's a bunch of info on the story behind The Foundling in it too.

I highly recommend that you seek it out and trust your search skills but if you can't find it let me know.

All right, I'm off and looking. Thank you sir.

Pass that around when you find it, DJ.

I'd also like to hear that Stinson as I totally kept forgetting to snag it.

Surprising amount of confluence, BG. We typically have one record that we both really like but there's several this time around. (Wainwright, DBT, Staples, Gelb, Free Energy)

Will do Bloor, I have it downloading now.

Also I couldn't get past track one on that Free Energy album today. That was not my thing.

There's a link for the Stinson in Contradiction's thread. Yeah, I've been a little more into the reg rock this year I guess thus the greater confluence. I think you'd like that Steve Dawson album too. I also realized when reading bort's list that I completely forgot about Harlem. It would have probably bumped either the Hitchcock or Eaglesmith from the honorable mentions.

The Wainwright is another one I forgot. I didn't forget about Gelb's album- it's a funny thing about him with me- I always like his shit when I listen to it, but rarely say, "I need to play that." I just didn't spend enough time with the Stinson to know where to slot it in.

I keep wanting to like the Alejandro Escovedo but it just doesn't stick for me.

I guess I should get that Lloyd Cole.

I should never buy anything Brazilian without getting a billy g approval.

Be curious to know your thoughts. I picked it up a few months ago after seeing billy post it in the Top 3 albums thread. It's a melancholy album to say the least and I think knowing the back story only makes it that more impressive. Must've been an extremely cathartic album to make. It's one of the few records I went into the man room with, grabbed a drink, sat down with the lyric book, and took in. It'll find it's way into my Top 10 for sure.


Always enjoy seeing your list billy.

I forgot to mention this one yesterday Bill. In my Top 20.

woohoo!

Update: Listened to Stinson this morning and liked it. Standouts were the opening track and the Dwight cover, but I'll definitely be digging deeper into this one. Thanks guys.

1. Interested in that 500 Miles to Memphis - havent heard about that one.
2. Escovedo - not as into it as you...dont think its all that much better than his last one
3. Hoodoo Gurus - only have Stoneage Romeos which I like
4. Loudon - never heard anything other than the tenner you put together. Keep meaning to get something by him, but havent yet.
5. Rufus - guess I didnt know he even had a new album this year
6. Dawsom - i own a Dolly Varden album but never thought of it as a stand out...but might check this one
7. Howie Gelb - never liked
8. Mavis Staples - heard bits and pieces and sounded a little boring
9. Mike Stinson - on my "list"
10. Lloyd Cole - like it. Not quite as good as Antidepressant in my opinion, but a strong album, especially Writer's Retreat
11. Gauthier - I have one of her albums from maybe 5 years ago and never liked it all that much. hearing a lot of praise for this new one, though. not sure...

Vaselines and Damien Jurado no likey?

Glad to hear you dig it Derris. I'd also be interested to hear what Dumpjack, Bloor and anyone else think.

Rogneeb - I like her last three albums but haven't heard her first 2-3 albums. This one is by far the best three of the ones I have though although I like all of them.



Well it is still much more of a "reg rock" electric album and I do prefer the earlier stuff. I think it has better songwriting than the last two though and seeing him live definitely helped the songs sink in.



The Vaselines was just so so. I've kept it in case it grows on me but I'm thinking i'm probably going to end up deleting it eventually. The Damien Jurado maybe deserves a little more consideration for at least one of the 6 honorable mention slots but it's my least favorite album by him and I was pretty quickly reaching for his back catalog albums over it.

Glad to hear that a few others are liking the stinson. Thanks again Contradiction for bringing it to our attention.