Now I've Heard Everything

The second half of my best of the decade list.  If you missed the first part, you’ll find it here:

Matt Mays & El Torpedo – Matt Mays & El Torpedo (2005): First released in Canada, this record produced a huge hit there for the band in Cocaine Cowgirl. Finally released in the US on Halloween 2006, this album is straight ahead rock of the Neil Young – Tom Petty school. And the fact that MM&ET may just be the loudest band I’ve ever seen live is, in my book, a point in their favor.

Milton – Grand Hotel (2008):  Milton is both the name of the lead singer and of this New York City based band.  This album, the band’s third, shows them at their peak with their brand of rock, Americana and even some alt country.  Everything here is extremely radio friendly, the only problem being that radio as a means of exposing new music has basically ceased to exist.

The Watson Twins – Southern Manners (2006): An “Oh Wow” moment for me came as I was sitting in the cafe at the South by Southwest music festival and heard the Watson Twins do a semi acoustic live set.  This eight song CD (which makes it either a short album or a long EP, take your pick) has the absolute standout Shoot the Lights Out, which will make you utter the word gorgeous.  If you know the Watson Twins (which is actually the name of the band) from Jenny Lewis’ album, you only know a little of what they are capable.

Winterpills – The Light Divides (2007): The second effort from the band, this is a CD to which I listened again and again.  You can call this music chamber pop; I’ve always described this band’s sound as quiet songs played loudly. Perhaps a bit more polished than their debut album from 2005 because this was a studio set as opposed to the recorded at home first set.

Steve Wynn – Here Come the Miracles (2001):The leader of the 80s band The Dream Syndicate, Steve Wynn played around with a variety of styles in the 90s.  With this double CD, Steve finally returns to straight ahead rock, finds his 21st century band and produces a double album that is worthy of being a double album.

This decade has been around for ten years now and we still don’t have a name for it.  No, it will never, ever be called the aughts or the naughts.  The zeroes are a possibility, but I think eventually we’ll settle on calling the last ten years the two thousands.  But no matter what it’s called, these are the ten albums released during the past ten years I think were the best, presented in alphabetical order in two parts.

Dan Bern – New American Language (2001): This album finds Dan singing about the Alaska Highway, playing with Keith Richards and hanging out with Britney Spears.  He also has a song in which he talks to God.  It’s that latter song, God Said No, in which Dan shows what makes him a wonderful lyricist.  It’s all wrapped up in rock music that will make you move and smile and maybe even consider the metaphysical.

Kathleen Edwards – Asking for Flowers (2008): A rocker who knows how to tell a story, this album finds Kathleen at the top of her game.  A remark by a friend suffering in a failing relationship gave rise to the title song.  Musically, Kathleen goes from solo acoustic to Neil Young like rockers and even plays a little violin.  A couple of all star players are on this record, including Benmont Tench from Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers.

The Hold Steady – The Boys and Girls in America (2006): I missed out on this one when it first came out, but when I found out that The Hold Steady were headlining a show in my backyard (Prospect Park) in 2007 I got hold of it.  What I found was 11 songs with incredible lyrical density and music not unlike early Bruce Springsteen.  Live this band, especially it’s lead singer, Craig Finn, is charismatic.

Norah Jones – Come Away With Me (2002): When I reviewed this album back in 2002, I noted that this is not the kind of record I usually listen to, but that it was so good that I had to listen to it and then declared it my record of the year.  The passing years have not changed my opinion one bit.  Solid, subtle vocals and great songs (five by Jesse Harris) made this the runaway hit that it was.

Scott Kempner – Saving Grace (2008): Scott was a fixture on the New York music scene for years, appearing in bands like the Del Lords, The Dictators and for a while in the mid-90s, in The Little Kings, Dion’s backing band.  Then he moved out to LA about five years ago.  Last year a friend told me about this record and once I got it, it quickly became one of my favorites.  If a record can sound like New York City, this one does: gritty, heartbreaking but resilient.

To be continued tomorrow.