Happy Fucking New Years

I don't know about you, but my 2009 sucked ass. 2010 better be awesome! My resolution: less doctors, more bartenders. Kinda like the little new years babies above. Yay to drinking!

The Mountain Goats - This Year.mp3
Buy: The Sunset Tree (2005)

Todd Snider - Happy New Year/All That Matters.mp3
From: Live at Grimey's (2007, out of print)

NQ Arbuckle - Goodnight Irene on New Years Eve.mp3
Buy (Maple Music): Last Supper in a Cheap Town (2005)

Lightnin' Hopkins - Happy New Year.mp3
Buy (MP3): The Best Of Lightnin' Hopkins (2006)

More on 2009

I meant to do more blogging last week while I was on vacation in St. Petersburg, Florida, but the internet connection at the hotel was abysmal at best. So instead I did a lot more drinking. The above photo is from Dockside Dave's. Nothing like eating a half pound of fresh fried grouper, giant onion rings, and several beers on an outdoor patio on December 26. And then slipping into a food coma and napping on the beach.

Anyhoo, here are a few more albums which I feel are among the best of 2009.

Tim Easton put out a wonderful bluesy/alt country album called Porcupine. And wow, can he play guitar! Check out his web site to see some of the 500 limited edition album covers which he painted.

Broke My Heart.mp3

Buy: Porcupine

William Elliott Whitmore is young white man who sounds like an old black blues man. Great album.

There's Hope for You.mp3

Buy: Animals In The Dark

Regular readers of this blog will know that I love all things Jay Farrar. Son Volt put out a wonderful album this year, that some bloggers even compared to Trace. Well, I won't go that far, but it is a damn good album. I'm surprised that it is not on more end of the year lists.

Strength and Doubt.mp3

Buy: American Central Dust

And speaking of my main man Jay, Farrar and Ben Gibbard released an album based on Jack Keroac's 1962 novel Big Sur, and the subsequent film entitled One Fast Move and I'm Gone. I really don't like Gibbard's day gig with Death Cab for Cutie (worst band name ever), but his voice really works on this record. Farrar wrote all of the music for this film, which came out in limited release on Oct 16.

These Roads Don't Move.mp3

Buy: One Fast Move Or I'm Gone: Music From Kerouac's Big Sur

BettySoo was new to me this year. I can really relate to her music. For fans of Kathleen Edwards and/or Patty Griffin.

Never the Pretty Girl.mp3

Buy: Heat Sin Water Skin

The sophomore release from A.A. Bondy is even better than his first one. And, he's a hell of a live performer. This album made many best-of lists for 2009.

False River.mp3
Buy: When the Devil's Loose

I learned about American Aquarium from my buddy at NineBullets.net. Great stuff from this band from Raleigh, North Carolina. Be sure not to confuse them with American Aquarium Products of Oregon when you google them.

City Lights.mp3

Buy: Dances for the Lonely

The Bird List

So I am several days late and several hundred dollars short on this one, but better late than never. On December 15 a collective of like-minded bloggers launched the premiere of The Bird List. This list acknowledges what we in the blogging community consider the best in country music for 2009, while flipping the proverbial bird at the mainstream country music establishment. 30 amazing blogs participated in making this list, and I encourage you to check all of them out. Each blogger ranked their Top 20 albums with each album being rewarded points inversely proportional to their ranking (i.e. Number 1 = 20 points, Number 2 = 19 points, and so on). Here are the Top 20 twang albums for 2009, as voted on by the little people like me:

1. Justin Townes Earle - Midnight at the Movies

My number one too! JTE's second full length album was in the top five for 10 different blogs.

2. Lucero - 1372 Overton Park

I ranked this as #10. I was surprised it was ranked so highly overall as so many bloggers complained about Lucero's use of horns.

3. Ryan Bingham & the Dead Horses - Roadhouse Sun

I totally missed this one. I will be buying it with the Amazon gift certificated that I got from Santa.

4. Buddy & Julie Miller - Written In Chalk

Another one I missed. Grrrrr....

5. Dave Rawlings Machine - A Friend of a Friend

I gave this one a few spins but it didn't do much for me. I will have to revisit it.

6. Slaid Cleaves - Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away

My #5!

7. Todd Snider - The Excitement Plan

Another one that didn't knock me out. But usually I do love me some Todd Snider.

8. The Avett Brothers - I and Love and You

A lot of people are raving about this album, but to me it is a glossier version of 2007's Emotionalism. Its a good album, but not great.

9. Band of Heathens - One Foot in the Ether

So much music, so little time...

10. Tom Russell - Blood and Candle Smoke

Great album! My #14.

The Most Dangerous Woman in America.mp3

11. Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Dare I say this album is even better than Isbell's first solo effort? I struggled ranking this one, but I finally landed it at #12.

Good.mp3

12. Corb Lund - Losin' Lately Gambler

I am thrilled to see this album ranked so highly as I think I am the only blogger in this group based in Canada. I ranked it #6.

13. Charlie Robison - Beautiful Day

Another one that a lot of people really liked, but didn't do a lot for me.

14. Drive-By Truckers - The Fine Print (A Collection Of Oddities And Rarities 2003-2008)

I rated this one #7. Like I said in my review, "pseudo-new Drive-By Truckers is better than most brand new releases."

15. Steve Earle - Townes

A good effort from Earle, and I appreciate him trying to keep the legacy of Townes Van Zandt alive, but I much prefer the original TVZ recordings. I do like Earle's version of "Lungs."

Lungs.mp3

16. Deer Tick - Born On Flag Day

Another one I missed.

17. Wrinkle Neck Mules - Let The Lead Fly

I didn't get this one until December and didn't have time to properly listen to it before my rankings were due.

18. Magnolia Electric Co. - Josephine

The first half of this album is really good, but the second half fizzles out.

19. Guy Clark - Somedays The Song Writes You

And yet another one I never got to.

20 (tie). Those Darlins - Those Darlins

My best new artist of 2009. There are some great songs on this album. I also rated it #20.

20 (tie). Miranda Lambert - Revolution

I don't know very much about Miranda Lambert, but I do know that she is one of the few Nashville country artists that still has a lot of credibility among alt country fans.

Its been quite an amazing year in music, especially when you consider that seven of the above 20 albums I never even got to. Can't wait to see what 2010 brings!

Feel Bad For Santa

Thanks to the forum users at AltCountryTab.ca for these lovely tunes! Ho-Ho-Holy Shit! This is a great comp! The comments under the songs are not necessarily from me, but they are necessarily hysterical.


1. The Legendary Tiger Man - Fuck Christmas, I Got the Blues.mp3

Buy (MP3): Fuck Christmas, I Got The Blues (2007)

2. Andre Williams - Poor Mr. Santa.mp3
From: Poor Mr. Santa 7" (1997, out of print)
Not safe for work.

3. Wizzard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday.mp3
Buy: Wizzard Brew (1973, reissued 2006)
On of my blog readers suggested this song as one that is impossible to avoid during Christmas across the pond. "Guaranteed to get played at office Xmas parties in the UK, everyone knows the words well enough to slur them. "

4. Jeffrey Foucault - Ghost Repeater.mp3
Buy: Ghost Repeater (2006)

5. Sam Baker - Angel Hair.mp3
Buy: Cotton (2009)

6. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Little Drummer Boy.mp3
Buy: I Love Rock N Roll (1984, reissued 2006)
"Pa-RRRRRRRRRRRRRRump-Pa-Pum-Pum."

7. Belle & Sebastian - O Come, O Come Emmanuel.mp3
From: It's a Cool, Cool Christmas (2000 compilation, out of print)
I don't really like Belle & Sebastian, but Santa Aimz is generous this holiday season.

8. Shonen Knife - Space Christmas.mp3
From: 7" vinyl (1991, out of print)

9. Johnny Cash - What Child Is This.mp3
From: Country Christmas (1991, out of print)

10. Weezer - The Christmas Song.mp3
From: Christmas CD (2000, out of print)

11. Julian Casablancas -I Wish It Were Christmas Today (Horatio Sanz Cover).mp3
Buy: Phrazes For The Young (bonus track, 2009)

12. The Drifters - White Christmas.mp3
From: Atlantic Rhythm and Blues (1954 compilation, out of print)

13. Perry Como - I'll Be Home for Christmas
Buy: Sings Merry Christmas Music (1946, reissued 2009)
Had this album recorded on reel to reel as a kid. Loved it. Absolutely loved it. Happened on the CD one day. Spent $3.95 -- best bargain since Pimps, Players, and Private Eyes for $2.98. Anyhoo, never thought much of this song until I read about how this was a very poignant song for the soldiers in WW2 ("If only in my dreams..."). Never realized that about the song until recently.

14. The Ventures - Sleigh Ride.mp3
Buy: The Ventures' Christmas Album (1965, reissued 1995)
Great Christmas party record. Each song starts with a current pop smash riff then off to the melody. Great challenge to name what song is sampled ('65 style).

15. The Ventures - Snow Flakes (What Child is This).mp3
Buy: The Ventures' Christmas Album (1965, reissued 1995)

16. Brenda Lee - I'm Gonna Lasso Santa Claus.mp3
From: Rockin Little Christmas (out of print, 1986 compilation, song orig. recorded in 1960)
Sweet steel here. Brenda was fourteen on this, I think. She sounds like an elf, haha.

17. Kapelye - Chicken.mp3
From: Chicken (1987, out of print)
A non-Sandler Hanukkah song....mmmm....chicken. This album also has the sweetest cover art (right).

18. Funk Machine - Soul Santa.mp3
Buy: In the Christmas Groove (2009 compilation)
I've been fascinated with black santas since I was a kid....this is a SONG about black santa, so WIN: me.

Edit: I can't find any info on this band.

19. The Last Poets - Hands Off.mp3
From: Chastisement (1973, out of print)
The Kwanzaa song. This is perfect for Kwanzaa, cause Kwanzaa has no ties to any african holiday and was made up in the 60s by the (cult) leader of the ultra militant black pride group US Organization. A group so militant they frequently clashed with the black panthers. Screw whitey's holiday....we'll make our own and whitey's not allowed to celebrate it.