16. The Civil Wars – Barton Hollow
Met Joy Williams a few years ago at a Music Retreat in Nashville. It was a few months before I caught on that she was half of this success act of the year. Wonderful writing. Very lovely.
17. James Vincent McMorrow – Early In The Morning
Some spiritual vibes threaded through this young Irishman’s debut. Apparently he has come through a Church scene. Easier ion my ears than Bon Iver.
18.Ryan Adams – Ashes and Fire
A return to form from Ryan and about time. Here he does what he does best. Great songs on acoustic guitar.
19. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
The surprise of the year was discovering Noel without Liam. I pretty much laugh at the nonsense of Oasis hype but Noel has made a great record.
20. Kate Bush – 50 Words For Snow
Ms Bush was always too much pump and ballet for me but this winter delight sounds as gentle as the snow falling which apparently is what she intended
21. Jonathan Wilson – Gentle Spirit
Wilson produced one of my top ten albums of the year and his own came with endorsements from the likes of Jackson Browne. A revival of the Laurel Canyon sound, it is a sprawling piece of art.
22. Gillian Welch – The Harrow and The Harvest
After a long period of no show Welch was back with partner Rawlings into a market newly cluttered with duos. As always with Welch, there is great songs and that voice.
23. Joe Henry - Reverie
Again, Henry produced one of my ten albums and might have been higher himself if I’d purchased sooner. It is so tastily produced; Waits without the weirdness in voice and instrumentation.
24. Emmylou Harris – Hard Bargain
Someone with a record in my top 10 forced me to buy this Emmylou album after her last one pushed her off my “must buy on day of release” artists. Thankful too. Some great songs about change and loss, particularly the loss of Gram Parsons, all those years ago, and Katie McGarrigle much more recently.
25. Lisa Hannigan - Passenger
Ireland’s female songwriter of the moment proves she is much more prolific than her former over rated partner Rice. Sparse and gently poetic.
26. Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto
I disagree with the reviewer who called them the new Abba. For me they are the new Police; radio friendly and pop pleasant but, like Mark Houston says, something just doesn’t connect at a deeper level. Big family favourite!
27. Laura Marling – A Creature I Don’t Know
Miss Marling was too folked out for me until this her third album. I love its cross fertilization of Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen.
28. Fleet Foxes – Hopelessness Blues
Loved the title track of this one but the rest didn’t permeate like the debut album.
29. Benjamin Francis Leftwich – Last Smoke Before The Snowstorm
Chris Fry tipped me off about this young man having caught him on some TV show. It was a delightfully discovery, all quiet, moody and Nick Drakesian!
30. Jason Molin – Fok Dub
Molin is as unique a folk singer as can be. He takes his New York Woody Guthrie roots and grafts them onto almost Caribbean lilts down there in Austin, Texas where he has settled. Songs of humour, real introspective love and some deep thoughts of culture and God!
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