STOCKI'S ALBUMS OF 2012 Pt 2; # 15 - 1

15. Duke Special – Oh Pioneer

Worth it for the song Condition on its own Belfast’s eccentric yet songwriter on classic lines fashions his eye liner and dreads into another satisfying collection.

14. Deacon Blue - Hipsters

One of the returns of the year, Deacon Blue with Ross’s usual great songs and the best musical context for his work since Raintown.

13. Sinead O’Connor – How About I Be Me (and You be You)?

O’Connor’s strongest writing in decades shares some radical theology of love and justice.

12. Bob Dylan – Tempest

In the year of returns to form Dylan made his most urgent record in a very, very long time.

11. Alabama Shakes – Boys and Girls

The first time I heard Brittany Howard’s vocal on Later With... Jools was a musical highlight of my year. Great big riffs and a bigger Gospel voice. Wow!

10. Glen Hansard – Rhythm and Repose

Frames and Swell Season mainman strikes out alone with an
intoxicating songs about love’s redemptive power in the midst of joy and regret.

9. Ben Kyle                                   

Gentle alt. country songs from this Belfast born native of Minneapolis. God infected with a gentle strength in sound and dogma.

8. Matthew Perryman Jones – Land Of The Living

If Chris Martin had depth... if Bono was more poetic...

7. Martyn Joseph – Songs For The Coming Home

Year after year this Welsh boy gets better and more
spiritually wise and politically on the money!

6. Patti Smith – Banga

For adventure, art, religious exploration and the future of humanity it is a wonderful contribution.

5. Mumford & Sons – Babel

Mingling theology subtly inside those banjo picking ho downs is completely electrifying.

4. Brian Houston – Shelter

Think Springsteen, Alabama Shakes and Exile On Main Street era Stones all wrapped in Gospel songs!

 

3. Jake Bugg

The freshest sound to hit me in ages, Bugg has Dylan, Arctic Monkeys and even George Jones all youthed up for 2012.

2. Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball

Prophetic songs of economic injustice and where to seek redemption. I spent a whole night preaching from this record during a wonderful evening of music and chat in the Beehive, Delaware, Ohio in March!  

1. Bill Fay – Life Is People

The revelation of the year. The man’s amazing story. The humility of his life. The beauty of his work. Thank you God that there is a Bill Fay in the world and in the world of music and that we got to hear it!

Comments

[Andy P]

Thanks for all your surmising during the year, for giving me stuff to think about, for introducing me to new music and enhancing my enjoyment of some of the stuff I already have. I hope that 2013 is full of new music that feeds your soul.