It’s common for December editions of newspapers, magazines, websites and blogs to have a “best of” list that wraps up the musical releases of the last 12 months. This paper is no different.
The following isn’t a top 10, and these aren’t ranked; they’re just albums worth giving a listen to. While it’s debatable that these are some of the best of the first half of 2014 – and they may not even make my own year-end list – I find them more interesting to my tastes than a band like “The War on Drugs,” whose critical praise baffles me.
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, “Give the People What they Want.” All of Jones’ releases have made year-end best-of lists. Jones leads her R&B and soul band with dynamic and powerful vocals. It’s straight out of 1965 and is worthy of any Motown collection made by the one person keeping the sound of the classic era of soul alive.
Old 97’s, “Most Messed Up.” At this point, the Old 97’s are alt country royalty, even if there are some releases that find them venturing into pop-rock territory. Their latest is a throwback to their first three records; a charging, punk-a-billy mid-life crisis as they remind us they like to still sing about booze, pills and heartache. It’s their strongest release since the ’90s.
The Men, “Tomorrow’s Hits.” Brooklyn rock outfit The Men have earlier releases leaning toward classic punk. “Tomorrow’s Hits” brings in harmonica and horns, as if the band is embracing years of influential rock sounds from a multitude of American predecessors.
Scott H. Biram, “Nothing but Blood.” Biram is a stomping and hollering one-man blues act who could also front hard-core and metal bands. His latest release would please fans of Motorhead and Lightning Hopkins; it’s a dark country, dark folk, dark blues and dark gospel record. There is nothing slick and polished about any of his releases. “Nothing but Blood” is raw and real.
The Hard Pans, “Budget Cuts.” Since the demise of The Gourds last fall, songwriter and bass player Jimmy Smith moved on with Gourds multi-instrumentalist Claude Bernard to form The Hard Pans. While similarities to their former band are obvious, The Hard Pans explore rock and pop with a focused, yet almost on the brink of falling apart, lyrically ambiguous sound. It’s a rock record that’s delightfully strange.
Lydia Loveless, “Somewhere Else.” Loveless is exactly where Neko Case was when she was recording for Bloodshot records, which is on the cusp of completely blowing up and becoming a house-hold name in female vocalists. Her third full length remains a balanced collection of indie pop and alternative country written by a young woman raised on a hearty dose of American punk and classic outlaw country.
As much as I love the first Ramones record, “Exile on Main Street,” “Kind of Blue,” “Quadrophenia” and “Double Nickels on the Dime,” my favorite records are the ones being made tomorrow. There’s a lot of great music out there.
Liggett_b@fortlewis.edu. Bryant Liggett is a freelance writer and KDUR station manager.
Bryant’s best
Friday: Jeff Solon Jazz Trio plays jazz, 5 p.m., no cover, Animas River Café in the DoubleTree Hotel, 501 Camino Del Rio, 259-6580.
Friday: Powertribe plays rock music, 6 p.m, no cover, Moe’s, 937 Main Ave., 259-9018.
