I’d love to hear what tickled people’s ears this last year.
My top 3:
Fruition-Just One of Them Nights This is a really, really good album. Portland band who toured with Greensky this fall. Just great songwriting, playing, and harmonizing. This band is smoking hot right now. They need a set on the Shellman stage, don’t you think, Planet Bluegrass?
YMSB EP2013 Strong songs from each one of the guys. This format should be interesting for the band to experiment and release new things on their own time.
Bombino-Nomad Toureg guitarist from Niger, album produced by Dan Auerbach from the Black Keys. Mesmerizing grooves with killer guitar work. This rocks.
These are the new ones. Amazing reissues from the Dead and Van Morrison, too.
That Bombino-Nomad stuff is wickedly awesome. His playing is very Santana-esque.
For myself, there were a couple albums I listened to a lot here at the end of the year, which is mostly all I can remember I wanted to stick to 3, to follow your format, but I fail-caked…anyways, here’s 4…
Yonder’s new LP 13 was pretty sweet
Tell the Ones I love- SCR was an amazing album!
Del McCoury Band-Streets of Baltimore
The new Noam Pickelny album
Tons of really awesome reissues or new vinyl by the Flaming Lips, a killer 4 part Townes Van Zandt record that was never issued, a rare acoustic Grateful Dead show that wasn’t listed as the Dead, and some other various ones from the Record store days!
I love vinyl!
I agree completely on the Fruition album. One of the best music purchases I made in 2013. Those guys have all the potential in the world and are on a bit of a hot streak.
The new Tim and Darrell album is everything we have come to expect from those two. Wonderful songs, harmonies and picking.
The new album I’ve probably listened to most this year has to be the debut album by the Lil Smokies. They won the North West String Summit contest this year and have been touring a fair amount. They also just recorded a live album on New Year’s Eve during a stellar four set show. These guys can pick, sing and write extremely well. And their dobro player is top notch.
It’s been a really good year for new music, and that’s the first time I’ve felt that way in a good handful of years. YMWV, as I am not a pop person and loathe trends.
Albums I listened to and really enjoyed in 2013:
Jason Isbell - Southeastern
Tim O’Brien & Darrell Scott - Memories and Moments
Elephant Revival - These Changing Skies
Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused To Sing (and Other Stories)
Sarah Jarosz - Build Me Up From Bones
Ana Popovic - Can You Stand The Heat?
Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby - Cluck Ol’ Hen [live]
Arborea - Fortress Of The Sun (would be great for Folks Fest!)
Patty Griffin - American Kid
David Bromberg - Only Slightly Mad
Jim Lauderdale - Black Roses
Jim Lauderdale - Blue Moon Junction
Los Lobos - Disconnected in New York City [live]
Byron Sutton, David Holt & T. Michael Coleman - Ready For These Times
Gov’t Mule - Shout
Noam Pikelny - Plays Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe
Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen - On The Edge
Kruger Brothers - Remembering Doc Watson
Guy Clark - My Favorite Picture Of You
Hot Club Of Cowtown - Rendezvous In Rhythm
Peter Rowan - The Old School
Aoife O’Donovan - Fossils
North Mississippi All Stars - World Boogie Is Coming
Richard Thompson - Electric
The Railsplitters - The Railsplitters (best release of the CO Front Range bands, IMHO)
Carlos Santana & John McLaughlin - Live at Montreaux 2011 [live]
“Old” Material:
Duane Allman - Skydog
Grateful Dead - May 1977
Grateful Dead - Sunshine Daydream
The Band - Live at the Academy of Music
Jerry Garcia - GarciaLive Vol. 3 (Legion of Mary) - All three volumes are superb, but this is my clear fave!
Old & In The Way - The Complete Boarding House Shows
Bob Dylan - Bootleg Series Vol. 10: Another Self Portrait
Jerry Garcia & David Grisman - The Alternate Garcia & Grisman (the first album with all different takes)
Neil Young - Live at the Cellar Door
Jerry Garcia / Bob Weir & Rob Wasserman - Fall 1989: The Long Island Sound
Reissues:
Allman Brothers Band - Brothers & Sisters (includes rehearsals and a live show from 1973)
Van Morrison - Moondance (lots of outtakes)
Paul McCartney & Wings - Wings Over America
Yes - Close To The Edge (cool remaster by Steven Wilson; with emphasis on dynamics)
The Who - Tommy (with lots of demos and a live set)
I wanted to stick to 3, to follow your format, but I fail-caked…anyways, here’s 4…