Tis’ the season for “Best of…” “Top picks…”Depending on your point of view it’s either as welcome as a gift under the tree on Christmas morning or fruit cake. This subjective separation of musical wheat from chafe, truth be told, it’s my least favorite part of doing this blog. I prefer visit each work on an individual basis. And though I do bring a wider view of music, only in rare instances would weigh a work in contrast to something I heard just the week before. This 12-month capsule is constraining, bit with constraints come opportunity to focus the mind.
First- ground rules. No albums of cover songs. So, no Gurf Morlix or Carrie Rodriguez. But ya’ll should still buy the excellent Blaze Foley’s 113th Wet Dream and We Still Love Our Country respectively. No albums where an artist revisits earlier work, or live albums of already recorded work. Sorry Levon Helm, Ramble At The Ryman might get you that Grammy for Americana Album of the Year but you won’t make the TN 2011 list.
My pick for number one spot came to me in April and I pegged it early as the one to beat. Nobody even came close. Austin Lucas’ New Home In The Old World is a fine mix of country, folk and rock delivered in such a seamless and extraordinary way that ibelieveit advances th genre in it’s existence. Same with To the Wind and On To Heaven by Sunday Valley. The Kentucky band captured my attention early in the year with their brand of high-octane honky-tonk/gospel boogie and seeing them live sealed their spot at #2.
Canadian Laura Repo’s debut Get Yourself Home landed in my in-box the week I was putting this list together. Repo’s plaintive voice of simple, timeless themes and and the sparse arrangements reach back to country music’s roots and secured her a slot at number 10.
- Austin Lucas – New Home In The Old World
- Sunday Valley – To the Wind and On To Heaven
- Jason Isbell – Here We Rest
- Zoe Muth & The Lost High Rollers – Starlight Hotel
- Gillian Welch – The Harrow & The Harvest
- Hayes Carll – KMAG YO YO
- Lindi Ortega – Little Red Boots
- Hellbound Glory – Damaged Goods
- Hymn for Her – Lucy & Wayne and The Amairican Stream
- Laura Repo – Get Yourself Home
Jack Williams
15 December, 2011 at 2:19 pm
I’m with you on Austin Lucas. My favorite album of the year.
Alivegarden
16 December, 2011 at 7:13 am
Great list. Totally agree on Hellbound Glory, Gillian Welch and especially Sunday Valley. But where is the completely awesome Lydia Loveless!?
Mike Parker
18 December, 2011 at 4:08 pm
Hi!
I thought your readers would enjoy this video by Canadian country music performer Dann Downes.
Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UVIdKfnqNQ
Aran
19 December, 2011 at 3:26 pm
Nice list. Sunday Valley’s album is great, and Hellbound Glory are the best country band out there right now for my money. Not to nitpick, but Hymn for Her’s also excellent album came out last year, 2010. I need to check out that Austin Lucas record…
Travis Hill
19 December, 2011 at 6:54 pm
The Austin Lucas album was a personal favorite and we were happy to be part of the project.
2011 Album of the Year – Slackeye Slim’s “El Santo Grial…” « Saving Country Music
2 January, 2012 at 9:26 am
[...] my “favorite” album of the year, meaning the one I’ve listened to the most. Twang Nation named it their Top Pick of 2011, and I can’t argue with that. And Hellbound Glory won last year, and was nominated [...]
Felices Fiestas, Happy Holidays to everyone, Top Best 2011 !
2 January, 2012 at 10:00 am
[...] Twang Nation, blogsite norteamericana de indudable valor, country, Americana, Alt Country y Root Music, imprescindible, elige los mejores del 2011. [...]
Mitchctim
2 January, 2012 at 12:47 pm
No Slackeye Slim in this top ten?!
Baron Lane
2 January, 2012 at 9:14 pm
@Mitchctim – nope
A Solid Selection of Americana Music Association Nominees Announced « Twang Nation
31 May, 2012 at 6:52 pm
[...] The nominees are some of the most solid since I’ve been keeping score of the AMA awards. The Artist of the Year noms Gillian Welch, Hayes Carll, Jason Isbell and Justin Townes Earle leaves me for the first time with no clear favorite to root for. There is the staple legend that released something unexceptional but still gets a nod ( Steve Earle with an Album of the Year nod for I’ll Never Get Out of this World Alive ) but overall even this category is solid (not least of which because 2 of the nominees , Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit and Gillian Welch, were on my best of 2011 list) [...]
A Solid Selection of Americana Music Association Nominees ?Announced – 168th Edition | Country Music Video Beat
1 June, 2012 at 8:28 pm
[...] The nominees are some of the most solid since I’ve been keeping score of the AMA awards. Jason Isbell and Gillian Welch lrad nominations with 4 and 3 respectively. The Artist of the Year noms Welch, Isbell as well as Hayes Carll and Justin Townes Earle leaves me for the first time with no clear favorite to root for. There is the staple legend that released something unexceptional but still gets a nod ( Steve Earle with an Album of the Year nod for I’ll Never Get Out of this World Alive ) but overall even this category is solid (not least of which because 2 of the nominees , Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit and Gillian Welch, were on my best of 2011 list) [...]