Trax (Ear Candy)
A roundup of 2009 releases particularly deserving of extra attention
By Bliss 01/14/2010
VARIOUS ARTISTS, Fire in My Bones: Raw + Rare + Otherworldly African-American Gospel [1944-2007]
A three-disc bounty of weird and wonderful recordings that demonstrates just how fuzzy the line dividing secular and gospel music has become. Rough, lo-fi and anything but low-key, made primarily by unknowns who liberally mixed folk, funk and blues.
BUDDY & JULIE MILLER, Written in Chalk
The First Couple of Americana triumphed with this unexpectedly bluesy exploration of loss and unromantic, lived-in love sustained through hard choices and everyday trials. Guest turns by the likes of Robert Plant and Patty Griffin added luster, but it was Buddy & Julie’s bedrock soul that made this resonate with listeners.
ALLEN TOUSSAINT
The bright Mississippi Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Toussaint joined forces with uber-producer Joe Henry for this superbly arranged instrumental celebration of jazz roots. Elegance in motion.
MELODY GARDOT, My One and Only Thrill
Quivering strings and lush arrangements reflected this sultry jazz bird’s retro sensibilities, but relatable, blue-tinged confessionals like “Who Will Comfort Me Now” and “The Rain” offered melodic comfort for contemporary listeners while signaling future hope for fans of stylish jazz balladry.
DAN AUERBACH, Keep It Hid
The Black Keys frontman toned down the squawking guitars and thunderous percussion, letting sonic space, distorted vocals and folkier melodies define a foray that’s both dreamy and down to earth.
A.A. BONDY, When the Devil’s Loose
Hope, humor and homegrown theology imprinted Bondy’s second solo disc, a quietly melodic keeper whose introspective cast reflected the uncertainty of the times.
MIRANDA LAMBERT, Revolution
Overproduced but compulsively listenable, Lambert’s third full-length documented her growth as writer and vocalist, and further established her as a fiercely independent country comer.
BLACK CROWES, Before the Frost…Until the Freeze Recording this two-disc set live in Levon Helm’s Woodstock studio, the retro-rockers showed their debt to The Band and other classic rock forebears and delivered arguably their most listenable, musically satisfying outing since 1990’s “Shake Your Money Maker.”
THE PINES, Tremolo
Dusted by backroads and the blues, this unpretentiously Dylanesque collection ingratiates with old-school simplicity.
MADNESS, The Liberty of Norton Folgate
The veterans of Britain’s ’80s 2-tone revival returned with a theatrical song cycle that proved time has not diminished their knack for crafting insightfully detailed pop tunes.
VIEUX FARKA TOURÉ, Fondo
Some of 2009’s most seductively rocking and rhythmic fretwork came from this Malian guitarist, son of late great desert blues pioneer Ali Farka Touré. His father’s influence is undeniable, but Vieux’s electric, blues-imbued sound shares more in common with boundary-defying contemporaries Tinariwen.
HUUN HUUR TU AND CARMEN RIZZO
An uplifting, otherworldly bit of cross-cultural connection from the Tuvan throat-singing ensemble and LA studio wizard Carmen Rizzo, a stunning collaboration made possible by the modern magic of email and MP3s.
STEVE EARLE, Townes
Earle’s unsentimental tribute to his late mentor and friend celebrated one of the late 20th century’s most revered troubadours, while simultaneously taking sober measure of the cost exacted by the dark side that fueled Townes Van Zandt’s legacy.
DIANE BIRCH, Bible Belt
One of 2009’s most ear-pleasing pop releases. Birch obviously studied ’70s hit-makers like Elton John and Carole King, but her original style made this one of the year’s most refreshing and promising debuts, packed with hooks and inviting melodies.
DELGADO BROTHERS, Learn to Fly
The East LA veterans dug down and slicked up for this soulful, consistently satisfying platter of Santana-meets-Stax R&B. Too bad more people didn’t hear it.
TINARIWEN, Imidiwan: Companions
A more pronounced Arabic influence added extra intrigue to these Saharan nomads’ deepening palette of African rhythms, electric blues guitar and tightly woven harmonies. A hypnotic paean to community and the border-bridging power of music.
LEVON HELM, Electric Dirt
The Band's scrappy drummer and indomitable life force made a poignant addition to the canon of songs about farmers' struggles with "Growin' Trade," a highlight on this earthy fusion of blues, gospel, folk and inspiring soul.
CHUCK PROPHET, Let Freedom Ring
Prophet’s merciless wit and pop smarts produced a collection of “political songs for nonpolitical people” that engage mind and body with empathy and romping energy.
NEKO CASE, Middle Cyclone
Case’s vocal firepower is more memorable than her songs, but with its drifting melodies, imaginative instrumentation, fantastical lyrics and her majestic trills, “Middle Cyclone” proved the mercurial chanteuse’s gift for luring listeners into alternative musical worlds.
Malcolm Holcombe, For the Mission Baby
His guttural growl and willingness to explore dark caves of the human psyche have made the North Carolina troubadour a cult hero, but here he turned to the brighter side while mining the seams between folk, blues, country and soul.
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