21 Favorite Albums of 2010: 17-21

17. Justin Townes Earle - Harlem River Blues

Justin Townes Earle had a bit of a rough 2010.  First a freak injury caused a last-minute cancellation of his set at Newport Folk, then Earle found himself in the headlines when he was arrested after an alleged outburst in Indianapolis.  However, 2010 also saw the release of the country-folk troubadour's third album, Harlem River Blues.  Earle's music has always reflected a gritty, urban take on traditional country, but Harlem River Blues takes it right to the streets of New York.  A variety of influences from rockabilly to honky tonk to folk and blue-eyed soul keeps things fresh.  Harlem River Blues is mature album from a man that is starting to make a name for himself beyond the shadow of his father.

Justin Townes Earle - Harlem River Blues

 

18. Mavis Staples - You Are Not Alone

Mavis Staples and Jeff Tweedy may sound like an odd pairing on the surface - the legendary gospel-soul singer and the indie-folk-noise troubadour don't really have all that much in common, right?  Well, while stylistic and age differences may separate them, the love of song and story unites them.  Tweedy contributed two new compositions, including the instant-classic that gives the record its name, and lovingly curated and produced the rest of the album.  Staples, still a dynamic liver performer, continues her late career renaissance with a gorgeous, invigorating album of spirituality and hope.

Mavis Staples - You Are Not Alone

19. Pepper Rabbit - Beauregard

Pepper Rabbit's Shakes/Clicks EPs were some of my favorite discoveries of the early part of 2010 (originally self-released in 2009).  The work primarily of multinstrumentalist Xander Singh and percussionist Luc Laurent, the songs feature eclectic instrumentation - vibraphone, banjo and woodwinds to name a few. Each song feels like a precious, perfectly-realized indie-pop vignette.  Beauregard, the band's debut LP was released in late-October, recycling the tracks that I already knew and loved, while adding two (excellent) new songs.  The release was a bit anticlimactic for me, given that I knew most of the songs already, but I can't ignore this as one of my favorite releases of the year - pure indie-folk-pop bliss.

Pepper Rabbit - Harvest Moon

20. Peter Wolf Crier - Inter-Be

When I first heard Peter Wolf Crier's debut Inter-Be I assumed they were a standard 3 or 4 piece band.  Then, when I found out they were a duo, I skeptically assumed that their sound was the result of overdubs and studio trickery.  Then I saw them live and was amazed to see two guys alone on stage, faithfully reproducing the complex sounds from the record with nothing more than electric guitar, drums and a variety of pedals.  The songs themselves are simple folk tunes, often featuring falsetto vocals and Brian Moen's deceptively complex percussion.  The result is something like a more percussive Bon Iver. Looking forward to hearing more from these guys, but until then, Inter-Be will be spinning often.

Peter Wolf Crier - Crutch and Cane

21. The Wooden Sky - If I Don't Come Home You'll Know I'm Gone

Wondering why I chose to include 21 albums in my list?  Irony?  Indecision?  An unhealthy obsession with Blackjack?  None of the above.  It was because I just had to include one album that was officially released in 2009, but I did not discover until 2010.  The truth is, this album would have been in my top 5 had it been released this year.  Think of this as a top 20 list plus "the one that got away".  The Toronto-based band writes folk songs that are accented by electric guitars, keyboards, percussion.  There are moments that are downright bombastic, others whisper-soft.  Like the best of Josh Ritter and Delta Spirit all in one - plus, they put on a fantastic live show.  It boggles my mind that these guys are not huge yet.

The Wooden Sky - (Bit Part)

Honorable mentions - some other albums we loved this year

Phosphorescent - Here's To Taking It Easy
Beach House - Teen Dream
Futurebirds - Hampton's Lullaby
Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record
Crusaders of Love - Never Grow Up
Freelance Whales - Weathervanes
The Head and The Heart - Self-titled
Reigning Sound - Love & Curses
Anais Mitchell - Hadestown
Chief - Modern Rituals
Surfer Blood - Astro Coast
Harlem - Hippies

Preview: Mavis Staples "You Are Not Alone"

Jeff Tweedy joins Mavis Staples on stage at the Solid Sound Festival in North Adams MA

Mavis Staples' upcoming Jeff Tweedy-produced album You Are Not Alone is high on our list of most anticipated albums of the year.  It's been nearly a year since I learned about the collaboration, but my already-high expectations were raised exponentially after hearing the standout title track.  The song has Tweedy's unmistakable lyrical stamp yet falls comfortably in Staples' gospel wheelhouse - a song of reassurance in the face of uncertainty. 

I had the great opportunity to hear a few of these songs at Wilco's Solid Sound Festival a few weeks ago, where Tweedy joined Mavis on stage for a remarkable cross-generational collaboration between music icons.  Now, after hearing the full album, I can finally say that my high expectations have been fulfilled - the songs are fantastic and Mavis Staples and band sound energized.  A legend of gospel/soul making relevant music alongside one of the most creative and important songwriters of the last 15 years - it may sound like an unlikely pairing, but the results are undeniably great. 

Listen to the album in its entirety below, before the September 14 release date:

Wilco brings Solid Sound to Mass MoCA

 
By Seth Mitchell

Chicago rock legends Wilco took over the Berkshire town of North Adams, MA recently, for what we can only hope was the first annual Solid Sound Arts and Music Festival.  The three day long festival, which was held in the downtown mills now comprising the Mass. Museum of Contemporary Art, featured sets by the legendary Mavis Staples, local heroes The Books, and, of course, Wilco, in addition to the numerous side projects of its members and other artists.

From the moment Jeff Tweedy announced the idea for Solid Sound from the stage of the Orpheum Theatre in Boston, I knew that it couldn’t be missed.  It would have music, it would have Wilco, and it would be held 3 hours from Boston- that did it.  The fact that the festival would be held in the Mass MOCA and include comedy, film, and Mavis Staples was just unneeded justification.

North Adams, a town of fewer than 14,000 residents nestled in the hills of northern Berkshire County, saw itself swell by more than 50% over the weekend, with local shops staying open past midnight to (hopefully) capitalize on the influx of customers.  North Adams has been economically depressed since the closure of the Sprague Electric Company in 1985.  With the loss of local jobs, the prosperous town began a tailspin until 1999, when the company’s 26 mill buildings were reopened as the largest center for contemporary visual and performing arts in the US. 

A sea of plaid shirts and beards made it impossible to tell locals from musicians, with Wilco’s handpicked acts mingling with the weekend’s crowds.  To the thousands of fans and artists there, the festival seems to have been a great success.  The true measure of this festival, however, and of its future, lay in the impact on town’s businesses and the Mass MOCA.

In addition to over a dozen musical acts, the museum hosted exhibits from musicians like Nels Cline and a 3-floor retrospective of artist Sol LeWitt.  An indoor auditorium showcased comedians Todd Barry and Kristen Schaal, among others, and hosted a Wilco- curated film series.  The downtown city setting in a valley of the bucolic Berkshires was unique, with plenty of nearby free parking lots and shuttles (though I never needed one).   

Other Highlights of Solid Sound:  

1. Jeff Tweedy in the Dunk Tank, Nudie Jacket and All- Absolutely the #1 reason to go to Solid Sound (see the photos), especially when Jeff then complains about the dunk tank at least 5 times on stage over the rest of the weekend.

2. 3-Day Tickets for Under $100- For all the top-tier bands and free access to the Mass MOCA to boot, no one, even in this recession, can really complain.

3. Well Planned, Well Run, and Well Curated- Free parking, re-entry allowed, $5 Magic Hat.  An eclectic mix of bands and logical schedule.  Just really well done.

4. It’s for a Good Cause- The residents of North Adams were willing to think outside the proverbial box to approve this unique new concept.  Its goal was to stimulate the local businesses and to bring new interest to Mass MOCA – lets hope that it does that, and more.  I’d fully support an indoor winter session too…just a thought.   

5. Magazine Called Sunset- Just listen...

Wilco - Magazine Called Sunset (Solid Sound Festival 8/14/10)

Downsides:

1.  Very limited lodging (hotels/camping) nearby- as in, I stayed at a campground   in VT.  Next year I’d recommend scouting out the “quaint” motels that advertised vacancies even when everything with any semblance of a web presence had been full a week earlier.  

Two and a half days of perfect weather were punctuated by warm drizzle during Tweedy’s Sunday finale.  During his set with “friends” from the rest of the weekend’s lineup, Tweedy bantered with the crowd.  "I hope we can come back next year. Come back, bring some friends. Or don't. There are plenty of people here, we don't need any more. Keep it a secret."  That’s a good idea, Jeff, because it’s the sort of festival that is perfect at under 10,000 – but I’m afraid the word will get out on our “little” big secret.  

Solid Sound photo gallery >>

   

Weekend plans: Wilco's Solid Sound

As you read this, I am most likely making the trek out to the far reaches of Western Massachusetts for Wilco's innaugural Solid Sound Festival.

Over the last 10 years Wilco has remained one of my favorite bands - one of a very exclusive group that never leaves my music rotation.  They've stayed there by releasing consistently good-to-great albums, and playing increasingly epic live shows.  When Jeff Tweedy announced the Solid Sound Festival from the stage at the Orpheum last April, I knew I had to be there.  The chance to not only see my favorite band play a show, but curate an entire music festival in the beautiful Berkshires -- enough said.

With the great Mavis Staples, Vetiver, Brenda and more all sharing the bill with Wilco, it's sure to be a fantastic weekend of music.  Not to mention comedy, interactive exhibits and contemporary art. 

Expect a full report when I return, but in the meantime here's the fantastic new Tweedy-produced Mavis Staples song "You Are Not Alone":