Sunday, September 25, 2011 at 9:38PM 
Conrad Plymouth - I Am Not Waiting Anymore (buy)
Moon High - Autumn Leaves (buy)
Josh Ritter - Wildfires (buy)
Brown Bird - Fingers to the Bone (buy)
We Are The Willows - Somewhere, Virginia (buy)
Real Estate - Green Aisles (buy)
Grey Kingdom - Love Is Fast (buy)
Wilco - Black Moon (buy)
Bryan John Appleby - The Lake (buy)
Wooden Sky - River Song One (buy)
Monday, December 13, 2010 at 8:00AM 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.
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.
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
Monday, October 11, 2010 at 10:00AM 
There is a long tradition of Canadian bands that make music we often refer to as Americana. Neil Young and The Band anchor the list, of course, but there are plenty of more recent examples too, including Wooden Sky. I have to admit that I wasn't familiar with the band until their recent Daytrotter session - but I immediately picked up their most recent release If I Don't Come Home You'll Know I'm Gone and haven't stopped listening since.
Gavin Gardiner's simple folk songs form the centerpiece of the album, but the band adds varied and evocative sounds to fills in the gaps. The instrumentation suits each song perfectly - at times subtle pedal steel and banjo add texture, other times distorted guitars and electric piano carry the melody. I often find that folk music is what I reach for most during the fall, and I expect this record to be my go-to for the next few weeks, especially for those long weekend drives through the country.
The Wooden Sky - Something Hiding For Us In The Night
The Wooden Sky is at The Rosebud in Somerville on October 21 (update: and this Saturday Oct 16 at The 201 in Providence with Joe Fletcher & The Wrong Reasons -- check this out if you're down Providence way!).
