Year in Music '05
Friday, December 17, 2004
It’s that time of the year to make lists and resolutions. While hardly comprehensive here are my lists to begin the discussions.
Songs of the Year:
Joe Bonamassa – “The River”
John & His Sisters – “Too Damn Big”
Jackie Green – “Gone Wanderin"
John Crews Blues – “Captain of Her Soul”
Okay, I think Bonamassa’s the real deal. “Too Damn Big” is the song Aerosmith tried to record this year. Jackie Green’s track is especially buoyant and the whole album is quite good. Green’s a young guy and capable of writing really good songs.
Best Boxsets:
Doctors, Professors, Kings & Queens – The Big Ol’ Box of New Orleans
The Faces – Five Guys Walk into a Bar
There are rumours of a Faces Reunion next year (Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, Ian McLagan, Kenny Jones and a bass player to be named: Bill Wyman?). That would pretty cool. Course Rod is also kicking around a Jeff Beck Group Reunion (Rod, Ronnie, Jeff, and Mickey Waller). I wonder just how long Beck and Stewart could be in the same room at the same time without killing each other? The New Orleans boxset is a primo 4 disc set that any serious roots music fan would love!
Disappointments of the Year:
Aerosmith – Honkin On Bobo
Eric Clapton – Me & Mr. Johnson
Johnny Winter – I’m a Bluesman
The Blasters – Live
Aerosmith’s shot at the blues was bad. And Clapton? The last thing the world needed was another album of all Robert Johnson covers. Why the only thing that I could think of that would be worse would be a CD/DVD combo that included rehearsals for a tour where Clapton played Johnson tour. Johnny’s great but his voice is shot. Dave Alvin’s brilliant solo career overshadowed the Blasters rather lame live album.
“The Hype is Killing Me!”
Los Lonely Boys – Los Lonely Boys
Loretta Lynn (with Jack White) – Van Leer Rose
“They’ve Got the Buzz …
Sarah Benck and the Bank Robbers
Jason Churchill with Craig Balderston
Goodbye Sunday
Kris Lager Band
Monica Eby
Heidi Joy
More and more Omaha is becoming a live music Mecca. I sure hope our community continues to embrace the impressive array of talent that resides in our town.
Disappointment of the Year
Saddle Creek Records thwarted effort to open a venue on Saddle Creek Road. Sure, I certainly not 'hip' enough to have ever gone in there but it sure would have added prestige to our image to have embraced a label that even the New York Times indicated was the hippest thing in the world right now!
“Did We Really NEED It?”
Simon & Garfunkel – Old Friends: Live on Stage
The Rolling Stones – Live Licks
Eric Clapton – Sessions for Robert J(ohnson)
Did we really need another live version of ‘Sounds of Silence’, ‘Brown Sugar’ or Eric Clapton playing yet another album of Robert Johnson songs? Okay the Stones album’s mix is pretty unique but other than that these bands just need to write some new songs and let the old ones go.
Best Concerts
Joe Bonamassa with Indigenous & Joe Putjender @ Mick’s Tavern
The PWF concert series (which I co-produced)
Jason Churchill (Satellite Blues Band) with Craig Balderstan @ Mick’s
Robert Randolph @ Qwest Arena (with Eric Clapton)
Okay, seven of these I helped to produce. What can I say, free is good and the show at Mick’s was my idea of a perfect evening; great music, great venue, great friends! Look for exciting news on this year’s Playing With Fire concert series soon. Also, remember this, Robert Randolph was taught how to play by the Campbell Brothers.
Best Re-Issued Recordings
Johnny Winter – Second Winter
Muddy Waters – Hard Again
Muddy Waters – I’m Ready
Muddy Waters – King Bee
Candi Staton – (self titled on Astralwerks)
My Favorite Albums of the Year:
1. Rob Stone & the C Notes – Just My Luck - - Revived my faith in acoustic blues with a blue eyed soul twist!
2. Joe Bonamassa – Had to Cry Today - - I'd put Joemaha on stage with any guitar player in the world right now! He can write, he can sing, and he can play his ass-off!
3. Hadden Sayers Band – 12 Bars & the Naked Truth - - Little known Texas songwriter excels at what so many attempt: write exceptional songs!
4. Notorious Cherry Bombs (Rodney Crowell with Vince Gill) – Notorious Cherry Bombs - - Rodney Crowell can do no wrong in my book!
5. Sue Foley – Change - - Sexy Redhead writes killer tunes, play her tail off and can emote a good song like so few!
6. Henry Butler – Homeland - - Seeing Butler play his New Orleans style barrel house piano blues in a tiny outdoor club during Austin's SXSW Music Festival this year was incredible. Spending time with Ian McLagan watching it was even better!
7. Renee Austin – If This is Love… - - Must be the red hair or something. Susan Tedeschi & Bonnie Raitt are a red heads too. What is it with red haired women performing the blues? Just don't try and fix it!
8. Jody Williams – You Left Me in the Dark - - Very good. Very retro. Very smooth. Bruce Karlquist dug it!
9. Black Keys – Rubber Factory - - Indie, fashionable, awesome voice. Maybe there is hope for my factor of cool yet? Naw!
10. Smokin’ Joe Kubeck – Show Me the Money - - Good ol'Howard Street Zoo Bar Tavern table rockin' blues. Kubeck finally gets smooth and tasty!
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