It just is.
Here is the list of the best albums released in the past year.
Albums still matter.
The good ones tell stories.
They take you on a journey.
You start one place and end up someplace else.
And the transit itself is rewarding and enriching.
Not every idea can be expressed in a single song.
Some stories take longer to tell and have more nuances.
Without further ado, here then, is the best new music this year,
1. FAST AND LOOSE WITH THE ESSENTIALS - Doctor Bacon
The album showcases the wide variety of styles, instrumentation and emotion that Dr. Bacon has crafted through years of extensive touring. It's diverse. And this is a good thing. From the opening strains of the first track, "overtime", the Doctor is in with a prescription that will heal and soothe.
Outstanding musicianship throughout the entire album as each of the 7 members of the band makes their contributions to the musical gumbo. Dr. Bacon is a genre blending "Appalachian Funk-Rock" band from Asheville, NC. The album includes generous helpings of funk, soul, jazz, rock, blues, folk, hip-hop, new-grass, and more. Featuring as diverse instrumentation including: guitars, resonator, harmonica, bass, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone drums, trombone, violin, lap steel, mandolin, kazoo and more. You're going to love this album!
Check it out here
2. WE'RE SENDING OWLS TO ATHENS - Ben New
Ben is a virtuoso guitarist, but this album focuses on songcraft more so
than instrumental primacy.
From the opening song 'Chads Ford' to the closing refrain of the title track, which fades in like a ghost, haunting the ending of the album's final number "True Colors" ... the songwriting is simply exquisite.
It's tasteful and modern with solid roots in the litany of rock.
If you don't like this album, you just don't like music.
Check It Out Here
3. INTO THE EAST - Not For Pussies
One of the hallmarks of great albums is to realize after you've listened to them, that you were transported and completed a journey of some kind. One of the many highlights of this album is indeed how the selections tell a story from one sunrise heralded in by the Sun God ("Dem Sonnengott") through death, destruction, relationships, terror, and doubt before returning you quite safely to the optimism and potential of a new sunrise "Into the East".
Fine playing throughout. A fantastic album.
Check it out here.
4. WHO - The Who
Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend return with the band's 12th studio record, WHO.
There are plenty of connections to their classic work yet this is no retread.
It sounds like a Who album, which is crucial for something like this, as well as an upgrade for the 21st century. While it must be said that the late Keith Moon and John Entwistle formed the least replaceable rhythm section in rock history, this is still a great album The singing is very good both from Roger and Pete.. And though it's not an earth shattering document like Who's Next or Quadrophenia; it IS a classic Who album overall, something like Who By Numbers or Who Are You. The album rocks with a blunt conviction that would make the band’s younger selves proud.
Check It Out Here
