日志

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-0drZqMdR4
The good news about the 54th Grammys is that it could have been worse. Without reason, I continue to hope that this venerable institution will do right by the music. Instead, the collective continues to do right by the marketers. It's who you know, not what you know. One day I'll learn that lesson.

Select Results of Some Americana-ish Interest in the 2011 Grammy Season, awarded in February 2012

Best New Artist: Bon Iver I've at least heard.

Rock Performance, etc: I don't mind the Foo Fighters (not an Americana-ish comment, just a complimentary comment in the could-have-been-worse vein)

Most of the "Country" categories: Nashvegas marketers win again (insert disparaging remarks about Taylor Swift here, tho I will say this, she's the best pop star out of Nashville since Faith Hill)

Best Country Duo/Group Performance: Barton Hollow Many of my go-to Americana tweeters like The Civil Wars. I've avoided them simply because it's a stupid name for a band. …

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBEKd2ef_Hg

1. Sleater-Kinney - One Beat
1. The Lawrence Arms - Apathy and Exhaustion
3. Neko Case - Blacklisted
4. Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights
5. Against Me! - Reinventing Axl Rose
6. El-P - Fantastic Damage
7. The Distillers - Sing Sing Death House
8. Anti-Flag - Mobilize / Split with Bouncing Souls
9. Alison Krauss & Union Station - Live
10. DJ Shadow - Private Press

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBdH2Rsb7Fg

11. Norma Jean - Bless The Martyr & Kiss The Child
12. Clipse - Lord Willin
13. Hatebreed - Perseverance
14. Venetian Snares - Winter in the Belly of a Snake
15. Tsunami Bomb - The Ultimate Escape
16. Pretty Girls Make Graves - Good Health
17. Metro Area - Metro Area
18. Rasputina - Cabin Fever!
19. Ellen Allien - Weiss Mix
20. MRI- All That Glitters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAmqmFyI8Cs

These are also extremely good:

Aesop Rock - Daylight
Akufen - My Way
Benjamin Wild- With Compliments
The Birthday Massacre - Nothing and Nowhere
…

Based on albums I've bought in 2011 my top 100 shows perhaps less diversity than previous years. A sign of old age?

Anyway Top 40 places for Adele, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Ryan Adams, Beirut, Bombay Bicycle Club, Bright Eyes, Elbow, Foster the People, Jon Fratelli, Rebecca Ferguson, Glee Cast, The Human League, M83, Mariachi El Bronx, Moby, Neon Trees, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Stevie Nicks, Brad Paisley, Gruff Rhys, R.E.M., Rizzle Kicks, Tulipa Ruiz, Smith & Burrows, The Streets, Take That, Thirteen Senses and The View but who came out on top?

Top 100 2011 playlist

Another list posing as a post. You'll see many of my Best of 2011 on the list and some 2011 releases that were candidates. Some old favorites and some new favorites. Some country, some folk, some blues, all good stuff.

JC's Artists Played in 2011

1 Alison Krauss & Union Station / Alison Krauss
2 Drive-By Truckers
3 Cowboy Junkies
4 Emmylou Harris
5 Dwight Yoakam
6 Willie Nelson
7 Gillian Welch
8 Lyle Lovett
9 Steve Earle
10 JOHNNY CASH
11 Patty Griffin
12 Lori McKenna
13 Tom Russell
14 Lynyrd Skynyrd
15 Lucinda Williams
16 Audrey Auld
17 Graham Lindsey
18 Merle Haggard
19 Billy Joe Shaver
20 Kasey Chambers

Albums spun in 2011

1 Drive-By Truckers – Go-Go Boots
2 Alison Krauss & Union Station – Paper Airplane
3 Various – Country: The American Tradition
4 Steve Earle – I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive
5 Lucinda Williams – Blessed
6 Amos Lee – Mission Bell
7 Gillian Welch – The Harrow & The Harvest
…

Top Artists:

1. Miranda Lambert (730)
2. Dixie Chicks (715)
3. Blackmore's Night (628)
4. Brad Paisley (410)
5. JOHNNY CASH (393)
6. Adele (379)
7. Patty Griffin (362)
8. John Lennon (342)
9. Dire Straits (339)
10. Taylor Swift (336)
11. Blake Shelton (335)
12. Brooks & Dunn (319)
13. Enya (317)
14. Alan Jackson (306)
15. Bonnie Raitt (299)
16. Alison Krauss (294)
17. Alison Krauss & Union Station (293)
18. Eric Church (290)
19. Sara Evans (287)
20. Leann Rimes (286)

Top Tracks:

1. Paper Airplane (83)
2. Set Fire To The Rain (68)
3. I Can't Make You Love Me (58)
4. Turning Tables (56)
5. Joni Mitchell – River (54)
6. Dire Straits – Brothers In Arms (53)
7. The Band Perry – If I Die Young (49)
8. Brandon Flowers – Crossfire (48)
9. John Lennon – Imagine (46)
10. Carrie Underwood – Don't Forget To Remember Me (45)
11. Dixie Chicks – Let Him Fly (43)
11. A Little Bit Stronger (43)
11. Remind Me (feat. Carrie Underwood) (43)
…

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01. Lucinda Williams - Blessed - 2011.02.28 - US

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02. Feist - Metals - 2011.09.30 - CA

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03. Kate Bush - 50 Words for Snow - 2011.11.23 - GB

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04. Vanessa Carlton - Rabbits On The Run - 2011.07.26 - US

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05. Heather Nova - 300 Days At Sea - 2011.05.29 - US

http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/6045/4e5a60f49fc53.jpg
06. Rachael Yamagata - Chesapeake - 2011.10.11 - US

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07. Blondie - Panic Of Girls - 2011.05.30 - US

http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/8103/4e5346b9334d2.jpg
08. Laura Marling - A Creature I Don't Know - 2011.09.13 - GB

http://img861.imageshack.us/img861/4934/4deffe2a01a97.jpg
…

The idea is for a journal for every month listing new albums I listen to and what I think so that when I review the year's music in December, I will have a handy reminder. I will add to this as the month goes on. Suggestions welcome.

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Play the radio: My Gang Featured Albums 11 http://static.last.fm/matt/tinyradio.gif

January | February | March

2011 Year-end list contenders


w/c Mon 28 March:

Timbre Timbre - Creep On Creepin On
The Canadian folk group creates a cinematic and ghostly landscape on their fourth full-length release. (Spinner)
We7 | Spotify | mflow | MySpace

Broken Bells - Meyrin Fields EP
James Mercer and Danger Mouse are back with a four song EP of new indie-pop tunes. (Spinner)
We7 | Spotify | mflow | MySpace

Pete Yorn - musicforthemorningafter
The singer-songwriter re-releases his critically acclaimed debut album. (Spinner)
We7 | Spotify | mflow | MySpace

…