19. SOAK

19. SOAK - Before We Forgot How To Dream

Bridie Monds-Watson is a 19 year old wonder from Northern Ireland. On this debut album, she exhibits the deeply personal and insightful lyrics of a person twice her age. One of the break-out albums of the year, her acoustic/electronically blended music is stunning. It will be interesting to watch her musical career develop if she's already at this level at 19.



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20. Django Django

20. Django Django - Born Under Saturn

If you remember, this band made the #1 spot in the Top 50 back in 2012, here. More good stuff from this London based band. Electronic, grooving, quirky, electro-pop. Like a much more listenable version of Animal Collective. I'm happy to see these guys keep the quality high on their Sophomore release. Hopefully they come through OKC at some point.



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21. The Tallest Man On Earth

21. The Tallest Man On Earth - Dark Bird Is Our Home

Kristian Mattson is a native Swede. His voice is instantly recognizable with its lilting waver. Deep, dark, soulful folk is what this band carries with it. They played Cain's Ballroom earlier this year. One of several amazing shows I could not attend. It will be nice to have a wider selection of shows in OKC. First time this band has made the Top 50, which is a surprise, but this is and exceptional album.



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22. Natalie Lafourcade

22. Natalie Lafourcade - Hasta La Raiz

Natalie Lafourcade is a Mexican singer songwriter. I don't remember how I happened on this. I think I was just trying to see what was new out there and listened to it. I fell in love immediately. Equal parts pop, chill wave, bossa nova and latin. This is the perfect Sunday night album. Her voice is incredible and she sings in Italian, Spanish, and English. This album just got released in the US last month, but has been out since March in Mexico, hence it making the list.



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23. Steve Earle

23. Steve Earle - Terraplane

Steve Earle is real country. Not the BS coming out of Nashville, but the real deal. He has written songs for Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Vince Gill, and Emmylou Harris. He's the father of Justin Townes Earle, who also came out with a new album this year. He's a poet, writer, and playwright and has received three Grammy's. He played at the Wormy Dog earlier this year to a sold out crowd and put on an amazing show. His nerdiness knows no bounds. This is one bluesy country record reminiscent of some old Lyle Lovett.



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24. The Bird And The Bee

24. The Bird And The Bee - Recreational Love

Inara George is going on strong post baby. If you remember, she was still on stage, rocking out with Hall and Oates 8 months pregnant, because she's awesome. That album made the Top 50 back in 2010, here. With her counterpart, Greg Kurstin, she's the bird and he's the bee. Beautiful, electronic, synth driven, disco pop. I have loved every single song that has come out of this Los Angeles based group.



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25. My Morning Jacket

25. My Morning Jacket - The Waterfall

Jim James would have to put out a total piece of crap to not make my top 50 end of year list. His songwriting is always on point. He always manages to make an album different than the last one. He always manages to write songs that hit you right where you need them too. MMJ made the chart back in 2011, here. It's probably because he waits three to four years before releasing an album. The every two years push can cause a lot of stale music sometimes and for me to lose interest in a band. Based out of Louisville, Kentucky, these guys have earned a top spot in indie stardom. Let me know if you recognize the venue in the video.



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26. Fort Lean

26. Fort Lean - Quiet Day

You remember the old days, before internet music, where you'd browse a record/cd store and pick up something on a whim. Maybe it was the art, or the name of the band, or you read something about them somewhere. You took it home and listened to it and felt like you discovered gold. The album was one of the best things you've ever heard and you listened to it over and over. The modern version of this is exactly how I found these guys. Something popped up on one of my feeds, I barely listened to a song, felt impulsive and bought the LP pre-release on a whim. It arrived several months later unannounced and I put it on the record player and couldn't stop listening to it. That's the best I can write about these Brooklyn kids with their rock and roll, punk, beach rock sound. The videos below are two of the strangest videos ever and they even tell a story...I think.





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27. Good Old War

27. Good Old War - Broken Into Better Shape

This band made the Top 50 for the first time back in 2012, here. They are fantastic songwriters and I hope they continue on in their career. For fans of Fruit Bats or Ivan and Alyosha, these guys hail from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and produce some damn fine indie folk. Definitely one of the better videos of the year.



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28. Jack + Eliza

28. Jack + Eliza - Gentle Warnings

Childhood friends, Jack Staffen and Eliza Callahan, are both only 20 years old and are both double majors. In their spare time, they have crafted wispy, 60's style psychedelic folk. This is their first album produced by Chris Zane, who helped Passion Pit and Mumford and Sons get their start. It's been on heavy rotation since it came out in August and is the perfect prescription for any sunny day.



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29. Samantha Crain

29. Samantha Crain - Under Branch & Thorn & Tree

I love when local artists make this list. Samantha Crain returns to us this year an album chock full of finely crafted folk tunes. The kind that make you want to sit by a roaring fire and sip on something through the night. The kind that cover you like a warm blanket. This woman has not put out a bad album yet. This particular album showcases her songwriting prowess. Outside The Pale has become one of my favorite songs of the year and is where the title of the album is drawn from. If you haven't listened to Samantha Crain before...change that now. She made the blog in 2013 here. Kurt Vile, who just got a spot, was featured here. Don't miss the incredible video below.



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30. Metric

30. Metric - Pagans In Vegas

It will be hard for Emily Haines to come out with an album and not make the Top 50. She puts out incredible electronic pop and has for years. A former member of a Broken Social Scene. There is always one or two songs that function as earworms on each album they produce. This particular album had Other Side, which has guitarist Jimmy Shaw taking lead vocals. They were held up 12 hours in an airport in Mexico, which made them a couple hours late to an amazing show at Cain's Ballroom last month.



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31. Beach House

31. Beach House - Thank You Lucky Stars

By sheer odds, Beach House had to make the list. They broke all the rules this year and released two albums much to the chagrin of critics, but to the delight of all the fans. I have to say....I think Depression Cherry is the better album of the two, but only by a minute amount, but this one makes the list because it came out first and got much more listening time. So, my advice. Listen to them both. A lot. They played Cain's this year and if you've never seen these guys live, it is truly an amazing experience. Beach House is no stranger to this blog.



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32. Other Lives

32. Other Lives - Rituals

Very excited to say that this is one of three Oklahoma based artist albums that made the top 50 this year. Originally from Stillwater, I believe their homebase is in Portland right now. They got the opportunity to open for Radiohead a few years back and haven't looked back. An insanely talented band formed from the remnants of another band called Kunek. This is their third album and it's everything and more.



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33. Mike Pace And The Child Actors

33. Mike Pace And The Child Actors - Best Boy

This is not some new young kid on the music scene. Mike Pace was the main driving force behind Oxford Collapse, a band now defunct for over six years. In the early naughts, Oxford Collapse was the nerd out experimental band you listened to on college radio. Much like American Analog Set, of Montreal or even Deerhunter, which were also on the fringes back then. Several bands in that vein moved onto some limited commercial success, Mike Pace took a break. A long break. You can hear remnants of Oxford in the guitar and keyboard work in this album, but at the same time, it brings a much more straightforward vibe that shows an album that fits right into the teens.



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34. Natalaie Prass

34. Natalie Prass - Natalie Prass

Natalie Prass made big waves with her new album this year. Relatively new on the scene, she is from Richmond, Virginia, but calls Nashville home for the moment. Her sultry voice and heart felt lyrics caused her to catapult the charts this year as one of the most exciting new artists. She played main stage at Norman Music Festival earlier this year and if you got to see that show, you got quite a treat. It was a lot of fun.



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35. Young Galaxy

35. Young Galaxy - Falsework

This album barely made the list because it came out so late in the year, but this band has grown to be one of my favorite bands and I readily devour anything they put out. They made number four in 2011 here, and made 31 in 2013, here. So, yeah, my favorite. Catherine McCandless' voice is other worldly and the experimental electronic, synth wave back drop makes me want to listen for hours on end. Needless to say, had this album arrived any sooner in the year, it would be up there on the charts.



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36. Waxahatchee

36. Waxahatchee - Ivy Trip

Alabama based singer/songwriter Katie Crutchfield formerly of the band, P.S. Eliot, a band she formed with her twin sister, is, for all intents and purposes, Waxahatchee. Crutchfield writes and sings all the music and has a touring band. The band is named after a creek in Alabama. This is her third album and still raw and hollowed out as the first one, even though she recently signed to Merge records. Her music pierces through you and forces you to listen. It sounds like her sister has helped out some on this album. She played at Bad Granny's a few years ago, now that would've been a show.



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37. The Districts

37. The Districts - A Flourish And A Spoil

These guys from Lititz, Pennsylvania formed in high school in 2009. Now they are on their second album and what an accomplishment. This is straight-forward rock and roll with a little punk and blues sensibility to it. It's raucous and fun, but has enough grittiness to add a fuzzed out shoe gaze moniker to it.





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38. Hot Chip

38. Hot Chip - In Our Heads

Like I said, penchant for electronic music. Started listening to these guys in '05 or '06 and happened to catch one of their live shows and made me a forever convert. I think every album has gotten better. This album kicks of with a mean groove with Huarache Lights and just keeps it rolling all the way through the album. They've been around since 2000 and are based out of London.



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39. The Arcs

39. The Arcs - Yours, Dreamily,

I am so glad I found this album. The Arc's started as a solo project of the Black Keys' Dan Auerbach, who has had his hand in just about everything. It turned into a full on collaborative effort with the inclusion of this rock star lineup of Leon Michels, Richard Swift, Menahan Street Band member Homer Steinweiss, Nick Movshon, and guitarist Kenny Vaughan. Everyone shares songwriting credit and there's a panoply of style references to old psych rock, soul and hip-hop heavily driven by electric organs. And another awesome animated video to boot.



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40. Ivan & Alyosha

40. Ivan & Alyosha - It's All Just Pretend

I have wanted to see this group since its inception. Every chance I've had has resulted in another concert booked at the same time they're playing anywhere close to me. It was like chasing a ghost. However, I had a similar instance this last show in Dallas, Texas when I went to see Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. As the Clap Your Hands concert ended, walked outside and the club right next door had their garage door open and there was Ivan & Alyosha playing. Got to stand there and watch them for free for a good five or six songs. It was an incredible night. These guys are based out of Seattle, Washington and are named after two of the main characters in one of my favorite books, The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky. This is only their second album and they've certainly gone from a very raw sound to a much more produced sound, but that doesn't make them any less awesome. Great lyrics, great drive, great song writing. Just a great album. They made the top 50 with their first album, here.'



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41. Sleater Kinney

41. Sleater Kinney - No Cities To Love

This was such a nice surprise to the year. The band is comprised of Corin Tucker (vocals and guitar), Carrie Brownstein (guitar and vocals), and Janet Weiss (drums), yes, that Carrie Brownstein from Portlandia, if you didn't already know. This was one of the seminal bands of the 2000's and there is even a road named after them as you drive into Seattle from Portland. This is their eighth album after a ten year hiatus. I usually don't expect a lot from this sort of reunion release, but these girls knocked this album out of the park. It's nice to know they still got it. The Bob's Burgers video below is just the best.



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42. Kurt Vile

42. Kurt Vile - B'lieve I'm Goin Down...

Kurt Vile is a 35 year old singer/songwriter who helped start the band The War on Drugs, but is most known for his solo work. He helped produce our very own Samantha Crain's last two albums, so he's well liked in these parts. This album is one of his best to date and has a great lilting electric piano vibe all the way throughout. He's from Philadelphia, but recorded this album all over the United States.



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43. The Maccabees

43. The Maccabees - The Marks To Prove It

I have loved following this band and watching them grow. I think their songwriting has gotten better after each album. They garnered a spot in the 2012 Top 50 here, and had their album not passed my radar for so long, they would have garnered a higher spot this year. However, making the blog for two consecutive albums is impressive. This album is impressive. As the band has grown, their sound has gotten both bigger and the songwriting a lot tighter.



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44. Leon Bridges

44. Leon Bridges - Coming Home

Couldn't have a top 50 without some amazing soul, and Leon Bridges brings that and more. Mr. Bridges comes to us from right down the road in Fort Worth, Texas. He was born Todd Michael Bridges in Atlanta, Georgia. He was working as a dishwasher before being signed to Columbia Records last year. His sweet, sultry sounds take you back to a different time and really warm up a room. This is a must have for your collection.



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45. Of Monsters And Men

45. Of Monsters And Men - Beneath The Skin

This is the Icelandic band's first time in the Top 50, but they did make their debut here back in 2011, here. The band consists of lead singer/guitarist Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, co-singer-guitarist Ragnar "Raggi" Þórhallsson, guitarist Brynjar Leifsson, drummer Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson and bassist Kristján Páll Kristjánsson. This is their second album and it is everything I hoped it would be. They will be at Brady Theatre in Tulsa next Wednesday, the 16th, so don't miss them, like I will.



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46. Darkness Falls

46. Darkness Falls - Dance And Cry

In addition to being a horror movie based in Maine, Darkness Falls is also the Danish duo, Josephine Philip, vocals and keyboard, and Ina Lindgreen on guitar. This is their second album and the electronic, rock, lounge, pop performance along with the songwriting skills catapult this album to front of the line for listening. If you know me, you know I have a penchant for electronic music and this album nestles perfectly in my listening roundup. And check out that album cover, it's so Danish.





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47. Parquet Courts

47. Parquet Courts - Monastic Living

This just came out and barely made the list. I love everything about this album, including the title. These guys have been so insanely busy, with a new album out each year since inception, I believe. This particular venture for the New York based band sees them diving into experimental rock territory. Much more than their previous albums, but, given the title of the album, it makes sense. This particular album is a meditation to be sure and I recommend meditating on its awesomeness as soon as possible.



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48. Torres

48. Torres - Sprinter

Received this album via my record club, Vinyl Me, Please, which I love, because I don't read the emails and get a surprise vinyl once a month. Torres is Georgia native, Nashville resident Mackenzie Scott. This is her second album and her songwriting on this album is spectacular. My favorite song on the album ended up being 'New Skin'. I love the contrast between this and the opening track. This tug of war happens all throughout the album. Check out the awesome video for the title track below.





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49. Monarchy

49. Monarchy - Abnocto

I have gone on and on about how great this album is. Just electronic bliss. This is a musical duo consisting of Andrew Armstrong and Ra Black based out of London. Formerly known as Milke, this is their second album. Fun fact....the duo broke up earlier this year, then promptly got back together after reconciling their differences and finished touring and promised new music. All of that happened in less than 50 days. Wish that happened with a lot of bands. "It's All I Know" is one of the best songs of the year.





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50. Houndmouth

50. Houndmouth - Little Neon Limelight

Kicking off this series right with Houndmouth. These guys are from New Albany, Indiana. The four piece has garnered much critical acclaim since their debut album in 2013.They hit 22 on my chart then, which you can see here. For this album, they utilized the talents of Dave Cobb (think Sturgill Simpson). Their Sophomore album brings much of the same folk chicanery as on their previous album, but with a more refined flair. An excellent live act, well worth making the effort to catch. Just because this guy landed at #50, does not mean I like it any less than any others.



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The Top 50 of 2015

The years seem to go by faster and faster. It's Top 50 time again. I would love to do this in list format, but I'm going to stick to this format. It allows me to revisit the music from the last year and reflect on all the cool things I've had the good fortune to hear. Many technological issues with my music and a new job kept me from listening to more bands, so, I actually barely listened to more than 60-70 albums all year long. I'm sure I'll see other top 50 lists come out and feel some regret or remorse, but I love each and every one of these albums. I hope you find something fun to listen to in all this. I know I did. I'm going to try to do two posts a day and finish by Christmas, so wish me luck. One last thing, if you are reading this, you are lucky, because Facebook allowed you to read it. If you would like to follow the blog in real time, please hit the follow button over to the side. Thanks, and happy holidays.

Top 10 Bands That Should've Made The Top 50 But Didn't

Every year this is my favorite segment. Why? These are the albums that slipped through the cracks. Outstanding in their own right, they just got overlooked or they were a late release or I didn't realize they put out an album until all the other Top 50 lists came out. Whatever the reason, every one of these albums deserves some listening time. Happy New Year of music in 2015. These are in no particular order.

1. Strand of Oaks - Heal

Strand of Oaks is Timothy Showalter, a singer/songwriter from Indiana. His music comes from some horrible experiences. He married young and his wife cheated on him, two months later his house burned down. That left him homeless for awhile while working at a Jewish Orthodox school. That's a ton of material in and of itself. However, he recently remarried and was involved in a serious accident involving ice and two semi trucks. This was the impetus for this album. Great, great stuff. Let's hope he's used up all his bad luck.





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2. TV on the Radio - Seeds

This album was released too late to make the Top 50, but it most assuredly would have. These guys have been here before back in 2010, here. The band consists of Tunde Adebimpe (vocals/loops), David Andrew Sitek (guitars/keyboards/loops), Kyp Malone (vocals/guitars/bass/loops), Jaleel Bunton (drums/vocals/loops/guitars) and Gerard Smith (bass/keyboards). Just when I didn't think these guys could get any better, they release this album. They are out of Brooklyn, New York.





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3. Hamilton Leithauser - Black Hours

Hamilton Leithouser is the former frontman of The Walkmen. With their sad breakup in 2013, this album puts a nice lounge singer, electronic, orchestrated pop spin on his songwriting capabilities.





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4. Band of Skulls - Himalayan

These guys made the Top 50 back in 2012 here. They are no slouches when it comes to music. They are an amazing English rock band that continues to write heavy, guitar-driven rock. The band consists of Russell Marsden (guitar, vocals), Emma Richardson (bass, vocals), and Matt Hayward (drums).





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5. Dean Wareham - Dean Wareham

For as many years as this guy has been making music, this is is first solo album. You may know his work from Galaxie 500 or maybe the band he formed from that breakup, Luna, or perhaps Dean and Britta, the fallout from that band breaking up. Either way, he's an incredible singer (think Lou Reed) and an incredible musician and songwriter. It's nice to hear him just do his own thing.





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6. Temples - Sun Structures

This is the debut album from English psych rockers, Temples and it's a great one. They received a lot of great press this year and it is the exact style of 60's psychedelic English rock that I enjoy. Think old Pink Floyd, 13th Floor Elevators kind of stuff. Look forward to what these guys do in the future.





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7. The Barr Brothers - Sleeping Operator

Another album that came out too late in the year to make the cut. Andrew and Brad Barr were previous members of The Slip out of Boston. During a fire breaking out in a venue, Andrew met harpist Sarah Page by offering her his coat. She lived in Montreal, Quebec and that chance romantic encounter led to a relationship which led to the brothers moving to Montreal and forming this band. This is their second album.





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8. Dan Croll - Sweet Disarray

This is the debut album for Dan Croll, a British singer/songwriter and what an album it is. Beautiful melodies, sweet love songs all backed by his delightful crooning. There is not a bad song on this entire album, so give it a couple whirls. I keep finding new favorites every time I listen to it.





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9. Sam Amidon - Lily-O

Sam Amidon is a fiddle/banjo player who grew up in a folk family in Vermont. He is currently married to Beth Orton and his whole family is full of famous folk musicians. This is his freaking seventh album and it is so good. Traditional blue grass, but a nod to some old Doors and Neil Young in there as well.





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10. EMA - The Future's Void

EMA is Erika M. Anderson from South Dakota and this is her second album. She's been a guitarist for Amps for Christ in the past and was the singer for Gowns as well. I really liked her first album a lot, but this album really showcases her voice and songwriting abilities.





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2014 Top 50 Recap

Here is the full list of all the bands. Each link below is clickable, with a Spotify playlist of songs below. Enjoy.

1. Damien Jurado - Brothers And Sisters Of The Eternal Son

2. Broken Bells - After The Disco

3. Future Islands - Singles

4. First Aid Kit - Stay Gold

5. The Black Keys - Turn Blue

6. Sturgill Simpson - Metamodern Sounds In Country Music

7. James Vincent McMorrow - Post Tropical

8. St. Paul & The Broken Bones - Half The City

9. Lake Street Dive - Bad Self Portraits

10. The War On Drugs - Lost In The Dream

11. Chad VanGaalen - Shrink Dust

12. Jack White - Lazaretto

13. Wye Oak - Shriek

14. St. Vincent - St. Vincent

15. Fujiya & Miyagi - Artificial Sweeteners

16. London Grammar - If You Wait

17. Warpaint - Warpaint

18. The Rural Alberta Advantage - Mended With Gold

19. Wild Beasts - Present Tense

20. alt-J - This Is All Yours

21. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - Wig Out At JagBags

22. Kishi Bashi - Lighght

23. Angel Olsen - Burn Your Fire For No Witness

24. Jenny Lewis - Voyager

25. Bahamas - Bahamas Is Afie

26. Beck - Morning Phase

27. Augustines - Augustines

28. Stars - No One Is Lost

29. Little Dragon - Nabuma Rubberband

30. Phantogram - Voices

31. tUnE-yArDs - Nikki Nack

32. Doug Seegers - Going Down To The River

33. Childhood - Lacuna

34. Tinariwen - Emmaar

35. Elbow - The Take-off and Landing of Everything

36. Fanfarlo - Let's Go Extinct

37. The Belle Brigade - Just Because

38. Alvvays - Alvvays

39. Kevin Drew - Darlings

40. The New Pornographers - Brill Bruisers

41. Crosses (†††) - Crosses (†††)

42. The Drums - Encyclopedia

43. Bombay Bicycle Club - So Long, See You Tomorrow

44. Lost In The Trees - Past Life

45. The Casket Girls - True Love Kills The Fairy Tale

46. Slow Club - Complete Surrender

47. Gardens & Villa - Dunes

48. Ryan Adams - Ryan Adams

49. John Fullbright - Songs

50. Hollow & Akimbo - Hollow & Akimbo

1. Damien Jurado

1. Damien Jurado - Brothers And Sisters Of The Eternal Son

Damien Jurado is a prolific singer/songwriter out of Seattle, Washington. As of this time, he has thirteen albums under his belt. Thirteen! Given that, he is a relatively new artist to me. His last album made this section of my blog which will be along in a couple days, here. Remember in an earlier post when I mentioned how an artist or band can have that certain something that resonates with you. Damien Jurado is certainly that way for me. This is his third album with Richard Swift producing and I hope that is a trend that continues. I love the work they are doing together. He recently did a couch tour across the US and I attempted to get him to swerve through OKC to no avail, but they said maybe next time. He will be in Kansas City on February 17.







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2. Broken Bells

2. Broken Bells - After The Disco

To know how much I love this James Mercer/Danger Mouse combo, one need look no further than the previous album's placement in my charts here. Garnering the Number One and Number Two spot show just how much I love these two together. I really thought it would be Number One this year as well. They came to Brady Theatre earlier this year and put on a spectacular live show, which, like St. Vincent, was everything I wanted it to be. Becky Stark of Lavender Diamond and Elizabeth Berg of The Like both make cameo's on the album as part of a four part choir. The seventeen piece Angel City String Orchestra also are featured as well. The theme that runs throughout the album, including the title, is that of retro-futurism and the guys even used 60's and 70's period instruments to record. The first two videos below comprise a short film to accompany the theme of the album and were released in anticipation of the album. Notice who the bouncers are in video two. The last video accompanies the first two nicely, I think.









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3. Future Islands

3. Future Islands - Singles

I simply could not and cannot stop listening to this album. Their previous work is great, but man, what an album. Future Islands is a Baltimore, Maryland based three-piece that is comprised of Gerrit Welmers (keyboards and programming), William Cashion (bass, acoustic and electric guitars), and Samuel T. Herring (lyrics and vocals). Samuel Herring's voice has this amazing quality to it that immediately sets it apart from other albums in this genre. They recently signed to 4AD records which produced this album and I think has vaulted their career forward. If this is a sign of things to come with this band, I see them playing stadiums in the future. My schedule has not been able to line up with their touring schedule this year and that is disappointing, because if their next album is this great, it will be difficult to get into their shows. Samuel Herring's voice has this amazing quality to it that immediately sets it apart from other albums in this genre.





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4. First Aid Kit

4. First Aid Kit - Stay Gold

Every one of these girls' albums has made the Top 50, the previous being here and here. Our own Samantha Crain toured with these Swedish songstresses earlier this year. This particular album is their strongest to date. The girls' confidence in their craft really shines through on this album and I think it is reflected in their placement on this list. If you ever get the chance to see these girls live, take it. They are amazing.





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5. The Black Keys

5. The Black Keys - Turn Blue

I was really surprised to see this album make the Top Five. Not for any reason other than I didn't realize I had listened to it that much. However, if you have followed this blog in the past, you know that I think Danger Mouse can do no wrong and this album was produced by him. The Black Keys are no stranger to the Top 50, their last two albums made it both here and here. This is a welcome departure for the group, I think. Danger Mouse has taken them in a much needed new direction. I think of it as part of a Danger Mouse trilogy, actually. Listen to the first Broken Bells album, listen to this, then listen to the last Broken Bells album and it forms a coherent musical story.





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6. Sturgill Simpson

6. Sturgill Simpson - Metamodern Sounds In Country Music

This is the second alt country album to make my Top 50. He is a Kentucky born musician that sounds exactly like Waylon Jennings, except he is characterized as Acid Country. What is Acid Country? Listen, listen a lot. I can't stop. He will be playing at the Winstar Casino next week and I can't wait. The title of the song in the video below is in reference to an old philosophy joke, which automatically makes me like him even more. He has been a rising star this year for sure.





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7. James Vincent McMorrow

7. James Vincent McMorrow - Post Tropical

This is one of the most beautiful albums I have ever heard. An Irish born singer/songwriter, this is his second album. It is a piece of art in my opinion. While definitely his own style, I hear a lot of Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver influence in this. His voice is remarkable, his lyrics are sullen and the orchestration and composition are bombastic. His voice sends chills down your spine and the weight of the music is immense. Check out the video for 'Red Dust' below, incredibly intense. I could not find an embeddable copy of my favorite song on the album, so I will use that in my recap.







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8. St. Paul & The Broken Bones

8. St. Paul & The Broken Bones - Half The City

It's not really planned to have two soul influenced artists back to back, it just kind of worked out that way. It's certainly got me in a great mood. Paul Janeway is St. Paul and the Broken Bones are: Browan Lollar (guitar), Jesse Phillips (bass), Andrew Lee (drums), Al Gamble (keys), Ben Griner (trombone), and Allen Branstetter (trumpet). They are based out of Birmingham, Alabama and were kind enough to grace our city with a riveting live show this last year at the Bricktown Music Hall. This is their first album and what a first album it is. Paul is an electric singer and really puts on a great show. Get this album, see them live, be happy.





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