#50 -Curtis Harding-Departures and Arrival Of Captain Curt-A concept album of being lost in space…and aren’t we all. A retro soul album that will continue to take your ears to other asteroids and planets with repeated listening. Stay with it.
#49-Ryan Lee Crosby-At The Blue Front- Boston Blues musician/teacher/songwriter etc channels old school Blues down in Bentonia, Mississippi. The Blue Front is the oldest juke joint, and the proprietor of the joint is 78 year 78-year-old Jimmy ‘Duck’ Holmes, who adds guitar and vocals. This is the real deal.
#48-Brown Spirits-Cosmic Seeds-Australian cosmic-psych out. Light one up, drop one on your tongue and turn it up. Guitar, Keyboards, Moog, Bass and Sitar: Tim Wold | Drums, Percussion Agostino Soldati | Bass: Ash Buscombe. Check out this trio if you haven’t already.
#47-Gary Louris-Dark Country-Simply, if you like the Jayhawks, you will love this record. Full of love songs to his wife, Stephanie, and dreamy, simple production. Smooth and warm.
“I knew I was writing songs because I’d finally found this, the love of my life. I’d never really written a really personal, what I would call, autobiographical record.” -Louris
#46-The Delines-Mr. Luck and Ms. Doom-More songs of darkness, destruction and death from the pen of Willy Vlautin. Amy Boone’s fabulous vocals and the strings and saxophones really set the mood. Dark with donuts and missing teeth, like Maureen.
https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/46775977 (playlist in Qobuz)
#45-Susto String Band-Volume 1-Some down home acoustic picking and fiddling. Think Uncle Tupelo/Wilco and you can add that to the names of bands that end with the letter “o”. These boys are more of an indie rock band from America’s South than this album lets on. They have been around for 11 years, and I think I have some catching up to do.
#44-Babe Rainbow-Slipper Imp and Shakaerator-Neo psychedelic surf rock music from Byron Bay. They have toured with King Gizzard in the USA. It’s summertime, and I think this will fit in well as you cruise down to the surf. Get on it, dudes and dudettes!
#43-The Royal Arctic Institute-RAI-An instrumental rock band from NYC. I assume they are royally Arctic because their music is chill.
#42-Watchhouse-Rituals-Formerly Mandolin Orange, Emily Frantz and Andrew Marlin ease into these songs like a comfy pair of slippers. Relaxing but not dull.
#41-Will Varley-Machines Will Never Learn To Make Mistakes Like Me-Joined by Billy Bragg on one track, Varley continues to explore life and how we love it. Hailing from England, Varley has the knack to write some brooding beauties. Billy Bragg joins him for a song.
Some just bubbling under the Top 50:
Neil Young-Oceanside Countryside-Originally recorded in 1977 these 10 tracks were due to be on or considered for Comes A Time. Many of the songs you know, so just sing along.
The Rolling Stones-Black And Blue-1976 album re-mastered. 4 lengthy instrumental jams are included and the Live gig from Earls Court in 1976 is a bonus!
My Morning Jacket-Is- Tenth album by Kentucky’s My Morning Jacket. It IS. Just IS. Not their best but not their worst.
#40-31 Revealed 9 December-Keep an ear out.