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21. Mumford & Sons – Babel

I think it’s a great story, the story of Babel. I think anyone can direct it as an analogy for a lot of different situations. ….. It’s such a human thing. As humans, we’re such a discontented species. We’re always trying to further ourselves, and you get all the way to the moon and then it’s just discontent. You want to go to Mars.
~Ted Dwane (rollingstone.com interv. – Aug. 2012)

The music is: uplifting, lively, intense, rootsy, Appalachian/bluegrass’ish… and driving rock @ heart (wild @ heart 😉

Reminds me of: The Avett Brothers, The Pogues & Bon Iver on steroids & a helluva string backing….

-Egil

Highlights:

• Egil:  I Will Wait, Hopeless Wanderer & Babel
• Hallgeir: Babel, Lover of the light and Broken Crown

 

22. Darrell Scott – Long Ride Home

“…even Jesus couldn’t help me today”

Darrell Scott is one of the best songwriters i know of. I am relatively new to his work, and discovered him when he was nominated for a Grammy for, Hank Williams’ Ghost in 2007. He has since toured with Buddy Miller and Robert Plant, those men do not pick people (for the Band of Joy)  that doesn’t know what they’re doing, trust me Darrell Scott is the real deal.

Long Ride Home is his seventh album. This is great music and he some very special guests on this album, Rodney Crowell, Guy Clark, Patty Griffin and many more. These are his peers, he fits nicely in this company and that says something. The songs are incredibly strong and constantly interesting. The hour flies by.

This is storytelling at it’s richest and best.

Heartache, lost love and temptation.

– Hallgeir

Highlights:

• Egil: It Must Be Sunday, Out In The Parking Lot & The Country Boy
• Hallgeir: Someday, Candle for a Cowboy and Out in the parking lot (with Guy Clark)

 

23. Marty Stuart -Nashville, volume 1: Tear the Woodpile down

Marty Stuart is back with this fabulous, but short, 30 minute album of traditional styled country. He runs through a fine bunch of songs with his touring band and some great guests, Hank3, Kenny Lovelace, Buck Trent and more. The Topics are hard core country themes: truck driving, love and loneliness. This is pure country but not slick Nashville, I think it is better to call it country & western music, and it is clearly a project that is close to Marty Stuart’s heart.

Traditional but fresh and with tremendeous technical skill

– Hallgeir

Highlights:

• Egil: The Lonely Kind, Tear the Woodpile Down, Sundown in Nashville
• Hallgeir: A Matter of Time, Holding on to nothing and Truck Driver’s Blues

24. Bobby Womack – The Bravest Man  in the Universe

Bobby Womack has given us this aptly titled album this year, it is one of his best albums, and that says a lot! He has certainly been dealt a rough hand by life and he has come out triumphantly, he is a survivor, a soul survivor.

Damon Albarn plays a big role in Womack’s resurrection, first by including him on two Gorillaz albums and now by producing (along with Richard Russel) this record. He seems to have pushed Womack in the right direction and fed his creativity more than anybody has for very many years.

This is classic Bobby Womack but with a spacious, trip-hoppy sound.

– Hallgeir

Highlights:

• Egil: Please Forgive My Heart, Dayglo Reflection, Love Is Gonna Lift You Up
• Hallgeir: Please forgive my heart, The Bravest Man in The Universe and Whatever happened to the times

 

25. Sharon Van Etten – Tramp

“I’m traveling, I’m female, I’m strong.”
~Sharon Van Etten (on why – Tramp)

The music is: Naked, raw, truthful, mesmerizing, demanding & often beautiful.

Reminds me of: early PJ Harvey, Liz Phair & even Emmylou Harris.

-Egil

Highlights:

• Egil:  Give Out, All I Can & Magic Chords
• Hallgeir: In Line, All I Can and Serpents

To the complete LIST