Category: A Rock and a Roll

074. Reef – Revelation

This very aptly named record has shades of Steely Dan, Kansas, Toto, and Joe Cocker. Really? Yes really, and it’s amazing.

073. American Aquarium – Things Change

Singer-Songwriter BJ Barham is the musical tour-de-force behind American Aquarium. On this set of Alt Country gems, he lays down a set of slower tempo reflective tunes that seem to be a perfect antidote to a poisoned world.

072. Rosanne Cash – She Remembers Everything

It has been too long since Rosanne Cash released a record, but her latest was very much worth the wait. Still spinning rich and detailed storyboards “8 Gods of Harlem” featuring guest vocals from Kris Kristofferson and Elvis Costello is worth the price of admission alone.

071. Belle Adair Tuscumbia

Recorded in the famed Muscle Shoals studio and mixed in Wilco’s loft in Chicago, Tuscumbia has a lot of musical pedigree to fall back on. There is a distinct flavor of Wilco, The Byrds, and mid-era REM flowing in the very DNA of this excellent album.

070. Beach House – 7

The record is called seven. It was released 2/14 and 2+1+4=7. The 11 songs on the album bring their entire catalog to 77 songs, and the initial label release number was 777. Numerology aside, this is an entrancing listen best enjoyed while enveloped in the glowing embers of incense.

069. Lucy Dachs – Historian

A stable-mate at Matador Records with Julien Baker, Dacus delivers a crystalline set of songs that touch on broken relationships and personal loss.

068. John Prine – The Tree of Forgiveness

Written over a two week period in a suite at the Omni hotel in downtown Nashville John Prine is at his observational best. John Prine is a national treasure.

067. Christina and the Queens – Chris

Glossy and R&B tinged this one is Madonna meets Prince with a dose of Michael on the side. “Feel So Good” with its provocative subject matter might be the centerpiece, but “5 Dollars” puts the stamp on what is one of the smartest records of the year.

066. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – Hope Downs

This one might be the debut album of the year. Going back a couple of decades to The Smiths, The Strokes, Sonic Youth and even Television, this one is heavy on the guitars and three singer harmonies. If you are from the cool side of the pond this one should be right up your alley.

065. H.C. McIntyre – Lionheart 

The lead singer of Mount Moriah steps out on her own with a set of songs mostly recorded in her living room. The stellar contributions from Indigo Girl Amy Ray, Tift Merrit, and Mary Lattimore only make an already great album even better.

064. Bennett Wilson Poole – Bennett Wilson Poole

This supergroup includes Danny Wilson, Robin Bennett, and Tony Poole. The album represents everthing that is good about music. Tight harmonies, jangle guitars, and a chemisty that slices through the air like a double rainbow. The band sounds like they have been playing together for a long time with a love for the Byrds, Crsoby Stills and Nash, and the Laurel Canyon sound coming through on virtually every song.

063. Lake Street Dive – Free Yourself Up

Mining the same territory as St. Paul and The Broken Bones and Alabama Shakes the band doesn’t stray too far from the Jazzy Blues template. But, when it is done this well there is a level of sweet forgiveness that is more than satisfying.

062. Jonathan Wilson – Rare Birds

A bit of Pink Floyd Via Alan Parsons driving through the night. When he is not producing for Father John Misty this Laurel Canyon denizen is making pure Psychedelic Pop of the highest order.

061. Rosali – Trouble Anyway

Only her second album, Philadelphia based songwriter Rosali has crafted a style that is sensual, immersive, and somewhat sprawling in the best of ways. “Rise To Fall” is an 8-minute compelling tour-de-force that puts her musician first guitar chops on full display.

060. Courtney Barnett – Tell Me How You Really Feel

Better than her last record, if that is even possible, there are tones of Neil Young along with 90’s Indie Rock sensibilities sprinkled all around this record. A bit darker than we are used to from this Aussie, but Courtney continues to captivate.

059. Cowboy Junkies – All That Reckoning

Six years from the last record, their new release just might be their best record since the 30-year-old The Trinity Session. It’s that good.

058. Brandi Carlile – By The Way, I Forgive You

Brandi Carlile is a Canadian national treasure. “The Joke” end “Every Time I hear that song are just two favorites on this high-quality set of songs.

057. Anna Calvi Hunter

With this, her long-awaited third album, Calvi doesn’t disappoint delivering her strongest set yet. Channeling Patti Smith one minute and Scott Walker the next, Nick Cave probably has this one his on frequent spin on his turntable.

056. Hot Snakes – Jericho Sirens

On the short list of bands that just might be saving Rock and Roll. This one is meant to be listened to at maximum volume. “I Need a Doctor” might rip the hair from your skull and the title track is an angry piece of Rock and Roll that is bristling with the type of energy that would make Tesla proud.

055. Elvis Costello & The Imposters – Look Now

Look Now is one of the finest Elvis Costello albums in years. This one has all of the touch points. Beautiful ballads, “Don’t look now,” Uptempo Rockers, “Under Lime,” and Burt Bacharach-inspired tunes with “I Let The Sun Go Down.” There is even a Carole King co-write on “Burnt Sugar Is So Bitter.” This one will move up your own personal list with multiple listens.

054. Willie Nelson – Last Man Standing

When Willie Nelson puts out a record we are contractually obligated to include it on the best of the year list. And, when he puts out two albums in the same year, well there are decisions to make. And the winner is Last Man Standing edging out My Way only because it is a set of original songs, and yes, Willie’s still got it.

053. Chris Stills – Don’t Be Afraid

The apple doesn’t fall far from the Stephen Stills tree as demonstrated on this Laurel Canyon tinged beauty of a record. Every song is LA fun in the sun friendly, but “This Summer Love” stands head and palm trees above the rest.

052. The Nude Party – The Nude Party

Full of Austin Powers fun and swagger, The Nude Party would have been a hit in 1969. “Chevrolet Van,” their ode to life on the road is worth the price of admission alone.

051. Confidence Man – Confident Music For Confident People

Just lock yourself into the “Low Rider” dance vibe of “Don’t You Know I’m In a Band” and you will want to check out what is around the next corner. This one is a dance fever eclectic listen that will leave you wanting more.

050. Janelle Monae – Dirty Computer

Filled with guests the likes of Bryan Wilson, Pharrell Williams, and Grimes, this semi-concept album will take you down some pretty eclectic wormholes.

Another tremendous year of music is just about in the books with a lot of notable releases to consider. Rock and Roll is definitely not dead and Great Van Fleet didn’t even make this years list while De Wolff, The Dirty Nil, and Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever definitely did. Hybrid groups were denitely front and center this year with Bennett Wison Poole making the list along with the Sleater-Kinny spinoff band Bat Fangs both making appearances on the list.

Country of the Classic (Charley Crockett and Joshua Hedley), and Outlaw varities (Cody Jinks and Whitey Morgan) were very well represented as were the girls with Kacey Musgraves, Amy Helm, and Nicki Bluhm all releasing great albums.

The sounds of the rockin’ 70’s were well represented with the band Black Coffee coming in high, and the 80’s hair metal sounding Thunderpussy carreened onto the scene as well.

Now, as we turn the page in anticipation of 2019 The editorial staff of The Falcon’s Nest and Rock is the new Roll wish you all………..Good Rockin’ Tonight!

100. Sunflower Bean – Twentytwo in Blue

The band’s second record shows a group maturing right before your very ears. With Pop undertones displaying a real Fleetwood Mac meets The Go Go’s sensibility.

099. Thunderpussy – Thunderpussy

Get past the silly band name and treat yourself to some real Rock and Roll. These chicks are one of the best real Rock bands going gender be damned.

098. Buffalo Tom – Quiet and Peace

The quieter and gentler Buffalo Tom proves they can still rock out a bit while still maintaining their semi shoegazing appeal. The cover of Simon and Garfunkel’s “Only Living Boy in New York” is worth the price of admission alone.

097. Rick Parfitt – Over and Out

The Status Quo guitarist leaves a posthumous release that is highly crafted with an ear to classic Queen Brian May style melodies. Parfitt’s first and only solo record is a Pop marvel. There is a bit of a Travelling Wilbury’s vibe going on here as well, and that’s never a bad thing.

096. Brian Fallon – Sleepwalkers

The Gaslight Anthem frontman continues to shine on his own with this fine set of scaled-down story anthems that would make Springsteen proud.

095. Erin Costelo – Sweet Marie

With a voice that floats somewhere between Britney Howard of Alabama Shakes with hints of Nina Simone, Canadian songstress Erin Costelo should be on your musical radar in 2018 and beyond.

094. Bat Fangs – Bat Fangs

Bat Fangs is a spin-off band rising from the ashes of Ex Hex while Ex Hex sprung from the loins of Wild Flag and Wild Flag was a Sleater-Kinney spin-off band. If you can absorb all that, now just sit back and enjoy this female empowered hair metal throw-back band that takes influences from Bon Jovi, Guns ‘n’ Roses, and The Bangles into one heck of a fun listen.

093. Supersonic Blues Machine – Californisoul

Just don’t call them a supergroup. Kris Barras, Fabrizio Grossi, Kenny Aronoff, and Billy F. Gibbons share their love of the Blues and good old Rock and Roll with the rest of us mere Mortals. Throw in Walter Trout, Steve Lukather, and Eric Gales and you go from good to great.

092. The Marcus King Band – Carolina Confessions

This more than strong set of soul-influenced psychedelic Southern Rock features a guitar prodigy coming of age right before our ears.

091. The Magpie Salute – High Water I

Former Black Crowe Rich Robinson has assembled a gypsy crew of wandering countrified minstrels for their first all-originals album. This one is pure no-frills Rock and Roll.

090. Bettye Lavette – Things Have Changed

When one of the best interpreters of song covers the works of one of the best songwriters as she does here on this Bob Dylan tribute, it is time to just sit back and listen to the magic.

089. DeWolff – Thrust

With 70’s vocals as the main course and a greasy Hammond organ as an appetizer, this one from the Dutch trio DeWolff is a gamechanger. This is prime-era Classic Rock at it’s riffing and over the top best. Every note of this record sounds like it could have not been recorded any later than 1978. When you have an over the top lead singer in Pablo van de Poel, a kick-ass guitar player in brother Luka, and a Hammond organ is thrown in for good measure the result is Rock and Roll at its finest.

088. Elle King – Shake The Spirit

With Shake the Spirit, the latest record from Elle King, she takes pretty much of a scorched earth policy to her life struggles and her marital woes. Jumping genre trains, following up her monster single “Exe’s and Oh’s” with a country duet with Dierks Bently, there is no sophomore slump for this daughter of Rob Schneider.

087. Oh Pep! – I Wasn’t Only Thinking About You

A reward awaits with multiple listens of this Pop-Folk Album. When Billy Bragg met this Aussie duo at a music festival he said, “I’m not your hero, I’m your peer.” If ABBA decided to become serious songwriters they might sound like these guys.

086. Phosphorescent – C’est La Vie

Matthew Houck behind his monicker Phosphorescent has created a musical landscape that at once Americana and pastoral. The move to Nashville has not scourged the creative juices with “New Birth in New England” standing tall as one of the songs of the year. Stunning is the only word to describe the non-Christmas song “Christmas Down Under.”

085. Kurt Vile – Bottle It In

Kurt Vile is perfectly capable of embarking on a minute’s long psychedelic mind warp like he does on “Bassackwards” with lyrics that contain phrases like “buried deep in the sake of my soul,” but he is at his best when he just lays back and chills with the rest of us circa song number 6, “Rollin’ With The Flow.”

084. Sister Sparrow – Gold

Big, Bold, and sometimes over the top bombastic, this is contemporary Soul-Pop at it’s finest.

083. Dana Fuchs – Love Lives On

Come for the bluesy stripped down version of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” but stay for the stellar scorching blues of “Backstreet Baby” and the Bonnie Raitt stylings of “Sittin’ On”. Dana Fuchs is the best female blues singer you may never have heard of.

082. Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa – Black Coffee

The pairing that is Blues Rock heaven take the chemistry to the studio once again for a guitar and vocal tour de force. The title track cover version of the Humble Pie song is worth the price of admission alone.

081. Janiva Magness – Love Is An Army

12 really cool songs that delve deep into both Americana and Soul. Janiva is filling the gap Sharon Jones left behind.

080. Luke Winslow King – Blue Mesa

Eric Clapton meets Chris Isaak on this fine Blues Rock set of songs. Opener “You Got Mine” could have been on the Slowhand record and the title track is a beautifully understated stunner.

079. Israel Nash – Lifted

Shades of “Helpless” era Neil Young and “Holland” vintage Beach Boys this is a soaring Pop symphony of the highest order.

078. Charley Crockett – Lonesome as a Shadow

Allow yourself to settle into his voice a bit and you will be rewarded. Charley has an old school Country vibe to him that will take you back. Smooth and soulful, this record sounds like it was recorded at Muscle Shoals. Once the saxophone solo kicks in on “Aint Gotta Worry Child” you will be in for the long haul.

076. Traveller – Western Movies

Calling these guys a singer-songwriter supergroup would be highly dismissive of the group Traveller, a band that features Cory Chisel, Robert Ellis, and Jonny Fritz. The resulting collaboration works to sweet harmony perfection.

075. Courtney Marie Andrews – May Your Kindness Remain

This is an album of characters. Mostly written from her experiences behind the bar working as a bartender between albums, the tales she weaves are common man troubled woman vignettes that are worth multiple listens. With a voice that brings to mind Linda Ronstadt from the early days, she lets you enter her world of cheap motels, diners, and dives. “Two Cold Nights In Buffalo” should be at least on of the top five songs of the year.