Best of 2005

MIKE

My Top Ten for 2005 contains only one of the usual suspects (guess who?) and is notable for several refreshing female voices that I highly recommend.   I am usually loathe picking an album of the year because it can come back and bite you years later.   But since the artist has never let me down before and each of his albums only get better with time, I will take the chance.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

James McMurtry....Childish Things.

McMurtry continues to paint pictures with each of his songs and this self produced CD is his best from start to finish.   It also contains the second best (see below) protest song of the year, "We Can't Make it Here."

THE REST OF THE BEST (with only a few boring notes)

Cindy Bullens.....dream #29

I fell in love with Cindy's heart wrenching (she had just lost her 17 year old daughter) Previous CD, "Between Heaven and Earth."   Remarkably this CD is just as strong.

Marah....A Christmas Kind of Town

The most refreshing Christmas album in many years.   Different than anything you played at home for the holidays.   It is fun, loose and very inventive.

Grey Delisle....Iron Flowers.

Don't be put off by the opening cut of Bohemian Rhapsody.   In fact, she does it justice. The next track Joanna is a Phil Spector like anthemn.

Bruce Springsteen....Devils and Dust

Having seen four of the D&D tour shows the songs take on an even deeper meaning. Bruce continues to write music that defines the American experience.

Ben Lee.... Awake is the New Sleep.

This might be the "nice guy" CD of the year.   "Whatever it is" is the catchiest tune of the year.

Robert Earl Keen....What I really Mean.

It may be Keen's best album to date and his most original with the songs "Mr. Wolf and Mamabear" and "The Great Hank."

David Gray....Slow Motion

I admit to a soft spot for David because he struggled for years until the good people of Ireland recognized his talent.   This CD confirms that I must see him in concert.

The Stone Coyotes...Fire it Up

Please give this band a chance, please!   Lead singer Barbara Keith's voice is mesmerizing.

Son Volt....Okemah and the Melody of Riot

I think this is every bit as good as Son Volt's classics.   The band always changes but Jay is clearly the heart and soul of Son Volt.

This and That from 2005.

Protest Song of the Year

Eliza Gilkyson....Man of God

Box Set of the Year

Bruce Springsteen Born to Run 30th Anniversary.
Everything a Bruce fan could want and much more.   I love it. His Christmas present to the loyal fans.

Comeback of the Year

Bobby Bare...The Moon was Blue.  
A nice companion to your Patsy Cline Best Of album

I Bought All of Their CD'S This Year.

Slobberbone

Music DVD of the Year

Lucinda Williams....Live at Austin City Limits.

Music Documenary of the Year....No Direction Home (Bob Dylan) Martin

Scorsese