Some veteran songwriters and a couple of blues legends
headline my favorite discs of 2005.
Greg Trooper "Make It Through This World"
(Sugar Hill). Trooper teamed with producer Dan Penn, the
legendary soul singer and writer of classics like "Dark End of
the Street" and "Do Right Woman" for a classic country soul
album. Penn had the Nashville veteran sit down while recording
his vocals and the results are relaxed, sublimely soulful and
heart-wrenchingly emotional. The sadly unrecognized Trooper
has cut one fine folk/rock record after another and this may
be his best.
Eliza Gilkyson "Paradise Hotel" (Red House
Records). In her 50s, Gilkyson has found her voice. It's
political, spiritual and warmly reflective. After her Grammy
nominated album last year, the Austin songwriter returns with
another strong effort highlighting her sharp political acumen
on "Man of God," an indictment of the religious hypocrisy to
justify the war, the contemplative title cut and a timely
cover of World Party's "Is It Like Today." Her voice isn't as
pretty as it was when she emerged nearly two decades ago, but
it's more effective, yearning, wise and wounded.
Over the Rhine "Drunkard's Prayer" (Back
Porch). The husband and wife team of Karin Bergquist and
Linford Detweiler recorded this mesmerizing slow burner in
their living room highlighting Bergquist's voice and piano.
This is an emotional folk/chamber classic. A truly beautiful
and affecting disc. "I was born to laugh through my tears, I'm
going to learn to love without fear," she sings. Indeed.
Caitlin Cary and Thad Cockrell "Begonias"
(Yep Roc). This is an old-fashioned country duet classic,
Cockrell's high tenor melding with Cary's rich alto on songs
about love gone wrong. 'Please Break My Heart," Two Different
Things," "Conversation with a Friend (Who's in Love with
Katie)" can stand among the classic country duets ever
recorded. The lyrics are sharp, aching and the voices
perfectly matched. Put them alongside Gram and Emmylou and
George and Tammy.
James McMurtry "Childish Things" (Compadre
Records). McMurtry, always a wry social observer, has released
a disc of biting lyrics and spare, muscular rock arrangements.
"We Can't Make It Here" is a seven-minute rant on life in
America, as good summation as you'll find. "Scratch yourself,
Mr. CEO, see how far $5.15 an hour will go," he challenges in
one verse. Other songs like "See the Elephant" look at the
timeless, more innocent moments in life. McMurtry is a fine
storyteller and the stories he tells on this disc are the
stories of America today, the ones you won't find in the daily
paper.
Shannon McNally "Geronimo" (Back Porch
Records). McNally, with an
assist from guitar slinger and producer Charlie Sexton, has
released a captivating disc of sexy and soulful roots rock.
Her smoky voice, equal parts Bonnie Raitt and Stevie Nicks,
wraps around the waltz of "Tennessee Blues," the Dylanesque
rocker ""The Hard Way" or the ballad "The Worst Part of a
Broken Heart." She writes well, too -- "listening for the
sound of my last hope hitting the ground" -- she sings on the
title cut, which uses the Native American chief as a metaphor
for the battles of love.
Solomon Burke "Make Do with What You Got"
(Shout Factory). Yow. "Hello," he shouts on the rollicking
opener, "I Need Your Love in My Life" and we're off on one
soulful sojourn. Burke resurrected his career with his Grammy
winning comeback, "Don't Give Up on Me," and he shows that was
no fluke with this disc. He gets down and dirty. He testifies.
He rocks.
Bettye Lavette "I've Got My Own Hell to
Raise" (Anti). After 40 years in the business, Lavette may
finally get her due with this soul disc. Nearly all the songs
are written by pop/folk songwriters -- Aimee Mann, Lucinda
Williams, Dolly Parton, Joan Armatrading, Rosanne Cash and the
conceit works (helmed by producer Joe Henry). The opening
acapella version of Sinead O'Connor's "I Do Not Want What I
Haven't Got" is stunning and "The High Road" a future blues
classic.
Jessi Alexander "Honeysuckle Sweet" (Sony
Nashville). Alexander may be the next big country star, but
she's no empty hat. In fact, she's no hat. She grew up
listening to classic soul from the likes of Aretha and it
shows in her writing and her singing, fitting her in a slot
somewhere between Bonnie Raitt and Shelby Lynne. The songs,
mostly about relationships gone bad (of course) belie her
youth.
The Greencards "Weather and Water"
(Dualtone). Two Brits and an Aussie singer form this band,
which may eclipse Nickel Creek and Alison Krauss as stars of
pop newgrass. This, their second disc, is charming, beautiful
and utterly musical, a superbly played and sung cycle of
ballads and energetic folkgrass. No wonder they opened for Bob
Dylan and Willie Nelson on tour last year.
U2 "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb"
(Virgin). How did the boys now more than two decades into
their career come up with this disc, as good as the best work
of the 1980s? It is a propulsive, provocative work from the
opening "Vertigo" to the closing "Yahweh." A disc that was in
the car for a long, long time early in the year.
Honorable Mentions: Jeff Black "Tin Lily,"
Holly Williams "The Ones We Never Knew,"
David Gray "Life in Slow Motion,"
Pieta Brown "In the Cool," Bruce
Springsteen "Devils and Dust," and The New
Pornographers "Twin
Cinema." | 
