Welcome to my 2024 annual best of music list, rechristened The Dangerous Folk Rock Appeal Awards (DFRAAs) after Local Boy’s favorite phrase. (Since this is a time travel themed blog, maybe I’ll go back and retroactively change past years…) Despite the name, we like all kinds of music around here—not just folk. Onwards to the…
Tag: Of The Year
Of the Year: 2023
Bidding farewell to a particularly strong year in music with the usual listage: ALBUMS SONGS SHOWS BOOKS Bonus for 2023: Shepherd.com invited me to write about my 3 favorite books read this year. Check them out at the link, or peruse how ~1300 other authors answered the same question. PHOTOS Second bonus: Pictures to prove…
Of The Year: 2022
It’s the most wonderful time of the year — actually posted on the last day of the year! ALBUMS: REISSUES: SONGS: SHOWS: Lighter than usual as we ease out of pandemic life. I’m trying to better pick my spots vs. go to every show that catches my interest — and often seemingly end up being…
Of The Year: 2021
Say what you will about life in the last couple years, but musically it’s been a creative delight. (Maybe that’s just more time to listen?) For the second year in a row I have a full top 10: ALBUMS 1975 — No-No Boy Melodic and memorable with a great story and purpose behind it (the…
Of The Year: 2020
In a strange and challenging year, we needed music to keep us sane more than ever. Somehow it came through in spades with a slew of stellar new releases and live(stream) shows in the new normal. ALBUMS 1. Nobody Lives Here Anymore — Cut WormsCut Worms wasn’t on my radar until Spencer Tweedy covered “Last…
Of The Year — 2019
Albums Between the Country — Ian Noe Discovered this album via NPR First Listen on a whim (ala 2016’s top album) and never looked back. A perfect mix of folky songs spanning a number of emotions and influences while still holding together as part of their own refreshingly new voice. On the Line — Jenny…
Of The Year – 2018
Albums 1.Glorietta — GloriettaOh my! Another year, another supergroup on the top list. This one’s a little different with it being a supergroup where I wasn’t very familiar with any of the members beforehand outside of Wild Child — but their end results absolutely blew my mind. 2. Loner — Caroline RoseGreat record, great live show….
Of the Year – 2017
Commentary coming sooner or later… ALBUMS Resistance Radio: The Man in the High Castle Album — Various Life Will See You Now — Jens Lekman Colors — Beck Like a Drunk in a Midnight Choir: RSD Celebrates the Music of Leonard Cohen — Various St. Mojo — Sweet Spirit Salutations* — Conor Oberst SONGS Pamela…
Of the Year – 2016
ALBUMS 1. I Had a Dream That You Were Mine — Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam I love when my favorite album of the year comes out of nowhere. I listened to this on NPR first listen because I liked the title and Hamilton’s last name. And I pretty much haven’t stopped listening to it since….
Of The Year – 2015
My annual best of music list — which this year will hopefully not be among my only posts of the year. Albums 1. Sound & Color — Alabama Shakes No sophomore slump here. 2. Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit — Courtney Barnett Most anticipated album of the year (thanks, Bob…