{"id":1866,"date":"2019-12-28T20:20:20","date_gmt":"2019-12-29T01:20:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.timelypersuasion.com\/blog\/?p=1866"},"modified":"2021-11-28T11:13:18","modified_gmt":"2021-11-28T17:13:18","slug":"of-the-year-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.timelypersuasion.com\/blog\/of-the-year-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Of The Year — 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Albums<\/strong><\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Between the Country<\/a><\/em> \u2014 Ian Noe<\/strong>
    \nDiscovered this album     via NPR First Listen<\/a> on a whim (ala 2016’s top album<\/a>) 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.<\/li>\n
  2. On the Line<\/a><\/em> \u2014 Jenny Lewis<\/strong>
    \nA strong, cathartic, singable companion\/sequel to\u00a0The Voyager.<\/em> Jenny Lewis just keeps getting better with each release. Bonus points for how my mind was blown when I realized you can (probably inadvertently) sing the chorus to\u00a0Champagne Supernova<\/em> over the opening verse to\u00a0Heads Gonna Roll.<\/em> The     intentionally train-wreck-y<\/a> launch day all-star telethon special was also a nice touch.<\/li>\n
  3. Help Us Stranger<\/a> \u2014 <\/em>The Raconteurs
    \n<\/strong>The best album Jack White has been involved in since\u00a0Get Behind Me Satan<\/em> \u00e2\u20ac\u201d<\/em> with the possible exception of\u00a0Rome<\/em> which I consider more a Danger Mouse album with Jack White guesting.<\/li>\n
  4. Night Shift EP<\/a> \u2014 <\/em>Jenny Owen Youngs
    \n<\/strong>I know every year I say EPs don’t count, but then almost every year I pick one anyways. This was a late breaking discovery a few weeks ago (thanks to the unexpected yet welcome return of     TwentyFourBit<\/a>), but I really dig it. Looking forward to diving into her back catalogue in 2020.<\/li>\n
  5. Purple Mountains<\/a> \u2014<\/em>\u00a0Purple Mountains
    \n<\/strong>Like many, my excitement over the triumphant return of David Berman was overshadowed by his death which put me on a nostalgic Silver Jews listening spree for the second half of the year. But this new record stood out as a highlight even before that shift in perspective. It’s sonically different than the Joos for the most part, but still very Berman on the lyrics front. RIP.<\/li>\n
  6. Dog in a Manger<\/a><\/em> \u2014\u00a0Smooth Hound Smith<\/strong>
    \nDespite what you may assume from the title, this isn’t an Xmas record. Instead it’s a big step forward for the Americana duo (now with a full band at live shows!)<\/li>\n
  7. Monster (25th Anniversary Remix)<\/a> \u2014\u00a0R.E.M.<\/strong>
    \nStill my favorite R.E.M. album (and the first record I ever waited in line outside a record store to buy at midnight on release day), I love how the remix raises the vocals way up in the mix to better understand Michael Stipe’s lyrics. There also seem to be a few additional flourishes ala the\u00a0    remix treatment\u00a0In Utero<\/em><\/a> got in 2013. I had a lot of fun revisiting\u00a0Monster<\/em> this year.<\/li>\n
  8. Weezer (The Teal Album)<\/a><\/em> \u2014\u00a0Weezer<\/strong>
    \nYes, it’s a guilty pleasure covers album. But it’s also the best Weezer album since\u00a0Maladroit<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Songs<\/h2>\n
      \n
    1. Topo Chico<\/a> — Robert Ellis<\/li>\n
    2. Eyelash<\/a> — Asian She (cowritten by Benji Hughes)<\/li>\n
    3. Uh Huh<\/a> — Jade Bird<\/li>\n
    4. Jesus & Elvis<\/a> — Hayes Carll<\/li>\n
    5. If Today Doesn’t Do Me In<\/a> — Ian Noe<\/li>\n
    6. Rabbit Hole<\/a> — Jenny Lewis<\/li>\n
    7. Hold Me Anyway<\/a> — Wilco<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Shows<\/h2>\n

      Gin Blossoms @ Scoot Inn 3\/7<\/p>\n

      Spiral Stairs, Sweet Spirit, Carson McHone, Kevin Galloway @ Mohawk 3\/12 (Nine Mile Touring SXSW)<\/p>\n

      Hayes Carll @ SXSW 3\/15-3\/16 (4 shows in 27 hours!)<\/p>\n

      The Tallest Man on Earth @ Moody Theatre 4\/23<\/p>\n

      Lemonheads @ Barracuda 5\/31<\/p>\n

      Felice Brothers @ Barracuda 6\/12<\/p>\n

      Will Courtney (solo acoustic) @ Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches 7\/5<\/p>\n

      Mason Jennings @ 04 Center 7\/12<\/p>\n

      Ian Noe @ Scoot Inn 8\/17
      \n(biggest disappointment of the year – he cancelled to have his wisdom teeth out)<\/em><\/p>\n

      Black Pumas @ Mohawk 8\/24<\/p>\n

      Guns N Roses @ ACL 10\/12<\/p>\n

      Reverend Horton Heat w\/ Alejandro Escovedo @ The Continental Club 10\/22<\/p>\n

      Wilco @ Moody Theatre 10\/27<\/p>\n

      Ray LaMontagne @ Moody Theatre 11\/2<\/p>\n

      Smooth Hound Smith @ Mohawk Indoor 11\/19<\/p>\n

      Robert Ellis @ Armadillo Christmas Bazaar 12\/23<\/p>\n

      In Memorium<\/h2>\n

      Since David Berman was already covered above, I’d be remiss not to give a little eulogy for Shawn Smith as a wrap up to the year in music.<\/p>\n

      This one hit me the hardest, as I’ve been a big fan for a long time. As previously mentioned<\/a>, I sought out the first Brad album early on and ended up stumbling onto a guy they call “Seattle’s Best Kept Secret” in this singer.<\/p>\n

      His voice was amazing, and even more amazing was the volume of side projects he sang for. Brad. Satchel. Pigeonhead. All Hail The Crown. From The North. Twilight Singers. Vincent & Mr. Green. Plus a plethora of solo releases, many of them underrated classics. (Shield of Thorns<\/em> & The Diamond Hand<\/em> still slay me.)<\/p>\n

      I named the protagonist of my short story Fester<\/a><\/em> after Shawn Smith, and still shudder in glee when I encounter the part where my Shawn Smith listens to THE<\/em> Shawn Smith in the car. I never intended for the namesakes to cross paths in the story, but I love that they did.<\/p>\n

      Shawn Smith 1965-2019 RIP<\/strong><\/p>\n