Sean Claes' Top Ten Austin Music Releases for 2010

The Top 10 Austin CDs I Listened to this Year

Those who have been following Notes From The Cubicle are aware that between September 2009 and September 2010 I took on a challenge to review one release from an Austin-based band a week for a year. At the end I reviewed 55 different CDs. Why 55? Well, there were 6 EPs in there and I count those as half an album. I have very strong feelings on EPs, which I discuss here (Click link).  

Anyhow. I thought since the year is wrapping up, I’d give you my Top 10 releases I reviewed this year. These are all Austin-based bands and I hope you have a chance to listen to each one at some point. I won’t explain my choices, but I’ll give you a link to the review which will do that for me. Also, if you’ve not heard that particular band, there’s a link to their site and, in most cases, a YouTube video of them playing live.

Now, this was a hard thing for me to cull down to just 10. I only review CDs that I enjoy, so every one of the 55 on that list is a keeper in my eyes. These are just representative of the ones that I find really, really stellar among really good CDs.

So, Merry Christmas and I hope you enjoy this little ditty.

To see the reviews of all 55, visit this link - http://seanclaesdotcom.blogspot.com/2009/09/52-austin-cd-reviews-in-52-weeks.html

Listed in order of 10-1 with 1 being my favorite.

10. Bobby Bookout - Bobby Bookout

9. Eleven Fingered Charlie - Patterns

8. Lennon's Song - We Love, We Learn, We Grow

7. Trashy and the Kid - Songs In The Key of Blow Me

6. Alejandro Escovedo - Street Songs of Love

5. The Jeremy Miller Band -  Way Too Fast

4. Ray Wylie Hubbard - A. Enlightenment B. Endarkenment (Hint: There is no C)

3. Terri Hendrix - Cry Till You Laugh 

2. One-Eyed Doll - Break

1. Dave Madden  - Open Eyed / Broken Wide

Dave Madden - Open Eyed

Dave Madden - Broken Wide

Thanks to all who make music for giving me the gift of hearing your craft. And thanks to all who read my musings for giving me a little home to share my thoughts and feelings.

God Bless you and keep you safe in 2011 and beyond.

Love,

Sean Claes

p.s. If you're interested, my new challenge for 2010-2011 is 52 Weeks of DIY Music Advice. Check it out and please give feedback.

Week 46: Alejandro Escovedo - Street Songs of Love

(This is week 46 of my 52 Austin CD Reviews in 52 Weeks Project) 

“I hope you live long enough to forget half the things they taught you / When it’s all said and done I hope you’ve got your own set of rules to hang on to.” – Down In The Bowery

Alejandro Escovedo

Street Songs of Love

Released on June 29,  Alejandro Escovedo’s new offering is everything a fan could hope for and much more. Twelve fantastic Escovedo-penned tracks with that signature Tom Petty-meets-Ray Wylie Hubbard feel to it. It’s rock and roll with a punk vibe to it.

Austinites may already be familiar with these tunes, as Escovedo and his band The Sensitive Boys worked them out during a two-month residency at Continental Club in late 2009.

He has been touted as one of music’s “best kept secrets.” I always thought that was a foolish phrase. Nobody wants to be a musical secret.  There are no secrets, just bands you’ve not been introduced to as of yet. Escovedo is ten albums deep into his career that has spanned 40 years. Those who know good music know him.  Be it from his family lineage (he’s Uncle to Sheila E. and brothers Coke and Pete are amazing percussionists), his previous bands The Nuns (1970s), Rank and File (1980s), or the fact that in 1998 he was named “artist of the decade” in No Depression magazine. If you’ve never heard of him, consider this review to be an open invitation. 

Best-kept-secrets aside, Escovedo is well known and respected in the music community. This becomes pretty apparent when considering the guest vocalists on Street Songs of Love. The Boss himself (Bruce Springsteen) lends vocals on the fun jam “Faith.” Ian Hunter (Mott The Hoople) helps with powerful love song “Down In The Bowery.” He also taps local up-and-comer Nakia Reynoso to do some background vocals.

Street Songs of Love begins with “Anchor,” a catchy love song with a nice chugga-chugga rhythem to it. “This Bed is Getting Crowded” is an in-your-face infidelity song.  The title track is probably my favorite song lyrically. The aforementioned “Down In The Bowery” sounds like the Rolling Stones could have cut it.  The trippy “Tula” has a snakelike charm to it. The album ends with a wonderful instrumental entitled “Fort Worth Blue.”

The track that really caught my ear is “Tender Heart.”  The lyrics are infectious and the music hit me like the first time I heard “Everybody Wants You” by Billy Squier. “I got a tender heart / you want my tender heart? / I got nothing you need / and everything you want.”  Incidentally, upon first listen, when this song came on my three year-old yelled from the back seat “Turn it up, this is my favorite song.”

If you don’t listen to me, listen to my daughter… she knows good music.

You can pick up Street Songs of Love pretty much anywhere in the world but it you go to his Website you can pick up a digital version plus physical CD for just $13.99.  Learn more about Alejandro Escovedo at http://www.alejandroescovedo.com/.

Texas Music - Albums of the Decade

The current issue of Texas Music (Winter 2010/Issue 41) is on stands right now with a spotlight on the top 20 Texas albums of the decade. 23 past contributors, including me, were asked to rank their personal top 10 albums. I'm pleased to say that 4 of the artists I chose made the to 20 (but only one of the albums...but it was the top one).

I still like my list better. I really tried to make sure different genres were represented. I went less with "Texas Musicians" and more with "Artists in Texas Who Make Amazing Music" but I can't argue with ANY of the top 20 in the magazine. Over-all it's a great list of "the usual suspects."I would have loved to see Full Service or Driver F in the top 10... but, several in the top 20 were on my short list. Had I gotten a top 30 to list I'm certain Sam Baker (I prefer Cotton over Mercy though), Slaid Cleaves, Alejandro Escovedo, and Patty Griffin would have made the cut. Anyhow...

Pick up a copy of Texas Music and see what was written about the albums... and see below what albums made the top 20 (and a bonus of my choices are below that).

Which list do YOU like better?

The top 10 from Texas Music Magazine
1. Dixie Chicks - Home
2. Rodney Crowell - The Houston Kid
3. Alejandro Escovedo - A Man Under the Influence
4. Alejandro Escovedo - Real Animal
5. James McMurtry - Childish Things
6. Billy Joe Shaver - The Earth Rolls On
7. Hays Carrl - Trouble In Mind
8. Slaid Cleaves - Broke Down
9. Sam Baker - Mercy
10. Steve Earle - The Revolution Starts... Now

11-20 are Spoon-Gimme Fiction, Ruthie Foster - The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster, Terri Hendrix - The Spiritual Kind, Willie Nelson - You Don't Know Me: The Songs of Cindy Walker, Steve Earle - Transcendental Blues, James McMurtry - Just Us Kids, Guy Clark - The Dark, Patty Griffin - 1,000 Kisses, Old 97's - Satellite Radio, Eliza Gilkyson - Hard Times in Babylon, and Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy



Here's what I chose:
Sean Claes’ Top 20 Texas Albums of the Decade

1. Walt Wilkins – Mustang Island (2005)
2. Dixie Chicks – Home (2002)
3. Blue October – Foiled (2006)
4. The Derailers – Here Come The Derailers (2001)
5. Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (2007)
6. Ruthie Foster – The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster (2007)
7. Grupo Fantasma - Movimiento Popular (2004)
8. Guy Forsyth – Love Songs For and Against (2005)
9. Driver F – Chase The White Whale (2008)
10. Terri Hendrix – Places In Between (2000)
11. Drowning Pool – Sinner (2001)
12. Full Service – The Dig (2008)
13. Pat Green – Three Days (2001)
14. Matt The Electrician – Made For Working (2003)
15. The Banner Year – Straight On Till Breakfast
16. George Strait - The Road Less Traveled (2001)
17. Scott H. Biram – Lo-Fi Mojo (2003)
18. Okkervil River– The Stage Names (2007)
19. Powderburn – Echoed In Red (2007)
20. Burden Brothers – Mercy (2006)

My Top 10 Austin-based releases of 2008

This list is totally subjective. It's not based on sales... crowds at shows... how many shows they've played.. nothing but my personal preference.

Who am I? Well.. I DO own an entertainment magazine in Austin and have been a freelance entertainment writer for more than a decade. So.. I know a little about music... plus I love the local scene in Austin.

So... here goes. In no particular order. I'm also not going to explain. The music itself explains. You should visit all of these Websites (link from the name of the band) and purchase these RIGHT NOW.

Sean Claes' Top 10 Austin-based CDs of 2008
1. Drew Smith - Drew Smith's Lonely Choir
2. Alejandro Escovedo - Real Animal
3. Vallejo - Thicker Than Water
4. Driver F - Chase the White Whale
5. Reckless Kelly Bulletproof
6. Naked Empire Bottom Feeders
7. She Craves Static
8. Full Service - The Dig
9. Killer Crocs of Uganda - Almost Lost Tomorrow
10. Grupo Fantasma - Sonidos Gold


Don't like my list? Here are some other people's lists:
Ana Wolken of Austin Soundcheck and INsite Magazine- http://www.austinsoundcheck.com/best-austin-albums-of-2008/
Austin American-Statesman's XL - http://www.austin360.com/music/content/music/stories/xl/2008/12/1225xlcover.html
The Austinist - http://austinist.com/2008/12/23/our_year_in_listening_austinists_to.php
Austin Town Hall's Top 40 songs of the year - http://austintownhall.com/2008/12/17/top-40-songs-of-the-year/#more-2172

Happy New Year all.