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 26 - Eleven Fingered Charlie - Patterns

(Week 26 of my 52 Austin CD Reviews in 52 Weeks) 

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Eleven Fingered Charlie 

Patterns

Eleven Fingered Charlie (EFC) has been a mainstay in the Austin/San Marcos music scene for nearly 10 years. In that time, they’ve been infusing reggae with ska and hip-hop in a very good way. I’d describe them as having a laid-back Sublime sound. In February they released Patterns, their third full-length release.

This is one of those albums that can carry the party. Their beat is infectious and could cause a person to break out dancing on a moments notice. Equally impressive are the lyrics which can switch from the party chants (“Stay low… get high” – Early Morning Rises) to cerebral (“Waters going dry / Fire in the sky / Got to make a difference in the days before we die.” - Unfold).

Patterns is a really nice statement of where the band is now. The production is tight and each song is fully realized. A lot of times it takes a much bigger band to make such a full sound but EFC does it with a four piece on this album. Nice.

The eleven tracks meld well together well. “Common Patterns,” a song about facing the truth of addiction, kicks off the album. “Loverman”  is a sweet relationship groove. Then there’s “Entrepreneur,” a very Sublime sounding track about a drug dealer. “River Runs Stronger” is a haunting track about living up to past actions.

The final track on the album is the very Jack Johnson sounding “This Old World.” The nice mandolin driven song is a standout on this album of great tunes. “Staring at this old TV screen to entertain our small minds. But you and I, we both know best. We know what’s going on. We’re just two pieces in this puzzle. In this complicated life.”

If you like your music with a little reggae influence, you’ll really dig Patterns. EFC is Travis Damron (Vocals, Guitar, harmonica), Chad Manes (Bass), Rodney Howell (Tenor Sax, keyboards), and Dustin Hall (Percussion). In March you can catch them at the Red Gorilla Music Festival and day two of ATX Wildfire. Not in Austin? They aren’t afraid of a road show check www.efcmusic.com for updates.