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I’m leaving this here at number 1, though the rest of the list has changed, because this album is really amazing and just keeps growing in stature the more I listen. Layers of instruments and voices like you wouldn’t believe, but also great vivid songwriting. It’s not out on CD yet but is available digitally (itunes or emusic), and on vinyl (!!) through Secretly Canadian’s distro.
But while I’m feeling ecstatic let me praise this one, which is so so great. Just got it (it’s out in August, and on $5 preorder from ECA). It really captures the pure energy and uplift of his live show, and such great songs too! I’ll have more to say on this one soon, but give it an absolutely wholehearted, excited-as-heck recommendation.
Marooned, edited by Phil Freeman (Da Capo)
Halfway through this book of music critics writing on their “desert island” albums (a sequel of sorts to 1979’s Stranded) and am enjoying it a lot so far. Interesting writers taking on quite a variety of albums.
I need more time with this to follow the lyrics, but on a visceral level I’m loving this. No big upheaval in their sound, but that’s probably for the best.
His best album in a while, a campfire-tale, border-town-troubadour acoustic album filled with older songs revisited, most of them previously unreleased. Much better than the still decent other album that he put out this year.
Enjoying this so far. They might be over-hyped, but that doesn’t mean they’re not a fantastic, fantastic band. Love the stripped-down, modern sound of this. That song “The Underdog” is especially blowing me away.
I’ll round this out with four relatively older songs I listened to and enjoyed this week. This one’s a Christmas song, from what…one of his limited edition, and later downloadable, EPs, maybe?
A classic example of storytelling in song.
Bonus track on the My Tennessee Mountain Home reissue, though I think it’s on another album too. I love the chorus, with the country choir of voices singing parts of old hymns.
Off that great new Fading Captain Series “best of”, Crickets, and of course something else before that. I’ve had Pollard’s music on my brain lately, between that fantastic set and the new Circus Devils album, new Takeovers album, and two new Pollard albums coming on Merge in the fall.
