My favorite record releases of 2011

1. Hayes Carll-KMAG YOYO (Rowdy, gritty and passionate country rocker but sometimes soft and elegant country balladeer. What sets Hayes apart from the rest is his superb songwriting. The album has a wide range of variety that keeps the listener intrigued through out the duration of the 12 track album. And i’ve never heard a Stratocaster sound so good, high praise to the producer!)
2. Girls- Father, Son, Holy Ghost  (not over hyped, I promise. Elliott smith-esque  voice with equal amounts of believable heartbreak, 50s rock influenced, a little touch of pink floyd’s The Wall and a whole lot of soul. Not to mention some awesome guitar tones and a really pleasant production value. 
3. Jesse Lege, Joel Savoy and The Caleb Klauder Country Band- Cajun Country Revival  (This album (along with the pine leaf boys) re-sparked my interest in Zydeco music. It’s an album you cant listen to while sitting still, zydeco was made for dancing and for feeling good. Caleb Klauder and his band are probably the best country revival bands out there, and I’m proud to say their from Oregon, but paired alongside some of the finest cajun talents makes them shine even more!)
4. Daniel Romano- Sleep Beneath the Willows (I knew Daniel for being a real fine folk/americana musician (you might remember him from Daniel, Fred & Julie) but this time around he strays on the classic country side of the Americana genre. The Canadians have just been hitting it out of the ball park recently (deep dark woods, kate maki, julie dorion, fred squire, bruce peninsula, the weather station…), but Daniel’s new record has a quality that makes it stand above the rest.)
5. Pokey Lafarge & the South City Three- Middle of Everywhere ( Pokey is a showman, and his band is one of the finest in the world playing this genre! Those are big words, but seriously his band is equal parts brilliantly skilled musicians and entertainers, and I’m positive they could turn any dead crowd of worn out adults into an audience of foot stompin, hollerin and clappin children.)
6. Frank Fairfield- Out on the Open West ( I have way too many good things to say about Frank Fairfield. He is as authentic as they come, completely dedicated to his passion and it shines in his live shows, and thanks to Tompkins Square it also shines in his recordings. )
7. Kate Maki- Moonshine ( Canadian americana strikes again. It takes a lot for a female vocalist to move me…then again, i think it takes very little for a female vocalist to move me, and that’s what Kate does. Minimalistic recordings, some nice harmonies and a voice that is simplistic and sweet.)
8. Gillian Welch- Harrow and the Harvest (We waited years for this damn album, and it provided! She and David are both on the ball this time around, progressing forward while still maintaining their original haunting sound. I was able to see them a couple times on this tour, and they have a chemistry unknown to man; they must be gods)
9. Jimmy Dale Gilmore & The Wronglers- Heirloom Music (A handful of old tunes redone by the unique voice of Jimmy Dale Gilmore and his backing band The Wronglers, featuring the late “Lone Jewboy” Warren Hellman (the man behind Hardly Strictly Bluegrass) )
10. Middle Brother- Middle Brother ( A super group with three members that actually compliments each other perfectly. With the direction Deer Tick is heading (downhill) I hope this band sticks around for another album or two)

HM:

• Cave Singers- No Witch
• Mister Heavenly- Out of Love
• The Cactus Blossoms- The Cactus Blossoms *(Stand out Honorable Mention)
• Brown Bird- Salt for Salt
• Bonnie Prince Billy- Wolfroy Goes to Town
• Blitzen Trapper- American Goldwing
• Black Joe Lewis & The Honey Bears- Scandalous
• Chris Thile and Michael Daves-Sleep with One Eye Open
• Deep Dark Woods- Places I left Behind
• Ryan Adams- Ashes & Fire
• My Morning Jacket- Circuital