There were tons of releases in 2011 and I am sure I only listened to a fraction of them. I always have a hard time narrowing down my top 5 or so choices, and then I always have a hard time coming up with a full list of 25. Here’s my top 15 of the year with a few links to my favorite tunes from each record.
1. Frank Turner/England Keep My Bones
Peggy Sang The Blues:Â http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84Ns6ouwO1g&ob=av2e
2. Â Butch Walker/The Spade
Synthesizers:Â http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz0EAMDsyVc
3. My Morning Jacket/Circuital
Circuital:Â http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsD8-Sx2QKw
4. Gillian Welch/The Harrow and the Harvest
Hard Times:Â http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k35haKwqY14
5. Kasey Anderson/Heart of a Dog
The Wrong Light:Â http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9qeGxUafeo
6. The Felice Brothers/Celebration, Florida
Ponzi:Â http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElTS7gv5ffQ
7.  Florence + the Machine/Ceremonials
Shake It Out:Â http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbN0nX61rIs&ob=av2e
8. Adele/21
Rumor Has It:Â http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_6BBAVfzqM
9. Â Iron & Wine/Kiss Each Other Clean
Walking Far From Home:Â http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg5403yj4II
10. Wilco/The Whole Love
One Sunday Morning (Song for Jane Smiley’s Boyfriend):Â http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xa2XnouRXKo
11. The Low Anthem/Smart Flesh
Ghost Woman Blues:Â http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vpadm5i_CKU
12. Drive By Truckers/Go Go Boots
Mercy Buckets:Â http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOMdN6X–7c
13. Jason Isbell/Here We Rest
Codeine:Â http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V_vBPaI1d0
14. Hayes Carll/KMAG YOYO
Grateful for Christmas:Â http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5er6FZLRm1U
15. Lucinda Williams/Blessed
Buttercup:Â http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P6z7b5aIi4
Columbia, SC Local Music Year in Review
Local journalist (armed with video camera) Kevin Oliver posted some highlights of the local scene here in Columbia on his youtube page. Or at least the highlights that he recorded this year. The link to the entire listing is here:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL31D79D06C47E4864&feature=g-all-a
My favorites include:
Number 4:Â Â Â Zach Seibert, Darla
Number 8:Â Â Â Honey Dewdrops, When Was the War
Number 22:Â David Adedokun, Professional Travel On a Closed Course
Number 44:Â Tom Hall and the Plowboys, Carter’s Garden
Number 49:Â Sea Wolf Mutiny, Lovers
Number 52:Â Bill Wells Blueridge Mountain Grass with Willie Wells, Another Night
About the author: Producer, Engineer, Musician and all around music enthusiast.