Your picks are in! There were some surprises and several picks that you’ll see repeated among the Twangville Editors’ Picks of 2009. The votes started diminishing after the Top 10 so we’ve capped it at that. Well, technically 11 due to a tie at number 10. The initial list of candidates was chosen from our [...] more »

by Tom Osborne

Well, here they are. My Top 25 albums of 2009. Last year I chose The Hold Steady’s ‘Stay Positive’ as album of the year. That album tied the Drive-by Truckers for numero uno according to the Twangville Posse. This year, I’m thrilled to say that the Posse agrees with me once again. The Album of [...] more »

by Tom Osborne

Another great year in music comes to a close! Over the next several days the editors of Twangville will be releasing their top picks from the year. To kick that off, here’s the aggregated Top 25 Twangville Editors’ Picks of 2009. It was a close match for number one between Lucero and Justin Townes Earle [...] more »

by Tom Osborne

It’s that time once again to reflect on another eventful year in the history of Twangville. As it turns out, we’ve been at it for close to five years now. Each year has brought new joy along with new challenges. Seeing as Twangville is an all-volunteer effort it’s never easy to find the time to [...] more »

by Tom Osborne

Earlier this month devoted Twangville readers read Chip’s review of the new Wrinkle Neck Mules album, ‘Let the Lead Fly’. Rather than double the love with a review I’ll just say that it’s another consistently great album from one of Richmond’s finest. Instead, I’m offering up a custom designed desktop wallpaper for download by yours [...] more »

by Tom Osborne

Twangville readers picked ‘1372 Overton Park’ by Lucero as their favorite release for week of October 7, 2009. There’s one thing that makes ‘1372 Overton Park’, the latest from Memphis-based Lucero, a little more special than their previous 5 studio albums. Horns… horns are what take this their major label debut to new heights. Not to [...] more »

by Tom Osborne

Twangville readers picked ‘I and Love and You’ by The Avett Brothers as their favorite release for week of September 29, 2009. After five full-length albums and two EPs on Ramseur Records the Avett Brothers have decided to go BIG with their latest release ‘I and Love and You’. What do you do when you want [...] more »

by Tom Osborne

Twangville readers picked ‘Trailer II’ by Chris Knight as their favorite release for week of September 15, 2009. Recorded back in 1996 in a singlewide trailer parked near his hometown of Slaughters, Kentucky, ‘Trailer II’ is part two of a now legendary set of recordings. Their legend has grown through various bootlegs, leaks, and performances [...] more »

by Tom Osborne

Twangville readers picked ‘The Bear’ by Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers as their favorite release for week of September 8, 2009. With their fifth full release the SK6ERS solidify what they’ve always done well… plain-and-simple rock-n-roll! Chock full of layered instrumentation and pop hooks The Bear should be a recipe for how to produce a [...] more »

by Tom Osborne

Twangville readers picked ‘The Fine Print’ by the Drive-by Truckers as their favorite release for week of September 1, 2009. ‘The Fine Print’ is subtitled as ‘A Collection Of Oddities and Rarities 2003-2008′ and it is just that. A collection of previously unreleased tunes from an especially fruitful time in DBT history. The smattering of [...] more »

by Tom Osborne

Twangville readers picked ‘Flower Petals’ by The Subdudes as their favorite release for week of August 18, 2009. Deep in the heart of New Orleans is where you’ll find The Subdudes, a band that uses a tambourine in place of drums. They played together for 9 years before reuniting in 2002 to give it another [...] more »

by Tom Osborne

Twangville readers picked My Old Familiar Friend by Brendan Benson as their favorite release for week of August 18, 2009. With his fourth solo LP Brendan Benson teams up with producer Gil Norton (Pixies, Maximo Park, Foo Fighters, Gomez) to deliver 11 new tracks. The music has been in the works since as early as [...] more »

by Tom Osborne

Twangville readers picked fan write-in Acousticueticals by Plain & Simple as their favorite release for week of August 11, 2009. Plain & Simple is the work of B.J. Purnell a middle-America father of five who appears to live up to the “plain and simple” moniker. The album contains 11 original songs written by Purnell [...] more »

by Tom Osborne

Twangville readers picked the new EP by Yim Yames titled Tribute To as their favorite release for week of August 4, 2009. Tribute To is a six song EP from My Morning Jacket’s singer Jim James recorded as a ‘tribute to’ George Harrison. The record came together shortly after Harrison passed away back in 2001. [...] more »

by Tom Osborne

Gary Louris and Mark Olson, Ready for the Flood (New West) If we can’t have a Jayhawks reunion the renewed friendship of Gary Louris and Mark Olson currently touring in support of their new album. Its no surprise that the two masters could put together a rock solid effort though much was riding on the two [...] more »

by Tom Osborne