Jericho, John Fullbright (from the Blue Dirt Records release From The Ground Up)
Fullbright’s is a welcome new voice on the singer-songwriter scene. He writes and sings with a voice that belies his 23-odd years, as evidenced by this stirring track.
Throw your arrows and your slings
And your other precious things
Outside your gate I will stand tall
As you cower behind your wall
Look inside yourself to see
Where these walls appear to be
Let your soul step out to breathe
Swallow whole your dignity
Like Lightning, Lucero (from the ATO Records release Women & Work)
From the romping piano open to the horn-infused chorus and from Brian Venable’s guitar blasts to Ben Nichol’s whiskey-soaked vocals, this track is a great reminder of all that I like about Lucero.
If Raymond Carver Were Born In The 90’s, Library Voices (from the Dine Alone Records release Summer of Lust)
I’m not quite sure what to make of the title but it hardly matters. Songs don’t get much more infectious than this.
Hey, It’s Okay, Antonio Lulic (from the self-released Rough)
So I’ve become, pardon the pun, a broken record about this song and its associated release. Although it is technically a 2011 release, I discovered Lulic at this year’s SXSW. His music, this song in particular, has been in heavy rotation ever since.
You know we never put things right, we only put them away, living in hiding from our mistakes.
Worry About Your Health, The District Attorneys (from the This Is American Music release Slowburner)
I’ve been on a rock binge of late so this track was a welcome addition to the 2012 playlist. Angry guitars set against an insistent beat make for a song that is best played loud.
Reinvent the Wheel, Highway Ghosts (from the self-released Beyond All Help)
Sometimes the simple songs are the best songs. This Boston quartet wrap a winsome melody with some gentle harmonies to create one of the more endearing songs so far this year.
Get Back, The Right Ons (from the Love Monk release Get Out)
Simply a great rock song with just the right amount of soulful swagger.
Emmanuel Leon
Photo credits: All photos courtesy of the artist except: Antonio Lulic (MidTea), The District Attorneys (Brittany Gershenhorn) and The Right Ons (Emmanuel Leon).
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.