Best Album of 2019: Grace Potter – Daylight
Another year, another unexpected turn. Every year when I get down to narrowing down my 100 or so favorite albums of the year something magical happens. Despite my mind trying to control the situation, my heart took me in a different direction than my head originally wanted me to. I left some amazing albums on the cutting room floor including but not limited to albums by Bruce Springsteen, Calexico & Iron & Wine, Son Volt, Wilco, Eilen Jewell, The Highwomen, Van Morrison, Leeroy Stagger, Jesse Malin, Drivin N Cryin, Justin Townes Earle, Will Kimbrough, Steve Earle & The Dukes, Sturgill Simpson, Buddy & Judy Miller, Jimbo Mathus, The Mavericks, Allison Moorer, Joe Pug, The Felice Brothers, The Infamous Stringdusters, Matthew Ryan, and more.
What happened instead is that a penchant for soulful country, blues, and rock prevailed and I couldn’t be more excited about it. After considerable thought, I’m elated to say Grace Potter’s solo Daylight emerged at the very top this year. The title track caught my attention and then I was way deep into it the rest of the album. If I’m being honest, I was skeptical of this release being a solo effort. Her work with The Nocturnals is so strong, I wasn’t sure where she would go after time spent touring in the pop country circuit. What Daylight showcases is Potter’s range. This album has it all, country, blues, big-time vocals (watch out Brandi Carlile), social commentary, guitar, keys, and even a couple of duets with Lucius. This album is an underrated masterpiece and hope there will be many more like this to come from Vermont’s finest export, Grace Potter, with or without The Nocturnals.
Grace Potter at Paste Studio NYC live from The Manhattan Center
Tom’s Top 25 of 2019
- Grace Potter – Daylight
- Mandolin Orange – Tides of a Teardrop
- Brittany Howard – Jaime
- Black Pumas – Black Pumas
- The Avett Brothers – Closer Than Together
- Whiskey Myers – Whiskey Myers
- Billy Strings – Home
- The Black Keys – “Let’s Rock”
- Trigger Hippy – Full Circle & Then Some
- The Suitcase Junket – Mean Dog, Trampoline
- Christone “Kingfish” Ingram – Kingfish
- Yola – Walk Through Fire
- Gary Clark Jr. – This Land
- The Milk Carton Kids – The Only Ones
- Tedeschi Trucks Band – Signs
- North Mississippi Allstars – Up and Rolling
- The Teskey Brothers – Run Home Slow
- Better Oblivion Community Center – Better Oblivion Community Center
- Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real – Turn Off The News (Build Garden)
- Durand Jones & The Indications – American Love Call
- Southern Avenue – Keep On
- The Commonheart – Pressure
- Josh Ritter – Fever Breaks
- Foy Vance – From Muscle Shoals / To Memphis
- Austin Meade – Waves
Just for fun, here’s some picks (not predictions) for the 2019-20 Grammys:
Best New Artist: Black Pumas
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album: Elvis Costello & The Imposters – Look Now
Best Contemporary Instrumental Album: Rodrigo y Gabriela — Mettavolution
Best Americana Album: Yola – Walk Through Fire
Best Traditional Blues Album: Christone “Kingfish” Ingram – Kingfish
Best Contemporary Blues Album: Gary Clark Jr. – This Land
Best Folk Album: Patty Griffin – Patty Griffin
About the author: Washington, D.C. area creative by day. Music is my muse. I host Twangville’s weekly Readers‘ Pick.