Hey Everybody, As always, the following is a link to ITunes to download a playlist containing a song from many of the records I reviewed below: BOBBY K’S 2008 PICKS. I took great care in arranging this playlist, which I think you’ll enjoy as a CD in and of itself. If you click on an […]
Best Albums of 2008, Mayer’s Picks
#1. MATTHEW RYAN, Matthew Ryan Vs. the Silver State (00:02:59) Whether he’s performing a ballad or a rock song, Ryan’s intelligence and intensity course through this release. (Twangville review, mp3s and video here.) #2. THE HOLD STEADY, Stay Positive (Vagrant) They rock, they roll and then they rock some more. The Hold Steady may very […]
More of Tom’s Favorites of 2008, a Video Companion
Selected favorites from some of my favorite albums of the year. Also, some superlatives: Best Alternative Album: THE HOLD STEADY, Stay Positive (Vagrant) Best Alt-Country Album: OLD 97S, Blame It On Gravity (New West) Best Emerging Artist: GLOSSARY, The Better Angels of Our Nature (Undertow) Best Country Album: RECKLESS KELLY, Bulletproof (Yep Roc) Best R&B/Soul […]
Best Albums of 2008, Tom’s Picks
These are my favorite albums of 2008. As always, these only reflect music that I was able to afford or otherwise get my grubby hands on. Regretfully, the lastest from Ryan Adams & The Cardinals, Marc Broussard, Ray Lamontagne, Amos Lee, and Butch Walker among dozens of others kept a distance. #1. THE HOLD STEADY, […]
Reckless Kelly,’s “Bulletproof”, Readers’ Choice Album of the Year
Its that time of year again where we start to see “the lists” start appearing regarding everyone’s favorite this and that from the course of the year. We here at the Twangville will have some lists of our own starting to appear over the coming days and weeks. We thought we’d kick it off with […]
Your Favorites in 2008… So Far
The residents of Twangville have spoken! Here are some of your favorites from the first half of the year. The Band of Heathens, The Band of Heathens Hayes Carll, Trouble In Mind Drive-By Truckers, Brighter Than Creation’s Dark Justin Townes Earle, The Good Life Kathleen Edwards, Asking for Flowers Elbow, Seldom Seen Kid Eleven Hundred […]
Twangville Picks the Best So Far in ’08
We at Twangville have been fortunate to hear some great music in the first half of ’08. I polled the crew on their favorites are here are the results: Todd: Hayes Carll, Trouble in Mind (read more) Chip: Drive-By Truckers, Brighter Than Creation’s Dark (read more on this album and Chip’s full list) Tom: Old […]
Best Albums of 2007, Official Twangville Picks
For the first time in three years Twangville presents an official top albums list aggregated from several of our editors’ picks. The first number in parenthesis represents the cumulative score and the second number is the number of editors who selected a particular album. 1. Jason Isbell, ‘Sirens of The Ditch’ (26.5/4) 2. Patty Griffin, […]
Best Albums of 2007 (Tom’s Picks)
Top 10 lists are relative in that they are best judged against the music the reviewer was exposed to and spent enough time listening to to properly analyze. For this reason, many fine albums of 2007 didn’t make my list. I had every intention of purchasing Steve Earle’s and Bettye Lavette’s albums in time to […]
Mayer’s Picks from 2007: The Video Companion
Before we get too far into 2008, here’s a quick trip down (recent) memory lane with some of my favorites from 2007. Among them: Jason Isbell (“Dress Blues”), Josh Ritter (“Right Moves”), Justin Currie (“If I Ever Loved You”), Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova (“Falling Slowly” plus a bonus “Into the Mystic”), Brandi Carlile (“The […]