The best albums of 2011.
This turned into the year of the Allman Brothers Band family albums in the top 5.
5. Drive-By Truckers: Go-Go Boots. This one is not part of the ABB family; but, they are in the same family nonetheless. The Drive-by Truckers put out a fantastic return to form in 2011, Go-Go Boots. I say return to form because I really didn’t take to the 2010 album from the very same sessions that they released first, Big To-Do. Go-Go Boots adds some of the best tunes ever to the Cooley and Hood collection of great songs. “Used to be a Cop” solidly lays the foundation to my claim that the DBT are really the Southern bastards of Neil Young. Scratch that claim to fatherhood, he would gladly claim these kids . If “Pulaski” doesn’t get you, then I’m just wasting your time anyways. Highly recommended and I hope I get to see these guys again in 2012. They are supposedly taking a tour break of sorts in 2012 and their longtime bassist, Shawna Tucker, has left the band too. I expect 2012 to be a refresh year for the DBT and I look forward to their next studio offering.
4. Warren Haynes: Man in Motion. What a HUGE step up from Warren’s last solo album (1993’s Tales of Ordinary Madness, not that it was awful just left you hanging at times). Although to be fair, this was the Warren Haynes Band this time around, not a solo album by Warren. This thing is full of soul, blues, rock and even some gospel. Warren belts it out like he is the best singer in all of rock and roll and then shreds the guitar like he is one of the best guitar slingers in the world. Both of those claims are so true. The title track here was a big part of the soundtrack of the summer for me, lots of airplay on WNCW too. My favorite track is #2, “River’s Gonna Rise”, that could be my favorite Warren tune right now. He played it solo acoustic at the Pre-Jam this year, although I had to listen to it on the radio while I tried to find a parking space near the Orange Peel. A true New Orleans flavor all over this one and it will be a classic and around for a long time.
3. Tedeschi Trucks Band: Revelator. Ok, I will be honest here. Not what I wanted; but, better than I expected. This one grew on me a little bit. I still long for the old Derek Trucks Band’s more freeform jazz blues world fusion and I know that stands in the way of a full embrace of this first effort by the super group that is now the Tedeschi Trucks Band. Produced at their home studio, Swamp Raga, at their home in Jacksonville, this one is a slow swampy burn. Susan sounds full and focused on this effort and Derek is dialed in just perfect. I enjoyed this throughout the summer and their show in July over in Spartanburg was a real highlight. There is some really good music here and I recommend “Midnight in Harlem” and “Bound for Glory” as samples of what this new band is all about. I do look forward to what’s next for Derek and Susan and their fantastic band (includes Kofi and Oteil Burbridge so it’s no-brainer good). This one turned out to be the #1 Blues album on WNCW’s blues Top 100 too.
2. Gregg Allman: Low Country Blues. Yeah, this is the one that Gregg needed to make. Produced by T Bone Burnett and including super stars like Dr. John and Doyle Bramhall II on guitar, this one is an instant classic. The sound and mix are right out of the late 50’s or early 60’s and Gregg is in fine form. This was recorded before his liver transplant and he was full of vigor that is understandably lacking right now during his recovery. Tricia even liked this one J. The tunes were sent to Allman by T Bone and he was told to pick from the selections and that T Bone would assemble the band for the recordings. Reportedly, this caught Allman off guard, as he was preparing his own touring band to do the studio work. I think the result is what you can only get when you step (or are forced) outside of your comfort zone. Allman turned in one of the best performances of his long and storied history. Check out “Little By Little” and see what you think of that mix and focus from Allman. Funny thing, the last 3 albums in my list are ALL nominated for a Grammy in Blues this year. If I had to bet, I would put my money on Low Country Blues. Regardless of a Grammy, this is a winner.
1. Paul Simon: So Beautiful or So What. The #1 selection was easy for me despite the very strong offerings from the #2-#5 slots. That’s because Simon turned in one of the best albums of all time, not just 2011. This one is just as good as Graceland and his classics with Garfunkel. I could listen to “Dazzling Blue” any and every day of the week. It doesn’t hurt when you have folks like the Del McCoury Band or Jerry Douglas sitting in with you on tracks that blend African rhythms with bluegrass and folk melodies like ONLY Simon can do. The spiritual theme and his continued longing for more than what this life offers are pervasive throughout each track. Simon also tugs hard on the heart strings with his songs about his love for his children and his wife (Edie Brickell). Just writing about this one again makes me want to go listen. This one resonated deeply within me and I think it will have me pondering the yonder for many years.
Here’s the title track, which ends the album. Enjoy and see ya!
So Beautiful or So What
I’m going to make a chicken gumbo
Toss some sausage in the pot
I’m going to flavor it with okra
Cayenne pepper to make it hot
You know life is what we make of it
So beautiful or so what
I’m going to tell my kids a bedtime story
A play without a plot
Will it have a happy ending?
Maybe yeah, maybe not
I tell them life is what you make of it
So beautiful or so what
So beautiful
So beautiful
So what
I’m just a raindrop in a bucket
A coin dropped in a slot
I am an empty house on Weed Street
Across the road from the vacant lot
You know life is what you make of it
So beautiful or so what
Ain’t it strange the way we’re ignorant
How we seek out bad advice
How we jigger it and figure it
Mistaking value for the price
And play a game with time and love
Like pair of rolling dice
So beautiful
So beautiful
So what
Four men on the balcony
Overlooking the parking lot
Pointing at a figure in the distance
Dr. King has just been shot
And the sirens long melody
Singing Savior Pass Me Not
Ain’t it strange the way we’re ignorant
How we seek out bad advice
How we jigger it and figure it
Mistaking value for the price
And play a game with time and love
Like a pair of rolling dice
So beautiful
So beautiful
So beautiful
The Top 5 concerts of 2011 will be posted later this week. Happy New Year!!!
