A decade has come to an end as we enter the 10's I wanted to introduce you to what I thought were the best albums of the last 10 years. As I have been working on my album for about 5 years now, the following albums have inspired me emotionally and creatively. Although there are different genres here, these albums are all brilliantly and/or beautifully captured. They are filled with songs that accomplish much more than a top 20 radio hit. These seem to stray from the norm, speak from within and deliver a pure art.- Private Radio - Billy Bob Thornton (2001) I can't recall an album where I felt someone was baring so much of their soul through song. At first listen, it seemed as though I was invited into a living room with the artist as he told stories. At second listen I felt the same way. A journey through a fun song like "Forever" and then into a dark story like "Beauty at the Back Door" felt like seeing the light and shadow of a person. I found a perfect balance on this album that I have yet to see repeated on any album. Truly the most inspiring album for me of the last 10 years.
- Orchard & Ire - Wax Mannequin (2007) This Hamilton Ontario artist never ceases to amaze me. Chris came to me years ago for guitar lessons. I'm pretty sure it was for theory because he had his own mad creative guitar skills. I also used his talent as an actor in a short film Marshmallow. Orchard & Ire is powerful, odd, heavy, dynamic and full of brilliant arrangements, vocals that come from within and incredible guitar playing. Every time I listen to this I get a dust storm of colours racing through my head, and I don't use drugs. One regret I have in 2009 is not being able to find the time to shoot the video for Animals Jump, but it does live in my head.
- Death Magnetic - Metallica (2008) On first play it felt like a punch in the gut. It hits you like a train that refuses to slow or stop. Even when it does slow, it never stops. I was with Metallica (as a fan) from the "Kill em All, Ride the Lightning" days on cassette. It almost feels as if they've returned to their old stomping grounds older and wiser but without being nostalgic. Killer riffs, longer arrangements, James sings like a wild animal...HUNT YOU DOWN WITHOUT MERCY. That seems to be the promise if you don't own this album.
- Elephant...Teeth Sinking into Heart - Rachael Yamagata (2008) The majority of this album is light piano and soothing vocals and beautiful string arrangements. I play it often and it slowly takes over. With any song I like, I hear the music first. I rarely catch the words on a first pass but for some reason, when I listed to the title track her voice was impossible to ignore. Almost like someone too tired to sing but they sing anyway, exposing their true emotions. Almost an out-of-breath style but managing to get all the melody out in time. Her lyrics are much smarter than I am so I try to understand them. Sometimes I succeed. My absolute favorite tracks are "Elephants" and "Don't."
- American IV: The Man Comes Around - Johnny Cash (2002) I have all the American series albums by Johnny Cash but this one captured something special. As I listen to this album I feel like I am at a reading where a poet reads his favorite works, telling us how HE sees it. This recording is so intimate you feel like Johnny is sitting right next to you. Like a Grandfather singing you his wartime songs. With meaning, like he was there.
- Raising Sands - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss (2007) I was in Chapters and I heard "Killing the Blues" over the soft-speaker. I was listening to the radio and I heard the song again. I waited to hear who it was by. "Killing the Blues" by Robert Plant and Allison Krauss. Huh? Most people had the same reaction. After buying the album as soon as I got home (iTune) I listened and thought "this sounds very T-Bone Burnett and sure enough it was him. Raising Sands got the attention that it deserved, I feel I would not do it justice to review it with my limited vocabulary. This album is the result of three great artists from different genres colliding. The stand-out tracks here are "Killing the Blues" and "Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us."
- Sahra Featherstone - Sahra Featherstone (2003) I am not into "relaxation" CD's. This peaceful album is not that, although it could be marketed and played that way, but this harp / guitar / fiddle album is so much more. On a technical note, Sahra finds the perfect chord tones to create her melodies that seem to weave in an out of arpeggios flawlessly. On an visual note this album could easily be the soundtrack to any season. For some reason weather conditions appear in my mind as I listen to this album. Clergyman's Lament always shows up as a low hanging fog. I bought this CD from her during a performance in a Sears furniture store. She should be on world stages and I'm sure that will happen. "Joshua's Song" and "Clergyman's Lament" are in my most played list.
- Zodiac: Soundtrack - David Shire (2007) One of my all-time favorite soundtracks is "The Conversation", also by David Shire. I read that the makers of Zodiac used tracks from "The Conversation" as temp music to edit with. Then they decided to use the actual composer to score the film. Personally I think that Howard Shore nailed it with the drama-thriller score and I couldn't imagine what other direction someone could go for a mainstream film. David Shire delivers an almost experimental quality to the dissonant padded string section with the introduction of a solo trumpet or twangy "Morriconesque" guitar. This is true film composition at it's best where it doesn't serve the record company in hopes of sales, it serves the scene and the tone of the overall movie. I still can't hum any melody from this soundtrack as it seems to be written as a complete thought rather than a single idea. Highly recommend this for soundtrack collectors. Note: The only place I could find the The Conversation, was online at Intrada. I bought Zodiac on iTunes.
- A Mighty Wind: Soundtrack - Various (2003) I love funny, I love music, I love SCTV and Christopher Guest films. This album is made for me but don't think that this is just a comedy album. There are beautiful songs sung by Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara. In every song the music and vocal arrangements and album production are worthy of some study. These are songs done by people at the top of their game. I'll laugh at a song like "Blood on the Coal" and then be impressed by the song as a whole. The cord progression is simple but it sounds so full. This album always comes on vacation with me. It is great for a car ride. When you get home, get out your guitar or piano and study the arrangements. This is another T-Bone Burnett production. The majority of the songs are written by the film's stars Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, John Michael Higgins. Annette O'Toole also co-writes some of the songs with her husband Michael McKean, including "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow."
- Richard Hawley - Truelove's Gutter (2009) With thanks going to iTunes for the free download of the week "Don't Get Hung Up In Your Soul", this album made it's way onto my list before I even heard the whole album. I knew there was something special about this recording. Instantly the slow plucking, bassy guitar grabbed my ear and then the voice put you in a state of calm. After adding this album to my collection, each song did the same for me. It is such a quiet sounding album, rare for a guitar based recording. I can't quite think who his voice reminds me of. The distant theremin is perfectly mixed. I can really see his songs working well in films. I hope more people discover this album.
Honourable Mention: Jon Dee Graham - FULL (2006) I saw Jon Dee Graham perform a solo set at the Corktown in Hamilton. Club was pretty empty and yet here was this guy with incredible guitar skills and original songs with great hooks, melodies and lyrics. After the set I bought his CD FULL. I listen to "We Remain" all the time. Such a sweet song for this groggy voiced axe master. This CD should be added to any singer/songwriter collection. If he is playing near you, see him.
Music is very personal and speaks to people for different reasons and in different ways. I hope some of these albums find their way into your collection. iTunes has em, you can get them on CD online and some of them are in stores. Do let me know if you like my selection or recommend some albums that found you.
Check back in 2020 for the next installment. Have a very Happy New Year - Nathan
