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TOP
DJ’s
picks2011
LISTED IN ORDER OF WHEN DJS ARE ON-AIR MONDAY-SUNDAY
Steve Baker
Awolnation Megalithic Symphony RED BULL
Monday Morning Show Mondays, 7 a.m.
Bedouin Soundclash Light The Horizon NAT GEO
Makana We Are The Many YOUTUBE.COM
Blood Orange Coastal Grooves DOMINO
Grieves Together/Apart RHYMESAYERS
Radiation City The Hands That Take You
This year's most inspiring protest song and video
from Hawaiian slack key artist Makana, who had the
guts to sing it in front of an Obama-hosted world
leaders dinner...for 40 minutes
Various Artists A Note of Hope 429 RECORDS
Words by Woody Guthrie, music by Jackson
Browne, Studs Terkel, Michael Franti, Ani DiFranco,
Pete Seeger, Kurt Elling, Lou Reed, Madeline
Peyroux & the list goes on. Amazing collection,
including a 15 minute Browne song and Tom
Morello's quirky plea to sleep with a liberal
progressive radical woman "to ease my
revolutionary mind." I'm all for that.
Various Artists The Bridge School
Concerts–25th Anniversary Edition
REPRISE RECORDS
Acoustic versions of a who's who of Neil Young's
favorite artists, everyone from Paul McCartney and
The Who to former Nevada City boy Jonathon
Richman ("I Was Dancing In A Lesbian Bar") , Tony
Bennett and Metallica. Good cause, great music.
William Shatner Seeking Major Tom
CLEOPATRA
Once again, Shatner makes tongue-in-chic with
merit. This time, it's songs from space, science and
beyond -- including "Spirit In The Sky" (with Peter
Frampton), "Space Cowboy" (with Steve Miller),
"Bohemian Rhapsody" and more classy cheese.
Various Artists The Lost Notebooks of
Hank Williams COLUMBIA LEGACY
Still another collection of artists putting music to
poems and writings of Hank Williams in a special
Bob Dylan project. These songs have surprisingly
strong hooks, from Lucinda Williams' "I'm So Happy
I Found You" to Levon Helm's "You'll Never Again Be
Mine" (talk about contrasting themes). Norah Jones,
Jakob Dylan, Jack White, granddaughter Holly
Williams and more are up to the task, including
Merle Haggard's "Sermon On The Mount."
TENDER LOVING EMPIRE
Poly Styrene Generation Indigo FUTURE NOISE
Hindi Zahra Handmade NAIVE
VERY GOOD
Active Child You Are All I See VAGRANT
Bandana Splits Mr. Sam Presents The
Bandana Splits BOY SCOUT/TUMMY TOUCH
A.A. Bondy Believers FAT POSSUM
IamOMNI IamOMNI NATAURAL
Mad Planet Gliese 581g SELF-RELEASED
Me’Shell Ndegeocello Weather NAÏVE
And Best
Instrumental (or primarily instrumental
ALBUMS OF 2011
Chancha Via Circuito Rio Arriba ZZK
Kreidler Tank BUREAU B
Mocean Worker Candygram for Mowo! MRI
Various Artists Generation Bass
Presents: Transnational Dubstep SIX DEGREES
Various Waveform Transmissions: Vol. 3
Ancient Astronauts Into Bass and Time ESL
Federico Aubele Berlin 13 ESL
Sean Rowe Magic COLLAR CITY
Should Like a Fire Without Sound
WORDS ON MUSIC
Luke Temple Don’t Act Like You Don’t Care
WESTERN VINYL
EXCELLENT
Alela Diane Alela Diane & Wild Divine
ROUGH TRADE
Thom Myers
So Many Roads Alt/ Tuesdays, 2 p.m.
Nora Jean Good Blues UNTOUCHABLE PRODUCTIONS
Greg Nagy Fell Toward None VIZZTONE
The F&G Band Grease Up Yo’ Strutt!
Salsa and Latin Jazz con Sabor Latino
Alt. Mondays, 10 p.m.
Susie Hansen Representante de la Salsa
LIFEFORCE JAZZ
Cabo Cuba Jazz Rikeza y Valor INDEPENDENT
Maria Catharina Obsesion INDEPENDENT
Fay Roberts "Lo Que Quiero Es
Charangoa" INDEPENDENT
Marco Toro Activo en la jugada
TAMTAM RECORDS
Williamsburg Salsa Orchestra
Williamsburg Salsa Orchestra INDEPENDENT
Sirak Sirak SBR RECORDS
SOL La Que Manda Soy Yo!! MUZIQ INC. RECORDS
Carlos Faroy Asi Soy INDEPENDENT
F&G MUSIC
Burton Gaar Fried Grits & Greens SVR
Sista Monica Parker Living In The
Danger Zone MO’ MUSCLE
Shaun Murphy Live At Callahan’s Music
Hall VISION WALL
Savoy Brown Voodoo Moon RUF
Mighty Mo Rodgers Cadillac Jack
TIN DRUM MUSIC
Ana Popovic Unconditional ECLECTO GROOVE
Grady Champion Dreamin’ GRADY SHADY
Air Waves Dungeon Dots
Sonando Vengo Subiendo SACEM
Willy Chirino My Beatles Heart EVENTUS
BIO RITMO La Verdad ELECTRIC COWBELL RECORDS
Bobby Matos Beautiful as the Moon
THE BEST
UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP INTERNATIONAL
Leon Reyes Mayor of Salsamento
John Lee Hooker for President
Ry Cooder Pull Up Some Dust and Sit
Down NONESUCH RECORDS
Alphabetically within groups…
Willy Torres Hardcore LATINSTREET MUSIC
Chicago AfroLatin Jazz Ensemble
Blueprints CHICAGO SESSIONS
8 Y Mas...! QueMas INDEPENDENT
KIKI Sanchez Two Worlds DIOLA ENTERTAINMENT
Yolanda Duke Many Moods AMIGOS MUSIC
Michel Camilo Mano A Mano
Elisa Parker
SONG TITLE OF THE YEAR
Music Magazine Mondays, 4 p.m.
MACHETE RECORDS
(late 2010 release) WAVEFORM
I’ll be playing my favorite individual songs, many not
on the above albums, around the first of the year.
JAZZ CALIENTE
Greg Jewett
John Santos Filosofia Caribena Vol. 1
Tuesday Music Magazine 4 p.m.
MOOR WORKS
Thievery Corporation Culture of Fear
ESL MUSIC, INC.
Blood Orange Coastal Grooves DOMINO
Fleet Foxes Helplessness Blues SUB POP
Here We Go Magic The January EP
SECRETLY CANADIAN
Eleanor Friedberger Last Summer
MERGE RECORDS
Little Dragon Ritual Union PEACEFROG
Toro y Moi Underneath the Pine
CARPARK RECORDS
Fruit Bats Tripper SUB POP
VA: Friends and Friends of Friends
Portland Music and Beyond!
TENDER LOVING EMPIRE
Tinariwen Tassili ANTI
Hollie Cook Hollie Cook MR BONGO
Feist Metals CHERRYTREE / INTERSCOPE
For an extra laugh:
William Shatner Seeking Major Tom
CLEOPATRA
2
KVMR 89.5 |105.1| kvmr.org DJ TOP PICKS 2011
Mikail Graham
The Other Side Tuesdays 8 p.m. OtherSide.biz
William Shatner Seeking Major Tom
CLEOPATRA
Shatner's previous records are all must-have gems
for a guy like me, but he's really outdone himself
with this one as it's just plain over-the-top fantastic!
There are 20 tracks on 2 CDs or 3 vinyl LPs, and
every one is an extra special gem, though I do have
my favorites. For starters there's a great version of
Queen's ”Bohemian Rhapsody” with John Wetton
(King Crimson & Asia); U2's classic “In a Little
While” with Lyle Lovett; Black Sabbath's metal anthem “Iron Man” with Zakk Wylde (former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist) & Mike Inez from Alice In Chains,
and that's barely scratching the surface. Other special guests include: Brad Paisley & Steve Miller,
Toots Hibbert, Peter Frampton (on a great version of
“Spirit In The Sky”!), Bootsy Collins & Patrick Moraz
(“She Blinded Me With Science”), Edgar Froese,
Johnny Winter, Ritchie Blackmore, Sheryl Crow,
Warren Haynes, Steve Howe, Steve Hillage, Dave
Davies and many more... Shucks, it's worth checking out just for the special guests alone. This record
really rocks and will have you humming along and
laughing out loud from the very first song.
Highly recommended! williamshatner.com
Anton Barbeau Empire of Potential IDIOT
The subtitle of this record is 18 Golden and Completely Obscure Hits by Anton Barbeau, and it is
most definitely a great overview of his work. It features tracks from his time in Sacramento with The
Joy Boys, all the way up to his current incarnation
as Three Minute Tease, with Morris Windsor and
Andy Metcalfe (both former members of The Soft
Boys and Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians). If
you've yet to listen to Anton's music then this is a
great place to start as there is a gem for almost
everyone in this eclectic yet very accessible
collection of his work. Highly recommended!
antonbarbeau.com
Lasher Keen Possessed by the Forest
Queen 10 LP PEASANTA URFOLK RECORDS
Released in mid December 2010—too late to list last
year. The promo for this very cool vinyl record says
"Psychedelic wood-folk from the Sierra Nevada.
Intense and bombastic." What more can I say? If you
have not yet heard Lasher Keen, then you are truly
missing something special, and perhaps even more
so as they are from Nevada County and well worth
investigating further. lasherkeen.net
Tom Waits Bad As Me ANTI/EPITAPH
This is Tom Waits's 22nd album and a mighty fine
one to be sure! Composed once more with his partner & wife Kathleen Brennan, it features one of the
great guitarists of our time, Marc Ribot, along with
guests like Flea, Keith Richards, Bay Area guitar legend Will Bernard, and a great reed & brass section
with Clint Maedgen and Ben Jaffe, from the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. One serious listen to the track
"Hell Broke Luce" will get you started in the fast lane
in no time. badasme.com
ChickenBonz Whimsey INDEPENDENT
Band leader Ludi Hinrichs says that the music of
ChickenBonz is "jazz crossover, original music and
arrangements with a few select covers", but to me
the band are a much more out-of-the-box story than
this description implies. They play a wonderful blend
of world music mixed with Ludi's quirky arrangements and his partner/wife Karen's lyrics, both of
which are clearly influenced by many decades of
living up on the San Juan Ridge. The band works
with ancient musical forms incorporating a diverse
variety of eclectic instruments like tablas, English
horn and bass clarinet, as well the more standard
piano, bass and drums, and a healthy dose of various trombones. Of note, woodwind player and
KVMR broadcaster (host of The Outpost) Randy
McKean along with jazz legend Lemuel Crook has a
featured track “Flaunt Jaunt” (arranged by Hinrichs)
that is quite a standout. All of the musicians are
local to Nevada County proving yet again that their
is great magic in these beloved foothills of ours.
ludihinrichs.com
Underwood Johnson Dance With This
MOLEHILL MUSIC
Underwood Johnson's newest record is a mixture of
satire and parody made in a variety of musical styles
including pop, rock, rap, lounge, surf, metal, folk,
and country, yet is so much more than just that.
Locally produced by KVMR's own Rock 'N Roll Party
host Jimmi Accardi, "Dance With This" is a blast
from the past. Underwood comes on strong with
attitude and levity that doesn't let up from the first
track “Vampire Love Song” to the Manilowesque
tongue-in-cheek of the closing track “Body Bag.”
And be sure not to miss “Talk To The Gland,” which
oh so cleverly sums up this wasted lounge singer's
return to greatness with gusto. An instant classic.
underwoodjohnson
Tiera Iaspero The Sting INDEPENDENT
Check out Tiera's website and you'll read that she is
a 20 year old Neo-Folk Artist home grown from the
gold mining hills of Northern California — namely
Nevada County. She happens to also be the daughter of local blues chanteuse Shay Dillon, but hers is
a music all her own. She sings about lost loves and
the wounds of life with an authority of having lived
more than her years would seem to suggest possible. Supporting her on lead guitar and bass is Paige
Anderson, and on fiddle, Aimee Anderson, both from
the Anderson Family Bluegrass Band. And don't
miss the opening track, which features a great harmonica solo from Tin House proprietor Homer Wills.
Haunting and endearing, if The Sting has one fault
it's that it leaves one wanting so much more.
tieramusic.com
Terry Riley & Gyan Riley
Terry Riley & Gyan Riley Live
SRI MOONSHINE MUSIC
Catching these two live is a treat not to be missed,
and this record comes about as close it gets to the
real thing. Recorded live over the course of six
years, it features six compositions by local Nevada
County composer Terry Riley on piano and voice
accompanied by his son Gyan Riley on classical and
electric guitar and harmony vocals. They explore a
range of highly structured yet clearly improvised
musical styles that echo their mutual love of jazz
and Eastern classical music. Imagine an extended
musical conversation that veers back and forth with
ease between these two greats. Lyrical and poetic
with an intensity hearkening back to another time
and place. The musical passion between these two
souls is simply a joy to hear. gyanriley.com
Robert Rich Medicine Box SOUNDSCAPE
Robert Rich has been a featured artist several times
now over the past decade on The Other Side. His
work on Medicine Box is nothing short of wondrous.
On this record (his forty-sixth release, by the way),
Robert creates a beautiful surreal world full of timeless magic mixed with ambient floating pulses and
whispers that leave one with a sense that something
else is happening just beyond our peripheral view.
You might ask, is this World music? not quite...
Space music? not really... Ambient Dub? I don't think
so... No, this record is something a bit different for
Mr. Rich and his fine cast of performers, including
my old friend Edo Castro on bass, all of whom add to
Click on these links for more info.
the majestic quality of this record. I should also
mention that the artwork and package design by
John Bergin is truly superb. In closing, Medicine Box
paints a timeless picture of a world I personally
enjoy visiting quite often. robertrich.com
Kate Bush 50 Words For Snow PID
"Kate Bush, a serious artist disguised as an almost
accidental pop star." I read that quote in a review on
Amazon and it caught my eye. David Gilmour of Pink
Floyd fame helped the 16 year young Kate Bush get
her first record deal and she's never stopped since.
Her newest release has a very quiet kind of jazz-like
ambience to it. Perhaps it is due to the ensemble she
assembled, all of whom are old friends, and it shows
in the way they play together. The shortest song is
just over 6 minutes, though many are over 10. There
are no hit singles, no catchy hooks — in fact it may
not be easy for some Kate fans to take all of this in
on the first or even the second listen, but I guarantee it is well worth taking the time. Funny though, I
never realized there were so many words for snow.
katebush.com
Beaucoup Chapeaux
A Night At The Classic Cafe INDEPENDENT
A mainstay on Friday evenings at The Nevada City
Classic Cafe eatery for the past several years, Beaucoup Chapeaux play a mixture of music that oozes
with joyful world overtones that has prompted their
fans to exclaim that the group's music "can get them
to Europe in mere seconds". I have to wholeheartedly
agree as these four musical friends have truly found
their stride with this fabulous record. If you like your
music with an old world European quality and
played straight from the hip with no excuses, look no
further as this will be your cup-otea and then some!
beaucoupchapeaux.net
Jeff Beck Rock 'N' Roll Party
Honoring Les Paul ATCO
Jeff Beck has been one of my favorite guitarists
since the Yardbirds, but wow! what a record! Les
Paul may be gone (long live Les!) but Jeff Beck is
carrying on the torch something fierce with this vintage collection of Les's signature tunes. It was
recorded at the same little club in New York Les
played at every week for more 14 years (caught him
there myself and it was just great!). Guest performers include Imelda May and her band, Gary US
Bonds, and Brian Setzer, as well as New Orleans
brass man Trombone Shorty. Whether you've ever
dove into Les Paul's rock'n'roll, blues and jazzy
world of music or not I think you'll love this record. It
rocks, it bops and it rolls all over the place as Jeff
just tears it up. Note: if you like this collection, take
some time and dig around to find the originals as this
is the stuff of legend, and such a deep part of our
American musical heritage.
Highly recommended! jeffbeck.com
Robbie Robertson
How To Become Clairvoyant 429 RECORDS
I first heard Robbie back when his name was still
Jamie Robertson in the early days of The Band, and
I immediately fell in love with his songwriting. It wasn't until years later that I really came to realize what
a great a guitar he is. How To Become Clairvoyant is
his 5th solo record since leaving The Band back in
1976, and it is a gem. Twelve tracks featuring a great
collection of guests including Eric Clapton, Steve
Winwood, Trent Reznor, Tom Morello, Pino Palladino
plus many others. For me this release showcases an
artist who's still growing and finding even more of
his own voice, and he's clearly having a darn good
time playing with his friends to boot. And in the end
isn't that what making music is all about? There's
both a vinyl & CD release, plus a special limited col-
Click on these links for more info.
DJ TOP PICKS 2011 KVMR 89.5 |105.1| kvmr.org
lectors edition including a 50 page book full of art,
photos, notes and more that is just plain gorgeous
all on its own. robbie-robertson.com
Lady Gaga Born This Way INTERSCOPE RECORDS
Seriously, Lady Gaga in a KVMR Top Picks list? Yep,
you betcha! When this came out last spring I was
curious so I bought a copy to find out for myself
what the hoopla was all about. Since then I've had
many arguments with people about Ms. Gaga who
feel she just represents all that is wrong with music,
but I disagree, and in fact had the same arguments
years ago about Madonna's work for many of the
same reasons. OK, so what about the record? Think
pop music on steroids made for a generationthat
hasn't lost hope yet. It's heavy on the dance club
sound, but with an edgy, almost mutant-cabaret-like
atmosphere in places and clearly sequenced to get
this party rockin! Though I'm not part of her clan, I
can certainly relate to where to she is coming from
in her lyrics and Broadway musical/techno
pop/metal influences. On “Bad Kids” she sings "’I'm
a twit, degenerate young rebel and I’m proud of it,"
"Don’t be insecure if your heart is pure, you’re still
good to me if you’re a bad kid baby". Well I can
relate and clearly so can millions of others. When
she sings "I'm on the right track baby, I was born this
way!" it's clear she means it. Time will tell where she
goes from here, but I for one will be listening.
ladygaga.com
Aaron Ross Personal Hell INDEPENDENT
Aaron Ross is one of Nevada County's quietly raging
mondo prolific songwriters who never fails to impress. From his early folk-like songs on The Hallelujah Side to the techno rock/off-kilter pop madness of
his newest release, Personal Hell, Aaron consistently offers a fresh and honest glimpse of his inner
world. This newest release is full of overlapping textures and jangling beats that don't quite fit together
the way one might expect, yet it works, pulling one
into the hypno-wheel world of Rossian musings.
Trust me, give it some time and this one will grown
on you like moss on a stone.
aaronross.bandcamp.com
Bill Emerson
Trance It Lounge Alt. Tuesdays 10 p.m.
Various Tectonic Plates Vol. 2 MULTIVERSE
Various Hospital Mix 7
(mixed by Danny Bird) HOSPITAL RECORDS
Various Exit Records Presents:
Mosaic Vol 1 EXIT RECORDS
Robert Miles Thirteen SALT RECORDS
Various Hospitality: Drum & Bass 2011
HOSPITAL RECORDS
Falty DL You Stand Uncertain PLANET MU
Various Global Communications:
Back In The Box NRK MUSIC
Various Altered Natives Presents: The
Guild Of Synchronists EYE4EYE
Various Back & Forth HOTFLUSH RECORDINGS
Instra:mental Resolution 653 NONPLUS RECORDS
Various Brownswood Electric 2
BROWNSWOOD RECORDINGS
Various Fabriclive 58: Goldie FABRIC
Boxcutter The Dissolve PLANET MU
Various Deep Teknologi (The Remixes)
DEEP TEKNOLOGI RECORDS
Todd Wahoske
The Funk Hole A Mostly Modern Mix of
Music thefunkhole.com
Alt. Tuesdays 10 p.m.
10 albums I listened to in 2011
(in no particular order, or maybe it is?)
10) James Blake James Blake
James Blake - James Blake, September 28, 2011
Every year or so, someone new is appointed as the
"savior of electronic music." In 2011, that title fell to
James Blake and his eponymous debut. And? It's
actually quite a good piece of work. Blake's interest
leans on the possibilities of the manipulation of his
own voice—in "Unluck," he turns himself into an
electrified chorus, while on "I Never Learned to
Share," the processed and unprocessed come into
conflict, a sort of laryngeal sibling rivalry. He forms
his own a cappella group on "Measurements." If
there's a drawback to Blake's method, it's that too
many tracks have the same song structure: starts
with vocals, slow introduction of the beat and the
electronics, build, end. "Lindisfarne II" gives it a folk
twist, but some more structural variation would
probably be welcome. That said, what he does, he
does well. The soul piano on "Limit to Your Love" and
the short and glitchy "Why Don't You Call Me" shows
that he has a knack for melody. It's most evident on
"The Wilhelm Scream," the closest he's come to a
'hit,' takes familiar R&B tropes and converts them
into a quiet, creeping sadness that builds upon its silences while slowly filling the empty spaces with
buzzing layers of sound. A strong debut, but one that
shows Blake has plenty of room to grow.
By scoundrel amazon.com
9) PJ Harvey Let England Shake
Oh, England My Lionheart
Kate Bush and Nick Cave had a baby. They named
the baby "Let England Shake." This is absolutely brilliant. Last night, I listened to it for the first time with
the headphones on. It was so mindblowing, I actually had to take them off and stop for a while. So
much subtlety and grace. This album is simply
beautiful. This album is simply horrifying.
It seems to me that, beyond being an album
about war and an album about England, it is an
album that is about death. It is about death and how
responsible we humans are for it much of the time.
To know that you are mortal, that your time is finite,
yet to still construct rationales and to still be beholden to animal lusts that cut that already unfathomably precious time even shorter...for what?
Staggering.
By David Chris Dalton amazon.com
8) Beirut The Rip Tide beirutband.com
Highly recommended, September 9, 2011
Beirut manage to evolve yet keep the same fundamentals that make them a great band. This album is
what you would expect, beautiful melodies and
moods with often danceable rhythms. Not a weak
track on the disc.
By J. Wolfe (Maryland) amazon.com
7) White Denim D youtube.com
Best new rock I've bought in some time., June 18,
2011 Welp, these guys rock, and the album will invoke so many 70's band comparison moments for
you. At many points I hear the Allman Brothers,
Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead, and who
knows what else thrown into the mix. The vocals
tend to be their own unique niceness, and I dig that.
These guys are definitely talented, and know what
they're doing. I'm sorry I've missed out on them for
so long, but so far, this album is the only thing I've
listened to for the past few days.
3
If you're a fan of 70's southern rock, mixed with
some jam bands, mixed with some slight prog rock
influences, then this is your cup of tea.
By sublimetxn (Austin, TX) amazon.com
6) My Morning Jacket Circuital
mymorningjacket.com
Gotta Radiate The Gold, June 18, 2011
Opener `Victory Dance' is a slow brooding number
that is an eerie choice for an introduction, but that
leads to title track `Circuital', which I just love, it is
over seven minutes but is a return to prior form after
the experimental exuberance of `Evil Urges'. For the
record I adore Evil Urges and think it is one of those
records that will continue to surprise. Circuital is just
joyous, with great rhythm, driving rhythmic guitar
and ends all too soon.
There are more sombre numbers such as `Slow
Tune', and `Wonderful (the way I feel)', which is as
it professes—just wonderful. Then there is a pure
instant classic in `Holding on to Black Metal', which
sounds like it could be a theme tune to a Bond
Movie and that is just fine by me.
They are a force to be reckoned with live and I
am looking forward to seeing them later this year.
This is a real grower and the inner sleeve has a
copy of the hand written lyrics, with stage directions. It is a great glimpse into the mind of Mr
James, and sir I take my hat off to you.
By Tommy D "Tom" (London, England) amazon.com
5) Portugal The Man In The Mountain In
The Cloud youtube.com
Just like our mothers
Who gave us our homes
We'll be just like our fathers
And go out on our own
'Cause we are the colors
In all that you see
We'll be just like our brothers
And take to the streets
I have been a fan for a while now, and loved their
past efforts. I was worried their foray into a major
label would dampen their sound or creativity, well I
was wrong. This album is for the lovers of psychedelia and soaring vocals, if a man exercising his
falsetto scares you, look elsewhere. It sounds
grandiose but it is not pretentious in any way. The
opening track "So American" is an instant hook that
draws you in, complete with steel drum and all. The
second song that really caught my attention (and
my favorite track) is the fifth track "Head Is a Flame
(Cool with It)" The vocals, guitars, bass, and atmosphere all have such an eerie nostalgic feel and pacing, the best chorus and solo in all the album leaves
me humming and singing all day.
By C-M amazon.com
4) The Wilderness of Manitoba
When You Left The Fire youtube.com
Perfect lazy sunday morning music, May 15, 2011
Just exactly what I was looking for on a quiet country sunday morning. Beautifully melodic from beginning to end, this album reminds me of what I love
from Fleet Foxes and Mountain Men. Every song is a
polished gem. By sea of cortez amazon.com
3) Fleet Foxes Helplessness Blues
fleetfoxes.com
Yeah, I'm tongue tied and dizzy
and I can't keep it to myself
what good is it to sing helplessness blues?
Why should I wait for anyone else?
Spring Has Arrived, June 25, 2011
With all the rains and dreariness of the past two
months, here comes "Helplessness Blues". Listen to
it when the sun is just up on your porch and bask in
the newness of spring or nostalgia of summer. An
4
KVMR 89.5 |105.1| kvmr.org DJ TOP PICKS 2011
absolutely beautiful album from start to finish. The
title track is a masterpiece and I cannot stop listening to it. "If I had an orchard, I'd work til I'm sore." I
feel like I could be on an orchard picking some apples or peaches and enjoying the sun.
By Casey Weller amazon.com
Mike Bissell
2) The Polish Ambassador
Future, Sex, Computers
Rory Block Shake Em On Down STONY PLAIN
Pinetop Perkins Joined At The Hip TELARC
youtube.com
Hard to describe, but easy to enjoy, May 13, 2011
It is not easy to categorize The Polish Ambassador's
music, which may be part of why I enjoy it so much.
One minute, I'm zoning out in a wash of synthy
goodness; the next, I'm nodding my head to a beat
that would make most hip-hop producers jealous.
Despite the humorous persona (his website really is
quite funny), you can tell he takes his music seriously. By Chris B. amazon.com
1) AgesandAges Alright You Restless
youtube.com
We're better off in isolation
than being lost with all the rest
Uplifting Therapy for the Ears, March 14, 2011
This album could make a man walk again. From the
soaring melodies of "No Nostalgia" to the multi-layered "Souvenir", this will be the album you regret at
the end of the year for not listening to it earlier.
Nothing would please me more than seeing this
talented group live. Based on their youtube videos,
they seem to be breathing instruments that come
alive with every hand-clap and guitar riff.
I will be listening to this album for years to come.
By Mike "Mr. Strusz" (Oshkosh, WI, United States)
amazon.com
HONORABLE MENTION
Elbow build a rocket boys!
Tune-Yards WHOKILL
M83 Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
William Shatner Seeking Major Tom
David Lynch Crazy Clown Time
WILD FLAG Wild Flag
1930s and 1940s Music Movie Songs
Artie Shaw Let's Go For Shaw!
April Miranda
Mountain Beat Music Alt. Wednesdays, 4 a.m.
Diane Patterson World Awake S.R.
Melissa Mitchell One Soul Collective S.R.
Allison Krause & Union Station
Paper Airplane ROUNDER
Lynn Heintz
Over Easy Alt. Wednesdays, 4 a.m.
Chris Bathgate Salt Year
QUITE SCIENTIFIC RECORDS
Laura Marling A Creature I Don't Know
RIBBON MUSIC
Wilderness of Manitoba When You Left
the Fire TINY OGRE
Ray Bonneville Bad Man's Blood RED HOUSE
Hazmat Modine Cicada BARBES RECORDS
Boy With a Fish I Put My Tongue on the
Window LEFT EAR
The Morning Show. Wednesdays, 7 a.m.
Ruthie Foster Live At Antone's DUAL DISC
Ry Cooder Pull Up Some Dust & Sit Down
NONESUCH
Actually released in late 2010 but I have to cite it:
Click on these links for more info.
Meri St. Mary
Underground Sound Alt. Thursdays, 12 a.m.
Paley & Francis Paley & Francis
SONIC UNION RECORDING COMPANY
Great acoustic darkness & skewed humor from former Pixies Black Francis & Reid Paley.
Instagon Scary City LEM 51
Experimental noise w/insert of poetry.
Greg Brown Freak Flag YEP ROC
Wayne Norman OneTan Arm self titled S.R.
John Rumsey
Nebur Seth Onilecram Neburseth666
Four Strong Winds Alt. Wed., 10 a.m.
Amy Speace Land Like A Bird THIRTY TIGERS
Craig Bickhart Brother in the Wind
STONE BARN
Mare Wakefield Meant To Be S.R.
Steve Parry The Fight Left In Me BASECAMP
Red Molly Light in the Sky S.R.
Eliza Gilkyson Roses at the End of Time
RED HOUSE
Allison Krauss Paper Airplane ROUNDER
Pharis & Jason Romero A Passing
Glimpse LULA RECORDS
The Once Row Upon Row of the People
You Know BOREALIS
Tom Russell Mesabi SHOUT
TOP RUNNER UPS
Neil Getz Factory Second AGLLATOR RECORDS
Joe Crookston Darkling & The Bluebird
Jubilee MILAGRITO
Connie Coale
Wednesday Music Magazine Wed., 4 p.m.
Kris Delmhorst Cars SIGNATURE SOUNDS
Various Listen To Me: Buddy Holly VERVE
Brigitte DeMeyer Rose of Jericho
GREEN HILLS MUSIC
Fun psychedelia cacophony.
S.R.
Dub punk oi rocksteady (noise pop experimental)
John Gullak (of the Mutants)
Special Halloween Compilation S.R.
No tricks this was a TREAT!
Skip Alan Smith
Dreamwalk Thursdays 10 a.m.
I don’t have a 2011 list. This is a list of my all time
“TOP TEN” favorites regardless of release dates
Joanne Shenandoah Peace & Power
SILVERWAVE
Joanne Shenandoah Orenda SILVERWAVE
Annie Humphrey Edge of America MAKOCHE
Annie Humphrey The Heron Smiled
MAKOCHE
Blackfire Silence Is A Weapon TACOHO
Blackfire One Nation Under BLACKFIRE.NET
Robert Mirabal Music from A Painted
Cave SILVERWAVE
Verdell Primeaux Sacred Path CANYON
Mary Youngblood Dance With the Wind
SILVERWAVE
Mary Youngblood Beneath the Raven
Moon SILVERWAVE
Martin Webb
The Energy Report 2nd Thurs., 12 p.m.
Eilen Jewell Queen of the Minor Key
TOP 5 STAND-UP COMEDY ALBUMS
alpha order
Madeleine Peyroux Standing on the
Rooftop DECCA RECORDS
Chris Isaac Beyond the Sun VANGUARD
Doug Benson Potty Mouth
Mark Leviton
Humor for 40-something single dads
SIGNATURE SOUNDS
Pet Sounds Wednesdays, 10 p.m.
COMEDY CENTRAL RECORDS
Humor for pot smokers.
Louis C.K. Hilarious COMEDY CENTRAL RECORDS
Norm MacDonald Me Doing Standup
COMEDY CENTRAL RECORDS
P.J. Harvey Let England Shake VAGRANT
Strange Mercy St. Vincent 4AD
Wilco The Whole Love DBPM
Adele 21 XL
Tyler, the Creator Goblin XL
The Fleet Foxes Helplessness Blues SUBPOP
Ry Cooder Pull Up Some Dust and Sit
Down NONESUCH
Bjork Biophilia NONESUCH
The Beach Boys The Smile Sessions
Funny stand-up from an ex-Saturday Night Live
member.
Randy Newman Songbook Vol. 2 NONESUCH
For fans of hip-hop's A Tribe Called Quest and Q-Tip
CAPITOL
Patton Oswalt Finest Hour
COMEDY CENTRAL RECORDS
Humor for 40-something new dads.
Daniel Tosh Happy Thoughts COMEDY PARTNERS
Stand-up from the host of TV's "Tosh.0"
TOP 5 MUSIC ALBUMS alpha order
Beastie Boys Hot Sauce Committee Part
Two CAPITOL RECORDS
Funky hip-hop from NYC
J. Period & Q-Tip The [Abstract] Best,
Vol. 1 RBC RECORDS
Click on these links for more info.
DJ TOP PICKS 2011 KVMR 89.5 |105.1| kvmr.org
Jane's Addiction The Great Escape Artist
CAPITOL RECORDS
Rock & roll for people in rehab
Radiohead The King of Limbs TICKER TAPE LTD
Her uncompromising voice and range of styles place
her amongst the best sirens of today. What is it
about her voice that I just can’t resist? You must
have a listen!
British experimental rock
Decemberists The King is Dead
Zion I & The Grouch Heroes in the Healing of the Nation Z & G MUSIC
ROUGH TRADE RECORDS
Fat hip-hop from the Bay Area
Kim Rogers
Good Stuff Thursdays, 2 p.m.
In no particular order...
Grayson Capps The Lost Cause Minstrels
THE ROYAL POTATO FAMILY
Tommy Shaw The Great Divide
FONTANA, PAZZO
The Great Recession Orchestra Have You
Ever Even Heard of Milton Brown? CDBY
Red Molly Light In The Sky S.R.
Eilen Jewell Queen Of The Minor Key
SIGNATURE SOUNDS
Amanda Shires Carrying Lightning
101 DISTRIBUTION
Gary Nicholson Texas Songbook BISMEAUX
Marcia Ball Roadside Attractions ALLIGATOR
Lynn Miles Fall for Beauty TRUE NORTH
Amos Lee Mission Bell BLUE NOTE
Bob Livingston Gypsy Alibi CDBY
Zoe Muth & The Lost High Rollers
Starlight Hotel SIGNATURE SOUNDS
Paul Thorn Pimps and Preachers
PERPETUAL OBSCURITY
Warren Haynes Band Man In Motion STAX
Jonathan Edwards My Love Will Keep
APPLESEED
Erin McDermott Time To Go S.R.
Brennen Leigh The Box S.R.
Tedeschi/Trucks Band Revelator SONY
Ryan Adams Ashes & Fire PAX-AM CAPITOL
Chris Towne
Thursday Music Magazine Alt. Thurs. 4 p.m.
In no particular order...
Robbie Robertson
How to Become Clairvoyant FONTANA
Although he’s had several releases since, this current offering seems to pick up where his 1987 solo
debut release left off. Sonic and Atmospheric, at the
same time, Rockin’ all the way. Plus it doesn’t hurt to
have Eric Clapton, Trent Reznor & Steve Winwood
along for the ride. Play it Loud!
Paul Simon So Beautiful or So What
HEAR MUSIC
Simon is a man who’s comfortable in his own skin.
While keeping his new tunes fresh, he doesn’t seem
to mind plagiarizing his own musical phrasing &
themes. And we are the beneficiaries. What we
have here, when all is said and done, is a veteran
songsmith at work, giving you his finest. Put it in
your mix!
Imelda May Mayhem DECCA
As if she were shot out of a cannon onto the music
scene from Dublin Ireland, May’s second release
ABSOLUTLY DELIVERS…and it’s not just Rockabilly.
Upon their sixth studio release, this Portland, OR.
based band has solidified themselves as musical explorers, here more than ever. Hitting a more root
based groove than past albums, they manage to still
sound like, well, the Decemberists. True west coast
sweetness. Check it out!
Greg Allman Low Country Blues ROUNDER
Is it just me, or does Greg really sound this good
after all these years? I’m thinking even better! Mac
Rebennack, Doyle Bramhall III and some sweet
Horns join Allman and producer T-Bone Burnett for a
delightful mix of rare blues gems. Leaves us wishing
& waiting for a new Brothers Band album. Till then,
Roll with this one!
Hot Tuna Steady as She Goes RED HOUSE
These days, Jorma seems to be searching for some
true religion, while hitting all the right notes along
the way. In what is probably Tuna’s most diverse release to date, we find the boys stretching out a bit
into some previously uncharted musical territory.
Jack & Jorma have been playin’ together for right
on 50 years & you can surly feel it here. Take the
trip’ cause it’ll take you back!
R.E.M. Collapse Into Now WARNER BROTHERS
As a final good~buy to us all, the fellas from Athens,
GA. dug deep into the roots that once catapulted
them to the forefront of the American music scene.
Familure & comfortable, the resulting mix is,
nonetheless, exciting and new. A fine swan song
and ultimately one of their best. Get happy!
Grateful Dead Europe’72 Vol. 2 RHINO
DeadHeads Unite! A nice collection of previously
unreleased tracks from the legendary 1972 tour, with
no repeats from the original three album set. Standouts are the Pigpen numbers “ Chinatown Shuffle”,
“Next Time You See Me” & “Good lovin’”. All in all,
further proof that the Dead were at their best in the
early 70’s. Know our love will not fade away !!!
Edy Cassell
Road Dog Radio Alt. Thursdays, 10 p.m.
Ancient Astronauts Into Bass and Time
Animal Farm Culture Shock
Astronautalis This Is Our Science
Bliss N Eso Running On Air
Elevated The Toby Sessions
EPRhyme Dopestylevsky
Face Candy Waste Age Teen Land
Factor Lawson Graham
Grieves Together/Apart
Head Like A Kite Dreams Suspend Night
Hugo Old Tyme Religion
I Am Omni I Am Omni
Malachai Return To The Ugly Side
Mark Ronson & The Business Intl.
Record Collection
Playdough Hotdoggin'
5
Barbara Lowell
Mountain Sunrise Alt. Fridays, 4 a.m.
Tedeschi Trucks Band Revelator SONY
Warren Haynes Man in Motion STAX
Robert Randolph & The Family Band
We Walk This Road WARNER BROS.
Eilen Jewell Queen of the Minor Key
SIGNATURE SOUNDS
Hot Tuna Steady As She Goes RED HOUSE
Gregg Allman Low Country Blues ROUNDER
Ryan Adams Ashes & Fire PAX-AM CAPITOL
Ry Cooder Pull Up Some Dust & Sit Down
NONESUCH
Zoe Muth & The Lost High Rollers
Starlight Hotel SIGNATURE SOUNDS
Rita Hosking Burn S.R.
(Tim & Nicki Bluhm Duets) REAP AND SOW
Late year release that may end up making me wish I
had included on this list, especially if their cd is anything like their live performances at the Kate Wolf
Festival and the Strawberry Music Festival.
John Adams
Early Morning Ramble Alt. Fridays, 4 a.m.
Laurie Lewis Skippin' & Flyin'
SPRUCE AND MAPLE
Gillian Welch The Harrow and the
Harvest ACONY BELL
Red Molly Light in the Sky S.R.
The Gibson Brothers Help My Mother
COMPASS
Rita Hosking Burn S.R.
The Roys Lonesome Whistle S.R.
The Wailin' Jenny's Bright Morning Stars
RED HOUSE
Kathy Barwick In My Life FGM RECORDS
Houston Jones Queen of Yesterday
SUMMERHILL RECORDS
Alison Krauss Paper Airplane ROUNDER
Jerianne Van Dijk
Friday Morning Show Fridays 7 a.m.
Playing for Change PFC2 HEARMUSIC.COM
This one is an investment in music for youth in countries all around the world. Its music so moving and
rich, yet just not picked up in a store, its online and a
movement Playingforchange.org
Roy Rogers/Ray Manzarek
Transclucent Blues BLIND PIG
Not your usual bues, transcends for all those that
like a little get lost in the jazz/psychakeyboard/blues
Its a twist with blended soul, greasy guitar and
spark.
Paul Simon So Beautiful or So What SONY
This is a sleeper. People don't realize this is so great.
rich with the world sounds that made Graceland the
killer it was but this one keeps with his genius for
weaving the words. Profound.
Lucy Wainwright Roche Lucy
SELF PRODUCED/LUCYWAINWRIGHTROCHE.COM
Light but deep She has a simple fresh songwriting
way of telling the story of the moment yet in pictures
Acoustic ........I Love Lucy...what can I say.
6
KVMR 89.5 |105.1| kvmr.org DJ TOP PICKS 2011
Sidiki Camera Band Tolerance
SIDIKICAMERABAND.COM
Fantastic mystical african sound with beautiful
voices. A delight...and a dream.
Meklit Hadero On A Day Like This
PORTOFRANCO RECORDS
Meklit is a strong songwriter with a creative fresh
approach to thoughtful playful music, that has unexpected sound and effect....stellar.
The California Honeydrops
Spreadin Honey CDBABY
This Oakland based band is on the way to big stuff. a
mix of acoustic retro rockin with a mess of New Orleans jazz and funk thrown in. What can i say..they
move me.
Robert Randolph and the Family Band
We Walk This Road WARNER BROS.
This is an instant success for me to listen to..slide,
with gospel overtones..yet cool and hip. Liking this
one all year.
Tedeschi Trucks Band Revelator SONY
This is just a mix of some fine singing and
blues...plus you cant beat the beautiful version of
"Midnight in Harlem." Smooth and such sweet blues.
Seu Jorge Seu
This a a deep voice and foreign with rich cool
beats...that made him the star in europe he is.
A sleeper as well.
Aloe Blacc Good Things STONES THROW RECORDS
I think this one has excellent beginnings..and should
be checked out..but i am waiting for next one now
that he has had three years in Euro tours and
fame...new stuff is on the way...richer and even better still Neo Soul/ good pop.
Dennis Brunnenmeyer
Nevada City Limits Alt. Fridays, 10 a.m.
Dehlia Low Ravens & Crows REBEL RECORDS
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
The Harrow & The Harvest ACONY RECORDS
Sarah Jarosz Follow Me Down SUGAR HILL
Anderson-Gram On This Ride
andersongram.com
Kyle Alden Songs from Yeats' Bee-Loud
Glade kylealden.com
Catherine McLellan Silhouette TRUE NORTH
The Wailin' Jennys Bright Morning Stars
RED HOUSE RECORDS
Laurie DesJardins
The New Brick Road Alt. Fridays, 10 a.m.
Crooked Still Friends of Fall SIGNATURE SOUNDS
Disappear Fear Get Your Phil DISAPPEAR RECORDS
Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas
Highlander's Farewell CULBURNIE
Emily Smith Traiveller's Joy WHITE FALL
The Once Row Upon Row of the People
They Know BOREALIS
Kate Macleod & Kat Eggleston Lost and
Found WATERBUG
Stan Rogers The Very Best of Stan Rogers
BOREALIS
Dave Gunning A Tribute To John Allan
Cameron WEE HOUSE OF MUSIC CO.
Dehlia Low Ravens & Crows REBEL RECORDS
Alicia McGovern Words Through the
Seasons (late 2010) S.R.
Andrew & Noah Van Norstrand
All the Good Summers (late 2010) GREAT BEAR
Gillian Welch The Harrow and the
Harvest ACONY
Alice MacAllister
The Avant Garage Fridays, 2 p.m.
My "Best of 2011" list is divided into three sections
which give a sort of ranking system to my favorite
releases of 2011. I decided to not pick a "best release" for the year but there are four, yes four, entries for the "best song" of the year. Items are listed
in alpha order within their section. Weblinks are included for those who wish to delve further. It might
be helpful to remember that we are required to prepare our "best of" lists in mid-November, thus pushing any late and great releases to the following year.
FIRST TIER:
AgesandAges Alright You Restless
KNITTING FACTORY
Air Waves Dungeon Dots UNDERWATER PEOPLES
Bill Callahan Apocalypse DRAG CITY
Movits Out of my head SLIMSTYLE
SECOND TIER
Blood Orange Coastal Grooves DOMINO
AA Bondy Believers FAT POSSUM
Givers In Light GLASSNOTE
Middle Brother Middle Brother PARTISAN
Poly Styrene Generation Indigo FUTURE NOISE
Raphael Saadiq Stone Rollin' COLUMBIA
Teddybears Devil's Music ATLANTIC
Various Artists Friends and Friends of
Friends Vol. 4 TENDER LOVING EMPIRE
Red Molly Light in the Sky
THIRD TIER
John Doyle Shadow and Light COMPASS
1, 2, 3 New Heaven FRENCHKISS
Jeffrey Lewis A Turn in the Dream Songs
www.redmolly.com
The Roys Lonesome Whistle RURAL RHYTHM
Josh Sloane & Coaltown Josh Sloane &
Coaltown RURAL RHYTHM RECORDS
Tony Holt & The Wildwood Valley Boys
Lost Highways & Treasured Memories
OLD HERITAGE RECORDS
ROUGH TRADE
New Villager New Villager IAM SOUND
Obits Moody, Standard, and Poor SUB POP
Quintron Sucre du Sauvage GONER
William Shatner Seeking Major Tom
CLEOPATRA
Twenty One Pilots Regional at Best S.R.
Click on these links for more info.
BOTTOM TIER
Brian Eno Drums Between the Bells WARP
Some notes:
Why is Brian Eno designated as "bottom tier"? Drums
Between the Bells is a great record that would have
easily found a place in the first tier. But the record
label informed me that Mr. Eno has written into his
contract with them a clause preventing them from
supporting non-profit radio stations by donating
copies of this release. C'mon.
I'll send a "Best of 2011" email to the Avant Garage
emailed playlist group with much more information
about these artists and their releases. To join this
group please email me at [email protected] to let me
know you'd like to be a member. And those four best
songs? We'll hear those at the Avant Garage on
December 16th. I hope you can join us.
Christopher Redlocks
Ital Culture Alt. Fridays, 8 p.m.
Stephen Marley Revelation Part 1: The
Root of Life UNIVERSAL REPLUBLIC RECORDS
Shaggy Shaggy & Friends BIG YARD RECORDS
Third World Patriots VP RECORDS
Alborosie 2 Times Revolution VP RECORDS
Apple Gabriel Teach Them Right HARTBEAT
Various Tribute to Gregory Isaacs: We
Remember VP RECORDS
Various Maximum Sound 2011
MAXIMUM SOUND-BELEVE DIGITAL
Joel Brungardt
Alone in the Dark Alt. Fridays 10 p.m.
Scott Amendola Lift SAZI RECORDS
A great Bay Area drummer/ composer & bandleader
and his trio, (w/Tortoise guitarist Jeff Parker), create
a melodic and challenging set of tunes for the modern jazz age.
Brad Shepik Trio Across the Way SONGLINES
Guitarist Shepik leads his trio through a wonderful
set of tunes, fusing jazz and world music in endlessly inventive ways.
Buddy Miller The Majestic Silver Strings
NEW WEST RECORDS
This is an all-star string summit, ( Miller, Bill Frisell,
Marc Ribot, Greg Leisz), and a stellar group of featured vocalists interpreting both classic and original
Western & Country tunes with lovely atmospheric
twists and turns.
Tommy Guerrero Lifeboats and Follies
GALAXIA RECORDS
Multi-instumentalist and composer Guerrero has
created an album of 15 tracks that display his talents
with groove and melody and a jazz/funk sensibility.
DJ Mark Farina Mushroom Jazz Vol. 7
DOPE DEN RECORDS
DJ Mark has compiled this various artists compilation as a 19 song, pre-mixed and pre-segued party
on disc.
Marc Ribot Silent Movies PI RECORDS
This album was created as a soundtrack to various
silent films, yet this set of tunes stand as compositions on their own. This recording would make a
fine complement to other related projects: Dave
Douglas's Keystone and Going West, Bill Frisell's
soundtrack work for the films of Buster Keaton.
Vinicius Cantuaria & Bill Frisell
Lagrimas Mexicanas E ONE MUSIC
A collaboration between Brazilian guitarist/vocalist
Cantuaria and Frisell, one of the most thoughtful and
Click on these links for more info.
DJ TOP PICKS 2011 KVMR 89.5 |105.1| kvmr.org
original musicians on the planet at this moment,
has resulted in a folkloric, atmospheric album of
astounding beauty.
Jonathan Kreisberg Shadowless
NFW RECORDINGS
Guitarist Kreisberg, ( yes, another jazz guitarist!), is a
talented musician and bandleader, and his development in both areas really shine on this release.
Terrific compositions and inventive improvisation
make this a highly recommended release.
Tom Waits Bad As Me ANTI RECORDS
The ever brilliant and evolving Waits has created a
truly raucous, noisy, stomping, tender and heart
breaking work of art in his first release of all new
material in seven years. This album is a cool blend
of his earlier sentimental hipster stylings, and his
post Swordfishtrombones sonic blasts.
Marc Maron WTF TWICE WEEKLY PODCASTS
Ok, this is not music or a recording, but Marc Maron,
insightful comedian/ tortured intellect, on this podcast show from his LA garage, interviews fellow
comics and actors... taking on the existential question of our age...WTF!?!
Johnny Gallagher
Red Eye Radio & Night Vision
Fridays & Saturdays, 12 a.m.
Ray LaMontagne & The Prairie Dogs
God Willin' The Creek Don't Rise RCA
Robert Randolph & The Family Band
We Walk This Road WARNER BROS.
Los Lobos Tin Can Trust SHOUT! FACTORY
Robert Plant Band Of Joy NEW ROUNDER
Tom Petty Mojo REPRISE
Various Rave On Buddy Holly FANTASY
Eilen Jewel Queen Of The Minor Key
SIGNATURE SOUNDS
Larry Hillberg
Back Roads Saturdays, 7 a.m.
The first listed is my number 1 for the year.
In no particular order follow the rest of my top 20.
Jesse McReynolds Songs of The Grateful
Dead WOODSTOCK
Joe Crookston Darkling and the Bluebird
Jubilee MILAGRITO
Bodie Wagner Vintage S.R.
Malcolm Holcombe To Drink The Rain
MUSIC ROAD
Dennis McGregor Behind The Beat
Below The Note SMALL POND
Greg Brown Freak Flag YEP ROC
Pokey LaFarge and The South City Three
Middle of Everywhere FREE DIRT RECORDS
Dan Baker Sad Song Junkie TRESPASS
Various Nod to Bob 2 RED HOUSE
Alicia McGovern Words Through The
Seasons S.R.
Jonathan Byrd Cackalac WATERBUG
Gillian Welch The Harrow and the
Harvest ACONY RECORDS
Blaze Foley Duct Tape Messiah LOST ART
Rita Hosking Burn S.R.
Ry Cooder Pull Up Some Dust and Sit
Down NONESUCH
Houston Jones Queen of Yesterday
SUMMERHILL
Rachel Harrington Celilo Falls SKINNYDENNIS
Pharis and Jason Romero A Passing
Glimpse LULA RECORDS
Elephant Revival Break in the Clouds
Gary Wells
Crooked Highway Alt. Sundays, 7a.m.
Pokey LaFarge & The South City Three
Middle of Everywhere FREE DIRT
Eilen Jewell Queen of the Minor Key
SIGNATURE SOUNDS
Gillian Welch The Harrow and the
Harvest ACONY BELL
Frank Fairfield Out On The Open West
RUFF SHOD
TOMPKINS SQUARE
James Lee Stanley and Cliff Eberhardt
All Wood and Doors BEACHWOOD
Bottle Rockets Not So Loud BLOODSHOT
Wesley Robertson
Hallelujah Hollaback Sundays 12 p.m.
Meri St. Mary
Rockin ‘n’ Stompin’ Saturdays, 2 p.m.
Mary Mary Something Big
Gurf Morlix Blaze Foley’s 113th Wet
Dream ROOTBALL
Robert Earl Keen Ready For Confetti
glammy gospel girls who bring it big time
LOST HIGHWAY
Joe Ely Satisfied At Last RACK’EM
Dave Alvin Eleven Eleven YEP ROC
Hayes Carll KMAG YOYO LOST HIGHWAY
Great American Taxi Paradise Lost GAT
Tom Russell Mesabi PROPER
Slaid Cleaves Sorrow & Smoke-Live At
The Horseshoe Lounge MUSIC ROAD
Todd Snider Live; The Storyteller AIMLESS
Chuck Brodsky Subtotal Eclipse
ChuckBrodsky.com
Laura Jean
Chill Alt. Sundays, 4 a.m.
The first 5 are things you will hear on my show. The
last 5 are things that are fantastic, but not Chill music.
7
SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Steve Cagle
Blues Spectrum Alt. Sundays, 1 p.m.
Soul of John Black Good Thang YELLOW DOG
Elam McKnight & Bob Bogdal
Zombie Nation DESERT HIGHWAY
Rory Block Shake 'Em On Down STONY PLAIN
Warren Haynes Man In Motion STAX
Ana Popovic Unconditional ECLECTO GROOVE
Doug MacLeod Brand New Eyes FRESH
Bobby Rush Show You A Good Time DEEP RUSH
Laurie Morvan Breathe Deep SCREAMIN' LIZARD
Terry Hanck Look Out! DELTA GROOVE
Fillmore Slim Blues Playa's Ball MOUNTAIN TOP
Dale“LeBlanc”Johnson
Bayou Country 1st Sundays, 5 p.m.
Mocean Worker Candygram for MoWo! MRI
Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys
Return of the Creoles (Le Retour du Créole)
Thievery Corporation Culture of Fear
MAISON DE SOUL RECORDS
allmusic.com
EIGHTEENTH STREET
http://www.allmusic.com/album/culture-offearr2204386
Mr. Ho's Orchestrotica Third River
Rangoon TIKIJAZZ
allmusic.com
Danger Mouse & Daniele Lupi Rome
PARLOPHONE
Real zydeco really does still exist, and it is really
good, too.
Les Amies Louisianaises Le Petite
Chevrolet MUSIQUE ACADIENNE RECORDS
Sweet harmonies by four sweet Cajun Ladies.
Lafayette Rhythm Devils Devil on a String S.R.
A regular atRandol’s Cajun Restaurant, this band is
top notch in Lafayette.
Moby Destroyed MUTE
Joe Hall & The Louisiana Cane Cutters
Thirty Dobb Special
Meklit Hadero On a Day Like This...
Acadien Cajun Band Sounds Like Us S.R.
allmusic.com
allmusic.com
Late 2010 PORTO FRANCO
allmusic.com
Bill Bourne Boon Tang CORDOVA BAY RECORDS
2007 but didn't come to KVMR till 2011
allmusic.com
Eddie Vedder Ukelele Songs UNIVERSAL REPUBLIC
allmusic.com
Paul Simon So Beautiful or So What
HEAR MUSIC
allmusic.com
Norah Jones Featuring... EMI MUSIC DISTRIBUTION
Late 2010
allmusic.com
Fantastic Cajun and Creole French music by a Creole.
They deliver the quintessential Cajun dancehall
sound.
Lawrence Walker The Essential
Collection of Lawrence Walker SWALLOW
This takes you back to the 1950s, when much traditional dance music was created by this Cajun.
Amede Ardoin Mama, I’ll Be Long Gone
The Complete Recordings of Amede
Ardoin, 1929-34 THOMPKINS SQUARE RECORDS
The title says it all about this original black Cajun.
Yvette Landry Should Have Known S.R.
The bass player with the Lafayette Rhythm Devils
steps out on her own with a fine country CD.
8
KVMR 89.5 |105.1| kvmr.org DJ TOP PICKS 2011
Julia Boorinakis Harper
Notes from the Underground Facebook
Alt. Sundays, 10 p.m.
Housecoat Project Girlfiend SUBTERRANEAN
Punk poet extraordinaire (and KVMR DJ) Meri St.
Mary recorded this album in 1989 with her band
Housecoat Project. 23 years later, it's finally out on
vinyl — and it rocks. There's a beautiful range here,
too, from classic all-out punk rock to a sweet
Serbian folk song and a slow-burning cover of
Iggy Pop's "Endless Sea." meristmary.com
Julian Cope Title The Jehovahcoat
Demos HEAD HERITAGE
A collection of unreleased tracks and oddities from
the Drude's post-Island Records phase (after he
was unceremoniously dumped from the label). The
15 tracks wander from Krautrock-inflected meditational funk to psychedelic ambience to right-on Rock
— raw, unfiltered, utterly Cope. Long awaited by the
Real Heads (if not perhaps the best introduction to
this singularly prolific artist — best to start with the
"Jehovahkill" album from whence this one came….)
headheritage.co.uk
Lasher Keen Possessed by the Forest
Queen PESANTA URFOLK
Lasher Keen have a habit of releasing breathtakingly
gorgeous records right around the Winter Solstice;
perfect timing, given their nature, but it's just a wee
bit too late to make it into these Top-Picks-of-theYear lists… so this one is actually from late 2010.
"Forest Queen" is comprised of six tracks that sound
more like hallowed rituals than mere songs; Dylan,
Bluebird, and Sage have a rare alchemy, and their
multi-instrumental talents are in fine form here. Released as a lavishly-illustrated 10" vinyl record by locally-based label Pesanta Urfolk, which deserves a
special mention of its own for keeping vinyl alive
and beautiful in an age of intangible bits and bytes.
Lasher Keen Web site: lasherkeen.net
Notes From Underground podcast:
A two-hour feature on the Pesanta Urfolk label
with guest-DJ and Pesanta proprietor Adam CollinsTorruella.
Part 1 audio.kvmr.org/podhawk/index.php?id=1207
Part 2 audio.kvmr.org/podhawk/index.php?id=1208
Robyn Hitchcock Tromsø, Kaptein
HYPE CITY RECORDINGS
Robyn Hitchcock's latest release has a characteristically bizarre twist: it's specifically for the Norwegian market. Luckily for us, though, the modern
marvel of The Internet makes everything available
everywhere — at least in (legal, please) MP3 form!
According to The Museum of Robyn Hitchcock
robynhitchcock.com on one of Hitchcock's many
visits to Norway, a friend of his offered to release an
album on his record label: "So I went home and disappeared into myself, as if I was roaming the fjords;
I let one side of myself argue with the other, as if I
was roaming the fjords with a therapist. I let the
songs come out of me, and here is the result sung in
English for Norwegian ears." Well, including one delightful, cello-laced track in the local tongue.
robynhitchcock.11spot.com
William Shatner Seeking Major Tom
CLEOPATRA
Straight from Outer Space, this one. If you're not already acquainted with the, ah, unique musical
stylings of Mr. Shatner, you're in for a treat — the
man's talents are not limited to captaining the Starship Enterprise. He declaims classics like "Bohemian
Rhapsody" with the gravitas and emotion usually
reserved for Shakespearean soliloquies. Need I say
more? Short documentary film on the "making of:"
Part 1 youtube.com Part 2 youtube.com
Three Minute Tease Three Minute Tease
IDIOT RECORDS
The latest album from Anton Barbeau finds this erstwhile Sacramentan at a bit of a crossroads: living in
England, poised for a move to Berlin, and teamed up
with Andy Metcalfe and Morris Windsor (of Soft
Boys / Egyptians fame, with Robyn Hitchcock) —
and, if the record is anything to go by, quite at home
with it all. This album pairs some of Anton's best
songwriting yet with a truly brilliant musical lineup;
Three Minute Tease sound like they've been a band
in some previous lifetime, and the songs are addictively catchy whilst simultaneously tapping a deeper
cosmic vein. "Milko II" is a particular favorite here, a
perfect distillation of questionably rose-tinted memory. (I'm sure there's a German word for that.)
antonbarbeau.com
The Other Side podcast:
Mikail and Julia chat with Anton, live from
Cambridge, about the Three Minute Tease project:
audio.kvmr.org
Various Haroon Al-Qahtani Presents:
The Funk & Soul of Turkey
Compilation albums are dangerous ground: they can
be nice as an introduction to a genre, but too often
they feel like cheating — a bit of a lazy way, if you
will, to become an Instant Expert. But once in a
while, a comp comes along that sheds light on a totally overlooked corner of the musical universe.
Case in point: this fabulous collection of Turkish psychedelic funk and soul, unearthed and curated by
DJ and vinyl archaeologist Haroon Al-Qahtani.
Tracks from (relatively) wellknown (key word here:
relatively!) artists like Baris Manço and Ozdemir Erdogan mingle with obscure gems that you're unlikely to stumble across in any record shop this side
of Istanbul.
Download it here:
vinylarchaeology.blogspot.com
Vradiazei Vradiazei PESANTA URFOLK
Haunting and beautiful dark folk, with a stark elegance that belies its intricacy. Their Nevada City
show earlier this year was completely transportive,
one of those moments outside of Time... Vradiazei
draw on traditional folk forms, spinning shivers of
darkness into their decidedly non-electric music.
Released as a gorgeous 12" LP on the Pesanta Urfolk label (see above).
Vradiazei blog:
vradiazei.blogspot.com
Click on these links for more info.
Klara Voyant
Substitute DJ
Etta James The Dreamer VERVE FORECAST
Steve Cropper Dedicated 429 RECORDS
Eliza Gilkyson Roses At The End of Time
RED HOUSE
Garland Jeffreys The King of In Between
LUNA PARK
Various Nod To Bob 2 RED HOUSE
Tim Smith
Substitute DJ
Gregg Allman Low Country Blues ROUNDER
Amos Lee Mission Bell BLUE NOTE
Alison Krauss and Union Station
Paper Airplane ROUNDER
Tyler Matthew Smith Hamdulillah
S.R.
Tedeschi Trucks Band Revelator
SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Adele 21 XL RECORDINGS LTD.
TOP
DJ’s
picksEND
Thanks to all our broadcasters
for participating in this
very tough task!