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Top 10 local albums of 2008 (so far)
- 1. ‘Real Animal,’ Alejandro Escovedo.This sounds like the solo record Escovedo has waited his whole life to make — and so much of his life is laid out here, from his first fave nightclub (‘Golden Bear’), his first band (‘Nuns Song’), his first real band Rank and’ File (‘Chip N’ Tony’), his main man Iggy (‘Real As an Animal’) and the last time and place he was invincible (‘Chelsea Hotel ‘78’). Marketing’s a little heavy on the glam resurrection, but Escovedo makes it stick. Good call on the Chuck Prophet collab, too. — Michael Corcoran
- 2. ‘Rook,’ Shearwater. ‘Rook’ starts with croon and some piano chords as Jonathan Meiburg softly laments ‘the death of the waters.’ A wave of sound crashes into the spare melody about halfway through as drums, guitar feedback, trumpets and strings — the album’s whole palette — show up at once. Then it fades away, the wave returning to the dying sea. Not a bad introduction to the most accessible work of Shearwater’s career. — Joe Gross
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3. ‘Sonidos Gold,’ Grupo Fantasma.The title and CD cover seem like a humorous nod to all those vintage ‘Exitos de Oro’ (‘Golden Hits’) salsa compilations, but Grupo Fantasma certainly comes through with the serious goods. There’s not a weak song on the 11-piece Austin band’s first studio album in four years. — Parry Gettlelman
A-List pics from the CD release | SoundCheck360 - 4. ‘Let’s All Go To Bed,’ Mother Truckers. Not only is the sound cleaner, punchier (than on previous LP ‘Broke, Not Broken’), but Teal Collins displays a major-league voice (check out her version of Billy Joe Shaver’s ‘When I Get My Wings’). Led by countrified shredder Josh Zee, drummer Dan Thompson (Zee’s former bandmate in prog metal band Protein) and bassist Danny G, the band goes all out, like three guys on a caper, especially on the wicked leadoff track ‘Dynamite.’ If Southern Culture On the Skids hear ‘Dynamite,’ they might retire. — M.C.
- 5. ‘Dan Dyer,’ Dan Dyer.Produced by David Boyle (ex-Scabs) in a renovated black Pentecostal church, Dyer feels the spirit and comes to genuflect before Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway and Curtis Mayfield. — M.C.
- 6. ‘Trouble in Mind,’ Hayes Carll.A ceaseless thrum of polished portraits and priceless punch lines, ‘Trouble In Mind’ sketches a peerless blueprint of songwriting as unpretentious modern art. — Brian T. Atkinson
- 7. ‘The Graveyard of Utopia,’ World Burns to Death. Eight songs, 25 minutes, absolutely no mercy. Utterly raging hardcore punk, thrashing yet exceptionally well-played, from Austin’s most apocalyptic outfit. A perfect soundtrack to our ever-approaching end times, especially if you wear bullet belts, tight jeans and T-shirts from black metal bands. — J.G.
- 8. ‘Just Us Kids,’ James McMurtry.A strong followup to his breakout ‘Childish Things,’ McMurty plays it safe by not altering the country-crunch sound, but begs for a fatter FBI file with anti-Bush songs (‘Cheney’s Toy’). — J.G.
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9. ‘Strange Invitation,’ South Austin Jug Band. An album of texture and taste, ‘Strange Invitation’ strives to sustain its dark, yet resilient mood from beginning to end, even at the cost of keeping the vocals low in the mix. Meanwhile, Brian Beken and Dennis Ludicker, who trade off on fiddle, mandolin and guitar, will blow you away on their repertoire of breakdowns, reels and gypsy jazz. — M.C.
SoundCheck360 - 10. ‘Directions to See a Ghost,’ the Black Angels.Much like their debut effort, ‘Directions to See a Ghost’ is chock-full of the dense and powerful sounds that pushed the Black Angels into the national spotlight. One listen to any of the album’s tracks reveals that the band is still challenging itself to evolve creatively. — Shannon McGarvey
Did we get it right? Name your own top local albums in the comments below.
Related:
- An Austin CD summer: Four for the playlist
- Austin’s songs of the summer, 2008 edition
- McMurtry, Carll garner top AMA nominations
- More notable CDs: Ocote Soul Sounds and Adrian Quesada | Adam Carroll | Pinetop Perkins | Kimmie Rhodes | Eliza Gilkyson
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Comments
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By David
June 12, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this
The Black Angels should be number 1 on that list, no?
By norm
June 12, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this
The Steps (only available at iTunes)
By diva
June 12, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this
I’m so glad to see the Mother Truckers on this list!!! One of my favorite bands I had the pleasure of finding one hot night at Gruene Hall last year… it was by default… I’ve seen them several times since then and plan on seeing them even more!!!
Let’s All Go To Bed!!!!
By B
June 12, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this
Not a bad list. Just reserve a spot for the new Okkervil River album.
By Carrie
June 12, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this
Is it just me or do all of the Mother Truckers songs sound like the same song rehashed. I was disappointed.
The Black Angels were shorted and should have been at the top. Great band and they put on a great show. They got screwed.
By Bill Taft
June 12, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this
What about ‘The Sword”. Their new album is killer. They’re opening up for Metallica on some of their tour dates also. The cream of the Austin crop, for sure.
By P
June 12, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this
What about Ryan Bingham?? His album, Mescalito, is great from beginning to end.
By Jensen Malone
June 12, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this
What about Haunting Oboe Music? Putting out 12 EPs in 12 months.
By Jensen Malone
June 12, 2008 3:14 PM | Link to this
Haunting Oboe Music. They’re putting out 12 EPs in 12 months.
By B
June 12, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this
Wheres “at all cost” at?
By tw
June 12, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this
In Rainbows/Radiohead
By KD
June 12, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this
While Bingham’s album is amazing…it came out in October of 2007. Glad to see Hayes Carll made it on the list, by far the best album I’ve heard in 2008.
By raymond
June 12, 2008 8:56 PM | Link to this
Where is Chris Gates of Junkyard, Broken Teeth, Vallejo, Dirty Wormz, Tyrone Vaughan, Exile to Naples, Bruce Castleberry, Zac Perry so many to name that should have been credited on this list they are continuosly playing and keeping our Live Music Capital of the World on the Map..
By cuddlefish
June 17, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
Experimental Aircraft - Third Transmission: Meet Me on Echo Echo Terrace The Boxing Lesson - Wild Streaks & Windy Days The Weird Weeds - I Miss This What Made Milwaukee Famous - What Doesn’t Kill Us Carolyn Wonderland - Miss Understood
By Greg Johnson
June 25, 2008 9:50 PM | Link to this
How can you overlook Michael Fracasso especially his brilliant “Red White & Blue” from Red Dog Blues still the best songwriter in Austin and just too damn smart for most of you to get - this list is typical austin bs hype and I book artists weekly from Austin at my venue the Blue Door in OKC -