Year in Review

This is a list of musical albums that I purchased in 2007.

Wilco... Sky Blue Sky
Wilco create a gorgeous rock n roll record. The more I listen to this album, the more I enjoy it. Highly recommended for those who think that dual guitar is antiquated.

Ryan Adams... Easy Tiger
Easy Tiger is Ryan Adams best album. It blends all of the best of his previus work in a career defining masterpiece. If I were to recommend Ryan Adams to someone new, I would direct them to this album. It gets better with every listen.

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals... This is Somewhere
This is Somewhere ranks high based on pure positive energy. Grace Potter and company create fresh, sexy rock n roll for all types of listeners. This record will make you happy and you will want to groove whenever you put it in the player.

American Babies
American Babies are led by Brothers Past guitaritst/songwrite Tom Hamilton. While Brothers Past specialize in electronic jam, American Babies craft country, rock n roll that brings to mind a modern-day Gram Parsons. This album is full of love songs and longing.

Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles... Diamonds in the Dark
Along with Grace Potter, Sarah Borges proves that girls can lead a band of men with an electric guitar. The Broken Singles create fresh rockabilly roadhouse music that makes you feel like your on the road in the 1970's.

The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
Forgive this album for having the most arrogant title in the history of Americana music. I can only hope the title is an inside joke of some sort. This is not as accessabile or as pleasurable a listen as The Animal Years. Its the type of album an artist has to make after a career defining masterpiece to prove that they can do something different. In this case, Ritter proves he can be edgier and aggresive after the beauty of The Animal Years. This is a good album with golden moments (Wait for Love, Empty Hearts), and I am sure that the harder songs flesh out Ritter's setlist on the road.

Bright Eyes... Cassadega
On Cassadega, Bright Eyes sounds more like a band than ever before. A beautiful blend of country and a little bit of indie rock. Lyrically, Conor Oberst provides the most innovative and accessable lyrics of the year. There are some artistically impressive yet strange songs (Coat Check Dream Song)that do not make this an easy listen from start to finish. However, Conor demonstrates that while he has mastered the folk song he will continue the push toward further musical enlightenment.

moe. ... The Conch
moe. blends rock, jam, pychedelia, country and multiple songwriters to create one of America's most dynamic sounds. The Conch would garner nationa attention for album of the year, if it was released by Wilco. However, because moe. is considered a jamband, most critics do not give it a fair listen. By far, The Conch offers the years best mix of soulful rock n' roll, fun and intelligent song-writing. My only complaint is that at seventeen songs, it is a bit of a task to get through the album in one listening.


Son Volt... The Search
In The Search, I found the union of Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream and electric guitar based alt-country. Jay Farrer is one of our most dynamic singers and, vocally, this may be my favorite album of the year. I just prefer lyrics that are a bit more accessable.

Lucinda Williams...West
I am a long time fan and admirer of Lucinda's work. When this album was released last winter, I read a review which described it as music best saved for death and break-ups. Thankfully, I did not experience either in 2007. Regardless, I would look for something a lot more positive to get me through mourning and loss. This album is the dark and depressing sound of a desperate, lonely and angry middle aged women. Fortunately, the album ends with two beautiful songs, Words and West, which offer a glimmer of hope that Lucinda is not completely lost in self despair.

Railroad Earth...Penns Peak...12-30-08

When I see a band I love, I get nervous. I get nervous because I very much want the bands I love to do well and be successful. My nervousness comes from the fear that bands I enjoy will not draw a crowd. Strong attendance is critical to a bands success.

Penns Peak is by far the biggest room I have seen Railroad Earth play. It was only a few years ago that Railroad Earth was happy to fill small bars and clubs. Penns Peak is a venue for popular, national acts. Even before the winter storm warning, I did not expect Railroad Earth to fill much of this huge room. As we drove up the mountain, through accumulating, driving snow, I expected a disappointingly small turn-out. I was wrong.

On a snowy, Sunday night, Railroad Earth filled Penns Peak. The parking lot was full of vehicles and covered in snow and ice. The snow and the scene had arrived at Penns Peak.

Cabinet, a young acoustic band, opened the night. These guys are young. Some of them do not look like they are old enough to buy a drink. Regardless, this is a band that can jam and excite a large crowd. The band was so popular with the fans that they managed to draw an encore out of the crowd. Encores for opening acts are rare and these guys deserved it. I hope that this young band can keep it together and continue to pursue their potential.

Where Morristown was quiet Jim Thorpe was estatic. The crowd was fired up and ready for a party. I was treated to another personal favorite and rarity, "Drag Him Down". I had not seen the band play this song in years. Just like the night before with "Everything Comes Together", I knew that it was going to be a great show from the opening note. "Drag Him Down" and "Elko" provided more rock n roll than the whoe previous night in Morristown. Railroad Earth slowed it down with "Black Bear". Lyrically, "Black Bear" brims with hints of winter hibernation, making it a fine choice for a snowy night in the mountains. At this point, the band was drawing the crowd in and letting the energy of the night settle like the falling snow outside. The rest of the show consisted of high, energy songs ranging from folk to rock. My personal highlights included "Daddy-o" (six part harmonies!) and Warhead Boogie (dark, aggressive, warhead siren jam). Before beginning the encore, Todd wished everyone a happy new year before beginning Grateful Dead chestnut, "The Wheel". On this night Railroad turned this song into an anthem by increasing the tempo and the fans joined together for an inpiring sing-a-long chorus...

"The wheel is turning and you can't slow down,
You can't let go and you can't hold on,
You can't go back and you can't stand still,
If the thunder don't get you then the lightning will."

With a timeless song celebrating the circular seasons of life, Railroad Earth wished their fans a happy new year. As we drove down the mountain through the still falling snow and ice, I reflected on our New Years 2008 road trip. We had visited with family and friends. We enjoyed a beautiful hike at Jenny Jump State Forest. We shared a winter storm with friends and strangers. We experienced a growing band, still searching the peaks and valleys of their creative potential. For all of this I was grateful. Of course, I was also tired. But with fatigue, I looked forward to a quiet, January in Bloomsburg with my wife. Through cloudy January, we would reflect on the year passed and look forward to the road to joy ahead.