2008 Year in Review

Here are my favorite records of 2008

Railroad Earth Amen Corner
Railroad Earth released Amen Corner in June, just in time for the summer festival season. And to be completely clear, Railroad Earth is a festival band. Railroad Earth is a jamband. More than anything else, Railroad carries the torch of the Grateful Dead. And that is a positive thing, considering that the Grateful Dead are one of the most successful live bands of all time. In 2008, Railroad Earth stood among the premier live bands in America. With Amen Corner, they added another classic recording to their studio library. Buy this record and feel the joy. Summer

Radiohead In Rainbows
In Rainbows was released in physical form on New Years Day 2008. Following several records full of equal parts weird, cool and frustrating experimentation, Radiohead crafted a beautiful record that blooms with repeated listening. Enlightening music for the dark nights of winter.

Dr. Dog Fate
I am grateful that Relix magazine chose Dr. Dog for their cover during the summer of 2008. Fate is a triumphant record. If you like the Beatles, The Beach Boys and My Morning Jacket, I believe you'll like Fate. The most enjoyable and interesting new music that I heard in 2008. Autumn

Mudcrutch Mudcrutch
Mudcrutch was Tom Petty's band before The Heartbreakers. The band was successful down South in the early 70's before striking west to California. Record company execs were interested in Tom, not so much the band. Tom kept Mike Cambell and Benmont Tench and the other two hit the road. Over thirty years later, Tom reassembles the band for a record and brief tour of California. Man, are these guys good. Petty follows the beautiful, acoustic Highway Companion with this smoking country-Dead-rock. Ever wonder what Petty would sound like with Gram Parsons, check out "Orphan of the Storm". Ever wonder if Petty can jam, check out "Crystal River". Wonder if Petty can still rock, check out "Scare Easy" and "Bootleg Flyer". With Mudcrutch, Tom Petty continues to stand among the most prolific, relevant and important figures in rock n roll. And the guy is just plain cool for bringing his old tour-mates back out on the road. This record gets better with every listen. Summer

My Morning Jacket Evil Urges
Evil Urges is my favorite MMJ recording. A summer record bursting with electric guitar, bass, keys, drum and vocal groove.

Drive by Truckers Brighter Than Creations Dark
I'm glad that this record introduced me to the Drive by Truckers. Featuring three talented songwriters, the record is long, but well worth the time needed to get it. Mike Cooley writes irresistible country/rock nuggets that recall the best of Bob Seger. Patterson hood pens honest tales of ordinary folks that will touch you to the core. And Shonna Tucker just makes it sweeter. Great rock n roll for a spring road trip to your cabin in the mountains.

Tift Merritt Another Country
This record is as soothing and comforting as a warm, spring rain in the backyard on Saturday afternoon. Tift Merritt must be considered one of our finest singer-songwriters. A beautiful record brimming with fresh, country folk. Recommended for fans of fans of Dar Williams and Lucinda Williams quieter work.

Death Cab for Cutie Narrow Stairs
Narrow Stairs is one of the most impressive records of 2008. It certainly has the best A side of the year. However, I would not recommend it to everyone as the lyrical matter can be a bit depressing to say the least. Though the album is great, Ben Gibbard's dark tales leave me feeling a tad exhausted and empty by record's end. The strange thing, and that which makes this album supurb, is that outside the lyrics, Ben's voice and the band create stirring rock n roll. Dark and light. Summer

Cabinet Cabinet
Cabinet, hailing from Pennsyvlania, are a young, Railroad Earth family band. I refer to them as a family band because they have been supported by Railroad Earth and they are clearly influenced by them. I discovered Cabinet when they opened for Railroad at Penns Peak in Jim Thorpe, Pennsyvlania. At first, I was a bit taken aback by their similarity to RRE. However, the music is so good, and original in its own right, that I got over that first impression rather quickly. Besides, it is actually a huge compliment to even compare these gentlemen to their older and more established East Coast neighbors. I would also add that Cabinet are a bit more traditional than Railroad Earth in that I do not hear a Grateful Dead influence or electric rock n roll in their sound. The most original part of their musical palette would be the incorporation of traditional bluegrass strings with drums and upright bass. Cabinet features excellent, bluegrass instrumentation, drums and fine multi-part harmonies. Highly recommended for fans of bluegrass and jam. Autumn

She and Him Volume I
She and Him Volume One is a good record. For this album, Zooey Deschanel penned nine fantastic tracks. And producer M. Ward made these songs truely unique through his distinctive prduction style. This music is a welcome, yet original, throwback to all that was great about the early Beatles sound. There are two things that I do not like about this record and they are both a testement to Deschanel's excellance as a writer and performer. One, Zooey's songs are so satisfying that two of the covers are disappointing. They just do not stand up too the power of her original material. Second, Zooey's voice is so pleasurable that it makes M. Ward's contributions to lead vocals a bit of a nuisance. I just want to hear Zooey (but good job on the production, M.)! Summer

Hold Steady Stay Positive
With 2006's Boys and Girls in America, The Hold Steady crafted a perfect rock n roll record. Stay Positive features several songs as compelling as anything from the previous record ("Constructive Summer", "Joke About Jamaica") and three, shuffle-proof, bonus tracks. Though all of the songs are fine in isolation, the record just doesn't stand as a cohesive whole. It starts strong, plods in the middle and pulls together nicely in the end (thanks to the bonus tracks). Recommended, just make sure that you get to know Boys and Girls first.

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.

The Road to Jim Thorpe 12-30-07

In the morning, I was the first one out of bed. I showered and quietly walked downstairs. Being coffee dependent, I longed for a cup to start my day. I tried to watch TV but it hurt my head. I decided to be a good guest and wait for the others rather than take a coffee drive (there didn't seem to be any coffee in the house). I decided to take a walk through the suburbs. As I walked, I could feel the disconnection to nature that suburban living brings. It was a beautiful morning, songbird sunny, yet I was the only walker on the road. I felt lonely but appreciated being on the road and away from my own home routine.



When I returned the house was still quiet. Kristen was showering, so I decided to lay down for a bit. After a few restless minutes I walked downstairs and found Bob and Kelly awake. Wearing the same clothes as the night before, Bob remarked that Kristen and I slept late. I mentioned my morning walk and he went upstairs to change. At this point, I realized that he had been waiting to get into the guest room where he kept his closet. We all make sacrifices for the sake of friendship.



We departed quickly, eager to start the day. Quiet prevailed on the empty New Jersey roads. We stopped at a Starbucks and enjoyed coffee, sandwiches and cake. We reflected on the wonderful show. It was only 10:00 a.m. on Sunday morning and Kristen and I had a whole day ahead of us. I was a bit tired from the wine but maintained a positive attitude. Bob and Kelly guided us to the Rockaway Mall. In Macy's, we hugged and said good bye. Hugging in Macy's on Sunday morning is a strange way to start the day.



I do not like to go to the mall. But on this morning, the mall was quiet and calm. We pledged that future visits to the mall would take place in the morning. We exchanged some Christmas gifts for things we really needed. We ran into some old friends who we had not seen since summer. At my wedding, Eric asked me to be his best man. He is one of my oldest friends, but we don't see each other very much. At the mall, we didn't have much to say. "We've reached that awkward point", Eric said of the silence. I felt unsettled as I walked away, wishing I had more time to spend with my friends. We bought a couple of books about good health and went on our way. In the parking lot, Bob and Kelly's car was gone. It was time to be on our way to Jim Thorpe.

As we climbed out of New Jersey, crossed the Delaware Water Gap and climbed into the Pocono Mountains, we learned that a winter storm was approaching. Four to six inches of snow was forecast for Jim Thorpe. As we drove under darkening sky and clouds, snow and ice began to fall. Railroad Earth in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylania was sure to be a memorable occasion.

Railroad Earth...Morristown Theater...12-29-07

The scene was outside the theater. The scene is the anticipation and congregation of a sold out show. I have enjoyed live Railroad Earth shows since their beginning in 2001 and the scene is a recent phenomenon. The night was cold, we had our tickets and we shuffled into the the theater.

The lobby was packed to the point where movement was difficult. The Morristown Theater is the type of classy place that does not allow food or beverage in the theater proper. The lobby was packed with fans and friends catching up and enjoying a drink before Railroad Earth hit the stage. Full from dinner, Kristen and I quickly headed to the quiet second floor and balcony. We found our seats and settled into the tranquil theater.

The room pulsed a quiet beauty. Quiet was the theme of the night. We needed to conserve energy to make it through the two night run. We pledged to enjoy drink in moderation and get a good night sleep. The New Riders played first. As mentioned, the theater was mostly empty for their enjoyable set, another sign of RRE's growing popularity. Though the New Riders may be considered legends, this was a RRE show and the real energy was building in the lobby. Appropriately, the best received moment of the New Riders set was the company of Tim Carbone on "Peggy-O". The Riders called it a night after this song. Everyone in the room knew it was time for the headlining act.

Railroad Earth's set began quietly enough with "Everything Comes Together". My wife and I had not heard this song performed live in several years. All of this time, I have wished it to be a show opener. The song took me back to the last time I heard this song live. This was the night when my good friend Nick met his wife at Mexicali Blues in Teanack. At this point, I knew it was going to be a great run of music and friendship.


Railroad Earth played one long set to a packed and ecstatic crowd. The energy in the room propelled me to dance and drink three glasses of red wine and I was feeling fine throughout the night. Since we have supported this band from the beginning, it is wonderful to have witnessed their growth. More importantly, I am humbled by the positive energy that their music creates.

After the show, we found our friends outside the theater. Our friends were all amazed by the performance. I have yet to find anyone that does not love this band. We went back to my cousin's house and went to bed. Positive energy propelled me to do sit-ups and push-ups before bed. I slept healthy and excited and ready for another day.

The Road to Morristown 12-29-07

My wife and I have seen Railroad Earth several times a year since 2001. Though we have seen them throughout the country, we had never seen them on a multiple night run. As a lover of live music, I have heard many accounts of a festive run of music. So in late December, we departed Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, for a two night run through New Jersey and the Poconos.

We left Bloomsburg at noon on December 29 with many goals and expectations. Shopping, exercising and social visits packed our two day agenda. On this Friday, shopping was quickly scrapped due to our later than expected departure. My wife and I are teachers, and hard as we may try, we just cannot resist sleeping in on our days off. The drive from Bloomsburg to our first stop at my father's house in Great Meadows, NJ is about ninety minutes. On this Saturday afternoon, the road was clear, the weather dry and we made the trip in just over an hour. We listened to my Christmas present, Bright Eyes "Motion Sickness". "Road to Joy" played as we passed through the Delaware Water Gap. This is one of my favorite tunes ever and provided great energy to the dawn of this holiday adventure.

Music and social visits involve tasty beverages and food. For this reason, our first stop was for a little exercise at Jenny Jump State Forest. As we strolled on a warm afternoon, I thought back to previous hikes at this location and, as always, I felt very fortunate to have grown up near this great, natural resource. I hoped to see a black bear, but on this day, the bears remained hidden, maybe, in early winter hibernation.

After our hike, we stopped at my father's house for a quick visit. I feel at peace driving through Northwestern New Jersey. It is forested and beautiful. But most of all it is familiar and full of people I know and love. We picked up another Christmas present, my new digital camera accidently left behind on the 25th, freshened up for the night and quickly departed for Morristown.

Over the last couple of years my cousin Bob and his wife Kelly have become some of our closest friends. We have shared Railroad Earth with them and in one year they have seen three shows! The backroads to Morristown were sunset and beautiful. We listened to New Riders of the Purple Sage, the evenings opening act, and Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Ray Price "Last of the Breed, our Christmas present from my brother. We enjoyed dinner at a pub within walking distance to the Morristown theater. Expectations were high as we walked upon the sold out theater for our first night of Railroad Earth 2007.

December has settled cold and wet. I recall warm, sunny days at the Christmas Tree Farm. Warm and sunny are not associated with the holiday season, but I feel a shift in weather over the last twenty years. As a teenager, I spent holiday weekends on the tree farm. While I remember white, winter, I also recall sun, heat and t-shirts. Recently I've been disappointed in December because it has not lived up to legend and childhood memory. But, refreshing as a cold drink after a long run, winter arrived the day after Thanksgiving.