(Shot by Brian W. Ferry, Bon Appétit, December 2012)
emergentpattern
#1 - John Prine - The Tree of Forgiveness
As always, these lists of favorite records are subjective. I’ve been a fan of John Prine since I was in my teens and with The Tree of Forgiveness, his first record of new material in 13 years, he continues his streak of great and honest songwriting with a one-of-a-kind touch of humor. This man is 72 years old and churning out some of the best songs I can ever remember hearing.
#2 - Father John Misty - God’s Favorite Customer
Josh Tillman put out another great one in 2018. This time around, he didn’t produce it with Jonathan Wilson and instead got together with Jonathan Rado from Foxygen. What you have here is a more honest and personal record from a guy that’s been known to write from a perspective that was less than. Written in 2016 during a period where his marriage was on the straights and he was living in a hotel, this record shows the vulnerability of an artist that is ever-evolving.
#3 - Parquet Courts - Wide Awake!
I’ve been loosely following these guys for a while but if I’m being honest, I really liked A. Savage’s solo work more than the group’s stuff. Enter “Wide Awake!” and that’s definitely changed. They got Danger Mouse to produce this one and where they were once rough around the edges, they definitely now have their groove together. The bass lines are paramount on this record (where they were once subdued), along with the social commentary. There is a lot to unpack with this record and it’s been a pleasure to do it.
I’ve been a Wilco fan since “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot,” so I’m always generally pretty excited when anything comes from their camp. This record is really special for a lot of reasons but none more than Jeff Tweedy opening up about his anxiety and addiction with his book “Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back)”. This is a deeply personal record but is also kind of stripped down musically, which lends to the overall vibe. It’s a little dark at times but that just adds to what makes the songs so genuine.
#5 - American Aquarium - Things Change
Things change…and that’s what happened in the world of American Aquarium this time around. The band went through a complete lineup change before this record was recorded, with BJ Barham the mainstay. Produced by John Fullbright, this record paints a great photo of the state of the world and also the state of where singer and songwriter Barham’s personal life is—now living a sober life with a wife and new child.
#6 - Erin Rae - Putting On Airs
With a voice as gentle as the breeze, Erin Rae gives us a set of songs that center around her own personal growth. There’s a lot of perspective here as well, such as with the line in the album opener; “The sun was setting on Wast Nashville, too pretty to look at it straight/How small we are in the grand scheme, how great…” A perfect way to describe how small we all can feel sometimes and setting the tone for the album to come.
#7 - Khruangbin - Con Todo El Mundo
“With all the world,” Khurangbin was a late addition to my list but I am so glad I discovered this group. Largely instrumental, this record is great to put on when you’re looking to find a groove. This trio makes a lot of noise, considering the number of members in the band. Khurangbin have a great name, a fascinating dynamic and make it really easy to turn on.
A great record of self-described “hippie spiritual” songs, “Lifted” is a wide sonic exploration full of music that not only challenge but uplift the listener. After diving into this record, you will come away feeling lighter than before you listened to it. This record is one big journey from start to finish.
I’ve been a fan of Afie Jurvanen’s songwriting since I first heard him some years back but with this record, he seems to be more comfortable getting out of his comfort zone. “Earthtones” has a more upbeat feel, which was purposeful. At the urging of his manager, Jurvanen went back to the drawing board, eventually working with D'Angelo’s backing band to create a truly unique, wide-ranging set of songs.
#10 - Cedric Burnside - Benton County Relic
I’ve been listening to Cedric Burnside for longer than anyone else on this list and it’s great to see him finally break out. With “Benton County Relic,” we not only get to hear Burnside display his award-winning drumming but we also get to hear him show how he has blossomed as a guitarist. Burnside drummed with his “Big Daddy,” RL Burnside until he was 13 years old and it’s now more obvious than ever that he is carrying the torch of the North Mississippi Hill Country Blues.
Honorable Mentions: Scott Hirsch - Lost Time Behind the Moon, Rayland Baxter - Wide Awake, Richard Swift - The Hex, Belle Adair - Tuscumbia