Favorite Albums of 2012

Everybody on the blogosphere is posting their best/favorites of 2012. I decided to post what I have listened to most this year. I rarely listen to an entire album all the way through, much less over and over and these seem to have the staying power it takes to make me listen and hold on.

These aren't in any particular order because even picking 5 was hard enough, ranking them would just be impossible.

K. Phillips  American Girls

I know I just said these aren't in order, but if they were, this one would be first. In all honesty, American Girls has only left the CD player in my car long enough for me to pop one CD in, give it half a listen, and switch back to Screamin' K. Can't get enough - it's one of those albums that always has what you need to hear for any mood or situation. Every time I listen I have a new favorite song because it's just what fits the moment. If you haven't heard this album, start with "Rambler" and go from there.


Dirty River Boys Science of Flight

After listening to two EPs over and over, snatching recordings off YouTube and doing anything I could to get my hand on new DRB material, the wait for Science of Flight was well worth it. I never had any doubt in my mind that it would be amazing, but this album blew me away. I reviewed it fully here and my opinions have only grown stronger as this one has stood the test of time in my rotation in the past several months.


Turnpike Troubadours Goodbye Normal Street

I am not alone in saying this is one of the best albums of the year. It has popped up on nearly every list I have read so far and with good reason. I think this all goes without saying. I have harped on the glories of Turnpike many times before. Each album is better than the the one before, but I can still sit down and listen to every song they've ever released from start to finish and never get bored. They're music speaks for itself, but the lyrics crafted mostly by Evan Felker are a breed of their own. He can make such an ordinary situation into something special that hits home and resonates with every listener.


Six Market Blvd. Shake It Down

One of the things that has made 6MB one of my favorite bands since I discovered them almost four years ago is their diversity. Their first album, Running on Seven is one of my all-time favorites for that very reason. I was nervous that Shake it Down couldn't compete, but I have been proven wrong. It opens with the hard-hitting, bitchy "Say It," then goes to the Jimmy Buffet-esque "White Goose," to the sad, reflective "Getting Older" and then hits every nerve in between. The only thing that makes this album better is seeing the band play it live. This is one of the best bands around and you'd be silly to miss a show. I've seen them several times this year and I still can't get enough.

Shovels and Rope O' Be Joyful

This one is kind of the odd-ball of the group. But give it one listen and you'll understand why I can't put it down. It is pure fun. This duo just makes me want to stomp my feet on the front porch with some moonshine. Look them up on YouTube and watch them play. Yeah, that's two people making all that noise. If I accidentally listen to one of the songs off O' Be Joyful, you can bet I'll be listening to the whole CD on repeat for about a week before I get my fill. This is the only band on this list I haven't seen live yet but I'm thinking a road trip may be in order soon.


Honorable mentions-

Josh Weathers. Even though Big Night in the City  was released just a few months back, I can't nail it down to just one album because when I "discovered" him in April at LJT, I was listening to ALL of his music all summer long, making up for lost time I guess.

The Departed - Adventus. This one isn't on the list solely because I haven't listened to it as much as the others. Not because it isn't as good, but because it hasn't been out as long. I'm projecting that I will listen to this one as much in 2013 as I did some of the above albums in 2012.

Pistol Annies. I realize this is weird of me to be so obsessed with a girl band, but seriously... I'm obsessed. I have listened to their debut album as much, if not more, than most of the ones above, but since it technically came out in August of 2011, it doesn't qualify. I can't explain to you why I like this band so much but they speak to my soul. Spunky, twangy, sassy - they tell it like it is and make it believable (all thanks to Angaleena Presley, I do believe.)

The Trishas - High, Wide & Handsome. It took me a long time to jump on the Trishas bandwagon. I honestly think it's because I hated their outfits in the first pictures I saw of them. But with their new popularity, they have gotten significantly cuter so I gave them another shot. (Yes, I am that shallow.) Their music is kind of like the Pistol Annies but with far fewer white trash references. It's still incredibly relatable - Jamie Wilson can put any woman's feelings on paper and set them to a guitar. Combine that with Evan Felker's songwriting ("Little Sweet Cigars") and I'm hooked. 

Christmas Music That Doesn't Suck, Part 6

New Slang's Top 100 Songs of 2012

I have been way too busy this week to find the time to write anything here, but I jumped at the chance to do my first review for somewhere besides my little old website.

Click here to read New Slang's Top 100 Songs of 2012 - I reviewed #65, my favorite Lincoln Durham song, "Clementine." You'll see lots of familiar songs and probably recognize some of the reviewers as well. While you're there check out their list of Top 40 Lubbock Songs of 2012 (which was awesome) and fill out their reader's poll.

Christmas Music That Doesn't Suck, Part 5

This one doubles as Throwback Thursday!

New Music Tuesday

So honestly, there is no new music today. At least not in my world. These Tuesday posts have really become a bunch of random stuff that isn't necessarily deserving of an entire post so I throw everything in one and end up rambling. I need to come up with a catchier title for these. Help?

The only new music I've found so far today is another new one from the Randy Rogers Band. I've seen lots of mixed feelings about "Fuzzy" on Twitter and Facebook (just like with the last two we heard here and here), but I think I like this one. NO, it's not 2004 Randy but guess what... people would still be bitching if all RRB music sounded like it did in 2004. You can't win 'em all.

You'll have to go to iTunes and pay a buck-twenty-nine to hear the whole thing before the world ends next Friday, or else you'll just have to chance it and wait till their whole record Trouble comes out in January.

Also, I keep forgetting to post about this album. I don't know how many Jason Isbell fans there are in my little circle, but I am a HUGE fan and his new live album is incredible. I wish him and his fiance Amanda Shires would come to Lubbock. I think it would be a HUGE show.



And finally, I've been posting non-sucky Christmas music every day. Just songs I come across by artists I like or versions of songs that I can actually stand to listen to.

Christmas Music That Doesn't Suck.

Christmas Music That Doesn't Suck, Part 4

Christmas Music That Doesn't Suck, Part 3

Christmas Music That Doesn't Suck, Part 2

Dolly Shine - "Pretty Flowers"

Wednesday night I got to see a band for the first time - Dolly Shine. I had heard of them before in the past year or so and listened to a little music but it wasn't until I heard them on the Texas Red Dirt Road Show with Justin Frazell a few weeks ago that I realized how much I liked this band. They were awesome live too. Very true blue Texas Country, with a fiddle and everything. They mixed Honky-tonk with Southern Rock and reminded me a little of Kyle Bennett, Rob Baird and old Ragweed. I recognized a few of their songs from TXRDR and they did some awesome covers. (I know I talk about covers a lot, but I LOVE good covers). They played "Hurricane" (Leon Everette/Band of Heathens) and Lucero's "Slow Dancing" - two of my favorite bands... I'm sold.

I think Dolly Shine is headed places! Word on the street is they just recorded a new record and William Clark Green and some of the Six Market Blvd. guys contributed to it. I don't know when it will be out but I can't wait. In the meantime check out their self-titled EP on iTunes.

Pretty song... I think I remember him saying he wrote it with Clayton Landua from 6MB.


And here's another one just for kicks.

Christmas Music That Doesn't Suck, Part 1

Throwback Thursday - George Jones

Here's another throwback courtesy of my friend JNJ!


Some people call him The Possum, others called him No Show Jones.  But everyone called him the best in the business.  George Jones is a legend, but all he ever wanted to be was a singer.  Raised in Vidor, Texas, his career has span 50 years, boasting a remarkable 143 top 40 hits.  One of those hits, "He Stopped Loving her Today" is considered by most to be the greatest country song to date.  What made George the best was how he would take a song and gave it everything he had inside him.  A line from one of his songs, "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes", says, "who's gonna give their heart and soul to get to me and you?" That's what George did. Gave his heart and soul in every song. And that voice……the one Waylon sang about in his song "It's Alright."  He sang, "If we all sang like we wanted to we'd all sound like George Jones".

Here are a couple of videos of George spanning the years.  Watch, enjoy, and ask yourself, who really is gonna fill their shoes.  Brantley Gilbert?


Watch the music video for this one here. I didn't post it because it is kinda hokey and takes a long time to get to the song, but it's still worth watching.



He had numerous hits with his then wife, Tammy Wynette, so I have to include this as a tribute to Tammy:






And finally, the best ever...

New Music Tuesday

*Rambling ahead.*

 You've been warned. But stick around. It's worth it.

There's not a whole lot going on in my little bubble of music. Evidently there's new Wiz Khalifa, Ke$ha and Florida Georgia Line music out today... don't ask me why I know this... but I don't care.

What I DO know is that this week sucks. My immune system is compromised and my allergies are starting to kick my ass. I have to go to a funeral in Dallas this weekend and next week is finals week/Hallie starts her new job while keeping her old one for a few weeks. Yes, I'm being dramatic. Moving on.

Life is good. I saw Six Market Blvd. AND the Damn Quails this past weekend and they both rocked. Two of my favorite bands in any form - live, recorded, acoustic - always a great time. I'm not going to review them because I feel like I've done that several times already. All I will say is I can.not.wait for a new album from the Damn Quails. Saturday night was the second or third time I've heard some of their new songs and their next project is going to be awesome.

Anyway... the only new music I could find today (not that I actually looked real hard) is from No Justice. I've never been a superfan of theirs, but I've never not liked a song of theirs either. If that makes sense. I've listened to it a few times on Spotify this morning and I like it all so far. There's a new, different version of "Red Dress" that's a little more laid back and simple than the original. They also re-did "Don't Walk Away" and I think I like the new version better. There's a girl singing on this one and I don't know who it is, but it's a really pretty song.

Check it out.


Also, I just found this on the tweeter. Some free music from Joe Pug. It's probably not for everybody, but, hey! it's free music. I don't think it's included in this EP, but go get his song "Speak Plainly, Diana" both the rock and the slow versions. You're welcome.

Annnnd finally. Let's talk about Christmas music. 'Tis the season, y'all.

I don't really care for Christmas music. I mean, I like it if I'm in the right mood, which happens for approximately 15 minutes on Christmas day and you better believe I have a playlist standing ready for when those 15 minutes attack. But I'm not the girl that listens to it from Thanksgiving day till New Years.

My sister, on the other hand... I'm pretty sure she would listen to it year round, but I know she starts regularly adding to her playlist about the week of Halloween. Not even kidding. She tried to force my family to listen to it while we decorated my mom's tree, but my dad and I won that battle with Six Market and Adventus.

But I must say, she comes up with some good music. I haven't been able to find this song anywhere that it can be purchased or downloaded, but how can you beat LeeAnn Womack, Cody Canada and Asleep at the Wheel??? Go here to listen to their version of "Mele Kalikimaka." If anyone has, or knows how to get this song - hook a sister up!

I'll keep trying to post the good Christmas music as I find it... if I can stand it.