The 2008 music honor roll

First, I wish to correct some errors from last month’s extravaganza. The Jeff Beck live album is not available on DVD, but it is on CD…for now. We are assured DVD and Blu-Ray editions are on the way in 2009. Also, the Neil Young Sugar Mountain CD/DVD release does not contain a film of the show on the DVD. Like previous releases in the “Neil Young Archive” series, the DVD features a hi-res version of the CD. Both albums are excellent. Also, Young’s massive box set Archives: Volume 1 1963-1972 has been delayed yet again. Amazon has moved the street date from Jan. 27 to Feb. 24, while British music mag Uncut has it arriving in April or May. In its place, a previously unreleased album from Young and his longtime backing band Crazy Horse will reportedly fill the gap. 

At this time of the year, many critics offer their lists of the best of the previous year, and I am taking the opportunity to do the same. Check out my Best of 2008 list of 93 albums online at bayviewcompass.com. If you might be wondering why a certain title appears here, feel free to write me at randyo@bayviewcompass.com, and I will be happy to give you the criteria on any specific title(s).

Here’s a sneak peak of 10 of my top picks:

David Byrne & Brian Eno, Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
Alejandro Escovedo, Real Animal
Fleet Foxes
Al Green, Lay It Down
Cassandra Wilson, Loverly
Mavis Staples, Live: Hope from the Hideout
Jeff Beck, Performing This Week…Recorded Live at Ronnie Scott’s
Brian Wilson, That Lucky Old Sun
Willie Nelson & Wynton Marsalis, Two Men with the Blues
B.B. King, One Kind Favor

NOW HEAR THESE!

Robin Pluer, Live at Bastille Days…and Beyond

At long last, and just in time for these long winter nights, Milwaukee’s favorite chanteuse has a CD containing highlights from her performances at Bastille Days. It’s a nice mix of French cabaret songs (a number made popular by Edith Piaf, profiled in the movie La Vie En Rose) and swingin’ jazz tunes reminiscent of Django Reinhardt. You’ll feel like you’re in Cathedral Square in July. Available at robinpluer.com and also at local Borders Books stores.

Eileen Ivers at the Wilson Center, Jan. 23-24

She’s a longtime Milwaukee favorite at Irish Fest and guest appearances with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and once again the vivacious fiddler of Riverdance fame is here with her great band Immigrant Soul to warm up our wintry nights. She’s so full of energy that one night just isn’t enough, so she’ll be here for a weekend at Brookfield’s Sharon Lynn Wilson Center. More info available at eileenivers.com or wilson-center.com.

Happy Listening!

Without further adieu, here’s my Music Honor Roll for 2008:

David Byrne & Brian Eno, Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
Alejandro Escovedo, Real Animal
Fleet Foxes
Al Green, Lay It Down
Cassandra Wilson, Loverly
Mavis Staples, Live: Hope from the Hideout
Jeff Beck, Performing This Week…Recorded Live at Ronnie Scott’s
Brian Wilson, That Lucky Old Sun
Willie Nelson & Wynton Marsalis, Two Men with the Blues
B.B. King, One Kind Favor
Glen Campbell, Meet Glen Campbell
Charlie Haden, Family & Friends, Rambling Boy
David Sanborn, Here & Gone
James Hunter, The Hard Way
Lucinda Williams, Little Honey
Duffy, Rockferry
McCoy Tyner, Guitars
Paul Weller, 22 Dreams
Neil Diamond, Home Before Dark
Drive-By Truckers, Brighter Than Creation’s Dark
Tommy Emmanuel, Centre Stage
The Punch Brothers, Punch
Hold Steady, Stay Positive
Juniper Tar, To the Trees*
Portishead, Third
Beck, Modern Guilt
Lindsey Buckingham, Gift of Screws
TV on the Radio, Dear Science
Brad Paisley, Play
Randy Newman, Harps and Angels
Esperanza Spalding, Esperanza
John Mellencamp, Life Death Love & Freedom
Taj Mahal, The Maestro
Irma Thomas, Simply Grand
The Black Keys, Attack & Release
Aimee Mann, @#%&! Smilers
Metallica, Death Magnetic
James Taylor, Covers
AC/DC, Black Ice
Oasis, Dig Out Your Soul
Albert Hammond Jr., Como Te Llama?
Cat Power, Jukebox
The Raconteurs, Consolers of the Lonely
Mudcrutch
Vampire Weekend
Martha Wainwright, I Know You’re Married but I’ve Got Feelings Too
John the Savage*
Solas, For Love & Laughter
SMV
Yo-Yo Ma & Friends, Songs of Joy & Peace
Kings Of Leon, Only by the Night
Patty Loveless, Sleepless Nights
Brian Culbertson, Bringing Back the Funk
John Hiatt, Same Old Man
Ray Davies, Working Man’s Cafe
David Gilmour, Live in Gdansk
Amanda Palmer, Who Killed Amanda Palmer?
Bodeans, Still
Rolling Stones, Shine a Light
Van Morrison, Keep It Simple
Various Artists, Body of War
Emmylou Harris, All I Intended to Be
Kathy Mattea, Coal
Calexico, Carried to Dust
REM, Accelerate
Rachael Yamagata, Elephants…Teeth Sinking into Heart
Sonny Landreth, From the Reach
Johnny Flynn, A Larum
Amy MacDonald, This Is the Life
Gaslight Anthem, ’59 Sound
Barbara Stephan, I’m Awake*
Joan Baez, Day After Tomorrow
Jenny Lewis, Acid Tongue
Various Artists, Imus Ranch Project
Old Crow Medicine Show, Tennessee Pusher
Sloan, Parallel Play
Supergrass, Diamond Hoo Ha
Coldplay, Viva La Vida
Teddy Thompson, Piece of What You Need
Ron Sexsmith, Exit Strategy
My Morning Jacket, Evil Urges
Ry Cooder, I, Flathead
Carly Simon, This Kind of Love
Amos Lee, Last Day at the Lodge
Wolf Parade, At Mount Zoomer
Buddy Guy, Skin Deep
Litmus Vinyl, The Social Club*
Jakob Dylan, Seeing Things
Death Cab For Cutie, Narrow Stairs
Carla Bruni
Secret Machines
Jason Mraz, We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things

*denotes a local artist

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