Townes Van Zandt: High, Low and In Between / Late Great
Whatever my earlier encounters with Townes‚ music were, they left me with the impression that his music was too melancholy for my frail constitution. I don't know what this says about the present state of my constitution, but these two albums, released together (which are way more emotionally complex than simple "melancholy"), sound just right to me now.
Jose Gonzales: Veneer
Our wonderous UK tour manager, Phil Nicolas, and I were parking our van late one night when we were struck completely silent by a song that came over the BBC. Bob Harris came on and announced the track by Jose Gonzales. Then, a couple months later at the Living Room in NYC, I was fortunate enough to see Jose's music have a similar effect on a whole room full of people.
Secret Machines: Now Here is Nowhere
I was swept off my feet by the hooky hooks and crushing drums of this record, and then only later learned that our own buddy Geoff Sanoff recorded the thing. Man, what a world.
Sam Cooke with the Soul Stirrers
This, the sweetest voice in of all pop music, sounds sweetest to my ears in the years before it was a pop music voice (if that makes any sense). Whether or not you've got that holy ghost power, this music will make the hairs on your neck stand and rejoice.
Lucinda Williams: Essence
If any of you all, like myself, put this record aside when it came out because it didn't push the same buttons that Car Wheels did, go set yo'selves right - it's a great album.
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