Taproot Radio Best of 2006

1. Malcolm Holcombe: Not Forgotten
From the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, Malcolm Holcombe has a voice like a rock slide, a sound that's right in tune with the times, and the most soul-baring lyrics you'll hear from any 2006 release. Malcolm Holcombe's got the blues and he's got'em bad.

2. The Gourds: Heavy Ornamentals
Heavy Ornamentals solidifies two trends that The Gourds have been working toward for a while now. First they have thoroughly mastered the incorporation of electric guitars into the more traditionally based instrumentation of their past releases. Second, they have demonstrated that turning away for the never ending digital tweaking of recordings and going back to a "mistakes and all" style of analog recording makes for a warmer, more engaging sound. Put these two together and Heavy Ornamentals comes out sounding not only like "music for the unwashed and well read" but also like the world's best bar band. Period.

3. Solomon Burke: Nashville
Even though he covers Tom T. Hall and he has a duet with Dolly Parton, I would argue with the claim that this is Burke's "twangy" CD. Sounds more like blues and blues inspired rock. But whatever. What's indisputable is that the man still has an ear for phrasing the delivery of his lyrics for maximum emotional impact. He can make you sad. He can make you laugh, He can make you feel the religion.

4. The Avett Brothers: Four Thieves Gone
Wild-eyed, full speed ahead, a little caustic, far from angelic, and not the least bit apologetic New grass punk at its finest.

5. Ray Wylie Hubbard: Snake Farm
Lots of folks say this is not anywhere near his best work. But I'm completely taken in my by the mythic world his songs create, full of redneck women who discuss "cinéma vérité," rabbits that discuss their need to out run dogs, exotic dancers that work at reptile houses, and "wild gods of Mexico." I love the "heartache and grease" the permeates the whole CD.

6. Bob Dylan: Modern Times
One of those CDs that critics will be analyzing for years. It's chock full or references and odes to his literary heroes and explores the limits of our cut-n-paste, mash-up culture, which is quite an accomplishment considering that all the songs are completely anachronistic and sound like they are authentic originals from times gone by.

7. The Turnstiles: Step Right Up
Americana/alt.country/southern rock from a band that never forgets that their job is to entertain with heartfelt ballads, twangy riffs, and open road rock.

8. Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint: The River In Reverse
Put Costello's Imposters together with Toussaint's Crescent City Horns and you've got a band that can create huge landscapes of sound that covers both the the disappointment and inspiration of post-Katrina New Orleans.

9. Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris: All The Roadrunning
Knopfler takes his signature guitar sound and transplants it from crunchy California to the heartland of America and by the time you're done with the CD, you'd swear that this is what Americana was supposed to sound like all along.


10. Marah: If You Didn't Laugh You'd Cry
Despite the hulabaloo at a local performance, Marah continues to be my current favorite rock band. While their _Kids In Philly_ CD was chock full of twangy influences, finding such touchstones in this year's release is very difficult. But no matter. Marah is writing better slice-of-life ballads than anyone I can think of.

11. Tom Petty: Highway Companion
12. Hooverville: Follow That Trail Of Dust Back Home
13. The Be Good Tanyas: Hello Love
14. Hacienda Brothers: What's Wrong With Right
15. Rosanne Cash: Black Cadillac
16. Drive-By Truckers: A Blessing And A Curse
17. Candi Staton: His Hands
18. Janiva Magness: Do I Move You
19. The Subdudes: Behind The Levee
20. Johnny Cash: American V: A Hundred Highways

Honorable Mention, in no particular order:
Irma Thomas: After The Rain
The Little Willies: The Little Willies
Van Morrison: Pay The Devil
Fred Eaglesmith: Milly's Cafe
Tim Easton: Ammunition
Willie Nelson: You Don't Know Me - Songs Of Cindy Walker
Chris Knight: Enough Rope
Dave Alvin: West Of The West
Kenny Roby: The Mercy Filter
Scott Miller: Citation
Bettye LaVette: Take Another Little Piece Of My Heart
Shooter Jennings: Electric Rodeo
The Bottle Rockets: Zoysia
Golden Smog: Another Fine Day
James Hunter: People Gonna Talk
The Hoyle Brothers: One More Draw
Drams: Jubilee Dive