The Freeform American Roots chart taps the pulse of roots/americana music among independent DJ,s (i.e., DJs who actually pick the music they play) and the “FAR & Away Chart” is the Best Of chart for the year. Here are the winners for 2010
FAR and Away 2010 Winners.
VARIOUS ARTISTS/TRIBUTE ALBUM
#1 Eilen Jewell: Butcher Holler; Tribute To Loretta Lynn
2 The Great Recession Orchestra: Have You Ever Even Heard of Milton Brown?
3 VA: Twistable Turnable Man: A Musical Tribute To The Songs Of Shel Silverstein
4 VA: Crazy Heart
5 VA: Broken Hearts and Dirty Windows; Tribute To John Prine
Calvin’s Comments: Eilen Jewel brings a sultry modern spin to these classic tunes from Loretta Lynn. Eilen could sing the phone book and I’d listen.
DEBUT ALBUM
#1 Yvette Landry: Should Have Known
2 Zoe Muth & The Lost High Rollers
3 Leyla Fences: Liars, Cheats & Fools
4 The Secret Sisters
5 Stone River Boys: Love On The Dial
6 Tara Linda: Tortilla Western Serenade
7 Whitey Morgan & The 78s
8 JD McPherson: Signs And Signifiers
9 Ruth Moody: The Garden
I think Zoe Muth is great, but Yvette Landry blew me away with a great set of honky tonk tunes with a Lousianna vibe. You can hear her interviewed on episode 15 of the Taproot Podcast. Am also glad to see Whitey Morgan’s revival of Outlaw Country got a nod at #7. He was interviewed on episode 19 of the Taproot Podcast.
FEMALE ARTIST
#1 Marti Brom
2 Yvette Landry
3 Elizabeth Cook
4 Carrie Rodriguez
5 Eilen Jewell
6 Mavis Staples
7= Elizabeth McQueen, Lynne Hanson, Zoe Muth
8= Miss Leslie, Sally Spring
Calvin’s Comments: This is the year of female artists among the FAR crowd and it shows from the strength of these artists. I’m completely on board with 1-6. I might quibble with the ordering but they are all great.
BEST IN THE INDUSTRY
#1 Bill Hunt (Cow Island)
2 Jenni Finlay (Jenni Finlay Productions)
3 Joe Swank (Bloodshot)
4 Ellen Stanley (Red House)
5 Gurf Morlix (Rootball)
6 Bill Wence (Bill Wence Promotions)
Calvin’s Comments: Congrats to all of these folks, they are true evangelists, not just “promoters”.
REISSUE/HISTORIC
#1 Blaze Foley: Sittin’ By The Road
2 Blue Shadows: On The Floor Of Heaven
3 Jimmy LaFave: Favorites 1992-2001
4 Chip Taylor & Carrie Rodriguez: The New Bye And Bye
Calvin’s Comments: The Blaze Foley CD is the only one I’ve heard of this set and it is very raw but worth a listen.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
#1 Marti Brom: Not For Nothin’
2 Yvette Landry: Should Have Known
3 Caleb Klauder: Western Country
4 Eric Brace & Peter Cooper: Master Sessions
5 Stone River Boys: Love On the Dial
7 Les Sampou: Lonesomeville
7 Carolina Chocolate Drops: Genuine Negro Jig
8 Miss Leslie: Wrong Is What I Do Best
9 Justin Townes Earle: Harlem River Blues
10 Zoe Muth & The Lost High Rollers
11 Sally Spring: Made Of Stars
Calvin’s Comments: I’m happy to see the Carolina Chocolate Drops, who hail from just up the road in Durham, doing so well on the charts. Lots of great bands on this. My vote for album of the year was Janiva Magness’ The Devil Is An Angel Too. But I can’t argue with these results. Les Sampou is featured on episode 13 of the Taproot Podcast. And Mike Barfield, of the Stone River Boys was featured on episode 16 of the Taproot Podcast.
MALE ARTIST
#1 Caleb Klauder
2 Peter Case
3 Justin Townes Earle
4 Paul Thorn
5 Marty Stuart
6 Cornell Hurd
7 Eric Brace
8 David Olney
Calvin’s Comments:
I’m a huge fan of Caleb Klauder. He has brought the vintage country into the 21st century, staying true to the sound while writing original tunes. He’s featured on episode 14 of the Taproot Podcast. I’m also glad to see Paul Thorn getting lots of credit. I’ve posted several of his videos to the site and am hoping to get him lined up for an interview.
INSTRUMENTALIST
#1 Bill Kirchen
2 Jerry Miller
3 Sergio Webb
Calvin’s Comments: Bill Kirchen is a hnky tonk god of course, so no surprise there. Jerry Miller, if I remember right, is Eilen Jewel’s guitarist and very talented.
DUO/GROUP
#1 Amber Digby & Justin Trevino
2 Los Lobos
3 Stone River Boys
4 Cornell Hurd Band
5 The Sadies
6 Peter Cooper & Eric Brace
SONGWRITER
#1 Josh Ritter
2 Dan Baker
3 Paul Thorn
4 Adam Carroll
5 Zoe Muth
6= Justin Townes Earle, Lynn Hanson, DB Rielly
