1. C.R. AVERY – So It Goes
This native of Vancouver, (home of so much great music these days) is impossible to define. Check his MySpace page, and you’ll see he describes himself as Blues/Classical/Hip Hop…can’t recommend the album highly enough, but if you don’t believe me, then Tom Waits described him as ‘Mindblowing’. Check this clip for a small flavour of what this fine artist is laying down:
2. BRIGHT EYES – The People’s Key
The last Conor Oberst missive under the Bright Eyes banner. Well, just as long as he continues to deliver literate, intelligent observations in this manner, there’s no need to be distressed. Check out the full album here:
3. JOHN VANDERSLICE – White Wilderness
Delicate and fractured, John Vanderslice’s music is for Sunday afternoons at home, in the post weekend haze. Guaranteed to wash over your soul, ‘Sea salt’ is the album’s opener, hear it here:
4. ALEXANDER – Alexander
Lead singer with Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros steps out with a solo album, ahead of his band’s forthcoming release and tour. Alexander played in London this past week, check out this rather shaky clip:
5. THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART – Belong
New York’s finest, or the band with the most pretentious name in Christendom? This JAMC influenced corker is the lead track on their new album, and hoists them several rungs up the current indie/pop hierarchical ladder.
6. WILLIAM FITZSIMMONS – Gold In The Shadow
Sufi beard, sandals and an acoustic guitar? Despite that heavy baggage, this guy pulls it off. This track, which kicks off his new album in understated fashion, is a real grower, and we’re predicting big things for this guy in 2011.
7. LEWIS FLOYD HENRY – One Man And His 30 Watt Pram
This one came out last October, but escaped our attention at the time. Fine record, with titles of the decade so far! To watch a clip of Henry performing ‘Rickety Ol’ Roller Coaster’ at last year’s ‘Secret Garden Party’, click here:
8. AMOS LEE – Mission Bell
‘Windows Are Rolled Down’, from Amos Lee’s latest, is a great John Hiattesque ballad. Not often we get to make such a comparison, but this guy lives up to such lofty comparisons and transcends the buzz on this album, which has class and quality stamped on it’s crystalline heart.
9. RON SEXSMITH – Long Player Late Bloomer
This guy has long deserved record sales way above what he achieves, but maybe that’s protected him from having to play the hideous games that have tainted many a career. This past week, Ron appeared on Nashville Public Radio, and performed this song ‘Get In Line’ from ‘Long Player Late Bloomer’. Check out that performance right here:
10. TEDDY THOMPSON – Bella
This track, ‘Looking For A Girl’ is from Teddy’s latest, and it’s a cracker. Witty and reflective at the same time, this live clip gives a good indication of the quality of material on Teddy’s current release:
