Sound Obsession

These are my runners up and honorable mention albums of 2023, in alphabetical order by artist name . . . . Vincent Neil Emerson:   The Golden Crystal Kingdom   (La Honda - 11/10/23)    Foo Fighters:   But Here We Are     (Roswell - 6/2/23)    Adam Hood:   Adam Hood's Different Groove     (Southern Songs - 9/22/23)    Gabe Lee:   Drink The River     (Torrez Music Group - 7/14/23)    Royal Blood:  B ack To The Water Below     (Warner - 9/1/23)      Sci-Clone:   Radio Therapy     (Metalheadz - 5/19/23)    Chris Stapleto...

What a year, right?  With live music shutting down in mid-March, the last nine months or so have been all about studio albums for me.  Here are my top ten favorites of 2020, in alphabetical order.  Not too many curveballs.  We're talkin' comfort food here.  Many of these artists have made my top ten favorites lists in recent years, and here they are again.  This time though I was happy to see and hear some stylistic experimentation, lineup changes, and pushing of envelopes.  Check out my runners up and honorable mentions list too.         Have a listen.  Hope you enjoy, and Happy New Year! Brent Cobb:   Keep 'Em On They Toes    (Ol' Buddy - 10/2/20) South Georgia native Brent Cobb, cousin to country super-producer Dave Cobb, released his fourth studio album this year.  This time Brent switched gears, enlisting indie-folk p...

Brent Cobb, Rock & Roll Hotel, Washington DC - 9/18/19 Black Pumas, U Street Music Hall, 9/12/19 Black Pumas, U Street Music Hall, 9/12/19 Black Pumas, U Street Music Hall, 9/12/19 Tame Impala, The Anthem, Washington DC - 10/24/19 Tame Impala, The Anthem, Washington DC - 10/24/19 Tame Impala, The Anthem, Washington DC - 10/24/19 Chris Stapleton, Margo Price, Marcus King, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia MD - 10/11/19 Chris Stapleton, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia MD - 10/11/19 Chris Stapleton, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia MD - 10/11/19 Ward Davis, Pearl Street Warehouse, Washington DC - 10/9/19 Charles Wesley Godwin, Pearl Street Warehouse, Washington DC - 10/9/19 Torche, The Black Cat, Washington DC - 7/31/19 Jim Kweskin, Colony, Woodstock NY - 7/5/19

Hey, folks.  Regrettably, it's been a while.  Due to time limitations, this year I've changed the format a bit.  Primarily photos, lists, and links for the foreseeable future instead of reviews and analysis.   These are my top ten albums of 2017.  Subjective favorites, of course.  Albums that made the most impact and were in heaviest rotation during the year.  Suffice it to say, Chris Stapleton's pair of earnest and emotive  From A Room  albums (an eclectic two-volume set of originals and choice covers recorded at the legendary " Studio A " in Nashville, TN - released seven months apart) dominated my earbuds and hi-fi in 2017. Click the hyperlinks below each album image for audio/video and check out my 2017 Runners Up and Honorable Mention  list.  Thanks for reading and listening, and have a Happy New Year!  See you in 2018. 1.  Chris Stapleton:   From A Room Vol. 1 & 2   (Mercury Nashville - 5...