Sound Obsession

Another year done and gone, and what a great year for music.  These are my top ten favorite albums of 2023, in alphabetical order by artist name . . . . Baroness:   Stone     (Abraxan Hymns - 9/15/23) Not so long prior to 2015’s   Purple , Baroness’ excellent fourth album in a color-coded series that concluded this year, their tour bus flipped in Bath, England, resulting in both shattered bones and band lineup.     Founder and frontman John Baizley remains as the sole original member of this Savannah, GA, sludge and progressive metal group.     2017’s   Gold & Grey   introduced fans to axe-shredder extraordinaire Gina Gleason, cementing a new and now consistent dynamic that pays dividends on Baroness’ latest LP,   Stone .     As its title implies, this one is rock solid with drums and bass locked in propulsive motorik tempo, Gleason’s soari...

Another tough year year done and gone.  At least we had some good albums to get us through.  These are my top ten favorite albums of 2021, in alphabetical order by artist name . . . . Blackberry Smoke:   You Hear Georgia     (3 Legged - 5/28/21) Atlanta country-rockers Blackberry Smoke returned in 2021 with their seventh studio album and a few guests in tow - underground country legend Jamey Johnson and Allman Brothers Band guitarist/vocalist Warren Haynes.  A backyard barbecue and roadtrip classic in the making, You Hear Georgia was a constant for me this summer.   Vincent Neil Emerson:   Vincent Neil Emerson     (La Honda - 6/25/21) Following an excellent debut in 2019, East Texas native Vincent Neil Emerson leveled up this year.  Produced by Rodney Crowell, Emerson’s eponymously titled sophomore outing headed in a more introspective direction, covering the artist’s personal struggle with depression, hi...

Mastodon, The Anthem, Washington DC, 11/21/21 Mastodon, The Anthem, Washington DC, 11/21/21 Mastodon, The Anthem, Washington DC, 11/21/21 Mastodon, The Anthem, Washington DC, 11/21/21 Mastodon, The Anthem, Washington DC, 11/21/21 Mastodon, The Anthem, Washington DC, 11/21/21 Mastodon, The Anthem, Washington DC, 11/21/21 Mastodon, The Anthem, Washington DC, 11/21/21 Mastodon, The Anthem, Washington DC, 11/21/21 Mastodon, The Anthem, Washington DC, 11/21/21 Billy Strings, The Anthem, Washington DC, 11/13/21 Charles Wesley Godwin, Hamilton Live, Washington DC, 10/29/21 Flatland Cavalry, Hamilton Live, Washington DC, 10/29/21 Quicksand, Black Cat, Washington DC, 10/27/21 Marcus King Band, Baltimore Soundstage, Baltimore MD, 10/10/21 Marcus King Band, Baltimore Soundstage, Baltimore MD, 10/10/21 Leon Bridges, Lincoln Theater, Washington DC, 9/23/21 Charley Crockett, The Fillmore, Silver Spring MD, 9/16/21

Based on the number of cowboy hats on display on these album covers, the running musical theme for me in 2019 is fairly obvious.  No surprise, despite being a relative neophyte, my top ten favorite albums list last year was dominated by independent country music too.  With a staggering pool of new talent to explore, I continued that deep dive again this year.  Though unexpected for me just a few years ago, I've fallen pretty hard for country music's history, its sounds, its evocative storytelling, and its sense of timelessness. The following ten albums are my favorites of 2019.  I've chosen not to rank them, so they're listed in alphabetical order by artist name.  Any of these could be my favorite depending on the day of the week, but if I had to grab one right now for the desert island, it'd be Charles Wesley Godwin's Seneca Creek (with Joshua Ray Walker's Wish You Were Here  a close second). Check out my 2019 runners up & honorable mention ...