Every December I try to think of some clever way to recap the year’s musical releases, but nothing ever seems right. We have access to so much great music in today’s world; and, people all over the world are making incredible pieces of art.
It is tough to decide which albums I want to highlight. I spend a lot of time listening to records. The majority of that time is allocated to doing research for The Marinade, so any year-end or favorites list is naturally going to include Marinade guests or folks who are Marinade adjacent.
I don’t consider myself much of a critic, so when I say “best” albums I mean my favorites. These are the albums that have been on heavy rotation at my house, in the car, and during my workouts. These are the works that captured my attention for extended stretches of time. They are the albums that came to mind when I thought about doing a “best of” piece.
This is Part I of two “Best of” recaps. The records are presented here without regard for any ranking. If you would like to hear more about why I included these albums, and how I would rank them, head over to patreon.com/marinadepodcast and subscribe for the price of a latte or a nice IPA.
Allison Russell Outside Child
Atop almost everyone’s best of list, this masterpiece is the kind of record we will be talking about in twenty, thirty, forty years. Reissues will shoot it back up the charts and into a new generation’s consciousness.
Look for my conversation with Allison to hit your podcast feeds in mid-January.
In the meantime, check out this clip from the end of our interview where we captured the moment Allison learned of her three well-deserved Grammy nominations.
Hayes Carll You Get It All
Hayes is one of the best to ever do the singer-songwriter thing. Todd Snider told me earlier this year that everybody knew Hayes was special when he arrived in Nashville as a twenty-something kid.
Now a seasoned veteran, Carll gets better with every album. Carll is a genius who comes across as an everyman, which itself is a fit of brilliance.
The album leads off with “Nice Things,” which sounds like it could be a hit on country radio in 1996. But, its subject matter would keep the song blacklisted from the mainstream from then to now.
The album goes on to examine forever love, lost love, alzheimers, and much more. You Get It All was on heavy rotation at Marinade studios this year.
Tre Burt You, Yeah, You
Burt’s sophomore effort showcases the imagery and world-building that made his debut such a darling of critics. On the standout track By the Jasmine, he begins with the line “Dante woke up, he didn’t mean to/he could have used a little more time in his dreams.” The song goes on to tell the all-too-familiar tale of a black man out minding his own business who falls victim to the violence of systemic and implicit racism.
In an album full of outstanding lines, the one that opens and closes the song is perhaps the most powerful. Is Dante awakening to a realization of the challenges a black man faces in America, or literally awakening and going on a walk? Perhaps it’s both.
Most of the songs on You, Yeah, You come in at around three minutes. Using an economy of words, Burt is establishing himself in a short amount of time.
Todd Snider First Agnostic Church of Hope and Wonder
There is no one like Todd Snider. Part songwriter, part folk hero, part comedian- the man is larger than life. First Agnostic Church of Hope and Wonder is a sonic detour from Snider’s vast body of work. He took some risks that result in his best work to date.
Present are the normal Snider musings on life and subtle political statements, but this is a record dependent on the beat rather than Todd’s observational poetry. From the first beat of “Turn Me Loose (I’ll Never Be the Same)” Snider takes the listener through ups and downs- paying tribute to dead friends, dwelling on the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch,” and playfully stepping down from his post as pastor of the First Agnostic Church of Hope and Wonder. It’s a hell of a tour of existence that only Todd could lead.