Jer's Top Ten CDs of 2000

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Once again it is that time of year when music critics, music fans and nerds like me make their best of the year lists. In my opinion this was a great year for music in general. I found it hard to choose only ten albums for the list. Even as popular music becomes more plastic and boring, real meaningful music made by fine players, singers and songwriters continues to flourish. It may not have mass commercial appeal, but it does have integrity and most importantly, soul. This is the stuff that moved my soul the most this year…

1. Shake Hands With Shorty-The North Mississippi All Stars

This was a fairly easy choice for my favorite album of the year. The core of the NMAS is Luther and Cody Dickinson, sons of legendary producer, Jim Dickinson (Big Star, the Cramps etc…). Also, integral to the sound is bassist Chris Chew. I had heard Luther and Cody on Squirrel Nut Zipper front man, Jimbo Mathus’ excellent solo album, Songs for Rosetta and had been very impressed. Then I saw them open up for Galactic earlier this year and was immediately sold. This is the Blues, but not quite how you are used to it. It is not Chicago Blues or Memphis Blues, it is electrified country blues and most of it has a drone-like quality that you might recognize from the work of John Lee Hooker and especially R.L. Burnside. The NMAS dig deep into their Mississippi roots covering Burnside and Fred McDowell among others on this disc. They are not content to simply recreate though. Their music is infused with a punkish attitude and at times delves into improvised jazz-rock not unlike the Allman Brothers or the Grateful Dead. The disc captures their live sound very accurately and is meant to be played loud.

2. Evening Moods-Bob Weir and Ratdog

It took Ratdog five years to put out a record, but it turns out it was well worth the wait. Ratdog was formed in early 1995 as a side project for Grateful Dead rhythm guitarist Bob Weir. He had been collaborating with bassist Rob Wasserman for 6 or 7 years in an acoustic duo and the two decided it was time to add more band members to the mix. While the band was on their first tour in August of 1995, Jerry Garcia died and suddenly Ratdog was thrust into the forefront with the disbanding of the Dead. Over the next several years Ratdog went through a dizzying array of personnel and stylistic changes. When Matt Kelly and Johnnie Johnson were in the band on harmonica and keyboards respectively, the outfit most often played tight Chicago-style Blues. When Charlie Hunter Trio Saxophonist Dave Ellis joined the band the music began to stretch out more and the group began playing more of the Dead songbook. The line-up finally crystallized a couple of years ago and they started writing new material and recording. The result is Weir’s finest solo record since 1972’s Ace and one of the best Dead related studio albums ever. The lyrics are cynical yet hopeful as most of Weir’s best songs are and the music is sterling. This is a very loose sounding record in that it features lots of jamming and group interaction. Former members, Matt Kelly and Dave Ellis put in guest appearances as does Dead drummer Mickey Hart, but the group itself is the star of this album. Highlights include "Bury Me Standing", October Queen" and "Two Djinn".

3. Silver and Gold-Neil Young

This much delayed Neil Young album is a return to his acoustic side that he explored on masterpiece’s like Harvest and Harvest Moon. This is Young at his quietest introspective best. Songs like "Silver and Gold" and "Daddy Went Walkin’" are as tender as they are clever. The album features the spare backing of Donald "Duck" Dunn, Ben Keith and Spooner Oldman. Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt also sing backup on "Red Sun". This is the rare kind of album that feels instantly like an old favorite, even the first time you hear it.

4. Tonic-Medeski, Martin and Wood

Acoustic improvised jazz from the normally electric trio of John Medeski, Billy Martin and Chris Wood. Each of these players is a virtuoso on his own instrument and their interaction often approaches telepathic. Usually, they play electric acid jazz of the funkiest order, but for this live disc they strip down to just piano, acoustic bass and drums for a highly entertaining romp through everything from Coltrane to Hendrix. If you are a fan of their more funky side, this album might throw you off, but give it a chance and you will find their acoustic work no less innovative.

5. Might as Well: The Persuasions Sing the Grateful Dead-The Persuasions

The Persuasions have been called the greatest a cappella group in the world and who am I to argue. This latest effort finds them mining the Grateful Dead songbook for material. This might seem like a strange combination at first, but it is no stranger than the Persuasions last project which was a tribute to Frank Zappa. The Dead are often overlooked as songwriters by music critics, but not by fellow musicians. Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, and Patti Smith are just a few of the artists who are known to cover Dead tunes now and then. The Persuasions really make the material their own and their interpretations illuminate new meanings and nuances in these rich songs. "Ship of Fools" has never sounded so poignant and "It Must Have Been the Roses" has never sounded so sorrowful. There is also a joyous side to this album on tunes like "Might as Well", "Loose Lucy" and "One More Saturday Night". Two other standout tracks are "Liberty" and "Lazy River Road" which were tunes that the Dead played live in their later years but never recorded before Garcia’s death. Former Dead Keyboardist, Vince Welnick plays some beautiful piano on a few tracks. Other guests include Peter Rowan and producer David Gans.

6. Public Domain-Dave Alvin

Dave Alvin (formerly of the Blasters) put together this cool collection of old Public Domain songs. What is really interesting is Alvin’s unique takes on these tunes. "Shenandoah" becomes a soul song and "Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down" gets a sort of rockabilly treatment. Alvin is a master of the many kinds of American Music and you get a sampling of Blues, Folk, Country and Rock & Roll on this disc. Alvin has a great voice and the playing is top notch. From the title of this CD you might think it is historical in nature, but that is only part of the story. Alvin’s imaginative readings of these mysterious tunes with no known author bring these songs into the present.

7. Muy Divertido (Very Entertaining)-Marc Ribot Y Los Cubanos Postizos

This is the second album by Marc Ribot and the Prosthetic Cubans. As their name suggests this is Cuban music filtered through Ribot’s downtown New York, Avant-garde sensibilities. This CD not only rocks a little harder than the first, but also maintains if not surpasses the over all quality as well. Ribot is an adventurous and inventive guitar player, but what I love most about his playing is his tone. He coaxes the most beautiful tone from his instrument and this Cuban flavored material is the perfect showcase for that sound.

8. American III: Solitary Man-Johnny Cash

The mere fact that Johnny was well enough to record a record this year is a cause for celebration, but that this record is so good is amazing. This is the third of Johnny’s collaborations with producer, Rick Rubin of American Records. This is another stark outing with relatively little accompaniment to Johnny’s voice. Tom Petty guests on several tracks including his own "I Won’t Back Down". Johnny’s voice doesn’t have the timbre it used to, but it is still powerful and makes these meditations on life, death, sin and redemption even more poignant. "I See a Darkness" is one of the most spooky and yet moving pieces of music I heard this year. Johnny is a great artist who has always stayed true to his vision. This CD is just one more testament to his talent and integrity.

9. Mermaid Avenue Vol. 2-Billy Bragg and Wilco

Vol.two of this acclaimed collaboration between Billy Bragg, Wilco and the late, great Woody Guthrie. This collection of songs in general is more esoteric than the first with Jeff Tweedy and Wilco taking more of the spotlight. There are a lot of highlights here. Some of my favorites are Billy and Woody’s message to fascists everywhere, "All You Fascists are Bound to Lose", and Jeff Tweedy singing "Joe Dimaggio Done it Again". Natalie Merchant and Corey Harris also help out again on "I Was Born" and "Against the Law" respectively. Overall this is a worthy follow up to the first album and I wouldn’t mind seeing another.

10. The Confessions of St. Ace-John Wesley Harding

Wes makes it into Top Ten for the second year in a row this time with a new collection of pop songs recorded in Nashville. Last year he put out a traditional folk album and this album couldn’t be more different in some ways. The common thread is in the quality of the songs and production. This might be JWH’s strongest songwriting yet. His sense of humor is still in tact as you can tell from song titles like "She’s a Piece of Work" and " I’m Wrong About Everything". For a record made in Nashville there is relatively little country influence here. This is more like pop music in the vein of the Kinks crossed with the Beach Boys. In fact the only real trace of Nashville comes with the two major guest appearances by Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Steve Earle. Jimme sings on an otherworldly ditty called "Bad Dream Baby" that reminds me of the supernatural type of song that Townes Van Zandt sometimes used to write. Steve duets with Wes on the road prayer, "Our Lady of the Highways".

Honorable Mentions:

Wonder Boys Soundtrack-Just for Dylan’s new tune "Things Have Changed" although the rest is good too.

The Montauk Sessions-The New Bohemians

B’Gock-On the Corner with Fuzz

Space Island-Rob Wasserman

Draw Them Near-Jess Klein

Bump-John Scofield

Electric Rosary-Living Daylights

The Pizza Tapes-Jerry Garcia, Tony Rice and David Grisman

As usual there are probably great things I didn’t hear this year and some that I don’t even know exist yet.

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