The Wildy's World Top-40 of 2009: #34-40

The Wildy's World Top-40 of 2009: #34-40

Because of the fractured nature of the Indie music world, don't be surprised if any of the artists on our Top-40 for 2009 show up on other end-of-year best-of lists. We've been lucky to receive a splendid mix of recordings in 2009, and 2010 looks pretty bright from all that we're hearing as well. But before we get to 2010, let's say goodbye to 2009 properly, by recapping the top albums of the year! We'll be spreading them out between now and New Year's Eve, when we'll crown the Album and EP of the year! Let's not waste another moment!

#40 Akiva - If I Didn't Work Nights/The Daylight

The versatile and prolific singer/songwriter returned in 2009 with an album and a half. While the full length If I Didn't Work Nights was the better of the two offerings packaged together, The Daylight displayed Akiva's knack for melody and an ability to tell stories in music that are off the beaten track yet comfortable.

#39 Kat Edmonson - Take To The Sky

Edmonson's distinctive voice lights up Take To The Sky from within like a nightlight in the pitch. Her sound is definitely different; full of textures and tones that take might make you think twice at first, but audiences warm to Edmonson and her highly personal style quite quickly.

#38 Megan Munroe - One More Broken String

Former TV starlet and current Indie Country darling Megan Munroe seems to live a charmed life. One More Broken String marches right up to the steps of Modern Country and paints it anew with a bit of attitude and a strong respect for where Country's come from. Munroe's voice is a pleasure, and her future looks very bright.

#37 Roger Joseph Manning Jr. - Catnip Dynamite

Manning is a major-label talent with a love of the quirky DIY sensibility of the Indie Music World. If his work with Jellyfish, Imperial Drag, Moog Cookbook and TV Eyes haven't convinced you, Catnip Dynamite is the proof in the pudding of Manning's talent and creativity.

#36 Matt & Shannon Heaton - Lover's Well

Matt And Shannon Heaton are among the cream of the crop of Boston's Celtic music scene. This husband and wife duo have a special chemistry on stage and it carries over to their fine album, Lovers Well. Shannon Heaton's voice is heavenly, and Matt Heaton's guitar work is impressive to say the least.

#35 The Dear Hunter - Act III: Life And Death

Sometimes its the side projects that take off. As a member of Boston's The Receiving End Of Sirens, Casey Crescenzo knew success, but it was the material he wrote that didn't fit into TREOS' zeitgeist that drives him nowadays. The Dear Hunter started out as a hand-pressed for EP for friends. Four years later, The Dear Hunter has released 3 musical chapters of a six-act concept super-album. The Dear Hunter has proven a very marketable band considering their genre is more toward the progressive side of Rock N Roll and is delivered in the long-vilified concept album format. Act III: Life And Death speaks of brilliance, and will have you out chasing Acts I & II.

#34 Halie Loren - They Oughta Write A Song

Halie Loren is a perfect example of the sort of uber-talented artists out there who fly under the radar in the Indie world. Even with a fair amount of critical praise, Loren is a relatively unknown quantity. You won't regard her as such once you've heard her voice, however. They Oughta Write A Song sticks more to the jazz end of the spectrum, but Loren can sing most anything.

The Wildy's World Top-40 of 2008: #1

And here we are, finally. The #1 album of the year.

Before we get there, I just want to take a minute to thank everyone who put themselves out there to submit material to Wildy's World for review in 2008. Whether you are a new artist trying to find a foothold in the business or an established name, it can be nerve wracking to put the finished product of months or years of your life's work in the hands of a stranger for their honest opinion. Even a place like Wildy's World where we strive to find the positive qualities of a recording and won't write a review if we don't feel we have anything nice to say can ruin someone's day/week/month with the wrong turn of phrase, choice of words, or just a good honest opinion.

Performers are incredibly brave, incredibly strong and ultimately incredibly fragile people. They live and die with the applause. A great reaction is manna for the artist. Silence is starvation. Everything in between carries mixed emotions. The people on this Top-40 list are getting great reactions, but they aren't the only ones from this year who deserve them. There is a long list of albums who maybe didn't make the Top-40 but represented quality work from artists in 2008 that are documented in this blog. The reviews and lists here ultimately reflect my opinions, and they can change, but the Top-40 albums here are the ones that have really stuck with me throughout the year. Things I continue to listen to and enjoy and suspect I will for some time. So we'll strive to do the same thing in 2009, giving all of those brave enough to put themselves out there a platform and someone who's not a publicist to shout about you into the virtual world. Our growing readership indicates that people are listening.

On to #1...
#1 Marian Call - Vanilla
It was a big year for Alaska. Alaska's national profile has been semi-permanently bolstered by the political ascendance of Governor/VP Candidate Sarah Palin. She has perhaps topped Jewel as the biggest thing to come out of Alaska. Don't be surprised if in the long run both names are eclipsed by one Marian Call. The fiery redhead from Anchorage is Indie Music's pure heart. Her acoustic guitar-driven missals weave heartfelt and personal stories with irony and perhaps just a touch of mischief. Call creates magic whenever she picks up her guitar or opens her mouth to sing. Not much known away from Alaska before last year, Marian Call has started to play dates on the West Coast and is beginning to build a buzz. We were lucky enough to be one of the first to review Vanilla and we realized right away what a hidden gem we'd found. Aside from her overt talent, Marian Call has done a great deal to encourage a bustling local music scene in Anchorage, and creates music at a rate that is almost super-human. She publishes one song a month on her web-site, has put out two albums in the last 18 months or so and is working on a third.


I highly recommend you get to know Marian Call now. She's on the way up, and there's no telling how high this rocket will go. Marian Call is the real deal, and she epitomizes the heart and soul of what all the artists who have submitted material to us in the past year are striving to do. Create. Play. Excel. Live.
Congratulations to Marian Call for having the #1 CD on The Wildy's World Top-40 of 2008. It's well deserved. And congratulations to everyone who was listed here, and to all those who, thought they may not know it, didn't miss by all that much. You are all the lifeblood of the music industry. You keep the great music flowing. You keep making it, and we'll keep telling the world about it. Thanks for a great 2008!

The Wildy's World Top-40 of 2009: #27-33

The Wildy's World Top-40 of 2009: #27-33

Day two of our Top-40; a day closer to #1. Let's get started!

#33 Rosanne Cash - The List

When Rosanne Cash told her father she wanted to make a career of music, he gifted her with a musical syllabus of 100 songs she had to learn as part of her musical education. The list has been much discussed over the years and has become something of a musical legend. With The List, Cash reveals some of the songs from the list Johnny Cash gave his daughter. The CD may be significant as a historical document for some, but the performances are filled with more than a little of the love a daughter has for her father.

#32 The Dimes - The King Can Drink The Harbor Dry

Educational music that's fun and frisky: that may be an apt way to describe the creations of The Dimes, the Boston-based band responsible for The King Can Drink The Harbor Dry. Folks familiar with Mike Ford's musical works incorporating elements of Canadian history will have an idea of what they're getting into here, although The Dimes focus on US History through the eyes of Boston and its environs.

#31 Monte Montgomery - Monte Montgomery

Monte Montgomery's guitar style is nothing less than intense. His propensity to break guitar necks actually inspired Alvarez to design a guitar with a reinforced neck in Montgomery's honor. Aside from the potential side-show, Montgomery was named one of Guitar Player's "Top 50 All-Time Greatest Guitarists" in 2004, and won "Best Acoustic Guitar Player" at SXSW for seven years running beginning in 1998. While Montgomery may have slowed his pace a bit in recent years, his intensity and songwriting talent haven't suffered, as indicated on his self-titled eighth studio album, released late in 2008.

#30 Kevin Hearn & Thinbuckle - Havana Winter

Anyone who has heard Kevin Hearn knows his talent is almost as boundless as his kind nature. The Barenaked Ladies keyboardist/songwriter/singer has done time with Look People, Corky & The Juice Pigs and The Rheostatics, as well as recording several solo albums both on his own and with his band, Thinbuckle. Hearn's latest offering, Havana Winter, expands the sphere of Hearn's signature brand of spacey, melodic Pop. Hearn is a singular voice in the Alt/Indy world.

#29 Derek Byrne - Seize The Moment

Derek Byrne might be based in Milwaukee, but the spirit of his homeland in Kildare Ireland runs through his music. Seize The Moment is one of those albums whose sum is greater than its individual parts. Byrne sings each song as if he's living it, and creates some beautiful melodies along the way.

#28 Bunmi Adeoye - Paper Dolls Glass Houses

Part Tracy Chapman, part Ani DiFranco and part Carole King, Toronto's Bunmi Adeoye will surprise you with adept lyrics and melodies that sink into your brain and won't let you go. Paper Dolls Glass Houses grabs listeners slowly but doesn't fade like many albums with time.


#27 Willy Porter - How To Rob A Bank

The devilishly talented and uniquely styled Willy Porter has tasted real commercial success in the past, but these days he writes and plays more the purity of his craft than for the big wave he chased in the early 1990's. How To Rob A Bank may be his best work to date, showing off both his distinctive fingerstyle guitar playing and his propensity for free-form creation. How To Rob A Bank is a treat for the ears.

Review: Ray Charles - Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music Volume 1 & 2

Ray Charles - Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music Volume 1 & 2
2009, Concord Records

We're only publishing one review because we want you to pay special attention to this one. Regardless of what genre of music piques your interest, there occasionally comes along a recording that crosses so many boundaries, and is so original or unique that it eventually becomes recognized as a master work. These are the sort of albums that can be re-released multiple times across generations (in this case 47 years later), and still have enough commercial oomph to make significant noise on the album charts. In this case, we have an album that not only retains strong commercial punch nearly 50 years later, but was also the beginning of a revolution in music that has helped father (or grandfather) genres such as Americana while foreshadowing the marriage of Country to genres such as Blues, Rock and Pop. Aside from all of that, Ray Charles also spoke of great changes in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's.

On June 2, 2009, Concord Records re-released two of Ray Charles’ classic albums on one CD. Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music Volume 1 & 2. The two albums were recorded in 1962 (February and September, respectively). Volume 1 was released in April of 1962, and is considered by many critics and fans to be Charles’ greatest recorded work. Not only was the album a commercial success (#1 album, 1 #1 single, 2 Gold singles), but it also bent social barriers with the fusion of R&B and Country during the height of the Civil Rights movement. The album also helped Charles to gain wide exposure on R&B, Rock and Country stations, turning the talented performer into a superstar. Volume 2 was rushed to release in October of 1962 based on the success of the first album, featuring 2 top-10 singles and a #1 single (You Are My Sunshine).

Volume 1, in particular, has been lauded by publications after publication as one of the top albums ever created. Blender magazine ranked it #16 on its list of The 100 Greatest American Albums Of All Time. Rolling Stone placed it on the list of its essential Rock Albums in 1997. Stereophile magazine lists Volume 1 on its 40 Essential Albums list, while Time magazine included Volume 1 on its 100 Greatest Albums of All Time. It’s easy to see why. Charles turned his inimitable talents on songs like Bye Bye Love, I Can’t Stop Loving You (#1 single), You Don’t Know Me (Top 10 single) and Hank Williams’ Hey Good Lookin’. With production by Sid Feller (Dean Martin, Peggy Lee, Paul Anka, etc.) and string arrangements by Marty Paich (Sinatra, Streisand, Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Tormé, Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, etc.), no stone was left unturned in creating perfect Ray Charles versions of each song.

In response to the tremendous success of Volume 1, Volume 2 was quickly recorded and released in October of 1962, using the same formula that had driven the success of Volume 1. The album included such hits as You Are My Sunshine (#1 single), Take These Chains From My Heart (Top 10 single), and Hank Williams’ Your Cheatin’ Heart (Top 40 single), as well as takes on Don Gibson’s Oh, Lonesome Me and the Chet Artkins/Boudleaux Bryant song Midnight.

Concord Records has done a great job handling these two releases, bringing them together for the first time outside of a box set and in an affordable form. The remaster on both is flawless, and give a great picture of the man, the artist, and the ground-breaking music he was creating at the time. The music is timeless and stands on its own as one of Charles’ greatest legacies, for both its artistic and social impacts. If you want to understand where today’s Americana styles started, with blends of country, rock and blues, look no further than Ray Charles. Without these two albums and the many that followed, the music you’d be hearing today might sound very different. Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music Volume 1 & 2 is a Wildy’s World Certified Desert Island Disc, and practically defines the concept.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Ray Charles at http://www.raycharles.com/. You can purchase Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music Volume 1 & 2 at Amazon.com or download it through iTunes.

The Wildy's World Top-40 of 2009: #20-26

The Wildy's World Top-40 of 2009: #20-26


26 Vienna Teng - Inland Territory

Ethereal Art/Folk/Pop that will quite literally blow you away. There are few like Teng, and Inland Territory is especially a treat as its the first time she's really begun to explore her own roots in song. Grandmother Song may well be the highlight of an auspicious collection.

25 Fractal - Sequitur

West coast Prog-Rock gods Fractal bring the creative flourish of bands like Yes and King Crimson with Gibby Haynes-style panache on Sequitur, riding the dividing line between Progressive and Experimental Rock. By placing a bit more emphasis on structure than in the past, Fractal found their footing with one of the most interesting Rock albums of the year.


24 The Doctors Fox - Plural Non-Possessive

Magic is the word; music is the medium. Boston's The Doctors Fox perform musical alchemy on their debut album, Plural Non-Possessive, blending Rock, Funk, Klezmer, Jazz, Doo-Wop and pretty much anything else they can think of into a new-yet-comfortable sound that's bound to move even the most cynical of music fans. Plural Non-Possessive is like being reborn in music.

23 Chip Taylor - Yonkers, NY

Taylor is a decorated songwriter that established artists ask to work with, but on his own he is a master story-teller. On Yonkers, NY, he spins yarns about brothers Jon and Barry Voight, and a father whose family ranked right up there with thoroughbred racing. It would be hard to call Yonkers, NY a breakout album given Taylor's resume. Then again, it would be hard not to.

22 Jerin Falkner - Pyro Aesthetic

Seattle's Jerin Falkner brings a quirky Pop sensibility to her latest album, Pyro Aesthetic. Falkner stands out among her peers as a singular talent, and she just keeps getting better and better. Pyro Aesthetic is a tremendous introduction if you haven't come across Falkner before.

21 Amy Speace - The Killer In Me

Speace is at the spearhead of a new generation of Folk artists, blending Folk, Rock and Country with whatever fits the moment. Speace is a powerful songwriter with an ability to opens up images in the listener's mind with subtle turns of phrase and the force of her personality in voice. The Killer In Me is a stunning follow-up to Songs For Bright Street, and will likely end up on a lot of these sorts of lists.

20 Carrie Rodriguez - Live In Louisville

Chalk another entry up to Chip Taylor, who discovered Carrie Rodriguez while she was playing with Hayseed as SXSW 2001. Rodriguez is one mean fiddler, but is also an amazing vocalist and songwriter in her own right. It's rare for us to rate a live album so high, but Rodriguez is a singular talent, and she sure shines bright on Live In Lousville.

The Wildy's World Top-40 of 2009: #6-12

Today we break into the Top 10 albums of the year, working our way up to #1. Let's waste no time...

12 Darrelle London - Edible Word Parade

June, 2009 Wildy's World Artist Of The Month Darrelle London sparkles on her debut album Edible Word Parade. The former farm girl is one of the bright spots on the Toronto singer/songwriter scene, and she's starting to get noticed outside of The Big Smoke, as evidenced by the placement of one of her songs on the 90210 soundtrack this year. Using a highly personal, honest and mildly quirky brand of piano-based Pop, London charms listeners with a sweet sound that masks an underlying sophistication and wit that are disarming. While we're not ones to bet on stardom, London is the total package.

11 Ben Folds - Way To Normal

For those of you who know of Ben Folds already, we really need say no more. For those of you who don't, he's the nerdy judge on The Sing Off whose passion got that show off the ground. Whatever you know already, Folds would be some critics pick for best songwriter of his generation so far. Way To Normal continues in that vein, with Folds mixing intelligent commentary, emotional honesty and wit into songs that are so well-written they practically sing and play themselves.

10 Ten Year Vamp - Don't Act Like You Know Me

Albany, New York's Ten Year Vamp came into Don't Act Like You Know Me via corporate structure, selling shares in the album to fans; allowing shareholders to select the tracks on the album, etc. In the end, the album is a populist Alt-Rock classic, led by the high-octane, sexually charged vocal performances of Debbie Gabrione.

9 Lyle Lovett - Natural Forces

Lyle Lovett is a consummate songwriter and storyteller, a reputation he does nothing to deter on Natural Forces. While perhaps not quite his best work, Natural Forces is close enough and should warrant serious Grammy attention.

8 Lindsay Mac - Stop Thinking

Lindsay Mac might get your attention for her bass-plauomg stule, but it's her songwriting and delivery that will hold you. Stop Thinking plies her classical training to angular and unusual Pop songs in perfect measure. You'll hang on every note.

7 Dennis DeYoung - One Hundred Years From Now

DeYoung returns with some of his best Rock songwriting since the heyday of Styx. One Hundred Years From Now was released in Canada in 2007 and went Gold, but didn't see the light of day in the US until 2009. Changes in the composition and mixing of the album helped freshen the album for those already familiar with the Canadian version, and the addition of Private Jones added serious punch. For Styx fans yearning for days gone by, this is easily the best "Styx" album since Paradise Theater.

6 David Francey and Mike Ford - Seaway

Francey And Ford collaborate on perhaps the most pleasant surprise of 2009, a song cycle inspired by their two week stay on a Great Lakes "laker" ship a couple of years back. Francey's gentle Folk bearing balances Ford's "Coat Of Many Colors" songwriting style to create magic, with the help of fellow Moxy Fruvous alum Dave Matheson. Seaway shines.

Review: Street Sweeper Social Club - Street Sweeper Social Club

Street Sweeper Social Club – Street Sweeper Social Club
2009, Street Sweeper Social Club/WMG-ILG

Dateline: 1986. Rock superstars Aerosmith release a groundbreaking single and video, reprising their hit Walk This Way with the help of Run DMC. While there are perhaps other examples out there, this is perhaps one of the first commercially successful hybridizations of Hard Rock and the then nascent art form called Rap. The two forms have been blended together over the years many times, but it’s always been something of an uneasy relationship. Then in 2009, a band called Street Sweeper Social Club comes along with their self-titled debut album and wipes the slate clean with a mix of heavy rock and rap so new; so fresh you’ll wonder how the two genres ever existed separately. Guitarist/bassist Tom Morello (founding member of both Rage Against The Machine and Audioslave), producer/lyricist/vocalist Boots Riley (The Coup) and drummer Stanton Moore (Galactic) have created a sound that keeps the heavy edge and bombast of Rock N Roll while mixing in the lyrical panache that Riley is known for from his work with The Coup.

Street Sweeper Social Club opens with Fight! Smash! Win!, featuring dazzling rhymes and a wonderfully heavy guitar line. This should be gold for Modern Rock, Urban and Top-40 programmers. Morello shows off some great melodic guitar work on 100 Little Curses, in an arrangement that sounds like it might have walked out of the late-1970’s or early 1980’s. The Oath is a song of revolution, following the distinctive social justice vein that pervades Street Sweeper Social Club. Pointed barbs are blended with humor and poignant turns of phrase fit for mass consumption throughout the album. The Squeeze traces the line between poverty and violence in what starts out almost as a children’s song before breaking into a heavy rock/rap.

Clap For The Killers is the most sonically interesting track on the disc, as Morello gets his freak on with some seriously deranged riffs and progressions. Good Morning, Mrs. Smith sounds a bit like a classic rock tune done up with some serious guitar riffs. Other highlights include Somewhere In The World It’s Midnight, Megablast, Promenade and Nobody Moves (Til We Say Go).

Don’t be surprised if Street Sweeper Social Club is one of the biggest new acts of 2009. Tom Morello and Boots Riley have outdone themselves with a smart, intriguing and musically exciting album. There’s no doubt Street Sweeper Social Club will make the cut on “Best of 2009” lists, but don’t be surprised if this album has a Grammy nomination or two in its future. Street Sweeper Social Club is essential listening; a Wildy’s World Certified Desert Island Disc. Get it.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Street Sweeper Social Club at http://www.streetsweepersocialclub.com/, www.myspace.com/streetsweepersocialclub or www.twitter.com/streetsweep. Street Sweeper Social Club hits shelves on June 16, 2009, and is available through Amazon.com, as a download through iTunes, or wherever music is sold.

Review: The Darbuki Kings - Been Laden You Too Long

The Darbuki Kings - Been Laden You Too Long
2009, Darbuki King Records

Robin Adnan Anders (aka Adnan Darbuki) and Antonio Albarran (aka Antone Darbuki) are the Darbuki Kings. Last year we had the distinct pleasure of reviewing their album Lawrence Of Suburbia, which rose as high as the Top 20 on the CMJ New World chart. For 2009, The Darbuki Kings are back with Been laden You Too Long, a collection of 10 folk songs infused with exotic melodies and eastern influences. Some of you may know Anders from his other lives as founder of both Boiled In Lead and 3 Mustaphas 3. If you're familiar with either of those bands I can assure you that the creativity and adventurous musical spirit you're used to carries over to the Darbuki Kings.

Been Laden You Too Long opens with Berber, which sounds like the sort of music you might hear at the opening of a big Arena Rock concert. The mix of orchestration and electric instruments creates a tapestry against which the dark, minor-key, Middle Eastern style melody can have its fullest effect. The instrumental plays out at nearly six-and-a-half minutes and is very vibrant and full of energy. Zimbob Wayout sounds like it could be an instrumental outtake from Paul Simon's Graceland sessions, even capturing the same guitar sound/style. Mango Tango sounds like it shares musical ancestry with Hernando's Hideaway; it's full of rhythmic and melodic surprises that will keep your interest throughout.

The Breath Of The Cobra is a highly rhythmic composition that has almost jazz-style improvisational feel to it. Anders and Albarran play inspired music here across nearly 8 minutes, wrapped around an enduring theme that never goes fully away. Eleven Monkeys is a bit more upbeat and brighter, relying on traditional western scales, but the Kings don't stay there long, going for dark and effecting on Gilgamesh. This song features some of the most dynamic electric guitar passages on the disc and is sure to be a crowd pleaser when performed live. Zanzibar makes the full transition into Bedouin Jazz with a long and distinctive improv-style composition. The musical madness continues through Tunisian Wind and Corinthian Slap and on the final track, Anderslusian, The Darbuki Kings provide the most entertaining track on the CD.

The Darbuki Kings have found a winning combination of traditional sounding Middle Eastern music and jazz on Been Laden You Too Long. While the music presented here is never going to get The Darbuki Kings on Top-40 radio, it is of the quality to gain them significant respect within the music industry, had they not had it already. I highly recommend Been Laden You Too Long.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about The Darbuki Kings at http://www.robinanders.com/ or www.myspace.com/darbuki. Been Laden You Too Long will be released on June 30, 2009. You can pre-order a download through Amazon MP3. Information on CD availability could not be found as of the publication of this review, but keep checking Adnan’s Marketplace for availability.

Wildy's World Artist Of The Month, January 2010: Jeneen Terrana

We are proud to present Jeneen Terrana as Wildy's World's Artist of the Month for January of 2010! Ms. Terrana's album with The Howl Brothers, My Creation, was ranked #1 on Wildy's World's Top 40 Albums of 2009! The Buffalo, New York native relocated to New York City a number of years ago, but may be one of the Nickel City's finest musical exports since Chuck Mangione. She is currently one of the brightest lights on the nascent Long Island City music scene, and in 2009 made her first foray to Europe for a four week tour with Silbin Sandovar (also known as Gustavo Rodriguez). 2009 also saw Terrana begin to gain radio exposure in places such as Michigan, California, New York, Connecticut, Dublin, London, Virginia, New Jersey and Massachussets.

No word on specifics for 2010, but hopefully we'll catch up with Terrana over the course of the month and find out what's in store. Take some time to check out Terrana's My Creation, as well as her fine 2002 solo album, Just Me. You can learn more about Jeneen Terrana at http://www.jeneenterrana.com/, on MySpace or on Twitter. Both My Creation and Just Me can be purchase as CDs from CDBaby.com (which also offers My Creation as a download). Downloads of both albums are available from iTunes.

The Wildy's World Top-40 of 2009 #1: Jeneen Terrana & The Howl Brothers - My Creation

1 Jeneen Terrana & The Howl Brothers - My Creation

Buffalo, NY born and raised singer/songwriter Jeneen Terrana has been based in New York City for several years now, but she hasn't forgotten her roots. Terrana's My Creation is the finest overall recording we reviewed here at Wildy's World during the past year, and is our pick as album of the year for 2009. Terrana may not have a lot of name recognition outside of New York City or Buffalo, but that's more an indication of what's wrong in the music business than of anything about Terrana herself. Mixing elements of Norah Jones, Sarah McLachlan, PJ Harvey, Ani DiFranco and Joni Mitchell, Terrana is an every-woman singer/songwriter whose music speaks across social and generational boundaries in a fashion many of her peers have never imagined.

Note: My Creation technically has a 2007 release date, but did not go into wide distribution until 2008 and was not reviewed until January of 2009.

That's it folks! We'll be back tomorrow with fresh reviews. Let's hope 2010 is a bright one!

The Wildy's World Top Ten EPs of 2009 #5: Woodward - Switch Hit Resistor

5 Woodward - Switch Hit Resistor

The Detroit Rockers found their debut album, ...But Your Kids Are Gonna Love It, ranked #6 on the 2008 Wildy's World Top-40 Countdown. They returned in 2009 with a slightly different sound, not really choosing a new direction but simply growing as a band. Switch Hit Resistor, the band's latest EP, show growth without abandoning the essential sound and pure joy that Woodward gives off with every note!

The Wildy's World Top-40 of 2009 #2: Ron Hawkins - 10 Kinds Of Lonely

2 Ron Hawkins - 10 Kinds Of Lonely

Hall Of Fame songwriter Ron Hawkins makes a surprising career turn on 10 Kinds Of Lonely, writing in a loose Country/Americana style that works perfectly in this stripped-down set of songs. Hawkins has long been lauded as one of the finest lyricists of his generation, and he used those talents exquisitely on 10 Kinds Of Lonely, while crafting the sort of songs that people will still be talking about a generation from now. Hawkins was Wildy's World's Artist Of The Month for August 2009, giving a highly memorable interview about the album and his career in general.

2009 Coming To A Close

What you're seeing today folks, are our final reviews for 2009. Over the next 10 days we'll be unveiling our Top 50 albums of the year as well as our Top 10 EPs. We'll roll them out a little at a time to keep the suspense high, and even the artists themselves don't know where they've finished. We've reviewed 972 recordings in the past 12 months, and it's been tough to pare them all down, but we've come up with a good list that's reflective of the best material we reviewed in 2009.

There are a handful of major label artists on this year's countdown. As major labels have had a bit more presence on the blog this year we felt it appropriate to include them, but the high quality of the Indie music world continues to win out over the major labels, and that's reflected in our charts as well. Today I'll be sharing with you albums #41-50 in just a simple list. These are the folks who made the final tally, but there were a bunch of other worthy artists/bands in the running. You can click on the link for each to catch the original Wildy's World Review.

For the rest of the week we'll provide you with a little more information on the band/album. Today is just to whet your collective whistles. Without further adieu...

50. Atoosa Grey - When The Cardinals Come
49. Louder Than Love - Dark Days
48. Chris Kirby - Vampire Hotel
47. Erik Scott - Other Planets
46. Spring Creek - Way Up On A Mountain
45. Assembly Of Dust - Some Assembly Required
44. Stuart McNair - Growing A Garden
43. The Erin Hobson Compact - Talk Radio
42. Elvis Costello - Secret, Profane & Sugarcane
41. Kevin Carlson - Museum

Tomorrow we'll be back with #'s 34-40, and EPs #9 & #10. Until then...

Review: Jackdawg - Jackdawg

Jackdawg - Jackdawg
2009, Sonic Past Music

The long awaited and much discussed CD Jackdawg is due for release on March 17, 2009. This near-legendary album was recorded in 1990 and features John McFee and Keith Knudsen of the Doobie Brothers along with Creedence Clearwater Revival's Stu Cook. The band was an outgrowth of Southern Pacific and was recorded at McFee's Lizard Rock Studio in Solvage, Ca. The Jackdawg recordings stayed hidden in a vault until after Knudsen's death in 2005. The eponymous album includes thirteen original tracks plus covers of Roky Erickson's Cold Night For Alligators and Van Morrison's Wild Night.

Jackdawg opens with Bayou Rebel, an ode of sorts to Creedence Clearwater Revival. Bayou Rebel sounds like something that might have come out of CCR in their heyday but updated for the early 1990's when it was originally recorded. When The Sun Don't Shine is a tasty bit of modern rock with southern rock ancestors. The guitar work here is excellent, and the melody is quite memorable. The Men Who Would Be King was inspired by The Beatles, hinted at the by the harmonies at the end of each refrain and the occasional musical reference.

Hunger is a big stadium rocker that sounds like top-40 gold circa 1985. Ghost Dance has no pretensions about it, sounding more like something you'd expect to hear out of Lou Gramm than a conjunction of ex-Doobie and CCR guys. It's quite good, just a bit of a sonic surprise you might not have expected. Jackdawg returns to familiar territory with the old school R&B rocker Take It Off. Kisses In The Rain is another one of those songs that would have been a huge hit in a different era. This one sounds like a cross between Don Henley, The Beach Boys and Huey Lewis' backup band, The News.

Other highlights here include I Couldn't Help Myself, the big guitar rocker Quicksand, the Hagar-era Van Halen sounding Lookin' For Trouble, Young Ones, and The Girl From Oz. The Girl From Oz was inspired by the lead singer from The Divinyls, and sounds like someone took a variance on the bass line from Styx' Too Much Time On My Hands; added some Alex Liefson (Rush) style guitar work and a big 1980's rock chorus to create the perfect pop/rock song. The covers of Cold Night For Alligators and Wild Night are quite well done. They fit with the character of the rest of the album, but don't quite blend in the way the rest of the tracks do.
Jackdawg is a brilliant album. It's too bad this has been hidden away for almost two decades. If released back in 1990 it might have been a major hit for Cook, McFee and Knudsen. Today it will be appreciated by those in the know, but probably doesn't have the commercial reach it might once have had. Expect to hear a handful of tracks from this one show up on soundtracks, commercials or wherever else the marketing folks can find a spot. The music is excellent, and worthy of the resumes Jackdawg brought into the project.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Jackdawg at http://www.jackdawg.net/. You can order a copy of Jackdawg at Amazon.com.

Review: Woodward - Switch Hit Resistor/Footski/Love Heart

Woodward – Switch Hit Resistor/Footski/Love Heart
2009, Woodward

In April of last year we reviewed Woodward’s full-length debut, …But Your Kids Are Gonna Love It, with raving words and manic glee. The album came in at #3 on Wildy’s World’s Top 40 Albums for 2008. In May of 2009, the band will release three new singles through iTunes and other download services. Switch Hit Resistor, Footski and Love Heart represent a growth in sound and style for Woodward, beginning with the retro/modern classic rock sound Detroit’s Fab Four propagated on their debut, Woodward has taken a more linear, melodic approach to songwriting this time around. The result is consistent in style, but perhaps just a bit more refined than in the past. Where modal triad harmonies in the classic, arena rock style were the rule before, now they are a bit more complex and developed in conjunction with an expressive harmony line. It’s almost as if Woodward took their old sound and blended in just a touch of 1980’s New Wave aesthetic to find a sound that is viably modern while staying true enough to their roots to please long time fans.

Switch Hit Resistor is perhaps the closest to the old material, although the synth lends that New Wave feel to the song. Footski sounds a bit like Elvis Costello recording with Queen, and sounds like a potential summer hit. This is the sort of song you hear driving in your car and crank the volume up as loud as it will go. The pop sensibilities that Woodward showed on their debut have not deserted the lads. Love Heart is a bit more introspective that anything you might have heard from Woodward before; I wasn’t sure about this one on first listen, but as I’ve listened to it more and more I really like it. Love Heart is subtly and intelligently written and has a chorus that just won’t get out of your head.

So times are changing. Woodward shows distinct growth on their new singles without sacrificing the essential character or sound that has enchanted fans to date. If anything, the artistic and sonic growth is going to make Woodward a lot of new friends. Woodward stands for the type of Rock N Roll that has been missing from the popular scene since Grunge exploded out of Seattle almost twenty years ago. Bands like The Killers and The Fray have tried to resurrect melodic, retro/modern classic rock with varying degrees of success, but no one in the mainstream has done it as well or as emphatically as Woodward. Make sure you check out their new singles, Switch Hit Resistor, Footski and Love Heart when they become available later this month.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Woodward at http://www.woodwardtheband.com/ or http://www.myspace.com/. The singles Switch Hit Resistor, Footski and Love Heart will be available some time in May on iTunes and several other online vendors.

Guy Sebastian - Like It Like That

Guy Sebastian - Like It Like That
2009, Sony Music Australia

Guy Sebastian is a soul singer from Australia with a sound that's so retro it's fresh. The judge on Australia's version of The X-Factor is also a surprisingly good vocalist and songwriter, blending 1960's Pop and R&B with more modern sounds in a fashion that could catch chart fire very quickly. Sebastian's US debut, Like It Like That was released in June of this year, featuring performances from John Mayer and Jordin Sparks. Produced by David Ryan Harris (Mariah Carey, Nick Jonas, John Mayer), Like It Like That seems likely to open a lot of doors in the US for Sebastian.

Sebastian opens with "Like It Like That", an incredibly catchy pop tune with a pure 1960s feel. You'll find yourself dancing, laughing and singing along to this romantic summer/party song; you won't be able to get it out of your head. Sebastian sounds a lot like Tom Jones on "All To Myself", a big R&B/pop number that shows off Sebastian's expressive voice in fine fashion. "Art Of Love" is a duet with Jordin Sparks, and a big missed opportunity. The production here is very modern and slick, complete with vocal effects and too much clutter. Both Sebastian and Sparks have tremendous voices and would have been better left to simply spin the song over a minimal arrangement, but David Ryan Harris appears to have been aiming for the Top-40 charts here and in the process ruined what should have been a benchmark duet.

Sebastian gets back to pure pop with "Attention" before sidling into "Magic", a duet with Australian singer Tarryn Stokes. This time they get it right, with both Sparks and Sebastian at the top of their respective games. "Bring Yourself" is a classic 1960's-style soul ballad and offers what may the most dynamic vocal performance of the album. "Never Hold You Down" keeps that classic feel, updating it just enough to make it fresh without losing the essential retro flavor of the tune. Sebastian channels Marvin Gaye on "Fail To Mention" and keeps in the same vein with "Never Be You". Gaye fans may do a double take the first time they hear "Fail To Mention". "Coming Home" is a pure pop/classic R&B confection you can't help but love. Sebastian pulls a major change of pace for the final song, "Perfection", detailing the creation of a woman in heaven. This tune puts the better half of humanity on a collective pedestal and is likely to make a lot of young hearts swoon when Sebastian sings it in concert. At the same time it's quite saccharine and could inspire an equally strong polar reaction from those not inclined to the tune.

Guy Sebastian is at his best when he keeps it simple. This is an artist very much steeped in the traditions of classic R&B and soul music. Sebastian explores these sounds with a distinctive pop sensibility that gets under your skin on Like It Like That. When Sebastian tries to be too modern or too sweet it comes across as less than truthful, but when he stays true to his sound he's personality plus. Like It Like That has its off moments, but balance it's so good you won't be able to put it down. Look out American, here comes Guy Sebastian.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Guy Sebastian at http://www.guysebastian.com.au/ or www.myspace.com/guysebastian.  Like It Like That is available through amazing as a pricey import on CD or as a Download.  The album is also available digitally via iTunes.

Review: Sass Jordan - From Dusk Til Dawn

Sass Jordan - From Dusk Til Dawn
2010, RBE Music/Kindling Music/Fontana

Sass Jordan never goes away. The owner of twelve Top-40 singles in Canada (including two in the Top-10, keeps finding ways to express herself in the arts. The star of the off-Broadway hit Love Janis also served as a judge for six years on Canadian Idol. Her music has been featured on numerous television shows and soundtracks (including an iconic duet with Joe Cocker on The Bodyguard soundtrack. Jordan's toured with Aerosmith, Cheap Trick, Alice Cooper, Van Halen, Carlos Santana and Cocker, but always returns to her own solo performing as the root of her creativity. On March 16, 2010, Jordan releases her eighth album, From Dusk Til Dawn. Rather than coasting comfortably at a point her career when the Juno-Award winning songwriter might, Jordan sparks with the vibrancy that turned heads even back in her days with Montreal’s The Pinups.

From Dusk 'Til Dawn opens with the delicious Blues/Rock of What I Need. Jordan steeps herself in the roots of old school Rhythm & Blues with the sort of strong rock vocal performance she's become known for. It's a knock out track that could be a big winner over the radios and at the award shows. Fell In Love Again goes with a classic Motown feel. You could almost here Mary Wells digging into this one, and Jordan does a great job with it. Awake is a gorgeous ballad full of regret; a song about getting ready to move on. For a rocker with something of a rough edge to her voice, Jordan is surprisingly polished and nuanced on the ballads on From Dusk 'Til Dawn. Jordan's everywoman act continues on Why Did You?, where she slips in Americana shoes amidst a big hook and catchy arrangement.

Lonely blends Country, Blues and Rock, ala Bonnie Raitt. This is another tune that could conceivably be a big hit over the airwaves. Jordan goes for an almost Appalchian feel on Matter Of Time, using very basic song structure and minimalist arrangement accented by great vocal harmonies. The song is well written and expertly performed. Jordan aces her cover of Tom Waits' Ol' 55, going for a highly fluid and smooth rendition, which works wonderfully well with and in contrast to Jordan's rock diva rasp. Stronger is great Pop songwriting; perhaps not as elemental as the other songs presented here, but certainly a decent offering. Jordan closes with the folky Home Again, a solid closer that sees Jordan adding to her versatility as a performer.

I remember the days of Racine and Rats, when Jordan was challenging Lee Aaron for the title of Miss Thing on the Canadian rock charts. Jordan hasn't lost the edge that made her a hit in Canada back then, but as an artist she's matured; adding nuance and class to a dynamic voice and an ear for melody that goes well with her ability to blow the roof off a room. From Dusk 'Til Dawn isn't so much a mellowing of Jordan's style or sound as it is a broadening of horizons. It would appear several years of judging the performances of others has made Jordan even more astute in making her own musical choices. On From Dusk 'Til Dawn she executes nearly flawlessly without giving up an iota of the energy or passion that always gave Jordan her Sass.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Sass Jordan at http://www.sassjordan.com/ or www.myspace.com/sassjordan. From Dusk Til Dawn sees its US release on March 16, 2010. Expect wide availability, if you simply can’t wait, the album was released in the Fall of 2009 in Canada, and is available through numerous resources on the web, including MapleMusic.com.

Review: HuDost - Trapeze

HuDost - Trapeze
2009, Open Sesame Music

HuDost, based in Montreal and NYC, defy not only national classifications but musical ones as well. Vocalist Moksha Sommer has travelled the globe, studying no less than 12 distinctive vocal styles from around the world. She also contributes harmonium, piano and accordion. She is joined by Jemal Wade Hines on guitar, vocals, bouzouki and bendir to form HuDost, spinning musical webs from all corners of creation. HuDost's CD, Trapeze, is driven by the love of music from all cultures and a seemingly evolutionary songwriting style. Adding to the zeitgeist of the Trapeze is the fact that Sommer was diagnosed with a brain tumor leading up to the recording of Trapeze. The album was recorded between the time of diagnosis and surgery, and reflects some of the urgent energy of someone who truly doesn't know what tomorrow may bring. All of these stands were pulled together by the masterful production skills of Malcolm Burn (Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Daniel Lanois, Peter Gabriel).

Trapeze opens with Trespasser, an energetically mellow bit of layered musical angst that makes Radiohead sound Top-40. Sommer's vocals are a gorgeous thing to hear, and don't so much float over the song as fly down upon it like an eagle on the hunt. Royal Mountain laments the loss of a burial place for the poor in the face of progress. It's a lovely tribute that's in both English and (Canadian) French, and reminds us that the fate of those who were buried there will inevitably be our own. Royal Mountain is set in a great mellow pop arrangement that with other subject matter would likely be real radio fodder. Waiting is presented in the form of a near-Appalachian folk tune, complete with Country/Americana accents.

BreakDown BuildUp is one of the more interesting songs presented on Trapeze, mixing Western and Eastern elements around a great rock melody. Sommer truly shines here in a performance worthy of significant attention. BreakDown BuildUp is a definite highlight track. Waking is a song of thanks for new opportunities and new roads; the song is gorgeously dark with hopeful undertones. Sommer is at her best here, singing with a conviction that is unsettling. Drowned In White plays like an old madrigal choir tune, full of dark, minor-key harmonies and a church-like sense of grace. Sommer shines again on an inspired vocal line set against an instrumental background that is thrillingly complex. Trapeze closes out with something of a reprise of Trespasser.

Have patience with HuDost. It took me three or four listens to really get into Trapeze, but the effort was well worth it. Jemal Wade Hines is a masterful musician in his own right, and Moksha Summer will blow listeners away with her understated vocal grace. There are shades of early Sarah McLachlan here, but just shadows. Summer and Hines are a one-of-a-kind duo. Whatever you want to try to classify them as, HuDost is guaranteed to energize your musical synapses with music that never rests, never stops moving. In conversational terms, Trapeze is an album that never really raises its voice yet commands the room. Trapeze is a classic.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about HuDost at http://www.hudost.com/ or www.myspace.com/hudost. You can purchase a copy of Trapeze at www.cdbaby.com/hudost5.

Artist Of The Month: Straight No Chaser - December 2010

Wildy's World is proud to present our December, 2010 Artist of the Month, Straight No Chaser.  The male a cappella group, originally formed at Indiana University in 1996 by a group of friends who could sing has turned into a national phenomenon.  With over 25,000,000 YouTube views and a number of top-40 singles, Straight No Chaser regularly sells out shows and recently did a residency at Harrah's in Las Vegas.  Original members Randy Stine, Charles Mechling, Jerome Collins, David Roberts and Walter Chase remain with the group.  The rest of the 10-member ensemble have been picked from later versions of Straight No Chaser, and include Michael Luginbill, Ryan Ahlwardt, Seggio Isho, Don Nottingham, and Tyler Trepp.

What makes the story of Straight No Chaser so worth knowing is its utter inevitability.  In the 1980's and 1990's, starting a cappella groups at colleges around the country was the thing to do.  The practice was common throughout Northeast Colleges throughout the 20th Century, and many long-running groups have their own followings outside of their college communities (RPI's Rensselyrics, The Whiffenpoofs of Yale University, The Beelzebubs (Tufts University), The Amherst Zumbyes, Vassar's Measure 4 Measure, University at Buffalo's Buffalo Chips, USC's Reverse Osmosis all being prime examples).  Straight No Chaser's renaissance happened quite by accident.  The group's popularity as an on-going ensemble at Indiana University prompted a ten-year reunion show for the original lineup at Indiana University in 2006.  After that show, Stine posted a 1998 concert on YouTube.

All of a sudden Straight No Chaser was hot property.  In 2007 the group's intriguing take on "The 12 Days Of Christmas" generated in excess of seven million views on YouTube.  The group caught the eye of Atlantic Records Chairman/CEO Craig Kallman, who knew magic when he saw it and jumped at the opportunity to sign the group.  The rest, as they say, is history.  Straight No Chaser currently has four albums listed on their website, and is currently promoting a box set called All I Want For Christmas, which includes their two Christmas albums; 2008's Holiday Spirits and 2009's Christmas Cheers, along with a previously unreleased DVD entitled Live In New York Holiday Edition Concert Special.  Having seen the YouTube clips and seeing and hearing the buzz from those who have actually seen Straight No Chaser live, it's impossible to deny that this group has found some kind of special musical magic.  We've reached out to Atlantic Records to try to bring you reviews of the albums themselves this month, and hope to have more for you as the month goes on.  For now, enjoy this clip, which shows why Straight No Chaser continue to capture the hearts and minds of America.

Learn more about Straight No Chaser at http://www.sncmusic.com/, www.myspace.com/sncmusic, www.facebook.com/straightnochaser or www.twitter.com/sncmusic.  Check out Straight No Chaser's music and merchandise in their webstore.

The Wildy's World Top-40 of 2009 #4: Marian Call - Got To Fly

4 Marian Call - Got To Fly

The Alaskan Trovatore didn't waste any time following up last year's #1 album, Vanilla, with a cycle inspired by popular Science Fiction television shows and movies such as Firefly, Battlestar Galactica and The Lord Of The Rings. Sounds geeky, right? But the songwriting and storytelling on Got To Fly are so subtle and so personal you'd never know unless you were an ardent fan of the series/movies referenced. Call took a big risk; the sort that can permanently alter fans' conceptions of an artist (often not in good ways) and comes out smelling like a rose.