Wildy's World Top 60 Albums of 2010: 30-21

 We're moving quickly toward our number one album of the year.  Today we're counting down numbers 30 through 21 in our top Albums and EPs of the year.  Let's get to it!

30. Hans York – Young Amelia
York is a singer-songwriter thoroughly in his element on Amelia, and is one of the best folk songwriters working.

29. Phil Ayoub – Arrivals And Departures
A captivating singer, songwriter and performer. 

28. Carrie Rodriguez – Love And Circumstance
Rodriguez a dervish with a voice that could melt butter and a fiddle fit to cut the world in half.  Love And Circumstance is among her best work to date.

27. Eliza Blue – The Road Home
Eliza Blue proves the richness of recording at home with The Road Home, pouring her heart and soul into every song with a richness and depth that is rare in popular music.

26. The John Byrne Band – After The Wake
One of the finest Celtic-influenced albums of 2010.

25. Syzygy – Realms Of Eternity
Deep theological concerns and a modern take on classic progressive rock make Realms Of Eternity the sort of album you can't let go of.

24. Isabel Rose – Swingin’ From The Hip
Rose will one day be a legend.

23. Wes Weddell – By The Side Of The Lake
By The Side Of The Lake shows a master craftsman at the top of his game.

22. Annie Fitzgerald – In Good Time
In Good Time is absolutely captivating.  Annie Fitzgerald has you from hello.

21. The Chapin Sisters – Two
The daughters of Tom Chapin and nieces of Harry Chapin show that their musical blood lines run deep on Two, an a haunting collection you won't be able to get out of your head.

The Chapin Sisters - Two

The Chapin Sisters - Two
2010, Lake Bottom Recordings, LLC

The Chapin Sisters return on September 14, 2010 with their second full length album, aptly named Two. Building on the earthy harmonies and distinctive songwriting that are The Chapin Sisters' trademarks, Two finds Lily and Abigail Chapin exploring a richer, multi-layered sound that isn't so much a change in style but an expansion of musical vision. Co-produced by Jesse Lee (Gang Gang Dance) and Louie Stephens (Rooney), Two is a logical progression in the career of two sisters for whom harmony is as natural as breathing. Lily and Abigail Chapin were born to this. Father Tom Chapin and uncle Harry Chapin helped to create the sort of environment where musical exploration was not only encouraged but essential.

Two opens with "Sweet Light", a mostly acapella piece with dark minor key harmonies so beautiful they'll break your heart. Instruments join the party sparsely around 1:40, but the Chapin Sister already have your full attention long before then. This is an amazing opening track, a WOW moment you won't soon forget. "I Can Feel" is unrequited love expressed in heart-wrenching terms; amidst the angst and pain of not having that love returned. It's a beautiful arrangement buffeted by sadness and hints of the hope expressed in continuing to search for an answer. "Paradise" is a dark, lush, haunting love song. The Chapin Sisters keep the instrumental arrangement simple, filling up the space with their amazing vocal harmonies in a solemn tune full of the weight of emotion.

"Palm Tree" is steeped in melancholy amidst a vaguely country arrangement. The song features an archetypal melody that will stick with you. "Boo Hoo" is sonically intriguing but lyrically repetitive. However what appeals at the beginning may wear by the end. "Birds In My Garden" is a song of fatalism; nothing in life goes right as melancholy sinks into hopelessness, but the birds are a point of light here. In case you haven't figured it out by now, Two is a song of soured relationships and broken dreams, awash in the dark but beautiful harmonies of Lily and Abigail Chapin. "Rose In Winter" continues the trend, a mournful song about the end and aftermath of a relationship. "Left All Alone" takes another tack, viewing the aftermath in almost ironic terms amidst an upbeat, girl-group arrangement. It's an enjoyable listen; a nice change of pace from the dark heart of the album. The Chapin Sisters close brilliantly with "Trouble", a folk/roots tune that gets at the heart of the blues without quite going there stylistically. The Chapins are at the top of their game vocally, and "Trouble" completes the bookend of brilliance that was begun with "Sweet Light"

It wasn't that long ago that we first learned about The Chapin Sisters. Their EP Oh, Hear The Wind Blow hinted at the mesmerizing spells they could weave with their voices, but those hints weren't fair warning for Two. Two is brilliant, plain and simple. If there's one complaint about the album it's the utter weight of melancholy that the songs rest under. The feel is appropriate given the subject matter, but it may weigh heavily on some listeners. Two is a can't miss album.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about The Chapin Sisters at http://www.thechapinsisters.com/ or www.myspace.com/thechapinsisters.  Two drops on September 14, 2010.  You can pre-order a copy of Two from Amazon.com.  Expect wide availability once the album is released.

The Chapin Sisters - Oh, Hear The Wind Blow

The Chapin Sisters - Oh, Hear The Wind Blow
2010, Lake Bottom Records

Imagine, if you will, taking the distinctive harmonies of Wilson Phillips and infusing it with a dark melancholy and you'll have an idea of the sound of The Chapin Sisters. Oh, Hear The Wind Blow opens with "Bird Song", a song of longing and sorrow that pines for and wonders after a lover who never came home. The harmonies here are those of two dark angels, blending sorrow and beauty in equal measure. "Left All Alone" has a dark premise, but plays with the bouncy feel of late-1950's or early-1960's pop hit. The harmonies here are downright gorgeous and the songwriting is not too shabby either. "Let Me Go" continues to play in the dark/light continuum that the Chapin Sisters seem to favor, singing about a relationship that's falling apart in dark tones but adding in peppy vocal artifices that seem to belie the song's feel.

"Palm Tree" could have been a pop hit four or five decades ago, mixing the sorrowful feel of a country heartbreaker with the feel of a classic early-rock hit. The Chapin Sisters continue to dazzle vocally, both on lead and harmony vocals, and "Palm Tree" might be the best example of this on the album. Oh, Hear The Wind Blow closes with "Digging A Hole", a dark tune about the mixed necessity and futility of daily life. The song has a primal feel, driven by an American aboriginal-style rhythm and chant-style chorus that emulates Native American singing. It's an intriguing piece and a brave and successful closer for the EP.

The Chapin Sisters hit a quiet homerun with Oh, Hear The Wind Blow. Quiet because this EP is too good to ignore but too far off the beaten path to gain The Chapin Sisters the sort of attention they deserve for it. The vocals alone are worth a listen, but the songwriting here is top-notch as well. Make sure you spend some time getting to know the Chapin sisters.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about The Chapin Sisters at http://www.thechapinsisters.com/ or www.myspace.com/thechapinsisters.  Oh, Hear The Wind Blow is available directly from The Chapin Sisters through their website.