As 2005 draws to close, it's time for that insufferable ritual — Top 10's. Why do we do it? To justify re-reviewing our insufferable reviews? Or to see whose list contains the most obscure albums?
Whatever the reason, without further adieu, here are some favorites and the Top 10 CDs from Thrasher's Blog:
1. "Z" - My Morning Jacket
MMJ's "Z" is definitely not causing Zzzzzz's. While Jim James doesn't like to be compared to Neil Young, we still like him because he reminds us of Neil.
2. Back To Me - Kathleen Edwards
"Much of the disc stomps along like Tom Petty touched by some of Neil Young's ragged glory, but Edwards is often at her best when she's at her most subdued."
3. "Okemah & The Melody of Riot" - Son Volt
Jay Farrar seems to be channeling Woody Guthrie's spirit.
4. "Kicking Television" - Wilco
Another example of why live music is better.
![Countryman [Digipack]](http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B0009ML1Q6.01._SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg)
5. "Countryman "- Willie Nelson
OK, so Willie doing reggae is not Bob Marley, but it's still fun to try.
6. "Live at the Fillmore" - Lucinda Williams
Influenced by Neil Young's Live Rust with minimal talking and excellent live recording fidelity.
7. "Cold Roses" - Ryan Adams & The Cardinals"The results suggest what Whiskeytown might have sounded like if its brand of alt-country had absorbed the influences of Neil Young and the Grateful Dead and had replaced its fiddle with steel guitar."
Article comments
1 - Aaman
interesting list
2 - uao
Kind of the top-10 Neil Young albums of 2005, but nothing wrong with that; I turn to Thrasher first for such picks.
I love that Wilco album, still haven't heard Z but will give 'em a listen, usually like Ryan Adams, but find it hard to keep up with him, and have been curious about Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.
I like this list a lot; it's got character.
Almost everyone else picks the same albums.
3 - thrasher
uao - thanks for the feedback. First time I've tried a serious compilation. But folks sure do love lists!
4 - trish
I find that I have to agree with the previous entry. This is the most original list I have read in a long, long time (perhaps ever!). This is not a bland regurgitation of the top 40 lists or the most requested play lists on every clear channel station.
I too have been waffling over BRMC...but since I own the majority of the cd's mentioned on your list..I am going now to purchase that one.
Thanks for putting a smile on my face today!
5 - andrew
very good list... for the top ten alt.country albums of the year.
6 - JELIEL³
Damn I keep forgetting to get Neil's new CD.... arg.
7 - Rob
Finally got Neil's "Prairie Wind" for christmas and it went over like a warm blanket on a cold winter's night. Just so comforting.
I really enjoyed your list. I'm actually familiar with most of the people/bands on the list and own more then one of the albums. Glad to see a few Canadians made the grade.
8 - Rodney Welch
Thrasher, Being the enormous Neil Young fan you are, I can't help but notice that Prairie Wind doesn't quite make the cut. Are you as underwhelmed by it as I am? Put me in the camp who does not find it a return to form. I'll easily concede that between Singer-songwriter Neil and Hard Rock God Neil, I prefer the latter, but I can appreciate both. For me, he reached his height in the singer/songwriter mode with Harvest and the woefully underrated Comes a Time, and I just don't see this new CD as being at that level. It's pleasant, it's listenable, it's not boring -- but I can't get real excited about it, either. Can you?
9 - thrasher
Rodney - good question. Quite a few folks have asked "Why is a die-hard Neil Young fan listing Prairie Wind as #11 on his Top 10 list"?
Well, a couple of reasons. First, my automatic response would be to put the album at #1. You know, it's Neil so it must be #1.
I figured that was a rather predictble approach so I decided to pick my 10 and then add Prairie Wind to the end.
But here's the bottom line on Prairie Wind - it is an essential and quintessential Neil album. It is really a summary of his career and Canadian roots.
As with Greendale it is underestimated on first listen. But over time, it will resonate. The concert performances of the songs are very strong. "When God Made Me" seems rather subdued on the album but comes alive in concery. Witness the Live 8 & Katrina Benefit performances. Truly stunning.
Anyways, when the film of the Ryman concerts is released in 2006, I think many will come around on the album and recognize it's greatness in the Neil Young discography.
10 - Rodney Welch
Is that the Jonathan Demme film? I'll definitely see that.
I listened to the CD again this morning and it just reaffirmed my opinion -- which, again, is not that it's bad just that I'm not in love with it. I think of it as a three star record on the five-star scale.
11 - thrasher
Rodney - Yes, the Jonathan Demme film. Which should be great.