Best of 2009

It's the end of the decade, or is it? I am so confused about this one. Personally I don't really care and I can't begin to put together that kind of list, but 2009 was a pretty good year for music, at least for me. So here goes the 'ol Best of 2009 in no real order with the exception of my overall favorite. Drum roll please...

Best of the Year: Levon Helm - Electric Dirt
Dirt Farmer was good. It was great to hear him again but this one is even better. From the joyous romp through Tennessee Jed (my 15 year old is walking around singing it now) right on through this is an amazing album. Easily the best "Band" album since Stagefright. You want American, this is the real deal right here. No duds at all and Growing Trade is absolutely amazing. If you don't have it you need it. Now.

Really Great Stuff You May Not Have Heard
Otis Gibbs - Grandpa Walked a Picket Line
Michael Dean Damron - Father's Day
William Elliott Whitmore - Animals in the Dark
American Aquarium - Dances for the Lonely
Matt Schofield - Heads, Tails & Aces
Tommy Castro - Hard Believer
Ashley Cleveland - God Don't Never Change
Mike Farris - Shout! Live
Rufus Huf - Rufus Huf
Bloodkin - Baby, They Told Us He Would Rise Again
Deer Tick - Born on Flag Day

One You Probably Know
The Subdudes - Flower Petals
Sam Bush - Circles Around Me
Buddy & Julie Miller - Written In Chalk
Gov't Mule - By A Thread
Black Crowes - Before the Frost...Until the Freeze
Lucero - 1372 Overton Park

Kind of a Little Disappointed By
Ian Hunter - Man Overboard (but it is starting to finally win me over)
Bruce Springsteen - Working on a Dream (great tour but the worst album since Human Touch)
Willie Nile - House of a Thousand Guitars
Bob Dylan - Together Through Life

Best Live Shows
Bruce Springsteen at MSG (natch!) The River and E. Street Shuffle!
Steely Dan Internet Request Night
Railroad Earth
Allman Brothers with Clapton
The Cult playing Love

I really enjoyed the year in music and I want to thank all the blogs out there where I find out about these new artists. The music world is a much smaller place now and that is a good thing!

Great Music Blogs
Wild Safari (invite only)
Music Fog
Burning Wood
Twang Nation
Nightwatcher
and so many others. Thank you for your time and efforts!

Let's hope 2010 is another good one.