"Firecracker" - The Wailin' Jennys
My winner comes from Canada. No surprise really, as I've always had a thing for Canadian artists. The Wailin' Jennys simply blew me away last year with their stellar recording, Firecracker. These three female singers, with angelic voices, have a fresh new sound that puts them in a category by themselves. And the cast is new. The very talented Cara Luft left the group and was replaced by Annabelle Chvostek, who brought great songs with her and plays acoustic guitar, mandolin, and violin, and sings, well...sings as good as you'd have to sing to be in this group. Backed by a stellar band, they deliver song after song of beautiful harmonies and great songwriting. Producer David Travers-Smith does a brilliant job in every aspect, as well as playing trumpet, E Flat Peck Horn, Hammond M3, and percussion. Many of the fabulous players from their last record, 40 Days, again appear, notably Kevin Breit and Mike Hardwicke on guitars and dobros, the former additionally on National and mandolin. Christian Dugas is stellar on drums throughout, this time mostly with Joe Phillips on acoustic bass, though three other bassists cameo. In my opinion, every song is a winner. I've listened over and over and over and have yet to tire of this record. That's a pretty good sign that its a winner.
My runners-up, are -
"Life Short Call Now" -Bruce Cockburn
"Into The West" - Pilot Speed
"How We Operate" - Gomez
"Life Short Call Now" - Bruce Cockburn
Willy Snook has selected this stellar recording, one of my runners-up, by another Canadian, Bruce Cockburn. Willy sends along these comments from the Rounder Records site...
Bruce Cockburn's first studio album in 3 years finds the acclaimed Canadian singer-songwriter at the top of his game. The 29th album in a career that's midway through its fourth decade, Life Short Call Now is wide-ranging, playful and adventurous, eager to take chances and happy to push limits. The songs run the gamut from the jangly first single, "Different When It Comes to You," to the classic folksong cadences of "Mystery," and from the vocal intricacies of Ani DiFranco's harmonies on "See You Tomorrow" to the deadpan modernism of the jazzy instrumental "Nude Descending a Staircase." Cockburn's insightful observations on life, love, politics, and the environment are as sharp as ever, and longtime fans and new fans alike are sure to be won over by this sterling album.
Willy's runners-up, in no particular order...
"The Raconteurs" ~ Broken Boy Soldiers
"Corrine Bailey Rae" ~ Corrine Baily Rae
"The Fray" ~ How To Save a Life
Willy also wants me to mention another new recording from 2006, "Love", by The Beatles. Its not new material, so I won't include it for legitimate album of the year consideration. It is, however, an exciting new re-mix of wonderful Beatles tunes done as the soundtrack of the new Cirque Du Soleil show, "Love". The audio quality reveals these old Beatles songs as you've never heard them before. And the re-mix, produced by George Martin and his son, Giles, is a masterwork in its own right. Combinations like, "Come Together", "Dear Prudence" and ,"Cry Baby Cry", into one sequencial song, knocked me out. And there are many others like it. If you love the Beatles, you'll want to hear this recording on a good stereo.
