Some Awe's Best Of 2018

A little different this year - no prelims, and initially a list in chronological order of reviewing in 2018 on the basis that if I reviewed I like a lot [and it is still a selection from all reviewed], then a small list of those releases I intended to review but didn't for whatever reason, and might still do. Perhaps a top 5 or so at end, but I haven't decided... Clicking on album titles will take you to their reviews:

Richmond Fontaine - Don't Skip Out On Me

Joan as Police Woman - Damned Devotion

Andy Sheppard Quartet - Romaria

Chris Smither - Call Me Lucky

David Munyon - Planetary Nights

Kurt Elling - The Questions

Courtney Marie Andrews - May Your Kindness Remain

Ryley Walker - Deafman Glance

Nigel Kennedy - Kennedy Meets Gershwin

Lamont Dozier - Reimagination

Al Swainger's Pointless Beauty - After & Before

Kamasi Washington - Heaven & Earth

Marcus Miller - Laid Back

Jimmy LaFave - Peace Town

Steve Tilston - Distant Days

Boz Scaggs - Out Of The Blues
Oh Sees - Smote Reverser

Paul Simon - In the Blue Light

Low - Double Negative

John Smith - Hummingbird

Connan Mockasin - Jassbusters

Paul Weller - True Meanings

David Crosby - Here If You Listen

Bruce Springsteen - Springsteen On Broadway

Charles Lloyd & The Marvels + Lucinda Williams - Vanished Gardens

Cowboy Junkies - All That Reckoning

Darryl Way - Vivaldi's Four Seasons In Rock

Gretchen Peters - Dancing With The Beast

Josh T. Pearson - The Straight Hits!

Kandace Springs – Indigo

Lucy Rose - Something's Changing (Remixes)

Marianne Faithfull - Negative Capability

Mary Chapin Carpenter - Sometimes Just The Sky

Neneh Cherry - Broken Politics

Paolo Fresu Devil Quartet - Carpe Diem

Public Image Limited - The Public Image Is Rotten Songs From The Heart

Ray Davies - Our Country; Americana Act II

Richard Thompson - 13 Rivers

Roger Daltrey - As Long As I Have You

Roxy Coss - The Future Is Female

Ry Cooder - The Prodigal Son

Soft Machine - Hidden Details

St. Paul & The Broken Bones - Young Sick Camellia

The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices – BooCheeMish

The Temperance Movement - A Deeper Cut

The Temptations - All The Time

Tim Garland - Weather Walker

Top Five 

Lamont Dozier – Reimagination: it’s the one I have played the most since first hearing, and though hard to separate these new versions from the greatness of their origins, I think Lamont does distinguish them through his own vocal and that of guests, for example Gregory Porter and, surprisingly [as I mention in review] Cliff Richards!

Chris Smither – Call Me Lucky: one of the greatest living singer-songwriters and superb guitarist, and I shall be seeing him again in January.

Low – Double Negative: I have become almost a complete softy in my overall tastes – my love of ‘pretty’ music – but I still do like it very heavy [the Oh Sees in list more than a token] and this album merges the beauty of harmony with the scorching noise of what accompanies it. Also probably my most apt review, inasmuch as what I 'feel' when listening is captured in what I say about it, this encapsulation I would be the first to admit I do not always achieve, though some music doesn't necessitate/warrent it.

John Smith – Hummingbird: probably the most perfect folk album that didn’t get produced by either John Martyn or Bert Jansch back in the day [and Ryley’s this year has a large jazz influence].

Steve Tilston – Distant Days: because he is one of our greatest folk artists as singer-songwriter and guitarist and this is as good as his first two gems, accepting the revisits.

David Crosby – Here if You Listen: I know, but he is like the secret track at the end of the album, and Crosby’s latest signals my leaning to the past and honouring those still producing their same excellence, as this does beautifully.