Thursday, 22 December 2022

Some Awe’s Best of 2022

No Longer Anonymous Awe

Courtney Marie Andrews - Loose Future   

Bitchin Bajas - Bajascillators

*Bastards Of Soul - Corners

Weyes Blood - And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow

Joe Bonamassa - Road to Redemption

Jessie Buckley/Bernard Butler - For All Our Days That Tear the Heart

Christine and the Queens - Redcar les adorables étoiles

Cowboy Junkies - Songs of the Recollection

Kiki Dee, Carmelo Luggeri - The Long Ride Home

The Delines – The Sea Drift

The Delta Sound - Things Gonna Change

Jasdeep Singh Degun - Anomaly

*DeWolff & Dawn Brothers - Double Cream

Drive-By Truckers - Welcome 2 Club XIII

Steve Earle & The Dukes - Jerry Jeff

Dr Feelgood - Damn Right!

Jeff Finlin - Soul on the Line

First Aid Kit – Palomino

Richie Furay - In the Country

Gabriels - Angels & Queens Part I

Gaye Su Akyol - Anadolu Ejderi

The Greg Foat Group - Blue Lotus

Matthew Halsall - The Temple Within

Ibeyi - Spell

Shawn James - A Place in The Unknown

Alicia Keys - KEYS II

* Mamas Gun - Cure the Jones

Marcus King - Young Blood

Jim Lauderdal - Game Changer

*Bruno Mars/Anderson Park – Silk Sonic

Bob Marley - Bob Marley & the Chineke! Orchestra

Christine McVie - Songbird (A Solo Collection)

Nazareth - Surviving the Law

Old Crow Medicine Show - Paint This Town

Ozzy Osbourne - Patient Number 9

Pointless Beauty – Hearts Full of Grace

Cat Power - Covers

Bonnie Raitt - Just Like That

Leann Rimes - God's Work

Sarah Shook & the Disarmers – Nightroamer

Sonny Singh - Chardi Kala

Amy Speace – Tucson

Katie Spencer - The Edge of the Land

Bruce Springsteen - Only the Strong Survive

Tedeschi Trucks Band – I Am the Moon

*The Temptations - Temptations 60

*Thee Sacred Souls - Thee Sacred Souls

Robin Trower - No More Worlds to Conquer

Loudon Wainwright III - Lifetime Achievement

Jack White - Fear of the Dawn

Snowy White - Driving On The 44

Wet Leg - Wet Leg

Edgar Winter - Brother Johnny

Neil Young & Crazy Horse - World Record

 

*Soul/nu-Soul albums: a particular trend for the year in my listening – all of these had a special appeal.

 

Top Ten

 

The DelinesThe Sea Drift

 

Another of Willy Vlautin’s songstory after songstory narrating the lost or atrophying lives of ordinary people, wrapped in an ironic beauty of performance.

 

Ozzy Osbourne - Patient Number 9

 

Every overblown cliché of OO/Black Sabbath is retro-riffed in the most glorious pomp and hyperbole possible. May well have listened to this more than any other in 2022. Clears the heads and makes me smile.

 

Edgar WinterBrother Johnny

 

Where Osbourne’s is absurdly sublime, this is simply sublime: a powerful musical and personal tribute from brother to brother, built of course on the strongest of legendary songs. Love it.

 

The Delta SoundThings Gonna Change

 

Indie with blues, this latter played in a number of polished guitar breaks; these are songs that consistently rock and with occasional affecting balladry – another I have listened to many times.

 

Pointless BeautyHearts Full of Grace

 

‘This is a beautiful album, graced by rumination and reflection in its many serene sounds (though there is also sass and funk) which emanate from the strange and unusual times of its playing and production as expressed by Al Swainger in his notes of February ‘22.’ (from my review)

 

Katie SpencerThe Edge of the Land

 

Gorgeous nostalgia in its echo of Pentangle, Jansch, Renbourne et al. Long may such homage but also individuality continue.

 

Jessi Buckley/Bernard ButlerFor All Our Days That Tear the Heart

 

Beautiful vocals, and Buckley (naturally of particular interest) steps seamlessly outside superb acting into superb musical performance.

 

Sonny Singh - Chardi Kala

 

There may/will be those who dislike the ‘western’ echoes and influences on the Punjabi roots, but I am more than happy with the appropriations and pop sensibilities.

 

Bob Marley - Bob Marley & the Chineke! Orchestra

 

I know, but a manufacturing merging released this year and I find it a joyous listen that I once more returned to again and again.

 

Tedeschi Trucks BandI Am the Moon

 

Just quality songcraft and musicianship song after song after song.

 

 

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