Kentuckyseven

1. Jason Isbell ­­– Southeastern (2013)

Kentuckysevens definitiva soundtrack till 10-talet. Jason Isbell från Green Hill, Alabama, grävde djupt och golvade oss. Öppningsspåret ”Cover Me Up” sätter tonen till ett album som spränger alla gränser, ny dynamit i varje text och i varje låt. Känslorna svallar över – tack för allt, Jason.

2. The Head and The Heart – The Head and The Heart (2011)

Bandet som levde upp till sin hype, som tog över livescener runtom i US och Europa. Kentuckyseven lyckades fånga dem på Pustervik, och knäcktes fullständigt. Stämmorna och instrumenten på deras album låter som man inte trodde var möjligt längre. Ett folksound som vi älskar fortfarande.

3. City and Colour – Little Hell (2011)

Det finns skivor som man spelar sönder, sen finns det skivor man spelar om och om igen, men aldrig tröttnar på. Dallas Green skapade City and Colour, sen skapade han Little Hell. Skivan tar med oss på en musikalisk resa som man aldrig vill komma tillbaka från. Vi är kvar på resan fortfarande in i nästa decennium.

4. Chris Stapleton – Traveller (2015)

Musik från the Heartland som knäcker alla grenar på sin spikraka väg upp mot toppen. Chris Stapleton från Lexington, Kentucky, har rösten som får alla andra att darra. Vi har lyssnat sönder ”Traveller” och har inga planer på att ändra beteende. Ett sound och ett skägg att leva för.

5. John Grant – Queen of Denmark (2010)

Att göra ett personligt album där man lämnar ut allt, vrider ur känslorna som nytvättade kläder och låter dem skölja över lyssnaren, det är inte för alla. John Grant, som var på botten av sitt liv, skapade detta magiska album tillsammans med medlemmar ur Midlake. Resultatet är magiskt. Själarenande och känslostarkt. Odödligt är ordet.

6. The Black Keys – Brothers (2010)

De svarta tangenterna från Akron, Ohio, har i två decennier gjort mäktig, svettig, massiv bluesrock som ingen annan. På ”Brothers” föll allt på plats. Lyssna på ”Tighten Up” eller ”Howlin’ For You” och försök att sitta still: mission impossible. Riff på riff som svänger sjukt så sjukt.

7. Tyler Childers – Purgatory (2017)

Mannen från Paintsville, Kentucky, gjorde den perfekta country/bluegrass/folk/americana-plattan när debutvaxet föll hårt på världen 2017. Producerad av Sturgill Simpson där Childers röst erövrar varje textrad. Lyssna på avslutande ”Lady May” och låt dig monteras ner. Autentiskt som Appalacherna.

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••• Decenniets 7 bubblare:

John Moreland – In The Throes (2013)

Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues (2011)

Deer Tick – The Black Dirt Sessions (2010)

Sarah Klang – Love In The Milky Way (2018)

Håkan Hellström – 2 steg från Paradise (2010)

The War On Drugs – Lost In The Dream (2014)

Sturgill Simpson – A sailors guide to Earth (2016)

We know you have waited. We for sure have. Well here it is, on December 8 when else? The best albums of the year, the epic music year of 2015. Thanks for reading, tonnes of brotherly and sisterly love to ya´ll.

1. Dawes – All your favorite bands

”I hope your brothers El Camino runs forever.” Hearing the line from the titlesong on Dawes new album we knew the contest was over. We had a winner. The LA-band created the best album of 2015 – no doubt. First and foremost this is an album, the way they used to be back in the days. 9 song united, depending on each other. We saw the band live – and man they folk-rocked the shit out of us. Produced by Dave Rawlings, the sound is pitch perfect, the songs very Springsteen-esque, very beautifully damn good. So thanks to the brothers Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith, Wylie Gelber and Tay Strathairn, you made our year. We hope you always stay togheter!

2. Florence + The Machine – How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful

Everytime Florence + The Machine release a new album you instantly know that it will be filled with magic. After seeing her energy on stage in Slottskogen at Way Out West this year, I am sure. She is the one. This album is an a to z album, every song is so real. My favorite song?  ”Queen Of Peace” and all of the other… For me, this is an instant classic.

3. Daniel Norgren – Alabursy

Swedish blues-crooner-americana-folklorer Daniel Norgren broke us down into pieces this year. He took a big leap into divine earthy heartfelt music and we followed him all the way into eternity of the green woods. This guy is pure genius and we’re  proud being along for the ride. May Daniel Norgren forever do whatever he is doing.

4. Natalie Prass – Natalie Prass

Debut albums, gotta love them. This is no exception, except that this sounds like someone who has found her sound a long time ago. Natalie Prass self-titled album is filled with so much emotions and instruments that is just fill upour chilled-dark-frozen Nordic hearts with warmt and hope. Though melancholic in lyrics there is a joy in the sound. Brilliant. Just brilliant.

5. Houndmouth – Little Neon Limelight

Houndmouth got us all fired up. All four bandmembers share the microphone and made an album so full of vibrant life that we just wanna hit the street and raise our glass to the future. It’s Dylan back in the heydays, it’s The Band and Buddy Holly all intwined with producer Dave Cobbs rooty sound. Can’t stop listering to this one, pure gold.

6. Father John Misty – I love You, Honeybear

Josh Tillman, former Fleet Foxes drummer (2008-2011) created a great story-telling album and added humour to that… The result, something very comfortable, sticky and dirty. And totally awesome. Old school sounds in a new dress. Father John Misty made a large album, with extra cheese. Orders up!

Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear from Bella Union on Vimeo.

7. John Moreland – High On Tulsa Heat

Big man John Moreland does what every singer-songwriter out there aim for. He makes it raw, honest and unique. The songs hits our soul with every bit of temper. It’s down to the core, a knockout of emotions, and an album that we’ll keep close to our heart forever and ever.

7 close calls – 7 great albums we also adored 2015.

• Gill Landry – Gill Landry
• James McMurtry – Complicated Game
• Jason Isbell – Something more than free
• Joe Pug – Windfall
• Banditos – Banditos
• Slowgold – Stjärnfall
• Kristofer Åström – Fine Line

• John Moreland is back with another great record. The big man from Tulsa, Oklahoma got a rhythm and a rime to knock us down and out. It’s a beautiful record, poetry and songs combined into angelic bliss.

Try this live version of Hang Me in the Tulsa County Stars.

• ”I started up the engine and headed for the place we met. I prayed to sister Juliette, smoked three packs of cigarettes.”

Two lines into this magical song you are hooked forever into the world of dear John Moreland. This 29 year old Americana man from Tulsa, Oklahoma made one of last years best albums. If you missed it – pick up a copy of In The Throes today. You’ll never look back.

It’s hard rain music, why we are here in the first place. It’s a dark voice from the deepest well, the song Blacklist.