Best of 2008 (So Far)

It’s been an encouraging year so far. Locally, there’s a lot to be excited about with upstart acts like Black Joe Lewis & the Honey Bears, Dustin Welch & the House Band, the Band of Heathens, the Belleville Outfit, and Suzanna Choffel proving the scene remains diverse and vibrant. Meanwhile, veterans like Joe Ely, Alejandro Escovedo, Kacy Crowley, and James McMurtry continue to challenge and enthrall and Grupo Fantasma and Shearwater remain in leagues of their own.

I decided to make a mixtape of tracks from my favorite albums of the half-year. I’ve written about almost all of these artists either in the pages of the Chronicle or here in Geezerville, and the 22 tracks fit on an 80-minute CD. Hopefully it’ll turn you on to something you might have missed. I’m sure if there’s something I’ve forgotten, you’ll let me know.

1) Aimee Mann, "Freeway," @#%&*! Smilers (Super Ego)

2) Poi Dog Pondering, "Perfect Music," 7 (Platetectonic)

3) Liam Finn, "I’ll Be Lightning," I’ll Be Lighting (Yep Roc)

4) Drive-by Truckers, "The Home Front," Brighter Than Creation’s Dark (New West)

5) Justin Townes Earle, "What Do You Do When You’re Lonesome," The Good Life (Bloodshot)

6) Mother Truckers, "I’m Comin’ Over," Let’s All Go to Bed (Funzalo)

7) Alejandro Escovedo, "Always a Friend," Real Animal (Back Porch)

8) The Whigs, "Right Hand on My Heart," Mission Control (ATO)

9) Kacy Crowley, "Cave," Cave (Stable)

10) Leatherbag, "On Down the Line," Love & Harm (Superpop)

11) Mark Pickerel & His Praying Hands, "Cherokee Grove," Cody’s Dream (Bloodshot)

12) R.E.M., "Supernatural Superstitious," Accelerate (Warner Bros.)

13) James McMurtry, "Cheney’s Toy," Just Us Kids (Lightning Rod)

14) Ray Bonneville, "Cemetery Road," Goin’ by Feel (Red House)

15) Steeldrivers, "Drinkin’ Dark Whiskey," Steeldrivers (Rounder)

16) The Belleville Outfit, "Caroline," Wanderin’

17) Grupo Fantasma, "Gimme Some," Sonidos Gold (Aire Sol)

18) The Band of Heathens, "One More Step," Live at Antone’s (BoH)

19) Tift Merritt, "Broken," Another Country (Fantasy)

20) Jeb Loy Nichols, "That’s Not What She Said to Me," Days Are Mighty (Compass)

21) Shearwater, "Rooks," Rook (Matador)

22) Marah, "Santos de Madera," Angels of Destruction (Yep Roc)

As a bonus, here’s a video of Grupo Fantasma recorded at the Monarch Event Center on New Year’s Eve, 2007.