Calexico

The best part of doing these year end lists is rediscovering every album we loved in 2008. While we chose Blitzen Trapper as the best album of the year, it may as well be a three-way tie. How do you choose between Blitzen Trapper, Fleet Foxes and The Black Keys?

Hopefully y’all liked our choices. I’m always interested in hearing about what we overlooked. So, what were your favorite albums of the year that we missed?

1. Blitzen Trapper – Furr (our review)

Blitzen Trapper

The cover art is made of wood and that’s what the album gives me. I don’t have enough good things to say. It’s my favorite album of 2008 and “Black River Killer” is my favorite song right now.

Blitzen Trapper – Furr

Blitzen Trapper – Bread for Gold

Video: Blitzen Trapper – Furr (Live on Conan)

2. Black Keys – Attack and Release

Black Keys

After Magic Potion, how do the Akron boys take it to the next level? They let Danger Mouse take over production and add in more instruments like banjos and flutes. The results are wondrous.

Video: The Black Keys – I Got Mine (Live on Letterman)

3. Fleet Foxes – Self Titled (our review)

Fleet Foxes

As stunning a debut as you’ll see in years. Woody saw them at SXSW and said “I thought angels were singing to me.” I called him a pussy at the time, but he’s right. So angelic. To say I am looking forward to their 2nd release is as big of an understatement.

Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal

Fleet Foxes – He Doesn’t Know Why

Video: Fleet Foxes – Tiger Mountain Peasant Song (Live In London)

4. Dr. Dog – Fate

Dr. Dog

Jeff Tweedy loves Dr. Dog and so do we. Production is getting tighter and the songs are taking on bigger, often biblical themes. See them live to really appreciate the band.

Dr. Dog – The Ark

Dr. Dog – The Old Days

Video: Dr. Dog – Hang On

5. Justin Townes Earle – The Good Life

Justin Townes Earle is what country music needs right now. If you’ve had enough of the mainstream pop garbage, listen to the music as Hank, Townes, Kris, Willie, Waylon and Johnny intended it to be heard. Justin has a voice and bravado that’s a throwback to country music’s legends.

Exclusive: Justin Townes Earle – Lone Pine Hill (from the HearYa Live Session)

Exclusive: Justin Townes Earle – Who Am I To Say (from the HearYa Live Session)

Hear more from our live session with Justin Townes Earle.

Video: Justin Townes Earle – Lone Pine Hill (Live)

6. Drive-By Truckers – Brighter Than Creations Dark

Drive By Truckers cover art

DBT’s first album without Isbell and, although I miss him dearly, Hood and Cooley show that the show will certainly go on. It’s 19 tracks deep and “Ghost To Most,” “Two Daughters and a Beautiful Wife,” and “Daddy Needs a Drink” have all become favorites. I’m also craving more Shonna Tucker after hearing “I’m Sorry Huston.”

Drive-By Truckers – Two Daughters and a Beautiful Wife (Live)

Drive-By Truckers – Opening Act (Live)

Drive-By Truckers – Ghost To Most (Live)

Video: Drive By Truckers – Ghost To Most

7. Calexico – Carried to Dust (our review)

Calexico

In our review, I compared these guys to the scene in Young Guns when the gang visits the spirit world. Calexico are true musicians that explore new sounds and bend genres. This album comes with some spicy, southwestern flavor.

Calexico – Two Silver Trees

Video: Calexico – Two Silver Trees

8. My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges

My Morning Jacket

Do I even need to write anything about My Morning Jacket? This would have been higher on the list, but there are one or two tracks on Evil Urges that I can’t even listen to – “Highly Suspicious” is one of them. I still respect the constant experimentation and will remain a captive listener with each release.

My Morning Jacket – I’m Amazed

Video: My Morning Jacket – Librarian (Live)

9. Port O’Brien – All We Could Do Was Sing (our review)

Port O'Brien

Lead singer-songwriter Van Pierszalowski is an Alaska fisherman (think Deadliest Catch) and All I Could Do Was Sing always feels inspired by a bit of cabin fever with soft, sweet, finger-picked tunes like “Fisherman’s Son” offset by extended jams and heavy guitar riffs on “Pigeonhold” and “The Rooftop Song.” Damn good people too.

Port O’Brien – I Woke Up Today

Port O’Brien – Close The Lid

Hear more at our live session with Port O’Brien.

Video: Port O’Brien – I Woke Up Today (recorded exclusively for HearYa.com)

Port OBrien I Woke Up Today for Hearya.com – Port OBrien

10. Langhorne Slim – Self Titled (our review)

Langhorne Slim

I’m not sure what the rebel side of heaven looks like, but I hope when I’m bellied up to the bar at The Big Guy in the Sky’s Bar and Lounge, that Langhorne strolls up in his fedora so I can buy him cocktail.

Langhorne Slim – Rebel Side of Heaven

Exclusive: Langhorne Slim – Collette (from the HearYa Live Session)

Exclusive: Langhorne Slim – Restless (from the HearYa Live Session)

Hear more tracks at our live session with Langhorne Slim and The War Eagles.

Video: Langhorne Slim – Restless (Live on Letterman)

It’s hard to listen to Calexico and not imagine yourself wandering in solitude amongst cacti and coyotes outside of some dried up, deserted border town on your quest for self-realization, actualization or whatever you call “finding yourself.” The rolling drums prod the tumbleweeds along and the whispery vocals canvas the star-ridden night sky. If you listen to Carried To Dust, leave your belongings behind, wear war paint, and take some peyote. You’re in for an experience.

The band is from Tucson which may explain the latin influence you’ll hear throughout the album. Carried To Dust starts with “Victor Jara’s Hands,” featuring vocals by Spanish singer, Jairo Zavala. It’s a political piece about the real life story of Chilean theater director, singer-songwriter, and political activist who was arrested, tortured, and murdered during the 1973 US endorsed Chilean coup. Calexico found inspiration to write the song after seeing similar stories in recent headlines, with the events taking place in Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib.

The collaborations don’t stop there, however. Calexico also get backing vocals from Sam Beam of Iron & Wine on “House of Valparaiso,” continuing what they started on the collaborative album In the Reins. The only love song on the album, “Slowness,” features stirring vocals by Pieta Brown and “Bend To The Road” features master harmonicist Mickey Raphael who has been in Willie Nelson’s band since the 70’s and has also performed with U2, Emmy Lou Harris, and Neil Young.

I have every Calexico album and Carried to Dust is their best effort yet. These guys are true musicians that explore new sounds and bend genres. If you find yourself in a rut of music consumerism, listening to homogenized bands that are easily classified, then I really urge you to give Calexico’s Carried To Dust a chance. Listening to them is like sailing into uncharted waters with no other vessels in eyesight.

I’m not sure I did the album justice, but it’s in my top 5 albums of 2008. Think of the scene in Young Guns when Lou Diamond Philips’ character, Chavez, takes the gang on a journey into the spirit world. Emilio Estevez as Billy the Kid is ass backwards on a horse, Dirty Steve is firing buck shots at an imaginary chicken, Doc is reciting poetry, and Charlie is puking off a rock. The all-knowing Mexican-Indian guides them through a world of spirits that speak volumes in silence and give the gang a sense of their destiny. Calexico is Chavez and we’re all invisible…”because we’re in the spirit world, asshole.”

Website | MySpace | Quarterstick Records

Calexico – Two Silver Trees

Hear live, acoustic versions of “Two Silver Trees,” “Man Made Lake,” and “Writer’s Minor Holiday” from frontman Joey Burns’ session with Ticketmaster’s liveDaily.

Joey Burns solo on liveDaily Sessions

Calexico – “Two Silver Trees” Video

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCA0_bNXAao[/youtube]