Tag: 2000s
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Steve Earle, Townes, 2009 on New West Records
Steve Earle tribute to Townes Van Zandt, with guests including Tom Morello (on “Lungs”), Allison Moorer (married to Earle at the time), and son Justin Townes Earle (who’s middle name of course was inspired by Van Zanndt). A companion record, Townes (The Basics), was released for Record Store Day in 2021. Earle’s done a number…
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Mary Gauthier, Mercy Now, 2005 on Lost Highway
I’ve been a fan of Mary Gauthier since my wife heard her play in Provincetown in the winter of 1999 – she’s just a fantastic songwriter and compelling performer. This was her fourth full-length, with the title track as well as “I Drink” (later covered by others including Blake Shelton). My copy—via Mystery Train Records…
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El Perro Del Mar, Love is Not Pop, 2009 on Control Group
3rd studio album from Sarah Assbring’s musical project from Sweden. (Yes, the name literally translates as “The Dog of the Sea,” and yes, her name is Assbring). Lots of reviewers called this a breakup record, which I guess it is – but it’s also a wonderful album reflecting the evolution of her/their sound. Co-produced and…
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Jens Lekman, When I Said I Wanted To Be Your Dog, 2004 on Secretly Canadian
I’m a big fan of Jens Lekman – this was his debut album, though some of the tracks had been released independently. Can you imagine in 2003 seeing Jens Lekman and José González together at Goteborg Concert Hall? Banner year for Swedish indie music. My copy—via Bull Moose Records in Plaistow NH—is the Secretly Canadian…
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José González, Veneer, 2003 on Imperial Records
Hard to believe but this was González’s debut album back in 2003 (2005 in the US). His sound is already so fully formed and just wonderful in “Heartbeats” but also “Deadweight on Velveteen” and “Lovestain” and others. Just an all around brilliant debut. My copy is actually the 20th anniversary edition issued on Mute in…
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Rodney Crowell, The Houston Kid, 2001 on Sugar Hill Records
Released on CD in 2001 but issued on vinyl for the first time in 2024, this was Crowell’s tenth full length album. Johnny Cash (Crowell’s former father-in-law) is featured on “I Walk The Line (Revisited).” It’s a bit of an autobiographical concept album as Tony Scherman lays out in “Great Songwriter Mines His Past” –…
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Broadcast, Tender Buttons, 2005 on Warp Records
This was the third studio album from Broadcast, at this point largely a proect of Trish Keenan and James Cargill as a duo, credited on the album as James & Trish. Tender Buttons was also a book of poetry by Gertrude Stein that came out in 1914 – I took a flyer on the album…
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The Decemberists, The Crane Wife, 2006 on Capitol
his was the band’s fourth studio LP, and the first on Capitol Records. Production by Tucker Martine and Chris Walla. This album is one I could just leave on repeat for hours (and sometimes do). Definitely one of my top 20 albums of all time. My copy via Academy Records in NYC is a 2006…
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Flight of the Conchords, Flight of the Conchords, 2008 on Sub Pop
The soundtrack to Jermaine Clement and Bret McKenzie’s brilliant and hilarious show about two New Zealand musicians trying to make it in the states. They’d previously released an EP – “The Distant Future” – and would go on to issue another album (“I Told You I Was Freaky”) and a double LP live special (“Live…
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Erykah Badu, Worldwide Underground, 2003 on Motown
This was Badu’s third album, following Baduizm (1997) and Mama’s Gun (2000). It was produced by Freakquency (Badu along with Rashad Smith, James Poyser, and RC Williams) and features dead prez (Stic Man and M1) on “The Grind.” Lenny Kravitz guests on guitar, Roy Hargrove on trumpet and vocals, and Queen Latifah, Angie Stone, and…
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Eels, Hombre Lobo (12 Songs of Desire), 2009 on E Works Records
Seventh full length from Mark Oliver Everett (aka “E”) and Eels. Hombre Lobo as you might guess is Spanish for Werewolf. The MySpace Transmissions EP of live tracks was released to promote this release. Everything they do is just interesting and cool. There’s also a documentary called Tremendous Dynamite: Making Hombre Loco if you buy…
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Willie Nelson, Milk Cow Blues, 2000 on Island Records
Originally released in 2000, but issued on vinyl for the first time in 2023, this is Willie singing the blues, with guests including Francine Reed, Keb’ Mo’, Jonny Lang, Dr. John, Susan Tedeschi, B.B. King, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd (doing a mean “Texas Flood”). Mix of Wilie’s own songs plus covers (“The Thrill is Gone.”…
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Doomtree, False Hopes, 2007 on Doomtree Records
Doomtree are a hip-hop collective (and record label) from Minneapolis, including Dessa, Cecil Otter, P.O.S., Sims, Mike Mictian, Paper Tiger, and Lazerbeak. False Hopes came out (on CD) before their “debut” album, self-titled Doomtree, in 2008. There were many other “False Hopes” CDs of individual artists. The bandcamp for this release claims “This is the…
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Eels, The Myspace Transmissions / Transmission Session 2009, 2009 on E Works
I’m a huge fan of Mark Oliver Everett (aka E) and Eels so was super excited to find this record at Down in the Valley in Golden Valley MN. These were made available for streaming and download at www.myspace.com/transmissions/ though I don’t think they are there anymore. Great version of Dylan’s “Girl From the North…
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Killers, Hot Fuss, 2004 on Island / UMe
Originally released on Lizard King Records / The Control Group in 2004 – my copy is a more recent (2023) reissue on Island / UMe, but the music remains the same. Hot Fuss was Killers’ debut album and included the massive hits “Mr. Brightside” and “Somebody Told Me” as well as the bonus track “Glamorous…
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The Decemberists, Castaways and Cutouts, 2002 on Hush / Jealous Butcher
The last in a series of records I was happy to pick up from the merch table at the Decemberists show in Boston earlier this year. Originally released in 2002 on Hush Records, then reissued in 2003 by Kill Rock Stars, then released on vinyl in 2005 by Jealous Butcher. My copy is a later…
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The Decemberists, The Tain / 5 Songs, 2004 on Jealous Butcher Records & Hush Records
Two EPs released in 2004 as a single LP – 5 Songs was originally self-released (not on a label) in 2001 and The Tain on Acuarela Discos (an independent Spanish label) in 2003 . Although The Tain is broken up into five parts, it’s really one single 18 minute song, named after an Irish epic…
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The Decemberists, Her Majesty, 2003 on Kill Rock Stars & Jealous Butcher
This was the first Decemberists album on Kill Rock Stars, after Castaways and Cutouts came out on Hush Records. Recorded at Jackpot! and Type Foundry in Portland OR and produced by The Decemberists, Adam Selzer, and Larry Crane. Only Colin Meloy could get away with lyrics like this: The bosun calls upon the quay /…