Chuck's current list of
Recommended Albums

 
List updated October 19, 2001 (hey, less than two months since the last update ... maybe I'm not such a procrastinatory and lazy bastard after all) and is not necessarily in any order; ranking can depend on my moods and whims.

[cdnow.com] Most of the recommended records have a link to cdnow.com at the end of the comment. If you don't have a good independent record store near you, I offer you the option to buy them right here just by clicking on the [Buy this record!] link. The tiny commissions we make from cdnow help fund this free (and banner ad-free) web site). If the record is hard to find or unavailable from cdnow.com, I'll try to include alternate mail-ordering information. Have fun!

 
 
Jay Farrar
Sebastopol (Artemis)
Jay's first solo album, with all the great songs you'd expect with some surprising arrangements here and there. One of the year's best.
[Buy this record!]

Tim Eriksen
(Appleseed)
Breathtaking debut solo album from the lead singer, guitarist and banjoist of Cordelia's Dad, very aptly described by the band's percussionist Peter Irvine as "intensely good". American music from its deepest roots.
[Buy this record from Appleseed Records! Click the "Buy Now" link at the bottom of the page.]

Gillian Welch
Time (The Revelator) (Acony)
Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. Gillian and David Rawlings have put out a complete gem, old-time music for the 21st Century, and songs that sound like old friends mere moments after hearing them for the first time.
[Buy this record!]

Anders Osborne
Ash Wednesday Blues (Shanachie)
Soulful, fun, funky, funny, bluesy, quiet, sweet, passionate ... these but a few words to describe what will likely be my favorite album of 2001, from the Swedish-born, New Orleans-based singer, songwriter (but NOT one of those singer-songwriter types) and guitarist. Feckin' brilliant.
[Buy this record!]

Rufus Wainwright
Poses (Dreamworks)
Simply gorgeous.
[Buy this record!]

Red Meat
Alameda County Line (Ranchero Records)
The best honky-tonk country band out there, bar none. Pure country, with splashes of Western swing for good measure.
[Buy this record!]

The Blind Boys of Alabama
Spirit of the Century (RealWorld)
A brilliant meeting of gospel and blues, featuring the voices of these men who've been singing together for 63 years, fueled by the likes of David Lindley, John Hammond, Charlie Musselwhite and Danny Thompson behind them. Praise the Lord!
[Buy this record!]

Buddy and Julie Miller
Buddy and Julie Miller (Hightone)
Their first album as a duet, with Julie writing the lion's share of the songs, and it's terrific. It begins with a Richard Thompson cover, so how can it go wrong?!
[Buy this record!]

Donal Lunny
Journey: The Best of Donal Lunny (Rounder)
A two-CD set spanning the depth and breadth of Lunny's amazing career in Irish music, from Planxty, The Bothy Band and Moving Hearts to his solo work, later band work, TV soundtracks, other artists he's arranged and produced, and much more. Contender for best compilation of the year.
[Buy this record!]

Kermit Ruffins
1533 St. Philip Street (Basin Street)
One of the great young New Orleans jazz musicians with his latest, named for his relatively new club in the Tremé neighborhood of the Crescent City. Swings like his new stuff, swings like Louis would, and is a huge, huge amount of fun. If you know anyone named Tillie, buy this for her.
[Buy this record!]

Thad Cockrell & the Starlite Country Band
Stack of Dreams (Miles of Music)
Superb, rich, gorgeous country music, gettin' to be my favorite of the year next to Red Meat. Produced by Chris Stamey.
[Buy this record from Miles of Music!]

 

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Chuck Taggart   (e-mail chuck)