Mike Neufeld “Diesel” – Top Ten list of 2004
Not the most spectacular year, but music was made just the same. The list is random- I’m not quite nerdy enough to alphabetize.
Calexico- Convict Pool
Feist- Let it Die
Neko Case-The Tigers Have Spoken
Steve Earle- The Revolution Starts Now
Lorretta Lynn- Van Lear Rose
Carolyn Mark- The Pros and Cons of Collaboration
Nathan- Jimson Weed
Kieran Kane and Kevin Welch (with Fats Kaplan) You Can’t Save Everybody
Elyza Gilkyson- Land of Milk and Honey
Kasey Chambers- Wayward Angel
Jeff Robson “Desi the Dog” Top Ten list of 2004
Top 10 CDs:
Slaid Cleaves – Wishbones (Philo)
Easily Amused – Simple Stuff (Independent)
David Francey – The Waking Hour (Jericho Beach)
Reid Jamieson – The Unavoidable Truth (Independent)
Johnsmith – Kickin’ This Stone (Independent)
Kieran Kane & Kevin Welch (with Fats Kaplan) – You Can’t Save Everybody (Dead Reckoning)
Ray Lamontagne – Trouble (RCA)
Nathan – Jimson Weed (Nettwerk)
Swank – The Survival Issue (Independent)
The Wailin’ Jennys – 40 Days (Jericho Beach)
**Coulda Been a Contenda**
Feist – Let It Die
Eliza Gilkyson – Land of Milk and Honey
Chuck Prophet – Age of Miracles (at least Stu got that right)
Paul Kelly – Ways & Means (even though Stu told me it’s not Paul’s best work?)
Ben Arnold – Calico
Bruce Knauer – Allnight Breakfast Special
Neko Case – The Tigers Have Spoken
OX – The Upstairs Sound Laboratory EP Vol. 1
Top 10 Shows of 2004:
Merle Haggard, Blackie & the Rodeo Kings, & Russell deCarle – May 23 – Centennial Concert Hall
Steve Forbert – May 28 – Hugh’s Room, Toronto
Feist – June 15 – West End Cultural Centre
Xavier Rudd – July 10 – Firefly Palace, Winnipeg Folk Festival
Paul Kelly – July 24 – Calgary Folk Festival
The Handsome Family & Jim Bryson – August 10 – West End Cultural Centre
Regina Folk Festival – August 13-15 – Victoria Park
Geoff Berner, Ford Pier, and Carolyn Mark – September 20 – High & Lonesome Club
R.E.M. & Charlie Mars – November 15 – Centennial Concert Hall
Reid Jamieson & Michael Johnston – Dec 3 – Dregs Caf
Terry Wilson “T-Bar” Top Ten lists of 2004
Top 10 CDs, or was that 11:
#1: Ray Lamontagne – Trouble (RCA) If you by one CD this year this is it. The voice of an angel.
Chuck Prophet – Age of Miracles (New West) Quirky Folk Pop. Can’t get enough of this guy.
Buddy Miller – Universal United House of Prayer (New West). Every song paints a masterpiece.
Jim White – Drill a Hole (Luaka Bop) Great songwriter and storyteller. A wonderful twisted journey.
Loretta Lynn – Van Lear Rose (Interscope) Jack White makes us remember how great Miss Lynn is. This CD kicks butt.
Jesse Malin – The Heat (Artemis). New York rocker bares his soul to create one of the year’s best.
Jon Dee Graham – The Great Battle (New West). Gravely voice singing the sweetest songs you’ve never heard.
Slaid Cleaves – Wishbones (Philo). One of Texas’s finest delivers with this album of emotional songs of real life and people.
Eliza Gilkyson – Land of Milk and Honey (Redhouse). Beautiful voice and great songs. One sweet dream.
Los Lonely Boys – Los Lonely Boys (Epic) The Garcia Brothers push all the right buttons on this disk. Tex-Mex never sounded so good.
Martyn Joseph – Whoever it was that brought me here will have to take me home (Pipe). Stunningly beautiful. Minimal production and acoustic style makes this his most personal album to date.
Best Song
Jackie Greene – Honey I Been Thinking About You, from the album “Sweet Somewhere Bound”
Eliza Gilkyson – Highway 9, from the album “Land of Milk and Honey”
Top Ten Live Shows
Martyn Joseph – West End Cultural Centre, Winnipeg (Jan. 16)
Paul Kelly – West End Cultural Centre, Winnipeg (March 16)
Merle Haggard – Centennial Concert Hall, Winnipeg (May 23)
Steve Forbert – Hugh’s Room, Toronto (May 29)
Feist – West End Cultural Centre, Winnipeg (June 15)
Lucinda Williams – Calgary Folk Festival (July 25)
Handsome Family – West End Cultural Centre, Winnipeg (Aug. 10)
Mary Gauthier – Regina Folk Festival (Aug. 15)
Xavier Rudd – Pyramid Cabaret, Winnipeg (Oct. 19)
Jackie Green – West End Cultural Centre, Winnipeg (Nov. 4)
Best Music Book
Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison: The Making of a Masterpiece by Michael Streissguth (Da Capo)
Best Local CD
Nathan – Jimson Weed (Nettwerk)
Best Live CD
Acoustic Citsouca – My Morning Jacket
Best Reissue
Bob Dylan – Live 1964 Concert at Philharmonic Hall – The Bootleg Series #6 (Columbia)
John Lennon – Acoustic (Capital)
Best New Artist
Ray Lamontagne – Trouble (RCA)
Mindy Smith – One Moment More (Vanguard)