For The Sake Of Song

It's that time of year again, my amigos da musica , so hallelujah, here we go. FTSOTS presents the ten push and pulls of the year, not forgetting the finest reads around. Always a pleasure. Winning artwork - 'his dreams of music', yes sir - comme d'habitude  by Tinca . Dig in and crack up. 1. Jake Xerxes Fussell - What In The Natural World Jake Xerxes Fussell - Pinnacle Mountain Silver Mine 2. Colter Wall - s/t Colter Wall - You Look To Yours 3. Joan Shelley - s/t Joan Shelley - The Push And Pull 4. Fleet Foxes - Crack-Up 5. The Feelies - In Between 6. The Weather Station - s/t 7. Hiss Golden Messenger - Hallelujah Anyhow 8. Here Lies Man - s/t 9. Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile - Lotta Sea Lice 10. John Moreland - Big Bad Love Flamenco dept: Luis Moneo - Mi Cante, Mi Palabra Top books on music: 1. Erin Osmon - Jason Molina: Riding With The Ghost 2. Clinton Heylin - Trouble In Mind: Bob Dylan's Gospel Years 3. Reinhard Kleist - Nick Cave: Mercy ...

Our famous end-of-year list is nearly ready, but patience please, let's put the old stuff to the test first. 'Cause hell yeah, 2017 sure was a great year for reissues and compilations of all kinds. Here's the top of the iceberg, already starting to melt. Suitcase of Songs artwork by the wonderful Tinca . It's flashback time, my amigos da musica ... 1. Lal & Mike Waterson - Bright Phoebus Lal & Mike Waterson - The Scarecrow 2. Bob Dylan - Trouble No More: The Bootleg Series Vol. 13 3. Neil Young - Hitchhiker 4. v/a - Even A Tree Can Shed Tears: Japanese Folk & Rock '69 - '73 Ryo Kagawa - Zeni No Kouryouryoku Ni Tsuite 5. Erasmo Carlos - Carlos, Erasmo... 6. Lynn Castle - Rose Colored Corner 7. Grateful Dead - Cornell '77 & Dave's Picks Vol. 24: Live In Berkeley '72 8. Lloyd Parks - Time A Go Dread LLoyd Parks - Shake Up Yu Dread 9. v/a - Warfaring Strangers: Acid Nightmares 10. Alice Coltrane - The Ecstatic Music of Alice...

After cool cool sets covering Lloyd Parks and producer Bunny Lee , this here's the third much recommended roots reggae compilation of 2017. Coxsone Dodd's legendary Studio One  is where it's at on Black Man's Pride.  You can't possibly go wrong with this wicked selection of big names (Alton Ellis, Horace Andy, Sugar Minott) and obscure outsiders. Of the latter category, here are the rather marvellous Classics. Seen? The Classics - Got To Be Cool

Don't really find myself listening to a lot of so-called indie rock anymore, but this here heartwarming collection of duets calls for an exception. The combination of ace songs, relaxed vibes, and a pleasant air of unpretentiousness sets this Aussie/US combination far apart from the pack. The Neil & the Horse flavoured track below, written by Courtney Barnett's partner Jen Cloher, just happens to be my current fave. Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile - Fear Is Like A Forest

Instrumental freakfolk bliss from the Windy City courtesy of Bill MacKay and Ryley Walker, with a little help from a cellist from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra no less. I'm off to spiderland, folks. Care to join me? Bill MacKay & Ryley Walker - I Heard Them Singing

Just got the sad news that Michael George Haynes, better known as Michael Prophet, has left us. The Jamaican reggae tenor was only 60 years old. I always admired his rootsy work with Yabby You in particular. Miss him, my brethren. Michael Prophet - Praise You Jah Jah

Just got the sad news that Pat DiNizio passed away last week. The leader of New Jersey powerpop combo supreme the Smithereens was just 62. Miss him. The Smithereens - Blood And Roses The Smithereens - House We Used To Live In

"If you want another drink, there's plenty more under the sink..." A soul shakedown party is in order, as For The Sake Of The Song  turns 10 today. Hurray and all that, my  amigos da musica . Lovely jubilee artwork by the mighty Tinca . Fools, and fool's hats. Bob Marley & The Wailers - Soul Shakedown Party Wanda Jackson - Let's Have A Party Porter Wagoner - The Life Of The Party Kevin Coyne - Having A Party The Heptones - Party Time Allen Toussaint - When The Party's Over

I'm sure the Dead had a groovy time playing at the foot of the Great Pyramid of Giza back in '78, but for a number of reasons, the recorded results were anything but stellar. Here's the one exception really, featuring Nubian oud player Hamza El Din and his students. Hey now, mighty mellow... Grateful Dead - Ollin Arageed

And of course, there's always the genius of John Coltrane. Every once in a while one needs to be reminded of that, my amigos da musica . So here we go again, with a trio of fine fine early tracks. Wilbur Harden & John Coltrane - Tanganyika Strut John Coltrane - Minor Mishap Tadd Dameron & John Coltrane - Mating Call

This just in from the oversight dept: totally forgot about Mark Lanegan's new album. A useful reminder by the Swede over at Unthought Of, Though, Somehow  put me back on the right track. For as the somewhat overproduced  Gargoyle  probably isn't the best the former Screaming Trees frontman can offer, that golden baritone is always irresistable. Mark Lanegan Band - Sister

On a new live album called The Chapel , our beloved heavy folkrockers of Heron Oblivion surprisingly go wild with a Sir Doug classic. That's the lovely Meg Baird in the role of singing drummer, folks, doing her best Sandy impression. "And it sure does wig me out, when I think about what went down..." Indeed. Heron Oblivion - Crossroads Sir Douglas Quintet - At The Crossroads

Another record store day surprise, from the lost and found department this time. New Stuff is an endearing collection of late-nineties acoustic demos by the legendary Waylon Jennings, who sadly passed away in 2002. Recently rediscovered by his son Shooter, this unadorned batch of songs may not be outlaw country's holy grail, but it sure is fun to hear 'old number one' in such an intimate setting. Waylon Jennings - Good Time

Seems like a good day to sample some wacky country and rockabilly gems from the first 2 volumes of the amazing Hillbillies In Hell series. As this stuff is highly addictive, you'll understand that I'm currently on the lookout for parts 3 and 4. Soon, soon. Benny Joy - Dark Angel Margie Singleton - Jesus Is My Pusher Buddy Knox - I Think I'm Gonna Kill Myself Jimmy Newman - The Devil Was Laughing At Me