JC Shepard(dot)com

No Depression magazine started out covering “Alt.Country…whatever that is”. As such, they still cover, well, Alt.not-country but we’re not quite sure whatever that is”. No Depression isn’t an “Americana” magazine, but it isn’t NOT an “Americana” outlet either. Mostly, though, No Depression (like the namesake album by Uncle Tupelo) covers the sorta music I like to listen to, and that commercial radio doesn’t play. Mostly.

The editors solicited a small poll of their regular reviewers and critics for the “good stuff”, the albums they couldn’t shut up about, in 2019:

1. Our Native Daughters—Songs of Our Native Daughters. Rhiannon Giddens et al. thoughtful and thought-provoking release on Smithsonian Folkways. (Rhiannon is a No Depression Artist of the Decade, a well-deserved accolade and honor. She is a MacArthur Fellow, and released her own Grammy-nominated album this year in addition to her work with Carolina Chocolate Drops.)
2. The Highwomen—The Highwomen. Brandi Carlile et al. (Brandi is a No Depression Artist of the Decade.) My sister really likes this one, and she has pretty good taste in music.
3. Yola—Walk Through Fire. Grammy contender.
4. Molly Tuttle—When You’re Ready. She’s good.
5. Sturgill Simpson—Sound & Fury. NOT Country music, nor even Americana. Didn’t listen to it, but folks who liked it, well, they liked it.
6. Hiss Golden Messenger—Terms of Surrender. meh.
7. Fruit Bats—Gold Past Life. Who?
8. Angel Olsen—All Mirrors. Um, who again?
9. Tyler Childers—Country Squire. Grammy contender AND good music. I’m late to the Childers party, trying to make up for lost time.
10. Son Volt—Union. Jay Farrar’s latest for the 99 percent in the grand tradition of Uncle Tupelo and No Depression. A bit political for my taste, even if I’m more sympathetic to the message than I might have been once upon a time.
11. Aldous Harding—Designer
12. Daniel Norgren—Wooh Dang
13. Delbert McClinton—Tall, Dark & Handsome. Bluesy Grammy contender.
14. Tanya Tucker—While I’m Livin’. Another Grammy contender AND good music. Go figure.
15. Neil Young—Colorado. Points for name-dropping the Centennial State.
16. Mavis Staples—We Get By. Everything she does is good.
17. Michaela Anne—Desert Dove. I’ve get wierded out by last names that are first names. Don’t @ me.
18. Buddy & Julie Miller—Breakdown on 20th Ave. South. My sister likes this too. I should have given it more attention.
19. Julia Jacklin—Crushing.
20. Kelsey Waldon—White Lines/White Noise. I meant to listen to her, just never got to it because I was too busy streaming Steve Earle’s tribute album to Guy Clark.

So Tyler Childers gets a Grammy nomination, a Top 10 in the prestigious No Depression Critics survey AND Tops the ND Readers’ 50 Favorite Roots Albums of 2019? Here’s the copy-paste of the start of the Readers’ list:

1. Tyler Childers – Country Squire
2. The Highwomen – The Highwomen
3. Sturgill Simpson – Sound & Fury
4. Bruce Springsteen – Western Stars
5. Hayes Carll – What It Is
6. Whiskey Myers – Whiskey Myers
7. Willie Nelson – Ride Me Back Home
8. Billy Strings – HOME
9. Buddy and Julie Miller – Breakdown on 20th Ave. South
10. Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real – Turn off the News (Build a Garden)
11. Ian Noe – Between the Country
12. Steve Earle and the Dukes – Guy
13. Our Native Daughters – Songs of Our Native Daughters (tie)
13. Gary Clark Jr. – This Land (tie)
15. Son Volt – Union (tie)
15. Yola – Walk Through Fire (tie)
17. Mandolin Orange – Tides of a Teardrop
18. Rodney Crowell – Texas
19. Wilco – Ode to Joy (tie)
19. Josh Ritter – Fever Breaks (tie)

The Springsteen is good. My friend Sacha loves the Hayes Carll, and he’s rolling into my Top 10 for 2019. My friend Jay in Minnesota gave his Top pick to Whiskey Meyers—he was my best boss, and not just because of his great taste in Country-Rock music. Willie is always good, and Lukas’ album was pretty good, too. It’s nice to see Billy Strings get recognized. And as noted previously, Steve Earle was the victim of Airway Robbery on this poll also—no way GUY only polls Top 12. His tribute album to Guy Clark is A-Number One for my 2019.

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Hayes Carll and Good Companions

Hayes Carll’s album What It Is took the top spot for most spins by Americana Radio in 2019 (through 12/17/19). Denver’s very own The Lumineers’ cut “Gloria” off III was the single most spun single in 2019. Contrast this, as usual, with the Grammy’s complete lack of recognition of the artists and songs actually being played on Americana radio.

From the AMA PR:

I was just arguing with a friend over the merits and authenticity of Hayes Carll, in light of his chart-topping performance this year. She thinks it’s long deserved recognition. I, on the other hand, do like Carll’s latest effort, but I still get hung up on his transformation from 2002 suburban Woodlands Texas folk singer to 2019 Gee Shucks Texas Country boy. I mean, he’s good, he hangs out with Corb Lund and Ray Wylie Hubbard good. He’s picking-fights-with-Steve-Earle good. She makes a good point, too, that artists evolve and SOMETIMES that means they get better. Usually some producer gets ahold of them and they go all commercial, but not ALWAYS.

I’m trying to dwell less on negatives and be grateful for the positives in life. Hayes Carll and his music are good companions these days.

Speaking of companions, I definitely agree with the 8-9-10 spots on the Singles chart Substitute Tyler Childers’ “House Fire” for “All Your’n” on my list even if that’s one the Grammys and AMA agree upon. I didn’t want to like Ryan Bingham’s “Jingle and Go” but it’s an ear worm–I did stream more of Carll’s tracks on this album compared to Childers’ and Bingham’s, for what that’s worth.

And oh by the way, Steve Earle was ROBBED with airplay for GUY, his album in tribute to Guy Clark, only coming in #37. Airway Robbery—I knew the first time I played “Dublin Blues” with the early singles release, that this was going to be my #1 album of 2019, and you can jump up on the coffee table and tell everyone just that.

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I wrote about the 2018 AMA Radio Charts last year, and the No Depression annual readers poll. I’ll have to get to the ND list.