Chad Comello

Abigail Washburn

  • Favorite Albums of the 2010s

    See also: my favorite books, TV shows, and films of the 2010s.

    Listed alphabetically by artist, here are the albums from the last 10 years that sustained and entertained me:

    Abigail Washburn, City of Refuge. Favorite track: “City of Refuge”

    The Book of Mormon Original Broadway Cast Recording. Favorite track: “You And Me (But Mostly Me)”

    case/lang/veirs, case/lang/veirs. Favorite track: “Atomic Number”

    Dawes, Nothing Is Wrong. Favorite track: “A Little Bit of Everything”

    Good Old War, Come Back As Rain. Favorite track: “Amazing Eyes”

    Hamilton Original Broadway Cast Recording. Favorite track: “One Last Time”

    Ingrid Michaelson, Songs for the Season. Favorite track: “Auld Lang Syne”

    Joe Pug, Messenger. Favorite track: “The First Time I Saw You”

    John Mayer, Born and Raised. Favorite track: “Queen of California”

    The Lonely Island, Turtleneck & Chain. Favorite track: “Jack Sparrow”

    Lord Huron, Lonesome Dreams. Favorite track: “Ends of the Earth”

    Lucius, Wildewoman. Favorite track: “Turn It Around”

    The Okee Dokee Brothers, Through the Woods. Favorite track: “Walking With Spring”

    Over the Rhine, Blood Oranges in the Snow. Favorite track: “First Snowfall”

    The Tallest Man On Earth, The Wild Hunt. Favorite track: “Troubles Will Be Gone”

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  • Music of the Moment – International Women’s Day edition

    An ongoing series on music I’ve encountered recently.

    Today, in honor of International Women’s Day, here’s an all-female list of music I’ve been really enjoying.

    “Ain’t That Fine” by I’m With Her, See You Around
    The soulful powers of Aoife O’Donovan, Sara Watkins, and Sarah Jarosz combined have become I’m With Her (which I’ve learned pre-dated Hillary’s presidential campaign). Saw them live at Thalia Hall last week. Some bands sound better on the album, but not these women: you can’t fully appreciate their tight, soulful harmonies and virtuosic finger-pickin’ unless you’re up close. I hope this is the first of many albums from them.

    “O Gracious Light” by Sandra McCracken, Songs from the Valley
    With this blog’s top album of 2015, Sandra’s back this year with more goodness.

    “It’s A Shame” by First Aid Kit, Ruins
    Saw them live with my future wife back in 2012 when The Lion’s Roar came out. “Emmylou” is a special song in our relationship. They’ve been making equally great pop tunes ever since.

    “The Eye” by Brandi Carlile, The Firewatcher’s Daughter
    This was one of those albums where when I discovered it a couple months ago, I was mad I hadn’t discovered it sooner so it could have been in my life longer.

    “Want You Back” by HAIM, Something to Tell You
    Huge fan of their first album, and this one is more of the same, in a good way. So danceable, if I were a dancer.

    “Sometimes” by Abigail Washburn, Song of the Traveling Daughter
    As an aspiring banjoist, she and Bela Fleck are in my personal pantheon. I missed the chance to see them together in concert recently and I’m really regretting it. I’m hoping/assuming she’ll stay awesome and return to my town soon.

    “To Know Him Is To Love Him” by Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris, Trio
    Seeing I’m With Her reminded me of this classic women’s trio, which is more classically country. There’s just something about strong female harmonies.

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