Top ten

It is somewhat amazing to me that we are through the first ten years of the “new” millennium.

Hal Lindsey predicted the world would end in the year 2000 in his book The Late Great Planet Earth. Additionally he pinpointed Christ’s return for 2007, with a back up date of 2048 …just in case he was off by 41 years. Funny!

Now I am not that much of a prognosticator but I have come up with my Best of the New Millenium (the first ten years)of bothe commercial and lesser known indy artists.
Feel free to comment or share your own list.

Hit the more button at the bottom to be sure to see the entire list including the indy artists.

Enjoy!
So here it is in no particular order.
Commercial Artists

Lucinda Williams
World Without Tears (2003)
Car Wheels on a Gravel Road Deluxe Edition
This is a re release of the ’98 gem
with a few live bonus tracks.
My favorite of all of hers

Subdudes (2006)
Behind the Levee
There are many great cuts
but my favorite is
Papa Dukie and the Mud People
They are by far my favorite band these days
Any one of their cd’s is a no miss.
Primitive Streak is great!

John Mellencamp (2008)
Life Death Love a Freedom.
T Bone Burnett produced this one
and in my opinion got back
to sound that made Cougar… Mellencamp .

Los Lonely Boys ( 2004)
Get beyond
Heaven
(the popular track on the radio).
It is SRV meets Santana.

Marc Cohn ( of Walking in Memphis fame)
Join The Parade (2009)
Only his Third release of all new material
after being detoured by a gunshot wound
to the head.Listening to Levon is a classic.

Shawn Mullins (of Lullaby fame 1998)
9th Ward Pickin Parlor ( 2006)
Cold Black Heart is great!
Honey Dew (2008)
All in My Head

Joan Osborne
Breakfast in Bed (2007)
She is so much more than the
pop commercial stuff that brought
her to the forefront.

Together at The Bluebird (2001)
Guy Clarke, Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earl

Robert Earl Keen
Live From Austin Texas ( 2004)
Dreadful Selfish Crime, Felling Good Again
and Merry Christmas from the Family

Lyle Lovett
My Baby Don’t Tolerate (2003)
It just makes me smile when I listen to him
even when he is singing a dark song.
Take your pick of anything he has out there.

Indy Artists

Erik Balkey
Negotiations and Compromise (2001)
Two Years, A dream I had
http://www.erikbalkey.com/home.html

Dave Murphy
Chasing Ghosts (2002)
My Garden State
http://www.murphyworld.com/

Brother Trucker
Something Simple (2004)
Harold’s Barber and Beauty
http://brotrucker.com/

Chris Brown
Go West (2002)
Title Track tells you all you need to know about Chris as a songwriter
http://www.cbonline.net

Trina Hamlin
Foundation ( 2002)
Shouldn’t Have Kissed You
Jacaranda
Foundation
Trina is Amazing
Voice, Guitar, Harmonica
http://www.trinahamlin.com

Marc Douglas Berardo
Second Chance ( 2000)
Franklinville
http://www.marcdouglas.com

Drive By Truckers
The Dirty South (2004)
Danko / Manuel
Goddamn Lonely Love
www.drivebytruckers.com

Finally I just received this as I am writng
Rob Garcia 4
Perennial
This one is as smooth as it gets and I am not alone on this one as The New York Observer voted it one of the top ten jazz albums for ‘09
http://www.robgarcia.com/

All of the above are legitimate artists. I have had the privilege of playing or sharing bills with most of them. I believe it is these type of performers who are the foot soldiers of the industry.
Check them out… Go to a show…Buy a cd!

As I like to say…
Support independent artists they are the future of music.