Top 5 - Tracey Bleile
1) The Verve, Urban Hymns (Virgin). The Verve are reunited, clean, and sober, and have made this hands down the most emotional release of the year - both in content and the surrounding energy. Despite the flap over the "Bitter Sweet Symphony" sample, these songs are highly original and pack an auditory wallop. More than just beautiful noisemaker shoegazers, the Verve have filled this album with joy and thunder (thank you Mr. Stipe, for saying it better than I can). A must-have.
2) Dandy Warhols, ...the Dandy Warhols come down (Capitol). The eerie synths and layers of rhythms haunt you like a white noise daydream you don't want to wake from. Their irony-laden anti-drug single "Not If You Were The Last Junkie On Earth" was one song I didn't mind coming across on the radio. Play this one loud at a big party, and everyone will be moving, I guarantee it.
3) Whiskeytown, Strangers Almanac (Outpost/Geffen). Highly evocative of Uncle Tupelo. That said, where it lacks originality, it's the strongest Americana offering this year. I was depressed beyond belief - no pun intended - with everything put out by originators; Jayhawks, Son Volt and Wilco all bored the hell out of me. A great many of the songs on this release will conspire to make you wrap your arms around yourself and fight off the corny lump in your throat.
4) drivin n'cryin, drivin n' cryin (Ichiban). Proof positive that true talent will shine through any set of circumstances. Kevin Kinney is one incredibly talented songwriter/troubador, and this self-produced and released effort is as strong as anything done under the relative safety of the major umbrella. Worth seeking out, as I don't think it's getting a lot of promotion.
5) Refreshments, The Bottle & Fresh Horses (Mercury). I owe Al Muzer an apology. I didn't want to like this album, but the banditos from Tempe snuck up on me and clopped me over the head with the attitude stick on this one. This release didn't so much shake the sophomore jinx as simply danced around it. They don't make huge leaps and bounds from the debut, but they definitely shown they're a lot more than a novelty rock n'roll act. Al, you were right - "Heaven or the Highway Out of Town" is one of the rockingest songs of the year.
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