The No Surf Music
Second Annual
Shiny Silver Surfboard Awards!
January 9, 2013
With another year in the books, it means another end-of-year best of season is upon us. Everyone does it, and here at No Surf, there's nothing we want more than to get to sit at the cool kids table, except we like to be just a little bit different, so we do ours at the beginning of the year, after Santa has already given you all the crapy top-40 music you'll never listening to. And speaking of cool kids, there's a few among the winners of this year's No Surf Music Shiny Silver Surfboard Awards, affectionately known as the Surfy. The award still only exists in virtual form, but thanks to inflation, our financial advisors suggest that winners insure theirs for a minimum of $2.75 million each. Just to remind you, here's the beautiful, classy trophy awarded to each of our winners:
Once again for our second annual awards there are six categories: Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Live Performance of the Year, Best Artist, Best Emerging Artist, and Best Debut Artist. The first three come with a whole list to make sure you don't miss any of this year's awesome tunes. 2012 was, shall we say, not a banner year. That's not to detract from our winners, but simply to say that they stood out especially in a year that was mostly marked by mediocrity. Yes, it's true, we managed to make it through a whole turn of the calendar without Bon Iver poisoning the ears of millions with his putrid faux-music, but we did have to suffer through him spoiling the talent of Kathleen Edwards. And several much-anticipated albums from big names in the Americana vein turned out to be less than stellar. The Avett Brother's The Carpenter was almost unceasingly boring, as if they weren't even trying, while it was at times decent, Mumford & Son's Babel was a pale ghost of their debut, and Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson's Wreck & Ruin was a far cry from the awesomenocity of their previous colaboration. In short, there were more failures this year than successes, so those efforts that fill these lists shine all the brighter.
As always, we realize our list is going to be very different from many others, but you love us for our opinionated natures, right? Did we miss some folks who should have been mentioned? Probably. We're a small operation and we can't get to everyone. But we'll stand by these picks as the best music you should be listening to. So, without further ado, let's do it!
Album of the Year
And the Surfy goes to...
David Wax Museum – Knock Knock Get Up
Rounding out the top ten are:
2. David Greenberg and Harpeth Rising - The End of the World
Harpeth Rising, a classically trained string foursome that eschews Beethoven in favor of good old American roots music, was probably No Surf's best discovery of the year. Unfortunately, we were unable to complete a review of this album until after these awards came out. Still, it is undeniably awesome. It features the lyrics of David Greenberg—father of one of the band's members—which are of the highest quality, alternately reminiscent of Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, James McMurtry, Steve Earle and Townes Van Zandt. Yeah, this guy is that good. And the intricate blend of lively arrangements provided by the Harpeth Rising crew is just as impressive. For Americana fans of all stripes, this is truly an album not to be missed.
3. Murder By Death - Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon
Much like this year's winners, Murder By Death took a major progressive step with their latest release. Richer than any of the band's previous albums, Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon combines the always-colorful lyrics of Adam Turla with a complex sonic experience that longtime fans of the cult favorite will love just as much as a first time listener.
4. Kelley McRae - Brighter Than the Blues
Kelley has long been a favorite here at No Surf, and one of the artists we most highly recommend, but finally with Brighter Than the Blues there's an album that really does her sound justice. Born out of her never-ending cross-country VW camper van tour, it was a completely DIY effort that captures the stripped-down, real-to-life sound that she and husband Matt Castelein have been bringing to music halls and living rooms across the country for several years. Oh, and as usual the lyrics are pretty damn fine, too.
5. Todd Snider - Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables
With one of his best works ever, crazy-ass, barefoot, crooked-hat-wearing, folk-singing hippie Todd Snider truly captured the zeitgeist of our time with an album full of 99%er anthems and unique—and sometimes bitter—stories. Often political but always in the best of the folk tradition, these songs are further highlighted by the spritely fiddle of Amanda Shires, completing a picture that any fan of great stories and great music can get behind.
6. Corb Lund - Cabin Fever
Pender is a huge fan of this crazy Canadian cowboy singer, so he is entirely to blame for the lack of a review on this album. Still, it's a damn good one, filled with the humor and north-of-the-border quirkiness that Lund is almost famous for. If you like songs about cows, machines, crazy girls, and even more cows, all told with a dose of humor, then this album is definitely for you.
7. The Womack Family Band - The Blue Room
The Womacks took their unique blend of folk, rock, jazz and blues influences to a new height with their latest release. One of Americana's most promising up-and-coming bands, their sound is truly unique and they highlight all of their diverse influences in turn throughout this collection. For anyone looking for the next big thing, this album is a good place to start, as it really shows what makes this group an exciting addition to the Americana milieu.
8. Old Crow Medicine Show - Carry Me Back
OCMS has long been the flag bearer for old-timey bluegrass, and their latest album returns to that style from the more bluesy take of their penultimate work. Lively and full of the fast fiddlin' that made their name, it's a pleasant mixture of serous commentary and pure fun, all in the Southern vein.
9. Chris Castle - Last Bird Home
This year started out right with Chris Castle's latest release. Featuring powerful lyrics, this was a major sonic upgrade for the usually lo-fi Ohio native. Recorded at Levon Helm Studios with an all-star cast of musicians, it's a great example of everything an Americana album can be.
10. The Spring Standards - yellow//gold
Continuing a theme, this double EP saw the Standards expanding on their folk rock sound, adding a lot of indie rock influences to produce a mix unlike anything in their previous catalogue. But it still has that Spring Standards energy and the unique blend of talents from the band's three members, including the vocal harmonies that give them one of the most enthralling sounds in music today.
Honorable Mentions:
Justin Townes Earle - Nothing's Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now
Ray Wylie Hubbard The Grifter's Hymnal
Joe Pug - The Great Despiser
Billy Joe Shaver - Live at Billy Bob's Texas
And now a word from our sponsors...
Song of the Year
And the Surfy goes to...
David Greenberg and Harpeth Rising – “Truck Stop Mama” from The End of the World
Words almost fail to describe just how great this song is, but I'll give it a whack - It's really, really, really fucktastic. At its heart it's a blue-collar trucker song following the thoughts of a man driving his rig on to the next destination, but its spirit is political as those thoughts turn to the sights he sees along the road, the people he's known, and how the little guys like himself always seem to get screwed. Yet it's done with such grace and candor that one almost doesn't notice just how poignant the societal critique is as it slowly pours out among the beautiful, expressive bowing and plucking of Harpeth Rising. It's easily the best political song since James McMurtry's “God Bless America” and quite possibly even better than that.
Rounding out the top ten are:
2. David Wax Museum - “Harder Before It Gets Easier” from Knock Knock Get Up
In my review, I described “Harder Before It Gets Easier” as the most recognizably Waxian song on this groundbreaking album. With the perfect mix of David's philosophical edge underpinned by the high energy music and joie de vie that make David Wax Museum one of the most compelling bands you'll ever hear, it's just one hell of a great song.
3. Billy Joe Shaver - “The Git Go” from Live at Billy Bob's Texas
Shaver has long been recognized by those in the know as one of the greatest living songwriters, but he truly outdid himself with this song, combining a rare political turn with his famous down-home wisdom to produce a song that belongs high on the list of his masterpieces. Haunting in tone and deep of thought, it strikes just the perfect chord for these unsettled times.
4. The Spring Standards - “Moon Disappear” from yellow//gold
I have to admit this was not my favorite song on the Standards' latest release, but every time I've listened to it, it's grown on me. With all the energy the band is known for and a sound distinctly reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac, it's just a great song to put on no matter your mood. I still have no idea what, “You're the bear in the winter; I'm the tree in the fall,” is supposed to mean, though. What, you're asleep and I'm really colorful?
5. Murder By Death - “I Came Around” from Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon
The most striking song on what I'm convinced is the band's best-ever album, “I Came Around” focuses on a gin-soaked funeral attended in an almost hipster-ironic fashion by a man who at best disliked the diseased, but gains a new appreciation for him as he sees the effect he had on those who knew him. Filled with the great imagery endemic to Adam Turla's lyrical style and accompanied by grandiose music reminiscent of a rock version of an Irish wake song, it's just a beautiful piece in a way few Murder By Death songs have ever been before.
6. Todd Snider - “Too Soon to Tell” from Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables
Among the two types of songs Snider claims make up this album, this certainly falls into the agnostic hymn category. Basically an indictment of those who claim to know the answers to unanswerable questions, it's filled with the classic Todd Snider wit and attitude that have made him so many fans and peppered with great fiddle and howling backup vocals provided by Amanda Shires.
7. David Wax Museum - “Will You Be Sleeping” from Knock Knock Get Up
The first track on the album, this song , to put it simply, freaked me the fuck out the first time I heard it. It's so different from anything the band had produced before that at first it was hard to recognize it as the DWM that I've always loved. But it's another one that has grown on me the more I've listened to it, and the perfectly matched voices of David and Suz combine with the energetic music and wistful lyrics in the most exquisite way.
8. Chris Castle - “Both Ends of a Gun” from Last Bird Home
Based on both his father's suicide and his own life troubles, this song is an absolute masterpiece from Chris Castle. The mellow, soothing music contrasts brilliantly with the deep, dark lyrics to form what may well be one of the most poignant songs penned in his many years of work. It still haunts me just as much listening to it now as it did the first time I heard it, and its empathetic power is undeniable. It's just a great song.
9. The Womack Family Band - “Silver Line of Peace” from The Blue Room
Among the many diverse talents displayed by the four members of the Womack Family Band on their newest album, the songwriting of Haley Heyman may have taken the biggest leap forward. This song is philosophical and personal, but distinctly fun as well, with its Caribbean flair inspiring the urge to dance in even a stoic stalwart like myself, and her expressive voice just gorgeous among the lively, bounding music.
10. David Greenberg and Harpeth Rising - “Evil Eye” from The End of the World
On just about any other album, this song would have been a lyrical standout, but on this one, it's just another of the incredibly sharp-edged series of observations pouring from David Greenberg's pen. I'm not sure whether it's greatest for its powerful commentary, like the particularly damning indictment of George W. Bush's chickenhawkishness (Mr. Greenberg really doesn't like neocons) or its poetic quality (Mr. Greenberg really does like both consonance and assonance, and uses both with great alacrity), so I'll just say you need to listen to it yourself. You won't be sorry for a second.
Honorable Mentions:
David Wax Museum - “Leopard Girl,” “Refuge,” and “Vivian” from Knock Knock Get Up
Kathleen Edwards - “Change the Sheets” from Voyageur
David Greenberg and Harpeth Rising - “The End of the World” from The End of the World
Justin Townes Earle - “Movin' On” from Nothing's Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now
Corb Lund - “Bible on the Dash,” “The Gothiest Girl I Can,” and “Priceless Antique Pistol Shoots Startled Owner” from Cabin Fever
Kelley McRae - “25,000 Miles” and “Brighter Than the Blues” from Brighter Than the Blues
Murder By Death - “Hard World” and “Lost River” from Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon
Joe Pug - “The Gentle Few,” “The Great Despiser,” and “The Servant's Ace” from The Great Despiser
Todd Snider - “In the Beginning” from Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables
The Spring Standards - “Here We Go” and “Only Skin” from yellow//gold
Billy Joe Shaver - “Wacko From Waco” from Live at Billy Bob's Texas
More to come after another word from our sponsors...
Live Show of the Year
And the Surfy goes to...
Ha Ha Tonka at the Rumba Café 10/11/12
The first time I saw Ha Ha Tonka play live, they were opening for the Old 97's just before the release of their first album on Bloodshot Records. Now, anyone who's ever seen the Old 97's knows that they are awesome live, but the Tonk absolutely blew them away. They were simply amazing, and right away I knew they were something special. Three albums later, they're still tearing up stages all across the country—and now across the pond—and after over a year without having them stop by Cleveland, Pender and I couldn't resist hitting them up in Columbus for this show right before the start of their first European tour. From old favorites like “St. Nick on the Fourth in a Fervor” to their latest pieces like “The Humorist,” they did not disappoint. In fact, they were so great that the crowd pulled them back on stage for an extra encore, where they performed their insanely hard-rocking, spot-on Ram Jam impersonation version of “Black Betty,” during which bassist Lucas Long went into a trance and spouted a bunch of incoherent nonsense, the only discernable bit of which seemed to be, “I've got my wiener out. I'm gonna get some tonight.” Now how could you not love that?
Rounding out the top five are:
2. David Wax Museum at the Beachland Tavern 5/23/12
I've seen the David Wax Museum in a number of different configurations over the years, from six pieces down to this show's two, and I must say with these guys less is often more. In fact, I most enjoy them when it's just Suz and David doin' their thing (possibly with cousin Jordan Wax on accordion). Even when they're not the headliners, they always dominate the stage, and this was no exception. It was also the first time I've seen Suz play that funny lookin' squeezebox thing that was in her hands during the video for “Born With a Broken Heart.” She and I even got into a fight after the show because I said David was a better lyricist than Joe Pug and she didn't want to be attacked by his rabid fans. Ah, classic.
3. The Womack Family Band at the Winchester Music Hall 9/21/12
Lemme give you some advice—see the Womacks live in 2013. As many times as you can. These guys are just frikkin' amazing. I've caught them several times courtesy of the Honky Tonk House Concert series, but this cd release show was the first time I've seen them play a venue, and the Winchester was the perfect place for their particular brand of high-energy, eclectic insanity. As always, the band just killed it and it was an absolutely over-the-top spectacular show.
4. Murder By Death at the Grog Shop 7/21/12
Ha Ha Tonka opening for Murder By Death at the Grog Shop? That sounds familiar. Wait a second… that's how I first heard Murder By Death in the first place. Far from just a walk down memory lane, this was an awesome show, marked by MBD both dusting off a few old cuts they hadn't played in years as well as debuting the first live versions of some of Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon's brand new tracks. It also marked the end of my long Tonkless drought, a year-long hell I hope I never have to endure again.
5. Those Darlins at the Beachland Tavern 10/31/12
Halloween with Those Darlins? How fucking perfect is that? Ok, I was schivtzing like a motherfucker dressed in black sweats as Johnny Cash in his pajamas, trying to avoid crazy-eyed drunk girls while doing my best to get some film shots of the band, but damn, it was great. They even kicked the energy up a notch just for the occasion, and although it was easily the most clothing I've ever seen my bro Jessi wear on stage, she was undoubtedly even hotter under the klieg lights than usual. Plus, even though they leave everything up on stage every time, they still managed to keep enough energy in reserve to dance around the Tavern until 3 a.m. while I philosophized with the band's road manager. Now that's a night to remember.
Honorable Mention:
The Springs Standards at the Beachland Tavern 5/12/12
We'll conclude after one more word from our sponsors...
Artist of the Year
And the Surfy goes to...
David Wax Museum
What can be said about David Wax Museum that I haven't already said a hundred times? These guys are just truly awesome, and this year they stepped it up a notch with the release of Knock Knock Get Up. It's not that the album was so much better than their previous work, it's that it was just so much… more. They took their unique blend of Mexican and American folk traditions and added whole new layers of sonic goodness into the mix, relying more on their indie rock influences than ever. It really was, as I said in my review, David Wax Museum writ large, a giant expansion that showcased their talents to a degree previously unseen in their studio work. What's more, they continued to just kill it live wherever they went, making new fans at every stop, I'm sure. For those reasons, they were an easy pick as this year's best artist.
Honorable Mention: Murder By Death
Breakout Artist of the Year
Kelley McRae
I have to admit, the competition for this award was fierce between Kelley and the Womacks, both No Surf Friends who made great strides this year. But in the end, I have to give the honors to Ms. McRae, whose VW Camper Van tour is still going strong after two years on the road and whose new album Brighter Than the Blues is an undeniable triumph. It's the first album that really sounds like her, simple, expressive, and undeniably soaked in talent. Kelley is just an unbelievable songwriter, and this album, along with her old-school living-room-centric touring and judicial use of new media outlets such as NoiseTrade, will give even more people the opportunity to discover just how great she is.
Honorable Mention: The Womack Family Band
Debut Artist of the Year
The Trishas
Yeah, I'm a sucker for vocally harmonious girl groups, but the debut album from The Trishas, High, Wide and Handsome, definitely shows a lot of potential embedded in their intertwined voices. And with spunky and spritely tracks like “Mother of Invention,” “Little Sweet Cigars,” and “John Wayne Cowboy,” not only is this a fun collection in its own right, but it's clear the best is yet to come from these country crooning ladies. We can't wait to hear what they've got in store next.
And that's it folks. On behalf of No Surf Music, I want to thank you for joining us in 2012, and we hope 2013 is going to be even more exciting. Remember, you don't have to go home, but you can't stay here! Or stick around and read some more articles if you like. It's all good.
Want to go back in time and check out the best of 2011? Check out the First Annual No Surf Music Shiny Silver Surfboard Awards.
