Johnny Cueto Perfect Game

This is my third perfect game in 51 years (rolled first game at 6)
 (in 1976) 1975 Steve Busby KCR vs 1975 Vida Blue cards and dice - Blue threw a 1 hitter
Ryan Dempster 2013 (he was bad) in my pbm draft league game was against me but played by me on computer
and this 1 very satisfying in many ways.
It occurred during the as played 2015 season of my Royals WS year.
Also, it was so easily accomplished - no split results and the x chart was only called upon once (not that with KC that would be an issue) a CF X where Jarod Dyson (1 e5) made the play
The last 3 innings were tense because it was a perfect game but the rolls were a walk in the park each inning.
Ned Yost did me no favors A Gordon at DH Zobrist in RF Morales at 1b- I actually took out the DH in 9th as Gordo can't screw anything up (1 e 0)
I have had 29 no hitters (played by me not auto played on computer) before this one R A Dickey 2014 version for my pbm team- dancing knuckler that night.


[code]   BOXSCORE: 2015 Chicago (AL) White Sox At 2015 Kansas City Royals     9/6/2015
JOHNNY CUETO THROWS 3RD PERFECT GAME IN EWING STRAT UNIVERSE NOTHING CLOSE

  White Sox          AB  R  H RBI AVG     Royals             AB  R  H RBI AVG
  A.Eaton CF          3  0  0  0 .273     A.Escobar SS        4  0  1  1 .270
  A.Ramirez SS        3  0  0  0 .235     B.Zobrist RF        2  1  0  0 .274
  J.Abreu DH          3  0  0  0 .278   C-L.Cain RF           0  0  0  0 .291
  M.Cabrera LF        3  0  0  0 .274     M.Moustakas 3B      2  0  0  0 .317
  A.Garcia RF         3  0  0  0 .258     K.Morales 1B        2  0  0  0 .296
  A.Laroche 1B        3  0  0  0 .221   D-E.Hosmer 1B         1  0  0  0 .289
  M.Olt 3B            3  0  0  0 .231     A.Gordon DH,LF      4  0  0  0 .275
  R.Brantly C         1  0  0  0 .000     S.Perez C           3  0  0  0 .234
A-T.Thompson PH       1  0  0  0 .286     P.Orlando LF        3  0  0  0 .217
B-G.Soto C            1  0  0  0 .239     J.Cueto P           0  0  0  0 .086
  C.Sanchez 2B        3  0  0  0 .191     O.Infante 2B        3  0  1  0 .220
                                          J.Dyson CF          3  1  2  0 .260
                     -- -- -- ---                            -- -- -- ---  
         Totals      27  0  0  0                 Totals      27  2  4  1

A-Pinch Hit For Brantly In 6th Inning
B-Subbed Defensively (C ) For Thompson In 6th Inning
C-Subbed Defensively (RF) For Zobrist In 8th Inning
D-Subbed Defensively (1B) For Morales In 8th Inning

White Sox....... 0 0 0  0 0 0  0 0 0  -  0  0  1
Royals.......... 0 0 2  0 0 0  0 0    -  2  4  0

White Sox (60-75)        IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA
E.Johnson LOSS(0-1)       8       4   2   2   5   5   0 111   2.25
Totals                    8       4   2   2   5   5   0

Royals (80-56)           IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA
J.Cueto WIN(15-6)         9       0   0   0   0   7   0  97   2.39
Totals                    9       0   0   0   0   7   0

ATTENDANCE- 38,850 DATE- Sunday, September 6th 2015 TIME- Day WEATHER- Bad
UMPIRES- Scott Barry, Jeff Nelson, Laz Diaz, Mark Carlson
T- 2:16
LEFT ON BASE- White Sox: 0  Royals: 6
DOUBLE PLAYS- White Sox: 1  Royals: 0
ERRORS- M.Olt
DOUBLES- J.Dyson(8th)
RBIs- A.Escobar(46th)
STOLEN BASES- A.Escobar(14th), J.Dyson(39th)
WALKS- B.Zobrist-2, M.Moustakas-2, K.Morales
STRIKE OUTS- A.Eaton-2, J.Abreu, A.Laroche-2, M.Olt, T.Thompson, A.Escobar,
             K.Morales, A.Gordon-2, P.Orlando
GIDP- K.Morales
WILD PITCHES- E.Johnson-2
RLISP 2-out- A.Gordon-2, P.Orlando, B.Zobrist
TEAM RISP- White Sox: 0 for 0  Royals: 1 for 10

History was made in Kansas City as Johnny Cueto(15-6) thrilled the crowd by
tossing a perfect game and the Kansas City Royals defeated the Chicago (AL)
White Sox by the score of 2 to nothing.

The partisan crowd cheered every Chicago (AL) out from the 7th inning on.
What a day for the fans.  They were on the edge of their seats from the 7th
inning on.  With every out, the electricity in the air mounted.  Both teams'
bats went to sleep after the 3rd inning with no runs scored after that point.

Erik Johnson(0-1) suffered the loss.  Cueto was in a jubilant mood after the
game.  'If I'd known I was going to throw a no hitter I would have gotten a
haircut!' he said, much to the delight of the clubhouse gathering.
[2]
*** TOP OF INNING 1 ***
0     A.Eaton     6- 8     6 Fly Out                        b-0
1     A.Ramirez   6- 8     1 Fly Out                        b-0
2     J.Abreu     6- 8     3 Fly Out                        b-0
*** BOTTOM OF INNING 1 ***
0     A.Escobar   1- 3     1 Pop Out                        b-0
1     B.Zobrist   5- 5     5 Walk                           b-1
1 1   M.Moustakas 3- 7     1 Ground Out                     1-2 b-0
2  2  K.Morales   5- 6     5 Walk                           b-1
2 12  A.Gordon    6-11     4 Fly Out                        b-0
*** TOP OF INNING 2 ***
0     M.Cabrera   6- 4     3 Fly Out                        b-0
1     A.Garcia    3- 7     5 Ground Out                     b-0
2     A.Laroche   4- 8     3 Strike Out                     b-0
*** BOTTOM OF INNING 2 ***
0     S.Perez     5-10     3 Ground Out                     b-0
1     P.Orlando   6- 6  9  4 Fly Out                        b-0
2     O.Infante   2- 6     4 Ground Out                     b-0
*** TOP OF INNING 3 ***
0     M.Olt       2- 5     3 Strike Out                     b-0
1     R.Brantly   6- 7     6 Fly Out                        b-0
2     C.Sanchez   3-10     3 Ground Out                     b-0
*** BOTTOM OF INNING 3 ***
0     J.Dyson     6- 7  1  5 Double                         b-2
0  2  A.Escobar   1- 6     4 Single                         2-H b-1
0 1                        1 Stolen Base                    1-2
0  2  B.Zobrist   6- 8     6 Walk                           b-1
0 12  M.Moustakas 6- 9     6 Walk                           2-3 1-2 b-1
0 123 K.Morales   1- 9     1 Ground Out Double Play         3-o 2-3 1-2 b-0
2  23 A.Gordon             1 Wild Pitch                     3-H 2-3
2   3 A.Gordon    6- 4     3 Strike Out                     b-0
*** TOP OF INNING 4 ***
0     A.Eaton     5- 5     3 Strike Out                     b-0
1     A.Ramirez   2- 2 15  3 Line Out                       b-0
2     J.Abreu     5- 9     3 Fly Out                        b-0
*** BOTTOM OF INNING 4 ***
0     S.Perez     3- 5     3 Ground Out                     b-0
1     P.Orlando   2- 7     1 Ground Out                     b-0
2     O.Infante   5- 4     1 Pop Out                        b-0
*** TOP OF INNING 5 ***
0     M.Cabrera   3-12     3 Ground Out                     b-0
1     A.Garcia    5- 6 20  3 Line Out                       b-0
2     A.Laroche   1- 5     3 Strike Out                     b-0
*** BOTTOM OF INNING 5 ***
0     J.Dyson     3- 7     3 Fly Out                        b-0
1     A.Escobar   3- 4     1 Pop Out                        b-0
2     B.Zobrist   4- 6     4 Pop Out                        b-0
*** TOP OF INNING 6 ***
0     M.Olt       6- 6     5 Ground Out                     b-0
                             SUBSTITUTE PH- Trayce Thompson
1     T.Thompson  5- 7     4 Strike Out                     b-0
2     C.Sanchez   3- 9     5 Fly Out                        b-0
*** BOTTOM OF INNING 6 ***
                             SUBSTITUTE C - Geovany Soto
0     M.Moustakas 2-10     4 Walk                           b-1
0 1   K.Morales            1 Wild Pitch                     1-2
0  2  K.Morales   1- 5     5 Strike Out                     b-0
1  2  A.Gordon    3- 5     4 Strike Out                     b-0
2  2  S.Perez     5-10     1 1 Base Error - 3B              2-3 b-1
2 1 3 P.Orlando   4- 4     3 Strike Out                     b-0
*** TOP OF INNING 7 ***
0     A.Eaton     1- 5     3 Strike Out                     b-0
1     A.Ramirez   3- 8     4 Ground Out                     b-0
2     J.Abreu     1- 7     5 Strike Out                     b-0
*** BOTTOM OF INNING 7 ***
0     O.Infante   1-10  3  3 Single                         b-1
0 1   J.Dyson     5- 8     5 Single                         1-o b-1
1 1                        1 Stolen Base                    1-2
1  2  A.Escobar   4- 7     3 Strike Out                     b-0
2  2  B.Zobrist   2- 5     3 Ground Out                     b-0
*** TOP OF INNING 8 ***
                             SUBSTITUTE RF- Lorenzo Cain
                             SUBSTITUTE 1B- Eric Hosmer
0     M.Cabrera   2-11     1 Ground Out                     b-0
1     A.Garcia    6- 6     5 Ground Out                     b-0
2     A.Laroche   6- 7     3 Fly Out                        b-0
*** BOTTOM OF INNING 8 ***
0     M.Moustakas 1- 7     2 Fly Out                        b-0
1     E.Hosmer    1- 5 16  5 Ground Out                     b-0
2     A.Gordon    6-11     4 Fly Out                        b-0
*** TOP OF INNING 9 ***
                             SUBSTITUTE LF- Alex Gordon
                             SUBSTITUTE P - Johnny Cueto
0     M.Olt       2- 7     5 Ground Out                     b-0
1     G.Soto      6- 5     3 Fly Out                        b-0
2     C.Sanchez   1-10     3 Ground Out                     b-0
     [/code]

Best Album of 2015 #1

No No No by Beirut

I refer to the post about the song No No No for some background. This album grows on me with every listen. It's not heralded by many reviewers compared to other Beirut albums. Some are turned off by the length (only 29 minutes), some by the minimalism-less orchestration of past albums. These are actually reasons to love it for me. Zach Condon doesn't need to lengthen these songs to 5-6 minutes -they are what they are and when he feels it's done it's done. This band is so hard to define, classical folk with a world music twist. His voice and tone remind me of Jens Lekman the Nordic humorous crooner, but Condon's music is much more thought out, there's an independent uniqueness maybe cross Lehman with a band like Gogol Bordello (shout out to Nick-just wanted to work in a Gogol Bordello reference though I've heard them maybe twice.) Piano, drum, a little bass sparse chamber horns- that's pretty much it. Courtney Barnett weighing in at #3 shares 100% of her thoughts into her lyrics, Condon-not so much, maybe 10% of his thoughts are in the words, but he is expressing himself 100% through the music. In between the lush harmonies the space if filled warmly via the sound. Apparently Condon has had writers block, a divorce, and had some physical problems in last year, so he's 180 degrees from Jason Isbell place in karma and both were able to create beautiful songs and get there through their own path.

Gibralter

Jens Lekman

Gogol Bordello

Maybe?

The more unassuming a song appears on this album the more attracted I feel to the music. 

Romani Everybody 

August Holland

2015 Music Summary

I enjoyed several artists this year especially enjoyed finding new ones such as Hop Along and Courtney Barnett. Overall this year was not as good as last in regard to great releases. None of my top 5 may make top 4 last year. That's not to insult anybody but last year I felt were more complete albums start to finish. Even on my #1 (coming soon) there were a few songs I wanted to be better. This years list also feels very fluid to me, if ranking today I would move Hop Along as high as 3-4.

Also I see patterns in what I like at any given time of course. My list is my list and I don't pretend to be an expert. I can't play a note or sing, I might be able to write some good lyrics but I just know what I like to hear and what I value. I do think I have a wide open mind to music from several genres. That comes from a diverse background growing up and being in touch with multiple parts of our society. I listen for the artists truth no matter what genre, love a good lyric but also someone who can challenge me and take me to a new place. I went to a SABR convention in Phoenix this year with my 2 best friends (going back to high school) and I loved listening to my friends IPOD. We share a lot of taste but he definitely listens to things I would not think to. I love that because that's when life surprises you and you find the unexpected beauty.   Also the context of the situation and how music enhances those moments is big. Being someone who works around autism a lot I've learned to appreciate context and a good song takes you back to a specific moment that nothing else can. When I listen to Ryan Adams "Kim" it puts me in a specific place and my reaction to Beat the Champ strikes a chord I wasn't even aware was still a part of me.

Here's past best album lists

2014
1. Beck - Morning Phase
2. War on Drugs - Lost in a Dream
3. Chrissie Hynde - Stockholm
4. Ryan Adams - Ryan Adams
5. Lost Horizon The New Basement Tapes

2013
1. Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City
2. Jason Isbell - Southeastern
 Biiig drop
3. The Mavericks - In Time
4. Bruce Springsteen - High Hopes

2012 - weak year
1. Frank Ocean Channel Orange
2. Langhorne Slim - The Way We Move
3. Gary Clark Jr- Black and Blu
4. Tie Kendrick Lamar - Swimming Pools
    Jack White - Blunderbuss

2011 Incredible year so many good albums
1. Ryan Adams - Ashes and Fire
2. Lucinda Williams - Blessed
3. Radio Head - King of Limbs
4. Shelby Lynne - Revolution Road
5. Fountains of Wayne- Sky Full of Holes
6. Tie The Decemberists - The King is Dead
      Death Cab for Cutie - Codes and Keys

2010
1. Gaslight Anthem - American Slang
2. Raul Maulo - Sinners and Saints
3. Broken Bells- Broken Bells
4. Drive By Truckers - The Big To Dio

Best Album 2015 #2

Beat The Champ - The Mountain Goats

This one is personal. If I had my own band or wrote/performed my own songs this is what I would sound like, this is what I would be writing about (maybe add in some Strat-O-Matic songs). John Darnielle created the Mountain Goats concept first as an expression of himself but now it's evolved into a full band. Darnielle writes about many interesting and obtuse subjects often autobiographical. He's made albums about his experiences growing up in an abusive/neglectful home and his adolescent survival (The Sunset Tree-2005),  an album I consider a master class in the use of dissociation and fantasy as survival skills for teenage boys. Now he has written an ode to 1970's Texas circuit wrestling. Of course this is deeper than just wrestling, though many of the characters (Chavo Guerrero and King Kong Brody) are real but this is using wrestling also as a metaphor about life-death and basically being in uncomfortable life places. As silly as wrestling is, I look at the world we live and this vast need to escape and of all things wrestling holds up pretty well. Wrestling isn't subtle, the characters are broad and good/evil are clearly marked. For a large % of the population this is a pretty harmless place to hide for a few hours and have something -even if fake represent a world that is clear where someone can represent YOU and maybe even win,
 "I need justice in my life, here it comes", " You let me down but Chavo never did".  Then you can go back into a world that will not play fair and screw you every day but no one is left to actually represent you. It's simple but it needs to be for some. Think about the Republican debates- c'mon isn't WWE truer and better skilled, what someone could do with a foreign object in those debates.

The Legend of Chavo Guerrero

Foreign Object

Darnielle is also a writer and published Wolf In White Van last year which won a major book award. 

Wolf in White Van is the first novel by the American author and singer-songwriter John Darnielle. Wolf in White Van tells the story of Sean Phillips, a reclusive game designer whose face has been severely disfigured. One reviewer characterizes Sean as someone "steeped in video games, bad sci-fi movies, and Conan the Barbarian comic books". The plot, which is told non-chronologically, alternates between Sean's childhood, adolescence, and adulthood to describe the circumstances surrounding the incident that disfigured him. A fictional play-by-mail role-playing game called Trace Italian figures prominently in the novel. The play by mail feature especially struck a note reflecting a 70's thing for those of us who partook. I am reading the book currently and see a lot of the same themes as his music.

Here's a video which gives some more insights into Darnielle as he talks about "Stabbed to Death Outside San Juan" This may not make anyone else's top 10 20 30 whatever but I really connect with his music and it scares me that I hear character thoughts that feels like deja vu. The Sunset Tree is in my opinion the best capture of child abuse dynamics I've experienced and many of his songs-reflections are quite funny because the truth often is in reflection. 

Best album #3

Sometimes I sit and Think and Sometimes I just Sit 
by Courtney Barnett

Pedestrian at Best

This is the debut album from this 29 year old Australian. I was shocked that someone this talented and creative is releasing a first album at near 30. She's had a few EP's and played in a band but man she should have been up front. This for me is an old fashioned rock n roll guitar album with a little jam band sound at times. Other's have commented there is a lot of 90's bands in her work -Nirvana - Pearl Jam, I kind of see that but that wasn't my era, I hear Lou Reed and the Kinks but just a strong boom boom boom from the guitars- also lots of distortion in the sound which plays off her rambling fast paced lyrics. 

Barnett's allure is in how unremarkable she comes across, her voice isn't elite (but fits these songs perfectly), she writes about mundane every day things we all can relate to, Should I get up? Do I want to go out or stay in? Do I really want to live in the suburbs? What separates her from everyone else is she plays a wicked guitar, can write the hell out of a song and takes these mundane every day moments to an eventual jewel of an observation that means something. What's the saying "average people doing average things in a profound way"  Her songs are quite witty but you have to pay attention her stream of consciousness style goes quick, at times in rap like rhythm. It reminds me of the line from the old Mathew Modine move Vision Quest, when he's a high school wrestler. He can't understand why his fry cook mentor wants to see him wrestle at the state meet, the guys never taken a day off in his life. Modine says, "It's just 2 minutes on the mat that's all?" The fry cook blows back intensely with "It's not the 2 minutes it's what can happen in those 2 minutes." Barnett lets out 100% of what's she's thinking and seeing, we just have to trust her it's going somewhere. She also has this thing where she is good at combining 2 words to make a point. The first video Pedestrian at Best - "Don't put me on a pedestal, I'll only disappoint you"-  uses pedestal and pedestrian in same context to emphasize a theme. In the second video she's contemplating how her life would change to move to a suburb (Preston). 

Depreston

Elevator Operator

"I'm not suicidal, just idling insignificantly"

Best Album 2015 #4

Strange Trails - Lord Huron

I spoke a lot about the band in the Fool for Love Post. This is an easy album to listen to maybe too easy. What I mean by that is that as a sound they are initially unique to the ear (yet hearkens to an older rock-a billy Buddy Holly-Everly Brothers tone) but they are in danger of not being diverse enough in their songs. This album is excellent-duh I ranked it 4th best of year, but the next album may be crucial. I heard this before I listened to their first album Lonesome Dreams and this album feels very similar to that one with perhaps better execution and songs. Other performers have had this same challenge to varying abilities to grow as a sound. The best recent example is Vampire Weekend. I personally thought I would tire of their sound despite enjoying their first album a lot- then when they released Modern Vampires of the City they went to the next level. Another band I have wanted to do this is Gaslight Anthem and they really haven't despite claiming each new album is a wide turn from their past ones...they never really are. I still love the band but each release seems to fade a little more. Chris Isaak is another who has to work hard at this, maybe the best voice around but every song can't be the same. Here are some samples -including 1 or 2 I think go a different direction slightly. Band leader Ben Schneider likes to tell a story each album and leans toward the western themes, which is great count me in but he needs to push the band into their Modern Lord Hurons of the City next album. 

Hurricane

The World Ender

The Yawning Grave

Best Album 2015 #5

Something More Than Free - Jason Isbell

This is a breakthrough album for Isbell who landed in top 10 in several genres as well as received critical acclaim. It has several strong songs and Isbell is an excellent writer. I've had 2 songs from this album on or near my top 20 for the year BUUUUUUUUT frankly as much as I liked the album I felt Southeastern (his previous album) was much better. Isbell is a different man on this album, as he's conquered alcohol demons reportedly and recently re-married (Amanda Shires who he tours with). He is in a place of contentment and I applaud the man but contentment often breeds safety and this album as a whole is a little too safe despite the technical excellence.  A song like Cover Me Up on Southeastern is a perfect example, not a traditional love song but one with some danger and strong passion, there is some rawness in it's beauty. The producer of Southeastern Dave Cobb gave some insight into how he helped Isbell get that edge- 

" He encouraged Isbell to record his vocals in one take: "I think the big difference is that during the process we kept a lot of live vocal takes and I’ve not done that in the past. I was sort of terrified, really. Before, we’d spend a couple days at the end of the sessions tuning everything. Dave Cobb really encouraged me to sing with the live tracks while we were recording it."

Also on Southeastern Isbell wrote about some tough subjects- cancer  in "Elephant", sexual abuse in "Yvette". These are strong powerful songs with a personal stamp. I compare that to a song on Something More than Free- "Children of Children" which focuses on teen pregnancy. This song just doesn't feel right, like an After School Special it touches on a topic but not from a personal point of view more from someone who saw a commercial and sent a check. 

I'm not suggesting Mr. Isbell start drinking and get divorced, being a happy person is cool with me and I still love his music, I am saying he's approaching a point in his career where things will influence his work whether that be his frame of mind or success in a industry that values vanilla will force some choices. Darrell Porter was a former catcher of the Royals  a fall down drunk but had his best baseball seasons right in the middle of those days. He cleaned up, he was still good enough to be a major league baseball player and played for a WS winner in St. Louis sober but his performance deteriorated. Darrell Porter had a better life but likely sacrificed one aspect of it that gave him a fearless edge. The pros far outnumber the cons in making that life change but it is what it is.

Best Albums 2015 #6

Painted Shut - Hop Along

The Knock

I went 6 instead of 5 because I wanted to acknowledge this album. This year as I whittled down my list I have noticed I am more and more drawn to bands that are willing to take some risk show some edge. This is the third album from the Philadelphia band. Frances Quinlan is the amazing voice and different sources identify Hop Along as more a solo project for her than a collaborative band. This may not be the case as it's inconsistent on various descriptions. Hop Along’s front woman’s vocal  acts like a pummeling, emotive and unmistakable instrument. That emotional vulnerably-power and almost nakedness is the driving force of the album. You feel a little fatigued after a listen. 

Waitress

I like this description in a review from Mike Powell
"The songs on the second album by the Philadelphia band Hop Along seem to have come whirling out of a fairy tale, visceral but ornate, outside reality but still scarred by it. Their energy comes from punk but their style comes from somewhere older and more obscure—a Victorian attic, maybe, or the kind of basement where the band’s singer Frances Quinlan got turned onto punk in the first place."
Horsehoe Crab

Best Songs 2015 #1

Fool For Love- Lord Huron

Do you like Buddy Holly, if so this is the song and album for you, I even think there is a cricket sound embedded. Lord Huron is an indie folk/rock band out of LA lead by Ben Schneider. Schneider born and raised in Michigan which I would credit more to his roots than LA - Lord Huron is named after the Great Lake he visited often as a kid so fuck this LA Band thing- nobody is from LA and certainly no one one was inspired in LA. This is off Strange Trails their second album.One review describes the sound as

" Strange Trails is an anthology of weird fiction - a new collection of tales from the world introduced on Lonesome Dreams. Schneider explains, ''There's no direct narrative connection between the two albums. The stories here are separated by time, location and characters. Many of the themes have carried over and evolved.'' 

Best Songs 2015 #2

No No No - Beirut

This song is definition of infectious. Beirut is a band I keep getting drawn back to since Postcards From Italy on Gulag Orkestar. I assumed this was an individual artist from some Eastern European country and was a one off for me. Then every few years I hear something new and love it more and learn a little bit about the band and this year I'm officially on board big. The band is a product of Santa Fe native Zach Condon, who is listed as playing trumpet, flugelhorn and ukulele, which gives you an indication of the diversity of sound being offered. I would still assume Mr. Condon has some ethnic influence on his music from eastern Europe.

Here is an explanation of band's name by Condon: “One of the reasons I named the band after that city was the fact that it’s seen a lot of conflict. It’s not a political position. I worried about that from the beginning. But it was such a catchy name. I mean, if things go down that are truly horrible, I’ll change it. But not now. It’s still a good analogy for my music. I haven’t been to Beirut, but I imagine it as this chic urban city surrounded by the ancient Muslim world. The place where things collide"

Best Songs 2015 #3

Don't Wanna Fight - Alabama Shakes

Brittany Howard is the amazing vocalist for this roots band but the backing band is as tight as they come. This sound reminds me of watching a Bettye LaVette concert on TV a few years ago and acknowledging the powerful vocals I was hearing but more drawn into the deep groove and syncopation of the band in driving the song in perfect harmony with the singer. Once I realized LaVette was being backed by the Drive By Truckers there was a shall we say the moment of clarity for me. Shonna Tucker's bass for DBT was always a foundation for their sound and the same can be said for the Zack Cockrell bass for Alabama Shakes. Howard is a once in a lifetime talent but this is a band and they produce a complete sound experience.

Best Songs 2015 #4

Speed Trap Town by Jason Isbell

24 Frames and the title track get more play and they are great songs but this one hits me in my Midwestern gut. I love songs about small towns, the apparent trap-need to escape but also the acknowledgement the place had some positive impact, the character just needs more now and is ready to explore, sees the truth about his history, his family and the world all he knows. This is a song about a father and leaving the town suggests ready to heal and move on. I love the writing,

 " Well it's a Thursday night but there's a high school game
Sneak a bottle up the bleachers and forget my name
These 5A bastards run a shallow cross
It's a boy's last dream and a man's first loss" 

 That's just strong writing, something this world needs more of.

Another favorite in the genre is a song called "Long Gone Long" by the Kansas City based Rainmakers. To be more precise, I love the acoustic version by author and lead singer Bob Walkenhorst.  Speed Trap Town reminds me a lot of this one, Speed Trap Town is coming from a place of loss and anger, This song has a little more wonder - urgency by acknowledging the past has value.  Like Isbell,  Walkenhorst paints a vivid picture - rinkydinks may be a Missouri term

Best Songs 2015 #5

Beatnik Walking  - Richard Thompson

Hello old friend. As reliable as rain in London. This is off "Still" his 16th album and he's just so solid in everything he produces. This album and especially this song take me back to his roots a bit. Faintly sounds like Linda could be backing, she's not but it's got that lilt. Jeff Tweedy plays guitar on the album. This may be from an aging man but he's still got some fire and some purpose just needs a little help from a good pair of walking shoes.