2006 - 2007
1. Halie Loren - Full Circle (2006)
Halie Loren is a singer/songwriter from Alaska, USA. On this, her first album, she plays all piano parts. The low key songs with only voice and piano have an inner beauty and are among the the favorites: "River" and "Lucky". Two more "Maybe I'll Fly" and "Sand" are also favorites.
2. Amy Lavere - This World Is Not My Home (2006)
Amy Lavere is a singer/songwriter and double bass player from Louisiana, USA, now living in Nashville. This is her debut album, and it´s quite enjoyable. Cute young-girl voice, good melodies, acoustic instruments and slow tempo! Can´t be beat! Favorites are "Day Like Any", "Nightingale" "Leaving" and "Never Been Sadder".
3. Robinella - Solace For The Lonely (2006)
Robinella is a bluegrass band from Tennessee, USA. The quartets singer is Robinella Bailey. This is their fourth album and it´s really good. The bass player does a good job. Four songs are worth extra attention: "Break It Down Baby", "Solace For The Lonely", "Down The Mountain" and "Teardrops".
4. Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings The Flood (2006)
Neko Case is an indie rock singer/songwriter from Virginia, USA. She now lives in Vermont, USA. It´s her voice that makes this album fantastic. The songs cover a wide range of styles: rock, country and gospel. Four songs are outstanding: "Margaret Vs. Pauline", "Star Witnes", "Hold On, Hold On" and " John Saw That Number".
5. Anna Christoffersson & Steve Dobrogosz - It´s always you (2006)
Anna Christoffersson & Steve Dobrogosz is a jazz duo, Anna from Gothenburg, Sweden and Steve from North Carolina, USA. He now lives in Stockholm, Sweden where he composes and records with artists from the Swedish jazz scene. This is a fantastic and impressive album, mostly just voice and piano. It´s Annas debut album and probably the best Swedish album of 2006! All songs are first class and deserves to be listened to carefully and repeatedly!
6. Anna Ternheim - Separation Road (2006)
Anna Ternheim is a singer/songwriter from Stockholm, Sweden. She plays the guitar and the piano. The album comes in a "Naked" version beside the "Original", where only acoustic instruments are used. It has a rare beauty. A vulnerable voice and sparse instrumentation. Sounds like a modern female Leonard Cohen on some songs. Most songs are fantastic! On the "original" version three songs stand out: "Girl Laying Down", "Today Is A Good Day" and "Lovers Dream". The only thing I don´t like is the drum machine on a few tracks.
7. Amy MacDonald - This Is The Life (2007)
Amy MacDonald is a singer/songwriter from Scotland. The album reached number one in four European countries and sold 3 million copies. It won gold in Sweden. It´s very successful and rightly so: good singing and spotless instrument handling. You get what you expect but there are no surprises. Two songs are extra good: "Mr Rock & Roll" and "This Is The Life".
8. Abalone Dots - From a safe distance (2007)
Abalone Dots is a bluegrass and country group from Vastervik, Sweden. This is their debut album and shows a very talented quartet. The recording is acoustic and they use the banjo, violin, guitar and double bass with skill and feeling. Most songs are good but two stand out: " Long lonely road" and "This is home". They´re fantastic!
9. Amy LaVere - Anchors & Anvils (2007)
Amy LaVere is a singer/songwriter and a double bass player from Louisiana, USA, now living in Tennessee, USA. So far she has released three albums and this, her second, is the best. Her sweet childlike voice makes her sound like no other singer. Good melodies, skillful violin and bass playing makes the album highly enjoyable to listen to. Three favorites: "Tennessee Valentine", "That Beat" and "Pointless Drinking".
10. Brandi Carlile - The story (2007)
Brandi Carlile is a folk rock singer/songwriter from Seattle, USA. She has a very powerful voice and sings will full force alternating with a sincere low voice. Lots of hits on the album, of the 14 songs I have 8 favorites. But there is not one bad song. It could be the best folk rock album of 2007!
11. Oh Laura - A Song Inside My Head A Demon In My Bed (2007)
Oh Laura is a country pop group from Stockholm, Sweden. Singer in the quintet is Frida Ohrn. It´s a fantastic debut album consisting of 10 great songs. All 10 songs are hits! Eccellent recording with clear guitar sound, perfect heavy bass and presence and nerve in Frida´s voice. This is probably the best country pop album of 2007! All songs are favorites!
