2008 - 2009
1. Abalone Dots - Traveler (2008)
Abalone Dots is a bluegrass and country group from Vastervik, Sweden. Four young women sing and play on this excellent album. There are only acoustic instruments and it sounds natural and down-to-earth. Especially I like the banjo, the violin and the double bass. All songs are good, but three of them are fantastic: " Craighead Country Sky", "The Ballad Of Lee McKay" and " Little Sparrow".
2. Annie Lynch And The Beekeepers (2008)
Annie Lynch is a country singer/songwriter from New York, USA. Instrumentation is acoustic and include guitar, violin, bass and even accordion. The album is relaxed and unexpectedly good. There in not a single electronic sound, which is good! Favorites are " Charlotte's Web", "Sad boy", "Silhouette" and "Someone Else".
3. Autumn Defense - The Autumn Defense (2008)
Autumn Defense is an indie band from Chicago, USA. It consists of multi-instrumentalists, Pat Sansone and John Stirratt with help from members of Wilco. Beautiful, relaxed songs in slow tempo. Especially memorable are "Estate Remains", "Where You Are", "Winterlight" and "We Would Never Die".
4. Anna Christoffersson & Steve Dobrogosz - Rivertime (2008)
Anna Christoffersson & Steve Dobrogosz are two jazz musicans living and recording in Stockholm, Sweden. This is their second cooperation after the album "It´s always you". The album is even better than the first: superb jazz compositions by Steve and sensitive, emotional singing from Anna. Only voice and piano. Unhurrried and thougtful songs that are quite relaxing. The piano focus on the dark sound. It´s timless music, that never goes out of style.
5. Kasey Chambers - Rattlin' Bones (2008)
Kasey Chambers is a country singer/songwriter from Australia. This is a fantastic album, filled with good midtempo songs. It´s acoustic and it´s beautiful. She sings duet with Australian country singer Shane Nicholson. They use call-and-response singing one some songs, which are my favorite tracks: "Rattlin' Bones" and "Sweetest Waste of Time".
6. Romi Mayes - Achin In Yer Bones (2009)
Romi Mayes is a country blues singer from Winnipeg, Canada. This is her seventh album. The songs are slow and bluesy and very easy to like. Lots of acoustic and electric guitars and organ. Favorites are: "Achin In Yer Bones", "Just Like the Rest" and "Slow Down".
7. Sarah Jarosz - Song Up in Her Head (2009)
Sarah Jarosz is a bluegrass singer/songwriter from Texas, USA. This is her debut album, filled with guitars, fiddle and banjo. She´s only 22 yo but has already released three albums. She has a fine voice, perfect for blugrass. Five favorites are "Edge of a Dream", "Tell Me True", "Shankill Butchers", "Can't Hide" and "Come On Up to the House".
8. Imelda May - Love Tattoo (2009)
Imelda May is a rockabilly singer/songwriter from Dublin, Ireland. Fantastic acoustic songs that sounds like they were from the fifties. But the sound quality is so much better! Slow jazz style songs alternating with fast rockabilly. And it´s so liberating with acoustic instruments. My favorites are "Feel me", "Knock 123" and "Meet You At The Moon".
9. Tori Amos - Midwinter Graces (2009)
Tori Amos is a singer/songwriter and pianist from North Carolina, USA. This is her eleventh studio album and it´s unusually beautiful and stylish. The songs remind of church hymns, only better. The five first songs are the best: solemn, relaxing and a comfort for a stressed soul.
9. Miss Li - Dancing The Whole Way Home (2009)
Miss Li is a pop singer and pianist from Borlange, Sweden. She sings simple, catchy songs with a melody that sticks to you. Her voice is a very young girls voice and she sings about young girls life and thoughts. The title song is a masterpiece in its genre! Favorites: "I heard of a girl", "Dirty old man" and "Dancing the whole way home".
