Top 20 of 2010 – Bill’s Picks
2010 was a great year for music. There was so much good stuff released it was very hard to figure out what belonged where. I’ve been pondering over my list for a few months actually and really had a hard time figuring out who went where. This list is by no means definitive. There were a lot of albums released this year that could probably be on this list, but then again, I didn’t have time to listen to everything. Jake and I share similar taste so we’re going to have some of the same picks. Enough of the chitter chatter, on with the list.
20. Zed – The Invitation – I “liked” these guys on Facebook by mistake. I thought they were a Russian band called Zoe. It’s funny how a mistake can turn into a good thing. I discovered a great album, wrote the first review of it for them and I get to kick Mark’s ass in Words with Friends from time to time. He’s pretty good at it too. This album is one of the best independent releases of 2010 and I can’t wait to hear what 2011 and beyond holds for these guys.
19. Sea of Air – Sea of Air EP – Until I ordered the Night Horse 45’s that were released earlier in the year I had never heard of this band. They’re not real active online, I don’t think they have Myspace page either. Heck, when I wrote about their EP, it took them a few weeks to notice it on their Facebook page. Anyhow, these guys have stuck with me since.
The Brought Low – Third Record Review
Fact. This album has been four years in the making. Fact. This band gets better with each album. Fact. This may be THE album of the year to get. This album is the third album put out by The Brought Low and the second on the almighty Small Stone Records label. The album, which happens to be called “Third Record” extends from their last album, “Right On Time.” The album contains nine tracks and tops out in thirty eight and a half minutes long. That’s long enough to keep you thoroughly entertained and then hit the repeat button. This album not only requires multiple listens, it demands it and for good reason too. It’s a damn good album, maybe good isn’t the right word, great is more like it.
The tempo is up and down and mixes it up. It has a nice balance and is not one of those albums that you get bored with quickly. You don’t even want to start thinking about what you’re going to listen to next before it gets finished. Nope, you want to make sure your repeat button is set and listen to it over and over and over again. As of this writing I’ve owned the album for a little over six hours and I’m on my fourth time through. I’d have a few more listens if it wasn’t for family duties.
I had seen written somewhere that the Sun Gods In Exile were the best southern rock band not from the south. While Sun Gods In Exile are a damn good band, I would have to say that the title really belongs to The Brought Low. Upon first listen you would think you were listening to a Lynyrd Skynyrd album. The very first time I ever listened to The Brought Low I thought it was Skynyrd.
“Old Century Man” is a pretty fast song and kicks off the album. It sets the pace for the majority of the album. The songs actually reminds me of “Runnin Down A Dream” by Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers. If there were ever a headbanging song by this band, this track is it. “Everybody Loves A Whore” is the next song. This continues the pace started by “Old Century Man.” It almost sounds like an angry Tom Petty. The guitars are fast and continuous the drumming is quick as well. There is no slowdown in the song. “The Kelly Rose” slows down the album a tad but not to much. It slows down a bit at the end which sets up the next track, an acoustic one called “A Thousand Miles Away.” Do I hear a bit of a banjo in there? I think I do. “My Favorite Waste of Time” picks up a bit, almost has that slow nod your head to the beat to it starting off. It’s a pretty mellow song. Not to slow but not to fast, just right. As the song carries on it picks up the pace a bit then carries on to the end of the song. “Matthew’s Grave” picks up the pace and now we’re back to the pace set by the first few tracks. It’s seems to be about a kid taken from this planet way before his time. The next track, “Blow Out Your Candles” is my favorite on the album. It’s probably the most epic song on the album. Eric “Where’s the new Five Horse Johnson album” Oblander plays harmonica on this track. “Last Man Alive” starts off slow and the songs has a real Lynard Skynard feel to it. It even reminds me of the beginning of “Freebird.” It keeps that slow and steady pace throughout. This song is my second favorite song on the album. To close things off is “Slow Your Role.” This songs separates itself right away from the last song. First off it’s fast, it’s epic and it’s an instrumental. The presence of an organ played by Dave Unger was a nice touch too.
Overall I think this album is great. It’s a must buy for not only fans of the The Brought Low but also anyone who likes southern classic rock. Fans of Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Black Crowes, Molly Hatchet, Thin Lizzy and even some of Kid Rock’s newer material would get a kick out of this album. If there’s ever a band to pry someone away from mainstream music, The Brought Low is the band can do it. They were one of the bands that did it for me but that’s a different story for a different time.
The Brought Low are:
Nick Heller: drums
Robert Russell: bass and backing vocals
Benjamin Howard Smith: lead vocals and guitar
Additional Musicians:
Eric Oblander: harmonica on “Blow Out Your Candles”
Dave Unger: organ on “Slow Your Roll.”
Produced, mixed and engineered by Andrew Schneider at Translator Audio, Brooklyn NY.
Additional recording by Benny Grotto at Mad Oak Studios, Allston MA and Chris Goosman at Baseline Audio, Ann Arbor MI.
Mastered by Chris Goosman, Baseline Audio.
Artwork and design by Morning Breath, Inc.
Digital download through iTunes now. The CD version of this album available on May 11th, 2010.
Published by Small Stone Records
The Brought Low Links / Small Stone / Myspace / Facebook
The Soda Shop 