OK, no Amy Rigby record out last year, but there was a lot to listen
to. Here's what I thought the best of what I found in 2006 might be
of interest:

1. Steve Wynn and the Miracle 3 - …tick…tick…tick
Officially released in the US in 2006, this record is as strong a rock
record as you are going to hear. Steve is able to write quiet,
introspective songs as well as total harmonic freak outs and you find
those and everything in between here, including the stalker song to
end all stalker songs (with lyrics by mystery writer George
Pelecanos). The Miracle 3 rhythm section of Linda Pitmon (drums) and
Dave DeCastro (bass) played with Amy st her live shows before they
moved over to play with Steve.

2. Matt Mays & El Torpedo
Released in Canada in 2005, this record produced a huge hit there for
the band in Cocaine Cowgirl. Finally released in the US this past
Halloween, this CD is straight ahead rock in the Neil Young – Tom
Petty school. And the fact that MM&ET may just be the loudest band
I've ever seen live is, in my book, a point in their favor.

3. Gin Blossoms – Major Lodge Victory
After what seems to be eons, this band came back this year with this
CD just chocked full of power pop goodies. I don't think there is a
truly bad cut on this album. It just doesn't let me put it away.

4. Golden Smog – Another Fine Day
While 15 cuts are really too many to pack on to an album, that number
means that even if there are a few cuts that don't make it, you end up
with a pretty satisfying CD, which is what this is. The best things
here sound like they would have made it onto the next Jayhawks album
if there was going to be a next Jayhawks album. The addition of
drummer Linda Pitmon, probably the best drummer out there these days,
only helps to make this album stronger.

5. Willie Nile – Streets of New York
The best record Willie has ever made, period. Drummer Linda Pitmon
said that these guys live blew her away. I didn't have the heart to
tell her that the show she saw wasn't even one of Willie's better ones.

6. Raconteurs – Broken Boy Soldier
Low-fi, but when Jack White is involved you know that going in.
Still, this one was on my mp3 player all summer. For those folks who
like their rock straight ahead and unadorned, this is a very good
album indeed.

7. Sasha Dobson – Modern Romance
This album goes through the same neck of the woods as Norah Jones, but
don't write Sasha off because of that. Sasha is a very skilled
vocalist (she's been doing this professionally for 15 years and she's
only 27) and her songs here are a varied lot, with jazz inflections
and Brazilian rhythms abounding. Most of the songs here are co-writes
by Sasha, but her cover of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Modern Romance is
absolutely inspired.

8. Steve Wynn & the Miracle 3 – Live Tick
A full live show of Steve and the band, 21 songs in all on CD and DVD.
The songs here cover all of Steve's career, from his Dream Syndicate
days to this year's …tick…tick…tick. This is probably the best live
band out there, and you can get to see them in the comfort of your own
home.

9. Cindy Bullens – Live
Cindy had a bit of a hit back in the late 70s and then disappeared to
have a family. She's been back making music again for at least the
past seven years and I picked up on her again last year. She put out
a great live album this year which I found on eMusic, and is also
available in Europe. Cindy says her profession is "rock n roller" and
this album proves it.

10. Joan Osborne – Pretty Little Stranger
The best thing that Joan has done in a decade. This album was
recorded in Nashville and has some covers and some originals. But it
is when Joan sings her own songs that this record really shines. Cuts
"Pretty Little Stranger" and "Who Divided" are real standouts and keep
switching on and off as my favorites.

11. The Dixie Chicks – Taking the Long Way
You know the story: lead singer Natalie says "We're ashamed that the
President is from Texas" in March, 2003 and a smear campaign taken
right (make that far right) from the Joe McCarthy playbook is launched
to kill the careers of the Dixie Chicks. It does kill all radio play,
and a good portion of their ticket sales, but they come back with this
album. Produced by Rick Rubin, with songs written by the band and
co-written with Gary Louris, Peter Yorn and the ubiquitous Sheryl
Crow, this CD has some good and powerful material on it. If I had
gotten to this earlier in the year, I might have even rated it higher.

12. Dion – Bronx in Blue
Dion said that the first songs he learned growing up in The Bronx were
these blues songs. He came from a different neighborhood than me, so
I never heard anything like this during my time in that borough.
Still, this acoustic album (just Dion, an acoustic guitar and some
subtle percussion) is never less than a pleasure to listen to.

13. Neil Young – Living with War
I feel that I was present at the creation of this album. Neil was the
keynote speaker at this year's South by Southwest. One of the
organizers introduced Neil, and mentioned how Neil was able to get
"Ohio" out about a week after the Kent State Massacre. He then turned
to Neil and said "Neil, I think we need another song." We got a whole
album this time. OK, I'll grant you that this CD is good but not
great, but it's good enough, and I'll take good enough Neil any day
of the week.

14. Rosanne Cash – Black Cadillac
You know what you are going to get from Rosanne Cash: well-crafted
melodies, thoughtful lyrics and production which fits and is never
over the top. This album, which Rosanne wrote in the wake of the
deaths of her father, step-mother and mother is all of that. It could
have been a downer but isn't. My only gripe is that this material
needs a bit more of the spark which Rosanne is able to give it in concert.

15. The Little Willies
A bunch of New York City musicians who all hang out together thought
it would be cool to come up with a band so that they could all play
together in public. So was born The Little Willies. With Norah Jones
as one of those musicians, they had no trouble getting a slot at the
Living Room every week. The music here is mostly quiet and soothing
and the vocals are handled by Richard Julian or Norah. But they
certainly have a sense of humor, with the last song on the album
questioning whether Lou Reed was the guy tipping over cows one night
out in the boonies.

16. KT Tunstall – Eye to the Telescope
I first saw KT at a record store in Austin where, using a bunch of
electronics, she was able to recreate the back up singers on her song
"Black Horse and The Cherry Tree." I'm not sure what was more
astonishing, the electronics or the soulful bluesiness of this woman
from Scotland. A great live performer who made a really nice record.