Tag: Eleven Eleven

Americana music 2011: No Depression’s 50 favorites

 in Americana Music, Reviews

No Depression has released its list of the Top 50 favorite albums of 2011, as voted by its fan community. It’s an interesting mix, with Gillian Welch’s The Harrow and the Harvest at the top, followed by a remarkable range of artists, genres, styles and ages.

Some have complained that it’s a surprisingingly mainstream list for an alt-country site, but that’s the nature of a “favorites” list. Name recognition goes a long way, although we don’t see any names on the list that you can’t make a case for.

Here are the top 25. You’ll find the full list here.

Gillian Welch – The Harrow & the Harvest

The Decemberists – The King Is dead

Wilco – The Whole Love

Lucinda Williams – Blessed

Steve Cropper – Dedicated

Tom Waits – Bad as Me

Dave Alvin – Eleven Eleven

Zoe Muth & The Lost High Rollers – Starlight Hotel

Jason Isbell – Here We Rest

Ryan Adams – Ashes & Fire

Hayes Carll – KMAG YOYO

Eilen Jewell – Queen of the Minor Key

Drive By Truckers – Go-Go Boots

The Deep Dark Woods – The Place I Left Behind

Jayhawks – Mockingbird

Tedeschi Trucks Band – Revelator

Civil Wars – Barton Hollow

Gregg Allman – Low Country Blues

Buddy Miller – Majestic Silver Strings

Paul Simon – So Beautiful or So What

Sarah Jarosz – Follow Me Down

Nick Lowe – The Old Magic

Ry Cooder – Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down

Blackie & The Rodeo Kings – Kings & Queens

Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues

Dave Alvin: Eleven Eleven

 in Americana Music, Reviews

What’s the deal with Johnny Ace?

A modest figure in R&B history (“Pledging My Love”), Ace achieved some level of pop immortality due to his untimely death in a gun accident on Christmas Day 1954. Nonetheless, he’s inspired two outstanding songs about his demise: Paul Simon’s “The Late Great Johnny Ace” and now Dave Alvin’s “Johnny Ace is Dead.”

Alvin’s song is as much journalism as songwriting, detailing Big Mama Thornton’s reaction to the shooting and post-death efforts to exploit Ace’s career.

“Eleven Eleven”, Alvin’s new album is full of such gems.

Alvin channels a proud former union member on “Gary, Indiana 1959,” sings the distinctly unsubtle seduction song ‘Dirty Nightgown” and duets with the late Chris Gaffney on the buddy song “Two Lucky Bums.”

It’s a diverse album, packed with compelling narratives and a driving spirit.