So I listened to Dylan's "Modern Times" last night. Awesome. I almost always listen to CD's front to back, in their entirety, just as the artist sequenced it.
Did so here. The listen was fantastic. I followed it with T-Bones "The True False Identity"....... Both just superb. Anyway, I figured the Dylan needed to be moved up on my list........ BUT, IMO, 2006 was such a strong year that I can only jump the Dylan ahead of the Bottle Rockets to #4. Zoysia is #5 if I do that.
Great year for my tastes!! Before I get to far behind Wylie..... here's my 2007 list. Abbreviated somewhat out of respect for 2006!
1. Robert Plant/Allison Krauss --- "Raising Sand" (Produced by T-Bone Burnett, this one is a work of art! Masterfully done by all parties!)
2. Wilco -- "Sky Blue Sky" (Wilco hits a HR. Even has commercially viable psuedo hits!!)
3. Ryan Bingham --- "Mescalito" (Debut of the decade. Hard edged Americana all askew)
4. Peter Case --- "Let Us Now Praise Sleepy John" (Peter pays homage to blues giant Sleepy John Estes. The result is fantastic!)
5. John Common --- "Why Birds Fly" (Denver songwriter delivers rich, diverse, satisfying LP)
6. Rodney Crowell --- :Sex & Gasoline" (Rodney takes on the combustible. Lyrically brilliant. "C'mon now Girl, genuflect..." indeed.)
7. Brandi Carlile --- "The Story" (Better than the 1st!)
8. Bruce Springsteen --- "Magic" (His best since ??)
Honorable mention to Mark Knopfler, John Fogerty, and the Cowboy Junkies all fine additions to substantive catalogs!