So long, 2013

A few highlights from 2013..

Sport.
Cricket - The Ashes stand at 4-3 ;) (and the urn has been returned). We farewelled some of the giants of the game with the retirements of Michael Hussey, Sachin Tendulkar and Jacques Kallis.The BlackCaps have had a few good moments this year (a little too few though).
Golf - Adam Scott (first Australian to win the Masters at Augusta National)
Yatching - Oracle comes from four races behind to win the America's Cup and defeat Team NZ.
Rugby League - NZ wins the race for second place at the World Cup. (oh and in case you missed it QLD won the state of origin, and the Roosters won the comp).
Rugby Union - All Blacks complete season undefeated and the Lion's win in Australia.
AFL - Swans lose prelim final to Fremantle who were then beaten by Hawthorn in the Grand Final. Will be very intrigueing to see how the Swans go next year

Looking forward to World Cup - inspite of the All Whites failure to qualify. The Socceroo's will have a challenge gtting out of their group.

Music: 
Listened to a bunch of good music, and its been tough picking the top five. And as usual, I've left off live albums, eps and collections. In terms of the EPs, the series Atlas by Sleeping at Last is really amazing, and worth getting into, Sarah Masen released an EP of new music too, so I'm hoping an album is on the cards. Sarah is one of the more thoughtful Christian singer-songwriters going around.
 
The two live albums which have been on heavy rotation are the ones by All Sons and Daughters and the recording of Neil Finn and Paul Kelly's concert from earlier this year, just a great collection of songs from both of their careers.

In terms of albums for the year my favourites for the year (and probably in his order) are:

1. Jars of Clay - Inland
2. Holly Williams - The Highway
3. Amy Speace - How to sleep in a story boat
4. Sandra McCracken - Desire like dynamite
5. Hem - Departure and farewell

What ties these albums together is the song-writing. Each are filled wth songs I could relate too, telling moving stories about our shared human experience.

The honourable mentions are Paper Aeroplanes - Little letters; The Paper Kites - States; Noah & the Whale - The Heart of Nowhere;

For 2014 - I'm hoping (again) for a new U2 album (though with Ordinary Love out, it appears more likely this time), lookng forward to hearing Elizabeth Marvelly's new album, hopefully more from Brooke Fraser and as always new and unexpected discoveries.

New music and books for the season...

A few new CDs have been on heavy rotation recently.  I recently heard an Irish band the Halves. From the first few listens, they definitely bring to mind both Sigur Ros, and Radiohead. Definitely worth a listen.

This week also saw the release of Sleeping at Last's second EP in the Atlas series, Light. It doesn't disappoint. I'm looking forward to the next release in this series. My favourite line is this one below.

"...with every heartbeat that I have left, I'll defend your every breath" (Light) 

If you haven't heard Sleeping at Last, you're definitely missing out.

Finally the other album which I've been listening to quite a bit is The Heart of Nowhere by the British folk rook band Noah & the Whale.

I've also being doing a bit more reading recently. I really enjoyed Tara Moss' book Assassin, which was just a great read..  beautifully paced, and quite liked how real the characters and action appeared. (I am hopeful to see them turned into a movie soon). Next up are a couple of books on Australian politics by Maxine McKew, James Button and Lindsay Tanner. 

Back on the Voice...  seems to be really tough this year.. with a couple of the favourites eliminated - Catarina Torres, Michael Paynter, and a few of my favourites (Jac Stone, Nicholas Roy, and Tim Morrison).  One thing is for sure though, we will hear more from a lot of these singers. What seems clear now, is that its taste not talent which is driving the choices & popular vote.

The Voice Season Two

My love of music has been recently pushed in another direction, and I have to admit, that a guilty pleasure of mine is The Voice. The format is what made me give the show a chance, the idea of the 'blind auditions'; that is the singers sing to the backs of four chairs with the aim of turning (at least) one of them. Stage two was the battle rounds where two singers from the same team sing the same song with one going through. (In a twist for Season Two, the singer who loses the battle can be saved by another coach).

For me, the battle rounds was one of the highlights of the show - this year, everyone is talking about the Steve Clisby battle with Mitchell Anderson (singing - Walking in Memphis), and last year it was (for me) the battle between Kelsie Rimmer & Brittany Cairns (singing - Turning Tables). What I loved about both of those, is that the really sounded more like duets and two singers competing.

Season Two is also going be remember for Abby Dobson (lead singer of Leonardo's Bride & a member of Baby et Lulu). You can read her take on the experience her facebook page. It's worth reading. As is Harry Connick Jnr's take on American Idol contestants singing the 'Great American Songbook'

My other favourites so far, not surprisingly a number of them sang songs I love, Tim Morrison (Sunday Bloody Sunday U2, which I reckon would be a risk, because its a big song, by a popular artist); Nicholas Roy (Falling Slowly, Glen Hansard), Imogen Brough (Never Let Me Go, Florence & the Machine) and  Jac Stone (Watch over Me, Bernard Fanning).

A few others to watch: Emma Pask, Luke Kennedy, Harrison Craig. (Was also sad to see Sophie Phillis go..

Anyway, the hope I have, is that many of these artists who are eliminated, will keep making music, and follow their dreams.

Review: Live - All Sons & Daughters

All Sons & Daughters are now one of my favourite bands. I guess what the bring to their music is the impression that they are making music with their souls, and I think that's something which is hard to find. The album is well put together, beginning with the plea for our brokenness to be made beautiful, and ending with lines from 'Nothing but the blood of Jesus'.  

The album includes songs from their three EPs, and a few new ones. The i-tunes version comes with a number of videos and also some of the chord charts, which definitely adds value.

In sum, its an album which will make your soul sing, beautifully expressing the wonder of the Gospel.

Hem - Departure and Farewell

Like many of the bands I listen to, I found Hem when they were a "New and Notable" artist on the Noisetrade website, offering the album Funnelcloud for download, with a number of tracks from the forthcoming 'Departure and Farewell'.

The first thing I noticed listening to Funnelcloud and Departure & Farewell was Sally Ellyson's voice. She has an amazingly expressive voice, which when paired with the music transports you to another world.

It's one of my favourite albums of the year; and I've been enjoying exploring their back-catalogue - which includes great covers of REM's So Central Rain and Johnny Cash's Jackson, along with a soundtrack for Twelfth Night as well.

You can watch a video Seven Angels here, and NPR has a video of Tourniquet. If you haven't heard them, they are definitely a band to check out.

Amid the Flood - The Outliers

I have always been a fan of hymns. I remember when growing up loving to sing 'To God Be the Glory' and 'How Great Thou Art'.  If you wanted to clear expression of our faith, the hymns are a great place to start. I recall a tweet highlighting the fact we will remember more of what we sing at church  than what we hear from the pulpit. The best way to bring a heresy into the church would be to put it to a catchy tune and sing every it week.

One band that I have been listening to a bit of lately is 'The Outliers', made up of brother and sister - Luke and Myla Smith.  Amid the flood contains a number of hymns which powerfully testify that God has rescued us. It is quite a great collection containing the recent favourite 'Come Thou Font', 'My Hope is Built' and some, sadly, that I was not so familiar with like Martin Luther's 'A Mighty Fortress' and 'I am Thine O Lord'.

It is well worth a listen, such a refreshing reminder of God's grace to us.

On music

As is becoming apparent, in recent times, my blog has turned into a music review site. So given that I thought that I would take the time to write a post on the music I love.

There's always been music in the house. As I grew up, it was classical music, opera, musical theatre to start with, then Neil Diamond, ABBA, Simon & Garfunkel and the Carpenters. While I didn't like of this at once, and definitely not at the time, I've grown to like some of these.

The first CD I owned was a recording of U2's 1993 concert in Dublin during their ZooTV tour. U2 was probably the first band I loved growing up. I have vague memories of hearing 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' in New Zealand, but strong memories of hearing Rattle and Hum during a trip with church. It is still one of my favourite CDs. The first CD I bought was Bon Jovi's Keep the Faith (with a CD of Live tracks). I still wait and buy albums which come with bonus tracks, whether I buy from i-tunes or the regular shop. As I mentioned in another post, I'm wondering where they will go with the additional content on albums from i-tunes.

As I've alluded to above, while I was at school, it was U2 and not much else. The only thing that's changed is that now I'm inclined to say that U2 is one of the best bands I've heard in my life-time. They are one band which has provided a soundtrack to my life, but there other bands that I've come to love/

After I left school, I encountered Contemporary Christian Music for the first time. I discovered most of these bands through Karen Beilharz. I still have the tapes she did for me. One of the artists on this tape was Rebecca St. James, and after hearing her music I joined her forum. The members of the forum were great, they introduced me to other artists. I will be forever grateful for the person who introduced me to The Normals (and Nichole Nordman).

For a period here, I listened to 'Christian Music' exclusively. (I think at this time, I also took a break from listening to U2 too).

As an aside, I find it hard to listen to Christian radio stations, as I am not convinced they do as good a job playing Christian music as they can and I also don't buy the argument that the music that's good isn't christian, and the music that christian isn't good. Aside 2: There's a lot to discuss about the label CCM and Christian music but that's another post).

Not sure what it was that made me listen to U2 again, I think it was the release of How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, but when I did I also sought to be introduced to other bands - The Frames, Wilco, Interpol, The Arcade Fire - to name a few. I also rediscovered Radiohead and Sigur Ros at this time.

The latest stage of my musical journey (for lack of a better phrase), is through the websites - Noisetrade, Daytrotter, NPR and most recently Spotify. I'm now getting most of my new music from there. NPR & Spotify are great to be able to listen to new music or new artists before buying them. I'm not sure how I first found Noisetrade, but it has been great to get new music at a small charge (ie: a tip, tweet, facebook post and your email address). Daytrotter is slightly different - for a small fee $2 a month, you can download studio sessions from a wide variety of artists.  Will be interested to see what's next.

What hasn't changed about the  music I love is that I am a words person. There are a few exceptions - bands where the voice is a another instrument, Sigur Ros is perhaps the clearest example. I'm thinking broadly speaking my favourite type of music is folk. (If that label means anything anymore. That's where the images and words match up beautifully.

I thought that I'd finish this post with the desert island game - put simply these are the five albums you would take with you if you were going to be stranded on an island. The five I'd pick are:

1. Home - Elizabeth Marvelly 
2. Pop - U2
3. The Swell Season  - The Swell Season
4. Coming to Life - The Normals
5. Land of the Living - Matthew Perryman Jones

It's quite challenging but these are the five albums I keep coming back to.  I've picked Home because as I've send before, this album is the one which reminds me of my childhood, songs I loved growing up, songs I sang at school.  The album is a little bit of NZ.

I could have picked a few albums by U2, and in the end, I chose Pop because it contains some of Bono's best lyrics ...  Please is one of my favourite songs.

The Swell Season is a beautiful balanced album, and just about perfect. MPJ is a beautiful lyricist, and even though his album came out last year, its one which a loved on first listen, and loved more on each subsequent listen.

I always post a disclaimer with a list - saying this is accurate at 10:16pm March 3, 2013.

Amy Dickson - Catch Me If You Can

Growing up I often said that if I put my mind to learning an instrument it would be either the Violin or the Saxophone, because they are two musical instruments which have a lyrical quality about them.  The rock bands I have grown to love, include a sax or violin in them - think The Frames or Dire Straits (eg Romeo and Juliet).

Dickon's album features arrangements of music by John Williams, the late Michael Kamen (so sad that he left us at 55) and Knopfler's Local Hero.  The arrangement of 'Local Hero' is awesome.

After the last note faded, given the journey the album takes you on. I thought maybe I should revisit my dream and seek to learn the saxophone.

Review: Desire Like Dynamite - Sandra McCracken

I first encountered Sandra McCracken through the music of Caedmon's Call. Their album 'Back Home' contains some songs which McCracken wrote.  So, when I saw that one of her albums Gypsy Flat Road I did not hesitate, I downloaded it and loved it. I have been looking forward to this album.

McCracken has a unique gift to write songs that continue to impact you as you listen. During my first listen, the images and words of 'Go', 'Hourglass', 'Forgiveness' and 'Fall on Me' really hit home.

Hourglass speaks of the time when 'Every good thing will be restored / and the sea will be no more'.

Forgivenes, has some beautiful images, the 'half life of coffee wearing thin', and grace which is measured by more than need, a grace to be something other than what we are, love given free without strings, a love which we cannnot resist.  The song continues to strike me which each listen.

Fall on Me - is another song written with Matthew Perryman Jones and also highlights our relationships - You can't fight a war when you already own the soldier - Everyone needs a place to land - fall on me'

The beauty of her album and song writing is the highlight the experience of the lives we have with each other, and with our God. The album one that I've liked more which each listen,.

In the digital music age..

Recently I had decided that I needed to move from buying CDs to downloading music, be it from the artists website, Bandcamp or i-tunes.  As much as it saves space, I am missing the impact a physical book gives me, and the role it plays in enhancing the listening experience by including the lyrics to each song, sometimes the stories behind each song, and the artists 'thank yous' and messages often help you connect with the artists.

 I know digital booklets are included with some CDs, but its a little bit less accessible.

I do expect, however, that changes are coming here. I've recently seen lyrics embedded within MP3s. Maybe in the future we'll see albums as apps (including additional content, like videos, perhaps in the ability to link into live shows).  Not all of these would work as you listen on the i-pod, but I certainly like having the lyrics available on the i-pod for some CDs.

I'm sure someone is thinking these things through, and perhaps they are also thinking along the lines of what would make people more inclined to buy a physical CD.

Review: The Highway - Holly Williams

Another song on the Nashville Indie Spotlight CD was 'Without You' by Holly Williams.  I really loved  the story and lyrics of the song, along with the music. So, after that, I downloaded and Introduction from Noisetrade (you can read an interview here) and a studio session from Daytrotter. (Sean Moeller has written a beautiful post about Drinkin'. The Noisetrade session has an awesome cover of Tom Waits song Hold On.

I guess if you play the 'sound like' game, you may come up with names like Emmylou Harris or Sarah McLachlan, and you'd most likely find the CD in a country section, but her sound crosses over a few genres, and she's creating her own niche.

What I really enjoy about her music is the authenticity in her voice. You are taking the ride with her as she shares stories from her heritage about her family and her own journey.  A number of the songs bring her family to life: Waiting on June, Gone Away from Me, Drinkin' and Railroads.

Without You tells of her time travelling through Europe on a train, and her love for being on the road is also clear on the track 'The Highway', and I can kind of relate to that.

After reading more about the album I read that its Gywneth Paltrow singing the beaut harmony on Waiting on June (one of the songs which talks about her maternal grandmother).

I think my favourite line on the CD is on A Good Man, where she sings that 'Love is not as simple as it seems, But I have learned to trust the space between '. That line speaks volumes about the nature of love.

As you listen to the album her world comes alive, and its clear to me this is what she was meant to do to tell stories about real people and enable us to connect with ourselves as she does. Hopefully 'the highway' will bring her to Australia, and we'll be able to hear her share these (and hopefully other stories) from her life.

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Holly is not only a singer songwriter she's also talking about a cooking show, and also has a blog where she talks about fashion, travel, cooking and music. Here's the link. I'm keen to look at the food section.

The Saint John's - Live Sessions

I mentioned the "Nashville Indie Spotlight CD" recently. The CD highlights some of the indie musicians based in Nashville. One of the songs which stood out on my first listen was the song 'Your Head and Your Heart' by The Saint John's.

The Saint John's is made up of Louis Johnson and Jordan Meredith and what struck me about them is there beautiful and haunting harmonies.

The Live Sessions is a four song EP, which is just a teaser. It appears they have plans to release an album this year.  Definitely worth checking out their music.

Atlas: Darkness - Sleeping At Last - Review

It was the 'For the Fans Of' which prompted me to download Sleeping at Last when I was looking for new music just before Christmas in 2011.

Sleeping at Last is an indie rock band that was originally formed in 1999 in Wheaton, Illinois. Lead singer and multi-instrumentalist Ryan O'Neal is the sole member of the band, and on the page for their Christmas Sampler it mentioned that they are for the fans of Nick Drake, Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, Radiohead, Sigur Ros.

Given that list,  I downloaded their Christmas Sampler, and the sampler became one of my favourite Christmas EP's. I love how included on the Sampler was a cover of Christmas is all around  (from the film Love, Actually).

In 2010, Sleeping at Last commenced their Yearbook project, they would release an EP of three songs at the beginning of each month for a year.  In 2013 Sleeping at last began the Atlas Project, is an ongoing series of EPs inspired by the origins, emergence and experiences of life.  (Read more about this here)

Darkness is the first of these EPs. I recommend listening to this EP with the lights off through headphones...  the ebb and flow of the music along with the attention to the lyrics make the EP unforgettable. 

Here's an example from 'Uneven Odds' which is my favourite song at this point: 

maybe your light is a seed,and the darkness, the dirt.in spite of the uneven oddsbeauty lifts from the earth.

Sidebar:
If your are a fan of TV shows like Bones, Greys Anatomy, Private Practice (or the last Twilight movie), chances are you would have heard his music.  The Kid President you-tube video also has one of his songs in the background. 

She Must and Shall Go Free - Derek Webb

The more I listen to the music of Derek Webb, the more I think  of him as a prophet for our generation. His songs speak God's truths and apply them to our lives, both individual and corporate.  While I first discovered Derek Webb through Caedman's Call a while ago, I was reacquainted with his music when his album She Must and Shall Go Free was available on Noisetrade (the website he founded). Once I had downloaded that album, I bought his album The House Show (which contains some of the same songs, and a few covers).

The album was a reflection of where he was on his spiritual journey, and apparently he has a sequel in the works, so I will be intrigued to see what has changed, and what remained the same. As you listen to Derek Webb, I can't help but draw comparisons with Keith Greem and Rich Mullins who wrote numerous songs, encouraging and rebuking the church. In his songs Derek Webb often challenges us to think how our faith intersects with the world.

On She Must and Shall Go Free, the songs which hit me the hardest were Lover  and Wedding Dress, both of which centre around the theme of God's love for his people, akin to that of a jealous husband for his bride (who is playing the harlot), bringing to my mind Ezekiel 16 and the book of Hosea.

Another song was I Repent in which he talks about the power and freedom we can find in corporate confession. The song is a confession of his sins, and I am certainly guilty of some of these sins too.

During the album - The House Show, Webb covers one of my favourite songs by Bob Dylan Every Grain of Sand, which highlights the care God has for all of his creation.

The concluding song of on The House Show (and also on She Must and Shall Go Free where Dan Haseltine - Jars of Clay joins Webb) is Take To the World , an almost perfect concluding song, telling those who hear to take and share what they have heard of God's 'relentless grace' to those who are 'hungry'. Such a powerful image.

I'm looking forward to hearing more from Derek Webb. I think Noisetrade are offering samplers from all of his CDs - so if you haven't heard him, now is certainly a good time.

This Pilgrim Way - A Horse & His Boy

I had been looking forward to this album since I heard the EP Trilogy. A Horse & His Boy sprang from the mind of Seth Harper (with some help from a few scrappy Narnians).

The album is conceived as "an adventure story in miniature" reflecting on the journey we take as Christ's followers. Here's a few reflections on some of the songs.

And the world was an ocean: Our life is described as akin to that of a man adrift on the ocean, waiting to be 'rescued or die'. Its such an evocative image. Highlighting that we 'are lost without you'

When I run: The song mind the story of Eric Liddell - I think - who said that when he ran he felt God's presence and pleasure. A reminder for the listener that all of their gifts and talents are His, and we are happiest when we are them for God's glory.

Glory, Hallelujah: My favourite song on the album. I just love the metaphor the song uses, their faith describe as a song. The song takes you through the journey of the people of God, from slavery and deliverance from Egypt, to God's present leaving the temple, the birth of Jesus, and the eventual triumph where the whole earth and every stone will sing the song of the creator.

{untitled} : It's easy to relate to the plea of this song, a plea for God to come, bring an end to injustice, and judge the wicked, but with that a plea He would show mercy and save many.

The Everlasting Arms: The concluding song, is an old hymn written by Anthony Showalter & Elisha Hoffman, (published 1887), and it reminders the listener where we end our journey, in the safe and secure arms of God.

In summary, the albums richness is in its lyrics which highlight the journey we all take as followers of Christ. I recently discovered you can buy the demos which are versions of each track with Seth's voice and an acoustic guitar, which just highlights the power of the words. I definitely recommend the album. 

The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey

One of the books I loved growing up was Tolkein's The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. I really enjoyed seeing LOTR come to life and was delighted when the disputes were settled and it was clear that Peter Jackson was going to direct The Hobbit.

I initially had reservations about the Hobbit being done as three movies, but after seeing Part 1, those doubts have been put to bed.  As I watched the story unfold, it was just so rich, and brought beautifully across to the big screen (I am sure people will discover The Hobbit because of this film).

Jackson for me has got the characters spot-on.  Watching Gandalf appear and respond to Biblo wishing him a good morning was perfect. I am really looking forward to seeing the story be built and developed through the next two films.

Complimenting the film perfectly is Howard Shore's score; and NZ is exactly how you imagined Middle Earth to be.

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As an aside, I'm pretty excited for Before Midnight, which concludes the story begun by  Before Sunrise and continued by Before Sunset. Definitely worth making an effort to see.

Review of Les Miserables (Spoilers)

Last night I went and saw the film adaption of the musical Les Miserables. I thought that I'd take the time now to write down some of my reflections.

Les Miserables is the first musical that I loved. During driving trips with our family, it wouldn't matter which one of family had the choice, 'Les Miz' would almost always be chosen. I'd often hear my brother sing Stars, or Javert's part in The Confrontation. We'd often talk about the characters, the songs, and the stories, which had grabbed all of us.  I loved it when we saw some brilliant amateur productions in Wollongong, (some of which outshone the production I saw in London). When I finally read the book I grew to love the characters more (and I think it is almost time to read it again).

So I was delighted to hear that the musical would be adapted for the 'big' screen.  The advantage of the film format in translating the story is that the director is not limited by a stage, and enabling the audience to have both close-ups of the actors, and wide shots. Sure, the film does remove certain things from your imagination, but enriches the experience in doing so. The best examples were seeing Fantine sing I Dreamed a Dream, after watching her life fall apart, and Eponine On My Own  which have always been highlights for me.

Onto to the film. My overall impression was how true the film was to the spirit of Hugo's book, and Boubil and Schonberg's musical.  It was great to see the continuing evolution of the story.  The film adds a song, Suddenly. Valjean sings as he takes Cosette away from Thenardier, and adds detail to the story by showing how Valjean is approaching fatherhood. The words of the song are taken from Hugo's book. I also quite liked Sacha Baron Cohen and Helen Boneham Carter as the Thenardier's

It was also intriguing to see how the order of songs were changed, and lines which seemed to have been added (or moved around).  Most of these changes worked to strengthen the impact of the film. Though I was sad to see Grantaire's part (below) of Drink with Me cut:

Drink with me to days gone by,
Can it be you fear to die?
Will the world remember you when you fall?
Could it be your death means nothing at all?
Is your life just one more lie?

As it added a depth to the revolutionaries which wasn't really present in the film. I would find it interesting to listen to the director talk about his approach to making the film.


The biggest let downs for me were Russell Crowe (Javert) and Eddie Redmayne (Marius), who in terms of both their acting and singing just didn't quite carry their roles.  On the flip side, the standouts were Anne Hathaway and Samantha Banks (as Fantine & Eponine).  I was also impressed with how authentic  Hugh Jackman was as Valjean. It was a nice touch for Colm Wilkinson (who was Valjean in the Original London & Broadway casts) to play the Bishop.

In sum, the film did a beaut job of bringing the story of grace, mercy and redemption to the big screen, and hopefully a large number of people will come to appreciate the story for the first time.  I definitely would like to see it again, as I'm sure I'd be struck by different things the second time around.

2012 Music ..

On the Noisetrade website I saw this post were Lisa listed her fav five Noisetrade artists and albums for 2012. 

 

Here's my list - the top album based on my plays during the year is Matthew Perryman Jones' Land of the Living. It is just a wonderfully rich album, both in terms of the words and music. This post; goes through the album a touch better than I could. My favourite songs are O, Theo, Sleeping With A Stranger and the title track Land of the Living.

Other artists which I discovered through Noisetrade this year were Kyler England, Cassie, Chasing Summer, Derek Webb (of Caedman's Call), JJ Heller, Eine Blaume. Not to mention the great new music from Sleeping at Last, Lara Landon, All Sons and Daughters and Jenny & Tyler.

But the top five of these along with Matthew Perryman Jones, would be - Eine Blaume, JJ Heller, Cassie, and Kyler England.

Through Nosietrade, I have developed a love of Nashville, which is not just the home of country music but also now the home of indie music in the US. So, if you're keen to get some new music, I'f recommend the Nashville Indie Spotlight album now available on i-tunes. Some of the artists included are Matthew Perryman Jones, Lara Landon, Katie Herzig and The Vespers.

So, on to the top five albums for 2012 ... It has been harder in most years to seperate these five out. Each stand out for different reasons, and each have been on heavy rotation through out the year. In terms of yrics then the Jenny & Tyler and Lara Landon albums would be slightly ahead. In terms of the music, I would pick Andrew Osenga, Matthew Perryman Jones or Glen Hansard.  

 

But, combining these, and needing to make a pick a number 1 - I'd give the album of the year to Matthew Perryman Jones. (by a nose from - Lara Landon (2),  Glen Hansard (3), Andrew Osenga (4) and Jenny & Tyler (5).

I'm intending to write another year in review type post shortly..