1. Dawn Landes - Fireproof



http://www.dawnlandes.com

Recorded in one week. Made in an old firestation. Album of the year 2006!

Subtle, yet right on the spot. Great melodies, and its the right medicine for me, and yet another proof that working as a sound engineer (she do that for a living), can result in compositions made of wonderful combinations of ideas (Hint: What do you get if you mix Ryan Adams with Philip Glass, now how's that for a mashup challenge?)...

If you like me, love the albums of Iris Dement, (think: Infamous angel'ish kind of music), or perhaps Kimmie Rhodes (a la "west texas heaven"), you will love this album too. All of them Highy recommended by me.

Listen/Buy it at CD Baby

2. Melody Gardot - Worrisome heart

What can i say that i haven't allready written. Melody is one of a kind. Imagine to come back after what she experienced, and still be able to sing with the voice of an angel, in many styles, like Eva Cassidy used to do. This is only her second recording, and her first full length album. I am very curious to see what the the future will bring for her. And the best song is the last track, a bonustrack that many people have missed. It made me cry .



http://www.melodygardot.com/


3. Neko case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood

Timeless stories. Intimate songs.

There's more to this world than are learnt in your broadcasting mr murdoch.




http://www.nekocase.com/

4. Peter, Bjorn and John - Writer’s Block

On the topic "relations that lasted for more than one day"...

Out of many swedish albums this year, it was just one or two i still play frequently. This is one of them.

Jazz musicians trying to play pop. Holding back on skills enormously. I recommend checking out the jazzier side of "Bjorn" (Björn Yttling) at Yttling Jazz



http://www.peterbjornandjohn.com/


5. Tres Chicas - Bloom, Red & The Ordinary Girl

Perfect harmony recorded with a band a la "up on cripple creek", (by the band, you know...).



http://www.treschicas.org/

6. Jets Overhead - Bridges

"Canadian Powerpop".
Blue is in and red is out. Practice more. Take this one to the gym, kramer.



http://www.jetsoverhead.com/


7. Grizzly Bear - Yellow House

Alone. In the forest. With midgets.

No, seriously. Get his album. Just get it.



http://www.grizzly-bear.net


8. Vetiver - To Find Me Gone

For inspiration. It's been so long.



http://www.vetiverse.com/

Stream of It's been so long

9. Rosanne cash - black cadillac

Her best so far. It's a rich album.



http://www.rosannecash.com/

10. Destroyer - Destroyer’s Rubies

Sounds like a gringo-happy, "problemfree", lloyd cole around rattlesnakes. Save some energy and frustration and 20 years. No more love songs.



http://www.mergerecords.com


11. Los Lobos - the town and the city

Louie, Cesar, Conrad and David. Again.



http://www.loslobos.org/

I'll be back with a full list of latin music next year. There is simply too much to fit on a top 10.

And, in the search for "a heart of gold", i also found

* Midlake - The Trials of Van Occupanther

Reminded me of the ambience on early Neil Young/Buffalo springfield tracks, the kind of music i like a lot. Add violins and eagles to this ;-) Yet another side of texas i suppose.

http://www.midlake.net/

* The Knife Silent Shout

One of the top 3 swedish albums of 2006. Not an orchestra of bubbles.... Sounds best on the vinyl edition if you can get it, i might add.

The knife

I suppose that i am not the only one, eagerly awaiting to hear something from for the new Stooges album...?
Mr Osterbergs guest appearance on teddybears "punkrocker", was so great i think.

No. I do not believe in gadd. (Eric Gadd).
Another artist that will perform at SXSW 2007 is the great Kristoffer Ragnstam

His ep "do you want a piece of me" is definately bubbling here, on my list, and definately one swedish musician to look out for in 2007. It's like having an Eric Gadd on steroids in the headphones. Check out Country Kid , its nothing unique really, i mean, its been done before, but its the combination, and the energy that makes it great.

Kristoffer sure has come a long way in the years since "we could have some fun" (his single from 2002), but, so is also "Sweet bills", produced by Chris Brown
I think its soon high time for an article about Hanson and Karlson (Kristoffer Ragnstams favourite band) Hang on.

* Alice Smith - For lovers dreamers and me Irresistable. I must've listened to her song "Dream", two hundred times.

http://www.alicesmith.com/

Album stream, on Alice Smith Stream: For lovers dreamers and me

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Last, but not least, an album that came out 2005, so it can not be on this list, but it's a cd that's been giving me a lot of joy and happiness this year:

Martha Redbone - Skintalk. Recorded with a supertight funkband. Man, they play groovy, and Randy Brecker plays the trumpet!

Martha Redbone An artist to look out for in 2007. Alicia Keys ++