Ovalteeny

why?

must be Australia

Sounds like a decent philosophy to me Maggie/915

My work here (for 2014) is now done.

"Too Blessed to be Stressed" is the name of the album at number 10 in my Top 10 of 2014. If you've never heard of Paul Thorn, then say hello to the 2nd. most famous man from Tupelo, Mississippi. I've followed him for the past 7 years, since seeing him on a Cruise Ship. He's the son of a Preacher Man and before becoming an accomplished and prolific singer/songwriter he was a Professional Boxer, good enough to fight Roberto Duran, no less. He can be profound, he can be irreverent, he can be very southern/red neck, but most of all he has humility and a very, very sharp sense of humour. He's not country, he's not blues, he's not folk, he's not rock, the fact is he's all those genres. Check out various videos on YouTube. This song and the accompanying video reveals a little about a fascinating man :-

Number 9 in this years Top 10 was Jesse Winchester's "A reasonable amount of trouble". Sadly he died just a month or two before it's release. It's an excellent album, but there are no videos of him singing any of the songs, so I have posted a superb version of "Sham a Ling ding dong" from an old Elvis Costello Show. It's compelling and watch it all the way through to see the reaction of Neko Case (on his left) and then hear what Elvis has to say, at the end. Pure magic.

Number 8 in this years Top 10 is un-ashamedly Country from the prolific, excellent Jason Eady, Check out a live version of OK Whiskey

Totally agree with you Symptoms. In 1968 me and some other Bedlington lads got in a Thames Trader van and went to the College of Art & Tech in Newcastle to see Joe (with the Grease Band). As we were ordering our beers at the bar, this fella in a Sheffield Corporation Bus Drivers Jacket came up, it was Joe, and we had a little chat and he ended up buying the beers. I think his first single "Marjorine" had just been released. Ever since then I have followed his career. Then in 1994 (December 4th.) I was at work and my boss (a musical moron) shouted out, I've got 4 tickets for Joe Cocker at Wembley Arena tonight, he's only ever made one record "a little help from my friends", does any one want these tickets. So I had 2 and one of the other lads had 2. Cheryl Cole opened the concert (poor sound issues) and then Joe, with a superb band that was MD'd by non other than John Miles (from jarrow), delivered a masterpiece. A terrific gig. In 2004 I honeymooned in Colorada, knowing that Joe had lived there for some time and looked for him everywhere we went, to no avail. I think I've got 8 or 9 albums throughout the decades and I still like each one. One of his great talents was taking other peoples songs are lifting them to a higher plane, check out one that he nearly always featured, Mr. Billy Prestons "You are so beautiful"

Number 7 is my Top 10 of 2014 is Rodney Crowell's "Tarpaper Sky". He's been in the business for years and years (in various guises and bands as well as solo, plus written some cracking songs), but this solo album effort is by far his best in years. The video is my favourite track from the album :-

Brett, I guess that's where you are totally correct about it all being subjective. But, each individual can apply his own taste to that well known quote "Life's too short to listen to bad music". Whatever constitutes good or bad (in anything) is what makes us all different.

Brett, in general terms I agree with you, I am 66 years old, have been listening to / going to gigs / and collecting my music since I was 12 years old. My tastes are wide and varied and I love it that in todays modern, digital age I can see and hear 99.99% of all artists (whether their music is current of from years gone by), before going on the acquire any of their records. I still buy the odd CD, but mostly these days I download, either via my eMusic subscription or a sharing site like Soulseek. Hence I usually have somewhere in the region of 8-12 new albums per month. I tend to look at Music like an Oak Tree. Music is the trunk and then as the tree grows and sprouts branches etc. they are either the different artists / styles / genres that you can choose to select. It's never ending and I really like discovering new talent that appeals to my ears, my heart & my soul. Long may it continue. However, I have never been able to get into The Smiths or Morrisey, I've not really heard one track that is uplifting or inspirational or even passable. One of my best friends is Morrisey mad and has tried for years to convert me, to no avail. And, I haven't got around to slitting my throat yet, but there's still time, I suppose.

Seasons greeting to you too, and everyone else on this forum

Morrisey = music to slit your throat by.

Number 6 in my Top 10 albums of this year are from a proper Country Band. If you like you music, from a fast, frentetic, Red Neck angle, then Old Crow Medicine Show are the boys for you :-

Maggie/915, it should be under Hobbies & Interests / Entertainment / Music

Number 5 in this years Top 10 are Lake Street Dive, a quartet from NE USA, they are not country, in fact it's hard to pigeon hole their music, other than it's bliddy good, this is the title track from this years album, Rachel Price, is lead singer and she's not half bad....

Number 4 in my Top 10 od 2014, the reformation of Nickel Creek, check them out on this little 20 minute live Radio Show :-

the mayfair, with the revolving stage

Welcome to the site, EmmaF

Since I last replied I have had some further thoughts jogging my old memory. I'm fairly sure that Uncle Jimmy was also in the butchering business and worked for Harry Ternent at Guide Post. I'm not 100% sure and as he was a batchelor, I don't think there will be any remaining relatives to confirm one way or the other.

Brett, I like Elbow, but that's the first I'd heard/watched Alt-J, I like that too, helluva video, do you think he really got hit by proper arrows ?

Number 3 in my Top 10 is another country album. New, modern, rocking, country from a man who has released 2 albums in 2 years and set Nashville talking ; Sturgill Simpson http://youtu.be/_70HJMikcBo

Sorry I meant to put a link to their web-site :-- http://stevenseagulls.com

Malcolm, Well, I'd never had guessed that they were Finnish. There are 2 other videos on their web-site. Just shows that there is a decent music scene up there in Scandanavia. Ignoring Abba, they now have (from my ignorant perspective) First Aid Kit and now Steve 'n' Seagulls.

Brett, Fist Aid Kit's latest album STAY GOLD has come 20th. in an "end of year" readers poll from an Americana Web Magazine called No Depression, check out the list via this link :http://nodepression.com/article/nd-readers-poll-results-top-50-albums-2014 I had not really heard of them before, but I'll give them a listen, now