The Best of April 2009!!!
1. Graham Wilkinson & the Underground Township – Yearbook [Township Records 2009]
2. K’Naan – Troubadour [Octone Records 2009]
3. Buju Banton – Rasta Got Soul [Gargamel 2009]
4. Bob Dylan – Together Through Life [Columbia 2009]
5. Cunninlynguists – Strange Journey Volume One [QNS 2009]
6. J.J. Cale – Roll On [Rounder 2009]
7. B Real – Smoke and Mirrors [Duck Down 2009]
8. Jah Cure – The Universal Cure [SoBe 2009]
9. Souls of Mischief – Tour Stories [Hieroglyphics Imporium 2009]
10. Jahmali – El Shaddai [Penthouse 2009]
11. Various Artists – Evolution Dub Volume 1: The Origin of the Species [Greensleeves 2009]
12. Various Artists – Evolution Dub Volume 2: The Great Leap Forward [Greensleeves 2009]
13. Sizzla – Ghetto Youthology [Greensleeves 2009]
14. Bitty McLean – Movin On [Taxi 2009]
15. John Brown’s Body – Re-Amplify [Easy Star Records 2009]
Graham Wilkinson and the Underground Township released a new album on Township Records, Yearbook, this month that brings the best of Texas roots music to the fore. Graham Wilkinson has proven himself not only as a songwriter but also as an arranger. Some of the songs on this album come from earlier albums but here they are arranged in new and lovely ways. On the track “Ragamuffin,” Hayes Carll lends his voice and Lloyd Maines plays his pedal-steel guitar. “Let It Go” stands out as an americana roots jam and “La Briza” casts an easy groovy spell. “Boys and Girls” is a reggafied track that has a ska sound. On the strings laden “Ghosts,” a previously unreleased track, Alejandro Esovedo adds his voice to this rock n’ roll piece of art. Graham Wilkinson and the Underground Township and the boys at Township Records, including producer and bassist Wayne Dalchau, have done it again. And this time the album artwork and concept of the Yearbook make it worth getting the hard copy of this album. Get the digital album if need be but the artwork and music make this album a tangible item one needs to hold, see, listen, and appreciate. Like the old days before the digital single this album harkens back to the good old days of the concept album. This album, Yearbook, captures a year of creativity, music, and Austin vibes.
K’Naan the Somalian rapper dropped sweltering rhymes over fat beats on his new album Troubadour. The track “I Come Prepared” with Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley stands out as a powerful song and the track “ABC’s” with Chubb Rock is slamming. Chali 2Na Fish, Mos Def, and Adam Levine also co-star on this album. But K’Naan shines on solo tracks too. The track “T.I.A.,” which stand for “This Is Africa,” samples Bob Marley & the Wailers’ “Simmer Down” with heavy bass drops chopping the old rhythm into a new dancehall beat. The Somalian rapper shows his softer side on ballads like “Wavin’ Flag” and “Take A Minute.” I am looking forward to seeing the live show.
Jam-Tex 