Well. In reading the previous incarnations of this annual list, I noticed a theme. A great deal of hand wringing was had about how it had been a rough year due to the death of various iconic musicians and or the election of a finalist in the worst humans ever conceived competition. This was all true. Thankfully, 2017 was a calm breeze, lazily blowing across an uneventful peace where music could once again just be an accoutrement to an idyllic life.
That's obviously not true in the slightest, but would music really mean the same thing right now if it were? I can't speak for others, but it certainly wouldn't for me. Music always has an escapist capability, but these days it seems to take on more of an absolute necessity to do so. As a result, I think I listened to more new music than ever in an attempt to reinforce that quality products can still be made, good people still exist and the communal experience of happiness isn't a thing of the past. Overdramatic as that may sound, it became a legit truth, and most surprisingly lead to an unexpected side affect; an unprecedented inability to count. So here's a list even Roy Moore could love (it's 26 but should be 15):
Debatably-Honorable Mention:
Almost a full collection itself, this list falls into one of two categories; either it was something I really enjoyed but didn't revisit enough OR it had only a limited selection of songs that stuck with me. As I look back in years to come there is very little chance that these would sneak into my actual top 10 (though it's not impossible), however, they are also albums I certainly don't want to forget that have diamond in the rough future potential.
26. Portugal.The Man - Woodstock - I'm going to start off with two albums that actually let me down a little bit. Coming off an album that was #6 on my 2013 list, I had high hopes for The Man. Crashing out of the gate with their biggest single to date, a full fledged radio hit (?!?) made me a little weary, but I also really liked the song. It went downhill from there. Part of the reason Evil Friends was so excellent was that it found the perfect balance between electronic music and real instrumentation. The scales have tipped. This was a lot more digitally enhanced and it just didn't resonate with me in the same way as a result. It felt like they were aiming to get that radio single (check) by following some of the trends of current pop hits (uncheck for me). They chased fame, found it and slipped 20 spots in my ranking as a result. I'm sure they (rightfully) care about my disappointment 0%.
Key Tracks: "Easy Tiger", "Feel it Still", "Rich Friends"
25. Dr. Dog - Abandoned Mansion - Rarely have I been as blindsided about an album as I was with this one. Knowing that they had recently put out the buried and then re-released, um, unique Psychedelic Swamp in 2016, I wasn't even thinking about this band at all when my buddy Jake asked me if I'd heard this when we were out tossing around some discs one day. First, I called him a liar about there even being a new album and second he proved me wrong very quickly. I love these guys too. Seen em' live multiple times and thought their previous proper work (B-Room) was excellent. Then something happened. I tried to like this a lot, I listened multiple times and yet I couldn't get it to stick. There were a few songs I liked, but compared to the way I had always felt about them... Sometimes an album takes a while to sink in and I feel like I'm gonna let Murn down here, as I believe he'll have it much higher. I'm waiting.
Key Tracks: "Peace of Mind", "Casual Freefall", "Could've Happened to Me"
24. Ron Gallo - Heavy Meta - Now this guy on the other hand happens to fall into the exact opposite category. If you told me about a solo blues guitar player who was going to try and ape the lovechild of Jack White and Alberta Cross, I might have passed because it just seems like something that has been done enough. But, the aforementioned Jake passed along a video of him doing a little guerrilla video in the back of a truck in Times Square and I was sold. It's raw as hell. The dude literally seems to be coming apart at the seams at times. I'm a little worried for his well being, but at the same time it really fits the garage rock niche the White Stripes carved out when they were at their rowdiest. In order for him to be a little higher, I'm going to need for him to sand down the rough edges a little, but only one real album in, he has plenty of time to do so.
Key Tracks: "Young Lady, You're Scaring Me", "Put the Kids to Bed", "Don't Mind the Lion"
23. Woods - Love is Love - I think this album suffers from an effort to put out too much music too quickly. This band has been on a roll, putting out multiple albums in a row that have been stellar. In my opinion, part of the reason for that was that they finally slowed down and started taking two years between albums instead of banging one out every year. The title track (both versions) has a killer groove and the horns are plentiful throughout, but how can you call a mere six songs an album, even if one of them IS ten plus minutes long. Aimed to throw a little warmth and love into a stressful time in the world, it seems stupid to overly critique more music from a band I really enjoy. So I won't do that. Instead, I'll just say while I'm happy to have some of these songs to put into my Woods catalogue, they may be better suited to go back to taking their time a little more.
Key Tracks: "Love is Love", "Bleeding Blue", "Love is Love (Sun On Time)"
22. The National - Sleep Well Beast - I'll forever love this band for the way that their NYC angst managed to translate to my rural NC apartment on 2007's The Boxer. Subsequent releases have all been extremely enjoyable as this is a band that really takes the art of recording quite seriously (perhaps too seriously if you watch the Mistaken for Strangers doc). They do a certain mood better than any band I know. It's two in the morning, you're drunk and probably shouldn't have one more but screw it, it's a Saturday night. The night can now go a variety of ways. Raucous send up with extended, unexpected guitar solo ("The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness"), angry political rage exorcism ("Turtleneck"), morose wandering around the neighborhood in a fog ("Nobody Else Will Be There") or secretly sad U2-esque soaring ballad ("The Day I Die")? Just listening again now, I know this album will sneak up this list in years to come, but during this year, at this time, I just wasn't able to spend enough time digesting it. The National always bring me to that mood and a place that I'm OK to be in, but can't be in too much. This was a year that brought too much of that organically to cause for me to search for it in my music too. It's the same reason #19 below will surely be higher in years to come as well.
Key Tracks: "The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness", "Day I Die", "Carin at the Liquor Store"
Key Tracks: "The Man", "The Man", "The Man", "The Man", "The Man", "The Man", "The Man"
20. Weezer - Pacific Daydream - The closest of the bunch to sliding itself down into the new section, it benefits from an overall revival year for Weezer for me. The minute I stopped expecting Weezer to be everything to me, they became a lot more. I'm a man who loves big crunchy guitars, solos and gorgeous melodies. Why deny said love when that comes all wrapped in one sunny little Weezer package? Rivers still knows how to bang out a song you'll be humming all day while giving you the necessary head banging dad groove you need when you hit your mid thirties. A few songs really don't do it for me here, but when they are on, these songs stack up with their best. True to its name, this music seems to resonate significantly better when it's a sunny, warm day.
Key Tracks: "Mexican Fender", "Feels like Summer", "Any Friend of Diane's"
19. Father John Misty - Pure Comedy - There was no way this poor fella could live up to the expectations created in my mind after the brilliance of I Love You, Honeybear. Removing the bias of my love for my 2015 number one choice, this album could have ended up much, much higher. It's still packed with contemplatively brilliant lyrics, sneak-up-on-you secretly great melodies and enough smarm to cold brew a gluten free double IPA. Plus, it retains Jonathan Wilson on board as the main musical contributor and producer. This is where things started to lose me a tiny bit though. It lost the sweeping, epic sound of the previous work and focused even more on the (admittedly amazing) lyrics. While that would be fine in it's own right (though certainly not my preferred formula), 2017 was a little too rough on me to allow the words to sink in on the level they really should. Someday they will, and when they do, I'm sure I'll unplug my GoogleAmazon phone from my cranial socket and laugh.
Key Tracks: "Total Entertainment Forever", "Two Wildly Different Perspectives", "Ballad of A Dying Man"
Legit Candidates:
These on the other hand may very well scramble their way up into my list in the coming years. As I looked back on previous years in preparation to write this, it was no shock that the top 10 order would surely change as albums have evolved and grown in my experience and appreciation of them. What did surprise me though was that many of the honorable mentions ended up being long term favorites that would have easily snuck into the list if it were written now. So with the same "not wanting to forget" as above, here are a handful more that very well deserve to be on the real deal (and very well could eventually be).
18. Dan Auerbach - Waiting on a Song - I feel like I should enjoy this album even more than I do. A collection of vintage soul/70s AM gold recreations should be right up my alley, especially when performed by an artist I already have a solid connection with. While some of the standouts, including an appearance by Mr. Knopfler ("Shine on Me") reach excellent heights, most of the others become muddled for me. Oddly enough, it was the production that turned me off enough that I didn't want to come back to it all that often. Without enough knowledge of exactly why, everything just seemed flat on a few of the tunes. I listened to it in multiple formats but always came away feeling like the dynamics just weren't there on certain songs. With that said, listening to it again as I write this, I am already coming around on it. I regret everything. This album should have been higher for sure, and maybe soon it will be.
Key Tracks: "Shine on Me", "King of a One Horse Town", "Cherry Bomb"
17. Minus the Bear - VOIDS - The best indicator of how stacked the output of music was this year is as follows. These guys, a band who at one time might have been one of my top 5 bands and still has one of my favorite albums of all time (Planet of Ice), put out their first proper album in 5 years. They have a new drummer and are coming off a previous work (Infinity Overhead) that semi-restored my faith in them after one of the biggest letdowns of my life (Omni). I had VERY little faith this was going to be good and yet I was extremely, pleasantly surprised. It contained two and possibly three all time excellent MtB songs, didn't make me feel concerned in the slightest that they pressed on without one of their key members and delivered an album that was stellar top to bottom, a return to form that gives me major hope for forthcoming release. And it sits at #17. If you're a fan of the band and (understandably) held out on giving this a shot due to being nervous, fear not, and dive in.
Key Tracks: "Silver", "Tame Beasts", "Lighthouse"
16. Queens of the Stone Age - Villains - If we were going solely on song of the year, this album would be in the top 3. "Feet Don't Fail Me" is one of the best opening tracks on any album, ever. It 100% sounds like it should be the first track on the next Crooked Vultures album. I'm 108% convinced JPJ is secretly uncredited on it. It has a build that the early 90s Chicago Bulls would have been proud to come out to and it manages to get me amped as hell every single time. Then, when the tune actually kicks in, it stomps faces like American History X. Hot damn do I love it. There are a few other tracks I really enjoy too, ranging from the dancey sound they surprisingly do well ("The Way You Used to Do"), to the hard hitting rock they are known best for ("The Evil Has Landed"). There was an extremely high bar to live up to for QotSA, having been my number one album a few years back, so perhaps it's unfair of me to rank them this low for what ends up being an excellent album. But, I argued with myself enough, and couldn't put them higher. Please don't kick me in the face.
Key Tracks: "Feet Don't Fail Me", "Feet Don't Fail Me", "Feet Don't Fail Me"
Key Tracks: "Darling", "Holding Pattern", "Same Sun"
Key Tracks: "Summertime Friends", "I See You", "Lost My Way"
13. Kurt Vile and Courtney Barnett - Lotta Sea Lice - Vibe has played a huge role in my selection of albums. It was really apparent to me that this year I wanted something to feel real and meaningful. These two are an unlikely and yet perfectly matched duo who create a piece of art that feels exactly like what it is; two friends sitting around enjoying the music making ability of the other. There are seamlessly traded verses, excellent musical exchanges and a level of balance that makes it seem as if they've been playing together for years. What makes this all the more amazing to me is that they have a deep relationship without any semblance of sexual tension (and I say this with certainty because Barnett dating her bandmate, a lady). The music is low key, rambling and versatile. I'm not sure they will continue to make music together, but if all we ever get is this, I'm amazingly pleased to see it work out the way it did. It's also just downright serendipitous to see a Kurt and Courtney who are happy to be together.
Key Tracks: "Over Everything", "Continental Breakfast", "Fear is like a Forest"
12. BNQT – Volume 1 - All credit on this one goes to Mr. Else. A very late addition to the collection, this ragtag "super" group of musicians put out something that can only be looked upon as a pleasant surprise. It's one thing to not know a band you enjoyed put out an album. But in this case, this was a band I didn't even know existed. Multiple vocalists are always a joy when a band can pull it off and these guys have vocal talent in spades. The sounds feel familiar, but it's rare that I can specifically trace the band the songwriter comes from (Kapranos being the obvious, Scottish exception). I liked this enough after three listens to head to my local record store and pick it up on vinyl (always a good sign for future enjoyment) and it really delivers. Much like other collective artists who Voltron together to create an album, I'm not sure what sort of output might be coming in the future (though naming it Volume 1 is a promising start), but I really dig what they have so far.
Key Tracks: "Restart", "L.A. on My Mind", "Failing at Feeling"
11. Will Johnson - Hatteras Night, A Good Luck Charm - This was perhaps the toughest omission for me. It's an album in the truest sense of the word. I never just put on one track from this, whether it's playing through my laptop or spinning on my record player. An artist my sister hipped me to a few years back, I liked him enough that I bought his newest work sight unseen and song unheard. Sitting here and listening to this truly authentic (there's that word again) sounding music, it's just beautiful. It transports me to a different era. You could tell me Will was anywhere between the ages of 25 and 60 and I'd believe you. There is a true weight to his songs, a heft that makes them feel worn and lived in. Pour yourself a few fingers of Arlow's best scotch and settle in for an album that will age even better than what you're drinking.
Key Tracks: "Milaak", "Every Single Day of Late", "Heresy and Snakes"
The Finalists:
Here lies the cream of the 2017 crop. In a year where six of my favorite bands DIDN'T put out an album (Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Built to Spill, Dawes, Dinosaur Jr. and Teenage Fanclub), it was remarkably hard to whittle everything down based on the incredible output of those who did. It'll be hard for me not to look back at 2017 as a windfall of musical brilliance.
10. Spoon - Hot Thoughts - These guys just keep putting out one excellent album after another. There really isn't too much else in my top ten that can make you just uncontrollably want to groove out. From horn blasts to synth flourishes, this album is rife with moments that start as a wiggle and slowly morph into straight up out-of-your-seat, hope-nobody-is-watching-this, dance. Amazingly, with all that, one of the slowest songs on the album, a tune that elicited countless "made up lyrics" versions about my dog, happens to be my personal favorite ("I Ain't the One"). Throughout, Britt Daniel manages to find the sweet spot between the manic intensity of Isaac Brock and the lazy croon of Josh Homme. This is a band that has perfected the ability to slowly evolve in a way that is subtle yet meaningful. If you go back to their early work and then compare that to their last two, it's entirely different but nonetheless traceable. The angles and unique sound have always been there, they've just found a new way to present them. When this is my #10, it's been quite a year.
Key Tracks: "I Ain't the One", "Whisperi'lllistentohearit", "Can I Sit Next to You"
9. Chaz Bundick Meets the Mattson 2 - Star Stuff - A true testament to what a couple good songs can do, Chaz makes his second appearance on these year end lists (previously with Toro y Moi) thanks to the help of two jazz loving twin brothers. Much like with his previous effort that made it, it's not an album that works top to bottom. There are really high highs and then a few spacey lows. It's not that they are bad per se, but when juxtaposed with the funk/soul that emerges when they are firing on all cylinders, the other stuff just seems either unnecessary or underworked. The concept is cool as hell though and Mr. Bundick deserves a lot of credit for his versatility. Though I don't much care for a sizable portion of what he creates under other monikers, the man downright creates. In fact, his most recent effort by TyM ended up letting me down enough that it didn't even sneak in this year even after a solid first single ("Girl Like You"). He's an undeniable talent though and with the help of a split ovum holding down some killer instrumental grooves, he's once again created something I truly enjoy.
Key Tracks: "Star Stuff", "JBS", "Disco Kid"
8. Beachheads - Beachheads - A group of established Norwegian death metal bandmates decided to write a power-pop album for the first time. While that may sound like a Mad Lib, it's a real formula that led to the second biggest surprise album of the year for me (biggest one still to come). Having previously worked in what Stereogum called "black metal party powerhouse (band) Kvelertak", it's amazing to me that this was lying dormant all the while. It's always astoundingly impressive to me when artists from other countries have the ability to not only create quote unquote American sounding music, but to do so while singing in English when it's clearly not their first language is mind boggling. Released as a series of singles and EPs first, I was able to digest most of this album in small morsels before I had it in its entirety. The songs come out and punch you in the face melodically, with guitar riffs boxing you on the ears all the while. When I was unexpectedly thrown into a situation where I had to run an 8k (!?!) this past Thanksgiving, this was the album I would put on to help churn through the discomfort of doing the actual running. This has to be one of best debut albums I've stumbled across in a long time and a damn good reminder that ol' fashioned rock is surely not dead if you're still willing to look for it.
Key Tracks: "Una", "Your Highness", "Break Me Down"
7. Ryan Adams - Prisoner - The heartbreak is palpable. It's the epitome of someone laying their emotions bare, presumably in an effort to self medicate and potentially though less likely "win her back." The album is 12 tracks and he was so distraught he had 17 more FINISHED songs he put out as a b-side companion, just because. It's not the first time he has pulled this move, but it's the first time I caught it in the moment. On top of everything else, I saw in real time the way it resonated with a friend going through a similar experience. This is an album about the breakup of a marriage and a famous one at that (Mandy Moore). I'm certainly not the first to acknowledge that the pure heartache and depression of losing a long term relationship helps to create great art. As it was, my first impression was to feel bad right along with him, reminiscing about women of yore and lamenting my own inability to write about them in the same meaningful way. But then two things happened. One, Ms. Moore went onto date and become engaged to Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes fame. He happens to be the main craftsman of one of my favorite albums from last year (We're All Gonna Die) and presumably she played a role in helping him to creatively expand, even appearing to sing backing vocals on one track. Secondly, I read the excellent Meet Me in the Bathroom, which happens to portray Mr. Adams in an, um, less than favorable light. So, I'm stuck between loving the art and feeling bad while at the same time being truly better off for the sadness that had to happen for it to exist. Unlike relationships though, one thing that can be said with certainty is this album was one I could put on any place, any day, any time and I would always want to let it run its course.
Key Tracks: "Do You Still Love Me?", "Broken Anyway", "Doomsday"
6. John Mayer - The Search for Everything - Mayer has always been known as a troll, and at times it seemed like he full on embraced it (that was not a good time...). However, whenever he puts out a single to a new album, it's borderline guaranteed at this point that I'll dislike it and get nervous. It will invariably sound too poppy and make me wonder if he has once again drifted too far back into just wanting to make radio hits for adoring female tweens. Invariably, the rest of the album comes out, it's ALL better than the originally released tune and the world keeps spinning. TSfE was no different. It's his most versatile work to date, containing everything from heartbreak ballads ("Never on the Day You Leave") to rowdy guitar jams ("Helpless") with everything in between. A dash of country here, a little funky soul there all contribute to a well rounded work of a guy who may finally be starting to find himself musically. Mayer has settled into his mid period Clapton phase, churning out beautiful, hook saturated and impressive guitar filled tunes in a way that would seem effortless if he didn't go out of his way to say how much it wasn't. He is a prime example of someone who still isn't comfortable in their own skin at this point, even with all the accolades that have been thrown his way. He wants to live in two worlds, be everything to everyone and manages to do more than most, yet still feel let down. As the album titles states though, he doesn't look to be stopping which bodes really well for fans of his work.
Key Tracks: "Helpless", "Moving on and Getting Over", "In the Blood"
5. Sheer Mag - Need to Feel Your Love - One listen. That's all it took for me to know this was going to be in my top 10. It's the kind of album that actually makes me want to mow the fuck out of the lawn and somehow I mean that in the best possible way. Tina Halladay is an absolute monster vocalist, delivering in a raspy, searing way that can only be matched and mirrored by the stellar guitar work of Kyle Seely. (Side note: I learned his name in a unique way. I've always loved when a vocalist yells something out prior to a guitar solo. It gets me amped and I imagine it's exactly what I would do if ever given the chance. It's awesome and forever changing when it's live but it's even better when it's on record and it just fits like a glove like it does on "Just Can't Get Enough"). Plus there is the added bonus that Ms. Halladay's voice happens to drive my wife crazy and every once in a while it's good to have something like that (Uncle Neil does the same thing). I've always been a complete sucker for 70s rock and they do a glorious job of making a modern day version of it. I truly love it. There was a time I was convinced that this was going to be my #1 and I still can't figure out for the life of me how it stumbled all the way back to #5.
Key Tracks: "Need to Feel Your Love", "Just Can't Get Enough", "Milk and Honey"
4. Matthew Sweet - Tomorrow Forever - Holy hell what a surprise this one was. Always a massive fan of his early work (Girlfriend and 100% Fun are inescapably brilliant), I'd mostly assumed that Mr. Sweet had aged out of writing power pop perfection, having instead focused on putting out a trio of covers albums with longtime collaborator Susanna Hoffs as three of his five albums in the last 11 years. Needless to say, I wasn't expecting all that much when "Trick of the Light" (later changed to just "Trick") was released as the first single. Do yourself a favor if you don't know what I'm referring to and it's key here to follow all of these directions. Stop what you're doing, get your best set of headphones, remove all other distractions, crack a tasty beverage that suits you best and then put that song on. It's a prime example of a song that sounds great no matter what but is elevated to an entirely different level when listened to in discernible stereo. That's the opening track and it only continues to excel from there with an astoundingly large 16 other tracks. Thankfully, due to taught construction, even with 17 tracks, the album clocks in at under an hour and never really feels to drag. The melodies are as sugary sweet as ever, the guitar interplay and tones are otherworldly gorgeous and the songs vary in ways I don't remember him doing in previous efforts. It is by far the biggest surprise of 2017 for me and a mighty fine reason for me to dive back into more of his albums I missed.
Key Tracks: "Trick", "Pretty Please", "Bittersweet"
3. War on Drugs - A Deeper Understanding - Any other year, this would be an excellent choice for #1 and in fact it may become mine in due time. Not only was it an incredible, standout album, but it was undeniably able to live up to its skyscraper high expectations. Following up on Lost in a Dream, this album was as hyped as anything I can remember. That's usually a recipe to be let down. Yet Adam Granduciel manages to do something I wasn't sure was possible; take all the parts of the 80s that sound distinctly from that decade and distill them down to something I enjoy. Using this practice and filtering it through his songwriting lens, I find myself feeling nostalgic for music I've just heard. I put on the vinyl and suddenly I'm transported to the basement of my childhood home or the backseat of my dad's car on the way to school. It manages to take things that can be cheesy and elevate them to a place of reverence. It's the sonic equivalence of Stranger Things. The second and third solos in "Strangest Thing" are transformational. "Thinking of a Place" is one of the few songs in the world that can be 10 minutes long yet only take 4 minutes to finish. The soaring, oh-man-finally, first chorus of "In Chains" is breathtaking. Hyperbole or not, this shit is real. These little moments throughout continue to appear, making me want nothing more than to flip it over and start it again every time the record ends.
Key Tracks: "Strangest Thing", "Nothing to Find", "Pain"
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2. Blitzen Trapper - Wild and Reckless #1/#2 - First, an origin story. Early in the year, the Trapper announced that they would be putting on a stage show. Eric had written a play about two lovers addicted to a new drug referred to as "lightning". They would be the house band, write the score and perform each night during its multi-month run. Unfortunately, it was only done out in Portland and you could only purchase the soundtrack at the shows themselves. Hmm. Flash forward a few months later and they announce they would put out a limited run of 500 vinyl over the summer. It took me approximately .03 seconds to purchase it. That's #1. Then, a few months after that they announced it would ALSO be there next album, but with changes. It would have a few tracks rearranged, re-done track-list and also a few tunes added in. So now, I had 2 albums, 50% of which overlapped but 50% of which was like getting Basement Tape-esque reworked versions and B-sides. Though it was midsummer before I could get in my first listen, I have no problem admitting that it was mid afternoon on a Tuesday with a beer in hand where things actually got a little dusty; it was just that good. The music does what all good BT does, it dances and darts through genres, packs incredible amounts of melodies into each song and provides me ample opportunity to replace all of the lyrics with a variation of my dogs name (another thing that drives my wife nuts in way I can only assume is her secret way of really meaning "Please keep doing that all the time"). It's perfect and I can't think of a more reliable band out there today. (Oh and did I mention that they also put out ANOTHER album in 2017 for Record Store Day, consisting of b-sides and outtakes from earlier in their career? Hachi machi these guys love making music and hot damn do I benefit from it.) Key Tracks: "Wild and Reckless", "When I'm Dying", "Baby Won't You Turn Me On"
1. Susto - & I’m Fine Today - A good friend of mine, Rich, introduced me to this band a few years back, allowing them to be on my radar the day their second album was streamed a week ahead of its release. A mere "thank you" to him would severely under-serve the gratitude I feel for that. I greatly enjoyed their first album but I'm not sure I could have envisioned a better scenario to dive headlong into what became my album of the year. It was 9:00am on a Saturday and my wife and I had just built a massive pillow/chair/miscellaneous fort for my son. Large enough to house us all, we dove inside and grabbed a beer because it was snowing and that only happens once or twice a year down here. I put it on and we sat there in that beautifully sagging hideout for multiple hours listening to it on repeat, getting sauced. Eventually it really started to pour snow so we threw it on outside and had our first snowball fight with my dog and son. If there is a better way to first experience an album, I've yet to find it. Since that day in early January I've barely gone a week without listening through the entire thing. Having a wife that loves it as much as I do as well as them being a local enough (South Carolina) band that they tour often in our area allows them to always be within an arm's reach. The songs are as real, raw and emotional as could be. It really feels as if they are authentic experiences for Justin, having been real things he lived through that many wouldn't have been comfortable enough to put on tape for the world to hear. The topics are heavy for the deep south (questioning religion, being gay in a conservative area, divorce, etc.) and yet in no way critical or preachy. It's more like watching someone work through the issues themselves, on a deep level. In the end, I think that's something we all had to do in 2017 ; work through everything that was happening on a deep level. Thankfully, music helps me in this snowed in, dogged pursuit with this album dragging my sled as the leader of the pack.
Key Tracks: "Jah Werx", "Gay in the South", "Cosmic Cowboy"
