THURSDAY MORNING MIX
January 7, 2010
Scott Foley

At this early point in the music year, I'd have to give best odds for my favorite album on 2010 to Ray Wylie Hubbard's A Enlightenment B Endarkenment (Hint There Is No C). For a man who has seemingly experienced more than his share of career rebirths, Enlightenment marks a new high water mark. Insert derogatory comment about the album's cover here ...

We're all across the board elsewhere on this Episode. Especially welcome is a revisit to Brigitte DeMeyer's underappreciated album from early, early last year, as well as something promising from Dallas quartet Somebody's Darling. And why wasn't Will Hoge's "Even If It Breaks Your Heart" on my favorite songs roster?

* Gregory Alan Isakov, "Virginia May" This Empty Northern Hemisphere (Self, 09)
* Deep Dark Woods, "How Can I Try" Winter Hours (Black Hen, 09)
* Peter Case, "Travellin' Light" Man With the Blue Post-Modern Fragmented Neo-Traditionalist Guitar (Geffen, 89)
* Will Hoge, "Even If It Breaks Your Heart" The Wreckage (Ryko, 09)
* Suzi Ragsdale, "Troublemaker" Best Regards / Less of the Same (Stark Raven, 10)
* Bill Chambers, "Dashboard Jesus" Drifting South (Self, 09)
* Kasey Chambers, "Blue" Kasey Chambers, Poppa Bill and the Little Hillbillies (Liberation, 09)
* Robert Earl Keen, "Whenever Kindness Fails" Bigger Piece of Sky (Sugar Hill, 93)
* Ryan Bingham, "I Don't Know" Crazy Heart (New West, 10)
* Lissie, "Little Lovin'" Why You Runnin' (Fat Possum, 09)
* Two Tons of Steel, "Hold Over Me" Not That Lucky (Smith, 09)
* Dexateens, "Down Low" Singlewide (Skybucket, 09)
* Allison Moorer, "Goodbye To the Ground" Crows (Ryko, 10)
* Laura Cantrell, "Love Vigilantes" Trains & Boats & Planes (Diesel Only, 08)
* Bap Kennedy, "Irish Moon" Howl On (Lonely St, 09)
* Watson Twins, "Devil In You" Talking To You Talking To Me (Vanguard, 10)
* Ray Wylie Hubbard, "Loose" A Enlightenment B Endarkenment (Hint There Is No C) (Bordello, 10)
* Todd Adelman & the Love Handles, "Sorry" Todd Adelman & the Love Handles (Porch Lantern, 09)
* Stoney LaRue, "Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain" Acoustic Live (Self, 10)
* Wrinkle Neck Mules, "One Hand In the Furnace" Let the Lead Fly (Lower 40, 09)
* Marvin Etzioni w/Lucinda Williams, "Lay It On the Table" This Is Marvin Country (United for Opportunity, 09)
* Brigitte DeMeyer, "Shepherd" Red River Flower (New West, 09)
* Felice Brothers, "Forever Green" Mix Tape (New York Pro, 09)
* Dave Rawlings Machine, "I Hear Them All" Friend Of a Friend (Acony, 09)
* Somebody's Darling, "Horses" Somebody's Darling (Shiner, 09)
* Lee Barber, "Broken Cup" Thief and Rescue (Self, 09)
* Pokey LaFarge, "Plain Old Country Lad" Face a Frowning World: EC Ball Memorial Album (Tompkins Sq, 09)
* Jeffrey Foucault, "He Was In Heaven Before He Died" Shoot the Moon Right Between the Eyes (Signature Sounds, 09)