the Top 10 Folk / Country Albums of 2024

For some time I've combined country and folk music into this list since they are on the fringe of what is normally reviewed here. The two genres have a great deal of stylistic overlap since pop country is not my thing, and I like folk music that is darker and more melancholy. These albums do not really give a damn about the Nashville status quo even when it comes to the artists in the more commercial spotlight. These are not the coolest albums, but the best, fuck what other blogs say. 

 After I sort through the top 10 albums of all the respective genres, I use those lists to compile the top 10 albums of 2024 list. The very fact that these bands made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are, so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album; there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. After all, we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day, what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. Perhaps you can find your next favorite on this list. I've included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out the audio on these guys. Anyway here are the top 10 country and folk albums of 2024

10-Hovvdy-"s/t" 

If Justin Vernon had grown up in a trailer park listening to country music, Bon Iver might have sounded like this. The twang is subtle, meaning if they were trying to be country, it would be more upfront, as that is the act they are putting up. It's detectable, but I think they are trying to make indie pop, but that is what comes out. It's not pop country though I think they recorded this in an actual studio and not their bedroom, like the sometimes lo-fi Soundcloud quality tries to emulate. Though this is their 5th full-length album they have taken enough trips into the studio to settle into their skin.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/12/hovvdy-st.html

9-the Death South - "Chains & Stakes" 

One of the best modern bluegrass quartets is back with a collection of songs that finds them moving back in a darker direction. They move back in the direction of Murder Ballads. They remained consistent in what they do which is already pretty great so that works for this album.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-dead-south-chains-stakes.html

8- 49 Winchester -"Leaving This Holler" 

This Virginia-based band plays a traditional style of country, that is a little more upbeat than what I normally listen to, but it's well done. All the instrumentation fits in the lush mix. Lyrically the outlook is pretty bright, making up home that the drink it up songs go south so I can hear songs about alcoholism. At the end of the day the great guitar playing and singing won me over . 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/10/49-winchester-leavin-this-holler.html

 

7-the Decemberists -" As it Ever Was, So it Will Be Again"  

The songwriting has been streamlined, and though they get really progged out on the last song, the album is typically an eclectic mix of bard-like folk. as they dip their toes into styles, sometimes taking you back to the 70s as flutes wander around. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/06/the-decemberists-as-it-ever-was-so-it.html

         

  

6-Amigo the Devil -"Yours's Until the War is Over" 

Danny has been playing big rock festivals for a few summers now, and we are beginning to hear how that is influencing him. There is more of an edge here. There are depressing songs that ponder suicide, and by and large, this album is a continuation of the Murder Ballad theme that has driven the bulk of his music. He colors these with different influences, like the touch of Tom Waits which can be felt at times.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/02/amigo-devil-yours-until-war-is-over.html

5-Faye Webster -"Undressed at the Symphony" 

She could have also crossed over into the top 10 pop albums list that I have yet to finish, but if this was Joni Mitchell doing the exact same songs it would be folk so, here we are. In the 70s there was a genre called adult contemporary. It was the kind of organic loungy music that was not the bubble gum of pop but found artists in the middle of country and jazz. There was none of the country twang, nor the complex excursions in jamming that jazz ventures off into. More produced than folk;, but many former folk artists would cross over into this for radio play. Mellow is certainly a fitting word to describe it. There are no aspirations to induce dancing. This is what Webster's music invokes.

4-Waxahatchee- "Tigers Blood" 

 This album took some time to sink in. Katie Crutchfield is more of a country singer than not. Sure she is soulful. But there is an honest twang that offsets most of her indie sensibility. She has certainly settled into her skin as an artist. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/03/waxahatchee-tigers-blood.html

 

3-Kacey Musgraves -"Deeper Well" 

This is the singer's 6th album. Funny enough the title track is about how she quit smoking pot, but it sounds like still was hitting the bong when she wrote the opening track. It has a 60s ambiance to it. The title track also carries more atmosphere than what you might expect from a country musician who is not smoking pot. From her past work, I would never have taken her as a pot smoker, so it's funny that the album she is not smoking sounds like the one she's smoking the most on. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/08/kacey-musgraves-deeper-well.html

      

2-Johnny Blue Skies- "Passage Du Dasir" 

Not sure why Sturgill Simpson needs an alter ago as this is more country than some of the albums he's released under his name. Strong guitar playing throughout, sometimes it's touched with a bit of 70s soul, and sometimes he jams closer to what Pink Floyd does. His voice sounds great and it's another testament to his songwriting, where else are you going to hear country songs about fairies? 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/07/johnny-blue-skies-passage-du-desir.html

1-Chelsea Wolfe -"Unbound" 

 If She said the versions of these songs found on this EP were how they were originally written, before being re-mixed into what was presented on "She Reaches Out to, She Reaches Out to..." it would make perfect sense as this sounds more like who she is. This is emotionally powerful and feels like  true expression of who she is. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/10/chelsea-wolfe-unbound.html

pst626

February's Top 10 Albums

Started this last month and now we continue on to February's top 10 albums. Staying abreast on the month's highlights might help casual readers see what they missed, and give this the option to check these artists out. I am not doing little blurbs on them, just linking the reviews. I think it will help me organize my lists for the end of the year, by listing the genre of music the album falls under. This does not mean that these albums have been released this month, but it is a list of new or upcoming albums I have enjoyed the most, I have albums in my in-box that are not coming out til June, so I am normally way ahead of the curve in this regard. They are ranked in order of what I have listened to the most. This month there is a wide variety from indie pop to punk to black metal, so perhaps you will find your new favorite among them. Here are the Top 10 albums for February 2024.

10-Vemod-"The Deepening" 

Black  Metal 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/02/black-metal-history-month-vemod.html

8-Oldspeak- "s/t" 

Sludge

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/02/oldspeak-st.html

7-the Dead South - "Chains & Stakes" 

Blue-grass 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-dead-south-chains-stakes.html

7-Allie X-"Girl With No Face"

Pop

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/02/allie-x-girl-with-no-face.html

6-Amigo the Devil - "Yours Until the War is Over" 

Folk

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/02/amigo-devil-yours-until-war-is-over.html

5-Benighted - "Ekbom" 

Grind-core 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/02/benighted-ekbom.html

4-Modern Witchcraft-"s/t"

Doom-gaze 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/02/modern-witchcraft-st.html

3-Chelsea Wolfe-" She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She"

Electronic 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/02/chelsea-wolfe-she-reaches-out-to-she.html

2-meth. - "SHAME" 

Blackened Hardcore 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/02/black-metal-history-month-meth-shame.html

1-Sleepytime Gorilla Museum - "Of the Last Human Being" 

Progressive Rock 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/02/sleepytime-gorilla-museum-of-last-human.html

Amigo the Devil : "Yours Until the War is Over"

 Danny has been playing big rock festivals for a few summers now, and we are beginning to hear how that is influencing him. There is more of an edge here. There are depressing songs that ponder suicide, and by and large, this album is a continuation of the Murder Ballad theme that has driven the bulk of his music. He colors these with different influences, like the touch of Tom Waits that can be felt in"It's All Gone'". He gets rowdy with the spit and vinegar to "I'm Going to Heaven". It stays true to who he is and what he does. 

There is a more thoughtful country tone to "The Mechanic" which was one of the lead singles to the album that I had not heard before going into this album. Distorted Western flavored guitar colors "Once Upon a Time at Texaco".  He uses more vocal colors to make the stories he tells on this album stand out more. Lyrically it's a more "Natural Born Killers' take on murder ballads. "Cannibal Within" is one of the album's more interesting lyrical musings. He continues to explore mental health themes on this album. The song about miscarriages was the ballad I did not expect. Seems like as good of a time as any to add this album must be listened to at least once with headphones to get the full scope of the production value. Where Danny's voice sits on the condenser mic, is a key element they made the most of. The ballads I can not hear him pulling off at Rockville, but they are certainly honest enough to be effective, not just arena rockers. 

The ode to relapses "One Day at a Time" is an odd ditty. I prefer the 50's rock stylings of "Stray Dog". It has an Elvis-like swagger. The last song is more spoken word. It lingers over wanting to be a song and just his pondering thoughts. I will give this one a 9.5, and see how it grows on me. It might not hit the same marks as his previous album, but is a solid enough direction for him, and proves he is a highly effective story teller, so not perfect, but better than almost everything coming out these days and brutal honesty contrasts the murder-tinged story telling. 

pst90

the Top 10 Albums of 2021

 

At the end of the day...year these are the albums I listened to the most. The reason that makes these the best is because I listened to over 2000 albums this year and these are the ones that endured the influx of new music that hit My in box every morning and made me want to hear them again and again. Yes, this is the culmination of all the other lists done up to this point for other blogs and was refined down to this master list of all genres.  So here ya go...

10-Converge & Chelsea Wolfe - " Blood Moon "

I like these two artists almost equally it brings out Converge's best side as I prefer their dark creepy melodic stuff over when they are just a total punk rock freak out the album leans in more of a sludge direction though by the highly experimental definition of that sub-genre, Wolfe's solo work had those elements previously, so this is not a surprise. They work together in a masterful way to create heavy music that is still beautiful in different ways. The range of sonic colors beats out Witnesses. 

Abysmal Hymns: November is Doom - Converge & Chelsea Wolfe :"Blood Moon"

9-Hypocrisy- "Worship"

The 90s never left. This is the vibe I get from the first album in over a decade from one of Sweden's best death metal acts. I first got into them back in 1994 with the 'Fourth Dimension" album. They were ahead of the curve when it came to lyrics dealing with alien conspiracies. Their experience as song writers prevails and makes this better than what a younger band eager to prove how heavy they are would do. Lyrically it is very fitting for the past year so wish it had come out earlier but will take it. They impressively beat out Converge and Ms. Wolfe's collab as these songs hooked me in more. 

Abysmal Hymns: Hypocrisy : " Worship"

8-Bloody Hammers - "Songs of Unspeakable Terror"

What gave these guys the edge is that this album came out back in January and hung tough as an album I would return to at least once a week or so. An impressive feat when you consider how much new music I ingest. This time the band leaned into the punk side of their influences, and it works much better. It is not total Danzig as the Elvis side of the coin is toned down. The vocals are great and very catchy. I can appreciate how this is married to an almost edgy cock rock side of 80s metal, but all horror anthems which earned their place at the top of this list. They beat out Hypocrisy because I just got a little more mileage out of this one. 

Abysmal Hymns: Bloody Hammers : "Songs of Unspeakable Terror"

7-The Pretty Reckless - Death By Rock N Roll" 

Over the course of this year this album grew on me. Which is why it is taking the number 7 spot. They manage to make new rock sounds from fairly blues based Led Zeppelin styled riffs that couple well with her smoky sex dripping vocals. They have been at it for 12 years, so their efforts paid off for everything falling into place for them.  

Abysmal Hymns: the Pretty Reckless : "Death By Rock N Roll"

6-Slothrust- "Parallel Timeline" 

Things are different. The mood has changed and matured. Where "|the Pact" was a much more polished effort than their previous albums, this one is another step forward in the refinement of their sound. They are less grunge than their earlier work, but still pack more punch than say HAIM. At the end of the day

Abysmal Hymns: Slothrust : "Parallel Timeline"

 5-Danny Elfman - "Big Mess" 

Elfman has an ear to what is going on in music for sure. It is heavier than what you might expect from him, yet theater lies in the panned vocals that bounce around these songs.  It is progressive without really trying to be. Like I tell my daughter when she hears Oingo Boingo this is Kack Skellington singing! The drums and guitars are way harder edged than what you would find in Oingo Boingo, which explains why this is not being done under that name. He has both Josh Freese and Robin Finck playing on this album. Guitar is also provided by Warren from the Vandals, so both the Vandals and Nine Inch Nails figures in the mix

Abysmal Hymns: Danny Elfman - "Big Mess"

4-Iron Maiden - "Senjutsu" 

There is no real filler on this album, the first single is the weakest song on the album and that is a relative term as it is still better than anything another band trying to be them could do, and a solid song in its own right even if it is not just what I showed up for, If this is their last album it is a fine summary of their legacy.  They beat out Danny Elfman with more concise and hooky songwriting,  

Abysmal Hymns: Iron Maiden : "Senjutsu"

3-Portrayal of Guilt - "We are Always Alone"

This time around they brought the more sonic kind of heavy I love. They are pretty deliberate using very chilling chord structures.  From the first listen I knew that this was going to be the fucking album to beat this year this shit kicks your face in and is a beautiful dark mess, just what the world needs right now/The parts that did not tug at me right away grew on me, making this an almost perfect album and the best of the heaviest. Beating out Maiden because they took more chances.      

Abysmal Hymns: Portrayal of Guilt : "We Are Always Alone"

2-Chrvches -" Screen Violence"

The Scottish pop band's 4th album. The title come from how they made this album remotely during the pandemic. It picks up where they left off at first and then goes in more interesting places as the album progresses. Mayberry may not employ a great deal of new tools in her arsenal, apart from production tricks, but continues to sharpen what she has been doing. Her growth comes more in the form of her lyrics. 

Abysmal Hymns: Chvrches : "Screen Violence"

1-Amigo the Devil -"Born Against"

After "Everything's Fine" the bar is pretty high going into this one. There is a bigger slicker production sometimes bringing more of a rock dynamic sometimes sounding like a drunk romp arounds the streets of New Orleans. His singing is more dynamic, and lyrics refined his sense of storytelling to bring fresh wallop to the punch of his songs here and worth many repeat listens. 

Abysmal Hymns: Amigo the Devil : "Born Against"

The Top 10 Folk / Country Albums of 2021

Feeling depressed? Need a soundtrack to sitting outside by yourself? This year's current crop of folk albums provided that. As with years past I sort through the genre lists before making the overall top ten of the year list. The fact these artists made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are, so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. After all we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. Sure, you can bitch and complain about your favorite band not being on the list. However, I listen to five new albums a day so yes, I heard your favorite album and was not impressed. No, I do not care what you think about it. I do hope you can find your next favorite on this list and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out audio on these guys. Anyways here are the top 10 folk and country albums of 2021

10-Harmony Woods - "Graceful Rage"

I was going to write if you wanted to hear what Dashboard Confessional would sound like if fronted by a girl, but I think we have already crossed that line with him. There is more of an honest folk feel to the songs penned with clever lyrics that do not get too bogged down in girl power. 

Abysmal Hymns: Harmony Woods : "Graceful Rage"

9- Emma Ruth Rundle - "Engine of Hell" 

After her collaborations with Thou it makes sense that she would need to strip things down to simpler terms and just record more introspective songs with a piano and guitar. The guitar-oriented songs are the stronger of the two, as the piano ones are too delicate for her own good, but even this exercise in getting back to basics is better than most can do. 

Abysmal Hymns: Emma Ruth Rundle : " Engine of Hell"

 

8-Lana Del Rey - " Chemtrails Over the Country Club

Mood wise this album makes me think she has been paying attention to Taylor Swift's quarantine output. Sure, there are some familiar sounds though these are piano based ballads that shine most when they find their dreamy grooves that have been dialed back through a filter of Xanax.

Abysmal Hymns: Lana Del Rey : "Chemtrails Over of the Country Club"

7- Sturgill Simpson - "the Ballad of Dood & Juanita" 

Oddly not the only bluegrass concept album on the list this year. Banjo plays a big role as Simpson digs in with a more back hills melody. At times he picks and grins his way into more traditional commercial country if we are talking about the 60s and 70s thought with less cross over radio aspirations. The story is about a guy named Dood is not clear, but the songwriting holds up to the bar Simpson has set for himself..

Abysmal Hymns: Sturgill Simpson : " The Ballad of Dood & Juanita"

 

6- Wardruna - "Kvitravn" 

A folk album so entrenched in ancient tribalism it would be easy to get lost in the ritualistic nature of the sounds and not be aware of the songs. That is not the case here. They have taken a page from Dead Can Dance in this regard. There is a sense of movement that creates a primal groove and layers added to create dynamics. This is the band's first album on a major label, Columbia Records. This is no way has caused them to try to make music more accessible to western audiences.

Abysmal Hymns: Wardruna : "Kvitravn"

5-the Killers - "Pressure Machine" 

 This is an interesting time in their career to check them out as they peaked popularity wise so that gives them more room to play around with what they do. It seems here on their 7th album they have decided to do just that write a folk-rock album about Flower's childhood in the heartland. Harmonica driven ballads is not what they are known for so imagine my surprise finding this out. I do have a thing for artists and their weird phases like disco Kiss and new wave Alice Cooper, so add country Killers to the list.                

Abysmal Hymns: the Killers : "Pressure Machine"

4-Dust Mountain -"Hymns For Wilderness" 

This is darker folk rock with a 60s vibe and understated female vocals. A side project of Toni from Oranssi Pazuzu that creates organically hypnotic sonics not unlike places Swans tapped into. The vocals are being handled by his sister and even the drummer from Hex Vessel is behind the kit for this project, it is so. hypnotic that while left to play the songs glide by rather easy on your ears,

 Abysmal Hymns: Dust Mountain - "Hymns For Wilderness"

3-Bridge City Sinners - "Unholy Hymns" 

There is a great deal of maturation in the evolution of this band on many levels. Production wise to songwriting. This doesn't sound like a bunch of train hopping punks with banjos. What has been sacrificed in terms of the raw grit they once had has been replaced by a lusher sound and wider range of influences. Namely this vaudevillian jazz that gives these songs more of a swing.

Abysmal Hymns: Bridge City Sinners : "Unholy Hymns"

2-Rome - "Parlez-vous Hate"

 Long time fans might feel the neo folk project is selling out by not making the kind of bleakly obtuse that put them in line for Death in June's throne. It does seem like these songs were written with breaking through in the America. There is even a song that kind of parodies Bruce Springteen's "Born in the USA" But all the above works for me as it is very hooky and concisely written songs.

Abysmal Hymns: Rome : "Parlez-vous Hate"

1-Amigo the Devil -"Born Against"

After "Everything's Fine" the bar is pretty high going into this one. There is a bigger slicker production sometimes bringing more of a rock dynamic sometimes sounding like a drunk romp arounds the streets of New Orleans. His singing is more dynamic, and lyrics refined his sense of storytelling to bring fresh wallop to the punch of his songs here and worth many repeat listens. 

Abysmal Hymns: Amigo the Devil : "Born Against"

the Top 10 Albums of 2021 ...so Far

Normally I have this busted out before June is over, but life happens I got the metal one out earlier, it  has given me  more time to sit with these albums.  This list is not to say that the album's that were on the metal list do not hold their own against these, this list is just the top 10 albums that are not metal, you will see how they stack up against the metal ones in December when I make the overall top ten for the year and at this rate December will be here before we know it. What makes them the best is how much I actually listen to them. I guess we will see how these albums hold up over the course of the year.  I am posting links to the reviews if you want to check these albums out .

10- Dinosaur Jr - "Sweep it Into Space" 

Decades later these guys continue to defend their sonic legacy. This goes to show you do not have to fuck with what works and can still not put out the same album each time. 

Abysmal Hymns: Dinosaur Jr : "Sweep It into Space"

9- Cold Cave- "Fate in Seven Lessons"

It's been 10 years since the last full length from this "band" , so we will take what ever we can get. The opening track leads you to believe we are one step further in this progression into darkness chronicled in the 2018 ep . 

Abysmal Hymns: Cold Cave: "Fate In Seven Lessons"

 8-Rome - " Parlez- vous Hate" 

Long time fans might feel the neo folk project is selling out by not making the kind of bleakly obtuse that put them in line for Death in June's throne. It does seem like these songs were written with breaking through in the America. There is even a song that kind of parodies Bruce Springteen's "Born in the USA" But all the above works for me 

Abysmal Hymns: Rome : "Parlez-vous Hate"

7-St. Vincent-"Daddy's Home" 

A drastic change for her. The angular Bowie like guitar is missing and has been replaced for a more soulful Prince like vibe. It takes multiple listens for this to fully sink in for me. If you think about it I guess this might be her Young Americans album.

Abysmal Hymns: St. Vincent : " Daddy's Home"

6-Perturbator- "Lustful Sacraments" 

Things have changed for this French synth wave project. It has been a logical progression from album to album. But this marks the first time I have thought now this is a cool song. Much like a great deal of the current crop of synth wave the largely instrumental sub genre tended to focus on capturing synth sounds of yester year and melding them into something not unlike the " Blade Runner" soundtrack .

Abysmal Hymns: Perturbator : "Lustful Sacraments"

5-Justin Bieber - "Justice" 

Here is an album that I did not review for this blog as the Weeknd and Post Malone have been where I have drawn the line with pop, which might be unfair to the Biebs, because there is not really much of a difference between them. This is a great pop record and he is proving himself a better songwriter than those two with this one , if I keep the suspension of disbelief that there was not an army of producers on this one.  

 

4-Gary Numan - "Intruder" 

 At 63  who would have guessed Numan would be making some of the best music of his career at this late in the game. I really liked his last album "Savage" it was less future pop and more industrial. The same can be said of this one , but the mood is darker and compositions more lushly colored.  His voice sounds great, granted he using a more nuanced and softer approach. 

Abysmal Hymns: Gary Numan : "Intruder"

3-The Pretty Reckless - "Death By Rock n Roll" 

After 12 years at this they have perfected their craft and created a cool smoky slab of blues cooked rock songs with plenty of hooks to them

Abysmal Hymns: the Pretty Reckless : "Death By Rock N Roll"

2-Pale Waves - " Who Am I?  " 

I still listen to their last album "My Mind Makes Noises" , and have been looking forward to this one. From the singles leading up to this albums release I was beginning to hear some 90s radio influence . When I actually put the album on it flows much closer to we heard from them without being redundant and still showing growth.

Abysmal Hymns: Pale Waves : "Who Am I"

1- Amigo the Devil -"Born Against" 

After "Everything's Fine" the bar is pretty high going into this one. It opens with a bigger slicker production sound which along with strings and a more ballad like mood is the biggest change. The first song shifts into more of a rock dynamic when it builds. His voice has really improved here as well.

Abysmal Hymns: Amigo the Devil : "Born Against"

Amigo the Devil : "Born Against"

After "Everything's Fine" the bar is pretty high going into this one. It opens with a bigger slicker production sound which along with strings and a more ballad like mood is the biggest change. The first song shifts into more of a rock dynamic when it builds. His voice has really improved here as well. There is a drunken streets of New Orleans feel to "Quiet as a Rat". Lyrically it is darker than the more reflective tone of the first song. Darker is what I want from him when it comes to the lyrics. Questioning religion is always a good topic. He does it in a very grounded manner. I really like the tension to " Murder at the Bingo Hall". He throws in a lot of new sounds on this one. The are more blatant lyrically moments that would make this fall into being murder ballads. The fact that is is grim in his tongue and cheek manner works for me really well. 

There is more of a country tone to the short ditty "Better Ways to Fry a Fish" . "Different Anymore" feels the most like it could be off the previous album . I like the slicker production. There might be some who wish it was just Danny and a banjo. The last album was more well produced than your average murder folk album.  It is clear he retains his touch when it comes to song writing. Perhaps these are told more like stories and less hooky, but whatever he is doing here works. Lyrically there are still a great deal of zingers on here.  "24k Casket" feels like it echoes the same sentiment as  "Everyone Dies" . Lyrically it returns   to the same topic. His delivery is also fairly similar. 

"Shadow" also recalls the feel of his earlier work, less so than the previous song. It has more drunken swagger to it . It is also one of this album's sonically darker songs. The album closes with "Letter From Deathrow" . Is a bitter sweet banjo ballad. It works for what he does . It is almost not fair to weigh it against "Everything is Fine" , if forced to rank them I would put this one behind "Everything's Fine" , but it is still excellent in it's own right and will likely go down as one of the year's best albums. When it comes to country and folk it really has little that comes close as competition. If it takes the number one spot depends on if Tyler Childers puts out a new one, and if Childres can deliver like last time. So I am giving this one a 10.  

the Top 10 Folk / Country Albums of the Decade

The decade began before this blog was started , I can not just rely on sorting through previous reviews. I am just embedding video clips to support the reasoning for these albums to be listed as such, since I already did a best of the year list for each sub-genre. This is a sub-genre that split off from my pop . Country and Folk fi together best as I have very specific tastes when it comes to those genres .Perhaps  this is not going to be  the most hipster of the lists that say Vice puts out, what matters is the fact; these are the albums I listened to the most. Any ways here are the Top 10 Power  metal  albums of the decade.

10- Strangeweather- "s/t" 2015 







9-Death In June- "Essence" 2018




 





8- the Decemberists -- 'the King is Dead"- 2011




 




 7- Chelsea Wolfe - "Unknown Rooms" 2012




 



  6- Twin Bandit- "For You" 2015











5-Marissa Nadler-"For My Crimes" 2018











4- Lana Del Rey - Norman Fucking Rockwell"2019




 





3-  Amigo the Devil - "Everything is Fine" - 2018



 




2- Ryan Adams- "1989" 2015



 



1-Chris Stapleton- "the Traveller" 2015

Gothtober -Live Review : Twin Temple, King Dude & Amigo the Devil @ the Masquerade

This was one of the first shows in some time where I was excited   to catch all of the bands on the bill . Twin Temple was stage when we walked in to a larger than expected crowd.It was fitting this show was set on the Hell stage of the Masquerade.  Their theatrical performance did not diminish the emphasis on the music. In fact their backing band was formidable, going off into jams when the sequined duo would go into the more ritualistic side of their stage show. The crowd was really into them, especially the climax of the show where the singer went into the crowd to anoint them with blood.

King Dude took the stage  and announced that he had come to ruin our evening by singing the saddest songs he could think of.  He was accompanied by a percussionist playing a pad of triggered drum samples. He was very engaging with the audience. When he could not hear himself in the monitors he said “It’s because I am deaf from playing all this acoustic music” . He played a little from each album some of the highlights were a darker version of “ Spiders In Her Hair , “Witch’s Hammer “ and “Jesus in the Courtyard”. When he let the audience pick the song it was  “Lucifer’s The Light of the World “ that won by virtue of girl who requested it being hot. He had to shame someone for yelling “Free Bird”. At several points in the set he brought up the fact he was tired from driving a long way, but then suggested they go out to the Clairmont after the show, which in fact after hanging out after the show proved to be a plan that was set in motion. His voice sounded great and I appreciate the fact that he does not try to replicate the album versions  of songs.

Danny came on and began talking about depression and how it was something he learned to live with and not see as a flaw. He also pointed out that the set list was written on the back of the dozen shot glasses on the drum riser and he would drink one before playing the song. He opened with “Cocaine and Abel” . Half of his set consisted of songs from “Everything is Fine”  <>Earlier in the set he played a cover of Tom Jones “Delilah”  and then worked in snippets of Carrie Underwood’s “ Before He Cheats” along with pop songs “Old Town Road” and “Pony”. He talked about when he was in high-school is listened to everything from harsh noise to pop, adding he was really into Meatloaf. Apparently this made him less than popular. But in defense of pop music for what it is , which is fun, he compared it to a water slide saying” A water slide is not art , it is just fun”. He said there should not be guilty pleasures you just listen to what you like.  Given my professed love for the likes of Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift I can appreciate those sentiments.  

The covers did not stop there, he also played “All Star” by Smash Mouth, the audience  sang in unison, as he played along before going into “Husband” . Before the encore he played around with the chorus to Slayer’s “Angel of Death” , just the chorus because he said the verses are sketchy as well as Dio’s “Holy Diver”. When it came to encores , Danny said he hates them so  walked to the other end of the stage and walked back to the mic . All of the acts gushed about the camaraderie on tour. Kind Dude even said from the stage he would like for it not end and move in with them. It was a refreshing juxtaposition to see artists playing dark and depressing music who did not take themselves so seriously.

My girlfriend put this show in her top three of all time. I’ve seen David Bowie, Pink Floyd and Motorhead , so that is a pretty high bar. I can say this might go in my top three most engaging and honest exchanges with the audience. As stripped down as a show could be.  If this tour comes through your town, do not miss it. I never recommend something as strongly as I will tell you to make sure you catch this show. I am guessing you at least have a passing interest in these acts or you would have clicked on this review so there you go.

Mix Tape Mania : the Acoustic Version

Despite the fact that I took my meds later in the day than I should have making me extra neurotic, ER I can not do anything in moderation. You ask me what are some good acoustic acts, and rather than make a list like normal people do, I have to make a playlist. Thus another mix tape is born. Since there are no such things as tapes anymore this cyber version will have to do. This is a blend of old and new . By old I mean from the 90s at earliest. By new it just came out this year. In some cases this week. Acoustic music is not different from anything else I listen to as in it will still at least have a dark undertone to it , if not be out right depressing. These are a few favorites of mine tossed in with the current crop of singer songwriters. Hope you enjoy. 

Brendan Perry - "Death Will Be My Bride"


 

Amigo the Devil - "Cocaine & Abel"

 

 King Dude - "Deal With the Devil"

 

 Chelsea Wolfe - "American Darkness"


 

 Conny Ochs- "King of the Dead"

 

 PJ Harvey - "Send his Love to Me"


 

 The Decemberists - "the Bachelor and the Bride"

 

 Marissa Nadler - "Estranged"


 

 Ani Difranco -"Swan Dive"


 

Lyle Lovett-"Simple Song"