MY TOP 10 ALBUMS 1988-2003

This Friday in Terrell's Tune-up, I'll unveil ny Top 10 CDs of the year. It should be on The New Mexican's web site as well as this blog. Sunday night on Terrell's Sound World (10 p.m. Mountain Time on KSFR, 90.7 FM, I'll be playing selections from the best-of list.

In anticipation of these dynamic events, I decided to republish my top 10 lists from last year going back to 1988, which is when I started compiling them.

I realize it seems a little obsessive, but what the heck. Enjoy.

2003
Electric Version by the New Pornographers
Blackberry Belle by the Twilight Singers
Youth & Young Manhood by Kings of Leon
Speaker Boxxx/The Love Below by Outkast
Elephant by the White Stripes
Growl by Ray Wylie Hubbard
The Wind by Warren Zevon
Rediscovered by Howard Tate
Decoration Day by the Drive-By Truckers
Fever to Tell by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs

2002
Souljacker by the Eels
When I Was Cruel by Elvis Costello
One Beat by Sleater-Kinney
Now Again by The Flatlanders
Handcream for a Generation by Cornershop
Honky by Simon Stokes
Cow Fish Fowl or Pig by The Gourds
Deep Natural by Michelle Shocked
Holidays in Dirt by Stan Ridgway
OOOH by the Mekons

2001
O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack by various artists
Southern Rock Opera by Drive-By Truckers
Temporary Shelter by Johnny Dowd
Love & Theft by Bob Dylan
No More Shall We Part by Nick Cave
A Man Under the Influence by Alejandro Escovedo
White African by Otis Taylor
Is This It by The Strokes
Twilight by The Handsome Family
Because We Hate You by The Young Fresh Fellows/Let the War Against Music Begin by The Minus Five

2000
Kids in Philly by Marah.
If I Could Only Fly by Merle Haggard.
Stories of the City, Stories of the Sea by P.J. Harvey.
Journey to the End of Night by The Mekons.
Transcendental Blues by Steve Earle
Twilight by The Twilight Singers.
Gung Ho by Patti Smith.
Heartbreaker by Ryan Adams.
Two Against Nature by Steely Dan.
Blood and Mood by Bad Livers.

1999
Mule Variations by Tom Waits
Pictures From Life's Other Side by Johnny Dowd
Dose by Latin Playboys
The Soft Bulletin by Flaming Lips
Salivation by Terry Allen
Mock Tudor by Richard Thompson
Press on by June Carter Cash
Summer Teeth by Wilco
Midnight Vultures by Beck
Fellow Workers by Utah Phillips & Ani DiFranco.

1998
1965 by Afghan Whigs
Car Wheels on a Gravel Road by Lucinda Williams
Perennial Favorites by Squirrel Nut Zippers
Tomorrow Hit Today by Mudhoney
Mermaid Avenue by Billy Bragg & Wilco
Full Service No Waiting by Peter Case
Deserters’ Songs by Mercury Rev
Hell Among the Yearlings by Gillian Welch
Territory by Alvin Youngblood Hart
Give Me Immortality or Give Me Death by Firesign Theatre


1997
El Corazon by Steve Earle
Cowboy in Flames by The Waco Brothers
Songs From The Capeman by Paul Simon
Stranger's Almanac by Whiskeytown
Butch by The Geraldine Fibbers
The Pawn Shop Years Buick MacKane
Devotion + Doubt by Richard Buckner
24 Hours a Day by The Bottle Rockets
Throwing Rocks at the Moon by The Backsliders
Slush by OP8

1996
Murder Ballads by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Gone Again by Patti Smith
I Feel Allright by Steve Earle
Being There by Wilco
Just Rockin' and Rollin' by Ronnie Dawson
A Ass Pocket of Whiskey by R.L. Burnside (with the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion)
Black Love by The Afghan Whigs
Human Remains by Terry Allen
Dance Hall at Louse Point by John Parrish & P.J. Harvey
Mahk Jchi by Ulali

1995
To Bring You My Love by P.J. Harvey
The Snake by Shane MacGowan and the Popes
Washing Machine by Sonic Youth
Mirror Ball by Neil Young & Pearl Jam
Work the Dumb Oracle by Drywall
Trace by Son Volt
Day For Night by The Tragically Hip
Ray Gun Suitcase by Pere Ubu
Lost Somewhere Between the Earth and My Home by The Geraldine Fibbers
The Ghost of Tom Joad by Bruce Springsteen

1994
Let Love In by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Live Through This by Hole
Glum by Giant Sand
Whiskey For the Holy Ghost by Mark Lannegan
Geek the Girl by Lisa Germano
Mellow Gold by Beck
Latin Playboys
American Recordings by Johnny Cash
Retreat from Memphis by The Mekons
Strangers From The Universe by Thinking Fellers Union Local 282

1993
Gentlemen by The Afghan Whigs
Rid of Me by P.J. Harvey
In Utero by Nirvana
Where You Been? by Dinosaur Jr.
Mercury by American Music Club
The Beauty of Wynona by Daniel Lanois
The Black Rider by Tom Waits
Last Splash by The Breeders
Hey Zeus! by X
Beaster by Sugar

1992
Bone Machine by Tom Waits
Kiko by Los Lobos
Magic and Loss by Lou Reed
Dirty by Sonic Youth
3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of ... by Arrested Development
Congregation by The Afghan Whigs
Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell by Social Distortion
You Turn Me On by The Beat Happening
History by Loudon Wainwright III
Angel Dust by Faith No More

1991
Metallica
Bad Motorfinger by Soundgarden
Trumpe de Monde by The Pixies
8 Way Santa by TAD
Big Shot in the Dark by Timbuk 3
Midnight Rose's by Royal Crescent Mob
Within the Veil by Fear of God
Achtung Baby by U2
Lovelyville by Thinking Fellers Union Local 282
Out of Time by REM

1990
Bloodletting by Concrete Blonde
I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got by Sinead O'Connor
Goo by Sonic Youth
Ragged Glory by Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Flood by They Might Be Giants
Ritual Lo Habitual by Jane's Addiction
Fear of a Black Planet by Public Enemy
Brick by Brick by Iggy Pop
The Hard Way by Steve Earle
Rhythm of the Saints by Paul Simon

1989
Spike by Elvis Costello
New York by Lou Reed
Mosquitos by Stan Ridgway
Tantilla by House of Freaks
Too Long in the Wasteland by James McMurtry
Yellow Moon by The Neville Brothers
Indigo Girls
Mystery Girl by Roy Orbison
Passion by Peter Gabriel
Neither Fish nor Flesh by Terrance Trent D'Arby

1988

Brian Wilson
Land of Dreams by Randy Newman
Naked by Talking Heads
The Traveling Willburys
Shopping by 3 Mustaphas 3
Dream of Life by Patti Smith
Sangoma by Miriam Makeba
Amnesia by Richard Thompson
If I Should Fall From the Grace of God by The Pogues
Lovesexy by Prince

HOTSY TOTSY: MORE ON THE LITTLE NAZIS

The Daily Kos has picked up on my post about the little racist, uh, I mean "racialist" twin music act Prussian Blue. Check it out HERE. (Thanks again, Margot ...)

And I might have forgotten to mention, it also appeared a few days ago on The 18 1/2 Minute Gap blog. Check that one out HERE

Meanwhile, my original post continues to draw more responses than any other post in the brief history of this blog. (Hey! I just realized that today is the first anniversary of Stephen W. Terrell's Web Log!) 40 comments last time I checked. I wish my newspaper columns and radio play lists got this much reaction.

After reading all those comments, many readers of this blog are -- rightfully -- amazed that here in the 21st Century there are actually Americans whose main concern is the impending "demise" of the White Man, a situation they feel can best be cured by suppression of other races. These "White Power" types are actually threatened by the "multi-cultural stew" of modern America.

Don't get me wrong. I love white people. Some of my best friends are white. Hank Williams was white. Elvis Presley was white. Rodney Dangerfield was white. Ooops, he was Jewish. That probably doesn't count with the National Socialist crowd.

But as for this "multi-cultural stew" business, when I was a kid in Oklahoma -- hardly a hotbed for progressive thought -- we used to have a sing a corny little song called "An American is a Very Lucky Man." My favorite verse went like this:

An American is a very lucky guy
He can eat chow mein or borscht or pizza pie ...

I don't like borscht. I prefer tacos. But hopefully you get the point.

And by the way, I was delivered into this world by a bonafide Jewish doctor, so anti-Semite crap doesn't fly around here.

And as a music geek, I can't imagine American music without James Brown, John Coltrane, Flaco Jimenez, Muddy Waters, Lieber & Stoller and so many others who don't fit into the "Master Race" concept.

Life's too short for hate.

TERRELL'S SOUND WORLD PLAYLIST

Sunday, December 26, 2004
KSFR, Santa Fe, N.M.
Now Webcasting
10 p.m. to midnight Sundays Mountain Time
Host: Steve Terrell

OPENING THEME: Let it Out (Let it All Hang Out) by The Hombres
There's a Moon Out Tonight by The Capris
Jimi Hendrix Polka by Brave Combo
Grease Box by TAD
Start Choppin' by Dinsosaur Jr.
Heart Shaped Box by Nirvana
Bastards of Young by The Replacements
Don't Break Me Down by The Donnas
Within a Martian Heart by Man or Astroman?

Low Self Opinion by The Rollins Band
Youth Against Fascism by Sonic Youth
The KKK Took My Baby Away by The Ramones
Nazi Girlfriend by Iggy Pop
White Man in Hammersmith Palais by The Clash
Evil Hearted Ada by The Flamin' Groovies
Muffin Man by Frank Zappa with Captain Beefheart
Build High by Frank Black

She May Be White But She Funky by Howard Tate
Pull Your Clothes Off by Junior Kimbrough
Meet Me In The City by The Blues Explosion
Big Mama's Bumble Bee Blues by Big Mama Thornton
Let Me Down Easy by Betty Lavette
Let the Door Knob Hit You in the Back by Butterbeans & Susie

Falling Elevators by MC 900 Ft. Jesus
Look Out There's a Monster Coming by The Bonzo Dog Band
Go by Sparklehorse with The Flaming Lips
Make It Rain by Tom Waits
Her Tears Break My Heart by Bernadette Seacrest
I Love Her, She Loves Me by NRBQ
My True Story by The Jive Five
CLOSING THEME: Over the Rainbow by Jerry Lee Lewis

MERRY CHRISTMAS, MY FRIENDS!!!!!

Here's to a happy holiday for all my buddies and blog readers.

And my Christmas wish: Everyone should take to heart the psychedlic wisdom of the old motto of The Family Dog in San Francisco: "MAY THE BABY JESUS SHUT YOUR MOUTH AND OPEN YOUR MIND."

TERRELL'S TUNEUP: THE CHURCH OF BUDDY

As published in The Santa Fe New Mexican
Dec. 24, 2004

The world of alternative country, whatever that is, has produced few, if indeed any, more soulful voices than that of Buddy Miller.

I’m hardly the first to note this. It’s hard to find any review of Miller that doesn’t employ the words “soul” or “soulful.”

But there’s a reason for that. Each one of his albums over the course of the last decade are full of songs that cut right to the core with their sincerity and hard-won truth. With his world-weary drawl, Miller sounds like someone who doesn’t sit down and sing a song until he’s lived it from every side.

Miller’s latest, Universal United House of Prayer, is no different -- except that it might just be his strongest work yet.

Named after an actual church in the Nashville area, this record is the closest thing to pure gospel music Miller has ever recorded. No, it’s not quite holy rolling. Not all of the songs specifically name check God or Jesus or quote scripture (though drummer Brady Blade reads a psalm in the background of “Don‘t Wait.”)

But throughout the album there are lyrics of spiritual yearning. This, along with the background vocals of Regina and Ann McCrary -- daughters of the Rev. Sam McCrary of The Fairfield Four -- make Universal United House of Prayer a religious experience.

There’s a couple of fine cover tunes on Universal United. He takes Ira and Charlie Louvin’s “There’s a Higher,” adds some funky percussion (courtesy of Brady Blade and Steve Hindalong), sweet fiddle by Tammy Rogers and call-and-response vocals from the McCrary sisters to make the song sound ancient and modern at the same time.

Then there’s the 9-minute, slow-burning version of Bob Dylan’s Cold War classic “With God on Our Side.” backed by a tremelo guitar, a churchy organ (by Phil Madeira) and martial drums, Miller sounds like the Universal Soldier himself, damning war and nationalism from a throne in the sky.

(At one point there it seemed like all these old protest tunes were quaint and dated. Unfortunately that’s no longer true. Last month a bunch of kids in Boulder, Colo. Became the subject of an FBI investigation when local right-wingers didn’t like them performing Dylan’s “Masters of War” at a high school talent show.)

Ultimately though, the most enduring songs on this album are the ones written by Miller and/or his wife Julie.

“Fire and Water,” written by the couple, is a song about Julie Miller’s brother, who died shortly before the album was recorded. More upbeat is “Don’t Wait,” in which Miller’s Creedence-like guitar is out front and the McCrarys get full of the spirit.

Miller’s guitar is even more swampy, in fact, downright spooky on “Is That You,” a slow, bouncy full-force call to God.

The voices -- Miller and the McCrarys -- are even more out front on the concluding track, “Fall on the Rock,” a Julie-penned gospel shouter that warns, “You better fall on the rock or the rock’s gonna fall on you.”

In short, Universal United House of Prayer is a record full of joy, grief, faith and despair. If it doesn’t make you feel religious, it should at least make you feel very human.

Also Recommended:

*Lifeline by Iris DeMent. Iris DeMent? I thought she was dead ...

No, not really. During the past eight years or so, you can find her songs on a variety of soundtracks (The Horse Whisperer and Songcatcher to name a couple) and tribute albums (Jimmie Rodgers, Tom T. Hall) and dueting on records by John Prine, Tom Russell, Steve Earle and her husband Greg Brown.

But until now she hadn’t released an album of her own since 1996 when she gave the world her jaw-dropping “The Way I Should.”

But each impressive new guest appearance just fueled the burning question: “Where the hell is the new Iris album?”

A bad case of writer’s block, she’s said in interviews.

While her distinct, warbling voice is still in fine form, Lifeline doesn’t indicate whether or not DeMent has recovered from her writer’s block. All but one of the songs here are old traditional gospel tunes, many of them public domain.

These are mostly fondly-remembered songs from DeMent’s childhood, songs her mother used to sing.

In her liner notes DeMent writes, “These songs aren’t about religion. At least for me they aren’t. They’re about something bigger than that. There was a great urgency in my mother’s voice when she sang out that came out of desperation, a great need.” DeMent also talks about a “calmness” in her mother after singing.

Backed only by acoustic instruments -- sometimes just her piano -- these songs done her elicit a certain calmness also.

There are familiar hymns like “Sweet Hour of Prayer.” Before now I’d always considered this a rather gimpy song. But DeMent pours her soul into it, making it a powerful declaration.

There are obscure songs with odd and ominous titles like “I Don’t Want to Get Adjusted” (“I don’t want to get adjusted to this world, to this world/I’ve got a home that’s so much better …”) and “God Walks These Dark Hills.”

And there’s one DeMent original “He Reached Down,” in which she retells the Bible stories like the Good Samaritan and Jesus telling only those without sin to cast the first stone at an adulteress. This is her subtle way of saying that religion is not the sole property of right-wingers.

I hope this signals the end of DeMent’s writer’s block. As the writer of “Wasteland of the Free,” one of the most on-target protest songs of the ‘90s, she is needed.