December 31, 2003

2003 TAM Music Awards

I know you've been waiting for this all year. The TAM Music Awards are here.

1. Unclassified Robert Randolph and the Family Band Guitar fans, we have found ourselves a new god. While sitting behind his pedal steel guitar sounds remanisent of Hendrix, Allman, and Satriani spill out on his listeners. But while you can here the past in his "sacred steel" the sounds are distinctively all Robert Randolph. Notes bounce, cry, and sing on songs like "Going in the Right Direction, "Good Times," "Run for Your Life," and the wonderful "I Need More Love." The Family Band's rhythm section of Danyel Morgan on bass and Marcus Randolph on drums are tight and bring bring a solid dose of funk to the music. The only drawback to Unclassified are the sugar-sweet, forgettable ballads "Soul Refreshing" and "Smile." But that's the price you pay for guitar work touched by a higher power.

2. Day I Forgot Pete Yorn
   The sophomore slump was the big question with Yorn's second album. Since it made this list, I don't think it was a letdown. What Yorn did on Day was turn up the pop factor with some great hooks on songs like "Crystal Village," "Long Way Down," and "Come Back Home." Some may compare Yorn to Bruce Springsteen. I think he sounds more like the Eagles. Both comparisons put too much on the guy. Here's hoping he continues to make good, honest, pop rock.

3. New York City The Peter Malick Group Featuring Norah Jones
   This EP probably wouldn't have been release if not for Jones' huge, award-winning debut, Come with Me. The story behind this recording is guitarist Peter Malick heard Jones singing in a New York club in 2000. He asked her to record some songs and perform with his band. The result is proof that Norah can go beyond pop standards and jazz. On "Deceptively Yours" and "All Your Love" Jones pulls out a sexy, smokey blues. On "Strange Transmissions" and "Things You Don't Have to Do" she rocks. When you give a great singer great songs with a great band you end up with a great recording. That's just what New York City is.

4. De-Loused in the Comatorium The Mars Volta
   Progressive rock never died, it just faded away only to be taken up by former members of the cult-fave At the Drive-In. A way to describe De-Loused is a hybrid of Rush with Husker-Du. It has hardcore crunch and energy with epic musical composition. De-Loused is a concept album, but I'd be damned to know what the story is. Normally that would turn me off, but the music is so mesmerising. Guitars and drums are going as 100-miles an hour. The vocals remind me so much of Geddy Lee's helium voice. The album echoes Rush, but this is nothing like what the Canadian power trio would put out. It's punk, hardcore, and thrash metal touched with oodles of cerebral maddness.

5. Martin Scorses Presents the Blues
   Without the blues our pop music would be so much different. There wouldn't have been Motown. No Led Zeppelin. No Jimi Hendrix. No Rolling Stones. No Beatles. It seems a little unfair to have a huge collection of timeless songs compete with new stuff that came out this past year. Too bad. The box set along with the oodles of individual CDs make for a great understanding and appreciation for a great American artform.