Picking the best folk and Americana records of the year isn't nearly as hard as discarding those great records that just didn't feel right stuck in the category.
Releases by Calexico and DeVotchKa felt far too worldly to pigeonhole as folk or country, for instance, while Blitzen Trapper's fantastic Furr smells more like the Kinks than Neil Young. [Editor's note: That's why we put it on our indie-rock list.] We likewise discarded Shearwater's near-masterpiece Rook, despite the fact that the albu
Isaac HayesHot Buttered Soul (Stax)Forget "Chef," "South Park," and all that Scientology bullshit. Isaac Hayes died last summer. If we're to remember him for just one thing, let it be Hot Buttered Soul.The landmark 1969 LP has been remastered and gussied up with bonus tracks. There are also new liner notes by My Morning Jacket's Jim James. "Hot Buttered Soul" dropped June 23 to celebrate its 40th anniversary. Will anyone be celebrating South Park's 40th? Doubtful.The record ranks as one of the m
​On Friday, August 21, Col. Bruce Hampton will bring his inspired, improvisation rock to Revolution in Fort Lauderdale. He's a jam band hero who helped form the highly influential '90s H.O.R.D.E. tours. With H.O.R.D.E., he employed future jam band all-stars Oteil Burbridge (Allman Brothers Band), Jimmy Herring (Widespread Panic) as well as numerous others. But Hampton doesn't quite make into in our Jam Band God Pantheon. Sorry. Hit the hookah, peruse our tally, and if you still have any energy
