MG&V – Daydreaming – SXSW 2010 from DUKE STREET on Vimeo.

I mentioned the new Deer Tick album last week and now I have some more Deer Tick-related news to share, here. Not much to say other than to tell you who is a part of this exciting new group of excellent lead men. Deer Tick’s John McCauley III, Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes and Delta Spirit’s Matt Vazquez make up this new group. This group’s so new, I cant really find any info outside of a few random blog posts about them (or maybe I’m just worthless). Check the video above, courtesy of Duke Street Blog, and keep your eyes peeled, as I’m sure there will be tons of ink, once the album is ready for release.

Look, Tiger is holding The Avett brother's trophy for them...

In year’s past, I haven’t done much a personal “Best-Of” list at year’s end. I have left that up to others, mainly due to the stress level inherent with such a task. This year, I contributed a list to multiple outlets, so I figure I would share my ballot with you here. What you see below is really a big group of my favorite albums, versus an actual list of albums I think are better than other albums. Over the course of the year, I listen to a few hundred records, easily. Rarely a day goes by where I don’t pop in a new disc that may or may not see some “ink” on this blog. From that large number of records, I actually enjoyed well over 100 of them, I imagine.

The sad fact of the matter, for many reasons, there were many records I liked that I never found the time to actually say much about here on The Gobblers Knob or over on Twangville. I said all that to say this. These 25 albums could’ve easily been higher or lower than they are here. On different days, I feel like certain choices were wrong, but this is what I’m going with…for now, at least.

1.  Avett Brothers – I and Love and You: Indie darling’s go big-time with major label and super-producer. The tight melodies and trademark, emotionally charged and poetic writing prove there was nothing to worry about.

2.  Phosphorescent - To Willie: Every tribute/covers album wants to be this one when they grow up. Matthew Houck made Willie’s songs his own while keeping the raw, real vibe intact.

Here are the rest of my favorites for the year (basically 3a – 3x)…

3.  Heartless Bastards – The Mountain
4.  Miranda Lambert – Revolution
5.  Allen Thompson – 26 years
6.  Telegraph Canyon – The Tide & The Current
7.  Deer Tick - Born on Flag Day
8.  Buddy & Julie Miller – Written in Chalk
9.  Ryan Bingham – Roadhouse Sun
10. Gina Villalobos – Days on Their Side
11.  Band of Heathens – One Foot in the Ether
12.  The Takers – Taker Easy
13.  Wilco – Wilco (The Album)
14.  Roman Candle – Oh Tall Tree In the Ear
15.  The O’s – We are The O’s
16.  Sons of Bill – One Town Away
17.  Drive by Truckers – The Fine Print
18.  The Gourds – Haymaker!
19.  Scott Warren – Quick Fix Bandage
20.  Patterson Hood - Murdering Oscar
21.   Charlie Robison – Beautiful Day
22.   Lucero - 1372 Overton Park
23.   Danny Balis - Too Much Living
24.   Chad Price – Smile Sweet Face
25.   Dawes – North Hills

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Hi, my name is Kelly and I am an eMusic addict. I thought I had left the dangerous and destructive world of subscription music service behind me, but I recently suffered a relapse of sickening and heartbreaking proportions. The album that is perhaps my favorite score from a recent bender is the latest LP from Cali’s Dawes (Official / Myspace), North Hills.

It’s been tough to miss this quartet in the recent music press. With write-ups in many pubs, including an endorsement in Rolling Stone, I am likely not going to shock you with any new thoughts or revelations on the band’s folk-rock vibe that has been sweetened by the sun-drenched honey of L.A.’s Laurel Canyon. Lo-fi without being gritty, the harmonies are unencumbered by slick production and remain easy-going throughout, especially in “Give Me Time”. Not all is as laid-back as you would think. “When My Time Comes” is a driving, bouncing sing-along anthem that likely represents what latter-day Kings of Leon would sound like if they weren’t so oily slick.