2011 Album of the Year – Slackeye Slim’s “El Santo Grial…”
First off, I want to give recognition to the other two candidates for the Saving Country Music 2011 Album of the Year. Austin Lucas‘s album A New Home in the Old World is excellent, and probably my “favorite” album of the year, meaning the one I’ve listened to the most. Twang Nation named it their Top Pick of 2011, and I can’t argue with that. And Hellbound Glory won last year, and was nominated this year for the superb Damaged Goods, and with the strength of Leroy Virgil’s songwriting there’s no reason to think that every year they put out an album, they’ll be the perennial frontrunner for the award.
In the end though, you can’t deny the masterpiece, the magnum opus that is Slackeye Slim‘s El Santo Grial, La Pistola Piadosa. This was one of those years when one artist shot the moon, released an album that was years and years in the making, tirelessly and patiently crafted, and so bold in it’s vision and goal that it just can’t be denied.
I’ll start by admitting to it’s shortcomings, one of which is not to say it is some rehashed, spaghetti-Western soundtrack as some might conclude after a quick sniff, or not listening into the second half. What it is saddled with is a lack of accessibility, and accessibility is something that ideally a Saving Country Music Album of the Year would have, to act as an ambassador for what independent / underground country can be. Also ideally this award would go to an artist or band that spends more time out on the road, that is taking more risk for the music so they may be in a better position to benefit from accolades.
But it is not like Slackeye Slim is some newcomer studio wizard with no skins. He been around as long as most, and participated in the now legendary “Murder in the Mountains” tours in Montana which went a long way in forging a true underground network in country and roots music. And even though this album may not be accessible from a traditional standpoint, by defying genre or label, it broadens it’s audience beyond preconceived pockets of appeal. I can see folks who just like good music of any form really getting into this album, because it may not just be the best in 2011 in regards to independent country and roots or the country and roots worlds in general, it may be one of the best in all of music.
Any mild concerns one might have with El Santo Grial can be immediately swept off the table by it’s overwhelming strengths; the strength of songwriting, the grand vision and approach, the arrangement and instrumentation. Graham Lindsey should also be given special recognition for helping with this album. El Santo Grial sets such a high bar, it may be years before something impresses us like this again, and you have to go back years, for me all the way back to Hank3’s Straight to Hell in 2006 to find a rival, or peer.
I’ve given many albums two guns up, and have and will hand out many Albums of the Year. But there’s only two albums I’ve reviewed that I’ve ever felt confident enough to refer to as masterpieces, and Slackeye Slim’s El Santo Grial, La Pistola Piadosa is one.
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January 2, 2012 @ 9:48 am
Great pick, and very well deserved.
January 2, 2012 @ 9:58 am
This is a great pick. I have known slackeye slim for a long time and he makes music like no other. I couldn’t imagine a better artist to win album of the year. Congrats to Slim and great choice trigger
January 2, 2012 @ 12:30 pm
Some great albums out there this year, but you picked the best.
January 2, 2012 @ 3:06 pm
Every person I have tried to turn El Santo Grial on for has been blown away. Really an awesome piece of work that deserves every accolade it gets, not because Joe gets chills from the praise, but because more people will thereby be exposed to this awe inspiring piece of creativity.
January 3, 2012 @ 1:22 am
Scott H. Biram has an album of the year. He’s PUT into IT for a long time too. And never fails to define on record the essence of what he does.
January 3, 2012 @ 9:58 am
Biram’s “Bad Ingredients” is excellent, and I wouldn’t argue with anyone who told me it was their favorite all year. But when you boil it down, it’s a blues album, and though I wouldn’t rule out a blues album ever winning the award, it’s going to have to fight an uphill battle against the country ones. just gotta stay true to the name of the site.
January 3, 2012 @ 7:09 am
spaghetti western soundtracks as an art form isn’t a bad thing. having spent many a night sitting in drive-in theaters drinking cheap jug wine and chasing women way back when i grew fond of the genre. this LP is as about as close as you’re going to get to the original. good choice. too bad hank 3 didn’t do more mariachi/polka stuff on ‘ghost to ghost’. it might have been a contender.
January 3, 2012 @ 8:56 am
I’d have to agree with Austin Lucas’ being my favorite of the year. I had never even heard of the guy until you nominated “new home” for album of the year and now I can’t stop listening to it. Some of my other favorites were Scott H. Biram, Goddamn Gallows, Little Lisa Dixie, Dirt Daubers, Hank 3, and Rachel Brooke. I can’t really argue with the choice for slackeye slim, though. El santo grial is something else. Great year for music all around.
January 6, 2012 @ 1:06 pm
will grag this without sampling because i was really highly impressed by some of your essential listening recommandations:
The Boomswagglers, Ugly Valley Boys, The Dirt Daubers, Lucky Tubb.
My favorites albums were Zoe Muth, Lauderdale, Ray Lawrence, Casey James Prestwood and an album that really blowed me away, the latest Fred Eaglesmith; “6 Volts”.
thanks for all the good recs. !
June 12, 2012 @ 7:31 pm
Ok I will give it a shot. I have reservations. I did not care for Texas whore pleaser. But I respect the options expressed here. You were dead on with the Ugly Valley Boys and Sunday Valley.