Saving Country Music’s 2010 Album(s) of The Year
I was planning on something special for yearly awards for 2010, maybe make up some bowling trophies for fun to hand out, or do some sort of live broadcast. But here it is Feb 2nd, and after all the XXX drama and a 10-day illness, it just feels like time to make some announcements, and leave any fanfare to the future.
As I said in the nominations, all four albums could have won on any given year, and simply by the strength of the 2010 field, they each were unfairly pitted against each other. But still, when all the dust settled, and many many fans voiced their feelings publicly and privately, I was still left with two albums that were both masterpieces, both great examples of real country, both accessible and great ambassadors for the independent country movement, and they both had more fans vote for them than any of the others, and in curiously equal numbers compared to each other.
So what is a benevolent dictator to do? Well it’s Super Bowl week, so I consulted the NFL. That’s right.
Twice in the history of the National Football League, there were two players that were so outstanding, the NFL handed out co-MVP awards, in 1997 and in 2003. And so since 2010 was such a rare year for top notch albums, and two separated from the pack but not from each other, I have decided to announce co-Albums of the Year for 2010. Those being the masterpieces of DeGuello Motel by Roger Alan Wade, and Hellbound Glory’s Old High’s and New Lows.
Spare me the drama, I will be the first to admit that Ray Wylie Hubbard’s A. Enlightenment and Possessed by Paul James Feed The Family got completely screwed. And you can lump on top of that Jayke Orvis’s It’s All Been Said. But in a year of such quality, such tragedies were bound to happen.
Congratulations to both Hellbound Glory and Roger Alan Wade, and my guess we will see these albums as tops in the decade 120 years from now.
February 2, 2011 @ 1:45 pm
First up, sorry to hear you have been poorly. I hope you are feeling and doing much better now Triggerman.
Oh the scandal – two albums sharing the glory! Well all I can say is thanks for doing all the hard work and research so I don’t have to. Adding the names of all five of the above mentioned albums to my wishlist riiiiiiight now.
Jamey Johnson!
February 2, 2011 @ 1:53 pm
Based on their offerings to the Outlaw Radio Compilation, I could not disagree with you more. Roger Alan Wade’s ishy pishy oopie poopie tune gets skipped as does the worship of piss beer in a can by Hellbound Glory. However, I do agree with you on other big points so I”™m going to give these two a shot. After reading your reviews, I shant be disappointed.
February 2, 2011 @ 5:16 pm
Oh Gillian, surely you jest? Breakfast at Audreys? “I’m a buy you a guniea pig” . . . and Livin’ on Pabst Blue Ribbon? I don’t always skip em. Please feel better soon, Triggerman. Congrats to the double winners and I think the winners should receive twin bootlegs of Hank III’s Hillbilly Joker autographed by Mike Curb. Could pass it around each year as a reminder of real artistic freedom and respect for the music.
Great blog.
February 2, 2011 @ 5:43 pm
I’ve got many hours on Amtrak this weekend so I’ll give them a fair listen. Hellbound Glory will be perfect to get me revved up there and I’ll be sentimental on the way home so Mr. Wade will provide the songwriting.
February 3, 2011 @ 12:59 pm
Gillian, I’m in the same boat as you. I wasn’t a big fan of either offering on the Outlaw Radio Compilation, but I’m going to give Hellbound another chance. I’m not sure about RAW. He is a good songwriter for sure, but I’m not into the whole singer/songwriter thing as much. To each his own, I guess.
February 3, 2011 @ 6:23 am
No offense to Jahshie and his compilation, which I enjoy very much, but”Livin’ on Pabst Blue Ribbon” is probably the last song I would have chosen from Hellbound. In fact, it’s not even on an album.
February 3, 2011 @ 10:40 am
None of the songs on the compilation are on albums.
February 3, 2011 @ 10:52 am
That’s what helps make it a favorite 🙂
February 3, 2011 @ 6:45 pm
“The Minister’s Doom” is. It’s on the digital version of Gospel Outtakes.
February 3, 2011 @ 6:10 pm
I will also say “Livin’ On PBR” is not one of Hellbound Glory’s strongest songs. I still like it an awful lot, but don’t judge the band by that song alone!
February 2, 2011 @ 2:07 pm
Congratulations indeed to HellboundGlory & Roger Alan Wade. I know the Hillgrass Bluebilly family & Konrad of Possessed by Paul James was thrilled to have made your list of nominations, here on SCM and in general with “Feed the Family! Thanks Trig.
February 2, 2011 @ 2:38 pm
Couldn’t agree more Trigger. If I had to choose, it’d be Hellbound Glory but both are beyond deserving.
February 2, 2011 @ 3:01 pm
Those are my two picks as well, along with TPB. Good choice.
And, Gillian, If you don’t like the song by Hellbound on the comp, you may still really enjoy this album, although it does contain the same drinking and druggin’ themes.
As far as Roger, he considers “Breakfast at Audrey’s” his most personal tune he ever wrote, and Roger is a very personal songwriter. So, if you dislike the song on the comp, you may not enjoy any of his offerings.
February 2, 2011 @ 3:16 pm
I have to say that Roger Alan Wade’s ‘Breakfast at Audrey’s’ is my favorite song on the compilation and I’m not surprised to hear its his most personal composition. Hope there’s another compilation on the way.
February 2, 2011 @ 3:02 pm
I don’t know the two winners (yet), but I love the other three mentioned. From those it’d probably be FEED THE FAMILY for me. Damn, it’s really been a good year.
Here’s to another one!
Cheers!
February 2, 2011 @ 3:28 pm
Hellbound Glory!! Awesome album, Hank Williams Records is one of my favorite (and most played) songs of the year.
February 2, 2011 @ 5:55 pm
Well done, Mr. Triggerman!! My two top albums as well, with Hellbound edging out Wade (but then I’m a little biased). Thanks for recognizing an awesome band off the beaten and well worn path in Reno, NV. We may not be a musical powerhouse city…yet…but if bands like HBG keep poppin’ up we’ll get there eventually!
February 2, 2011 @ 5:57 pm
My top two as well…by far.
February 2, 2011 @ 6:18 pm
Digging the Hellbound Glory as I type this. Don’t know what took me this long to check it out.
February 2, 2011 @ 7:22 pm
I’ve noticed a lot on Facebook lately that Leroy Virgil has been playing with the Excavators? Any word on what this is all about?
February 2, 2011 @ 9:32 pm
Awesome side project with Leroy on acoustic, kick drum and harmonica. An upright bass player, lap steel and washboard player. It’s fucking killer. All new originals…look for an album soon!
February 3, 2011 @ 10:58 am
I know Hellbound is going to be heading out on tour soon as well. I will post dates as soon as the tour is fully booked.
February 7, 2011 @ 8:49 pm
Please Tennessee. Are they still coming to Cookeville? They got taken off the website……
February 2, 2011 @ 7:56 pm
Great choice but if it were me it would have been a 3 way tie with RWH.
February 2, 2011 @ 8:31 pm
Hellbound Glory is one of my favorite bands, and “Old Highs & New Lows” just doesn’t get old.
I still need to get Deguelo Motel. I feel sheepish, but there’s been SO much music to buy lately…
As for a scandal, I guessed this was where the cards would fall!
February 2, 2011 @ 8:43 pm
What is this compilation everyone is talking about and how do I get it? I love Hellbound Glory but never listened to the rest. I definitely need to check them out though.
February 3, 2011 @ 11:02 am
It is the Outlaw Radio compilation that includes all previously-unreleased material. It is from the Outlaw Radio Podcast which broadcasts here every Wednesday night at 8 PM Central. You can buy the compilation, and listen to previous Outlaw Radio episodes here:
https://savingcountrymusic.com/outlaw-radio
February 2, 2011 @ 9:33 pm
Love them both. Finally got Deguello Motel last month. It is excellent. Several classics on that album. I am glad to see RAW finally gettin’ his due. I have been a big fan since seeing/hearing him during the credits to the first Jackass movie. I also really enjoy his show on Sirius, Saturday nights @ 5 o’clock Pacific, on outlaw radio for anyone interested.
February 3, 2011 @ 12:17 am
Last year didn’t work out so well for me. I could count the number of albums I bought on one hand and have five fingers to spare. Thankfully I’m in about the exact opposite position now so I can finally get to checking some stuff out. I know from what I’ve heard of Hellbound Glory they’re toward the top of the list of stuff to get.
February 3, 2011 @ 3:10 am
Hey Triggerman, I don’t know where to email you lol, wanted to ask your opinion regarding the ACMs, and the recent podcast by Jimmy Carter discussing the politics of it all? Thanks. I admit it’s naive of me, but I did not realize before just how heavy politics are behind these awards stuff. Why can’t just the deserving be the ones to win fair and square? Yup, I did say I am naive haha!
February 3, 2011 @ 11:03 am
I haven’t heard the Jimmy Carter podcast, I will have to look into that.
February 4, 2011 @ 2:02 pm
http://www.wkktfm.com/cc-common/mediaplayer/player.html?redir=yes&mps=paulschadt2009.php&mid=http://a1135.g.akamai.net/f/1135/18227/1h/cchannel.download.akamai.com/18227/podcast/CHARLOTTE-NC/WKKT-FM/JIMMYWEDNESDAY.MP3%3FCPROG%3DPCAST%3FCCOMRRMID&CPROG=RICHMEDIA&MARKET=CHARLOTTE-NC&NG_FORMAT&NG_ID&OR_NEWSFORMAT&OWNER&SERVER_NAME=www.wkktfm.com&SITE_ID=1839&STATION_ID=WKKT-FM&TRACK
Although I don’t care about Rascal Flatts at all to be affected by their lack of nomination, haha. It’s just interesting, the politics behind awards.
February 4, 2011 @ 6:53 pm
Hellbound glory. Great album.
February 4, 2011 @ 9:39 pm
Can’t agree more on these nominations, Hellbound Glory has become one of my top bands and i can’t get enough of either album. As to the people talkin about Livin’ on Pabst Blue Ribbon not bein’ that good, i think it may have been a rough cut cause if you go to their facebook page there is a much much better recording of the song
February 5, 2011 @ 4:45 pm
Just for the record, I said it’s not a song to judge them by. I still think it’s a great song!
February 5, 2011 @ 12:38 am
I was really happy to see “Deguello Motel” recognized. What I love about this album is every time I listen to it, it just gets better and better, and that’s saying something because I loved it from the 1st playing. From the first cut to the last, there isn’t a weak song in the lot. Also, it is a linear story being told and while each song can stand on its own, the album is best if listened to in order. Some of the lyrics will just absolutely blow you away. The writing can stand on its own with Guy Clark, TVZ, John Prine, GP, etc., and some soulless Nashville producer didn’t eff up with their over-production. You just get Roger, his guitar and his heart and soul. I think in a few years we may see “Deguello” as one of the seminal works in this genre. Congrats to HBG as well, I just got “Old Highs, New Lows”downloaded and am looking forward to giving it a listen.
February 5, 2011 @ 1:26 pm
I absolutely love Hellbound Glory. Glad to see these guys were able to make it to the top of the list, and what a list to choose from, this year has seen some of the greatest releases by the DIY/Anti-Nashville/XXX scene. The latest offering is in constant rotation on my iPod. Leroy’s songwriting in the new songs, though it’s always been great, has progressed to make him one of the greatest songwriters of the genre. Speaking of great songwriters, Leroy and the Boys share this honor with the great Roger Alan Wade. DeGuello Motel is Rogers sober album, and what a difference it has made! I love his previous two offerings, but for this one he has dropped the jokes and turned serious, which makes this the best album of his career. Though I hate comparing artists to each other I think RAW is the only one comparable to Kris Kristofferson. Superb choices Triggerman!
P.S Triggerman have you heard the first Hellbound Album? the self-titled, not Scumbag Country. A Number of the songs on Old Highs and New Lows are re-workings of those songs.
February 5, 2011 @ 1:41 pm
No I don’t, nor heard of it. Who’s leg I gotta hump to get it?
February 5, 2011 @ 1:54 pm
I got it two years ago at a Tattoo convention after-party in Reno. The guitarist “Nascar Nick” gave it to me since i kept buying the band beers when they were playing their set. send me an email on were to send you a copy.
The tracklist is as follows:
1. To Broke To Overdose
2. Hard Livin’ Man
3. Be My Crutch
4. Livin’ On Pabst Blue Ribbon
5. Hank Williams Records
6. Either Way We’re Fucked
7. Possessed
8. Chico’s Train
9. Mickey Meth (Downtown)
10. Dial 911
11. Whiskey Bent and Hellbound
12. Honkey Tonk Heroes
February 6, 2011 @ 8:08 pm
I’m a big hellbound glory fan and I would love to hear that. Anyway I could get a copy?