Rough Times

 

Alright alright, we're finally ready: presenting FTSOTS's best trappmusik of annus horribilis 2020. Fifteen highlights no amigo da musica should be without. From elder statesmen to postpunk heroes, from spiritual jazzcats to Americana masters, with masked freaks making a surprise appearance... Be prepared: we're travellin' from Texas to Stockholm to Taiwan and all the way back again, and boarding starts now. Voluminous artwork (what, no eleven?) by that mysterious shawoman called Tinca. A musical wish for 2021: the return of live music. Pretty please?

• Ak'chamel, The Giver Of Illness - The Totemist
• Bob Dylan - Rough And Rowdy Ways
• Bob Mould - Blue Hearts
• Bonny Light Horseman - s/t
• Coriky - s/t
• Gillian Welch & David Rawlings - All The Good Times
• Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids - Shaman!
• Jason Isbell - Reunions
• Jerry David DeCicca - The Unlikely Optimist
• Jerry Joseph - The Beautiful Madness
• Kungens Män - Trappmusik
• Mong Tong - Mystery
• Rose City Band - Summerlong
• The Third Mind - s/t
• Wire - Mind Hive

Bob Dylan - Key West (Philosopher Pirate)

Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids - Eternity

Kungens Män - Senvägen

I Will Roam

A second helping of the Rose City Band, countryrock hobby horse of Ripley Johnson, the bearded one of Wooden Shjips and Moon Duo. Summerlong is a tad more country - with prominent pedal steel - than the selftitled debut, but plenty trippy and krauty nonetheless. Guess I'll really be spinning it summerlong. Pick this wildflower, folks.

Rose City Band - Wildflowers

Purple Roses

And here we go with For The Sake Of The Song's dirty dozen of 2019, so take a step behind if you please. Unseen and out of sight, between the country and the mountains and the sea, and with ripping artwork by Tinca, these are the albums that moved and shook us this year.

1. Rose City Band - Rose City Band
2. Ian Noe - Between The Country
3. Purple Mountains - Purple Mountains

4. Garcia Peoples -  One Step Behind

5. Joan Shelley - Like The River Loves The Sea

6. Steve Gunn - The Unseen In Between
7. Jake Xerxes Fussell - Out Of Sight
8. Dire Wolves - Grow Towards The Light
9. Nick Cave - Ghosteen
10. James Matthew VII - Stoned When I Pray
11. Simon Joyner - Pocket Moon
12. Hiss Golden Messenger - Terms Of Surrender

Rose City Band - Rip City

Got A New Rose

The ideal long hot summer soundtrack comes choogling in from Portland, Oregon in the form of the Rose City Band. Cosmic American with a whiff of kraut here and there, and a lovely spaced-out guitar sound with echoes of the one and only Jerry G. Splendid record, get it here.

Rose City Band - Me And Willie