Wolfson's List

It’s that time again. Here, in full, are Howard Wolfson’s picks for Albums of the Year:

Dixie Chicks — Taking the Long Way and Alejandro Escovedo – Room of Songs

In retrospect, the cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” on their last album was a pretty clear sign of the direction they were headed. Even before Read More

Lovelorn Will Oldham; Ambient Album Leaf

A chorus on Bonnie “Prince” Billy’s new record, The Letting Go (Drag City), begins with a familiar apostrophe: “O love o love o careless love.” In the most desperate stanza of Robert Lowell’s “Skunk Hour,” a car radio bleats the same refrain from the old folk song, a dark piece of Americana about the unforeseen Read More

Lovelorn Will Oldham; Ambient Album Leaf

A chorus on Bonnie “Prince” Billy’s new record, The Letting Go (Drag City), begins with a familiar apostrophe: “O love o love o careless love.” In the most desperate stanza of Robert Lowell’s “Skunk Hour,” a car radio bleats the same refrain from the old folk song, a dark piece of Americana about the unforeseen Read More

Hold Steady! It's Wolf Parade!; Also, Waits, Beck, John Legend

In the beginning of September, Beyoncé celebrated her birthday and Justin Timberlake brought the sexy back. For the rest of the month, we’ll have to make do with releases from more, ahem, autumnal performers: Janet Jackson, if you’re nasty; Alan Jackson, if you’re Nashville; and the earnest singer-songwriting of the Indigo Girls and Elton John. Read More