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It’s been a few years since I’ve checked out the Oxford American’s annual music issue, but this year’s installment seems as good as any I’ve ever seen. There are a couple of lengthier pieces—Sean Wilentz on the making of Blonde on Blonde, Bill Wasik on the reality of online music marketing (with North Carolina indie rock band the Annuals as the test case)—but the bulk of the issue consists of shorter profiles and meditations on the 26 artists included on the accompanying CD, which is unusually strong. I’d never heard of Sandy Posey, Amy LaVere, Zakary Thaks, Teddy Grace, Parchman Prison Band, and Jon Bennett & the Sparkletones, but now I’m curious to hear more. Gems from lesser-known favorites of mine like the Clovers, Karen Dalton, Mayo Thompson, Iris DeMent, and Don Redman were great to hear in the context of what is ultimately a very cool mix. Who can argue with a compilation that follows Thelonious Monk with rapper David Banner and folkie Fred Neil?
LSB, Fungus (Moserobie)Joanna Newsom & the Ys Street Band, E.P. (Drag City)Aline de Lima, Arrebol (Naïve)Synanthesia, s/t (Sunbeam)Simon Nabatov Quartet, Nature Morte (Leo)
