12 - RobMorsberger – Ghosts Before Breakfast
Morsberger is stunningly personal, and prophetic, in an album that exploresmortality, legacy and all the emotions that swirl around these twoconcepts. Written before Morsberger’sdiagnosis with terminal brain cancer, GhostsBefore Breakfast transcends humanity and every day experience for simpletruths on deep and dark thoughts.
11 – Maraand the Bitter Suite – Unspoken
An actress/Broadway singer and a composer/musical director venturing intoalt/folk/rock would generally be an omen for disaster, but Mara and the BitterSuite find a bit of magic in Unspoken.
10 – MeghanCary – Building This House
Eight years might seem like too long to produce an album of songs, but forMeghan Cary it was apparently just right. Highly personal and evocative, Cary takes a craftsman’s approach to storytelling,weaving each scene and story to perfection against minimal yet strikingarrangements for a listening experience you won’t soon forget.
9 – TheHollyfelds – Title Stealers
The Hollyfelds might keep a low profile nationally, but they shine in theirhome market of Denver, Colorado. Infact, they shine so bright on TitleStealers it’s hard to imagine them staying just a regional band.
8 – SethGlier – Things I Should Let You Know
Seth Glier’s first album earned him a GRAMMY nomination. His second, Things I Should Let You Know, is even better. Glier is more nuanced and personal than ever,and maintains the intense musicality that has always made him such anintriguing listen.
7 – NateKimball – Warrior’s Journey
By far one of the best collections of classically oriented original jazzhave ever heard.
6. JodiShaw – In Waterland
Jodi Shaw writes from the heart and lays it all on the line. She lays out her stories and characters inwonderfully robust and ethereal musical arrangements. The imagery peppered throughout In Waterland is nothing short ofbrilliant.
5. TheDo Good Assassins – Rome
The Do Good Assassins are the latest outgrowth of Ron Hawkins’ personalmuse. This time out he is helped and supported by good friends in creating oneof the best and most divergent double albums of the last several years. Personal songwriting, amazing lyrics and anorganic feel make this a can’t miss listen.
4. CaraLuft – Darlingford
Cara Luft is one of the darlings of Canadian folk music. A former Wailin’ Jenny and Juno Awardnominee, Luft delivers one of the most compelling singer/songwriter turns of2012 with Darlingford.
3. Rob Morsberger –A Part Of You
Morsberger manages two albums in the top-12. A PartOf You is a song cycle written to Morsberger’s youngest son; a collectionof songs to see his son through the times when Morsberger anticipates not beingthere. This intimate collection is fullof laughter, hope and the joy of discovery. There is also a hidden sadness; a melancholy of the artist who isenvisioning all that he might miss out on. This is what songwriting is all about.
2. JasonPlumb and the Willing – All Is More Than Both
Jason Plumb takes his prodigious writing/singing talents and his crack backingband (The Willing) and puts them all to work under the watchful eye of Canadiansuper-producer Michael Phillip Wojewoda. The result is Plumb’s most soaring collection of songs since his dayswith The Waltons. In almost any otheryear this would be the winner.
1. DeltaRae – Carry The Fire
There are great albums, and then there are albums that transcend theirtime. These are the albums that peoplelook back on two or three decades later as benchmarks of their era. I fully believe that Carry The Fire is just such an album. From the alternating lead vocals of Eric andBrittany Hölljesto the alternative folk-rock arrangements that soar one moment and lie downbeside you and rock you to sleep the next, CarryThe Fire is the sort of debut album that only comes along once or twice ageneration.
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