More 2005

I've already done a Best Of, but I'll never miss an opportunity to rant about my favourite music. And besides, I left Dwight, Bettye and Miranda off my Best Songs list.

Hotwalker Tom Russell
Mercy Now Mary Gauthier
Blame the Vain Dwight Yoakam
Soul's Chapel Marty Stuart
The Outsider Rodney Crowell
A Bigger Bang Rolling Stones
Devils and Dust Bruce Springsteen
12 Songs Neil Diamond
Cost of Living Delbert McClinton
I've Got My Own Hell to Raise Bettye LaVette
Master of Disaster John Hiatt
Georgia Hard Robbie Fulks
Kerosene Miranda Lambert

I was disappointed with Willie's Countryman. Not opposed to the country-reggae concept but, well, that record kinda sucked. One In A Row could be a really great song with a different arrangement though. Also Billy Joe Shaver's The Real Deal failed to move me, which shocked no end. I love Billy Joe. I didn't get to hear the new James McMurtry, Son Volt, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Los Super Seven or The Knitters. Nor the Bruce Born to Run box set but I cannot wait.

For Christmas, my sister gave me a Johnny Cash themed switchblade. I suspect its illegal to own it in my state, but its cool nonetheless.

The release of the Scorsese/Dylan doco No Direction Home was probably my biggest personal musical event.

2006 always gets off to a good musical start with the Tamworth Country Music Festival, about 250 miles north of Sydney. I'm camping up there for 10 whole days from January 19th, the festival takes over the entire town. It's always very hot in the bush in January but it was 114 degrees fahrenheit here in Syd on New Year's Day so I'm hoping that insanity is not repeated!