The 11 Best Songs By Delta Spirit

You can't have a road trip without a soundtrack.  I have taken plenty of day-long car rides with friends and by myself.  A great soundtrack can make the difference between an adventure and torture.  About a year ago, I headed up the coast to Ojai for the weekend.  I brought over 100 different albums with me because you never know what mood you'll be in.  Less than 15 minutes into the journey, we ran into horrible traffic.  Living in LA, you get used to the parking lot-like freeways but when you go out of town, you hope that's one of the main things you can escape.  The problem is every Angeleno leaves LA for the exact same reason, creating the very same perfect storm you're escaping.  My friend who came with me kept a clear head as we eased down the freeway at a steady 3 mph.  My friend suggested we change up the music.  From the east coast hip-hop we were playing my friend pushed for music with a country vibe.  We settled in on the Delta Spirit.  It was the smartest choice we could have made.  From the first howl of Matthew Vasquez's raspy voice on Empty House, the mood soften, and my outlook brightened.  The insanely slow crawl became secondary to the atmosphere created by the music.  The road trip once again became a place I wanted to be.  My friend's suggestion was the right one because once we found the right music our journey became clear.  Within minutes, traffic cleared up and we were on our way.  That's the power of music. Here are the 11 Best Songs By The Delta Spirit:

1. Empty House (Delta Spirit)
2. Streetwalker (I Think I've Found It)
3. Bushwick Blues (History From Below)
4. California (Delta Spirit)
5. Idaho (Delta Spirit)
6. Ode To Sunshine (Ode To Sunshine)
7. Ballad of Vitaly (History From Below)
8. Gimme Some Motivation (I Think I've Found It)
9. Strange Vine (Ode To Sunshine)
10. Golden State (History From Below)
11. Tear It Up (Delta Spirit)

Buy Delta Spirit's new album, Into The Wide...now!!  

The 11 Best Albums this Week

I never do this...but holy crap there's a ton of great new music coming out this week.  This honestly might the biggest releases of music this year...if not the decade.   Yeah it's that huge.  Interpol's best album since their sophomore release, Tricky's best solo album since his debut, Ryan Adams first album in 3 years, U2's first album in five years (which came out of nowhere...and is FREE), Death From Above 1979's reunion, Karen O's first solo album, the lead singer of Led Zeppelin's new solo offering, and four lads from Liverpool.  Why are you still reading...get listening.

Here are the 11 Best Releases This Week:

1. U2 - Songs of Innocence
2. Death From Above 1979 - The Physical World
3. Ryan Adams - Ryan Adams
4. Interpol - El Pintor
5. Robert Plant - lullaby
6. Tricky - Adrian Thaws
7. Justin Townes Earle - Single Mothers
8. Karen O - Crush Songs
9. Delta Spirit - Into the Wide
10. Banks - Goddess
11. The Beatles - Vinyl Mono Masters

Along with new releases from classic legends: Loudon Wainwright III, Pere Ubu, The Grateful Dead, Gladys Knight, Sergio Mendes, and Chick Corea

The Best Albums of 2012 (1-11)

It's the end of the year.  2012...and we survived.  Unless some mad Mayan rises from the grave in the next three days and turns us all into zombies and the inevitable Irwin Allen disaster picture.  Anything's possible.

So here are my top pics for favorite albums of 2012.  It's really a toss-up between Jack and Corin.  I went with Corin in the final coin flip because I find myself going back to the record more than JW.  It's honestly the strongest thing she's put out since the heart of the Sleater-Kinney years...if not better in some ways.

Now it's your turn.  Send in your top album pics for 2012 and I'll compile them in my super 111 best album list that I'll post about a week from now.

Remember it doesn't have to be twenty.  It can be any number of albums you liked.  Just post them in the comment section or email me.

Have a great new year!

Here are the Best Albums of 2012 (1-11):

1.  The Corin Tucker Band - Kill My Blues
2.  Jack White - Blunderbuss
3.  The Big Pink - Future This
4.  Lana Del Rey - Born To Die/Paradise
5.  Passion Pit - Gossamer
6.  Shins - Port of Morrow
7.  The xx - Coexist
8.  Delta Spirit - Delta Spirit
9.  The Divine Fits - A Thing Called Divine Fits (Bonus Track)
10.  Niki & Dove - Instinct
11.  Silversun Pickups - Neck of the Woods

Buy these albums and more...now!!!