This was a tough year for the music we’re used to bringing relief, joy and even departure from reality. Some releases were right there all along, waiting to be heard, while I had to prospect, dig deep down in the pile of mediocrity to pull a disc out like a speckled trout yanked from the flats of the Laguna Madre. It was so bad that the joy of finding worthy music was almost as great as a twenty-five inch speck.

Nevertheless, we have arrived at the third annual Texas Fly Caster Top Ten for 2010. The rules of this game are evolving, and one new rule is that old music newly released is NOT eligible for the top ten. Instead, it has been moved to the “Honorable Mention” category, along with a very few new releases that just deserve a mention. If this year’s old music were eligible, I am afraid you would find it in the top five. There is something inherently unfair about a music industry recycling, recutting diamonds, and I am ready to yank my ankle out of that bear trap.

And I need to make perfectly clear that preference is given to new discoveries over past performers. There’s a lot of great music from bands I consider “high mileage” like – Ryan Bingham & the Dead Horses, Kings of Leon or the Black Angels (retreaded 1969 Buick Skylark). Some get bumped a little and some may get bruised on the way down.

OLD MUSIC HONORABLE MENTION

Bob Dylan – The Witmark Demos
I wrote extensively about this release when it came out. It belongs in the Smithsonian. I will simply reference back to the original post – http://texasflycaster.com/bob-dylan-the-witmark-demos/

Bruce Springsteen – The Promise
From the opening keys of “Running in the Street (’78),” you know you’re headed back, way back. The music is vintage Bruce, and embellished vintage Bruce. He is the boss, and we all know bosses can do exactly what they want. You have to own this if you’re a fan, but again it does have some historical value for the general rock-and-roll fan who wants a listen. Imagine a new Camaro or Challenger … sure we are getting repackaged goods, but the originals were classics.

Jimi Hendrix – Valleys of Neptune
It had to happen sooner or later. Age old rumors of cosmic music by Hendrix have been circulating since Jimi’s untimely (and stupid) death at the age of 28. About the time you think SRV is the greatest guitarist ever, back from the grave comes Jimi with “Valleys of Neptune.” Have no doubt, ye of little faith, Jimi Hendrix is the greatest guitarist of all time.

Like a fine wine, these taste so good. Sure, you have to be a bit hardcore on both counts, but that’s why you’re here isn’t it?

NEW HONORABLE MENTIONS

Kings of Leon – Come Around Sundown
Why? I don’t know. Maybe it’s burnout? Maybe it sounds like Kings doing Kings? I think, music in general, that focuses on the relationship angst gets short shrift by me these days. I can’t relate as well to youthful angst. My bones already hurt. When a band like U2 copies the sound of Kings of Leon, you know they’re special. Unfortunately, they aren’t a moving target of change.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – MOJO
Now I tread on dangerous ground. It’s just a little soft in the middle for my taste, kind of like stocker rainbow trout.

Leon Russell & Elton John – Gone to Shiloh
One of the difficult parts of finding respectable music these days is it is extremely difficult to find artists that can hold it all together for an entire album. “Gone to Shiloh” is probably the most glaring example of that problem. The production is so thick, and the lyrics so bent to fit, that only about 3 or 4 songs should have seen the light. There’s a strong case in the music business for releasing singles and EP’s, and this is arguably the strongest case for going back to those formats.

Eric Clapton – Clapton
The title is the first hint. Eric does Eric, and that means he’s not breaking anything new. Again, a few songs will make your cut, but it’s not an entire disc of keepers. He doesn’t phone it in, and any EC fan has to own this one. Please don’t hate me.

Court Yard Hounds – Court Yard Hounds
The Dixie Chicks without Natalie Maines. Republicans rejoice. This is a fine release, but just a little too spotless for our “Culture on the Skids.” It’s amazing what a recording budget can do, and undo. Strip this one down, and you’ve got something. Maybe it’s just the Chick thing, love and angst.

Mavis Staples – You Are Not Alone
Mavis sure wasn’t alone. She had the help of one Jeff Tweedy on this release, and it’s blatantly obvious. Again, a disc that could have benefitted from cutting cuts.

Gorillaz – Plastic Beach
Concept “albums” as they were once known, are few and far between these days. It’s probably because many artists can’t hold a collection together for a full-length release, much less put bones on the flesh of an entire concept. Well, Gorillaz have an environmental concept release, and it does hold together with a lot of featured artists help. This is unlike anything you have ever heard, and will expand your musical palette if you are into “expansion.”

The Black Angels
I have to give them credit. They are doing a great job of mashing up The Doors among others, and feeding it to us a new generation as “fresh, inventive, and exciting,” but I am a bit too into music to be suckered. Buy this if you long for the California 1960′s psychedelia. You will absolutely love it.

Norah Jones – Featuring Norah Jones
The power of Norah. It’s amazing what grammies can do. I am guessing all Norah has to do is pick up the phone, and whoever she wants is in the studio. More power to her! It is a fantastic release, but it “features” Norah, so …

Tune in next week as Texas Fly Caster brings you the top ten countdown in fly fishing music releases for 2010. “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.”

Here’s a selection for your Christmas Eve listening pleasure – In Christ There Is No East or West

Needless to say, if you fish a lot, you’ve done some damage at one time or another. I have carefully been waiting for the day that lightning strikes, and something breaks. Today was the day.

To make my painfully, literally, long story short, I decided to make another quick run out to Ray Roberts Dam to see if the weather, or time, or the fish gods, had increased the quality of the sand bass that were obviously there two days ago. I was scatting along the water’s edge, stepped on a rock that seemed good enough, and it rolled like a ball bearing in grease. Face first non-stop with my hands pinned under me and my rod held with the involuntary kung-fu-death-grip.

It took about fifteen seconds just to realize what happened, as the cold water soaked through. I managed to roll off, unfold my backward taco-ed self, groan get up and strip in what line was left out to sink. Sure, there was an audience. There was also something caught in my fly – my rod tip. I’m pretty sure it whipped the surface of the water so hard, that’s what broke it off. Instant replay, still going on, is inconclusive, so the call stands.

Of course I was carrying my newest favorite Sage XI2-7, yes, glad you asked. Two days before Christmas, and the big lady named luck deals me one more hand to remember 2010 for. So this year’s luck will end (now, right now, please) with a bang and a whimper.

We have all heard about the fantastic guarantees by TFO, Sage and others. TFO really is fantastic because I could go in on Monday and get a new tip. So, there’s work to do, and I figured this lemon stinging my scrapes, has to be turned into lemonade somehow. The only thing I can figure to do is take readers along on the Sage Warranty ride, and see how smooth it goes.

All told, there’s a pretty good set of gouge marks that have lifted some of the cork on the grip, dings on the first section – paint missing, and of course the four made into five piece with a removable tip. My first question is, do I even bother to send in the butt section to see if it’s worth replacing the grip, and do the cosmetic changes deserve any attention to find out of they are more than cosmetic? It seems pointless to deal with any of this until after New Year’s since shipping, holidays and vacations basically gum up any company’s works. I would expect things to go wrong until after the folks at Sage have slept off the New Year festivities.

I am still wondering … if I would have had the time, would I have taken a bolder to the face over injury to my XI2? I don’t want to have to make that choice – ever.

Heck, maybe I am lucky. Except for bloodied clothes, and a broken rod, I still have all my bones and teeth unbroken. Luck is such a fickle mistress.

Whether or not there’s a downside to this land deal on the Devil’s River, we may never know. I can’t find anyone anywhere that can tell me there is something wrong with this deal. Read all about the Devils River land purchase, and look at that number – $10-million in private donations! Amazing, for Texas amazing.

AUSTIN – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Monday authorized the acquisition of nearly 18,000 acres of biologically diverse and culturally significant land in Val Verde County with 10 miles of frontage along the pristine Devil’s River by leveraging $4 million in public dollars with more than $10 million in private donations.

“What an exciting Christmas gift for the State of Texas,” Commission chair Peter Holt said moments after the commission voted unanimously to authorize Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Executive Director Carter Smith to formally close the purchase of the Devils River Ranch later this week.

The ranch, which adjoins the 67,000-acre Amistad National Recreation Area, has been appraised at $15,875,000 but the owner agreed to sell the property to TPWD for $13 million as well as donating several hundred thousand dollars worth of ranch equipment and furnishings to the state.

TPWD will use $10.1 million in private donations, $2.7 million in state funds allocated for park land acquisition and $1.3 million in federal Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars to acquire the property. The donations also will cover operating expenses for two-and-a-half years as well as development of a master plan for joint public use of the ranch and the Devils River State Natural Area, 12.7 miles upstream.

A proposal to exchange the 20,000-acre state natural area for the Devils River Ranch was pulled from the Nov. 4 commission agenda after TPWD heard extensive public input. At the time, the commission directed TPWD staff to continue exploring options to acquire new land along the river while keeping the existing state natural area and working toward achieving a balance between recreational use of the land and protection of the wild stream’s sensitive resources.

“The Devil’s River Ranch is a stunning piece of property with incredible potential,” said Commissioner Dan Hughes, who after visiting the site led the fund-raising effort along with agency director Smith. “This land is a treasure for all generations to come.”

At Monday’s meeting, of 13 persons who testified before the commission, all said they favored the Devils River Ranch purchase. Of 24 written comments received from the public by TPWD, 20 supported the purchase.

“The public input process has worked the way it should – we’ve heard from Texans across the state and have been responsive to that input,” Holt said. “One of the things we’ll be doing in response to that input is putting together a working group to develop a long term plan for the protection of the river and for ongoing operation of the two units of the Devils River State Natural Area.”

Holt said the working group will include landowners, paddlers, businesses, non-profit partners and others who will seek solutions to address the recreational interests of Devils River users as well as the property rights of adjacent landowners.

“We anticipate that it will take two-and-a-half years to complete the master plan for the operation of the two units of the Devils River State Natural Area,” said Smith. “While that is taking place, public access to the current Devils River SNA will remain open. In the meantime, we’ll also be stepping up law enforcement patrols by Texas game wardens all along the river.”

Commissioners Monday also approved acquisition of about 14 acres of private land just north of the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens. The tract will be used to build a small reservoir to provide water for fish hatchery ponds.