Sometimes the beginning of the year is the best time in the Denton music scene. Take the Centro-Matic / Telegraph Canyon / Spooky Folk show next week at Dan’s Silverleaf here in Denton.

Here’s a little taste of Will Johnson solo -

Centro-Matic is a Denton band that has more musician cred. than a band like the Old 97′s who shunned their Denton roots for the “Dallas Band Old 97′s” title a long time ago. So be it. Dallas can have ‘em, but nobody’s taking our Centro-Matic-Will Johnson-South San Gabriel band – no matter what.
“By some counts, the number of Centro-matic or related releases is in the hundreds at this point; three EPs, a soundtrack cut and a cassingle were released while you read this-each one a surprise and revelation. But none more so than the album now in your possession: Candidate Waltz, what Will Johnson (songwriter, singer, multi-instrumentalist) calls the band’s “meat-and-potatoes pop record.” Johnson, the accidental solo artist who formed around him a band that’s hung tight and together for 15 years (and: Happy Anniversary!), wrote the songs on bass, in his warm Central Texas in mid-summer. He wonders: Can’t you tell? It sounds shirtless and sweaty.”

January 13 brings Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real to Dan’s Silverleaf -

“Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real are an American rock & roll band based out of Paia, HI and Southern Calfornia. The band consists of Lukas Nelson (Vocals/Guitar), Anthony LoGerfo (Drums), Tato Melgar (Percussion) and Corey McCormick (Bass). The band’s name represents a pledge made by the group to always be real to who they are both musically and individually and for better or worse. POTR released their debut record “Promise of the Real” in December of 2010 and have toured extensively throughout 2011 in support of the album. This year the band will play 250 shows and have appeared at Farm Aid and on the Late Show with David Letterman and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”

The Life and Times / Cush / Calhoun are at Dan’s January 19th. Holy smoke, have a listen to The life and Times’ “My Last Hostage” –

I hope you enjoyed the first post on fly fishing music’s top ten for 2011. Instead of getting easier, it gets even more difficult to stuff what could have been ten CD’s into the final five.

Add to that, the unexpected referral to the Von Ehrics by guide Joel Hays, and that just clouds the water even more. I am always inviting musical suggestions, but would you please do it well before writing for the top ten has begun! Talk about a scramble at the top, this was it, and I am still not sure now the top five shakes down.

NUMBER 5
The Von Ehrics – “Two Foot Stomp”

The Von Ehrics are a band I’ve never even heard of, but Joel Hays sent me a link to their video. I was hooked. Just about the time you thought all the energy had been sapped from rock-and-roll, the Von Ehrics bring it back down to its essence. “Lord I Pray” you enjoy this CD as much as I am right now. “Two Foot Stomp”
just sounds like a spring fishing run to East Texas. Do yourself a favor, and get this one. I will be sure to keep you posted on their tour dates, and if they make it to Denton again, I’ll even give a couple of tickets away through some tricky contest.

NUMBER 4 – A TIE
Alison Krauss & Union Station – Paper Airplane
It just doesn’t get any better than this. Alison Krauss & Union Station put out their best ever. In fly fishing music terms, think fly fishing in Tennessee or, say, Kentucky. You will thank me for this one later. It’s easy listening – pretty much the polar opposite to the Von Enrics, but these days that’s what a “Fly Fishing Playlist” is all about isn’t it. (I do long for some good reggae and the salt smell that brings though.)

The Decemberists – The King Is Dead
/ Long Live the King
Did you ever wish that REM still had that edge? Well, the first CD “The King Is Dead” has that “sound” thanks in part to Peter Buck of REM. Where Peter Buck leaves off, Gillian Welch kicks in to present a tour de’ force. There aren’t many bands that can call on this kind of participatory talent, and there’s a reason for that – the Decemberists are the real deal. Their music is arguably the most important snapshot of North American music today.

NUMBER 3
Paul Simon – “So Beautiful or So What”

There is just no explaining some things. Yes, that Paul Simon. “So Beautiful or So What” is a near classic. Simon takes on mortality head on, and even plays god on occasion. Paul Simon can do that. It’s a CD you want just for the sound – clean, and unique. I have never heard anything like it, and the sound is enough to make the CD necessary as an audio reference if nothing else.

NUMBER 2
Radiohead – The King of Limbs
My most recent listening of The King of Limbs came Friday (12/30), and the experience could have some bearing on why Radiohead went from a top ten lurker, to NUMBER 2 in the countdown. I was fishing a spot, one that had been productive weeks ago, on a local lake, and since it was a warm day, and little was going on; I decided to plug my Etyotic Earbuds into my phone and continue my countdown research for these two posts. I was ripping off some pretty distant casts with my Sage Z-Axis 6wt, and somehow the music and the moment just jelled.

Before you judge me for “tuning out nature” you have to know there was more trash than nature around, and it wasn’t a situation where I needed to hear where the fish were surfacing or jumping – they were doing neither.

On the last song I felt the earth move. The clouser (black/black) stopped and started going the other direction – post haste. I gave the stripped line, and it kept going … all my line and into the backing. I was thinking about the surreal moment, and also thinking that the length of the song could clue me in on the length of the fight at hand. The song ended. A few minutes, who knows how many, later the fight ended with the hybrid at my knees. The fat fish measured a healthy fourteen inches around, a bit over twenty-two inches long, and a solid five pounds on the Boga Grip
. A new waterbody record at hand.

So you can see how I might like the new Radiohead release.

NUMBER 1
Black Keys – El Camino

The sticker – right there on the cover – tells you what you need to know about El Camino – “Play Loud.” I am not a red-meat-flag-waving-America-kicks-ass-good-time-rock-and-roller, but El Camino is pure US rock and roll, and for that they get the NUMBER 1 spot for 2011. This CD is full of straight ahead rock, not retro, not techno, not anything but straight ahead hard driving rock-and-roll. If there was an anthem CD for the Chicken Fried Nation, this would be the one. All you have to do is spin it once, and you know; This is it. I could go on about the music, but it’s so obviously original and good, that it does the talking for itself.

Here we go again! It’s time to count down the top ten CD’s of the year of our Lord 2011. As thin as last year seemed, this year is pretty tough – thick with new artists, new music and musical complications brought on by great artists releasing live recordings of their repetiore.

Last year, I had to put my foot down and rule out new-old releases, those remasters and/or repackaged CD’s of old music – often 30 to 40-years-old. That was easy enough, but now there are two spectacular new releases of previously released music that, if you’ve never heard of these artists, would bring you endless listening enjoyment, and from one a barrel full of laughs. Call it a bias, but I am going to let these guys in the mix. I know this chink in the armor will be offset by a huge number of new artists that will dazzle listeners.

This year, the honorable mention list would be top five in other years. That’s just how good the year has been. Crazy.

Top Disappointments of 2011

This hurts. I hate it when a fantastic release from a solid band is followed by one that doesn’t have a chance in the top ten. That’s how it goes though. Some days you’re the lion, and some days you’re the lamb.

INCUBUS – I don’t know what exactly got into these guys, but something’s out of kilter. Incubus was a band I could always count on for relief from the humdrum sounds so popular today. Here they are … soft, sweet, in love or some other musical disaster. If someone offers you a free copy of, “If Not Now, When?” feel free to say, “NEVER.”

The Gourds – I am still high on Shinyrib’s (Russell’s) solo effort that I just assumed that there would be some carryover to new Gourds releases. Almost, but not quite.

Warren Haynes – “Man in Motion” just seems to go nowhere. I mean this is the Warren Haynes! It sounds like an homage to the worst of the old rock-and-roll stuff. I can’t even find the words for such a talent, but I know he will rip me a new one next time out, so I’m not worried.

The Band of Heathens – “Top Hat Crown & the Clapmaster’s Son” is probably what I expected from The Band of Heathens last release (and it made the top ten). I get the impression they are just anti-establishment enough to tank a CD.

HONORABLE MENTION in Fly Fishing Music 2011

If he would have stuck to the plan, all the way through, he would not have fallen as the solid forces in front of him (the top ten) are just so strong. is fantastic, and a true departure from what you may think G.Love is all about. Listen to “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” a brave remake of the Paul Simon song. And this first, best of the rest, (this song) foreshadows a surprise Top Ten musician. Be sure to listen to the whole song for a “Free Bird” bluegrass jam at the bridge. It hurts to leave G.Love out, but the top ten will reveal just how tough this year is.

Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears
I guess you could say they’re a “one trick pony,” but turning out fine music is one great trick. Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears can make you sweat just listening. Think James Brown for the 21st. century. “Scandalous” has some nasty lyrics on it, but what doesn’t these days. It all sounds good, and pick it up along with the top ten at Amazon.com.

Foo Fighters
Take three of those five-hour energy drinks at once, and chase it with a Monster tall boy, and you are getting close to the energy that comes off Dave Grohl and his Foo Fighters. I watched a documentary on this, which sheds a lot of light on the band and where they are now. Another release you must own, but a couple of throw away tracks are enough to knock them out of the Top Ten for 2011. “Wasting Light” is essential Foo Fighers.

WILCO
Any top ten release has to be one I go to – again and again. “The Whole Love” just isn’t that CD. You know I am a huge Wilco fan, so they get a pass, an automatic bid to the Top Ten every year. I am not sure what makes “The Whole Love” weak, but perhaps it’s my rediscovery of Beatles music that Wilco has been feeding us in their own skins. I find myself longing for the good old days of “Being There” – the days before they actually got there. They almost went back “There” on the first track, but seemed to think better of it, and brought an interesting sound that does harken back to earlier days. It just isn’t a good year for retrospective sounds in this competitive field though. If you don’t have either of these CD’s, get “Being There” before you get “The Whole Love.”

NUMBER 10
I cheated. There is a three-way tie for tenth CD this year, and the number ten spot goes to (equally and in no particular order):

Slaid Cleaves – Sorrow & Smoke: Live at the Horseshoe Lounge
Slaid Cleaves is a wordsmith that gives you the feeling that everything will be okay even once Bob has left this mortal earth. I have seen him live at Dan’s Silver Leaf here in Denton, and he puts on a very good show. “Sorrow & Smoke” is a two CD set that has all his best work on it, recorded live at the Horseshoe Lounge in Austin, Texas. This is the CD to buy if you don’t know Slaid, have missed a few releases along the way, or just want to hear fantastic lyrics, yodling and a yankee’s take on the Texas music sound. He’s ours now!

Levon Helm – Ramble at the Ryman
Levon’s voice is leaving him now. Recent success has its cost, and for him, it’s that high price. Ramble at the Ryman brings in huge talent to pick up where Levon’s voice leaves off. It’s a killer live CD, and again, one of those that is a beautiful introduction to Levon Helm if you’ve been living under a rock the last four years. You can’t afford not to add it to your collection at less than a ten-dollar bill!

Todd Snider Live: The Storyteller
The three way tie is complete with the double CD release by our man Todd Snider. Again, one of those that makes a great the ultimate introduction to what Todd Snider is all about. The hint is in the title “Storyteller.” If you want to laugh until it hurts, and learn all the lyrics in between, this is for you. Warning – you’ll need to be a bit openminded as when Todd gets stuff off his mind, it’s a bit colorful, and definitely liberal. That said, it is completely hilarious.

NUMBER 9

Gillian Welch – The Harrow & The Harvest

This is the best she’s ever done. It is a CD that will lead you to other artists, and open musical doors you didn’t know existed. Listenable for fly fish dudes and dude-ettes. Sure she’s another NPR favorite, but NPR has been at the forefront of delivering great music this year. Hearing is believing. Great music and lyrics.

NUMBER 8

Lucinda Williams – “Blessed”
East Texas’ Lucinda Williams release “Blessed” makes one think she’s finally found what she’s been looking for in another person. The only downside is the love laden lyrics are less a part of my life, and the lives of most fly folks I know, as we are a bit more absorbed in the daily struggles for success and survival. Her music is so great that we can’t hold that, or anything else for that matter, against her. There’s a Deluxe Edition that includes “kitchen tapes” which I wish I had. Maybe I will have to trade up.

Number 7

Hayes Carll – “KMAG Yo Yo”
I saw Hayes here in Denton a few weeks after this one came out, and there was a huge college contingent – standing room only – at Dan’s … singing along, knowing the lyrics exactly – the new lyrics. Hayes Carll transcends into the status of cult with this new release, and is now one of Don Imus’ favorite musicians on his national “Imus in the Morning” show. Don’t believe me if you want, but believe that nappy headed Imus guy, and get “KMAG Yo Yo.”

NUMBER 6

Dawes – “Nothing is Wrong”
Bring me more of this, what is it they call it? – “LA Sound.” I cut my teeth on Jackson Browne, The Eagles and a few other less significant LA bands, so this is one refreshing CD. Old is new again. Songs that are easy to understand, and sing along with, what a novel idea! People, this CD is at Amazon.com for 7.75, so there is no excuse. Listen first and debate it with me later, if you like.