The End of the Year: From The Managing Editor

The end of the year marks a milestone for The Oklahoma Reviews and our team of talented writers, editors, and photographers. It was our first in existence. A year of trying our hardest to promote independent music that we love so dearly. A year to cover big events and festivals all over the United States. We covered shows in the United Kingdom and some of the biggest albums and musicians of the year. However, our goal is to always provide a voice for the smaller labels and independent musicians. We want to continue to build a following that allows us to distribute music that might otherwise not be widely known. Good music is everywhere. We want to showcase it. 

I want for OKR to be a trusted source for people to discover these artists. To do that, we need music fans to help us distribute our content to their friends and friends of friends. We need you to talk about the music, to go to the shows, to buy the merchandise. Our team has compiled a personal list of their top albums and shows of the year. For me, that is far more difficult to do, as every single thing we have published is personal and means a great deal to me. So please, go to our website. Scroll to the bottom and have a look at what we have published in the past year. Click on an artist that you may not be familiar with and discover some new-to-you artists. We love every single one of them and hope to bring you even more in our second year here at OKR. 

Sean Payne, Managing Editor

theoklahomareviews.com

Part One: The Albums

theoklahomareviews.com/home/2019/12/16/best-of-2019-the-albums

Favorite Songs of 2019

Stephanie Blackburn, Oklahoma Reviews Writer/Editor

“Away from the Mire” - Billy Strings, HOME: This psychedelic-infused bluegrass tune is one that I just can’t stop playing. The blended genres are magical, the lyrics are haunting, and it is just over seven minutes of sheer brilliance every time I hear it. “Remember the time, we were both eye to eye and we both knew the reasons why… it seemed like we faced the world on our own.” Whoa.

“In the Throes” - Chris Jones and the Flycatchers, Songs for Red: This song is always at the top of my playlist. The lyrics and melody just capture a mood that is relatable across generations, “Like a ten mile tank with fifty to go…,” and focus on persisting through difficult times, a message we all need to hear and embrace these days. 

“Nowhere Fast” - Vandoliers, Forever: They rock it right out of the gate with the signature horns, and the opening lyrics, “Two kids on the run, with the windows rolled down and the radio up...screaming at the top of our lungs, yeah tomorrow we'll be older but today we're still young…” just set up the perfect road trip song. Admittedly, it has been on every road trip with me since the first time I heard it!

“Blue Eyes Dancing” - Matt Heckler, After the Flood: Matt gives us some of the best fiddle from beginning to end. This Celtic folk, punk, blue grass, Appalachian-infused story is one of the best and unique tunes I loved this year. I know it’s hard when the sun goes down, to be alone on shaking grounds… Go get some matches, and kerosene, we’ll burn it down, honey… burn out and leave.”

“Highway Whine” - Ben Jarrell, Troubled Times: It starts out with a great acapella that leads into a feel-good song about getting away, “Got a suitcase full of hopes and dreams and a rearview full of memories…”  The upbeat tone, the lyrics Ben wrote, and the collaboration on vocals with Ben Donavan just blend together for a fantastic tune that made me want to listen to more! 

Jolene Horihan, Oklahoma Reviews Writer/Editor

“Till It’s Gone” – Erin Enderlin, Faulkner County: There is a reason that Erin Enderlin is one of the best lyricists in the business. Her songs are always a poignant setting full of familiar imagery. “Till It’s Gone” is a perfect example of that imagery on display. Not to mention the emotion this song is wrought with. If you’re looking for a heartbreak song, look no further. The song opens with the most hauntingly beautiful steel guitar I have ever heard. Her vocals make you feel the anguish of the protagonist in the song. I’ve listened to this song hundreds of times and it never fails to give me chills.   

“The Night” - Morgan Wade (single): One day at a time. That’s the old adage for so many folks who battle the demons of mental illness, drug abuse, or alcoholism. This song is like an anthem to those who fight those battles or to those that love someone fighting those battles. I feel like this is a standout song, both lyrically and vocally, and it communicates the realism that is faced with each passing day. This song gets stuck in my head and under my skin, in a good way.

“The Jameson Waltz” – Kayla Ray (single): One of the most beautiful and unique voices in country music belongs to Kayla Ray. Her vocals are inherently soaked with the emotion of living a hundred lifetimes. There is no second guessing as to the feelings she is trying to convey when you listen to her sing. The Jameson Waltz is a timeless tale of mixing whiskey and memories set to the rhythm of a good old-fashioned waltz. Country music 101.

“Letter to Madeline” – Ian Noe, Between the Country: Seemingly hopeless settings are Ian Noe’s specialty, but somehow, I still hold out hope that the character in this story makes it home. Or, in the least, the letter makes it to Madeline. On the surface, the song appears simple and cut and dry, yet by the end, I have so many questions and a longing to know how it all truly ends. It plays out like the climax of a movie and I really enjoy songs that tell a story in that manner.

“All Your’n” – Tyler Childers, Country Squire: Who doesn’t relish in a good love song? This isn’t just a proclamation of love, however; it is a timeline of love growing through the best and hardest of times. It’s what makes love real and lasting. Sticking out the tough times and holding on to the hope and yearning for a better future and enjoying the life that has been built together. Many people (including myself, at first) were surprised and unhappy with the arrangement of the studio recording, but I think the addition of the keys really breathed new life into the song. I feel like it adds the uplifting feeling to the vocals that this song deserves. And, the song’s music video is one of the most entertaining I’ve seen in a long time.

Kerri McClinton, Oklahoma Reviews Writer/ Editor

“In the Throes” – Chris Jones & the Flycatchers, Songs for Red: “Like a ten mile tank with 50 to go / I’m running out of gas for the end of the road…” Who can’t identify with that? It’s a universal idea, but it’s also still painfully personal. With gut-check lyrics, Isbell-like vocals, and a talented band, Chris Jones & the Flycatchers are one to watch and make sure you see this coming year.

“Bring Back Someday” – Lost Dog Street Band, Weight of a Trigger: Lyrics like, “What if our pride swallows our time...,” beautiful harmonies and vocals, a powerful yet poignant fiddle and banjo combo, and perhaps one of my favorite musical tools - a happy-sounding, catchy tune behind a song that’s just an inch or two short of outright despair; “Bring Back Someday” checks all kinds of musical boxes for me. It’s complex and beautiful and sorrowful all at once.

“If Today Doesn’t Do Me In” – Ian Noe, Between the Country: On an album full of remarkable, speechless moments, this one is my favorite. “If Today…” examines the everyday struggles of everyday people, from a hitchhiker to a gas station clerk, both with lofty dreams. It drifts up and down melodically, the acoustic guitar gently sort of lilting back and forth with a sense of guarded optimism, and it ends with this gem: “There’s a feeling you get not far from despair / that sometimes sets in on your mind / But if it’s all that you got / you still set the clock / and get up with a reason to climb.” Genius and lovely and optimistic, too. It’s perfect.

“Planets” – The Infamous Stringdusters, Rise Sun: I don’t even know where to start here. One of my favorite songs, on one of my favorite albums, by one of my favorite bands. This one strikes so many chords for me, but maybe the one that resonates the most, I think, is that this is the song that my seven year old wanted to listen to the night he lost his great granddad, when we talked about how music can help us with feelings that are so big, we don’t know how to explain them or deal with them. That’s a big moment, when you love music so much and you’re raising a sensitive kid who loves music too.

On a more personal level, the sense of feeling like the world in general is falling apart and wondering when the hell things will take a turn for the better, is a feeling I can identify with. I dig the cool tempo play during the pre-chorus (thanks to my friends who know technical terms for that) when the vocals are sort of slowly falling while the strings in the back are running at a much faster pace. I love those kinds of musical juxtapositions and that’s something the Dusters are getting better and better at. Only thing better than the album version is seeing it live and getting the sweet “Reuben and Cherise” (Jerry Garcia Band) jam they like to incorporate into it. Find a live version online (Live from Covington Kentucky is one fans would recommend) and dig into it when you can.

“Away From the Mire” – Billy Strings, Home:  Besides being on one of the best albums of the year, by one of the best musicians alive, “AFTM” came out during the end of my Grandad’s fight with cancer, and did so much to help me deal with the questions I had about loss, meaning, and truth at that time. I was working with a friend to collaborate on the album review for OKR, and I must have played this song at least 50 times in a row this one particular night, crying through half of them and smiling through the other half.  This song, particularly the words, “just to end up gone like everything else,” and really, the album in whole, was a pivot point, and a place for me to lean while I processed some hard emotions, and I’m always so happy that music can be that for me, and for all of us, if we let it.

Melissa Payne, Oklahoma Reviews Photographer/Writer

“Medicine for Living” - Alexa Rose, Medicine for Living: One of the most relatable songs of the year for me, I’ve cried almost every time I’ve listened to it. Alexa perfectly captures the feeling of being flawed and damaged, but wondering if you can be loved in spite of it.

“Faraway Look”- Yola, Walk Through Fire - The power ballad of 2019. The whole album is killer, but this song is the one I belt out when I’m by myself.

“Anyhow” - Kelsey Waldon, White Noise/White Lines: Need some gumption? This is the song for you. This song gets me inspired every time I listen to it. A girl power song for the modern woman. All may look bleak, but you’re going to turn it around anyhow. Truly one of the best of 2019.

“Oklahoma City” - Shane Smith and the Saints, Hail Mary: I may be partial to this song as an Okie, but Shane’s voice coupled with the haunting fiddle solo “voice” in this song gives me chills every time. A song about life on the road; you can’t help but wonder how close to home this hits for everyone in the band.

“Troublemaker” - The Vandoliers, Forever: This fast-paced song is one of my favorites from the Vandoliers' catalog. This is the song for the black sheep and those that never thought they’d succeed, yet the punchy, in-your-face tempo makes you just want to dance.

Erin Reed, Oklahoma Reviews Writer/Coordinator

“Lie with Me” - Porter Union (single): It’s ironic that a husband and wife can weave such a heartbreaking tale of forcing a love that’s no longer there. The voices of Kendra and Cole Porter are both haunting and beautiful, giving life to their latest single. What I love most about this song is that it showcases how the Porters have grown as songwriters. It’s relatable and captivating, and proof that there’s so much more to come from these two. 

“Whirlwind” - Shane Smith and the Saints, Hail Mary: I remember the first time I heard this song at Mile0Fest. The line “came to me like my favorite song” really stuck with me. By the time I got my phone out to record it, I only caught the last half. I listened to that clip for months before the album version was released in June, and I love it just as much now as I did the first time.

“The Smoke and the Stars” - Jason Hawk Harris, Love & the Dark: This song stopped me in my tracks when it shuffled through a recommended playlist. I was shocked that something could strike me so quickly from a musician that hadn’t yet crossed my radar. I even reached out to several of my music-loving friends to ask why no one had told me about Harris. I’d even venture to say that, had I not been late to the party, his August release of Love & the Dark would’ve cracked my top five albums list. 

“All Your’n” - Tyler Childers, Country Squire: When Childers released Country Squire there was an unspoken expectation that “All Your’n” would be the kind of song played during the first dance at a wedding reception. What fans got was a tripped out, laid back twist on a song they’d come to love from seeing it performed live. I was immediately drawn to the album version because it was unexpected while still being completely Tyler. 

“Lions of Kandahar” - Micky and the Motorcars, Long Time Comin’: I’ve had a hard time putting words to why this song became my favorite off of Long Time Comin’ but maybe that’s because some songs just speak for themselves. The story is so vividly told it’s more like watching a movie than hearing a song. Impressive, emotionally engaging, and downright compelling.

Randy Ruff, Oklahoma Reviews Writer

“Come Back Down” - Flatland Cavalry, Homeland Insecurity: With so many songs about the trite and the absurd flooding the market, it’s such a refreshing surprise to find a song about the wonderful experience of coming home to the love of friends and family. It’s full of introspective thanks, humility, and joy, without a single tailgate or the back road. Makers all around, indeed!

“Whirlwind” - Shane Smith and the Saints, Hail Mary: Who doesn’t love a love song that makes you dance from the first listen? Packed with brilliant sequences of fiddle and guitar solos, this song explores an epic journey for love, that will pack the floor, tear your eyes, give you a rest, and have you hopping again.

“Matthew” - Tyler Childers, Country Squire: A seemingly simple song about the how the simple things in life are really the best. Listening to it leaves you feeling like you’re sitting in the woods along a quiet mountain stream with your buddies, enjoying the best of times. 

“Barbara’s Song” – Ian Noe, Between the Country: A train song about a man experiencing his impending demise as the trestle they’re crossing is washed out by a flood. Hardly cheerful subject matter for sure, but within this tune Noe finds a way to keep the train rolling via the music as the lyrics explore his final moments in prayer, his observation of the panic in slow motion, and a chorus that calls out to the lover he’ll never see again.  

“Away from the Mire” – Billy Strings, Home: Nearly eight minutes long, "Mire" allows Strings ample time to put his distinctive voice and brilliant guitar work on full display, it is an ambling metaphor of melancholy, laced with hope and a reminder for us to always push forward even as the wheel of life turns to hard times again and again.

Derek Scudder, Oklahoma Reviews Writer

“The Damn Truth” - Chris Knight, Almost Daylight: The truth as seen through the eyes of one of the best songwriters in America. Period.

“Danger" - Mike & the Moonpies, Cheap Silver and Solid Country Gold: My favorite track from the Cheap Silver album sounds great live without the strings. I still say Hank Williams, Jr., could cover this and make it his own.

“56 Fury” - Rodney Crowell, Texas: This duet with Billy F. Gibbons sounds just like it should - The Houston Kid fronting ZZ Top. If that ain’t Texas…

“Times Like These” - Hayes Carll, What It Is:  How can you NOT love a line like: “I just wanna do my labor / love my girl and help my neighbor / while keeping all my joie de vivre???" THIS is the Hayes we’ve missed!

“Die Rockin’” - Whiskey Myers, Whiskey Myers: This opening sonic boom from the new album was co-written with Ray Wylie Hubbard. Folks keep clamoring for a Cross Canadian Ragweed reunion, but this Red Dirt rock-n-roll band is alive & well.