1. Dan Auerbach
Prolific, persistent, he's made The Black Keys into America's favorite rock band, at least for the moment. The 2011 release El Camino is one of the year's best.
2. Justin Vernon
Doh! A really obvious choice based on the obvious appeal and originality of Bon Iver, Bon Iver.
3. Buddy Miller
He's everywhere, he's everywhere. His Majestic Silver Strings is among 2011's top collections, but his artist of the year cred also reflects his work with Robert Plant's Band of Joy and his production of Patty Griffin's Downtown Church, released in 2010 and awarded the 2011 Grammy for Contemporary Gospel.
4. Bill Frisell
He, too, is everywhere, from his own collection of John Lennon covers to his membership in Buddy Miller's Majestic Silver Strings.
5. Jeff Tweedy
My 1999 artist of the year put together his best collections since then.
Vocalist of the Year
4. Bill Frisell
He, too, is everywhere, from his own collection of John Lennon covers to his membership in Buddy Miller's Majestic Silver Strings.
5. Jeff Tweedy
My 1999 artist of the year put together his best collections since then.
Vocalist of the Year
1. Holly Williams
Based solely on her heart-greakingly beautiful, breathyrendition of Hank, Sr.'s "Blue Is My Heart." I suppose I ought to listen to her own recordings before I give her too much praise. But I can't wait to do that. You'll hear from me about that.
2. Alison Krauss
Wow, here's a surprise. Based on her 2011 album, Paper Airplane, which is nothing other than typical of her output over the past 15 years. I mean that in a good way.
3. Justin Vernon
For those wacky, wonderful falsetto vocals that define the year's best musical collection Bon Iver, Bon Iver.
4. Leslie Feist
Another who scores extra points for not sounding like everybody else.
5. Susan Tedeschi
A more conventional singer, to be sure, but fills the niche recently vacated as Bonnie Raitt seems to have retired from the field. A worthy successor.
Wow, here's a surprise. Based on her 2011 album, Paper Airplane, which is nothing other than typical of her output over the past 15 years. I mean that in a good way.
3. Justin Vernon
For those wacky, wonderful falsetto vocals that define the year's best musical collection Bon Iver, Bon Iver.
4. Leslie Feist
Another who scores extra points for not sounding like everybody else.
5. Susan Tedeschi
A more conventional singer, to be sure, but fills the niche recently vacated as Bonnie Raitt seems to have retired from the field. A worthy successor.
Instrumentalist of the Year
1. Dan Auerbach
It was a pretty good year for pickers of guitars and such-like (see below, then also think about Buddy Miller, Derek Trucks and Vince Gill throwing new music out there, as well as Jerry Douglas and his dobro on a new Alison Krauss title). But Auerbach's is the most original sound in guitar rock today, and that rates some extra credit in my book.
2. Ry Cooder
3. Bill Frisell
It was a pretty good year for pickers of guitars and such-like (see below, then also think about Buddy Miller, Derek Trucks and Vince Gill throwing new music out there, as well as Jerry Douglas and his dobro on a new Alison Krauss title). But Auerbach's is the most original sound in guitar rock today, and that rates some extra credit in my book.
2. Ry Cooder
3. Bill Frisell
Tough to choose between Cooder and Frisell. How about both? Frisell's All We Are Saying is among his best work, while Cooder's Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down is merely typical of his 30-years of output--not significantly better, nor certainly any the worse for its raw energy. I guess I find the rawer work more award-worthy this time around.
4. Jerry Douglas
5. Buddy Miller
Not unlike Cooder and Frisell, these also smack of career awards. Well, so be it.
5. Buddy Miller
Not unlike Cooder and Frisell, these also smack of career awards. Well, so be it.
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