Best of 2009 (Roots)

1. 

   1. Jack Rose & the Black Twigs: s/t

   This is no easy to review to write, as we’re all still stunned at the sudden passing of Jack Rose, who died on Dec. 5 at the age of 38. For those of us who value the beauty and wonder of the ...read more

2. 

   2. A Broken Consort: Box of Birch

   A Broken Consort is one of several pseudonyms employed by U.K. artist Richard Skelton, who operates the Sustain-Release imprint, which issues music and other artisanal works that (in the accurate w...read more

3. 

   3. Michael Hurley: Ida Con Snock

   On two occasions, Michael Hurley and Ida performed at Sound Fix, and these were among our most memorable in-stores ever. They always told us afterward that they were working on an album, and here i...read more

4. 

   4. v/a: Take Me to the Water: Immersion Baptism in Vintage Music and Photography 1890-1950

   The latest release from Grammy Award-winning reissue label Dust-to-Digital gives music fans another reason to rejoice. A stunning 96-page hardcover book of historic baptism photographs, taken betwe...read more

5. 

   5. Bob Dylan: Theme Time Radio Hour: The Best of the Second Series

   By now, you’ve probably heard of Bob Dylan’s satellite radio show and its incredible assortment of music that he spins. Now comes along the third in a series of compilations from his sh...read more

6. 

   6. v/a: Fire in My Bones: Raw + Rare + Other-Worldly African-American Gospel (1944-2007)

   The only well-known artist on this three-CD set is Snooks Eaglin (who recasts “Down by the Riverside”); casual gospel or “roots” fans may also have heard of Precious Bryant, Abner Jay, Bish...read more

7. 

   7. Frank Fairfield: s/t

   One look at the cover and you might think you’ve stumbled upon some reissue of a long-lost Depression-era country-blues singer. But no, Frank Fairfield is a modern folk troubadour, honing his...read more

8. 

   8. James Blackshaw: The Glass Bead Game

   After garnering a reputation for combining the best elements of John Fahey and Sandy Bull in his beautiful, intricate 12-string-guitar playing, English virtuoso James Blackshaw started branching ou...read more

9. 

   9. Sir Richard Bishop: The Freak of Araby

   Sun City Girls, yada yada, whatever. I enjoy every one of Richard Bishop’s solo albums a lot more than anything he did with SCG. Though still quite eclectic, his discs are more focused and cohere...read more

Tags: americana , ethereal , folk , gospel , guitar , gypsy , indie , instrumental , minimal , rockabilly , roots , solo , sound-collage