Ryan Bingham - Mescalito

I will be honest:  I know nothing about this guy other than the fact that his voice is what 100-grit sandpaper would sound like if sandpaper could sing.  And if sandpaper had a band, they would probably sound a lot like Bingham's band. 

Mescalito came out in 2007, and I think I might have listened to a few songs at one point.  How I didn't keep on listening is beyond me, because I have fallen in love with this album.  Bingham's voice itself is the highlight, but so is his ability to get your feet tapping.  He kind of sounds like a hung-over Steve Earle mixed with some Neil Young/The Band instrumentation.  I know - Steve Earle sounds plenty hung-over already.  That's how cool Bingham's voice really is.

So here's what you need to do:  Fire up iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster, or whatever you use, and put on the song "Hard Times."  Spend a few minutes with that song. Then enjoy the rest of the album because you'll be hooked.

Listen to this Album:

Marc Ford - It's About Time

Marc Ford, the talented former/current/former guitarist for the Black Crowes, put out this collection of classic rock-inspired songs in 2002. It doesn't sound like he's just trying to emulate rock music from the early 1970's, it actually sounds like it was recorded in the 1970's. The flavors of the Rolling Stones, Neil Young, James Gang, Allman Brothers, Tom Petty, The Faces, etc are all there. There's a little hint of The Replacements too.

I've mentioned before that my favorite Crowes album is Southern Harmony and Musical Companion, the first one that included Ford. He is an excellent guitarist and his skills shine through on It's About Time (especially some tasty slide playing - check out "California"). Beyond Ford, this album includes some cool horn arrangements and background vocals. The piano throughout the album just hits the spot.

Among my favorite tracks are "When You Go" and "Two Mules and a Rainbow", both total homages to Neil Young in their own way. If you're going to listen to just one song, check out "Shining Again." I don't know if I've ever used this description on Best Album of the Day before, but that song is just beautiful...in a classic rock, smoky-bar-last-call kind of way.

Listen to this album

Neil Young - Live At Massey Hall 1971

I just got back from this incredible concert at Massey Hall in Toronto. There's this guy Neil who used to be in Buffalo Springfield but now he's all by himself. Well, anyways he's got better songs then they ever had and this was an incredible concert. It was just him - no band. Wow does this guy have talent. Maybe in 35 years or so they'll put this concert out on an album, or even better, 8-track. Gee, I sure hope someone recorded it...