From Nashville: Hey kids, here’s a list of my personal Top 10 Albums of 2007. Title and Artist should be self explanatory; I put the producer(s) in parentheses. I apologize in advance for not hearing every single release last year but I tried. Some of you will agree with these and some of you won’t. Its okay. Either way, I still wish you a fine, music filled 2008!

1. Sky Blue Sky by Wilco (Wilco) – Jeff Tweedy and crew gave us their sixth official release this year. I think you’ll find that there is much less “experimenting” on this record and more straight ahead rock. Guitarist Nels Cline joined the band in 2004 and finally got to bring his six string mojo to the studio. He is no doubt a perfect compliment to Tweedy’s writing. The songs blend effortlessly, and not one of them needs the fast forward button. Sky Blue Sky could be the bastard love child of George Harrison and Brian Wilson. Lucky little shit! Suggested track : Hate It Here

2. The Trailer Tapes by Chris Knight (Chris Knight) – If you’re not familiar with this artist, you should be. The Trailer Tapes are a collection of home demos that Chris recorded in his trailer back in Slaughter, Kentucky in 1996. A few years following these ADAT sessions, Chris hit the big time, well as big time as you can be in Americana music. His full length major releases are full of great roots music, but these early stories are something else. Just an acoustic guitar and set of pipes that sound like they have been marinating in Jack Daniels overnight. Suggested track : Rita’s Only Fault

3. Magic by Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band (Brendan O’Brien) – If you don’t like storytelling, imagery, America, or just plain ole rock music; don’t buy this record. Enlisting the help of producer Brendan O’Brien (Pearl Jam, Rage Against The Machine, Neil Young) for the third time, this latest Boss effort is nothing short of fan-damn-tastic. With virtually no help from commercial radio, Magic still debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200. I guess American music buyers can get it right sometimes. Suggested track: Magic

4. Revival by John Fogerty (John Fogerty) – It’s real simple folks, Fogerty is the shit! You ever met someone who doesn’t like Creedence? Didn’t think so. This guy is rock n’ roll. He’s still got the voice; he’s still got the riffs. He is such a bad ass, that in a lyric on this new record he says, “you can’t go wrong, if you play a little bit of that Creedence song”. He’s fucking right. Suggested track: Gunslinger

5. Easy Tiger by Ryan Adams (Jamie Candiloro) – Easy Tiger is easily the coolest thing from this kid since Whiskeytown’s Pneumonia. Adams and his band, The Cardinals, give us alt-country at it’s finest on this June ’07 release. The dusky voiced Adams has been likened to Gram Parsons and I agree. They both have innocence in their delivery that’s strikingly inviting. Suggested track: Everybody Knows

6. It’s Not Big, It’s Large by Lyle Lovett and his Large Band (Billy Williams) – Lyle Lovett has always lived on the eccentric side of country; no change of address on this record. The title comes from a play on Lovett’s third release going back to 1989, which is a play on the whole “big band” theme. At times, especially on this new collection, it sounds as though the Glenn Miller Orchestra added a steel guitar player to the lineup. Lovett’s writing is subtle but heavy. He may take you down a Gospel spiral or throw you in a Texas Swing. Either way, he’ll have you coming back for a second helping. Suggested track: Ain’t No More Cane

7. Salvation In Lights by Mike Farris (Matt Martone, Mike Farris) – This is the second solo effort from former Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelie Mike Farris. Listening to this disc from beginning to end is like taking a riverboat tour down the Mississippi. It’s absolutely drenched in Delta Blues and Big Easy Jazz. Farris’ voice is as big as Lake Pontchartrain and the arrangements are classic and fresh at the same time. He serves up a soul charged rendition of Sam Cooke’s “Change Is Gonna Come” that relentlessly attacks the heartstrings. You know I dig me some Black Keys but the next time Craig Brewer makes a movie, he should totally check out this record. Suggested track: Devil Don’t Sleep

8. Raising Sand by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss (T Bone Burnett) – One of the most distinguished voices in rock history teams up with an angelic icon of roots music for this bare bones collaboration. I promise you’ve never heard anything like this before. Burnett once again delivers a superb collection of American heritage music. It’s stripped down and almost eerie at times but still quite warming. Plant and Krauss give somber and unrestrained performances of Gene Clark, The Everly Brothers, and Tom Waits. These tunes are focused and unforgiving; it’s far better than you know. Suggested track: Killing The Blues

9. Washington Square Serenade by Steve Earle (John King) – I think one of the true marks of genius is when said genius doesn’t do what’s expected. Steve Earle may be one of the true godfathers of “alt-country”. He’s done political, heartbreak, and whiskey songs, all in the vein of organic Americana. So what does he do in 2007? He enlists a Dust Brother to help him out. Best known for production on Beck’s “Odelay” and The Beasties’ “Paul Boutique”, John King brings a whole new pallet for Steve to create on. Earle’s new material is familiar and distant altogether. It’s raw country music via New York City. Suggested track: Tennessee Blues

10. Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace by Foo Fighters (Gil Norton, Foo Fighters) – The Fighters of Foo reunite with “The Colour and the Shape” producer Gil Norton on their sixth studio release. Dave Grohl continues to be a powerhouse in the world of modern rock. He consistently brings sophisticated melodies and rhythms to a genre that’s been half dead for a while. The Foo’s stylized approach to writing has matured and aged gracefully since their 1995 debut. Their latest holds true to form; it’s fast, sick, gentle, and loud. Plus, Dave brings back Pat Smear for a tune! Enjoy the Foo folks. Suggested track: The Pretender

Well, there they are, my Top 10. Unfortunately I had to exclude several outstanding records. So that being said, here’s a quick list of honorable mentions (with some input from Ferraro):

The Dirt Farmer by Levon Helm; One Man Revolution by The Nightwatchman; Carry On by Chris Cornell; Icky Thump by The White Stripes; Sirens of the Ditch by Jason Isbell; As I Am by Alicia Keys; Just Roll Tape by Stephen Stills; Blood on the Slacks by Golden Smog; From Beale Street to Oblivion by Clutch.