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Carl Zimring's Chugchanga-L Poll 2000 Entry
1. Case, Neko & Her Boyfriends, Furnace Room Lullaby (Bloodshot)
A big, beautiful voice with fine material, fine backing, fine production
and easily my favorite record released this year.
2. Giant Sand, Chore of Enchantment (Thrill Jockey)
The best record Howe Gelb's ever made balances the loose improv vibe of
the band with disciplined production and great songs. V2 deserves
credit for financing this and grief for dropping them.
3. Yo La Tengo, And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out (Matador)
A textured, clear-eyed look at a relationship, and another distinctly
great YLT record.
4. Phelps, Joel R.L. & the Downer Trio, Inland Empires EP (Moneyshot)
An incredibly sad but beautiful (and largely acoustic) record consisting
of Phelps's superb interpretations of songs by the Go-Betweens, Iris
DeMent, Townes Van Zandt and Steve Earle bookending his original "Now
You Are Found".
5. Eleventh Dream Day, Stalled Parade (Thrill Jockey)
Their most aggressive record since _El Moodio_ and a must for lovers of
Crazy Horse guitar workouts.
6. Pinetop Seven, Bringing Home the Last Great Strike (Truckstop)
Another lush, cinematic record from Darren Richard and a cast of thousands.
7. Naked Omaha, Belt (self-released)
Terrific alt.country drawing from the same elements present in the first
two Uncle Tupelo albums.
8. Mekons, Journey To the End of the Night (Quarterstick)
My favorite Mekons' record since _Curse_.
9. Silkworm, Lifestyle (Touch & Go)
More great stripped-down rock from one of America's best rock bands.
10. Warren Zevon, Life'll Kill Ya (Artemis)
One record every five years is not enough, especially since Zevon's
preoccupation with infirmity and mortality makes it sound as if he's
living on borrowed time.
11. Various Artists, _Come On Beautiful: A Tribute to American Music
Club_ (Big Night)
A coherent and highly successful collection of AMC covers by Steve Wynn,
Paula Frazer, Calexico, Ida, the Willard Grant Conspiracy and likeminded
artists.
12. Waco Brothers, Electric Waco Chair (Bloodshot)
Waco records make me happy. This is my favorite since _Cowboy in Flames_.
13. Drive-By Truckers, Alabama Ass-Whuppin' (Second Heaven)
Southern-fired rock recorded live in concert featuring two gifted
songwriters in Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley. Hoodıs introductions
(especially for "18 Wheels of Love") are worth the price of the album.
14. Willard Grant Conspiracy, Mojave (Slow River)
The strongest WGC album yet.
15. Hogan, Kelly & the Pine Valley Cosmonauts, _Beneath the Country
Underdog_ (Bloodshot)
Hogan's gift for interpretation is ably demonstrated by covers of "Papa
Was a Rodeo", "Whispering Pines" and pretty much every track on this
fine album.
16. Dirtball, Turn Up the Barn (Planetary)
Dirtball go out on a high note with more of Wes Freed's typically
soulful singing.
17. Boxstep, Boxstep (self-released)
A new band out of Pittsburgh that sounds like an indie-rock (and vocal)
take on the Dirty Three. Scratchy from the Deliberate Strangers fiddles
all over this record.
18. Sea and Cake, The, Oui (Thrill Jockey)
My favorite of theirs since _Nassau_.
19. Roll, Jim Lunette (New West)
Another strong set of songs by Roll, produced by Walter Salas-Humara.
20. Prophet, Chuck The Hurting Business (Hightone)
Prophet mixes beats into his Americana with excellent results,
especially on "Dyin' All Young".
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