Boxing Day Banter

My December 26 show is a chance to look over the tunes of the year. Regular listeners will appreciate that I've been overjoyed by Josh T Pearson, Tom Waits and Anna Calvi. The new Ry Cooder album was tremendous but hey, when did he last put out a bad one? Likewise with The Decemberists, The Horrors and Paul Simon, who was largely overlooked in the critics polls.

It was impossible not to be touched by Glen Campbell and King Creosote. The Nick Lowe album was beautifully written and Kate Bush, bless her, defied all career expectations by releasing two albums in a year. Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver were both welcome but slightly under par. My favourite track of the year was Drive By Truckers and their take on the Eddie Hinton song, 'Everybody Needs Love'. Heart-breaking.

We had another feast of local music, but if I had to select personal faves it would be Anthony Toner, upping his game with 'A Light Below The Door' and Cashier No 9, aided by David Holmes to create 'To The Death Of Fun'. A proper paradox, that.