The 2010 Americana Music Association nominations were announced this week, and for fans of the Americana/alt-country rock-and-twang genre (like me), it’s an interesting little list:
Album of the year nominees:
The List – Rosanne Cash (…gonna win because Johnny gave his daughter aformentioned “list” – and Springsteen duets on one of the songs)
A Friend of a Friend – Dave Rawlings Machine (…co-writers and performers include Old Crow Medicine Show, Bright Eyes, and members of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
Downtown Church – by Patty Griffin (…most beautiful voice of the four – and many more)
A. Enlightenment B. Endarkenment (Hint: There is no c) – Ray Wylie Hubbard (…legend, but not the best album)
Artist of the Year
Ryan Bingham (…wrote two tunes – and sang them – for “Crazy Heart”, the Jeff Bridges film = winner)
Patty Griffin (…see note about her from above)
Levon Helm (…still has the great foghorn voice of the Band days)
Steve Earle (… tribute album, Townes, with 15 songs written by his late friend and musical mentor Townes Van Zandt. Interesting that the album is not nominated but he is)
Ray Wylie Hubbard (…well-loved in the alt-country field, but not gonna win)
Duo/Group of the Year
The Avett Brothers (…how can they not win? One of the hottest bands of the past year)
Carolina Chocolate Drops (…too new to win, but are playing a folk festival in Madison in a little more than a week, so that counts for some love here)
Band of Heathens (…I really like the way they rock = but not enough of a widespread buzz for them just yet)
Dave Rawlings Machine (…underdog)
Song of the Year
“The Weary Kind (Theme From Crazy Heart)” Written by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett-performed by Ryan Bingham
“Drunken Poets Dream” Written by Hayes Carll and Ray Wylie Hubbard – performed by Ray Wylie Hubbard
“Ruby” Written by Dave Rawlings and Gillian Welch – performed by Dave Rawlings Machine
“I and Love and You” Written and performed The Avett Brothers