MARTIN JONES
TOP ALBUMS
Patty Griffin,Patty Griffin
Guesswork, Lloyd Cole
Run Home Slow, The Teskey Brothers
Years To Burn, Calexico & Iron And Wine
Kitty & Frank, Lucie Thorne
You Be The Lightning, Tracy McNeil & The Goodlife
Blood Red Ties, Kevin Bennett & The Flood
This Is Not A Dream, Lost Ragas
The Saint Of Lost Causes, Justin Townes Earle
The Imperial, The Delines
Dyson, Stringer & Cloher – Dyson, Stringer & Cloher
BEST COMPILATION/REISSUE
Stay Around, Closer To You, Live, Guitar Man, To Tulsa And Back, JJ Cale
BEST BOOK
The Shepherd’s Hut, Tim Winton (released last year.
BEST CONCERT/GIG
Jeff Tweedy, Brisbane Powerhouse
BEST CONCERT/GIG
Jeff Tweedy, Brisbane Powerhouse
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
A family trip to Europe which included stumbling into an unforgettable Paris underground jazz show by the Yonathan Avishai trio with bass player extraordinaire Omer Avital.
STUART COUPE
TOP 10 ALBUMS (IN NO ORDER)
Crystal Cuts, Shifting Sands
The Weir, Michael Waugh –
This (Is What I Wanted To Tell You), Lambchop
Purple Mountains, Purple Mountains
Western Stars, Bruce Springsteen
This Is Not A Dream, Lost Ragas
We Get By, Mavis Staples
Wild At Heart, Glenn Cardier
Doomsday Ballet, Bad//Dream
Guy, Steve Earle The Dukes
BEST COMPILATION REISSUE
Whatever It’s Worth, Col Nolan & The Soul Syndicate
BEST BOOK (MUSIC & OTHER)
The Wichita Lineman, Dylan Jones
Trips: Rock Life In The Sixties (reissue), Ellen Sander
BEST FILM (MUSIC & OTHERWISE)
Rolling Thunder Revue
Amazing Grace
BEST CONCERT/GIG
Nick Cave/Warren Ellis/Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Hamer Hall, August (just nudging out Iggy Pop at the Sydney Opera House)
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
Spending the majority of it writing a book about Paul Kelly.
JO ROBERTS
TOP 10 ALBUMS
This is not a Dream, Lost Ragas
Coldwater DFU, Mick Thomas & the Roving Commission
Beyond the Door, Redd Kross
When the Sun Goes Down, Kieran Kane and Rayna Gellert
Field Recordings, Blackbirds FC
Fishing for Fishies, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Titanic Rising, Weyes Blood
Don’t You Have Better Things to Do?, Kate Alexander + Hana Brenecki
Dyson Stringer Cloher, Dyson Stringer Cloher
Songs From the Aftermath, Wagons
BEST COMPILATION/REISSUE
Shake Yer Popboomerang Volume 3
BEST BOOK (MUSIC & OTHER)
I’m sure Patti Smith’s will be once I get around to reading it!
BEST FILM (MUSIC & OTHER)
Haven’t seen any (terrible, I know)
BEST CONCERT/GIG
Lost Ragas album launch at the Spotted Mallard. Mesmerising.
MICHAEL GOLDBERG
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1.The Long Goodbye, Pere Ubu
2. Norman Fucking Rockwell, Lana Del Rey,
3. Travelin’ Through, Bob Dylan,
4 No Home Record, Kim Gordon,
5. When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, Billie Eilish
6. Two Hands, Big Thief
7. Lark, Angel Olsen,
8. Blue World, John Coltrane
9. Mint Condition, Caroline Spence,
10. Avengers, Avengers (This album was first released in 1983 — it’s so good that people need to know about it!)
BEST COMPILATION/REISSUE
The Rolling Thunder Revue: The 1975 Live Recordings, Bob Dylan,
BEST BOOK (MUSIC & OTHER)
Zazen, Vanessa Veselka
BEST FILM (MUSIC & OTHER)
Country Music, Ken Burns
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
Country Music Series, Ken Burns
JEFF JENKINS
TOP 10 ALBUMS
Western Stars, Bruce Springsteen
Salt, Angie McMahon
Slow Is The New Fast, Ben Mitchell
The Words of Men, Deborah Conway & Willy Zygier
Fever Dreams, Mark Moldre
Prisoner of Love, Stephen Cummings
Dyson Stringer Cloher, Dyson Stringer Cloher
Black And Blue Heart, Russell Morris
Sometimes I Just Don’t Know, Bryan Estepa
Citizen John, The Black Sorrows
BEST COMPILATION/REISSUE
A Life Is A Life, Stephen Cummings
BEST BOOK
Something To Believe In, Andrew Stafford
The Big Beat, Donald Robertson
BEST FILM
Mystify: Michael Hutchence
Blinded By The Light
BEST GIG
Perry Keyes, Caravan Music Club, March
HIGHLIGHT
The return of Ron S. Peno.
JONATHAN ALLEY
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
- Facestabber, The Oh Sees
- Ghosteen, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
- Unloved, Heartbreak
- This is Not a Dream, Lost Ragas
- Rainford, Lee Scratch Perry
- Live at Melbourne Town Hall, Sarah Mary Chadwick
- Love, Hate, Jess Ribiero
- Dogrel, Fontaines DC
- Movies for Ears, Ela Orleans
- Ghost Heroin, Fenn Wilson
BEST COMPILATION REISSUE
Nigeria 70: No Wahala : Highlife, Afro Funk and Juju 1973- 1987
BEST BOOK (MUSIC & OTHER)
Throw Away Unopened, Viv Albertine
Three Women, Lisa Taddeo
BEST FILM (MUSIC & OTHERWISE)
Rolling Thunder Revue, Martin Scorsese (Comedy of the Year!)
Woman at War
BEST CONCERT/GIG
Magic Dirt, Golden Plains, Meredith (Vic) – March
(This was really a tie with Marlon Williams at same fest and Iggy Pop at FH, but if I can only have one, it has to this one.)
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
Being able to hang out at Stovepipe Studios watching Matt Walker weave his mixing magic on my daughter’s upcoming music.
SUE BARRETT
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
1. Tell Me Why – Archie Roach
2. Howling Back at the Wounded Dog – The Rough & Tumble
3. Back to Shore – Shari Ulrich
4. Daisywheel – Ruth Hazleton
5. Father of the Bride – Vampire Weekend
6. Bookish – Annie Gallup
7. Inversions – Belinda O’Hooley
8. Want it All – Little Wise
9. Three Chords & The Truth – Van Morrison
10. Kelly Brouhaha – Kelly Brouhaha
BEST COMPILATION
Live in Scotland – Jenny Biddle
BEST BOOK (MUSIC)
Tell Me Why – Archie Roach
BEST BOOK (OTHER)
Peace – Garry Disher
BEST FILM (MUSIC)
Wild Rose
BEST FILM (OTHER)
Sorry We Missed You
BEST CONCERT/GIG
Marliya (of Gondwana Choirs) with Felix Riebl, Ollie McGill & Emma Donovan – Spinifex Gum, Canberra Theatre, September
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR
Continuation of the Festival of Small Halls. News of Folk Alliance Australia’s forthcoming Folk Touring Directory. And some good movie soundtracks, including Top End Wedding and Fisherman’s Friends.
STEVE BELL
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
Ode To Joy – Wilco
Purple Mountains – Purple Mountains
Inferno – Robert Forster
Breakdown On 20th Ave South – Buddy & Julie Miller
Years To Burn – Calexico & Iron and Wine
Coldwater DFU – Mick Thomas’ Roving Commission
The Saint Of Lost Causes – Justin Townes Earle
Röda Tråden – Texas Tea
Pony – Orville Peck
I Need A New War – Craig Finn
BEST COMPILATION REISSUE
Dead Man’s Pop – The Replacements
BEST BOOK (MUSIC & OTHER – 2 SELECTIONS)
Before We Was We – Madness
Bjelke Blues – Edwina Shaw (ed)
BEST FILM (MUSIC & OTHERWISE – 2 SELECTIONS)
Rolling Thunder Revue
One Upon A Time In Hollywood
BEST CONCERT/GIG
Jeff Tweedy, Brisbane Powerhouse, May
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
Seeing killer shows by John Prine and Jeff Tweedy playing solo in relatively quick succession was pretty special, almost the bookends of modern Americana. The corresponding lowlight was the tragic passing of musician/poet David Berman (Silver Jews, Purple Mountains), a great talent gone to soon.
NICK CHARLES
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
She Remembers Everything, Rosanne Cash
Cut and Run, Lloyd Spiegel
Kitchen Ballads, Enda Kenny
Love and Other Crimes, Liz Frencham
Fingerprints, Rod McCormack
Listening Booth 70, Marc Cohn
Tuesday Island, Act Like You Care, Tom Bolton
Accomplice (One), Tommy Emmanuel
Voodoo in The Shadows, Fiona Boyes
EJ, Eric Johnson –
BEST COMPILATION REISSUE
3 Essential Albums, Grant Green
BEST BOOK (MUSIC)
Being John Lennon, Ray Connolly
Sam Phillips, the Man Who Invented Rock & Roll, Peter Guralnick
BEST FILM (MUSIC & OTHERWISE)
St Vincent
Rocket Man
BEST CONCERT/GIG
Weeping Willows, Thornbury Theatre , April
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
The Melbourne Guitar Show, Caulfield Racecourse
MEG CRAWFORD
TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. Ghosteen, Nick Cave and the Bad Seed
2. Free, Iggy Pop
3. Dyson Stringer Cloher, Dyson Stringer Cloher
4. Gypsy,Eilen Jewell
5. Warmer, Jeff Tweedy
6. Ode to Joy, Wilco
7. We Get By, Mavis Staples
8. Thanks for the Dance, Leonard Cohen
9. Sound and Fury, Sturgill Simpson
10. Encore, The Specials
BEST COMPILATION/REISSUE
The Rolling Thunder Review, Bob Dylan
BEST MUSIC BOOK
Year of the Monkey, Patti Smith
BEST MUSIC FILM
The Dirt, Jeff Tremaine (don’t judge me…)
BEST CONCERT
Nick Cave In Conversation Tour, Melbourne Town Hall, Melbourne, Saturday January 19.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
Patti Smith announcing that she’d be touring Australia again after all!
CHRIS FAMILTON
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
Purple Mountains, Purple Mountains
The Imperial, The Delines
Between The Country, Ian Noe
Shepherd In A Sheepskin Vest, Bill Callahan
Colorado, Neil Young with Crazy Horse
Fever Dreams, Mark Moldre
Gypsy, Eilen Jewell
Undress, The Felice Brothers
Golden Boy Vol. 1 & II, Skyscraper Stan
Out Of Sight, Jake Xerxes Fussell
BEST COMPILATION REISSUE
No Other, Gene Clark
BEST BOOK
Dead People I Have Known, Shayne Carter
* I’ve only read music books in 2019!
BEST FILM (MUSIC & OTHERWISE)
The Chills – The Triumph & Tragedy of Martin Phillipps
Joker
BEST CONCERT/GIG
Straitjacket Fits/Dimmer, Factory Theatre, September
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
Experience 45 live sets in 40 hours at Dashville Skyline festival.
KEITH GLASS
TOP 5 ALBUMS
Texas Piano Man, Robert Ellis
Breakdown On 20th Avenue, Buddy & Julie Miller
Funny Sexy Cool, Hollywood Horses
Stardust Birthday Party, Ron Gallo
I Like It Down Here, Will Kimborough
BEST COMPILATION REISSUE
The Time For Peace Is Now, Gospel Music About Us – Various Artists (LuakaBop)
BEST BOOK (MUSIC & OTHER)
Brave Punk World, James Greene, Jr
Girl Singer, Rosemary Clooney w/ Joan Bartell
BEST FILM
Country Music, Six Part Mini-Series Ken Burns
BEST CONCERT/GIG
Big Sandy & The Fly-Right Boys, The Listening Room Mobile, Alabama,
March 2019
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
Opening of Trump Impeachment Enquiry.
AL HENSLEY
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
1. Voyage, Daniel Herskedal
2. Baby Please Come Home, Jimmie Vaughan
3. Sisters In Jazz, Caecilie Norby
4. Kingfish, Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram
5. The Seven Rays, Jerry Bergonzi
6. Roots And Branches, Billy Branch & The Sons Of Blues
7. Jazz At Berlin Philharmonic IX – Pannonica, Various Artists
8. The Soul Of The King, The BB King Blues Band
9. Texas Queens 5, Bloodest Saxophone
10. This World, Mike Nock; Hamish Stuart; Julien Wilson; Jonathan Zwartz
BEST COMPILATION/REISSUE
Strollin’ With Nolen, Jimmy Nolen
BEST BOOK
Thanks A Lot Mr. Kibblewhite, Roger Daltry
Mutiny On The Bounty, Peter FitzSimons
BEST FILM
Roger Waters: Us + Them
David Crosby: Remember My Name
BEST CONCERT/GIG
Herbie Hancock, QPAC, Brisbane – June
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
Booker T. Jones, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, London, February
TONY HILLIER
- Box Of Breath, Hazmat Modine
- Omid, Tara Tiba
- Fool, Joe Jackson
- Coldwater DFU, Mick Thomas
- A Lifetime Of Happiness, Daoiri Farrell
- Rooted, Martin Simpson
- Wareika Hill, Monty Alexander
- Turning Point, Hammerhead
- HaitiaNola, Lakou Mizik
10. Luke Plumb & Kate Burke, Luke Plumb & Kate Burke
BEST COMPILATION REISSUE
The Rough Guide To World Jazz, Various Artists
BEST MUSIC BOOK & NON-MUSIC BOOK
Chronicles Volume 2, Bob Dylan* (* in anticipation of another excellent tome from His Bobness)
Boy Swallows Universe, Trent Dalton
BEST MUSIC FILMS
Rolling Thunder Review
Tommy Emmanuel: The Endless Road
BEST CONCERTS/GIGS
Sona Jobarteh, Novatech Stage, WOMADelaide, March
Hammerhead, Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns, November
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
Finally catching Herbie Hancock live in concert (at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival in June).
CHRISTOPHER HOLLOW
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
Postscripts EP, Luna
Oh My God, Kevin Morby
Quiet Signs, Jessica Pratt
My Regime, Kelley Stoltz
Stars Are the Light, Moon Duo
Lewsberg, Lewsberg
Purple Mountains, Purple Mountains
NFR! Norman Fucking Rockwell, Lana Del Rey
The Unseen in Between, Steve Gunn
Free Porn, Ryder The Eagle
BEST COMPILATION REISSUE
No Other (Deluxe Edition) – Gene Clark
BEST BOOK
Bowie’s Books: The Hundred Literary Heroes Who Changed His Life, John O’Connell
Face It: A Memoir, Debbie Harry
BEST FILM
The Irishman
FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened
BEST CONCERT/GIG
The Monkees (Mike Nesmith & Micky Dolenz), Palais Theatre, June
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
All kid related.
ANDRA JACKSON
TOP 10 ALBUMS
Eleven, Mike Stern and Jeff Lorber
A Well Tempered Boutte, John Boutte
Bolden, Wynton Marsalis (film soundtrack)
Transients Volume 2, Andrea Keller.
Still Still, Gian Slater
Valve Bone Woe, Chrissie Hynde
Signs, Tedeschi Trucks Band
Kindness Not Courtesy, Spirograph Studies
When Will The Blues Leave, Paul Bley
Antidote, Chick Corea and The Spanish Heart Band
BEST COMPILATION REISSUE
Mary Lou Williams, Mary Lou Williams (Smithsonian) Originally released in 1964
BEST MUSIC BOOK
Tell Me Why: The Story Of My Life And Music, Archie Roach (Simon and Schuster)
BEST BOOK (OTHER)
Metropolis, Phillip Kerr (published by Quercus)
BEST MUSIC FILM
It Must Schwing! The Bluenote Story (documentary) directed by Germany’s Eric Friedler
BEST FILM (OTHER)
Gaza (documentary) by Irish film-makers Andrew McConnell and Garry Keane.
BEST CONCERT/GIG
US trumpeter Keyon Harrold and band at Bird’s Basement Sunday November 10 and hard to separate from Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen at Jazzlab on Monday October 19.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
The Marsalis Family Reunion at the Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans in April with their father Ellis on piano and Wynton on trumpet, Branford on sax, Delfeayo on trombone and Jason on drums – simply jazz bliss.
CHRIS LAMBIE
TOP 10 ALBUMS
Opelousified, Opelousas
Run Home Slow, The Teskey Brothers
Better In Blak, Thelma Plum
The Great Divide, Busby Marou
Inner Outlaw, Rory Ellis
Golden Boy, Skyscraper Stan
Tell Me Why, Archie Roach
Small Island, Big Song, Various
Dyson Stringer Cloher, Dyson Stringer Cloher
Tjungu, Neil Murray & Sammy Butcher
BEST BOOK
Revenge of the She-Punks: A Feminist Punk History from Poly Styrene to Pussy Riot, Vivien Goldman
Reasons To Be Cheerful: I Survived the 80s Rock Scene in Australia, Tony Collins
BEST FILM
Star Hotel Riot
Rolling Thunder Revue
BEST CONCERT/GIG
Iggy Pop/The Chats, Festival Hall, April (Iggy’s 72nd birthday)
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
Attending a drum clinic with Lewis Pragasam at Borneo Jazz in Miri. Competing with a soundcheck running overtime in the next room, the Malaysian beat master laughed off the racket and carried on. He talked of his passion for rhythms, the big names he’s played with, his kits made of recycled materials and demonstrated his craft. Baby steps for beginners and sophisticated breaks to dazzle.
TREVOR LEEDEN
TOP 10 ALBUMS
Box Of Breath – Hazmat Modine
V, Budos Band
Lowdown Ways, Daddy Long Legs
October In The Railroad Earth, Tom Russell
Walk Through The Fire, Yola
Run Home Slow, The Teskey Brothers
Simple Case Of The Blues, Rosie Flores
Southern Gentleman, Dee White
Turn Off The News (Build A Garden), Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real
Rush Of Blood, Geraint Watkins
BEST COMPILATION REISSUE
Abbey Road, The Beatles
Jazzfest: The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, V.A.
BEST BOOK
Cruel To Be Kind: The Life & Music Of Nick Lowe, Will Birch
iDevelop, Gayle Smerdon
BEST FILM (MUSIC & OTHERWISE – 2 SELECTIONS)
Fisherman’s Friend
Joker
BEST CONCERT/GIG
Molly Tuttle & Dee White, Wesley Anne, October
Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen, Caravan Music Club, October
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
Renewing acquaintances with Melbourne’s fabulous cafes after a ten-year absence has been life reaffirming, there’s nowhere else like it on the planet.
BRETT LEIGH DICKS
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
Years to Burn, Calexico and Iron & Wine
Songs of Our Native Daughters, Our Native Daughters
The Imperial, The Delines
Remind Me Tomorrow, Sharon Van Etten
Patty Griffin, Patty Griffin
Wild Seeds, Seeker Lover Keeper
On the Line, Jenny Lewis
Breakdown on 20th Ave South, Buddy and Julie Miller
Dyson Stringer Clother, Dyson Stringer Clother
Thanks for the Dance, Leonard Cohen
BEST COMPILATION/REISSUE
Live in Hollywood, Linda Ronstadt
BEST BOOK
Midnight in Chernobyl, Adam Higginbotham
BEST FILM
Mystify: Michael Hutchence
BEST CONCERT/GIG
Cowboy Junkies – Lobero Theater, Santa Barbara, CA
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
Co-writing a song – “Gasoline & Liquor” – with Natalie D-Napoleon for her forthcoming album, You Wanted To Be The Shore But Instead You Were The Sea, and having Doug Pettibone play pedal steel on it … Doug Pettibone!!!
IAN MCFARLANE
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
Run Home Slow, The Teskey Brothers
Bona Fide, The Soul Movers
Silver City, Brian Cadd
Prisoner of Love, Stephen Cummings
Crystal Ships Infinite Arrivals, The Sunset Strip
Opelousified, Opelousas
This is Not a Dream, Lost Ragas
Kitty & Frank, Lucie Thorne
Dyson, Stringer & Cloher, Dyson, Stringer & Cloher
Ghosteen, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
BEST COMPILATION REISSUE
Arthur or the Decline and Fall of The British Empire (50th Anniversary Deluxe Box Set), The Kinks
BEST BOOK
Tell Me Why: The Story of My Life and Music, Archie Roach
BEST FILM
Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood (Quentin Tarantino)
BEST CONCERT/GIG
Little Steven & the Disciples of Soul, The Forum, Melbourne (April)
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
The Teskey Brothers winning ARIA Awards for Best Group, Best Blues & Roots Album, Engineer of the Year
BILLY PINNELL
TOP 10 ALBUMS
Blue World, John Coltrane
Make Or Break , Lachy Doley Group
Inner Outlaw, Rory Ellis
Box Of Breath, Hazmat Modine
I Trawl The Megahertz, Prefab Sprout
Africa Speaks, Santana
Been There Done That, Ben Sidran
Bruce Springsteen/ Springsteen On Broadway
Run Home Slow, Teskey Brothers
The Weir , Michael Waugh
BEST COMPILATION:
Comin’ Through To You:The Live Recordings (1970-2004), Arthur Lee & Love
BEST REISSUE:
Abbey Road, The Beatles
BEST BOOK (MUSIC):
Texas Flood:The Inside Story Of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Alan Paul & Andy Aledort
BEST BOOK (NON MUSIC):
The Year Of The Beast, Steven Carroll
BEST FILM:
It Must Be Schwing:The Blue Note Story (Music)
The Irishman (NON MUSIC)
BEST CONCERT/ LARGE VENUE:
The Eagles, Rod Laver Arena (March)
BEST CONCERT/ SMALL VENUE:
Dandecat, John Curtain Hotel (February)
Joshua Batten, David Williamson Theatre (September)
Floyd Thursby – Some Velvet Morning (October) (Equal)
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR:
Emergence of The Teskey Brothers, home and away.