Hellbound Glory Tops Country California's Best of 2011 List

Another year end best of list putting Hellbound Glory at the top, damn right. Keep on Supporting Real Country Music and the artists which continually put out great music. 

Link to California's Country Best Of List

  Hellbound Glory - Bastard Child by RustyKnuckles

Country California’s Best of 2011 Lists 

January 5, 2012 by C.M. Wilcox

Sick of lists yet? We’ll make this quick and dirty.

 

Best Country Albums of 2011
1. Pistol Annies – Hell on Heels

2. Hellbound Glory – Damaged Goods

3. Various Artists – This One’s for Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark
4. Matraca Berg – The Dreaming Fields
5. Reckless Kelly – Good Luck and True Love
6. LeAnn Rimes – Lady and Gentlemen
7. Justin Haigh – People Like Me
8. Hayes Carll – KMAG YOYO
9. Miranda Lambert – Four the Record
10. Dirt Drifters – This Is My Blood

(Complete list with comments only at Engine 145.)

Best Country Songs of 2011
1. Ronnie Dunn – “Cost of Livin’”
2. Matraca Berg – “Your Husband’s Cheating on Us”

3. Hellbound Glory – “Better Hope You Die Young”

4. Miranda Lambert – “Same Old You”
5. Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit – “Codeine”
6. Randy Travis w/ Jamey Johnson – “A Few Ole Country Boys”
7. Pistol Annies – “Trailer for Rent”
8. Sunny Sweeney – “Staying’s Worse Than Leaving”
9. Justin Haigh – “In Jail”
10. Pistol Annies – “Lemon Drop”

Best Country Singles of 2011
1. Ronnie Dunn – “Cost of Livin’”
2. Kenny Chesney w/ Grace Potter – “You and Tequila”
3. Sunny Sweeney – “Staying’s Worse Than Leaving”
4. Dirt Drifters – “Always a Reason”
5. Billy Currington – “Love Done Gone”
6. Pistol Annies – “Hell on Heels”
7. George Strait – “Here for a Good Time”
8. Jacob Lyda – “I’m Doing Alright”
9. Taylor Swift – “Mean”
10. Bradley Gaskin – “Mr. Bartender”

Best Bluegrass Albums of 2011
1. Chris Thile & Michael Daves – Sleep with One Eye Open
2. Dale Ann Bradley – Somewhere South of Crazy
3. Jimmie Dale Gilmore & the Wronglers – Heirloom Music
4. Various Artists – I’ll Take Love (from the Pen of Louisa Branscomb)
5. Charlie Sizemore – Heartache Looking for a Home
6. Gibson Brothers – Help My Brother
7. Alison Krauss & Union Station – Paper Airplane
8. Del McCoury Band – Old Memories: Songs of Bill Monroe
9. Sierra Hull – Daybreak
10. Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice – The Heart of a Song

Best Live Albums of 2011
1. Todd Snider – The Storyteller
2. Byron Hill – Radio Songs
3. Slaid Cleaves – Sorrow and Smoke: Live at the Horseshoe Lounge
4. Newfound Road – Live at the Down Home
5. The Steel Wheels – Live at Goose Creek

Best Covers/Tribute Albums of 2011
1. Various Artists – This One’s for Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark
2. LeAnn Rimes – Lady & Gentlemen
3. Chris Thile & Michael Daves – Sleep With One Eye Open
4. Chris Isaak – Beyond the Sun
5. Suzy Bogguss – American Folk Songbook
6. Jimmie Dale Gilmore & The Wronglers – Heirloom Music
7. Various Artists – I Love: Tom T. Hall’s Songs of Fox Hollow
8. Carrie Rodriguez & Ben Kyle – We Still Love Our Country
9. Willie Nelson – Remember Me, Volume 1
10. Del McCoury Band – Old Memories: Songs of Bill Monroe

(Hybrid covers or tribute albums containing a fair amount of new material, including those by Randy Travis and Nell Robinson, have been ruled out.)

Best Debut Albums of 2011
1. Pistol Annies – Hell on Heels
2. The Dirt Drifters – This Is My Blood
3. Erin Enderlin – Erin Enderlin (EP)
4. Andy Vaughan & the Driveline – Long Gone
5. Randy Montana – Randy Montana

Country California voted Hellbound Glory as of the best country albums of 2011

Hellbound Glory Voted In Top Albums Of 2011 By Engine 145

Leroy, Frank and Rico of Hellbound Glory have done it again. They are in another year end best of list and are now being touted by roots music publication Engine 145, in their 2011 best of list. Check out the full post below from their site.

Engine 145 2011 Best Of List

Best Albums of 2011: #10-1
10. Sunny Sweeney – Concrete
Rooted in traditional country, Sunny Sweeney’s sophomore album is slick enough for contemporary, as she netted her first Top 10 single with “From a Table Away.” Sweeney’s taken a big step with her songwriting since debut record Heartbreaker’s Hall of Fame, co-writing seven of Concrete’s ten tracks with talent like Radney Foster and Brennen Leigh (the latter co-wrotethe stellar “Amy,” written from the perspective of the other woman). That skill, combined with her voice, which sounds like a Miranda Lambert-Natalie Maines hybrid, means Sweeney’s got a bright future ahead of her, especially if she can capitalize on her foothold on radio.

9. The Dirt Drifters – This is My Blood
Despite what country radio says, rural living is hard. Blue collar life can be grueling at times, and sometimes, back roads are just dirty. The Dirt Drifters understand. This five-piece band infused their music with a real life perspective of back-breaking work that is equal parts of pride and grit. They backed it with tons of musical energy and gave away 30,000 copies of the album during their live shows this year.

8. Vince Gill – Guitar Slinger
Following up on a tour de force project like These Days is no easy task, but if anyone’s up to the task, it’s Vince Gill. On Guitar Slinger he covers a wide variety of country styles, even dabbling into soul and R&B, with typical Gill finesse. Make sure to give a listen to murder-suicide song “Billy Paul,” which features backing vocals from Gill’s preteen daughter. Read Ken Morton, Jr.’s review here.

7. Various Artists – This One’s for Him: Songs of Guy Clark
Tribute records tend to be hit or miss. This double-disc collection is strictly the former. With a roster overflowing with talent and material that any songwriter would give a kidney for, it’s the best country music tribute album since the salute to the Louvin Brothers, Livin’ Lovin’ Losin’. Radney Foster’s magnificent version of “L.A. Freeway” in particular stands out, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a song that isn’t worthy of being placed on “repeat.” Read Sam Gazdziak’s feature on Guy Clark here.

6. Hellbound Glory – Damaged Goods
We can’t get enough of these guys and their brand of “scumbag country.” The Reno-based band’s third album is their most mature work to date, with top-notch, Haggardian songwriting from Leroy Virgil and a ragged, addictive sound that’s got the ability to gain a few fans on the mainstream side of the country music aisle.


5. Chris Young – Neon
Young ditched a longtime companion, his cowboy hat, for the album cover, but his country influences can still be found in the music. From the touching sentiment found on the father-son song “Flashlight” to the “weekend on the rocks [and] an old school jukebox” of the title track—which is arguably the best song Young has ever recorded—Neon is a solid collection of music from one of country’s most talented young stars. Read Juli Thanki’s review here.

4. Hayes Carll – KMAG YOYO (& Other American Stories)

Whether he’s growling out fierce country rockers like “Stomp & Holler” or twanging through minimalist banjo tunes like “Bye Bye Baby,” this Americana A-lister can captivate a crowd like few others. KMAG YOYO harnesses that live energy on several standout songs, most notably the “Subterranean Homesick Blues” flavored, hallucinatory title track and the hilarious, “opposites attract” duet with Cary Ann Hearst, “Another Like You.”

3. Matraca Berg – The Dreaming Fields
It had been nearly 12 years between Berg albums. The Dreaming Fields was more than worth the wait. “You and Tequila,” co-written with Deana Carter, got the lion’s share of attention in 2011 thanks to Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter’s recording, but it’s just one in a collection of 11 stellar songs; from the piano-laced title track about the death of the family farm (which also appeared on Trisha Yearwood’s Heaven, Heartache, and the Power of Love) to the bluesy, hard-edged other woman tale “Your Husband’s Cheating on Us,” Berg proves why she’s one of the best singer-songwriters in country and roots music. Oh, Matraca. Don’t ever leave us again.

2. Miranda Lambert – Four the Record
Four the Record was one of our most anticipated records of 2011, and Miranda didn’t disappoint. She effortlessly covers a lot of musical ground here, from the rocking “Fastest Girl in Town” to the fuzzy, bluesy-sexy “Fine Tune,” to straight up country on “Dear Diamond,” which is one of the best songs she’s written to date. Well-chosen covers of songs by Gillian Welch and Brandi Carlile round out another solid outing. Read Karlie Justus’ review here.

1. Pistol Annies – Hell on Heels
Turns out the best things do come in threes: Ashley Monroe, Miranda Lambert, and Angaleena Presley made our year with a debut record full of impeccable writing, and toe-tapping arrangements. Let’s hope that the Annies’ New Year’s resolution is to put out another record ASAP. Read Karlie Justus’ review here.

Hellbound Glory featured on Engine 145's, 2011 Best Of List

Hellbound Glory Tops Farce The Music's Top Albums Of 2011

"The boys went and growed up on us. While Hellbound Glory is still infatuated with the darker subjects - addiction, dysfunctional families and death, in particular - their songwriting has improved a great deal since their last album. Not that it was ever bad. It's just that this time around the songs are better developed. The hooks are hookier and the subject matter comes across more naturally - it no longer feels like they're trying to shoehorn in every deviant behavior and curse word they can, just because they can. This is a band on the rise and with material this good, they may eventually break down the wall between alt and country. Best tracks: Better Hope You Die Young, Knocked Off the Horse." - Farce The Music

Link over to Farce The Music

Hellbound Glory featured in Farce The Music's 2011 Top Ten List

The Full List of Farce The Music's Best of 2011

1. The Damn Quails - Down the Hatch My tastes were more oriented towards roots-music this year than any in recent memory and The Damn Quails put out a stunning debut that satisfied my yearnings like no other. The unique voices of Bryon and Gabriel combine for divine harmonies and their writing is the class of contemporary bands that fall into the "red dirt" scene, or nearly any scene for that matter. There isn't a weak song on the offering and what's more, nearly every tune spent time lodged in my brain on replay at one point or another. Brilliant work, epic even. Best songs: All of them, but if you must have 1 or 2 …"Fool's Gold" and "Mary" always slay me.

2. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Here We Rest Wrapped around the undeniable song of the year, "Codeine," is an album that more than pulls its own weight. Isbell fans may have hoped for something louder, but what they got was an artist-defining gem of a southern rock and soul record. Strong lyrics, excellent musicianship and plenty of easy-to-love melodies make this an album most anyone can appreciate, and true music lovers will adore. Best tracks: Codeine, Alabama Pines.

3. Hellbound Glory - Damaged Goods The boys went and growed up on us. While Hellbound Glory is still infatuated with the darker subjects - addiction, dysfunctional families and death, in particular - their songwriting has improved a great deal since their last album. Not that it was ever bad. It's just that this time around the songs are better developed. The hooks are hookier and the subject matter comes across more naturally - it no longer feels like they're trying to shoehorn in every deviant behavior and curse word they can, just because they can. This is a band on the rise and with material this good, they may eventually break down the wall between alt and country. Best tracks: Better Hope You Die Young, Knocked Off the Horse.

4. Hayes Carll - KMAG YOYO What else is there to say about Hayes? Rapier wit. Songwriting that recalls the greats of country and folk music. Memorable, affable voice. Actually has something to say. Just enough weirdness to keep him a little mysterious. Check, to all of those. This guy's the real deal; one of the few artists I'll buy an album from without hearing a single note. He never disappoints, never rests on his accolades. Thanks for another winner, Hayes! Best tracks: Another Like You, Chances Are.

5. Jimbo Mathus - Confederate Buddha Jimbo calls this "catfish music," and I see no better way to describe it. Confederate Buddha is a melting pot for southern music - R&B, rock, folk, country and swamp soul, all mixed, matched and sifted out at different times on the record. Mathus' writing is in turns poetic, straight-forward or abstract, all expertly crafted and emotionally performed. Best tracks: Cling to the Roots, Aces and Eights.

6. Cary Anne Hearst - Lions and Lambs Bonnie Raitt, Janis Joplin and Neko Case in a blender vocals. Transgendered Hayes Carll songwriting chops. That was weird. …this album is great. Best tracks: Are You Ready to Die, Hell's Bells

7. Butch Walker and the Black Widows - The Spade The in-demand producer of #6/former hair band member/former 90's alt-rock band, the jack - nay master - of all trades turns in this hook-driven smorgasbord of power pop, hard rock and jangly country-flavored rave-up goodness. This album alongside #8 would make a killer party soundtrack. Best tracks: Synthesizers, Suckerpunch

8. The Black Keys - El Camino If this is a sellout, I wish every artist who's been accused of such had such a well-done betrayal of ideals. The Black Keys expand their blues rock sound to (bluesy) glam rock and power pop without missing a step or making it sound contrived. Sometimes you just need to turn off your inner-critic and enjoy. Fun, fun, fun! Best tracks: Gold on the Ceiling, Nova Baby

9. Adele - 21 Adele somehow straddles the huge divide between modern pop and "old people" soul music with great success. Even the songs that lack lyrically are made great by Adele's huge (but never diva-esque) voice. There hasn't been an artist in some time that brought together so many people in mutual admiration. This is a chick album that dudes can be unashamed to love. It's an old-school album that kids can groove to. Excellence. Best tracks - Rolling in the Deep, Someone Like You.

10. Ponderosa - Moonlight Revival Sounding like the Black Crowes by way of Muscle Shoals, Ponderosa is a super-talented band of southern rockers who mostly steer clear of the clichés of the genre. Kalen Bush's lead vocals are stirring and the harmonies take their sound over the top. Ponderosa isn't reinventing the wheel here, but what they do, they do very well. Best tracks: Old Gin Road, Devil on My Shoulder.

11. Austin Lucas - A New Home, In the Old World

12. Kasey Anderson and the Honkies - Heart of a Dog

13. Stoney Larue - Velvet

14. Drew Kennedy - Fresh Water in the Salton Sea

15. Ryan Adams - Ashes and Fire

16. Pistol Annies - Hell on Heels

17. Wilco - The Whole Love

18. Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears - Scandalous

19. Mastodon - The Hunter

20. Will Hoge - Number Seven

21. Scott H. Biram - Bad Ingredients

22. Miranda Lambert - Four the Record

23. Foo Fighters - Wasting Light

24. Justin Haigh - People Like Me

25. Frank Ocean - Nostalgia, Ultra

26. Frank Turner - England Keep My Bones

27. Larry Hooper - Between Here and the Stars

28. Bon Iver - s/t

29. Sunny Sweeney - Concrete

30. Raphael Saadiq - Stone Rollin'

31. Bad Meets Evil - Hell (The Sequel)

32. Left Lane Cruiser - Junkyard Speed Ball

33. Centro-matic - Candidate Waltz

34. Big KRIT - Return of 4Eva

35. The Decemberists - The King is Dead

36. F*cked Up - David Comes to Life

37. Merle Haggard - Working in Tennessee

38. Eli Young Band - Life at Best

39. Adam Hood - The Shape of Things

40. JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound - Want More

41. Glossary - Long Live All of Us

42. Mike Ethan Messick - The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday

43. Blitzen Trapper - American Goldwing

44. Dawes - Nothing is Wrong

45. Cody Canada and The Departed - This is Indian Land

46. The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow

47. George Strait - Here for a Good Time

48. Robyn Ludwick - Out of These Blues

49. John Moreland & The Dust Bowl Souls - Everything the Hard Way

50. Jason Boland and the Stragglers - Rancho Alto