Electric baritone ukulele from Canada. What more can you ask for?
9. Aurelio “Sañanaru” Lándini [RealWorld]
Guitar-driven music by Garifuna troubadour from Caribbean coast of Honduras.
8. Bumper Jacksons “When the Sun Goes Down in Harlem” Sweet Mama, Sweet Daddy, Come In [www.bumperjacksons.com]
Jugband jazz for the 21st century from the Washington/Baltimore area.
7. Korrontzi “Diatonic Bilbon” Tradition 2.1 [ARC Music]
A contemporary approach to traditional music of Basque Country of Spain featuring the trikitixa (Basque diatonic accordion).
6. Eliza Gilkyson “Where No Monument Stands” The Nocturne Diaries [Red House]
A great songwriter herself, Gilkyson covers a song by John Gorka.
5. Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca “Rumba SoYo” La Rumba SoYo [Cumbancha]
A blend of Cuban and African music, including his native Angola.
4. Habadekuk “Den Ny Maskerade” Kaffepunch [GO’ Danish Folk Music]
Award-winning Danish big band.
3. John Flynn “Lonely Enough” Poor Man’s Diamonds [www.JohnFlynn.net]
One of the best contemporary singer-songwriters.
2. The Barr Brothers “Half Crazy” Sleeping Operator [Secret City]
The sounds of Mali and Morocco take center stage on this Montreal-based band’s latest album.
1. Bellowhead “Roll Alabama” Revival [Island]
Why is a British folk-rock big band with horn section playing an American Civil War-era song? To turn it up to 11, that’s why.
Honorable mention:
Richard Thompson “1952 Vincent Black Lightning” Acoustic Classics [Beeswing]
Re-recording of English guitarist’s epic story: “Red hair and black leather, my favourite colour scheme.”
Hear Detour’s Top 10 Songs of 2014 on the Sunday, December 21st edition of Detour, 5-7 PM.
See other WTMD staff Top-10 picks and VOTE for your favorite songs of 2014! Let’s see if we can get a DETOUR song into the countdown! Voting ends December 22nd and the top 89 vote-getters will be counted down on Tuesday, December 30th.