Davina and The Vagabonds

We received this great honor from Jon Bream, with artist like Tom Waits, Adele, Lucinda Williams!

THEY WRITE :

“Unlike a lot of magazines and music blogs, we decided to wait until we at least got within Michael Cuddyer-throwing distance of the end of the year before spewing our year-end lists on you. And good thing we did: The two non-local records we agree on — by the Roots and Black Keys — came out in early December.

BREAM’S TOP ALBUMS

1. Adele, “21.” Heartbreak never sounded so liberating as the British soul siren purged the pain with deeply soulful aches and penetrating restraint. That boy was a fool.

2. Lucinda Williams, “Blessed.” The queen of Americana’s most emotionally balanced album sears, soothes and satisfies — with help from Elvis Costello’s emotive guitar.

3. The Roots, “Undun.” This concept album tells a disquieting inner-city story with razor-sharp truths and remarkably ambitious musicality.

4. Paul Simon, “So Beautiful or So What.” His lyrics are a little too egghead-y, but it’s the alluring blend of pretty melodies, resourceful rhythms and relaxed singing that makes this his best solo album in two decades.

5. Tom Waits, “Bad as Me.” The great eccentric one shows more voices and range than usual on another must-have album. His voice may be an acquired taste, but his concise songwriting here is unimpeachably outstanding.

6. Hayes Carll, “KMAG YOYO.” The alt-country hero delivers honky-tonking rockers and wistful ballads with a boozy voice that sounds two shots short of detox.

7. Eric Church, “Chief.” He makes radio-ready country music with the kind of rock ‘n’ roll swagger and skillful balladeering that would make Kid Rock envious.

8. Fleet Foxes, “Helplessness Blues.” This 1960s/1970s-influenced folk-rock collection achieves the kind of gorgeous pop majesty that falsetto-obsessed Bon Iver dreams of.

9. Davina and the Vagabonds, “Black Cloud.” With her piano-pounding Southern soul and New Orleans-flavored horn band, powerhouse Davina Sowers is the most soulful force in today’s Minneapolis Sound.

10. The Black Keys, “El Camino.” The amped-up blues-punk power duo is more accessible and ready for arenas.”

SEE ARTICLE HERE –> http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/135699573.html