We’re back, baby! It’s time to restart the chart machine in the new year, and I must say, the top of the list gets me all worked up in a tizzy. First, it’s always great to see a local artist (Farewell Milwaukee, in this case) atop the mountain. But, what really steams my biscuits and bakes my beans (in the best way possible) is what came in at #2: Kitty, Daisy and Lewis. If you’ve been listening to me on-air,  you’ve probably heard me go on about how great it is that this group cobbled together a studio from 40’s and 50’s-era equipment and recorded some great rockabilly covers with a few sweet originals thrown in. If you haven’t, well, you now have.

Other Notes:

Just sneaking into the bottom of the list this week is Vampire Weekend, who got my new year off to a great start with their new album Contra. I’ve had "Cousins" stuck in my head off-and-on ever since I reviewed it, and I couldn’t be happier about it. Just don’t try to talk to our PD, Patrick, about that song.*

Wookiefoot is still holding strong at #10, showing that a little social concern mixed with jam and reggae influences can make for a good listen.

And final shouts-out go to: Timothy Cushing (small-time but sweet), Dutch (a sampler which created much anticipation on my part), Joe Gideon and the Shark (hard to describe, easy to like) and Blakroc (because it *is*).

You see? You just can’t trust anyone. The first chart I let into my life and it tries to eat me.

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*To be fair to him, he quite likes the other songs on the album, but "Cousins" is like fingernails on a chalkboard to him. He can’t explain it, and I can’t understand it.