As we approach the end of yet another great year in music, you have undoubtedly seen one or two year end best of lists. The “Bird List” posted previously here as compiled by several different web sites is one of the best in my opinion. There are some years I would have trouble coming up with 10 good ones, but this year was thankfully quite bountiful.

Here is my own top 20 for 2009.

1. Todd Snider – The Excitement Plan
2. Band of Heathens – One Foot in the Ether
3. Scott Miller – For Crying Out Loud
4. Corb Lund – Losin Lately Gambler
5. Jason Eady – When The Money’s All Gone
6. Malcomb Holcombe – For The Mission Baby
7. Justin Earle – Midnight at the Movies
8. Guy Clark – Somedays The Songs Write You
9. Kris Kristofferson – Closer To The Bone
10. James Hand – Shadow on the Ground
11. Ryan Bingham – Roadhouse Sun
12. Chris Smither – Time Stands Still
13. Slaid Cleaves – Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away
14. Dailey & Vincent – Brothers From Different Mothers
15. Lyle Lovett – Natural Forces
16. Delbert McClinton – Acquired Taste
17. The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You
18. Chris Knight – Trailer II
19. Drew Kennedy – An Audio Guide To Cross Country Travel
20. Hurricane Doyle – Death of Me

Now with 2009 behind us, we enter into a new decade as well. Trying to look back a decade is nearly impossible for someone like me who has trouble remembering yesterday, but I thought I would give it a shot.

First, doing some research online, the Americana Music Awards did not begin until 2002. So, we have made at least one huge stride during this decade to at least acknowledge the genre. Here is a list of some award recipients as awarded by Americana since 2002:

2002 – Album of the Year – Buddy & Julie Miller – Buddy & Julie Miller

2002 – Song of the Year – She’s Looking At Me – Jim Lauderdale

2002 – Artist of the Year – Jim Lauderdale

2003 – Album of the Year – American IV – Johnny Cash

2003 – Song of the Year – Hurt – written by Trent Reznor, performed by Johnny Cash

2003 – Artist of the Year – Johnny Cash

2004 – Album of the Year – Van Lear Rose – Loretta Lynn

2004 Song of the Year – Fate’s Right Hand – Rodney Crowell

2004 – Artist of the Year – Loretta Lynn

2004 – New Emerging Artist (First Year for this award) – Mindy Smith

2005 – Album of the Year – Universal United House of Prayer – Buddy Miller

2005 – Song of the Year – Worry Too Much – written by Mark Heard, performed by Buddy Miller

2005 – Artist of the Year – John Prine

2005 – New Emerging Artist – Mary Gauthier

2006 – Album of the Year – Childish Things – James McMurtry

2006 – Song of the Year – We Can’t Make It Here – James McMurtry

2006 – Artist of the Year – Neil Young

2006 – New Emerging Artist – The Greencards

2007 – Album of the Year – Children Running Through – Patty Griffin

2007 – Song of the Year – Hank Williams Ghost – Darrell Scott

2007 – Artist of the Year – Patty Griffin

2007 – New Emerging Artist – The Avett Brothers

2008 – Album of the Year – Raising Sand – Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

2008 – Song of the Year – She Left Me For Jesus – written by Brian Keane and Hayes Carll, performed by Hayes Carll

2008 – Artist of the Year – Levon Helm

2008 – New Emerging Artist – Mike Farris

2009 – Album of the Year – Written In Chalk – Buddy & Julie Miller

2009 – Song of the Year – Chalk – written by Julie Miller, performed by Buddy & Julie Miller

2009 – Artist of the Year – Buddy Miller

2009 – New Emerging Artist – Justin Earle

That was a very impressive list, especially the new emerging acts during the decade. We have certainly been blessed with growth within the Americana genre. In my opinion, this is more due to the continuing leap from traditional country music. One quick turn of any radio dial will tell you all you need to know. Today’s country music is nothing more than pop. Even legendary George Jones recently stated his disgust, saying they need to come up with their own genre because this is not country music any longer.

Trying to put together a top list of releases for the decade is nearly impossible. However, thanks to some help from the guys over at the9513.com, plus some research on my own, here is a list I put together. I welcome any suggestions from others so please let me know what I left out.

1. Fair & Square – John Prine

2. Georgia Hard – Robbie Fulks

3. O’Brother Where Art Thou – Various

4. American IV – Johnny Cash

5. Coal – Kathy Mattea

6. Dirt Farmer – Levon Helm

7. Raising Sand – Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

8. Dwightyoakamacoustic.net – Dwight Yoakam

9. The Notorious Cherry Bombs – Rodney Crowell, Vince Gill

10. The Devil You Know – Todd Snider

11. Everybody’s Brother – Billy Joe Shaver

12. This Old Road – Kris Kristofferson

13. The Houston Kid – Rodney Crowell

14. Children Running Through – Patty Griffin

15. The Good Life – Justin Earle

16. Population Me – Dwight Yoakam

17. Lost in the Lonesome Pines – Jim Lauderdale, Ralph Stanley

18. Mescalito – Ryan Bingham

19. Wishbones – Slaid Cleaves

20. Flowers & Liquor – Hayes Carll

21. The Man Comes Around – Johnny Cash

22. Trouble in Mind – Hayes Carll

23. Wagonmaster – Porter Wagoner

24. Lovesick, Broke, & Driftin’ – Hank III

25. These Days – Vince Gill

26. Dailey & Vincent – Jamie Dailey & Darrin Vincent

27. American V – Johnny Cash

28. Little Rock – Hayes Carll

29. Rattlin’ Bones – Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson

30. Workbench Songs – Guy Clark

31. Fates Right Hand – Rodney Crowell

32. Four Thieves Gone – Avett Brothers

33. Childish Things – James McMurtry

34. Salvation in Lights – Mike Farris

35. Between Daylight and Dark – Mary Gauthier

36. Buddy & Julie Miller – Buddy Miller & Julie Miller

37. Pretty Good Guy – Chris Knight

38. East Nashville Skyline – Todd Snider

39. Couples in Trouble – Robbie Fulks

40. Straight to Hell – Hank III

41. Citation – Scott Miller & the Commonwealth

42. Hair in My Eyes Like a Highland Steer – Corb Lund

43. Wild Eyed Serenade – Jason Eady

44. The Excitement Plan – Todd Snider

45. Midnight at the Movies – Justin Earle

46. Broke Down – Slaid Cleaves

47. One Foot In The Ether – Band of Heathens

48. The Truth Will Set You Free – James Hand

49. Movin’ On – The Greencards

50. Van Lear Rose – Loretta Lynn

Well, that about raps it up. When you look back at the list I have put together, plus those I am sure I left out, there are lots of essentials for any music lover. So save up your money, build some more storage and prepare for the next decade.

What would I like to see this decade?

1. The top of my wish list has long been a bluegrass record by Dwight Yoakam. That would be stellar. Throw in a duet with he and Alison Krauss, and you have something very special.

1. Justin Earle to hook up with T Bone Burnett as producer for a new record.

1. I was disappointed with the Steve Earle release this year as a tribute to Townes Van Zandt. While I love Townes, and applaud Steve getting his music out there for a new generation, the final product let me down. With all of that said, I would love to see a tribute CD to Blaze Foley. Allow Prine, Lovett, Crowell, and some of the other great Texas artists to put it together.

1. More new music from Billy Joe Shaver. He is a living legend.

1. Finally….this one is a bit more personal….I would like to see continued growth and support not only for our site…but for those who promote real music. There are so many great artists out there who deserve recognition and support. It is sites or blogs such as ours I hope contributes at least a little to help these talents to continue.

Thanks everyone and I hope you all have a safe holiday and great New Year. I look forward to comments from others on my lists. Feel free to yell at me if you wish….I may deserve it.