Best of Tucson 1996: Best Local Album Release

Best Local Album Release

D.Y.O. by Rainer

Blue Angel by Lisa Otey

READERS' PICK--TIE: That's "DYO," as in "Do Your Own"; "boot," as in "bootleg." And "Rainer," as in, well, how about, "needs no introduction." When Tucson's favorite National Steel wrangler/multi-genre mangler needed to raise some funds to pay for his kid's medical bills, he went to work doing what he does best--play guitar and sing. And this hour-plus program is striking evidence that what he does best quite literally constitutes some of Tucson's best music. Is it rock? Check the grinding thud of "Shouldn't Worry About That." Is it blues? A rousing cover of J.B. Lenoir's "Voodoo Music" or the Giant Sand-y original "The Lament Of Love" might support that conclusion. Or is it something utterly unclassifiable, like the gonzo skronk 'n' skree of "Trouble Hit Me/No Rewind" defiantly announces? Quite a CD, one which, judging by our inquiries at local retailers, outsold every other local disc by at least two-to-one. And lest the small-minded nits in the readership cry, "Sympathy vote!" (in reference to Rainer's own subsequent illness and medical bills), consider this comment from a record store clerk: "Every single time we played this in the store, someone walked up, asked who it was and wound up buying a copy. Sometimes an extra copy to give to a friend, too. Every single time."

By rumor alone, we've heard that Lisa Otey's Blue Angel is similarly stunning; a stylish whirl of jazz piano readers hold near and dear. You won't find it at local record stores, unfortunately, but you can purchase it from the Gaslight Theater, 7010 E. Broadway.

READERS' POLL RUNNER-UP--TIE: Because of the upsurge in local releases this past year, we decided to do a top-ten listing to give due credit to the hard-working musicians who've defined and redefined the desert rock sound. Naked Prey's And Then I Shot Everyone (Epiphany), The Mollys' This Is My Round (Mollys) and George Howard & the Roadhouse Hounds' Great American Blues You Can Use (Blue Tick) all came close as 10th-place ties. Interestingly, too, was the strong showing of Then Tingari's self-titled cassette; it actually sold more than several of the top places, but since it technically came out in time for last year's ranking (in April of '95) it couldn't qualify for this year's list--although it continues to sell steadily, quite an accomplishment for a cassette. Finally, the local compilation Wood For Rainer (Epiphany) is due a salute, if not more, because not only did it sell exceedingly well, it represented a who's-who of Tucson musical talent. Plus, it was a benefit for ailing musician Rainer Ptacek--who, without a doubt, outsold every record on this list by a two-to-one margin or more with his self-released, roots/folk/blues/gonzo DYO Boot. And his ambient/instrumental collection, Nocturnes, didn't do so badly either. Much-loved perennials like psychedelic rangers Giant Sand (who also released Goods & Services Live and Backyard BBQ Broadcast this year), the newly countryfied Al Perry, folk/rootsman and guitar virtuoso Stefan George, and senior blues ambassador Sam Taylor were expected to appear on the list. Of course, in the "upstart" department came alterna-subversives Shovel and sleek hip-hop rockers Blackmoon Graffiti, both of whom got a lot--and we mean a lot--of local radio airplay, and some national attention as well. And let us not forget the late, great Sand Rubies, whose live set, recorded at the Congress a few seasons back, was one of those "not to have missed" 'uns that consumers were able to revisit via digital technology.

Bottom line: There were more locally-released records from July to July than Tucson has ever seen. Someone call the doctor; we think we've found a pulse!

STAFF PICK: The Shadow of Your Smile CD released on Sub Pop out of Seattle is comfortably familiar music from a group of comfortably familiar musicians who together comprise the Friends of Dean Martinez. The fictitious Mr. Martinez hangs with a pretty good crowd, with members from both Naked Prey and Giant Sand. This baker's dozen of retro twang and steel guitar instrumentals includes five covers and eight originals and sounds like it should be playing on vinyl spinning inside a coffin-sized, 1950s teak wood Family Entertainment Center. With titles like "El Tiradito," "Swamp Cooler" and "Armory Park/Dwell," and a cover photo of the Sixth Avenue underpass, you may feel haunted by ghosts of Desert Inn past. If Sergio Leone had taken acid--not that we're saying he didn't--he would've loved this retro masterpiece.