July 28, 2011 - 6:49pm
Ingrid Michaelson is the most important singer-songwriter of the past three years? I think not.
BY DAVID RIVA
- Courtesy of Cabin 24, Joe Pug, Favorite Gentlemen, Plan-It-X, Sire, Fat Possum
A couple weeks ago I went to Borders on Liberty St. to listen to the pleasant sounds of Ingrid Michaelson, a folk songstress known for her lighthearted lyrics and uncomplicated pop songs. The six-song set was nothing earth-shattering, but Michaelson’s introduction by Ann Arbor’s 107.1 DJ Martin Bandyke was. Before she took the stage, Bandyke made the bold claim that Michaelson is “the most important singer-songwriter of about the past three years.” With all due respect to Mr. Bandyke and Ms. Michaelson, this statement is simply not true. But the daring assertion did get me thinking about the most noteworthy singer-songwriters who have released music in the past few years. Here’s what I came up with:
Joe Pug
The first time I’d ever heard of Joe Pug was at the 2009 Ann Arbor Folk Festival where he performed one song (“Hymn 101") in front of an audience of 3,000+. His politically-charged musings and raspy vocals instantly recall Bob Dylan. But while Dylan’s making Christmas albums , Pug is breaking new ground simply by staying true to classic folk principles.
Listen: Nation of Heat
Kevin Devine
Another candidate for “this generation’s Dylan” is Brooklyn-based Kevin Devine. Despite touring with the louder rock outfits like Brand New and Manchester Orchestra, Devine uses his boyish voice and understated melodies to create an unsettling tension that blows up in a cascading fountain of discontent directed at our capitalist country.
Listen: Cotton Crush
Paul Baribeau
Even though he’s only recorded 23 songs clocking in at 43 minutes, Baribeau’s music leaves an undeniably strong impression. Pure acoustic guitar allows the Michigan native to deliver no-frills songs with raw emotional pull. He’ll never rise to national recognition, but his brutal honesty and energetic immediacy is something that shouldn’t be ignored.
Listen: Never Get To Know
Regina Spektor
Once you get past her adorable exterior and delve into her thought-provoking songs and stirring piano compositions, you’ll realize Spektor is not just another pretty face. Showing unbelievable range in styles of music across the course of her nine-year career, she has proven herself to be a marquee-name in indie rock.
Listen: Consequence of Sound
Andrew Bird
2009’s Noble Beast signaled the first minor misstep in this violin-bearing Chicagoan’s catalog, now five albums deep. But watching Bird live as he loops his patented whistling with guitar lines while simultaneously fiddling away at his primary instrument is nothing short of remarkable. To think that he hasn’t reached his creative peak yet is just plain scary.
Listen: Why
Let me know who I’m forgetting.
