1-29-2010 - Jammie Awards and music charts!!

So this is a late Happy New Year! Thanks to everyone who came out to the shows and supported local music. It was a year I'll remember forever! Jen Sygit and I officially teamed up as a duo and have gotten the opportunity to play some amazing shows. We logged thousands of miles traveling around our home state of Michigan playing music festivals, brew pubs, coffee houses, theaters, radio stations, and house concerts. We've gotten to meet lots of great people and made life long friends!

So here we are in 2010 and the year is looking great so far! Jen and I have been nominated for multiple WYCE Jammie Awards and will be playing at the awards ceremony at the Intersection in Grand Rapids in February. Our solo albums from last year have made it to the top ten on 2 radio station music charts and on top of all that we're going to begin recording our first official duo album this winter. Thanks again to everyone and we'll see you this year : )

-Sam

John Bommarito (Ann Arbor's 107.1) top 100 albums for 2009!

John - I do a chart annually, and I do it mathematically, here is the list of the best records I heard that were released in 2009 – and I had the chance to hear at least 700 new CD’s this year (I wish I was kidding here, but radio does have it’s advantages). Each song on each album is rated on a 1-10 scale, then the total number of points is divided by the total number available and the records fall into place. Ties occur when the same score is the result. I must also explain that I generally remove live albums and greatest hits albums from the list, as well as compilations of previously released material (for example: Live From Studio A2 Volume 2 would have been very near the top, but it’s a compilation of in studio recordings of songs that have been previously released elsewhere in their original form, so it falls into the live album category in my eyes). It seems unfair to have them in, for what I think are obvious reasons. I also remove recordings with 6 songs or less as those are just EPs and have an unfair mathematical advantage in my eyes.
It’s my opinion, it’s my list. You are welcome to disagree, but it won’t change a thing. I too am surprised how high certain records charted and how low others charted. Some I’ve only had in my possession two weeks or less, two of them only since Dec 24 (which is pretty impressive that they made the list at all if you ask me).
A slight revision was made Sunday afternoon Dec 27 as I realized I made one math error and included a couple of records that should have been excluded.

RANK-ARTIST- TITLE
1- JEN SYGIT - SO LONG POLLYANNA
2- DREW NELSON - DUSTY ROAD TO BEULAH LAND
3- VERVE PIPE- A FAMILY ALBUM
4- KERI NOBLE - KERI NOBLE
5- FRAY - THE FRAY (DELUXE EDITION)
6- VIENNA TENG - INLAND TERRITORY
7- RODRIGO Y GABRIELA- 11:11
8- BRANDI CARLILE - GIVE UP THE GHOST
9- SAM CORBIN - MICHIGAN'S WALTZ
10- DAUGHTRY- LEAVE THIS TOWN (TARGET EDITION)
10- INGRIDMICHAELSON- EVERYBODY
12- BEN FOLDS - BEN FOLDS PRESENTS UNIVERSITY A CAPELLA
13- HOWIE DAY - SOUND THE ALARM
14- MICHAEL BUBLE - CRAZY LOVE (FAN CLUB EDITION)
14- NEED TO BREATHE- THE OUTSIDERS
16- INDIGO GIRLS- POSEIDON AND THE BITTER BUG (BONUS DISC VERSION)
17- CHRIS ISAAK - MR. LUCKY (CONSUMER DIRECT EDITION)
17- STEPHEN KELLOGG AND THE SIXERS- THE BEAR
17- RAUL MALO - LUCKY ONE
17- SERENA RYDER - IS IT OK
17- JAMES TAYLOR - OTHER COVERS
17- CHERYLWHEELER- POINTING AT THE SUN
23- REGINA SPEKTOR - FAR
23- VERTICAL HORIZON- BURNING THE DAYS
25- JAY BRANNAN - IN LIVING COVER
26- ALLIE MOSS - PASSERBY
27- NEWTON FAULKNER - REBUILT BY HUMANS (BONUS TRACKS)
27- ROSANNE CASH - THE LIST (BARNES AND NOBLE EXCLUSIVE VERSION)
29- DAMNWELLS- ONE LAST CENTURY
29- TYRONE WELLS - REMAIN
31- BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY- HOW BIG CAN YOU GET? THE MUSIC OF CAB CALLOWAY
31- ANTJE DUVEKOT - THE NEAR DEMISE OF THE HIGH WIRE DANCER
31- PAPER RAINCOAT- THE PAPER RAINCOAT
31- PARACHUTE- LOSING SLEEP
31- SUSAN WERNER - CLASSICS
36- ELLIS PAUL - THE DAY AFTER EVERYTHING CHANGED
36- DUNCAN SHEIK - WHISPER HOUSE
38- DAVID GRAY - DRAW THE LINE (LTD ED. DELUXE PACKAGE)
38- VARIOUS- SWEETHEART (STARBUCKS EXCLUSIVE)
40- JILL JACK - SONGWRITER SESSIONS
41- ALTERNATE ROUTES- A SUCKER'S DREAM
41- FICTION FAMILY-FICTION FAMILY
41- PAOLO NUTINI - SUNNY SIDE UP
41- WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION-WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION
45- JOHN MAYER - BATTLE STUDIES
45- TRAIN- SAVE ME, SAN FRANCISCO
47- OLIVIA BROADFIELD - EYES WIDE OPEN
47- DANNY COX - IN ALL THINGS
47- JARS OF CLAY- THE LONG FALL BACK TO EARTH
50- FUN- AIM AND IGNITE
50- PETE YORN - BACK & FOURTH
52- WILLIE NELSON - AMERICAN CLASSIC (BARNES AND NOBLE EDITION)
52- MINDY SMITH - STUPID LOVE
54- NORAH JONES - THE FALL (TARGET EXCLUSIVE EDITION)
55- PETER BRADLEY ADAMS - TRACES
55- ARI HEST - TWELVE MONDAYS
55- MAT KEARNEY - CITY OF BLACK & WHITE
55- MATT THE ELECTRICIAN- ANIMAL BOY
55- DAVID MEAD - ALMOST AND ALWAYS
55- SHARON SHANNON - SAINTS & SCOUNDRELS
55- SISTER HAZEL- RELEASE
55- DAVID WILCOX - OPEN HAND
64- AMOS - MIDWINTER GRACES
64- JILL JACK - THE SONGWRITER SESSIONS-ROUGH SESSIONS
64- JER COONS - SPEAK
64- GOMEZ- A NEW TIDE (BEST BUY VERSION)
64- GREEN RIVER ORDINANCE- OUT OF MY HANDS
64- MATT HIRES - TAKE US TO THE START
64- JEREMY KITTEL - CHASING SPARKS
64- MEAGHAN SMITH - THE CRICKET'S ORCHESTRA
64- TINTED WINDOWS-TINTED WINDOWS
73- JOHN GORKA - SO DARK YOU SEE
74- AMONG THE OAK & ASH-AMONG THE OAK & ASH
74- MAY ERLEWINE - LOVE LABOR
74- JOHN WESLEY HARDING - WHO WAS CHANGED AND WHO WAS DEAD
74- BEN LEE - THE REBIRTH OF VENUS
78- CARBON LEAF- NOTHING RHYMES WITH WOMAN (AMAZON EXCLUSIVE)
79- CLIFF EBERHARDT - 500 MILES-THE BLUE ROCK SESSIONS
79- OWL CITY- OCEAN EYES
79- SWITCHFOOT- HELLO HURRICANE
79- VEER UNION- AGAINST THE GRAIN
83- MY DEAR DISCO- DANCE THINK LP
84- WILL HOGE - THE WRECKAGE
84- U2- NO LINE ON THE HORIZON (LIMITED EDITION BOX)
86- GREEN DAY- 21st CENTURY BREAKDOWN (TARGET EDITION)
86- ELVIS COSTELLO - SECRET, PROFANE & SUGARCANE
86- IMOGEN HEAP - ELLIPSE
86- DONNA ULISSE - WALK THIS MOUNTAIN DOWN
90- HARRY CONNICK JR. - YOUR SONGS (BARNES AND NOBLE EXCLUSIVE EDITION)
90- CHRISTINE LAVIN - COLD PIZZA FOR BREAKFAST
90- RELIENT K- FORGET AND NOT SLOW DOWN
90- COLBIE CAILLAT - BREAKTHROUGH (DELUXE EDITION)
94- CASTING CROWNS- UNTIL THE WHOLE WORLD HEARS
94- JAY FARRAR & BENJAMIN GIBBARD- ONE FAST MOVE OR I'M GONE-MUSIC FROM KEROUAC'S BIG SUR
94- WILLIAM FITZSIMMONS - THE SPARROW AND THE CROW
94- TONY FURTADO - DEEP WATER
94- GREENCARDS- FASCINATION
94- GUGGENHEIM GROTTO- HAPPY THE MAN
94- HOWARD JONES - ORDINARY HEROES (FAN CLUB EDITION)
94- RICKIE LEE JONES - BALM IN GILEAD
94- DIANA KRALL - QUIET NIGHTS
94- GRANT-LEE PHILLIPS - LITTLE MOON
94- BOB SCHNEIDER - LOVELY CREATURES
94- SIMPLE MINDS- GRAFFITI SOUL/SEARCHING FOR THE LOST BOYS
94- TODD SNIDER - THE EXCITEMENT PLAN
94- MATTHEW SWEET & SUSANNA HOFFS- UNDER THE COVERS VOL. 2
94- VARIOUS- WELLS FOR ZOE

Torch & Twang (Impact 88.9fm) Top 45 Albums of 2009 as voted on by the Listeners and Staff:

1 Jen Sygit - So Long Pollyanna - EM
2 Corb Lund - Losin' Lately Gambler - New West
3 Buddy and Julie Miller - Written in Chaulk - New West
4 Sam Corbin - Michigan's Waltz - SR
5 Sarah Jarosz - Song Up in Her Head - Sugar Hill
6 The Avett Brothers - I and Love and You - Columbia
7 Justin Townes Earle - Midnight at the Movies - BS
8 Jay Farrar & Benjamin Gibbard - One Fast Move or I'm Gone - Kerouac Films
9 Tim Easton - Porcupine - NW
10 Wilco - Wilco (The Album) - Nonesuch
11 Neko Case - Middle Cyclone - Anti
12 Joe Henry - Blood from Stars - Anti
13 Hurricane Doyle - ST - SR
14 Fruit Bats - The Ruminant Band - Sub Pop
15 Jo Serrapere - Love Going South - The Detroit Radio Co Recordings
16 Wayne Hancock - Viper of Melody - BS
17 The Bottle Rockets - Lean Forward - BS
18 Kieran Kane - Somewhere Beyond the Roses - Compass/DR
19 Eilen Jewell - Sea of Tears - SS
20 Tom Waits - Glitter and Doom Live - Anti
21 Will Hoge - The Wreckage - Ryko
22 Monsters of Folk - ST - Shangri-La
23 Scott Miller - For Crying Out Loud - F.A.Y.
24 Dave Alvin and the Guilty Woman - ST - YR
25 Paul Burch - Still Your Man - Ramseur
26 Andrew Bird - Noble Beast - Fat Possum
27 Drive-By Truckers - The Fine Print - New West
28 Gary Louris and Mark Olson - Ready for the Flood - NW
29 Samuel Seth Bernard & May Erlewine - Welcome Back - EM
30 Gurf Morlix - Last Exit to Happyland - SR
31 Nolan McKelvey - A Matter of Time - SR
32 Slaid Cleaves - Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away - Music Road
33 Todd Snider - The Excitement Plan - YR
34 Guy Clark - Somedays The Song Write You - Dualtone
35 Danny Barnes - Pizza Box - ATO
36 The Flatbellys - Get 'Round - SR
37 The Boxmasters - Modbilly - Vanguard
38 John Doe and the Sadies - Country Club - YR
39 Newfound Road - Same Old Place - Rounder
40 Chris Smither - Time Stands Still - SS
41 Chuck Prophet - Let Freedom Ring - YR
42 Los Straitjackets - The Further Adventures of LS - YR
43 Scott H. Biram - Something's Wrong/Lost Forever - BS
44 The Gourds - Haymaker - YR
45 Steve Earle - Townes - NW

11-20-09

Thanks you to everyone that came out to the CD Release Concert last night!! It was a huge success and an awesome night that I'll remember forever! I'm looking forward to doing more shows with the full band and I'll keep you all posted when we get dates lined up. Also, I'll work on Goodnight Candlelight...it's been a while since I played that one : ) Sorry that I didn't get to talk to everyone longer after the show or if I missed anyone, there were so many people and I wanted to say hi to everyone. Thanks again to everyone involved and all of you for coming out and supporting me on my new release!

-Sam

11-19-09 -------NEW!!

Published November 19, 2009
Old-time country ethos fits Sam Corbin like a Michigan mitten

Review
Chris Rietz | For the Lansing State Journal

Haslett's Sam Corbin issued his debut CD, "Goodnight Candlelight," in 2006, an introspective, darkly folky album of original songs - but his latest, this fall's "Michigan Waltz," is evidence that he's come out of the basement and gotten around some since then.

Much has been written in this space about how Americana - or alt-country, or any of those boutique sub-genres - has become a magnet for mediocre songwriters: you're supposed to write simple songs, play simply, and you don't have to sing any better than Guy Clark.

But like his longtime cohort Jen Sygit, Corbin has taken to the old-time country ethos because it seems like his native language. While Sygit's songs may be more ambitiously literary, Corbin's are lean and direct; and while Sygit's voice can light up a room, Corbin and his intuitive grasp of classic, countrified style make him more quietly effective.

Maybe that's how he can get away with the album's only cover, "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," one of the most perfect songs ever written and the jewel of Hank Williams' formidable songbook. You'd think such a song would be untouchable, but Corbin's direct, uncluttered reading hits the mark - and to do that you need more than a nice voice, you need to sing it right.

"Michigan's Waltz" is a showcase for Corbin's songs, however, eight of them, and a showcase for what we may as well start calling the Lansing Sound, bolstered largely by the presence of ubiquitous sidemen Mike Lynch on keyboards and Drew Howard on Dobro and pedal steel.

Lansing pop songsters Westrin and Mowry are here, too, as well as Sygit and her Spare Change bandmate Tahmine Gueramy on fiddle and backup vocals. Longtime Corbin drummer Billy Harrington, upright bassist Spencer Cain and mandolinist Brandon Foote round out the guest roster, and "Waltz" is lively and variegated program, despite its mere 32-plus minutes.

"Say You Will" is an album highlight, a folky counterbalance to the CD's country leanings and moving in its directness; the mountain-flavored "Reachin' for Your Gun" just might be a stab at a former president. The ice-and-snow-laden title track is one of many references to Michigan scattered throughout, including a paean to the late Robert Busby and an anti-war narrative set in Kalamazoo.

Chris Rietz works at Elderly Instruments in Lansing. His reviews appear every other week in What's On. Contact him at crietz-lsj@comcast.net.

8-3-09

Welcome to the new website!! This is way overdue but better late than never. It's been a busy summer and I'm looking forward to the future. The new cd is finished and the pre-release batch has sold really well, and the official pressing should arrive on Aug. 10th. I've got lots of shows coming up so keep an eye out on the myspace page for the dates untill I can add them all to the site. If you get a chance, stop by the contact page and say hi.

Thanks Drew for building the site for me!! The studio doors are open when you're ready.