My Morning Jacket "At Dawn" (2001)

On their second full length, My Morning Jacket are perhaps at their best.  They are still playing slightly melodic haunting rock.  The Neil Young influences are worn on their sleeves, proudly.  This is a band with something to prove, at a time when those classic rock influences were not so hip.

Split Lip Rayfield "Never Make It Home" (2001)

Albums like this are examples of what Blood Shot Records did best:  get a bunch of punk rock kids who want to play country(ish) music & let them have fun.  While it's not so hot technically, it's high energy & a lot of fun.

The Pixies "Complete B-Sides" (2001)

As time goes on, The Pixies seem more & more the most influential band to emerge from the 80s.  Their sound, or portions of it, have probably influenced more bands than any of their peers.

This collection of B-Sides is a bit of a mixed bag.  Almost nothing here has the power of their more famous songs.  But the catalog is deep enough that there's still a ton of great material here.

Rose Polenzani "self titled" (2001)

Wow.  What happened here?  Polenzani decides to add a more "rock" feel, giving most of this record that slow but loud vibe.  I'm all for artists trying new things, but sometimes it detracts from what they do well.  In this case, the songs are obscured.  Suddenly she's trying to compete with PJ Harvey et al.

Alasdair Roberts "The Crook of My Arm" (2001)

Once again we're encountering folk music from the UK.  And again, I feel like I should be more enthusiastic about this record than I actually am. 

Initially Roberts' Scottish accent is a bit off-putting, but after a track or two that distancing fades, & I'm left with beautiful traditional ballads sung with only simple acoustic guitar accompaniment.  This is absolutely a lovely record.