The Fashionably Late Top 60 of 2014 #54: Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires

2014 was quite a year. Not the best of years, on a personal level, but a rather good year from a music standpoint. Having given a listen to record after record after record from the year that was, I’ve pulled together a list of favorites, finding it next to impossible to whittle the list down any further beyond 60 (I tried). In this group of 60 you’ll find records from old, faithful friends, upstart newcomers, and even a headscratcher or two. You’ll probably see some records that were a Big Deal not on this list. I either didn’t bite or didn’t buy the hype. I’m pleased as punch with this list, and I hope you’ll come across something that might have otherwise passed you by. And so, without further ado, my favorite records of 2014.

WHO: Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires

WHAT: Dereconstructed

WHEN: May 2014

WHERE: Sub Pop

WHY: I like to think of Alabamians Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires as being the second coming of golden era Lynyrd Skynyrd. To me, that means it’s pretty easy to like them a whole heck of a lot. Full of honest social commentary and good old swampy, sweaty rock and roll, the sound of LB3 is mighty indeed. These whiskey rock-a-rollers have quite a buzz about them, and it’s pretty dang exciting. This is one of those records that it’s nigh on impossible not to at the very least tap your foot to.

My jams: “The Company Men,” “Burnpiles Swimming Holes,” “The Kudzu and The Concrete,” “What’s Good and Gone,” “Mississippi Bottomland,” “Dirt Track”







[posted 3.12.15]