Various Artists : The Best Of Blues & Roots 2012

Glancing down the track list of Best Of Blues And Roots 2012, you’ll see Lanie Lane, Josh Pyke, John Butler Trio, Donavon Frankenreiter, Ash Grunwald, Blue King Brown, The Jezabels, The Waifs, Gurrumul, Justin Townes Earle, Michael Franti and Spearhead and Tim Finn. I don’t think I even need to continue with this review – you get the idea, right? The CD is jam packed with blues and roots luminaries, many of them Australian.

From the gentle strumming of Jeff Lang’s Way Past Midnight to the rock’n’roll of John Butler Trio’s I Used To Get High to the sweet innocence of Caitlin Harnett’s Into The Wild, every track is a treat for attentive ears. And, that’s only disc one.

Disc two’s highlights are the funky, funny chords of The Pants’ Chase The Sun, the haunting, orchestral tones of The Jezabels’ Endless Summer, the mellow Waif’s tune Buffalo and the excellent You Make My Dreams from Sarah Humphreys.

In fact, it’s probably Humphrey’s offering that is the highlight of the album. It’s simple, honest, melodic and her clear, bright voice is superb.

Ultimately, this compilation is fantastic – and not just for the harem-pant wearing, dreadlocked, krumping type of people you think listen to roots music. Buy it – you’ll like it, I promise.

BY KELLY THEOBALD

Best Track: You Make My Dreams

Sounds Like: Blues & Roots Fest

In a Word: Cruisy