This continues to be a pivotal, life-altering year for Deer Tick. Rolling Stone mentioned them in three issues, USA Today’s Pop Candy blog raved about ’em, and NBC News dude Brian Williams is a fan. The quartet is touring nationwide, with upcoming appearances at the Newport Folk Festival this weekend and the Austin City Limits and Joshua Tree Music fests in October. John McCauley III is finally old enough to buy his own bottle of rye but remains way too young to be spouting and howling about his unrelenting heartache; his shredded larynx and broken-man lyrics adorn Born on Flag Day, the breakout follow-up to the recently re-released War Elephant. Getting their proper (re)introduction to the world, the first single and Flag Day opener “Easy” is foot-stomping, feel-good blues at its finest, and “Houston, TX” is the perfect number for daddy’s dance at the shotgun wedding.
Runners-up
2_The Low Anthem
3_ZOX
4_Monty Are I
