Over the next couple weeks, we’re going to take a look at which bands have dominated their specific alphabetical placement throughout the first half of 2012. In other words, we’re going to note which artist that begins with ‘A,’ had the best album thus far, and so on and so forth through the alphabet. Why are we doing this? Because uniformity is pleasing and it’s an excuse to get to writing with more regularity while we experience what is, quite frankly, a dry spell for music. Up first, we’ve got the letter ‘A.’

Kicking off this list is an album that we’ve already taken a look at here at Out of Treble – Young Man In Americaby Anaïs Mitchell. Here’s a link to our review (a rather quick affair), where you can plainly see that we were pleased with the effort by one of the best folk artists out there. Expectations were exceedingly high with her 2009 release, Hadestown being among our favorites over the last five years.

That album was a concept album at it’s core – a re-imagining of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, with Justin Vernon of Bon Iver and Mitchell being those two characters, with one of our favorites, Ani DiFranco pitching in occasionally as Persephone. Oh, and it’s all set in the era of the American depression, so there’s that.

It’s as awesome as it sounds. How does Young Man In America compare?

Young Man In America is a playful-sounding album, mostly due to Mitchell’s ridiculously high-pitched voice, but one that delivers an important message. That message is yours to discover, as it paints itself naturally and isn’t preachy by any means. Mitchell hearkens to many themes, and herself called it more of a collection of short stories than a concept album, and we couldn’t agree more.

Musically, you’ll feel like you’ve heard it all before, but Mitchell’s voice is unique and powerful, all while being subdued and, again, high-pitched. It’s a playful vibe with a serious message (though not necessarily a solemn one) and it works best as an album you sit and listen to with no distractions and just absorb everything all at once. Don’t put it on in the background or you’ll miss the subtle depth and do a disservice to dilatant storytelling.

It’s a voice that oozes affectation without any of it actually being present. The themes are dark and her lyrical content has never been at its match with the sound of her voice, and while that may scare off new listeners here and there, at least we know that her true fans are an attentive bunch.

Listen: Anais Mitchell – Shepherd

Competition-wise, Mitchell had a lot through the first half of 2012 when it comes to this list. The Alabama Shakes put out a great album titled Boys & Girls, while Andrew Bird and Ani DiFranco stunned with Break It Yourself and ¿Which Side Are You On? (our review), respectively. All are certainly worth your time, with an honorable-honorable mention to A N Y  K I N D’s Any Kind.