As we’ve written repeatedly this year, Anais Mitchell’s album Young Man in America is one of the best albums released this year.  We’re happy to see the album showing up repeatedly on many Best of 2012 lists.  As we wrote about the album and Mitchell in June:

“The modern folk songs on the album speak to youthful vantages of America (imagine that) and their/its growing pains and prizes.  Mitchell’s incisive lyrics always manage to put a fine point on matters.  Any songwriter who can write lines like the following deserves our strictest attention:  “Now that he’s gone away there isn’t anyone to tell me if I’m a diamond or a dime-a-dozen,” and “Your daddy didn’t leave a will, he left a shovel and a hole to fill.”   To cap it off, Mitchell’s voice beautifully ranges from Joanna Newsom to CocoRosie to Rickie Lee Jones, and all points in between.”

Mitchell and pal Michael Chorney on guitar have now done the obligatory Tiny Desk Concert for NPR, performing three superb songs off of Young Man in America.  Check it out below since that’s the best possible use of 15 minutes of your time .  All of the above and below are highly recommended.

Set List
“Shepherd”
“Young Man In America”
“Tailor”