Favorite Songs of 2020 - Songs 23-33

Well, here we are again. Most of us, anyway. While live music ground to a halt this year, as did most everything else, fortunately many artists utilized that "down" time to be incredibly productive and creative (including doing a lot of cover songs which, yeah, sorry, I didn't do a separate list for this year). Here's the start of my list of my favorite songs of 2020. And oh, by the way, 2020?, don't let the door hit you ...

23.  Care by beabadoobe.

"It's been a while since I've talked about it

Maybe it's time to cooperate

I need some help to forget about it

I don't want your sympathy

Stop saying you give a shit

'Cause you don't really

Care, care, care, yeah."

I'm pretty sure my comely wife first alerted me to the existence of Beatrice Laus, aka beabadoobe. Apropos of several "retro" artists further down this list, beabadoobee has a very late '90's, early aughts feel about them/her. Maybe a Go-Gos branch transported to 1998 and grafted onto a Goo Goo Dolls tree?

24.  Walking on a String by Matt Berninger (feat. Phoebe Bridgers).

"In a way, I can't escape it

You'll always worm you way back in

To my lonesome soul and take it

You've always had me

Walking on a string."

Phoebe's everywhere these days, whether teaming with various outstanding artists (Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker, Conor Obrest in Better Oblivion Community Center, high on last year's list, or Mr. Berninger here), or on her own (more on that in a later installment of this list). Obviously I think she, and they, have excellent taste. A lovely song from the movie Between Two Ferns.

25.  Tiny Indoor Fireworks by Biffy Clyro.

"Looking for a new revolution

This one didn't get very far

I never want to spoil an illusion

Abracadabra."

I first because familiar with Biffy through their connection to Frightened Rabbit. This song makes me particularly glad that I did.

26.  The Surprise Knock by The New Pornographers.

"Drive off the map and take the long way round

Didn't know the score but we knew we were down

It won't be long until we grind the gears

But carry on, we're on to something here."

I've long been an admirer, but my memory (and Blogger) tell me that TNP have never made the list. That oversight has now been corrected.

27.  Reaching Out to You by Snow Patrol and the Saturday Songwriters.

"All of those nights before this

They're not like nights ahead

Inside there's space between us

Of things that won't need said."

A new song from an old favorite. I'm sure my kids would tell you they had more than their fair share of Snow Patrol in the aughts. And yet here they still are, hooky as ever.

28.  Orphans by Coldplay.

"Baba would go where the flowers grow

Almond and peach trees in bloom

And he would know just when and what to sow

So golden and opportune."

I feel no need to further try to defend my long-standing admiration of at least some of Coldplay's songs. And it seems as though a billion or so people agree (although none are apparently family members or friends).

29.  Pantomima by Greg Dulli.

"Waiting on a breeze

I'm waiting on a breeze

I'm waiting on the fever

That will bring me back alive."

Dulli is/was the driving force behind The Afghan Whigs. Driving describes this song accurately as well. The video is kind of cool but pretty artsy (Bob Fosse, anyone?). You can skip to 1:54 if you're only here for the music.

30.  By and By by Caamp.

"Driving through West Virginia

And I've seldom been thinner

With that chip on my shoulder

And this past year I got so much older."

I mean, how can I not put this on my list just based on that first stanza alone?

31.  Dressing America by TORRES.

"It's easier for you to insist

That I can't remember

Then to admit

That you can't forget."

My better half insists that she doesn't like this song much because it's a Frightened Rabbit rip-off. Perhaps that's why I like it ... Warning: the video is NSFW.

32.  Little Bit Sweet by The Wood Brothers.

"I look my lover straight in the eye

Stops the clock she looks in mine

Precious moment I'm holdin' on

Then she blinks

And the moment's gone

Then she blinks

The moment's gone."

A pretty little song about the vagaries of love and the passage of time.

33.  4 American Dollars by U.S. Girls.

"(You can do a lot with four American dollars)

No matter how much

You get to have

You will still die

And that's the only fact

You gotta have boots

If you wanna lift those bootstraps."

U.S Girls is (are?) Meg Remy, who now lives in Toronto but was born in Illinois. This song definitely falls into the "escape" category, which we all definitely need more than a little of this past year.

Stay tuned, boys and girls. My favorite 22 songs are yet to come!

Favorite Songs of 2011 - Songs 11-20

The middle ten of my favorite songs from this year (or, in some cases, last).

11. Down by the Water by The Decemberists.

"All dolled up in gabardine
The lash-flashing Leda of pier nineteen
Queen of the water and queen of the old main drag."

I don't pretend to understand what Colin Meloy's getting at here, but I like it just the same.

12. You Are a Tourist by Death Cab for Cutie.

"When you find yourself the villain

In the story you have written,

It's plain to see.

That sometimes the best intentions
Are in need of redemption
Would you agree?"

Saw them live this year too, at Merriweather Post Pavilion along with Frightened Rabbit.

13. Faster by Matt Nathanson.

"You bite my lip.
You spike my blood.
You make my heart
Beat
Faster."

 A ridiculously sappy-sweet love song. But (every once in a while) there's nothing wrong with that.

14. California (Hustle and Flow) by Social Distortion.

"Well, I was born, babe, with nothing to lose
But the black man taught me how to sing the blues
Made a little life outta rock ‘n’ roll
And that crazy California hustle and flow."

Another ol' fashion rock 'n roll song.

15. Boeing 737 by The Low Anthem.

"I was in the air when the towers came down
In a bar on the 84th floor.
I bought Philippe Petit a round,
and asked what his high wire was for.
He said, 'I put one foot on the wire,
one foot straight into heaven.'
As the prophets entered boldly into the bar
on the Boeing 737; Lord, on the Boeing 737."
 

An angry, cacophonic (is that a word?) song about 9/11. But why a 737 when the planes were 767's?  There's an artsy video too, but I like this one better.

16. Heart in Your Heartbreak by The Pains of Being Pure at Heart.

"She was the heart in your heartbreak;
She was the miss in your mistake.
And no matter what you take,
you're never going to forget."

Sounds like '80's pop punk to me.

17. Walk by Foo Fighters.

"I'm dancing on my grave.
I'm running through the fire.
Forever, whatever;
I never wanna die."

If Kurt Cobain had lived, I have to think that musically he'd be more like Eddie Vedder than Dave Grohl these days. Not that there's anything wrong with Vedder's music, but thank goodness that Grohl's still rockin'.

18. Every Teardrop is a Waterfall by Coldplay.

"I turn the music up, I got my records on.
From underneath the rubble sing a rebel song.
Don't want to see another generation drop;
I'd rather be a comma than a full stop."

Yeah, they might rip off Radiohead (although this songs sounds more like U2 to me). Yeah, the lyrics may be "wussy" as the younger male member of my family insists. But I like it, and it's my list.

19. Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People.

"Robert's got a quick hand.
He'll look around the room, won't tell you his plan.
He's got a rolled cigarette, hanging out his mouth he's a cowboy kid.
Yeah, found a six shooter gun
In his dad's closet hidden with a box of fun things, I don't even know what.
But he's coming for you, yeah he's coming for you."

  

The song of the summer -- a bouncy pop treat -- until you listen to the lyrics.

20. The Ballad of Mona Lisa by Panic! at the Disco.

"Say what you mean.
Tell me I'm right and let the sun rain down on me.
Give me a sign - I wanna believe."

While the lyrics say he wants to believe, the video says he's already written her off.