Favorite Songs of 2020 - Songs 1-11

We made it! The end of a horrible year, the end of what I hope you found was an entertaining and (even more than usual, I believe) eclectic list. Here's to hoping we all get to congregate at some point in the not too distant future, whether it be in the office, at church, at sporting events, or, more pertinent to this topic, at concerts. It can't come too soon!

1.  ICU (or I See You) by Phoebe Bridgers.

"I'll climb through the window again

But right now it feels good not to stand

Then I'll leave it wide open

Let the dystopian morning light pour in."

The most difficult part of this part of the list was choosing which lyrics to include for ICU. The entire song is chock full of insightful, and biting, commentary about love gone wrong. While admittedly Ms. Bridgers and her work have appeared on a lot of "best of" lists in 2020, fortunately for my contrarian nature most have been in acknowledgement of her songs "I Know the End" and "Kyoto" or for her outstanding album Punisher. ICU, however, has been enduringly my favorite since I first heard it early in 2020.

2.  Armageddon's Back In Town by Drive-by-Truckers.

"The die has been cast

Symbolism's so pronounced

That there's nothing left to wonder or explain

There'll be no healing

From the art of double-dealing

Armageddon's back in town again."

If you think its sounds like the boys from Athens (although apparently at least some of them live in Portland now) don't sound optimistic, it's because they're not. Also check out "Thoughts and Prayers" from their excellent album The Unraveling and "The New OK" from their follow-up effort of the same name later in the year. DBT may be bowed, but they are not broken.

3.  Bad Decisions by The Strokes.

"Oh, baby, I hang on everything you say

I wanna write down every word

But do me a favor, when you come close

When I look around, don't wanna see you

I don't take advice from fools

Never listening to you."

The list has often featured songs that I bill as that year's offering of "sounds like The Strokes." This year we have ... The Strokes sounding like a mashup of Billy Idol and Modern English. While Julian Casablancas doesn't sound like he's completely pleased with how he's aged, I still wanna be him when I grow up.

4.  Fastest Man Alive by Steve Earle.

"I'm the rumble with the thunder

I'm the bolt out of the blue

I'm the master of the stratosphere

A pilot tried and true

My name's Charles Elwood Yeager

And I've been everywhere

Paris, London, Timbuktu

And Dover, Delaware

Ended up in California

That's where I'm gonna die

I come from West Virginia

I'm the fastest man alive."

Sadly, West Virginia's favorite son died this year (and even more sadly, Steve Earle's son, Justin Townes Earle, did as well). But Steve got it right, Chuck died in California. And he also got it right that Chuck was the "master of the stratosphere, a pilot tried and true" along with being, in Tom Wolfe's words the "most righteous of all the possessors of the right stuff."

5.  AUATC by Bon Iver.

"Ate up all their cake

And they drank their own wine

They were always on the take (will you shed a little light on it?)

Well, you know the burden ain't of dust

The only path to love is touch

I know that all that ain't proper mounts to much."

AUATC = Ate Up All Their Cake. Yes, that's The Boss you hear helping out in the chorus. A protest song for our post-COVID, post-George Floyd, post-destruction of the middle class times.

6.  Fire by Waxahatchee.

"I take it for granted

If I could love you unconditionally

I could iron out the edges of the darkest sky

For some of us it ain't enough

It ain't enough."

My favorite song from Katie Crutchfield's (aka Waxahatchee) excellent album St. Cloud. I also recommend "Can't Do Much" and "Arkadelphia" from that stellar work, which is much quieter than Waxahatchee's earlier offerings.

7.  Shangri-La by EOB.

"Going back

I'm not going back

In the old house

We'll burn it to the ground."

EOB is Ed O'Brien of Radiohead fame. One song that's here more for the music than the lyrics.

8.  Surrender by Will Butler.

"I'm so tired now

I'm so tired of

Thinking of you

No, no, no, child

I wish you were outta my head."

As convincing as he can be, I don't think Will's winning this argument -- whether it's with the subject or (more likely) himself. Will's better known as a multi-instrumentalist and frenetic stage presence in Arcade Fire.

9.  Persona Non Grata by Bright Eyes.

"Getting dressed for a date

Put on Blue aftershave

Wore a kilt like a Celt

Hid the way that I felt."

The first album in nine years by Bright Eyes is full of angst and Connor Oberst's quivering vocals (and stellar lyrics like the ones above). List regulars will remember Mr. Oberst teaming with Ms. Bridgers last year in Better Oblivion Community Center, whose offerings included "Little Trouble" (which also made my Favorite Songs of the 2010's list). A bright, smart downer in a dismal year, and another song about love lost, a genre for which I have an unexplainable affinity.

10.  Different Light by Best Coast.

"Askin' myself all the time, what if this just goes away?

'Cause I have gotten used to lookin' forward to another day

Probably why I live my life in black and white and never grey

Who am I to judge if you still see things in a different light?"

Another song from the past year that has a strong late '90's-early aughts feel to it. I guess this is a plea for finding common ground? If so, I'm fine with that.

11.  Good Times by The Lone Bellow.

"Boy he's wrestled down his demons

Broke the fall of all his friends

Quotes the Bible and the Koran

Has the heart of fifteen men.

Never wonders what you're doing

Never needs the words to say

There's some good ones still trying

Let's no good time slip away."

Spotify tells me I listened to this song more than any other in 2020. Perhaps that's because it was released early in the year; just as likely it's because I love its optimism (I want to meet whomever it is it was written about, if he exists) that helped with the isolation of most of this year. Which, hopefully, will not be the norm for all of 2021.

Favorite Songs of 2020 - Songs 12-22

 "And the countdown rolls on ..."

12.  The Steps by Haim.

"And if you go left

And I go right

Hey, maybe that's just life sometimes."

Not exactly Coldplay territory, but judging from the number of YouTube hits for this video, once again I may be veering dangerously close to mainstream territory by including this song on my list. Check out their song "Don't Wanna" (written with list fav Rostam) while you're at it.

13.  Phase by Pinegrove.

"That night when I lifted my head up

And I was seeing what was trembling there

On the edge of my restless eyelid

On the tip of horizon's lash

On the lip of collapsing letter

In the lap of confusing moon

I'm reduced to an estranged illusion

I'm consumed by all the shit in my room."

The fourth consecutive year on the list for the band from New Jersey (including my favorite song of 2017, and third favorite of all the 2010's, Old Friends). The above lyrics are among my favorites this year, which is not surprising given my admiration for Evan Stephens Hall's songwriting. I also recommend to you Dotted Line and pretty much everything else from Pinegrove's latest album, Marigold.

14.  Alter Ego by Kaleo.

"You feel the rush in your head

This is the time to attend

There's nothin' holdin' you back

Now, go ahead."

A dollop of The Black Keys, a dash of AC/DC and voila! rocking magic from ... Iceland? Yep, like last year's entry from Junius Meyvant, Kaleo hail from the Land of Fire and Ice. Mjog gott!

15.  A Thousand Words by Jay Som.

"Remember to call me when you're feeling blue

Don't follow the rules, go on and speak your truth

I've got you playing on my team

With the kind of people who sweep you off your feet

Writing a thousand words."

A bit of a rocker by Melina Mae Duterte's (aka Jay Som) standards, an artist who lives the cliche and makes music largely in her bedroom. I love the crescendo outro.

16.  Strangers by Mt. Joy.

"I guess I'll have to fall in love with strangers

Go ride through New York City like I'm famous

And I did not want our love to be erased, but

Lord knows we chased it, love just rearranged us."

So, is her really over her? I think not. Hearing echoes of The Lumineers in this song, who, according to Seth Myers in the video, they were touring (or supposed to be touring) with. You know, before the world ground to a halt.

17.  Circle the Drain by Soccer Mommy.

"It's a feeling that boils in my brain

I would dial back the flame

But I'm not sure I'm able

I'm wobbling out on the wire

And the lights could go out

With the break of a cable."

It was inevitable, wasn't it, that a song by Soccer Mommy (aka Sophia Regina Allison) would appear on the list sooner or later? Although I'm sure this song was written pre-COVID, it certainly describes what a lot of us have been going through at various times this year.

18.  Who's Gonna Love Me Now by Cold War Kids.

"All those times when I imagined

What'd be like to have my freedom

Not be so uptight, live my best life

Oh, what a fool, I was only dreamin'."

A little Kings of Leon, a little White Stripes, a little Black Keys. I like how the Cold Ware Kids roll.

19.  Automatic by Houses and Dawn Golden.

"Another bleached out, black hole

with nothing to lose

Another paywall, shopping mall

coming for you."

This marks the third straight year Houses has had a song on the list. I guess that officially qualifies me as a fan.

20.  Come On Out by The Airborne Toxic Event.

"Black lungs, headlights

Heading off to the city tonight, out the

Front door, turn right

I was alone, alright, alright, alright."

One of those songs that I think says more with its music and "mood" than its lyrics. Those voices! That lead guitar!

21.  Wrestling by Cartalk.

"Dance around what I want to say

Clear performance in my mind

Star at hands like a saving grace

Are they gonna catch me alright?"

Likely the most obscure song on this year's list, if YouTube hits are the measuring stick. Another retro-sounding, catchy tune that seemed in vogue this year.

22.  Beautiful Anyway by Judah & the Lion.

"That's what makes this life so wonderfully awesome

and horribly awful

Yet somehow it's beautiful anyway."

The boys are back with another life-affirming anthem that we all really need. The video's pretty darn fun too.

Stay tuned for the top 11 songs!

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!