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!