Better late than never? We are definitely not going to make the Jan. 1 deadline, but what's a week or so between friends? Here's the red-headed stepchild of The List:
12. Then It All Goes Away by Dayglow.
"You tell me everything and tell me it's fine, but
There's 'something tells me that
There's something going on here.'
I know the way you got that look in your eyes
And then it disappears."
No "sounds like The Strokes" song on this year's List, but this one definitely puts me in mind of a frequent List member. Any idea who (here's a hint: they're French)?
13. Road to Joy (Bright-Side Mix) by Peter Gabriel.
"Get the blood to flow in every nook and cranny
Get the blood to flow from my head to my toes
Get the blood to flow, flowing all around me
Get the blood to flow with the life in my soul.
Back in the world
Walking down the road to joy."
One of my all-time favorite artists, but he's never appeared on The List before, probably because this is his first new album in ... 21 years? Anyway, welcome back Peter.
14. It's Fine by Bethany Cosentino.
"And it's fine
'Til it's not fine.
This conversation's going on too long.
I'm sick of it, I started it
With a little bit of wind blowing through my mind ...
It's fine."
The lead singer of Best Coast (whose Different Light made The List in 2020) is back. Sounds like she's finished with whatever relationship she's addressing in this song ...
15. Sixers by The Hold Steady.
"He's home late from some dinner and some drinks
Another Friday with the suits in the steakhouse.
Asset management's as thrilling as you'd think
But they pay him pretty well
Now he's renting out the penthouse."
Another song of urban malaise from Craig Finn and the band. It's so hard to choose just one stanza of lyrics from a Hold Steady song, because they're all great, and they're all connected.
16. Don't Look Back by The Revivalists.
"I don't look back
No, I ain't got time.
I can't relax, it's down to the wire
Six feet deep in the fire now."
Another rocker. Much prefer this song to "Kid," the song from from their album "Pour It Out Into the Night" which got all sorts of airplay this summer.
17. Chosen to Deserve by Wednesday.
"We always started by tellin' all our best stories first
So now that it's been awhile, I'll get around
To tellin' you all my worst.
Just so you know what you signed up for
What you're dealin' with.
Just so you know
What you've been chosen to deserve."
So what are Wednesday (from Asheville, NC)? Country? Alternative? Indie? Shoegaze? My brother Jeff declares "Americana Cowpunk." Seems about right.
18. Really Really Light by The New Pornographers.
"I am blurry on this here particular scene
That I'm trying to paint, if you'd sit still for me.
Paid off all the vultures up in the air.
I'm not seeing them so we must be more or less square now."
Neko Case, A.C. Newman and crew are back with this upbeat sounding song about ... the white noise in all of our lives?
19. Living in the Sunshine by Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers.
"Living in the sunshine
Living in the bright light
Wasting time, feeling fine
Yeah, feeling fine, fine.
Living in the sunshine, hey hey
I heard it said, heard it said
Got to grow up sometime ...
But not now."
A bit of a cheat here as apparently this song was recorded as a part of the Spirit Trail sessions, one of my favorite records ever. But since Living in the Sunshine was release for the first time this year, we get to enjoy it along with great songs like Pete & Manny, Great Divide, and Sneaking Up on Boo Radley. Spirit Trail had the 25th anniversary of its release this year (as if I didn't already feel old just seeing Bruce H. now as compared to last century).
20. Too Good at Raising Hell by The Struts.
"Sex so good, make the neighbors smoke a cigarette.
But I'm still bored to death.
Think I'm getting too good, too good at raising hell
But I'm wearing it well."
Remember my comment that there were some fairly mindless rockers on this year's List? The video definitely borrows from old stars like Alice Cooper and Kiss. And the first line quoted here? Classic.
21. Too Drunk to Drive by hey, nothing.
"You hate the sight of mullets so you close your eyes
But the spinning's just beginning and it's on the rise.
But the spinning's just beginning and it's on the rise.
And you're nauseous
Think you better call it a night."
Apparently hey, nothing are "Tyler Mabry and Harlow Phillips - two highschoolers from just outside Atlanta." So, basically they and I have nothing in common. Except for this song, which I really like.
22. nothing to do by Oso Oso.
"Nothing to do but hang around
I always knew I'd let you down
Nothing to do but hang around
Slip through the cracks, let myself drown."
Doesn't sound like Oso Oso (aka Jade Lilitri, a former List denizen) was in a very good place when he wrote this one. I also recommend checking out "nothing says love like hydration" including the amusing lyrics: "Nothing says love like a Gatorade, Nothing says love like hydration."
Stay tuned for the Top 11.
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