Keeping Score pulls from Kevin's experience as a soccer coach and an employment lawyer; offering thoughts and observations on sports, coaching, leadership, music, and almost anything else he wants to write about. Enjoy.
At long, long last we've reached the end of 2023's List. Hardly an end of the year list, as it turned out. Nonetheless, I hope you've found some new favorite songs that will carry you well in to 2024.
1. Stick Season by Noah Kahan.
"And I'll dream each night of some version of you
That I might not have, but I did not lose.
Now you're tire tracks and one pair of shoes
And I'm split in half, but that'll have to do ...
Have to do."
Several significant departures from the norm for the List with this song atop it. Never before has a song released in the previous year (i.e., 2022) made number one. Neither has a song this popular (14 million YouTube hits for the original video - which is not the one above) been at the top. But this is the song that kept bouncing around in my head from early in 2023, and convention was thrown out the window. Also check out Homesick and Dial Drunk from the excellent Stick Season album.
2. Lights Light Up by Fenne Lily.
"You came to me at the speed of a bad decision
Just the speed, the bad not so much.
We held each other while everything burned up 'round us
And inside of me, too
That's called love."
A lovely little love song from Ms. Lily. The first two stanzas quoted above are likely my favorite lyrics of 2023. As often happens, Lights Light Up traded the top spot with Stick Season for much of the year. The fact that it ended up number two is no reflection of how much I admire this song.
3. Modern Girl by Bleachers.
"Changed my meds, changed the flight
Bodies on, bodies wild
Body cam, only flams
Bleachers band only flams.
Playin' it like a heart attack for you
We playin' it like a heart attack."
Yes, the Jersey boys are back on the List. And they may well have risen to the top again, if this song had been released earlier in 2023. Pretty sure they could care less ...
4. Honey by Samia.
"I wanna go to the beach and die on the beach
I wanna be a mermaid.
I'm not scared of sharks, I'm not scared to be naked
I'm not scared of anything."
Along with boygenius member Lucy Dacus, Samia is the only artist on 2023's List that I've seen live - and that was as an opening act for ... Lucy Dacus. Bonus fact: Samia's last name is Finnerty, which was my paternal grandmother's maiden name. No wonder I like her, and love this song.
5. Dripfield by Goose.
"Howling out the prism
Calling for the rhythm
Time's my only prison
Dripfield where you sitting
Rising like the weather
Blood gets pumping redder
I know that life comes better
I know that life comes better
In love."
Believe it or not, there are two songs that are 5+ minutes long in 2023's top 11. Even more incredibly, there are two songs by bands named after winged water fowl in 2023's top 11. This is the first of both. Goose are apparently a popular jam band, which generally isn't my cup of tea. But this song goes down smoothly, especially first thing in the morning. Check out Hungersite and 726 from Goose's Dripfield album as well.
6. Not Strong Enough by boygenius.
"I don't know why I am
The way I am
There's something in the static,
I think I've been having revelations.
Comin' to, in the front seat, nearly empty.
Skip the exit to our old street and go home ...
Go home alone."
My admiration for Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and particularly Lucy Dacus has been expressed many times on the List. Put them all together and you get ... well, genius.
7. 3D Country by Geese.
"I used to cut 'em up
I used to tear it down
I coulda been the king of this town ...
But I'm going home."
Yup, here's the other big bird on the 2023 List. As well as the other 5+ minute song. What is it about geese and long songs you may ask? I have no idea. But I love Cameron Winter's (the lead singer for Geese) vocals on this song.
8. Expert in a Dying Field by The Beths.
"Can we erase our history
Is it as easy as this?
Plausible deniability
I swear I've never heard of it.
And I can close
The door on us
But the room still exists
(and I know you're in it)."
Spotify tells me this was my most-listened to song in 2023, which makes sense because it was released in 2022 and it may have been the first song I added to the playlist that eventually became The List. While their "A Real Thing" made 2022's List at No. 27, as you can tell I prefer this song from their "Expert in a Dying Field" album.
9. Hope is a Dangerous Little Thing by The Menzingers.
"They hope is a dangerous, dangerous little thing.
To keep finding out the hard way
What tomorrow never brings."
Now this is something you don't hear much of anymore (at least I don't): good ol' fashioned punk rock. That driving drumbeat certainly gives it away.
10. For Your Soul by Josh Ritter.
"Will you be worthy and yet
Unworthy in the same breath
And look yourself in the mirror?
Will you be righteous and strong
By saying when you are wrong
And put aside your own fear?"
"This is a test." But, apparently, this is not only a test.
11. Tropic Morning News by The National.
"I was suffering more than I let on
The tropic morning news was on.
There's nothing stopping me now
From saying all the painful parts out loud."
One of my all-time favorite bands issued not one, but two, albums this year. To be honest, I found them a little uneven, but this is my preferred song from both "First Two Pages of Frankenstein" and "Laugh Track."
One would be tempted to bid 2021 a less-than-fond good riddance ... if we hadn't already done that with 2020. So let's just appreciate the new music that our seemingly endless pandemic brought us. Including three albums (which happen to contain the first three songs on my list) that could have filled out the Top Ten all on their own.
1. Stop Making This Hurt by Bleachers.
"But if we take the sadness
Out of Saturday night
I wonder what we'll be left with
Anything worth the fight?
I wanna run from the darkness
Wanna shout at the light
It's coming over me now
Two, three, four, five oh God we barely survived!"
I went back-and-forth a lot between this and number two on the list for much of the second half of the year. Stop Making This Hurt, however, was the one song that I never skipped on any device throughout the year, and it's the one that compels me to crank up the volume more than any other. And so, here are the Jersey boys, with their horns and Jack's goofy dancing. Long may they rock. I also recommend giving a listen to Don't Go Dark and How Dare You Want More from the LP Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night (along with the already nominated Chinatown).
2. Not Dead Yet by Lord Huron.
"I've been out way too long
Heading right for the edge
If she asks about me
Tell her I'm not dead yet."
The boys from Michigan return to their western/rockabilly roots on their new album Long Lost and I for one am glad for it. I believe that Lord Huron now holds the distinction of having two Number Two songs on my list through the years (Until the Night Turns was second in 2015). So close ... I also recommend to you Mine Forever, Long Lost, Love Me Like You Used To, and I Lied from their 2021 offering as well.
3. Hot & Heavy by Lucy Dacus.
"You knew that I wanted you to bend the rules
How did I believe I had a hold on you?
You were always stronger than people suspected
Underestimated and overprotected."
The above lyrics are perhaps my favorites of the year. If not them, then the ones I will gift you immediately below. Lucy's latest album Home Video (which, as the title suggests, is based on memories from her past) is chock full of them. Check out VBS and Brando from that LP as well, at the minimum. The video's fun too and consistent with the Home Video theme. I'm sure it was made in RVA (but didn't look it up to confirm).
4. Family Farm by The Hold Steady.
"When she was combing through the carpet I could not resist her charms
She brought me to a fortress she called the family farm
Out along the towers there were guards with heavy arms
I guess there was some tension with the neighbors."
So do you prefer Lucy's wry observation or Craig Finn's deadpan understatement? Tough call for me. The boys from Brooklyn (by way of Minneapolis - the midwest is the setting for many of their tracks) are back with another set of lyrically brilliant songs courtesy of Mr. Finn in their new album Open Door Policy. Give Lanyards a listen as well.
5. Empire Builder by Typhoon.
"You and I know we both know that
Everybody's angry
Everybody's lonely
Maybe it's hopeless
And maybe love is not enough
But let's not rule out the possibility."
Definitely a pandemic song. Perhaps an apocalyptic song. At least Kyle Morton's still got a bit of hope. Typhoon recorded their album Sympathetic Magic remotely, no small feat for a notoriously large ensemble. The entire LP is very good, especially (in addition to Empire Builder) And so What if You Were Right.
6. Fire and Brimstone by Sean Rowe.
"I had a dream
Last night
When I was lying
On my bed
And the whole world
Was standing still
And the moon
Was turning red."
My New Year wish: that, for one day in 2022, I can sing like Sean Rowe.
7. Dino's by Gordi and Alex Lahey.
"There was a greatest hits on the stereo
There was a nun drinking her doubt
There was a young boy making promises
To a Dolly Parton cardboard cutout."
A pretty ode to ... a Nashville dive bar (okay, I admit that I looked up the location). Both Gordi and Alex hail from Australia. I'm glad that they found their way to Tennessee, at least for one evening.
8. Seventeen Going Under by Sam Fender.
"I was far too scared to hit him
But I would hit him in a heartbeat now.
That's the thing with anger
It begs to stick around.
So it can fleece you of your beauty
And leave you spent with nowt to offer
Makes you hurt the ones who love you."
A song of teenage rage (and an abusive father, I'm guessing). But with the redemptive vision of someone who "got out" reflecting on the person he was, the one he could have become, and the one that he became instead.
9. Questions by Middle Kids.
"And I got questions
And you got answers
And I'm not sure
if they're fact or fiction
And I got questions
And you got answers
And I'm not sure
if they're even worth asking."
The Kids are back with another stellar effort, part of their 2021 album Today We're the Greatest. Not much doubt where they stand with regard to whomever this song was written about. Cellophane (Brain) is also worth a listen from their newest LP.
10. Faith Healer by Julien Baker.
"Faith healer
Come put your hands on me
A snake oil dealer
I'll believe you if you make
Me feel something."
The third member of boygenius didn't quite make the top of my list, unlike her cohorts Lucy Dacus and Phoebe Bridgers. But her 2021 album Little Oblivions was well regarded by people whose opinions count more than mine (in other words, just about everyone's). This is my favorite song from that effort. We're all searching for something, aren't we?
11. New Fragility by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.
"On a holiday, you said you just need to get away
Taking some midnight ride out to Long Beach Island
Stranded, half-naked on a strange man's couch
No hearts are broken when there's no one to let down."
All the low notes of a break-up (or, more exactly, post-break-up) song. That last line gets me everytime.
Here's to (hopefully) seeing some live music in 2022 - that would be a good way to restart, wouldn't it?
Our man Rostam didn't just do covers this year, he came out with new music as well. This is my favorite from his 2021 album Changephobia -- a pretty song about a cab ride to the airport with your love. Check out, at the least, "4Runner" as well.
13. Back in Ohio by Lucero.
"Looking down the barrels
Of twenty loaded guns
All the letters written
All the fighting's been done
A man without a country
Ain't getting out alive."
My brother introduced me to both Lucero and this song earlier this year, and I feel I'm the better for both. It was clear from the video that the song is about the Cuban Revolution, but the exact reference (of which I was not aware) is here.
14. Reese by Big Red Machine.
"A little bit older now
Out in the wilderness
With some valedictorian
You had wagered up your torch
And then you lost your paraffin."
Big Red Machine is mostly Justin Vernon (a.k.a. Bon Iver) and Aaron Dressner (of The National fame), with various well-known guest artists. Yep, the name is a reference to the Cincinnati Reds of the '70's (Dressner, like the rest of the members of The National, is originally from Cincy). Sounds like Justin is not pleased with the actions of a former friend in this song.
15. Making A Fire (Mark Ronson version) by The Foo Fighters.
"This is our last time
I've made up my mind
I've waited a lifetime to live
It's time to ignite
I'm making a fire."
The Foos are still cool! Dave Grohl is definitely still cool!! They blessed us with a new album in 2021, and some re-mixes, and this is my favorite of the bunch (you can check out the original version of Making A Fire here). I also recommend giving a listen to Love Dies Young and Waiting on a War, at the least, from the excellent Medicine at Midnight LP.
16. Chinatown by Bleachers (feat. Bruce Springsteen).
"Yeah, I wanna find tomorrow
With a girl like you
My Chinatown baby
Sittin' on your front stoop
Cryin' out the crazy."
A break from protocol here as there are two Bleachers' songs on the list (and, truth be told, there could easily be four). My reasoning for the double inclusion is simple enough: only one of those songs features The Boss as well. So, one Bleachers song, one Bleachers and Bruce Springsteen song. Hope everyone's cool with that ...
17. I WANT TO DIE BUT I CAN'T ('CUZ I GOTTA KEEP LIVING) by PRONOUN.
"Wake up in another day
Have some coffee with my stupor
Add up all the time I waste
Telling myself I'm a loser."
Apparently PRONOUN (a.k.a. Alyse Velturo) has decided to forego all lowercase letters and instead use ALL CAPS. You do what you do, lady. I think she's mocking herself here, but maybe it's someone else ...
18. Write a List of Things to Look Forward To by Courtney Barnett.
"Sit beside me, watch the world burn
We'll never learn, we don't deserve nice things
And we'll scream self-righteously
We did our best, but what does that really mean?"
A song about a fractured friendship? Or a bigger picture than that (global climate change?)?
19. Stellate (The Districts Remix) by Samia.
"I wanna get you sedated
Like when it all began
I wanna play you records I like
I wanna hold your hand."
When this song was rereleased with the addition of The Districts, I was hooked. Love Samia's voice, which is enhanced (I believe) by the addition of TDs. And who doesn't love an overt reference to The Beatles?
20. Alibi (Alternate Version) by Geographer.
"Some days can be harder
But we find the way to keep
Our eyes on the forest
And forget about the trees."
It's been a while since Geographer made my list. I'm glad I found this song worthy of inclusion.
21. Far Out by Ben Howard.
"One said 'the violence has begun, we're together all as one
If we don't act now it'll be tomorrow.'
Well, I've seen this show before
So I left and closed the door
When out walking into the nearest forest clearing
There was nothing to see
Just a boy beyond the trees
Picking psilocybin."
A dark but maybe hopeful (at least for those who indulge in magic mushrooms) song about our current societal divisions.
22. Human Condition by Sjowgren.
"Whether they knew
Call it crazy it's true
Went on and on and on it goes
It's the human condition
But nobody mentioned
The eyes the eyes the eyes the eyes."
Sjowgren has at least let us put faces to their voices now -- so a little less mystery than previous incarnations on my list. And every bit worthy of its inclusion.
My favorite 11 songs of 2021 are just around the corner!
Over the past month or so, in addition to listening to and posting my favorite songs of 2019, I spent some time reflecting on the now-past decade's music and my favorites among all of those published over the last 10 years. Going back through my lists (which began on Facebook in 2010, but did not make it into blog form until the next year), I was struck by how much things have changed in terms of the increase in platforms on which music (especially that to which I am drawn) and the sheer volume of music being produced.
Ten years ago I was dependent on ... what? ... internet web stations as far as I can recall to hear "alternative" music in Charleston. Today I have Spotify, Apple, our local community radio station WTSQ, NPR, and KEXP to feed me, almost daily, the new music I sift through to find the songs and artists that I like. It's a daunting and exhilarating task that I alone have imposed on myself and I like to think that it keeps me young - at heart anyway.
After compiling my list of 50 favorite songs of the 2010's and having recovered from my holiday crush of posting, I decided to share the list with you. Where I don't include a video of a song, I'll provide a link in the song name, will let you know where they were ranked (if at all) when I first posted them, and provide links to those past lists. A further conceit: I will signify the artists that I've had the pleasure to see in person with an asterisk by their name.
As always, thanks for indulging me in my pursuit of new music - or, in this case, not so new.
26. Rollercoaster by Bleachers.
"We took the bones out from the road
Those endless nights that we traveled we stole
You let your clothes fall to the floor
And lit a fire while I waited for more."
Bleachers made the list four times in the decade, but this song, number 28 in 2015, is my favorite of the lot. Plus, the video had to be one of Bleachers' offerings featuring the recurring theme of front man Jack Antonoff getting his butt kicked.
27. This Life by Vampire Weekend.
"Baby, I know hate is always waiting at the gate
I just thought we locked the gate when we left in the morning
I was told that war is how we landed on these shores
I just thought the drums would all be loud warnings."
Since This Life was included in my last post (number 3 in 2019), I won't go on about my favorite Vampire Weekend song of the past 10 years ("Unbelievers" made the list in 2013 and their cover of "I'm Goin' Down" topped my favorite covers of 2019). I note that for songs from the past year, I probably underrated some since they haven't had the opportunity to stand the test of time the way that others have.
28. Grand Canyon by The Wind + The Wave.
"Don't die, you're just a baby, yeah you're way too young
You haven't lived till you've been to the Grand Canyon
It's the damndest thing
Oh, it's the damndest thing."
My favorite song of 2016, "Grand Canyon" hasn't held up quite as well as some other list-toppers have. But not for want of trying -- still makes me be-bop every time I hear it. While you're at it, check out the similarly movement-inducing "Raising Hands Raising Hell Raise 'em High."
29. Some Nights by fun.
"Well some nights, I wish that this all would end
'Cause I could use some friends for a change
And some nights, I'm scared you'll forget me again
Some nights, I always win, I always win."
While I declared it my third favorite song of 2012, it's the highest of songs from that year on this list. Perhaps I was scared off by its popularity (almost 194,000,000 YouTube views). fun. also featured Jack Antonoff (that's him playing guitar in the video, and not getting beaten up).
30. Cumberland Gap by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit*.
"I ain't cut out for war, unless I know what I'm fighting for
And there's nothing here but churches, bars, and grocery stores.
Ain't much money in the old-time mandolin
So I cash my check and I drink 'til I'm on my ass again."
My second favorite song in 2011, Delta Spirit seems to have fallen off the map, but according to the band's website, they are touring this spring.
32. Little Talks by Of Monsters and Men*.
"There's an old voice in my head
That's holding me back
Well tell her that I miss our little talks."
Little Talks is another former top song (in 2012) that hasn't fared as well over the years, perhaps influenced by the fact that I didn't much care for any of their songs that followed. I do still enjoy the interplay between the female and male singers though.
33. Light Me Up by Bronze Radio Return.
"If you’re feeling good
Is all I need to know‘
Cause you light me up
Oh, you light me up."
Another song that I can't really defend lyrically, but is impossible not to bounce to from the first chord to the last (and the little "Alright now" makes me smile every time). Light Me Up was number 13 in 2015.
35. Sprawl II (Mountains beyond Mountains) by Arcade Fire*.
"They heard me singing and they told me to stop
Quit these pretentious things and just punch the clock
Sometimes I wonder if the world's so small
Can we ever get away from the sprawl."
One of two previously unranked songs on this list, Sprawl II was part of Arcade Fire's epic 2010 release The Suburbs. I had only limited exposure to Arcade Fire before "prepping" for Bonnaroo in 2011. Their set at that festival still ranks as the best concert I've ever seen.
36. Gold Rush by Death Cab for Cutie*.
"Now that our haunts have taken flight
and been replaced with construction sites
oh, how I feel like a stranger here
searching for something that's disappeared."
Another frequent list occupant ("Black Sun" was number 22 in 2015, "You Are a Tourist" number 12 in 2011), Ben Gibbard's lament to urban renewal was both the antithesis of Sprawl II, number six in 2018, and my favorite Death Cab song of the 2010's.
37. Pretty Pimpin' by Kurt Vile.
"I woke up this morning
Didn’t recognize the man in the mirror
Then I laughed and I said, 'Oh silly me, that’s just me.'"
If Kurt truly has a disassociation problem, he is the most connected person every to suffer from it. Pretty Pimpin' was Number 7 in 2015, and has done nothing but grow on me since.
38. Riptide by Vance Joy.
"There's this movie that I think you'll like
This guy decides to quit his job and heads to New York City
This cowboy's running from himself
And she's been living on the highest shelf."
Also a former number one song (in 2014), Riptide has not aged particularly well for me, although as with almost every song on this list, I do recognize it instantly and feel a little jolt of happiness whenever I hear that ukulele start.
39. Seventeen by Sjowgren.
"If you want a second to breathe
I'll give you all of my love
I'll give you all that you need
Don't worry
I'm not in a hurry
Not going nowhere
I'm not going nowhere, yeah."
A four-time list denizen (twice in 2018, with "High Beam" at number 15 and "better off" at 29, and "Now & Then," 2017's number 13, along with Seventeen, number 5 in 2015), Sjowgren ("Show-grin") remains largely a mystery in terms of composition of the band. I like a little mystery at times ...
40. Don't You Look Back by Augustines.
"All right
This kiss ain't got no hope
But I'm gonna get it right
This kiss ain't got no hope
You see
We go up then down again
This'll be the end."
While Delta Spirit may or may not be defunct, Augustines certainly are, having called it quits in 2016. They do share something in common with Delta Spirit, however - a band name change. Delta Spirit was once known as The Delta Spirit, while Augustines were originally We Are Augustines. I regret that I never saw them live. Don't You Look Back was my third favorite song of 2014, followed by Nothing to Lose But Your Head (number 23, also in 2014), and This is Your Life (27th on the list in 2016).
41. Motion Sickness by Phoebe Bridgers.
"I hate you for what you did
And I miss you like a little kid
I faked it every time but that's alright
I can hardly feel anything
I hardly feel anything at all."
"It's time to give a little to the
Kids in the middle, but oh 'til it falls
Won't bother me."
A Grammy winner on my list? I'm nonetheless comforted by: 1. the socialist lyrics (the popularity of the song juxtaposes well with its message); and 2. The Beastie Boys reference. Feel It Still was my eighth favorite song in 2017.
43. Bondurant Women by The Texas Gentlemen.
"There was a genuine act of celebration
On the corner of the freight train station
And the sweating man gave a benediction
Said you're looking for a giant (?) foundation."
Another from 2018 (Born in Love was number 10), which trails only 2015 (12) and is tied with 2017 (7) for the most songs from one year on this list. Every list needs at least one pretty love song.
"I used to feel so strong, now I feel like a loser
This truth is hard to speak, but I could use the freedom
Oh, I can't do this all alone."
Another from last year's list, Quarter-Life Crisis was at number four. I'm long past the opportunity to have a mid-life crisis let alone a quarter-life one, but understand Judah's angst just the same.
Do you think I'd pass up the chance to listen to Rachael Price's voice another time (or six or seven)? Of course not. You Go Down Smooth was my fourth favorite song in 2014.
49. Crying Wolf by Caleb Hawley.
"You always said you wanted me to be honest
So I made u a promise to tell u the truth
I thought you'd understand so that's why I said it
But now I regret it
Baby what are we gonna do?"
No list of mine would be complete without at least one blue-eyed soul song. Crying Wolf was number 18 in 2015.
50. basking in the glow by oso oso.
"Cut me up, I've said enough
Learned this lesson far too much
It'll only bring you down
Carrying someone around
In your head, in your head."
The last on the list from 2019 (basking in the glow was number five) and the last ... period.
This year in music was full of highs and lows for me. The highest of the highs was getting to see one of my favorite bands, Frightened Rabbit, in concert in Chicago. The band made a brief tour in honor of the tenth anniversary of the release of their album The Midnight Organ Fight, the album that FR singer, songwriter, and frontman Scott Hutchison credited during the concert as the one that told them that they "might be able to make a living doing this."
Scott Hutchison (center) and his FR bandmates in Chicago
(photo courtesy of me).
The low was when, less than two months later, Scott Hutchison took his own life. He was 36, seemingly at the height of his career and in the prime of his musical life. Even a casual listener of FR's songs could not mistake the references to depression and suicidal thoughts that ran through nearly all of the band's five albums. But it was still a shock, particularly to me since Hutchison seemed in such a good place during the concert. His last public words, in a Tweet, summarize all that was good about him and all that is so terribly awful and unrelenting about depression: "Be so good to everyone you love. It's not a given. I'm so annoyed that it's not. I didn't live by that standard and it kills me. Please hug your loved ones. I'm away now. Thanks."
I soldiered on after that shocking event and once again dedicated myself to bringing to you my favorite songs of the past year. You will, as always, recognize several of the artists here from past years. You will, with very few exceptions, have never heard them on your local Top 40 radio station. But I hope that you enjoy many of them, and perhaps go to see at least one of them if/when they come to your town.
23. Drink About You by Kate Nash.
"I'm sick and tired of being such a hypocrite
I'm kinda over being over it all
I think I hate yourself
I think I hate me even more
I can't remember what happened before."
Kate has always been a favorite in our family. Her clever, witty lyrics are usually amusing and always thoughtful. One of several break-up songs on this year's list (and in fact this edition of the list).
24. About You by G Flip.
"Yeah, we got crazy, yeah, it did phase me
When you just went and took off
Yeah, I know I pushed you
Didn't think you'd follow through and leave me on the rocks."
Another break-up song that perfectly captures the yin-yang of feelings that go with it. Which, I believe, purposefully matches her black and white sneakers in the video.
25. Ancient Names (Part I) by Lord Huron.
"Far out past the astral plane
I cast you back from whence you came
Cosmic ash and blackened brain
I call you by your ancient names."
Our boys from the Mitten State seem to have taken a turn from pseudo-cowboy rock to Raymond Chandler-esque indie noir with their latest album (maybe my first hint was its name, "Vide Noir"). No official video or official concert video for this one as far as I can tell, so let your imaginations run wild with fortune tellers and soothsayers.
26. Without Applause by Horse Feathers.
"Mama's here and nothing can be done
No other thought meanwhile something thaws
Dad to rise, there to fix something
It's not the drinking but the worry that does him in."
First heard this band on KEXP, one of my favorite radio stations. A song, I think, about the daily grind for working for a living and the toll it takes not only on the wage earner, but on his/her loved ones as well.
27. Fell In Love by The Pollies.
"Fell in love with the one I love
When she's starin' back at me.
Fell in love with the one I love
And now she gives her love to me."
The Pollies were high on this list a few years ago with the politically charged "Jackson." "Fell In Love" is less dramatic as far as subject matter goes, but certainly not as far as musicianship goes.
28. Give Yourself A Try by The 1975.
"And what would you say to your younger self?
Growing a beard's quite hard
And whiskey never starts to taste nice
And you'll make a lot of money, and it's funny
'Cause you'll move somewhere sunny and get addicted to drugs
And spend obscene amounts on f**king seeds and beans online."
A sneaking feeling that The 1975 are becoming (or at least trying to become) this generation's The Beatles. Ambition is sometimes a bad thing, but for me not in this instance.
29. better off by Sjowgren.
"I'm down low and I'm nothing without you
I'm better off to stay, I'm better off to say
I'm better off with you."
Kind of a love song, kind of a regretful "I can't help but be in love with you" song. Sjowgren has appeared several times before on the list, but each time they've given a little more of a hint of who they might actually be. I'm fine with the mystery, as long as they keep making great music.
30. Plimsoll Punks by Alvvays.
"When I chip through your candy coating
You're stuffed with insulation
Just strawberry ice cream floating
With a sprinkle of indignation."
Yes, Alvvays (pronounced, of course, Always). Saw them when they opened for The Decemberists a few years back. They sound like an '80's girl group (The Go-Go's?), but with better musicianship (including a fuzzy grunge guitar) and much sharper lyrics.
31. Call It Dreaming by Iron & Wine.
"'Cause the sun isn't only sinking fast
Every moon and our bodies make shining glass
Where the time of our lives is all we have
And we get a chance to say
Before we ease away
For all the love you've left behind
You can have mine."
Finally! An honest-to-gosh love song instead of a broken love song. Also saw Iron & Wine, many moons ago now, and frontman Sam Beam appeared to be trying to turn them into a "jam band" (I believe my line at the time was "trying to be another Phish - don't bite"). Nice to see him back to doing what he does best.
32. Quarter Past Midnight by Bastille.
"We keep on running
Running through a red light
Like we're trying to burn the night away
Away-way, oh, away-way oh
Why are we always chasing after something
Like we trying to throw our lives away?
Away-way, oh, away-way oh."
Dan Smith, Bastille's lead singer, has a great voice. And if you're a list regular, you know that I'm a sucker for big choruses.
33. Everybody Lost Somebody by Bleachers.
"I waited 'til the night was over
Cursed the sun for coming up all over
Cashed the checks I had, I didn't own
Standing on the corner, God I wonder when
I'll give myself a break (hey)."
The winner in Facebook voting for this year's number 33 song. It appears that in this song our boy Jack Antonoff is beating himself up, instead of allowing others to do it as seems to be a frequent theme in Bleachers' videos.
So that's it -- the first 11 songs from my favorites of 2018. Stay tuned for the next 22. And while you're waiting for the next installment, hug someone you love. For me, and for Scott.
12. Hope the High Road by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit.
"I've heard enough of the white man's blues
I sang enough about myself.
So if you're looking for some bad news
Well you can find it somewhere else.
Last year was a son of a bitch
For nearly everyone we know.
But I ain't fighting with you down in a ditch
I'll meet you up here on the road."
To be clear, when I called Isbell the new poet laureate of Appalachia in my last post, it was MY version of Appalachia to which I was referring.
13. Now & Then by Sjowgren.
"Some things had changed
But others stayed the same and you,
You had your stories.
Some different stories
I left behind."
I don't know much more about the artist than I did in 2015 when their (her?) song "Seventeen" was high on my list. But they appear to enjoy the mystery. As long as they keep making music like this, that's okay with me.
14. Fashion by The Royal Concept.
"'Cause I love the way you wear on me
And you fashion is so wild and free
Honey, loving you ain't easy
But I'm not gonna leave ya
No no
So baby put your dope ass crazy fashion on me."
The boys from Sweden are also a past member of the list, albeit five years ago, with a song that reminded me of The Strokes (and Phoenix). "Fashion" puts me more in mind of a certain Purple Icon of Pop who passed away last year. Even if their music continues to be a bit derivative, as long as it sounds like this, I say "vive la sameness."
15. I Dare You by The xx.
"I get chills
Heartbreak multiplies
I'm on a different kind of high.
A rush of blood is not enough
I need my feelings set on fire."
Just a plain ol' lovely love song.
16. Then Again by Pinegrove.
"Wakin' in an unusual town
every morning this September.
You could sleep it off and leave it all
but in the morning you remember."
Along with Jason Isbell, the other artist with two songs on this year's list. Pinegrove's album "Cardinal" is my favorite of 2017.
17. Near to the Wild Heart of Life by Japandroids.
"I was destined to die dreaming
When one day, my best friend
With passion and pure provocation
Summoned me and said
'You can't condemn your love
To linger here and die
Can't leave your dreams to chance
Or to a spirit in the sky.
May your heart always be ardent
Your conscience always clear
And succumb to the city and surrender, baby
I'll be waiting here."
If you ever get the chance, go see Japandroids live. It's astonishing how much (excellent) sound can come out of two guys, a guitar, and a set of drums.
18. Fighting a Ghost by Matt Hires.
"What do you say
when your heart's not in it?
What do you do
when there's no new beginning?
How do you start
When you've forgotten how to finish?"
I've really liked Matt Hires for quite a while now, particularly his voice and the little bit of disgust or outrage boiling just below the surface, even if he's just singing about lost love.
19. Slip Away by Perfume Genius.
"Don't look back, I want to break free
If you'll never see 'em coming
You'll never have to hide.
Take my hand, take my everything."
In a year of angst and equivocation, there was at least one simple love song that I liked a lot -- and this is it. And those drums ...
20. Holding On by The War on Drugs.
"Now I'm headed down a different road, yeah
Can we walk it side by side?
Is an old memory just another way of saying goodbye?"
Highway songs are common, particularly in the U.S. Somehow, The War on Drugs managed to make the genre uniquely their own in this song.
21. Edge of Town by Middle Kids.
"I got all muddled up and journeyed to the edge of town
And then the road cracked open, sucked me in and I went down
I'm standing face to face with the kind of the underground
Some things just don't add up, I'm upside down I'm inside out."
This Aussie group toured with Cold War Kids this summer. Talk about the ultimate vacation for the Kids!
22. Don't Take the Money by Bleachers.
"Will we fight, stay up late?
In my dreams I'm to blame
Different sides of the bed
Roll your eyes, shave my head
Now we're stuck in the storm
We were born to ignore
And all I got is a chance to just sit
(Baby love me you've got me, runaway)."
Proof that pop songs aren't necessarily devoid of meaning (or self-examination). Yes, that's Lorde you hear singing - she co-wrote "Don't Take the Money" with Bleachers' Jack Antonoff. And yes that appears to be Maeby Funke commiserating with Jack at the start of the video (and presiding over his "The Graduate" like wedding at the end). And finally, yes, Jack seems to regularly get his butt kicked in Bleachers videos.
Gather round boys and girls. It's that time of year, when we hear tales of a divine birth, jolly elves, and flying reindeer. And get to listen to what I think is some pretty good music. So much good music that, unlike past lists that were limited to 30 songs, this year's offering includes three bonus tracks!
As in prior years, the list is limited to songs released in 2014 or 2015. And that's about it as far as rules go. You'll hear a variety of songs that could be variously described as alternative, indie, pop, Americana, soul, and maybe even country.
Oh, one disclaimer: while a few of these songs may appear on one critic or the other's "best of" lists, I do not profess to be a critic. Just an appreciator. And I hope you will appreciate at least a few of these offerings.
23. Fool for Love by Lord Huron.
"I stare into the endless sky
And the sordid tale of my life goes by.
I drift into the great unknown
And I really don't know where I'm going."
Missed Lord Huron at Bonnaroo in 2013 (despite E's best effort to the contrary), but caught them live this summer in Columbia, SC. They've made prior lists before, and will again later on this year's.
Lord Huron at the Music Farm in Columbia, SC. (photo by me)
24. Shut Up and Dance by Walk the Moon.
"We were victims of the night.
The chemical, physical, kryptonite.
Helpless to the bass and the fading light.
Oh we were bound to get together,
Bound to get together."
Admittedly a lightweight song lyrically. But so darn catchy. The pop song of the summer of 2015 for me.
25. Cavalry by Kingsley Flood.
"I've been thinking I've been drinking, I've been scraping rust.
I've been keeping clean, the frames that have collected dust.
Monday nights I watch the fights, on Thursdays I play cards.
But maybe just this week, I'll skip out on both."
Thought this was a standard breakup song until I studied the lyrics some more. It's clearly about the protagonist and his family - though I'm not sure if he's leaving home, or just asking them to get their house in order before he does.
26. Perth by Beirut.
"Blood on the sand
Paint on the water.
I skipped around
Asking for you."
Beirut, too, has appeared on past lists and will reappear on this one as well. Their album No No No is one of my favorites of the past year.
27. Waiting for My Time to Come by Colony House.
"I'm just waiting on the seasons to change.
Waiting for the curtain to fall.
I could lose my cool
Like a restless fool.
But I'm waiting for my time to come."
Horns and a big chorus of fresh-faced youngsters - what's not to like? I dare you to watch the video and not be at least a wee bit happier than you were four minutes earlier.
28. Rollercoaster by Bleachers.
"Now I'm running and I won't stop I don't wanna go.
I think about it everyday and night, I can't let go.
And, hey, I'm never the same.
It's a hundred miles an hour on a dirt road running away."
A repeat of sorts as Bleachers' I Wanna Get Better was Number 5 on last year's list. Can't help but hear a little Billy Idol in this one.
29. How'm I Gonna Find You Now by James McMurtry.
"I remember when I met you I's in love in one fell swoop.
You had a blade in your pocket and a rag in your belt loop.
Guys a hoverin' 'round the bar like gulls on the ocean
At the end of your shift just in case you got the notion.
Watch you washin' all the glassware, poetry in motion.
I'd a roped the moon for you.
How'm I gonna find you now?"
A Dylanesque largely spoken word song from a Dylanesque songwriter.
30. What Kind of Man by Florence + The Machine.
"What kind of man loves like this?
To let me dangle
at a cruel angle.
Oh my feet don't touch the floor.
Sometimes you're half in
and then you're half out.
But you never close the door."
I think there are more bands fronted by female singers on this year's list than ever before. And if that's the case, Florence has to be among them, doesn't she?
31. Bullets by Wild Child.
"Oh, I'm so glad, you found a cure.
It was so sad when you weren't sure.
I know you think, we need to talk.
You said, those regrets will burn a hole
In my black and withered soul.
You're gonna think I'm wicked when I walk."
See what I told you about female singers? I've always liked incongruous songs and this is one - a bouncy beat masking some pretty depressing lyrics.
32. Make Me Do It Again by Jim Noir.
"Come through the door,
Tell me more.
Make it up,
Make me feel,
Make me do it again."
Sounds like a Beatles' song to me. Sorry, can't find a link to a video for it.
33. You Must Have Met Little Caroline? by JD McPherson.
"Do you feel like I feel
Half a dozen times a day
When the lights go out
And your thoughts drift away?"
I've seen JD twice in person -- once at Bonnaroo in 2013, then again this year at Mountain Stage. Great rockabilly sound that's even better live. And, yes, I feel I know him well enough now to call him by his first name.
