Written by Well folks, here you go. What I listened to and why. Some reasons more legitimate than others. But it’s my list, so you can stick that in your ears and listen to it.
- “California on my Mind”- Wild Light- YES. Just listen and TRY TO NOT SING ALONG. Impossible, I’m convinced.
- “When U Love Somebody”- Fruit Bats- I saw this band with my roommate after having almost completely forgetting they existed. Glad to have the reminder as the album and this song especially made my year THAT much better. It’s fun, poppy, and a rambling jam.
- “All the Pretty Girls”- fun.- Excessively glossy, over-the-top, and expansive pop on the scale of ELO. And it really does live up to the band’s name, it’s fun. Former The Format’s front man Nate sings about the lovely ladies, never to be had.
- “Degausser”- Brand New- This has been my go-to jam when I need to just blow off some steam. New? No. Rocking? OH YES.
- “Ready, Able”- Grizzly Bear- Something about the entrancing nature of this song really gets to me. I actually don’t think it’s the best song on the album (that’d be “Two Weeks”), but I listen to this song most. I love the repeated refrain which walks with the instrumentation beautifully.
- “Fight Test”- Flaming Lips- Heard this one for the first time this year and it was immediately my fave Lips song. Heard it played live acoustic and it maintained it’s spot. A beautiful song with a heartbreaking (and familiar) sentiment.
- “Fences”- Phoenix- I could’ve really just put the entire album up here because it’s the best. Absolutely great, fun songs. I don’t remember too many times when I’ve felt that pop culture had perfectly mirrored my sentiments as the matching of this collection of songs to my summertime. Good work pop culture. I chose Fences because it wasn’t my first love on the album, in fact it was well down the line. But it has cemented itself in my fave songs of the year due to a kinda cool, shimmery, dance beat and the way it builds into one of my favorite little lines of the year.
- “Know Better Learn Faster”- Thao with the Get Down Stay Down- Jangly, string-backed pop which speaks to me in lots of ways, but largely the music and lyrics sing together and that’s what I can’t shake (in a good way!)
- “Casanova, Baby!”- The Gaslight Anthem- Listen to this one when I miss my home state, I think the Virginia in this song is a woman, but it works for me!
- “Furr”- Blitzen Trapper- I can remember driving to any destination I’ve driven to, sitting at any desk I sat at, and walking pretty much anywhere I walked this year listening to this song. An unlikely love story.
- “French Navy”- Camera Obscura- I stumbled onto this band and haven’t stopped listening since. “French Navy” is bouncy, sounds older than it is, and it’s a sweet love song that highlights that first butterfly-like feeling of amour.
- “Tiger Mountain Peasant Song”- Fleet Foxes- Soundtracked my entire fall. An absolute stunner. You must listen.
- “Laundry Room”- The Avett Brothers- Lots of great lines, strummed beautifully, a song that will fill up a car, a room, a heart.
- “Sir Duke”- Stevie Wonder- Entered into the hallowed canon of songs that get played anytime I’m with my best friends. It now has a place alongside “Sloop John B”, “Wonderboy”, “Don’t Stop Me Now”, etc.
- “Fables-” The Dodos- Sometimes I don’t need a reason other than I really like this song.
- “Fitz and the Dizzyspells”- Andrew Bird- This was the first song I listened to walking from the train station to my new job in my new city. Andrew Bird is stupid talented and this song is my favorite of his. It’s hopeful and that’s what I needed when I heard it for the first time. Great song.
- “My Girls”- Animal Collective- From the best album everyone (but me) heard in ’08 comes this badass track. Swirling beats, simple lyrics, hoots and hollers, what’s not to like? This song was on REPEAT through January while I did some renovations on my family’s bathroom. What a weird year.
- “Yesterday”- Atmosphere- What a great song. I don’t even know where to begin. Props to my buddy Kevin for the suggestion. This is my favorite hip hop song in ages. Might be because of the narrative nature, might be because of the twist at the end that I never see coming. Just a great song. Listen and listen well.
- “Skeleton Key”- Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s- An unfortunate addition to the list. Went through a breakup, this was the song of that time period. How can it not be with the line “And I miss you less and less every day. This stream of whiskey’s helped to wash you away..” Try not shouting that one out
- “Pale Blue Eyes”- The Velvet Underground- Beautiful one, painful one.
What’s topping your playlist this year all?
