“Red Eyes” – The War on Drugs It’s hard to write about a song that you love so much, but can barely sing along to. Adam Granduciel hides many of his lyrics deep beneath layers of guitars, synthesizers, distortion, and plain old mumbling. For much of the song, I’m just kind of humming along, guessing at words here and there,…

http://youtu.be/RfurmGiKZ5k “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” – Darlene Love Most holiday seasons there is one Christmas song I listen to a little more than the others, or one that connects with me a little more than the rest. Some years it is a relatively new song that gets stuck in my head. Other years it is a song I’ve heard…

“Transgender Dysphoria Blues” – Against Me! No song was a more forceful statement of self than this, the opening track of the first Against Me! album since lead singer Laura Jane Grace began her transformation from man to woman. It is packed with a righteous rage, the entire album a gigantic middle finger to everyone that questions the manner in…

“Gimme Something Good” – Ryan Adams http://youtu.be/vmglUwgtHxs This was the soundtrack of my summer, something I heard every 90 minutes or so while we were lounging in the water at the lake. Which made perfect sense, because it has a timeless sound that would have let it fit perfectly into playlists from about any summer of the last 40 years.…

“Lights Out” – Angel Olsen I’ll write more about my favorite albums of the year next week, but this comes from one of my absolute favorites. And it stands out on a disk full of fine songs. Most of Burn Your Fire For No Witness is focused on pain and loneliness and longing to heal. While this song certainly matches…

“Run Forever” Emma Ruth Rundle I’m a sucker for a song like this. It is equal parts beautiful and haunting. It is as unsettling as it is comforting. Is it a plea or a warning? There’s a delicious tension to the music and vocals that prevents these differences from ever resolving. Come on my love take cover with me We…

“Head Underwater” – Jenny Lewis You can’t write about Jenny Lewis without throwing out the obligatory mention of how her music sounds straight out of the 1970s. Her songs would have fit in nicely with all the stuff we heard from the backseat of our parents cars.[1] Sun-drenched, breath-taking, AM-radio pop that owes a huge debt to Fleetwood Mac. The…

“Honey Do” – Beverly Sometimes the simplest songs have the biggest impact. Twenty words. Chugging guitars and pounding drums. Gorgeous harmonies. Combined, it turns into sheer beauty. Tell me your oldest memory Yes I will keep it Oh honey do Previously: 20 – “Black And White” – Parquet Courts 19 – “I Got Knocked Down (But I’ll Get Up)” –…

“Lazaretto” – Jack White White’s Lazaretto was perhaps the most disappointing album of the year. He seemed disinterested and unfocused. Thankfully, he was locked in on a few tracks, notably this absolute beast of a song that stands with the best things he’s ever done. When I say nothing, I say everything Previously: 20 – “Black And White” – Parquet…

“Goshen ’97” – Strand Of Oaks We’re getting closer to the music that defined my year, much of which harkened back to the music of my youth. While this song looks back to the ‘90s rather than ‘80s, I certainly appreciate the intent. Indiana native Timothy Showalter put together an amazing album, much of it focused on he and his…