My phone broke this fall so I won’t get sent one of those year summary things of the music I listened to this year. Without cold hard data, I’ve resorted to making my own list.
For those asking, here are my favorite songs (in no order) that were released in 25’ – The Year of the Yellow Light.
Oranges, Alex G – polished… in the Florida Keys
Dancing in the Club, MJ Lenderman (This is Lorelei cover) – simple and gritty
Burnover, Greg Freeman – Like if Stephen Malkmus replaced Jeff Tweedy on Being There. This whole album is good.
Waiting to Provide, Florry – if Desire-era Dylan had a song on Exile on Main St. Is harmonica the most underrated instrument? Whips, man.
Gary’s II, Wednesday – The best song about dentures? The only song about dentures? I heard some of the songs off this album live before they put it out and didn’t think it was for me. After listening to the album I still didn't think it was for me. I don’t know, I kept listening to it and sheesh. I could have put every song on Bleeds on here (other than Wasp). Some punky shit. Kate compared Wednesday songs to southern gothic literature like Flannery O’Conner or Faulkner. Only a cool person can make a comparison like that.
Husbands, Geese – This album got a lot of attention but I got Geese confused with the jam band Goose and put off listening to it. It’s sort of like Clap Your Hands Say Yeah mixed with some 70s groove. I don’t know if it's totally my speed but I like this song.
I wanted to like the Friendship record but I can only take so much of that Smog/Silver Jews stuff. I need some groove.
Some other songs not released in 25’ but I listened to a lot this year:
Any song off Naturally, JJ Cale – talk about groove.
Pineola, Lucinda Williams – Rockin’ song about suicide. This was on a live album I got this year. I don’t know if the album version is good but the live version is.
Fourth Time Around, Dylan – you could convince me this is the best song ever.
Norman Morrison, MJ Lenderman – You can only find this song on Youtube and it sounds like it was recorded through a zoom call with bad wifi. I wish MJ or Wednesday would record a whole album with songs similar to this one. I didn’t know who Norman Morrison was but glad I do now.
Torn and Frayed, The Stones – are the Stones under appreciated? No, that's absurd. But, man, a lot of stuff now sounds similar to Exile or Sticky Fingers (Geese and Florry, for example).
I’m Gonna Go Fishing, Dr. John (Duke Ellington cover) – dreaming of The Big One.
This might be chalky stuff. If so, I apologize.
As mentioned above, my phone is on the fritz so please email me at [email protected] if you’ve got something to say.
- E L I