Erase Errata – “Galveston, Dark Tides”
Bananarama’s “Cruel Summer” meets the Replacements. This is kind of a serious song, though I can’t make out all the lyrics. A flood? I’m not sure. This band broke up this year, sadly. I can remember playing their early herky-jerky frantic noise-pop 7 inches on my first DJ shift at WUOG 13 years ago. As the years passed, the released music less often, but each album that they did release was always relevant and fantastic. This song is just poignant and I can’t quite put my finger on why, but I love it. I probably listened to this song more than any other this year.
The Decemberists – “Make You Better”
Try as I might, I’ll never be able to escape the Decemberists completely. As the years have passed, I don’t love their albums like I used to–but each one, invariably, has a song or two that just grabs me. This song is in the class that I am drawn to–not the usual ones they’re known for about whales or french legion soldiers, just about a love gone wrong. I can remember seeing them at the Caledonia Lounge back in Athens in 2003. I was just barely 20 years old, and they had begun playing new songs off of what would be released in 2004 on The Sporting Life. I heard “The Engine Driver” for the first time and my angst-ridden self fell in love with the line “I’ve written pages upon pages trying to rid you from my bones.” It wasn’t until I reviewing the album in its entirety a few months later that year that I heard the same lyrics, and identified the song. Quite a digression, but all this to say, occasionally a Decemberists song has the ability to hit you like a knife to the heart, sometimes.
Hop Along – “The Knock”
There’s an urgency to her voice that I absolutely adore. I’ve always had a special place in my heart for folks that can’t quite exactly sing but manage to make up for it with great songwriting and emotion. The graininess is part of the charm in this ridiculously catchy song.
Natalie Prass – “Bird of Prey”
Oh this harmony. That 70s AM radio sound. A more buoyant Feist, perhaps. The horn section just keeps it all upbeat and going. It’s not a terribly complicated song but I found myself smiling whenever it popped up this year, and I found myself returning to it quite often.
Grimes – “Flesh Without Blood”
To be honest, I’d never been a huge fan of Grimes before this album. Too much Pitchfork hypersexualized hipster girl hype. But this song is the kiss-off song of the year, and a on a personal note, it was quite an anthem for me the past few months. So, Grimes, I feel you girl. The world doesn’t need another sad mopey song–it needs a well-orchestrated and upbeat middle finger.
Thunderbitch – “Leather Jacket”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B35DH-79lk4
I like the Alabama Shakes, but Thunderbitch is such a more fun outlet for Brittany Howard. Especially this 50s-esque, rockabilly burner that’ll get stuck in your head for days, an ode to the magical power of donning a black leather jacket. Best line: “I get my drugs for a helluva deal.”
Courtney Barnett – “An Illustration of Loneliness (Sleepless in New York)”
This album didn’t leave my car for the first part of the year, and I did that thing were every few weeks a new different track would become my favorite of the moment–such a great sign of a fantastic album. It was hard to choose a representative favorite, but this song is just so in the pocket. Her band’s only a three piece, but they’re incredibly tight. This song builds slowly, and her voice rambles around the room while the bass keeps chugging along. I love this gal.
Sleater-Kinney – “No Cities to Love”
I feel like it’s cheating for me to include an S-K song on this list, considering how much I love them. But this album, along with my epic road trip to D.C. to see them perform in February, rank among the highlights of my 2015. This song is pure S-K. I love the noodley, Hot Rock-era esque guitars, and I love when the chorus breaks in and they all sing in unison. It’s joyful, triumphant, and fantastic.
Laura Marling – “False Hope”
When I first started listening to Laura Marling, she was but a 21-year-old phenom that riffed on Joni Mitchell, an English folk singer in a young woman’s body. It’s been amazing watching her mature–she’s only 25 now–and she’s gotten a little more rockin’ in her old age.
Deerhunter – “Snakeskin”
This song is just so damn cool. It’s hard to categorize Deerhunter, so I’m going to just do my best with this song. The groove and rhythm of old T. Rex, combined with the lyrical playfulness of Beck with a million different textures thrown in for good measure. It’d danceable. It’s rocking. It’s fun as hell.