6. Man Man -- Poor Jackie
Chanelling Tom Waits, much? Hell yeah. Man Man's finest moments are the ones where they're using their incredible talents to make SERIOUS music, and this is definitely that. I so wish there were a music video available for this song, because it's epic. It was less than a WEEK after they performed a mile away from my ( Read more... )

11. The Hold Steady -- Constructive Summer
One of the most hope-inspiring, optimistic songs I've ever heard. For a party-rock anthem, it's the rock song that's brought me closer to crying than any other this year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=019ax9vm_kk


12. TV on the Radio -- Halfway Home
"Free your mind, your ass will follow."
http://www.youtube.com ( Read more... )

Looks like my Facebook account got disabled. Apparently using fake names is against the Terms of Use, and apparently using one like "Phony Bonar" warrants a disabling without warning.

Sent 'em an e-mail and hope to hear from them soon. Wish me luck!

16. Sun Kil Moon -- Lost Verses
The man whose fans claim, more consistently than any other icon, can do no wrong does it right again here. This album is not as perfect as I think many claim, but it does have shining moments. One point I will agree on with most of his fan(atic)s is that Kozelek truly is an individual with a very singular vision for ( Read more... )

21. The Mountain Goats -- Roger Patterson Van
I find it a shame that John Darnielle and Kaki King didn't record an entire proper album together, because the EP they did together was phenomenal. This is probably the peak of those sessions mainly because, quite simply, it's an upbeat tune. Mountain Goats can be anthemic and beautifully depressing, ( Read more... )

 "I AM A GOOD ASS WOMAN!"
-black girl on "Momma's Boy" responding to racist comments

26. The Mountain Goats -- Michael Myers Resplendent
An amazing and, to be honest, quite shocking final track to this year's highly satisfying and energetic Heretic Pride. It's a small thing, but I feel like this song really represents where the man could be going, going, could be gone as far as we know with how much he puts out. This link is to the ( Read more... )

31. Drive-By Truckers -- Bob
A phenomenal work of alt-country, very strongly on the country side of things. It's a sweet song that paints a very thorough portrait of a single individual. More than anything else, it's charming; more charming than a George Clooney interview.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzs7CQG9Z_M


32. No Age -- Eraser
Yeah, not as ( Read more... )

Lord help me if I ever develop some kind of brain disorder, 'cuz I'm under the impression that one of the first things that goes when yr brain starts to degenerate are time lines. I can already barely handle them, if at all ( Read more... )

Rather than do a best-album year's end list, I actually think I'm going to do a best-song list. There have been many great albums this year, and even a couple phenomenal ones, but that list (which I may even make in the next two weeks) would criminally leave out some excellent songs that have come out on otherwise so-so whole albums.

After making a ( Read more... )