Dress Blues, Jason Isbell
Potent in its simplicity, Isbell reflects on the loss of a high school friend in the Iraqi War. Even after hundreds of listens, I still get a chill in my spine when Isbell sings “You never planned on the bombs in the sand, or sleeping in your dress blues.”
If I Ever Loved You, Justin Currie
Currie astounds with an exquisite and melancholy pop song that is simply breathtaking.
Falling Slowly, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
Hansard and Irglova wrap beautiful harmonies around a simple melody to make this song truly captivating. Complimentary download is available via the movie web site
When You Were Loving Him, Dennis Brennan
Brennan is a masterful craftsman, brilliantly constructing roots-rock songs that have a timeless quality to them.
The Golden State, John Doe
A brilliant duet between Doe and Kathleen Edwards that captures the swirl of emotions in a relationship, “You are the hole in my head, I am the pain in your neck, You are the lump in my throat, I am the aching in your heart.”
HONORABLE MENTIONS
If You’re Gonna Leave, Emerson Hart
An enchanting melody and carthartic lyrics will keep you humming this song long after you last heard it.
Breathless, Dan Wilson
Sometimes the music can convey as much emotion as the words, as it does on Wilson’s tale of love-lorn angst.
Underdog, Spoon
The typical percussive Spoon sound meets up with some Stax-style horns to make this song an addictive treat.
Cry Baby Cry, Stonehoney
If only the actual break-ups could be as seemingly happy go lucky as this song, “First it was you, then it was me, this is the first time that we both agree.”
Can You Feel It?, The Apples in Stereo
What’s not to like about a high energy blast that begins with the line “turn up your stereo!” An eminently catchy chorus guarantees a good time for all.
A Few Words In Defense of our Country, Randy Newman
Only Newman could write a song so acerbic and rich with sarcasm that you find yourself laughing despite the dire depiction of America today. “You know A President once said, ‘The only thing we have to fear is fear itself’; Now it seems like we’re supposed to be afraid; It’s patriotic in fact and color coded.”
The Story, Brandi Carlile
The passion in Carlile’s voice would have gotten this song on the list, even if the song itself didn’t pack an emotional punch.
Girls in their Summer Clothes, Bruce Springsteen
The Boss channels a bit of Brian Wilson on this tale of a guy searching for romance. This one is going to get me through the winter.
Cigarette, Jeremy Fisher
An acoustic pop gem. “I’ll be your cigarette, light me up and get on with it… Good or bad I’m just a habit.”
First Comes Love, The Mooney Suzuki
“First comes love then comes complications, first comes love then comes expectations… then negotiation, miscommunication, sexual frustration and on and on…”
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.