I posted my list of favorite from the first half of 2018 back in July (here). Rather than replicate that list for my full year review, consider this a continuation — the best songs from the second half of the year.
Right On Time, Kevin Gordon (from the Crowville Media release Tilt and Shine)
A driving tune that is, well, prime for driving. Gordon’s ode to the touring life showcases some of his wry lyrical charm, to wit “2 kids and a wife, that makes three people who don’t know what to make of me.”
Snow White Knuckles, Jaimee Harris (from the self-released Red Rescue)
Harris’s matter of fact delivery does little to hide the raw emotion of her gripping tale of battling addiction.
Hard Way, Glorietta (from the Nine Mile Records release Glorietta)
Life lessons courtesy of David Ramirez and Glorietta.
Mama’s in the kitchen sayin’ “Don’t touch the stove”
I never listen, to what I was told
I burned my hand, started to cry
My mama said, “I love you boy, why would I lie?”
Well, I had to learn, the hard way
Happy, Austin Lucas (from the Cornelius Chapel Records release Immortal Americans)
A gentle reflection about moving on from a failed relationship, made all the richer by Lucas’s expressive voice.
Cowboys and Canyon Queens, John Calvin Abney (from the Black Mesa Records release Coyote)
Abney’s ode to his Oklahoma home is quietly enchanting.
House on a Hill, Sarah Borges (from the Blue Corn Music release Love’s Middle Name)
A blast of guitars propel this blistering tale of love gone wrong.
Fight, Vanessa Peters (from the Idol Records release Foxhole Prayers)
A moving tale of finding strength that is inspirational for all.
Gimme a Week, Kirby Brown (from the self-released Uncommon Prayer)
A restrained anthem about a quest for contentment. Brown’s earnestness is infectious.
Aces Up Your Sleeve, John Hiatt (from the New West Records release The Eclipse Sessions)
Hiatt has a way of distilling emotion to its core, which he does to perfection with this somber ballad.
For the Lonely Ones, Lucero (from the Liberty & Lament Records release Among the Ghosts)
Lucero unleash a guitar-driven blast that hearkens back to their raucous early days. Glorious.
Bains and the Glory Fires are one of the most electrifying acts touring today. The interlaced guitars give extra bite to this song from their most recent studio album.
When It All Goes Bad, The Wolff Sisters & Last Cavalry (from the self-released Cahoon Hollow)
The Wolff Sisters chronicle a failing relationship with a mix of melancholy and defiance, delivered with an engaging swagger.
Cheap Suit, Jeffrey Foucault (from the self-released Blood Brothers)
Foucault’s moving and autobiographical tale of watching his father find solace in a guitar and, through it, finding his own inspiration.
Human Perfection, Bottle Rockets (from the Bloodshot Records release Bit Logic)
A celebration of simple pleasures… and a reminder of the importance in seeking them out.
Sometimes you gotta look real hard
To see things in your own back yard
Anger makes you blind
And it’ll make it hard to find
Human perfection
New Age, Cut Throat Finches (from the Hand Drawn Records release Polite Conversation)
Sure, the song is as infectious as it is rocking. It’s true power, however, is its stinging and rebellious indictment of the vitriol encompassing the world today
I don’t believe in polite conversation
Everybody wants to get in a fight fight fight
To prove they’re right
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.