I am El Somnambulo, and I’m a listaholic. I listen to lots of music so that you don’t have to. I don’t like my Top 25 list this year, I love my list this year.
If you sample these songs, I can almost guarantee that you’ll find some stuff you’ll want to investigate further. (BTW, Cecile McLorin Salvant‘s ‘Womanchild’ would have been high on this list if only I could have found an online version. She’s great and, if there’s any justice, she’ll make tons of money.)
So here we go, as always, counting down from #25 to #1:
25. Superchunk: Me and You and Jackie Mittoo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUxkZreYiQs
24. Slaid Cleaves: Voice of Midnight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpcsFCjY4ms
23. Mikal Cronin: Weight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F7R6nBCe10
22. Elephant Revival: Birds and Stars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABoHtrfxvL0
21. Savages: Shut Up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuIB8HEmnoY
20. Foxygen: No Destruction
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87jIdvGPDj4
19. Coke Weed: Nightlife
http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/av/2013/11/song-premiere-coke-weed—nightlife.html
18. Guy Clark: My Favorite Picture of You (written for his recently-departed wife Susanna, 1939-2012)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wjDbPvEFKM
17. Chance the Rapper: Chain Smoker (NSFW)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bigsk2g7xO8
16. Volcano Choir: Byegone
15. Patty Griffin: Don’t Let Me Die in Florida (A direct quote from her dad. So, she didn’t let him die in Florida.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UcVtuwcKOo
14. James Blake: Retrograde
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p6PcFFUm5I
13. Thundercat: Heartbreaks & Setbacks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqL5vSFFwxw
12. Neko Case: Night Still Comes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhnFl3Y2FVI
11. Frank Turner: Recovery (best non-Billy Bragg Billy Bragg song ever)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1L5zJ2afLs
Coming real soon…The Top 10!!! (What, you thought I was gonna spare you the excruciating suspense?)