El Somnambulo’s 25 Favorite Songs of 2013

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_3400074323&feature=iv&src_vid=dp127U0EJoI&v=_MqA0a5iw5k

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?)