20 Favorite Songs of 2013, #1-10
With terse commentary originally composed for Twitter.
Marnie Stern – “Year of the Glad” (from The Chronicles of Marnia)
I try to avoid bold predictions but was sufficiently convinced by this song early in the year. Not a self-fulfilling prophecy but an example of Stern’s awesome persuasiveness.
Yo La Tengo – “Ohm” (from Fade)
I Am Not Afraid Of You So The Outcome Is Irrelevant.
Youth Lagoon – “Mute” (from Wondrous Bughouse)
Instantly puts me in the trembling that even the best of The Beach Boys takes a few bars to prime. For those keeping track: I never really made up my mind about the remaining five minutes, one way or the other, but no matter, as the first one easily ranks among my most cherished minutes of recorded music.
John Grant – “GMF” (from Pale Green Ghosts)
Every single word: His swearing, obviously, but also the way he sings “males,” like a strange name for his special affliction.
Deerhunter – “Dream Captain” (from Monomania)
Deserves its own line dance.
My Bloody Valentine – “New You” (from mbv)
An MBV song with a “doo doo doo” chorus, basically.
Ex Cops – “James” (from True Hallucinations)
Oh melodic joy, yet so subtle, modest, I’m surprised every time the song hits stately orchestral pop mode (no strings?).
The Thermals – “The Sunset” (from Desperate Ground)
Standard Thermals track slays all previous ones, features new life with great, yearning vocal, “shadows.”
Laura Veirs – “That Alice” (from Warp and Weft)
She plays jazz, too, but tribute requires the performer’s earliest language, hence this gem.
Club 8 – “Kill Kill Kill” (from Above the City)
Many have tried but this is the first time I’ve thought, sure, this could’ve been in Twin Peaks.
