Each year we find ourselves saying what a great year it was for new music. Woody Allen said something to the effect that success in life is basically about showing up. We think there is a little more to it than that, but we might argue the same could be said for finding new music – you just need to go out, look for it, and listen. We’ve done the first two bits for you.
This year’s Tunes is as eclectic as ever. We found several musical undercurrents from last year that traversed into 2015. Retro-pop held in well, as did certain psychedelic undertones to a lot of the rock we found ourselves listening to. We couldn’t resist the blend of the two in a song like “Rock and Roll is Cold” by Matthew E. White. Ty Segall is in the mix this year for good measure, as is Moon Duo.
Allen Stone, Blood Orange and Leon Bridges each found a retro-pop and vintage R&B blend that were nothing less than inspired. For pure throwback 1970s-styled pop, Jeff Lynne released an ELO record that brought instant karma, smiles and a little dancing.
There is nothing retro about the Staples family. Both Pops and Mavis Staples made it separately onto this year’s playlist – each had a new album. There is retro and there is timeless. The Staples go into the category of timeless.
Bob Dylan goes in the timeless category as well. We managed to see him last November (2014) in New York, at The Beacon. He was about to release “Shadows in the Night”. “Stay With Me” is included on this year’s playlist. Dylan closed the show with that song the night we saw him. Don’t whine about the ripened voice, he’s a legend. "Highway 51 Revisited" turned 50 in 2015. So did "Bringing It All Back Home", the album where Dylan went electric. He followed up "Highway 51 Revisited" with "Blonde on Blonde", in early 1966. The three albums were released in a little more than a 14-month period. Go back and listen to each.
1970s-styled folk held its own this year, with some stunning sounds from the likes of Ryley Walker who channeled a blend of Nick Drake and John Martyn. Mac Demarco channeled his inner Harry Nilsson for good measure. Both made great records.
New-alt-indie-folk seems an unnecessary mouthful, and a made-up music category, but it’s a big bucket we found ourselves going back to dip into repeatedly. Releases from Sufjan Stevens, Laura Marling, Sharon Van Etten, Beirut and Calexico were all rock solid. I will throw Father John Misty in there for good measure. Ezra Furman was simple assorted fun.
Punk lives on with new releases from Wire, Tenement and Beach Slang. A track from each made this year’s playlist. Wolf Alice was over-hyped as the return of grunge. They are much more than that. Wilco released “Star Wars” – an album where they decided to simply rock. Thank you Yoda. So did Diamond Rugs, which features John McCauley and Robbie Crowell of Deer Tick. What great rock and roll. Rock and roll isn’t cold after all.
We generally stay away from including covers in Tunes but this year we couldn’t help ourselves – and we didn’t hold back. Seth Avett and Jessica Lea Mayfield recorded an album of Elliott Smith songs that was mesmerizing. We included “Fond Farewell” but everything on that album is incredible. Iron & Wine and Ben Bridwell released an album of covers as well. We chose Talking Heads’ “This Must Be The Place (Naïve Melody)”.
Perhaps the strangest cover came from Ryan Adams, who re-recorded Taylor Swift’s 1989 album. It works. Really. We also included Yo La Tengo’s cover of “Friday I’m In Love”. Indeed. Shovels & Rope released an album of jukebox favorites. We included “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding.” Which itself was made famous as a cover by Elvis Costello of a Nick Lowe tune.
There is some Americana as always on this year’s Tunes. We included tracks by Spirit Family Reunion, Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear (yes, it’s his mama), and Patty Griffin. Steve Earle is transcendental. He made another great record with the Dukes. We included “Go Go Boots Are Back”.
Favorite albums this year included releases from Kurt Vile, Tame Impala and Jose Gonzalez. Natalie Merchant re-recorded Tigerlily to celebrate its 20-year anniversary. It’s enduring. Brad Mehldau released an 8-LP set of solo-live performances, from the past 10-years. The composer Max Richter released a sample from perhaps one of the more interesting projects we’ve seen in a very long time: “Sleep”. The full recording will be released in 2016 and is an 8-hour album dedicated to the sleep cycle. Richter called it “an invitation to dream.”
We never pick a favorite song, that’s up to you. We hope you find things you haven’t heard before and enjoy on this year’s mix. It’s a brave new world each and every day, filled with wonderful new music for those willing to go out, look for it, and listen.
Follow our website (www.tunes4ourtimes.com), Spotify (tunes4ourtimes) and even on "the" Facebook (tunes for our times), as we pull together the 2016 edition of Tunes. While vinyl and cassettes are back, CDs are quietly fading away. At some point, we’re going to simply go digital with Tunes, via the “inter-webs” – social media and all of that.
Happy listening…