I continue to hold to the “house rule” that no artist can have more than one song on any year’s playlist. However, an individual artist can appear as a single act and again as part of a band or as a featured singer on someone else’s release. Solange carries that honor this year. Her song “Dreams” is a standout, as is her appearance on Flying Lotus’ track “Land of Honey”.
John Prine makes a double appearance of sorts. This year he recorded “My Old Kentucky Home, Goodnight”. It’s a moving track and album. I also included the Rainbow Girls take of Prine’s “Angel from Montgomery”. It’s an affecting rendition. Like Mavis Staples he remains remarkably prolific. Mavis Staples makes it onto Tunes this year with “Anytime”. Whenever Mavis cuts a new record, you have to listen. Anywhere, anyway, anytime.
Not only did I include the track “L.A. Freeway” from Steve Earle this year, but his son Justin Townes Earle’s song “Ain’t Got No Money” also made Tunes. I spent a week in L.A. with my son last spring. It was magical... with the exception of the freeways. Apologies to Angelenos.
A posthumous release by Townes Van Zandt is on this year’s playlist, “All I Need”. Van Zandt is a bit of a cult figure in what I will wrap broadly under the umbrella of alternative country. Townes never really broke through, though managed to befriend and inspire Steve Earle early in his career. Earle’s tribute album “Townes” is well worth searching out. And yes, Justin is named after Van Zandt. Quite a musical trifecta.
This was a year for posthumous releases by Leonard Cohen, Harry Nilsson, Prince and Miles Davis. I’m sure there are others I’ve missed. Aside from Van Zandt, Miles Davis has the only other posthumous release that made it with the track “Rubberband”. Rubberband, the album, was originally recorded by Davis in 1985 and shelved by his label. Warner Brothers rehired the production team and went to work on a “new” 2019 release.
My favorite line about the revisited Rubberband came from Randy Hall, who was involved in the first recording and the reboot. "Miles never went backward. He... wanted something he could have on the radio – he wanted a street record. So, we did it and it got scrapped, and now they come back to us and they want to remix it. Remember, in 1985 drum machines sounded kind of dinky. So, to bring it into the present, we changed some sounds and some textures... but these are still the songs we recorded with him while he was there".
2019 was a year teeming with fun-filled band names. Music always drives what’s included in Tunes but I have to admit that an occasional tie can go to the band with the most creative name. Snarky Puppy. Cherry Pickles. Tacocat. Gurr. Super Natural Psycho. GoGo Penguin. Florist. Grim Streaker. Laundry Day. Allah-Las. Spirit Family Reunion. Trampled by Turtles. They each appear on this year’s playlist.
A few songs that were strong contenders early in 2019 dropped off the playlist in the final few months of the year. Lizzo’s “Juice” went onto the playlist and made it halfway through the year. Billie Eilish’s “bad guy” did as well. Both tunes were fresh and inventive when I first heard them. They began to wear on me with each additional listen and were eventually cut. Apologies.
My favorite song of the year? “The Time for Peace is Now” by Fantastic Shadows. I can’t think of a better way to lean into the decade ahead for inspiration. A close second is slowthai’s “Doorman” – John Lydon look out. Seriously.
My favorite song titles are divided between Stephen Malkmus’ “Rushing the Acid Frat”, Kyle Craft’s “2 Ugly 4 New York” and Lucy Dacus’ “I Don’t Wanna be Funny Anymore”. Cherry Pickles’ “Elvis Exorcist” is up there as well.
One of the most beautiful songs I heard was Bon Iver’s “U (Man Like)”. A close second, Sufjan Steven’s “Love Yourself”. My favorite album? Tyler, The Creator’s IGOR. The most infectious song? Rudy Willingham’s “Pool Party”. I dare you to dis it.
The most heartrending song? Nick Cave and The Bad Seed’s “Bright Horses”. I am in awe not only of Cave’s talent but emotional strength. In particular, given the passing of his son Arthur in 2015. In “Ghosteen” Cave continues to process his loss.
Brittany Howard broke away from the Alabama Shakes with a debut solo project, Jaime. I remember seeing her at the Newport Folk Festival several years ago with the Shakes. She has grown as an artist and force of nature. Jaime is well worth the listen.
Tweedy rocks... so, does Wilco! Wilco’s “Love Is Everywhere (Beware)” is on this year’s Tunes. It’s a notable song and album.
I was fortunate to see Jeff Tweedy at Town Hall in New York with my son in 2019. Tweedy was touring for his solo album Warmer – a follow-up to 2018’s Warm. If you haven’t heard either, you should. I was trying to prod what I thought was too mellow a crowd into clapping along. From center stage I got a shout out: “the lone clapper... a f#cking pioneer”. I’m honored to wear that badge. Clap On!
As always, I’ve tried to keep to a reasonably broad mix of new music on this year’s Tunes. There is hopefully a little something for everyone. Happy listening!
I will run a 2020 Tunes (so far) playlist on Spotify so you can see what cycles on and off as new music is released throughout the year. Click the link above and play along.
Please heckle back with new music I’m missing. You can find me at: tunes4ourtimes@gmail.com.
There is always incredible music being made... you just have to stop, look for it, and listen.
“We all do ‘do, re, mi’… you’ve got to find the other notes yourself.” Louis Armstrong