“Gospel music is the music of good news and in these days there just isn’t any. Good news in today’s world is like a fugitive, treated like a hoodlum and put on the run. Castigated. All we see is good-for-nothing news. And we have to thank the media industry for that. It stirs people up. Gossip and dirty laundry. Dark news that depresses and horrifies you.
On the other hand, gospel news is exemplary. It can give you courage. You can pace your life accordingly, or try to, anyway. And you can do it with honor and principles. There are theories of truth in gospel but to most people it’s unimportant. Their lives are lived out too fast. Too many bad influences. Sex and politics and murder is the way to go if you want to get people’s attention. It excites us, that’s our problem.”
– Bob Dylan, 2020
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| Nat King Cole |
01. Dramarama – “Scenario” (1985) from New Faves 04/04/2021
One gets the feeling these Jersey boys thought they might be the next Beatles- the lyrics are better than most anything else happening in 1985- but alas, Dramarama were pretty much ignored outside L.A. and have since been relegated to cult classic status.
02. The Boo Radleys – “There She Goes” (1993) from Good Time Boys III – Part 2
At the turn of the century, a fellow Peace Corps Volunteer in Bulgaria turned me onto the So I Married an Axe Murderer soundtrack. There is something heartwarming about Brits emulating American music’s handclaps and Beach Boys style vocals. Is it sacrilege to say I like this better than the La’s’ original?
03. The Shins – “Gone for Good” (2003) from Alternative Grab Bag VIII
Despite average material, I like the way these guys demonstrate total commitment to the song and mix in ‘60s, folk, and country elements.
04. Future Islands – “Dream of You and Me” (2014) from New Faves 04/04/2021
Reminds me of a beach vacation. How refreshing to like a contemporary song that is actually popular!
05. Nat King Cole – “Harlem Blues” (1958) from New Faves 04/04/2021
Nothing special here- just, pure, empathetic, life-affirming talent. When I was a kid, I think we may have had a vinyl copy of The Nat King Cole Story in our basement.
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| Ween |
06. Big Star – “When My Baby’s Beside Me” (1972) from Power Pop Heaven III
All the themes of rock & roll in one song. Is this the first utterance of the word “shrink” in popular music?
07. Spirit – “Nature’s Way” (1970) from Playlist: Psychedelic Laundromat
“Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better.” – Albert Einstein
I like the way the singer informs his partner that- just in case there is any doubt- “I’m your boyfriend now” and then proceeds to share his likes/hobbies. In my experience, you’d be surprised how many people need this kind of thing spelled out for them!
09. Scott Walker – “30 Century Man” (1969) from What’s the Alternative? III – Part 2
I really enjoy the guitar in this song as well as the mystery of what the hell this guy is singing about.
10. Ween feat. David Sanborn – “Your Party” (2007) from What’s the Alternative? IV – Part 4
I think with this song, Ween is imagining what it would be like to be a person who enjoys smooth jazz, trying to see the world through their eyes, and expressing their thoughts however vacant and clone-like.
11. Future Islands – “Seasons (Waiting on You)” (2014) from New Faves 04/04/2021
I have no problem with artists reinterpreting ‘80s synth pop and I celebrate and enjoy this song for what it is. In fact, bring on the synth pop renaissance! If the opening sounds familiar then you may be thinking of that ‘90s Underworld song that appeared on the Trainspotting soundtrack which- while I didn’t care for the movie- I had a copy of at one time and enjoyed.
This ode to pop standards and musicals (think Cole Porter) demonstrates you don’t have to possess amazing vocal chops since it is the song- not the singer- and the best are usually well written enough to ensure any person- no matter their singing and dancing abilities- can pull it off and be entertaining.
13. Sagittarius – “Song to the Magic Frog (Will You Ever Know)” (1968) from In Praise of Sunshine Pop II
While living in Saudi Arabia, I used to drive around our neighborhood in the late afternoon and early evening with my baby son to take in the desert landscape while listening to this song which enchants me, takes me up to the clouds, and conjures childhood memories of warm summer days under the shade of trees, sunlight glinting through the leaves. My son would often pass out in his car seat.
14. Travis – “Why Does It Always Rain on Me?” (1999) from In the Shadow of the Police – Part 2
I think I first heard/saw this song on MTV Europe in Bulgaria in 2000. Travis always struck me as the most mellow of the Britpop bands and hewed most closely to the singer-songwriter tradition. Even the lyric “Is it because I lied when I was 17?” somehow reminds me of those oddly titled ‘70s young adult novels meant to entice kids such as Mom, the Wolf Man, and Me, The Cat Ate My Gymsuit, and I Am the Cheese. I remember Travis also did solid covers of both Joni Mitchell and Britney Spears songs.
15. Tom Petty – “Square One” (2006) from New Faves 03/18/2021
Even longtime Petty fans probably ignored this album upon its release but I like this song’s honesty. While I’m happy for all those rockers who, after decades of abuse, get clean and sober, few of them talk about the permanent damage done to their brains, bodies, and souls. Given all his wealth, travels, and famous friends, I wish Petty had hung around longer to write an autobiography. But, in the end, it’s just each of us standing before God to account for our lives- and none of that other stuff really matters.
The great explosion of Western art and music in the 1960s, including the Beatles who created new musical movements with each single they released, reminds me of a quote from one of my favorite movies, My Dinner with Andre (1981) when Andre tells Wally: “See, I think it’s quite possible that the 1960s represented the last burst of the human being before he was extinguished and that this is the beginning of the rest of the future now, and that from now on there’ll simply be all these robots walking around, feeling nothing, thinking nothing. And there’ll be nobody left almost to remind them that there once was a species called a human being, with feelings and thoughts, and that history and memory are right now being erased, and soon nobody will really remember that life existed on the planet.”
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| Traffic |
For me, classical music like this can be the perfect escape from my troubles and remains a pocket of light in my life for which I am thankful.
18. The Killers – “The Way It Was” (2012) from What’s the Alternative? IV – Part 3
I think this song would have sounded right at home on night time radio circa 1985.
19. The Beatles – “Got to Get You into My Life” (1966) from Playlist: Psychedelic Laundromat
For years this was one of my least favorite Beatles songs but now is one of my favorites which may be further proof that McCartney’s Beatles compositions may stand the test of time better than Lennon’s.
20. Traffic – “Dear Mr. Fantasy” (1967) from Playlist: Psychedelic Laundromat
Amazing how ‘60s British bands like Traffic took American blues and made it their own with such far out and wonderful results. Hope you have enjoyed this year’s round up of my favorite songs. Thanks for stopping by, stay safe, and hope to see you next year! – The Jean
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| The Beatles |
“In this COVID thing, I’ve equated it, you can’t really equate it, but I’ve likened it to my parents in the war in World War II. Imagine the upheaval in their lives, and you’re all getting blown up. And yet, they made their way through it. Well, the ones who survived. Their attitude was so positive. And the songs and everything was so uplifting. You know, this great British spirit kind-of thing. And so I tend to think if they could get through that, which they did, and a good period followed it, then we’ll get through this. I don’t know how, because I’m not a medical person. But I have faith in people who do know how. And we’ll come out the other end.”
– Paul McCartney, 2020
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