Song, by Toad

Part 1: 1-10
Part 2: 11-23
Part 3: 24-36
Patt 4: 37-50

And so we stumble on to the penultimate post in the countdown to the Toad’s favourite song of the year.  At this point the idea of some sort of hierarchy of love is becoming rather ridiculous.  Do I genuinely prefer Make Another Tree to Frankie’s Gun?  No, of course I don’t.  Do I really get more goose bumps or feel more lightheaded with glee when Out on the Water comes on the stereo, compared to, say, Restless?  No, not in the slightest so what am I going on, here?  Well I don’t know, it’s just a gut reaction I suppose, largely dependent on my mood at the time at which I finally turned a ‘bunch of songs’ into some sort of list.

So don’t take it too seriously, just enjoy that fact that there have been this many brilliant songs released this year.

11. Meursault – Salt Pt. 2 This was actually one of the first songs of theirs that I ever heard, and the album version is just as desolate and lovely.

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12. The Walkmen – On the Water There’s some sort of inherent spite in Leithauser’s delivery that brings their songs more bile than almost anyone else’s, even when they aren’t melting their guitars.

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13. Eef Barzelay – Make Another Tree Barzelay can be so arch, but it is the simple, heart-rending songs like this one that define his songwriting for me.  And a new Clem Snide album will be out soon in the new year too.  Whee!

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14. The Felice Brothers – Frankie’s Gun Despite being ‘the pop song’ on this album, I can’t stop myself loving this.

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15. Bombadil – Trip Out West Short, and amazingly sweet.  Bombadil were one of my discoveries of the year.

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16. Broken Records – Out on the Water (Toad Session) I know they only played this as a favour, and don’t seem to consider it one of their best songs, but I’ve always loved it.

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17. Mumford & Sons – White Blank Page Like much of their stuff, this could easily be a gospel hymnal. As it is, it’s just a euphoric, western-tinged pop song which will give you as much of buzz live as anything else you’ll hear.

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18. Meursault – Nothing Broke (Toad Session) Another slightly lost song making an appearance on a Toad Session.  I think it’s the subtle touch with things like the vocal harmonies that make this song, for me.

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19. eagleowl – MF If only they could control their naughty language, this lot might actually turn into a half decent band one of these days.

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20. Langhorne Slim – Restless This whole album is just bloody gorgeous.  It doesn’t seem to do anything revolutionary, but then it doesn’t seem to ever put a foot even slightly wrong either.  As such, it took me a long time to realise just how good it really is.

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21. Micah P. Hinson – Throw the Stone Another short, sharp gem.  This may be the year of the EP, but was it also the year of the sub-two minute song?

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22. Sparrow & the Workshop – Devil Song Every band who sees this performed will wish they had a crash box.

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23. Shearwater – Century Eyes The barely suppressed venom in this album is at the fore in this track.  Short, and with plenty of bite.  If you see the look in the eyes of Jonathan Meiburg when he sings this live, then you’ll know that they fucking well mean it, as well.

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And of course, the whole lot can be downloaded here as one rather large zip file.  Have fun – I’ll be back with the final batch tomorrow.