This year my music buying was mostly online, free tracks from NoiseTrade, Google Play, and Amazon as well as preordering mp3s and CDs from Kickstarter and PledgeMusic. The first song is special to me, though, as it’s the first song I’ve commissioned.
| Band | Song | Why them | |
| 01. | Nate Borofsky |
Nina |
Two great CDs from the former Girlyman singer this year. |
| 02. | Badger | Whatever Happened 2 Us? | Extreme’s bassist steps out on his own with help from Bleu. |
| 03. | emmet swimming | Heading South | Two local groups, both of whom I’ve seen more than any other bands… |
| 04. | The Excentrics | Same Diane | both put out new CDs this year for the first time in 15 years. |
| 05. | Carbon Leaf | The Donnybrook Affair | Another local group, this one with 2 CDs released this year – this track is more traditional. |
| 06. | Brindley | The Laughter Song | And even more impressive, the Jammin’ Java owner put out a song a week this year. |
| 07. | Foy Vance | Closed Hand, Full Of Friends | Speaking of Jammin’ Java, this Irish singer played to a packed house there in November. |
| 08. | Jules Larson | Best Is Yet To Come | I found her from her EP with Adrianne Gonzalez, but this song was my favorite of hers. |
| 09. | Born Cages | Don’t Look Back | Excellent poppy mess. |
| 10. | Hey Ocean! | Big Blue Wave | Why does a Canadian group sound like they’re from Southern California? Who cares! |
| 11. | Bastille | Pompeii | Chanting + pop = genius. |
| 12. | Minor Alps | I Don’t Know What To Do With My Hands | Minor key goodness from Juliana Hatfield and Matthew Caws (Nada Surf). |
| 13. | Vegas With Randolph | Salt Water Taffy | Local power-poppers. |
| 14. | South Rail | Everybody Knows It | Local Americana, sweet blended voices. |
| 15. | Blue Sky Riders | Dream | It’s not a surprise Kenny Loggins can write a good song, just that he’s started a new group at this point. |
| 16. | Joy Kills Sorrow | Was It You | If you’re missing your Crooked Still fix. |
| 17. | The Hunts | Make This Leap | A family band that was a surprise hit at the Herndon Festival. |
| 18. | Poor Old Shine | Ghosts Next Door | A nice Falcon Ridge find. |
| 19. | Amy Speace | The Sea And The Shore (with John Fullbright) | A great idea for a song, elegantly rendered. |
| 20. | pomDeter | Call Me A Hole | And as a palate cleanser, enjoy my favorite mashup. |
Leftovers (in no particular order):
The Civil Wars – The One That Got Away
Mikal Cronin – Weight
Caitlin Rose – Only A Clown
The CO – Frequency
Matt Costa – Good Times
Josh Rouse – Julie (Come Out of The Rain)
Over The Rhine – Meet Me At The Edge Of The World
CHVRCHES – We Sink
Laura Cortese – Into The Dark
Wild Feathers – The Ceiling
The Deadly Gentlemen – Bored of the Raging
Raina Rose – Swing Wide The Gate
Katie Herzig – Little Bit Of Love
Corin Ashley – Badfinger Bridge
Eleanor Friedberger – Stare At The Sun
Aoife O’Donovan – Red & White & Blue & Gold
Lily & Madeleine – Tired
Deerhunter – Back to the Middle
Rosi Golan – If You Stay
Sarah Miles – Stand Up
The Head and the Heart – Shake
Django Jones – Counterpoint
Melissa Christopher Green – Blue
Foxygen – No Destruction
Liz Longley – This Is Not The End
Matt Pond – Love to Get Used
Phosphorescent – Ride On / Right On
Ed Roland & the Sweet Tea Project – Love Won’t Bring Us Down
Ruut – Glimpse
Smallpools – Dreaming
Sons of Fathers – Roots & Vine
Wooly & the Mammoth – We Are Love
The Boxcar Lilies – Lightnin’