speed of dark

My husband says I seem to be listening to more melodic selections, like I'm recovering from some obnoxious affliction that makes me like ugly music, lol. I can say that these are true favorites, not just what I think should be here. I've listened to them over and over, and they have stood up well.

Notice that I'm not reposting very many songs that I had posted previously, some quite recently. I am linking to where they can be purchased, by individual song if possible.

Here's the second half of my list:

14. J. Tillman: Milk White Air [Buy]

Why: Its spare and delicate beauty makes me think of bare branches against sun-drenched skies. Why don't we go up there, Why don't we go up there now?

15. Handsome Furs: What We Had [Buy]

Why: Dan Boeckner's dark, hoarse-voiced lament of love gone spoiled never fails to tug the heartstrings.

16. Rufus Wainwright: Going To a Town [Buy]

Why: Rufus dares to defy the religious-right who have made this a country that some of us can hardly bear to live in. Tell me, Do you really think you go to hell for having loved?

17. Maritime: Are We Renegade [Buy]

Why: I can't resist the ringing, jangly guitar or Davey von Bohlen's smooth tenor. There are several engaging tracks on the album; this one just hit me right from the start. Are we renegade or have we orders, is this a passing phase?

18. Winterpills: Broken Arm [Buy]

Why: I have thought a lot about these lyrics, and I think they attempt to explain the situation in the U.S. where its citizens love our land but hate its leaders and its ugly reputation in the world. I think I finally understand/How the broken arm can hate the hand/How the farmer hates his crop/How the lawyer hates the honest cop.

19. Beirut: The Penalty [Buy]

Why: Among the simplest of Beirut's offerings on Flying Cup Club, most of the song consists of Zach's dramatic, warbling vocals against the spare backdrop of his ukulele until is swelling emotion is matched by the band sound.

20. Burial: Dog Shelter [Buy]

Why: The cries of angels haunting these bare concrete kennels really grew on me. This spacey, dripping anthem would have fit in the soundtrack for Blade Runner.

21. Earlimart – Nevermind the Phonecalls [iTunes]

Why: Smooth and soothing and at the same time breaking your heart. "Why don't more people like Earlimart?" Indie Mom asked me. I don't have an answer for that. I love them. And the phone calls/And the shooting stars/We'll be fine/Oh yeah, nevermind, just nevermind.

22. Palomar: Beat Beats Nothing[Buy]

Why: Tight female harmonies keep pace with driving beats and melodic guitar--a winning combination for me every time, reminding me of old favorites Letters To Cleo and Magnapop. My favorite treadmill song of the year.

23. Nyles Lannon: Hesitation

Why: This song reminds me of what was great about the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts' Club Band (compare to "For the Benefit of Mr. Kite" here) and Elliott Smith.

24. Alaska In Winter: Balkan Lowrider Anthem [iTunes]

Why: This was actually a favorite song last year, but I couldn't list it because of our rule that it had to be released. Until Brandon Bethancourt signed with Regular Beat Records early this year, he was giving away home-copied versions of his debut CD. Now he's on iTunes! What a difference a year makes.

25. Husky Rescue: Blueberry Tree Part II [iTunes]

Why: I loved this the first time I heard it near the end of 2006. Although the luster has worn off a bit, I have still played it a lot and included it in several mixes for friends. Played with Parts I and III it becomes the centerpiece of a beautiful suite.

Related post: Gramma's Top 25 Songs of 2007, Part I

Soon to come: Indie Mom's list and Best Albums of 2007.