2024 Song of the Year, 10-1

This is the continuation of the song of the year list. These are the best of the best.

10) Plain Faraday – “Laugh It All Away”
-This song has everything you want in a great song. It starts with a humorous yet relatable anecdote, then it has some excellent folksy harmonies that really feel good. The whole concept of the song, though, is enjoyable; it’s about dealing with these situations in life and being able to laugh about them. The line “don’t forget to give yourself a little grace” really resonated with me this year. The horns are a great aspect too. This is just an amazing piece of songwriting and I hope you all embrace it as I have.

9) Oliver Hazard – “Honey I’m Hardly”
-If you thought the hand-clappy optimistic folk ended in the early 2000s, I’m here to let you know you’re sorely mistaken. This bright, energetic song by Oliver Hazard is full of spirit and joy. But you know what I love as much as the vibey opening section – it’s the sections with nice open dynamics that allow space for the electric guitars to pop through as well. It’s a lovely example of optimistic folk music and, of course, I love the harmonies on this one a great deal.

8) Tors – “Happy Enough”
-If you’ve ever read my coverage of Tors, you know I’m going to say something about their remarkable harmonies. Honestly, Tors might be the band that I’ve listened to in increased frequency this year. This song is a big reason for that. The upbeat chorus does such a good job of pulling the listener into the storyline. I also like how the harmonies stay present through the song but somehow get more dynamic on the chorus. I don’t want to get too into it here, but I also find the lyrics relatable when they talk about trying to use substances and experiences to find joy. The “happier numb” line connects more than I care to admit. It’s the kind of song that feels like a fun escape but manages to hit pretty hard lyrically.

7) Jonah Kagen – “Matches”
-It had been a little while since I listened to this song and I was blown away all over again. This is sort of like a modern day Johnny Cash type of song, heavy with meaningful and incisive lyrics. Similarly, it feels like something a contemporary slam poet might express. There’s a heaviness to the whole composition that makes it stand out for me. But aside from that, there’s something satisfying and frankly haunting in Kagen’s voice that definitely makes me want to hear more. This is a remarkable piece of artful folk songwriting and I hope he takes off from here.

6) Dustin Kensrue and Cat Clyde – “Death Valley Honeymoon”
-This is one of my favorite roots country songs I’ve heard in the past several years, let alone this year. I’ve been a fan of Kensrue since a friend told me about him over a decade ago. I’ve been writing about Cat Clyde for the past few years, so when I saw they had this collaboration I was excited to hear it. But let me tell you it was even better than I imagined. Their voices blend really well on this recording. The lyrics are sincere, expressing the optimism of a couple on a honeymoon. It has that really light and lovely element to country music that comes from having a western element. These harmonies, though, my heart.

5) Royel Otis – “Linger (The Cranberries Cover) Live @SiriusXM)”
-We don’t really feature “viral” music around here. We prefer to keep things rooted in the ground, emerging artists making their way on the mean streets, so to speak. But I’ll be danged when I heard this cover I was absolutely blown away. I’ve since listened to it dozens of times and it is the perfect example of a song being greater than the sum of its parts. The lead vocal is incredibly delicate yet powerful. While the guitar doesn’t go over the top, it is consistent. More than anything, though, this version captivated my heart for the spirit of the song; it brought new life to meaningful art. It’s just such a wonderful performance I’d be remiss not to feature it here.

4) vaultboy – “everything is getting better”
-If you’ve been around my writing for any length of time, you’ve probably read my thoughts on the talented singer songwriter vaultboy. I had the privilege of meeting him years ago before he started this project, but believe me when I say he has always been a ridiculously talented artist. The emotive songwriting on this song is evident from the very beginning. The evident dealing with mental health is relatable for a lot of folks. I find vaultboys use of dynamics to be outstanding on this song. I can relate to the lyrics, but it’s really the whole vibe that wins me over with this one.

3) Lizzy McAlpine – “Older”
-This was going to be my song of the year until quite recently. It’s such a remarkable piece of songwriting that is unhurried, sweet, and sincere. But it turns out this song was just the gateway to what ended up being a year-long obsession with Lizzy McAlpine’s music. I honestly can’t remember a year that was so singularly defined by listening to one artist over and over. So many of the lyrics to this song are relatable to me in ways that I can’t fully explain. I do wish I knew what the end is. It’s such a prayerful, sincere song. I love it. I actually love this song.

2) Anthony Green – “Last Summer in America”
-Anthony Green is closely connected with one of my favorite bands of all time, Good Old War. So when I saw his name come up on YouTube one night, I was eager to hear what he’s making currently. Imagine my surprise when I heard this absolutely dynamic gem of a song. It’s lyrically incisive, politically loaded with a sort of tenderness to it. I was hooked right away. I’ve listened to it many times since, hearing something new every time. I don’t want to believe that we’re really in the last summer in America, but this song captures a lot of the problems with contemporary society in a way that is engaging and meaningful.

1) Lizzy McAlpine – “Staying” (Live from Vevo Studios)
-I have listened to this specific version of this song more times than I can even express. It literally is in the hundreds. I can feel this song as much as I hear it. It’s hard to express how much I love it. It’s a love song. It’s a heartache song. It’s about nurture and care. It’s about the end of a relationship. It highlights the complexity of relationships with a tenderness that’s hard to put into words. Lizzy McAlpine has a gorgeous voice, which of course is the highlight here. The genre blending has elements of pop, rock, indie singer songwriter, and probably a few others; but what I like most about the song is just the way it makes me feel. It’s a gem and will forever be the song that defines my 2024.