Love music — but I don’t tend to buy a lot of new stuff. Instead, my iPod is filled with just about every song ever recorded by Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Robert Earl Keen, Jerry Jeff Walker.
But my musical tastes are all over the place; I’ve also purchased everything recorded by Shinedown, Brandi Carlile, Jeffrey Foucault, Blue October, Eminem, Queensrÿche, Sugarland, and the Zac Brown Band (amongst others). Music that I can sing along loudly to into the wind while riding my motorcycle and songs that tell a good story — that’s what I enjoy.
The songs and artists in my Top 5 Songs this year tend to do both:
- Kings of Leon — Pickup Truck — Come Around Sundown — (listen here) Kings of Leon are the modern day southern U2. Just about every song on this album is better than just about anything else I listened to all year. Almost every song is an extraordinarily told story. But Pickup Truck especially resonates with me — full of sorrow and regret that reminds me of a much, much younger me.
- Eminmen — Not Afraid — Recovery — Recovery is the most honest and raw album Eminem has released since the 2000 release of the Marshal Mathers LP. Much like the Kings of Leon’s Come Around Sundown, this is another album that I can listen to start-to-finish without skipping a track. Oddly, I don’t listen to any other hip-hop artists except for Eminem. A lot of music that I listen to is fueled by anger, rage, and rebellion — and Eminem fills that niche for me.
- Zac Brown Band — Highway 20 Ride (live) — Pass the Jar — I don’t know if the Zac Brown Band is my very favorite artist, but they’re easily in the top 5. Another band that I can listen to over-and-over again. Amazing musicians, fantastic writing, and — unlike a lot of the “angry white man” music (as one of my closest friends describes my preferred genre) — really happy songs. I spent the summer listening to this entire album on repeat while drinking cold beers at the lake. It was hard to pick a single song from this album, but any song that invokes images of riding my motorcycle on twisty highways through the country is going to be at the top of the list.
- Mumford and Sons — Little Lion Man — Sigh No More — My wife introduced me to Mumford and Sons earlier this year. Whenever I’d get in her car to go somewhere, this song always seemed to be on her stereo. Much like Kings of Leon, Mumford and Sons have a unique sound and voice that really moves me and makes me want to sing along.
- The Band Perry — If I Die Young — Single — Because Kimberly Perry has a voice you dream about whispering in your ear all night long.
For the sake of diversity, I limited my list to only one song per artist, otherwise the entire Top 5 would have been filled entirely with songs from Come Around Sundown.
What was your favorite song released in 2010?
Email This Post
⋅
Print This Post
Powershifter by Fear Factory.
I just downloaded it. That’s exactly what I like to listen to when I’m doing heavy dead lifts or back squats.
Fear Factory has been kicking ass for quite a while.
Glad you liked it.
Agree..ANYTHING by the Zac Brown Band. They ARE my favorite band right now. Song from then? No Hurry, off of “You Get What You Give”
I Get Off-Halestorm the song makes me think of doing very naughty things to their lead singer. or any other pretty, willing lass to cross my path.
Hillbilly Bone-Blake Shelton and Trace Atkins.
Also got to agree with you on If I Die Young-The Band Perry..for the same reasons.
Little White Church-Little Big Town. *shrug* yeah I listen to and love a lot of country music.
A whole lot of what I listen to tends to be older music. either country, rock, metal and whatnot from the last few years..or classic rock. Skynyrd, The Who, Led Zepplin, Van Morrison, etc etc. BTW just for a suggestion in case you’ve never listened to them..Los Lonely Boys.
I’ve enjoyed Los Lonely Boys ever since seeing them with Willie Nelson at the old Backyard in Austin back in 2005. In fact, Diamonds from the Sacred album just played on my computer while I was working.
Cool.
*grin* I think I’m driving my family nuts “God don’t you listen to anything but that album?” The album in question? You Get What You Give. Its the first disc in the 3 disc changer in my room. followed by The Foundation. neither has left the changer for several months. The third disc in the changer is interchangeable at whim..but those two stay. The third disc WAS The Who’s greatest hits…but I just changed it Christmas day to Halestorm.
We don’t agree on politics but we do have some similar musical tastes. You inspired me to do my own top 5.
Thanks, Rachel. I enjoy reading your blog, even when it brings my blood to a boil in disagreement. I respect your passion and your conviction to your ideals, and that makes your blog a great read. In many ways I think that our blogs (more than one person has implied that I’m the “mean Robbie” of the Right) are mirrors of each others…at least I like to flatter myself into thinking that my stuff is anywhere near as good as yours (just from the opposite perspective).
The Suburbs by the Arcade Fire is freaking AMAZING. Especially Sprawl II and Ready to Start and Modern Man and….every song but one…The lyrics are so socially conscious and great!!
To give you an idea of how little I care for modern music, my top pick for 2010 is…
The Bed Intruder Song.