Last year when Cat Stevens was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame he questioned the compatibility of “this strange thing called rock and roll” with its “detached and heavily fraternity lifestyle.” That fraternity lifestyle rings true today maybe more than ever. Twenty fifteen saw musical collaborations on the upswing and genres of all stripes were pushed in new directions.
Let’s celebrate this momentous year in music by sharing some tunes together. Here’s a few personal picks, mostly from a songwriting and / or production standpoint.
Most of these are on Spotify so if you’d prefer this goodness as a playlist just hop on here.
Open your headspace and feast your ear holes; in no particular order…
1.) “Pieces” by The O’My’s
2.) “Dog Gonna Play” by Seasick Steve
3.) “Between The Bars” by Seth Avett and Jessica Lea Mayfield (Elliott Smith)
4.) “The River” by Son Little
5.) “Future People” by Alabama Shakes
6.) “Steady” by The London Souls
7.) “Black Butterfly” by Odessa
8.) “Bullets & Rocks“ by Calexico
9.) “Grow” by Lianne LaHavas
10.) “The World Ender” by Lord Huron
11.) “The Breeze” by Banditos
12.) “Icing” by
THEESatisfaction
with OCnotes
13.) “Woman” by City and Colour
14.) “Unknown Legend” by Shakey Graves with Shovels & Rope (Neil Young)
15.) “From Now On” by Vetiver
16.) “State Streets” by Tommy Halloran
17.) “La La La Love Me” by Monophonics
18.) “First Of The Week” by Patrick Sweany
19.) “Bulletproof” by
Mutemath
20.) “Do You Remember” by Jarryd James
21.) “Start A Fire” by Relaxer
22.) “Found Your Way” by Beth Bombara
23.) “Heavy Words” by Alberta Cross
24.) “That’s Life (Almost Hate To Say)” by Kurt Vile
25.) “Fashion” by The Royal Concept
26.) “Atchafalaya” by
Snarky Puppy
27.) “4th and Roebling” by The Districts
28.) “Dirty South” by James Leg (Bob Reuter)
29.) “Heart-Shaped Box” by Lizzie Weber (Nirvana)
30.) “Warm” by SG Lewis
31.) “Goldmine Junkie” by Big Grams
32.) “Long & Lost” by Florence + The Machine
33.) “Cosmic Vision” by JEFF The Brotherhood
34.) “I’ll Make Time For You” by Kristin Diable
35.) “Fall Out of Love” by Turnpike Troubadours
36.) “Only Memories Remain” by My Morning Jacket
37.) “Which Side Are You On” by Talib Kweli with Tef Poe and Kendra Ross
38.) “Run Like The River” by Vintage Trouble
39.) “Velvet Ditch” by The Arcs
40.) “Ever Had A Little Faith?” by Belle and Sebastian
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5zsQT97PyY
41.) “Lisa Sawyer” by Leon Bridges
42.) “S.O.B.” by
Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats
43.) “Too Tough” by Bully
44.) “If I Have To Wake Up (Would You Stop The Rain?)” by Baroness
45.) “Santa Claus, True Love, & Freedom” by JJ Grey & Mofro
46.) “Something in the Water” by Pokey LaFarge
47.) “Rat Race” by Fuzz
48.) “A New Wave” by Sleater-Kinney
49.) “Daffodils” by Mark Ronson with Kevin Parker
50.) “The Magdalene” by Foxing