My Top Five for 2021

 I learned recently that the drop of one's annual top songs and artists lists on Spotify is a big deal in some circles. I never paid them much mind, but this year's top songs are so very reflective of my recent tastes, I thought I would just share them here. Some were new in 2021, others far from new. These five have been practically on repeat at some point in the last year. Let's just take them in order:

#1) "Postcard" First Aid Kit

This one is from 2018. First Aid Kit are Swedish sisters Johanna and Klara Soderberg. Gorgeous harmonies on first-rate songs. Johanna has an Emmylou Harris catch in her voice for which I am just a fool, whomever might be doing it. This one veers more into the country vein, where they are usually more folkie. I can't hold it against them here.

...and then I went and broke my own goddamn heart

#2) "VBS" Lucy Dacus

VBS is short for Vacation Bible School, a ubiquitous summer fortnight in Midwestern Christian America. I think the vacation part is for the parents, who get the kids away from the house for awhile.

Sedentary secrets like peach pits in your gut, locked away like jam jars in the cellar of your heart

Playing Slayer at full volume helps to block it out

 

#3) "Born On a Train" The Magnetic Fields

Terrific song about death. Beautiful melody over a train-like rhythm. I don't much like the official video. Makes me think of Arte Johnson on Laugh-In. "Velly interestink." But there don't seem to be any good performance videos.

And is there a sexier instrument than a cello? I think not.

Some roads are only seen at night

 

#4) "Hammond Song" The Roches

Now we're really going back (1979). 

When I first left home, I lived in a house with four other folks, including my future wife and her sister. Another housemate would often play The Roches, and this one always fascinated. In retrospect, the family fight depicted in the song might have seemed eerily familiar to me. I always have an emotional reaction listening to it.

Odd harmonies, but they work wonderfully. I wanted to use a live video, as they recreate the song supremely on stage. But the studio version has the added bonus of Robert Fripp's guitar. It melds so well with the voices, and almost adds a fourth voice to the song. (Fripp and Richard Thompson are my favorite guitarists, bar none.)

If you go with that fella, forget about us

 

#5) "The Barrel" Aldous Harding

I have no clue what this song is about. I found the groove hypnotic. Then my brother told me to check the video. Just as hypnotic as the music. And rather silly.

Look at all the peaches. How do you celebrate?

Looks like a date is set, show the ferret to the egg

 

Common themes on the list:

Female singers

Lush harmonies

Peaches