20. How Can It Be?-Bria Skonberg
(No wonder Skonberg has received such enthusiastic reviews as an artist to watch. Her silky vocals, which bring Diana Krall to mind, and commanding trumpet playing carry this tune impressively. Check out her Madison Square Park performance of it on YouTube. This is one of the highlights from her latest release, "Bria." Also recommended: "Malaguena" and "Down In The Deep.")
19. Porch Light-Aoife O'Donovan
(This tune, like many others on O'Donovan's release, "In The Magic Hour," tackles the subject of loss and carrying on under less than ideal circumstances, gracefully. I've come to view a new release by O'Donovan the same way I view a new one by Mary Chapin Carpenter; I know there will be a high level of grace, sensitivity, and thoughtfulness in her vocals and lyrics.)
18. Mashol varnak-Blahalouisiana
(Appealingly retro, tuneful vocals sung in Hungarian, whirling organ, and an engaging hook that would flow well after "Fine" by The Cardigans.)
17. Song For Irene-Eric Johnson
(It was a pleasant surprise to hear a new release from Johnson this year. If you listened to album rock radio in 1990, you probably remember his blistering guitar instrumental, "Cliffs Of Dover," from his strong album, "Ah Via Musicom." "Forty Mile Town" is an excellent example of his more contemplative, singer-songwriter abilities from that album. Johnson returned this year with an all-acoustic album that includes this contemplative instrumental. Although it isn't sequenced as such on the CD, it makes an effective prelude to a more frenetic tune, "Once Upon A Time In Texas.")
16. When You're Gone-Amanda Shires
(An ear-catching uptempo powerpopish/countryish tune; the strategically used echo on Shires' voice gives the tune an appropriately spacey feel.)
15. You Can Feel It-Young Gun Silver Fox
(One of the easiest-on-the-ears tunes of 2016; I would have guessed it was a late '70s or early '80s hit. Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams," America's "You Can Do Magic," and Real Estate's "Crime" would all flow smoothly into this tune.)
14. Only Desire What You Have-Kate Rusby
(This isn't the easiest advice to follow, but Rusby's angelic voice, this uptempo romp of an arrangement, and Celtic instrumentation make it go down easy.)
13. I Live For You-Kevin Whalum
(Some of 2016's best jazzy, subtle vocals; I would have guessed this was a Michael Franks track from the '70s.)
12. Future Self-Boehm featuring Melody Noel
(One of the more interesting, sticks-with-you tunes of 2016; lyrically, it posits that even if you could send a letter of warning to your future self, it might not help, and you still might make the same choices. The video, in which the lyrics are written with a fountain pen on envelopes, is effective, as well.)
11. Flipside-Norah Jones
(If released in almost any other year, this uptempo highlight from the "Day Breaks" release would be one of my top 10 shoo-ins. It's gripping to hear Jones sing and play with this much force. Other "Day Breaks" standouts: "Peace" and "It's A Wonderful Time For Love," which would segue with Van Morrison's "Moondance.")
10. Green Lights-Sarah Jarosz
(A highlight of Jarosz's "Undercurrent" release. The production values differ from her earlier releases, giving the tune an appropriately airy sound. It's just as compelling hearing her voice and mandolin in this context.)
9. Take Me To The Alley-Gregory Porter
(Movingly sung vocals convey lyrics that work on a spiritual level. This is the emotive title track of Porter's latest release. Also recommended: Porter's "Liquid Spirit" CD.)
8. Rule The World-Michael Kiwanuka
(Lyrically and vocally impressive, with a trippy guitar part; this strong track uses some of the chords from Morris Albert's "Feelings" and expands on them.)
7. Midnight Rider-Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
(An impressive cover of the Allman Brothers Band tune, with Jones powering through the vocals and horns handling the original version's guitar part deftly. The world lost a strong, resilient singer in Jones this year.)
6. Humanism-Jon Batiste & Stay Human
(The theme song from "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" is an infectious slice of jazz/funk in its full version.)
5. Every Songbird Says-Sam Beam & Jesca Hoop
(This duo's alternating vocals suggest that a couple's future is likely to be a bright one. The melody skips and hops appealingly. I had a hard time ranking this tune, but it's so endearingly sunny and has so much heart that it lands here for me.)
4. Black River-Sierra Hull
(A lyrically, vocally, and instrumentally impressive track from Hull's release, "Weighted Mind." Lyrically, it strikes me as a prelude to the resolve Lyle Lovett shows in "I Will Rise Up." Even if Alison Krauss hadn't been a backing vocalist on this track, I'd still be reminded of her writing and vocal phrasing. Heavy hitter Bela Fleck's contribution doesn't hurt, either. Also recommended: Hull's medley of "Tennessee Waltz" and "After You've Gone," from Harvester Performance Center in Rocky Mount, Virginia; the performance, from last year, is a strong example of her vocal prowess and mandolin proficiency. It's worth checking out on YouTube.)
3. The Noisy Days Are Over-Field Music
(One of the best ways to decide on a song ranking is to ask yourself, "How often have I listened to this song?" I've listened to "The Noisy Days Are Over" many times in the last two-and-a-half months, and it always holds my attention for its entire six minutes and change. It's one of the catchiest grooves about aging I've heard, and it straddles the line cleverly, in Talking Heads style, between reality and tongue-in-cheek advice. Also recommended: "It's A Good Thing.")
2. These Days-Erin Bode
(Bode makes Jackson Browne's song her own, capturing the wise-beyond-one's-years introspection of the lyrics. As she mentioned in concert, it's surprising that Browne wrote this when he was still a teenager. It's one of many sensitively sung covers on Bode's release, "Here And Now." Other highlights from it are her renditions of Irving Berlin's "Reaching For The Moon" and Gerry Rafferty's "Whatever's Written In Your Heart.")
1. Call Off Your Dogs-Lake Street Dive
(Thanks to Rachael Price's strong alto vocals and a catchy groove that would have been at home on the radio during the late '70s or early '80s, this is 2016's best song, in my opinion. I could imagine it flowing well after Queen's "Another One Bites The Dust" or "Christmas Wrapping" by The Waitresses. To hear more of Lake Street Dive's impressive range, watch their NPR "Tiny Desk" concert.)
Quite a few other respectable tunes didn't make my rankings this year, but here are other noteworthy tracks from 2016, listed alphabetically:
- Behind The Armory-Case/Lang/Veirs (A seemingly unlikely blend of voices--from Neko Case, K.D. Lang, and Laura Veirs--comes together impressively here.)
- Casual Party-Band Of Horses (One of 2016's best tunes for driving; I hear elements of Wilco on this track, released in June, and it could segue with Franz Ferdinand's "Do You Want To.")
- Colours So Fine-Miranda Lee Richards (Appealingly airy, psychedelic vocals and instrumentation on this track, released in January.)
- I'll Remember April-Bill Charlap Trio (From a quiet, piano-anchored release of covers, "Notes From New York." Also recommended: Charlap's versions of "A Sleepin' Bee" and "Not A Care In The World.")
- Lazarus-David Bowie (A fitting swan song from the "Blackstar" album. Lyrically, it suggests how Bowie might look back at his life upon entering the afterlife. Instrumentally, it reminds me of "Space Oddity," but with heavier world-weariness.)
- Lean In Toward The Light-Carrie Newcomer (I maintain that Newcomer has one of the most beautiful alto voices I've heard and that her singing and songwriting are incredibly consistent from CD to CD. This track, with its uplifting spirit and gospel-style backing vocals, is a highlight of her release, "The Beautiful Not Yet." Also recommended: "Sanctuary.")
- Like New Year's Day-Sara Watkins (When you just need to step back from a bad situation and breathe, these are suitable lyrics for doing so.)
- One Fine Summer Morning-Britta Phillips (Optimistic vocals and sunny instrumental backing, especially from the flute.)
- Rewards-Kylie Auldist (It's hard to believe this is a 2016 release, as its dance vibe and vocals would have segued smoothly with Madonna's "Holiday" in 1983.)
- Royals-Monika Herzig featuring Jane Bunnett (Herzig anchors this pleasant midtempo jazz combo track on piano. I also recommend her "Come With Me" album.)
- Something Tamed Something Wild-Mary Chapin Carpenter (A well-written ode to the happy moments of one's past and a reminder to appreciate the present, sung with Carpenter's usual conviction. It's from her CD, "The Things That We Are Made Of," released in May.)
- These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You)-Brad Mehldau Trio (To hear Mehldau's more contemplative side on the piano, check out his "Blues And Ballads" release. It contains this track and other strong covers, such as "Since I Fell For You" and "I Concentrate On You.")
- This Little Light Of Mine-Jennifer Paskow (Paskow sings these optimistic lyrics in an appealingly breathy voice. I could imagine Norah Jones doing a credible rendition of this.)
- Try Try Try-Rachael Sage (Appealingly breathy vocals; at times, Sage sings at the top of her range, bringing to mind Sara Watkins on Nickel Creek's "Best Of Luck." Add a clap-along beat and appealing violin backing, and you've got a winner of a tune.)
- Turn My Head Off-Takenobu (If you listen to only one new alt-rock cello instrumental this year--of the many thousands of such tracks out there, of course--you'd be wise to pick this one. The floating sensation it conjures up makes it one of the year's better instrumentals.)
