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Song of the Day #1,631: ‘Michael Praytor, Five Years Later’ – Ben Folds Five

bff_sound_life_mindTop Songs of 2012 – #6

One of my happiest musical memories of 2012 was the reunion of Ben Folds Five thirteen years after their last album together. Their new record, The Sound of the Life of the Mind, sounded exactly like a Ben Folds Five record should sound a decade later — it wasn’t a flashback so much as an evolution.

It’s funny how the addition of a drummer and bassist who rarely contribute to the songwriting can change a band’s sound. The difference between the four Ben Folds Five albums and Folds’ solo work is really just the men behind the instruments. But Darren Jesse and Robert Sledge combine with Folds to form a musical alchemy that elevates the whole package.

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Song of the Day #1,630: ‘Labrador’ – Aimee Mann

aimee_mann_charmerTop Songs of 2012 – #7

Anyone familiar with Aimee Mann’s discography would be unlikely to cite her sense of humor as a standout attribute. She writes melancholy songs about people at the end of their ropes. That’s what she’s always done and probably what she’ll always do.

Sometimes she wraps that sadness in a pretty pop sheen, as she did on her most recent release, Charmer. This album is poppier than anything Mann has released in years, and it’s a refreshing change of pace. The album features slick production, bright instrumentation and catchy melodies, all in the service of the same Aimee Mann worldview.

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Song of the Day #1,629: ‘Soon After Midnight’ – Bob Dylan

bob_dylan_tempestTop Songs of 2012 – #8

I’ve gotten used to the high quality of Bob Dylan’s recent albums. Unlike the 80s and 90s, there is no longer a fear in the back of my head that his next release might be a real head-scratcher.

This is probably where some of you will chime in and bring up his recent Christmas album (appropriate given the date), to which I’d reply that I actually enjoy that novelty release quite a bit. I’ll take Dylan’s gravelly ‘Little Drummer Boy‘ over most versions, thank you very much.

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Song of the Day #1,628: ‘Speak For Me’ – John Mayer

mayer_born_raisedTop Songs of 2012 – #9

First things first… Merry Christmas, everyone! This post marks my fifth Christmas since starting the Song of the Day series, and I still haven’t missed a day.

Now, on to the matter at hand.

John Mayer returned to form this year with Born and Raised, his best album since 2006’s Continuum. The record has a laid-back 70s California vibe, complete with mentions of Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and Bob Dylan and backing vocals by David Crosby and Graham Nash.

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Song of the Day #1,627: ‘Spring’ – Tift Merritt

tift_traveling_aloneTop Songs of 2012 – #10

Tift Merritt’s fifth studio album, Traveling Alone, is a lower key affair than her previous releases. It is made up primarily of acoustic ballads with melodies that take a little while to seep in.

But in a few spots, Merritt and her band open up and settle into a blues-rock groove. Those songs quickly became favorites of mine, probably because they are more immediately accessible.

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