In 2016, I learned that a Paul Simon album could leave me cold.
That came as a big shock. On this very blog, I named Simon the greatest-ever songwriter. I’m one of the few people in the world who really digs Songs from the Capeman. I am programmed to not only cut this guy some slack but to pretty much love everything he does.
My appreciation for country music continued in 2016, but I’ve learned that — Brad Paisley aside — it’s isolated to the fairer sex.
Recent new releases by Kacey Musgraves, Maren Morris, Miranda Lambert, Lucinda Williams, Ashley Monroe and Brandy Clark have earned time on my playlists while Chris Stapleton is the only country dude to claim that honor.
2016 wasn’t a typical year for me, musically. Any year that sees Donald Trump elected president isn’t a typical year, period, so that’s not surprising.
When I sat down to compile my year-end 2016 best song list, I had trouble coming up with a solid top ten, let alone the 20 or so I usually offer. I didn’t buy as many new albums as usual and I was disappointed in most of the year’s Billboard hits. So rather than half-ass a best-of list I’ve decided to instead write about ten meaningful musical memories from 2016.
It’s funny that this iconic Johnny Cash song, his first #1 hit and the one that inspired the title of the celebrated biopic, was written not about June Cash but Johnny’s first wife, Vivian.
I guess he didn’t find it so easy to be true after he met June.
Jenny Lewis’ 2014 album The Voyager was my second-favorite album of that year and in my top ten for the decade so far. Just mentioning it here has me wanting to cue it up in my car — I think I’ll do that.
Despite my love for that album, I haven’t spent a lot of time revisiting Lewis’ other solo efforts, including 2008’s Acid Tongue, on which today’s Random SOTD appears. My guess is I’d appreciate this album even more in light of The Voyager.
