Romantic Songs Playlist for Valentine's Day 2023

This year I was able to create the entire Romantic Songs Playlist 2023 from heartfelt tunes released in the past year! Give a  listen on Spotify here.  

For further inspiration, visit my posts from past years at the links here: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, and 2012.

1. "My Babe" – Spoon
2. "ILYSM" – Wild Pink

3. "In Need of Repair" – Band of Horses

4. "Just Before the Morning" – Local Natives

5. "Enjoy Your Life" – Flamingosis

6. "Everything Is Simple" – Widowspeak

7. "Your Love" – Tourist

8. "Shooting Stars" – Woolfy

9. "Mahi Mahi" – Moonfish, Maria Chiara Argirò, Riccardo Chiaberta

10. "Days" – Real Estate

11. "Desert Snow" – Local Natives

12. "Your Other Life" – Lord Huron

13. "Who Put You Up To This?" – Sunflower Bean

14. "Only You Know" – Beach House

15. "Light of Day" – ODESZA, Ólafur Arnalds

16. "Call Me Home" – SASAMI

17. "Thinking About You" – Beck

18. "My Love is Like" – Maps

18. "Love in the Void" – Hammock

Top 20+ Songs of 2022

No algorithm involved and not in any order beyond setting up a nice sequence per usual. Listen on Spotify, enjoy!

1. "It's Good to be Back"  –  Metronomy
2. "In Need of Repair"  –  Band of Horses

3. "California Sunset" (Instrumental Version) – Poolside

4. "Here to Forever" – Death Cab for Cutie

5. "This House is on Fire" – Broken Social Scene

6. "New Summers" – De Lux

7. "Who Put You Up to This?" – Sunflower Bean

8. "Clavicle" – Daphni

9. "Fuzz Jam" – The Lazy Eyes

10. "Spitting Off the Edge of the World" – Yeah Yeahs Yeahs, Perfume Genius

11. "Your Other Life" – Lord Huron

12. "Island Hopping" – Monster Rally

13. "Your Love" – Tourist

14. "Everything is Simple" – Widowspeak

15. "The Lightning I" – Arcade Fire

16. "The Lightning II" – Arcade Fire

17. "Dot" – A Beacon School

18. "We're Not in Orbit Yet" – Broken Bells

19. "Wild" – Spoon

20. "Superstar" – Beach House

21. "Light of Day" – ODESZA, Ólafur Arnalds

22. "Darklands" – trentemøller

23. "Lights Out" – Yrstruly poluto, DIIIV, Crooked Colours

24. "We Need a Bigger Dumpster" – Cheekface

Winter 2022 New Music Playlist

  Listen on Spotify, enjoy!

1. "It's Good to be Back" – Metronomy

2. "Moment Feed" – Land of Talk

3. "The House is on Fire" – Broken Social Scene

4. "Days" – Real Estate

5. "Wild" – Spoon

6. "The Ladder" – Röyksopp

7. "Mahi Mahi" – Moonfish, Maria Chiara Argirò, Ricardo Chiaberta

8. "All My Times is Wasted" – Hanna Jadagu

9. "In Need of Repair" – Band of Horses

10. "Shooting Stars" – Woolfy

11. "Island Hopping" – Monster Rally

12. "Champion" – Warpaint

13. "Everything is Simple" – Widowspeak

14. "The Smoke" – The Smile

15. "rei" – Michiru Aoyama

Fall 2021 New Music Playlist

 Listen on Spotify, enjoy!

1. "The Hardest Cut"  –  Spoon
2. "Walking at a Downtown Pace" – Parquet Courts
3. "I Was a Tunnel" – Generationals
4. "In the Gloaming" – trentemøller, Lisbet Fritze

5. "Lost in the Weight" – Deserta

6. "Six Words" – Elbow

7. "Once Twice Melody" – Beach House

8. "Crutch" – Band of Horses

9. "Harmonia's Dream" – The War on Drugs

10. "Always Together with You" – Spiritualized

11. "Love Love Love" – My Morning Jacket

12. "All Inclusive" – Pool Boy, Cyril Hahn

13. "C'mon America" –  Jeff Tweedy

14. "Simple Like Us" – Teleman

15. "Frankie" – Barrie

16. "Prester John" – Animal Collective

17. "Glisten" – The Album Leaf

18. "Elsewhere" – Hammock

Romantic Songs Playlist for Valentine's Day 2017

Time to indulge in some romantic songs to provide a soundtrack for a sweet Valentine's Day. Here are some perfect tunes from the past year on my latest playlist, along with others that recently appeared on my radar or in my memory as worthy of revisiting. The playlist begins with the seductive vocals of Earth, Wind & Fire honoring the death of founder Maurice White – which made 2016 a heavy year of losses along with David Bowie, Prince and George Michael. This band was the thankful antithesis of teenage angst for me and my classmates in high school, and their music has certainly stood the test of passing decades. From there, other favorite singers are represented in song; like the sound of a loved one's voice, they are intimately connected in my musical life forever.

Listen to my Romantic Songs Playlist for Valentine's Day 2017 on Spotify here.  For further inspiration, visit my posts from past years: 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, and 2012.

1. "That's the Way of the World" – Earth Wind & Fire
2. "'Cause I'm a Man" – Tame Impala
3. "Whatever, Wherever" – Band of Horses
4. "No Surprises" – Radiohead
5. "The Soul Serene" – Villagers
6. "True Affection"  – Father John Misty
7. "Bring My Baby Back" – Dr. Dog
8. "1959"– Hamilton & Rostam (featuring Angel Deradoorian)
9. "Just Say Goodbye" – Wilco
10. "One Thing" – Beach House
11. "Hold On To Me" – Mondo Cozmo
12. "No Time to Crank the Sun" – EL VY
13. "What Part of Me" – Low
14. "Should Have Known Better" – Sufjan Stevens
15. "I Don't Want to Let You Down" – Sharon Van Etten
16. "My Sad Captains" – Elbow
17. "No Hard Feelings" – The Avett Brothers

Top 20+ Songs of 2016 With Spotify and YouTube Playlist

It's always a nice exercise to review all the gifts of music encountered over the course of twelve months. This year was especially easy to go over the twenty song allotment for this end of year recap of top tunes. It's such a diverse group of artists but the list contains some of my very favorite voices on the music scene: Thom Yorke of Radiohead, Beck, Ben Bridwell of Band of Horses, Hamilton Leithauser, Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips, Fran Healy of Travis, Will Sheff of Okkervil River, Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, The Avett Brothers and Santigold. Plus I was so thankful for plenty of soaring melodies to carry me away from the neverending stress of daily news during this election year, for example The Boxer Rebellion, Wye Oak and Ra Ra Riot + Rostam.

Listen on Spotify or as a YouTube Playlist below.

1. "Can't Get Enough of Myself" – Santigold
2. "Burn the Witch" – Radiohead
3. "The Industry" – Okkervil River
4. "If You Should See" – Wye Oak
5. "Wow" – Beck
6. "2AM" – Bear Hands
7. "They Want More" – Ages and Ages
8. "Casual Party" – Band of Horses 
9. "Selectallcopy" – Autolux
10. "Magnificent Time" – Travis
11. "In These Fine Times" (featuring De Lux) – Classixx
12. "Hey Lion" – Sofi Tukker
13. "Trouble" – Cage the Elephant
14. "Never Ever" – STRFKR
15. "Summer Was a Day"  – Pete Yorn
16. "Water" – Ra Ra Riot & Rostam
17. "Beneath the Black Sea" – LNZNDRF
18. "Big Ideas" – The Boxer Rebellion
19. "If I Ever Was a Child" – Wilco
20. "The Castle" – The Flaming Lips
21. "No Hard Feelings" – The Avett Brothers
22. "In a Black Out" – Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam
23. "In My Car" – Gold Panda

Top Ten Releases of 2016 With Video Highlights

2016 ranked as another great year to be a music fan – some of my very fave bands came out with new releases (and I'm still eagerly awaiting ones from Beck and the Gorillaz!) Indie rock veterans Radiohead and Wilco continued their dominance with stellar albums worthy of multiple listening sessions. Band of Horses, Okkervil River and Pete Yorn brought a laid back twang to my year's soundtrack while Santigold and Tycho provided tracks ready for a dance party when needed. Then there's the intimacy of Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam to round out my list, along with the crowd pleasing anthems of Travis.

Give a listen on Spotify to all my Top Ten Albums of 2016 as well as Other Fave Albums of 2016, and check out my picks below with live video highlights.


1. Radiohead, A Moon Shaped Pool
Legendary English band Radiohead released its ninth studio album since 1985, A Moon Shaped Pool. The single "Burn the Witch" dropped with great fanfare as a stop-motion animated video, but it was captured live at Chicago's Lollapalooza festival over the summer. (I actually watched the online feed as it happened and highly recommend revisiting the entire set on YouTube.) It's clear that this band is still at the top of its game and we fans are lucky indeed.

2. Okkervil River, Away
When I heard "The Industry" on local radio WFUV, I was thrilled since I knew immediately it was Will Sheff's creation. Beyond his warm vocals, there was a song structure that belied the intensity of the emotional connection of lyrics and melody. This tune served as the single for Okkervil River's eighth studio album since 1998, Away, which heralds a new creative phase for the frontman with different backing members and life without his beloved grandfather. (When I caught his band at Austin City Limits Music Festival in 2013, he performed next to a framed photo of him in tribute.)

3. Band of Horses, Why Are You OK
Southern indie rockers Band of Horses released its fifth studio album since 2004, Why Are You OK, with a confident collection of songs by this tight knit quintet. Produced by Jason Lytle of Grandaddy and written by singer Ben Bridell, the songs touch on navigating life as a father to three daughters while creating music with a groupthink of incredibly talented guys who happen to really like each other, as evidenced in this video capturing the performance of the single "Casual Party."

4. Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam, I Had a Dream That You Were Mine
The collaboration between The Walkmen's frontman and soulful singer Hamilton Leithauser and Vampire Weekend's multi-instrumentalist Rostam Batmanglij, I Had a Dream That You Were Mine, was one of the best surprises of the year. This solid debut offered songs of both transcendence and foot stomping exuberance – I was able to catch a performance of the band at the Rough Trade space in Brooklyn, the perfect size to get up close and personal with the material. This bewitching tune "In a Black Out" was even tapped for a major Apple iPhone commercial, exponentially expanding the band's reach.

5. Wye Oak, Tween
Baltimore's Wye Oak created its fifth album since 2002 from remnants of songs from the past two albums, yet Tween exists just fine on its own with lush production and layered nuances that has you wondering how exactly the music is pulled off by only two band members. Jenn Wasner (vocals, guitars and bass) and Andy Stack (drums, keyboards and backup vocals) combine their talents to create original compositions that expand such sonic constraints, as witnessed in this fan footage of "If You Should See" at a recent concert.

6. Santigold, 99 Cents
Philly native Santigold (née Santi White) is the total indie pop star package, a singer and producer who also creates her costumes, dance moves and positive vibes together with social commentary in her music since 2008. Poking fun at the selfie culture, "I Can't Get Enough of Myself" from the latest album 99 Cents, is an infectious romp of fun as exhibited during this performance on the daytime television show Ellen.

7. Tycho, Epoch
Tycho is the ambient music project of San Francisco's Scott Hansen, who uses vintage-style synths and a live backing band as caught on camera at a recent KCRW session playing "Horizon." The song served as the single for the fourth album since 2002, Epoch, full of electronic experimentation without losing the musical vision of the creator.

8. Pete Yorn, Arranging Time
Pete Yorn returned to his solo career after a stint as The Olms with J.D. King, releasing a sixth album since 2000 called Arranging Time. The single "Summer Was a Day" showcased Yorn's breathy vocals and lean production, finding the perfect balance in live performance as well as the studio.

9. Wilco, Schmilco
With a wink and a nod towards Harry Nilsson's album Nilsson Schmilsson, Chicago's alternative rock band Wilco rolled out its tenth album since 1994, Schmilco.  The sweet single, "If I Ever Was a Child," is never cloying or mendacious under this band's credo and Jeff Tweedy's subtle vocal approach.

10. Travis, Everything at Once
Scottish indie rockers Travis released its eighth studio album since 1990, Everything at Once, another collection penned mostly by the frontman, singer/songwriter Fran Healy. The band's cheery optimism is on full display in this official video of "Magnificent Time" with Healy's golden vocals cheerleading the group. But I love the fan footage below it even more, showing Healy teaching the crowd in his thick brogue how to dance along, documenting the exuberance of the band and the sheer joy of being at of their shows (which I witnessed firsthand during their last tour in NYC). Gotta give it up to the audience member hanging on to that empty drink cup!

Late Spring 2016 New Music Playlist

Here is another listening session of new music released this spring, full of heavy-weight veterans such as Radiohead, Travis, The Dandy Warhols and Peter Bjorn and John plus new bands such as LNZDRF, Bayonne and Sofi Tukker. There’s also some country twang found in White Denim, Frightened Rabbit and Band of Horses along with some fuzzed-out indie songs from Autolux, Caveman and Cullen Omori. Listen on Spotify or as a YouTube Playlist.

1. “What You Talking About?” – Peter Bjorn and John

Swedish indie pop band Peter Bjorn and John is ready with a seventh album since 1999, Breakin Point, full of hook happy tunes like the lead single, “What You Talking About?”  With a blast of feel-good synths that sound like a cheery whistle, the song bounces along even while bemoaning issues of communication.

2. “Cinnamon” – Cullen Omori

Chicago’s Cullen Omori (formerly of Smith Westerns) continues on a similar course solo with psych pop leanings for his solo debut, New Misery. The melodic song “Cinnamon” cleverly skims the surface as he sings about the euphoria of finding love.

3. “Get Out” – Frightened Rabbit

Scottish quintet Frightened Rabbit recently released a fifth album, Painting of a Panic Attack, produced by Aaron Dessner of The National.  The band formed in 2003 and took a break after a long tour in support of the last album, 2013’s Pedestrian Verse, but returns to continue the journey with gritty, soulful indie rock.

4. “Casual Party” – Band of Horses

Southern indie rockers Band of Horses will soon release its fifth studio album since 2004, Why Are You OK. The single “Casual Party” is a full on musical love fest as the quintet takes the theme of meaningless social interactions.  

5. “Thank You” – White Denim

Austin rockers White Denim had to reinvent itself after two band members left, so singer James Petralli likens the new album Stiff to a debut release although it counts as number seven since 2006. The song “Thank You” finds the group’s roots rock intact, while the new kicky sound brings a new energy to the music.

6. “Burn the Witch” – Radiohead

English indie supergroup Radiohead lives up to the hype for its first song in five years, “Burn the Witch,” an epic swirl of strings, pulsating rock rhythms and singer Thom Yorke’s plaintive vocals. It serves as the single and title track for the group’s ninth album since 1985, the first in five years after 2011’s King of Limbs.

7. “Styggo” – The Dandy Warhols

The Dandy Warhols, Portland’s alt rock juggernauts, has released its ninth album called Distortland. The tune “Styggo” chugs along with the signature swagger of singer Courtney Taylor-Taylor’s vocals and confidence galore amid this quartet.

8. “Lates” ­– Bayonne

Bayonne is the music project of multi-instrumentalist Roger Sellers, who likes to call it electronic/minimalist material. “Lates” is a dreamy track off the debut full length album, Spectrolite.

9. “Magnificent Time” – Travis

Scottish indie stalwarts Travis is ready with its eighth studio album since 1990, Everything At Once.   This carefree single, “Magnificent Time,” is fueled by a enthusiasm that other bands might find hard to fathom otherwise.

10. “Ocean” – Rogue Wave

California’s indie rock quartet Rogue Wave has released its sixth studio album since 2007, Delusions of Grand Fur. The zippy tune “Ocean” features the laid back vocals of frontman Zach Schwartz (a.k.a. Zach Rogue).

11. “Selectallcopy” – Autolux

L.A. alt rock trio Autolux returns after six years with a third album called Pussy’s Dead. Eclectic songs like “Selectallcopy” draw from influences such as post-punk, Krautrock and experimental electronic music.

12. “Hey Lion” – Sofi Tukker

New York-based duo Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern has made an impact on the strength of singles such as “Hey Lion,” a funky dance tune with a sparse instrumentation and sexy vocals. A self-titled EP is planned for later this year.

13. “Solitude”­ – M83

M83 is a French-American electronic music band led by Anthony Gonzalez, now based in L.A. The cinematic tune “Solitude” is the second single off Junk, a seventh studio album for the group since 2001.

14. “Beneath the Black Sea” – LNZNDRF

LNZNDRF, a new band touting post-punk and Krautrock influences, was formed by Ben Lanz (member of Beruit and collaborator with The National) and brothers Bryan and Scott Devendorf (both of The National).  “Beneath the Black Sea” is one of eight songs on the self-titled debut improvised and edited down from the recording session’s 30 plus minute jams.

15. “Neighboring in Telescopes”  – Eluvium

Eluvium is the moniker of ambient recording artist Matthew Cooper, who is based in Portland after being raised in Louisville. The floating soundscape of “Neighboring in Telescopes” is found on his eighth studio album of unreleased material from 2009 – 2015 called Curious Things.

New Song by Band of Horses, "Casual Party" (New Album Out in June)

Tyler Ramsey, Bill Reynolds, Ben Bridell, Creighton Barrett & Tyler Ramsey of BoH

Indie rock band with a Southern twang Band of Horses (BoH) is ready with its fifth studio album, Why Are You OK, to be released in June via Interscope Records and American Recordings. The new collection was announced in a scripted love note in video form on the BoH website, declaring "It's awesome and so are you."  This is the follow up to 2012's Mirage Rock, with producer powerhouse Rick Rubin in charge. I caught the group live at The Capitol Theatre during the summer of 2014 and the concert easily made it on my list of Top 25 Concerts of all time.

BoH songs have been a constant presence on my new music playlists here - hearing the single "Casual Party" was easy to i.d. with the grand scale of layered good vibes in the music. It's almost cathartic really, despite singer Ben Bridell's lament about the "awful conversation at the casual party." He recently told EW.com about writing the songs at home with his family of four daughters, "I work all night and take them to school in the morning. I'm the fucking scariest dad in the school, I'm sure." The twelve songs were then recorded in Stinson Beach, California and Woodstock, New York, with the usual collaboration between this tight group of guys. Check out the tune in this Korean karoke-style video and look for the hashtag ready album #YRUOK, sure to be worth a listen.

My Essential Music - More Fave Band Playlists (Talking Heads, Arcade Fire, Spoon, Moby, Beck, Flaming Lips, Cake, Franz Ferdinand, New Order, Gorillaz, The National & Band of Horses)

Visit wfuv.org for more info 

Last week during the pledge drive for public radio station WFUV, listeners were asked to submit their "essential music," a list of five bands/artists, along with their donation. This is clearly a clever way to survey the audience, but it also got me thinking of sharing more of my personal faves in playlist form. In prior posts, I have linked to my LCD Soundsystem Faves playlist with the news the band will be releasing another album after breaking up in 2011 (and an update: the band has signed with the behemoth Columbia Records!) Plus I posted my David Bowie Faves playlist after this legend's untimely death.

So here are links to some more playlists of "essential music" found on my Spotify account @NewMusicMatters, dig in!

Radiohead Faves

Talking Heads Faves

Arcade Fire Faves

Spoon Faves

Moby Faves

Beck Faves

Flaming Lips Faves

Cake Faves

Franz Ferdinand Faves

New Order Faves

Gorillaz Faves

The National Faves

Band of Horses Faves

Romantic Songs Playlist for Valentine's Day 2015

Being snowed in is a perfect excuse to bust out another Romantic Songs Playlist as Valentine's Day rolls around -- on a Saturday night no less! I start things off with an awesome live version of "Heart It Races" by popular playlist group Dr. Dog, and let this latest personal music compilation find a balance from within. I've included some recent songs from fave band Spoon and artist Beck (with congrats on the Grammy win, even if it was for Rock Album of the Year and doesn't quite apply to this assortment of sublime music) plus older picks from my collection. I dug deep in the archives for The Cure, The Raconteurs and James to compliment the newer tunes from Dan Croll, Beach House and Band of Horses. The Verve's "Bittersweet Symphony" was chosen for this year's list before the Seattle Seahawks took the field with it blaring during the Super Bowl, and now that strange moment when sports coopted this anthem is embedded in our consciousness. Plus as the game ended in upset it's bittersweet indeed...

Listen up here and visit my posts from 2014, 2013 and 2012 if you need more inspiration. Happy to oblige and enjoy the holiday!

1. "Heart It Races" – Dr. Dog
2. "Lovesong" – The Cure
3. "Only in My Dreams" –  Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti
4. "Compliment Your Soul" – Dan Croll
5. "What Would I Want? Sky" – Animal Collective
6. "I Saw the Bright Shinies" – The Octopus Project
7. "Crown of Love" – Arcade Fire
8. "No One's Gonna Love You" – Band of Horses
9. "Nantes" – Beirut
10. "Together" – The Raconteurs
11. "Inside Out" – Spoon
12. "Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space" – Spiritualized
13. "Walkabout (with Noah Lennox)"– Atlas Sound
14. "Heart Is a Drum"– Beck
15. "Bitter Sweet Symphony" – The Verve
16. "Chicago" – Sufjan Stevens
17. "Sometimes" – James
18. "Norway" – Beach House
19. "I and Love and You" – Avett Brothers

Birthday Playlist of Random Songs Heard January 15, 2015

Birthday dinner with oyster shooters & our BYO OLD BAY

Like my post last year, I started a list of songs heard during my birthday that seemed chosen especially for me. So here's another playlist of music that appeared throughout the day as I tuned into fave radio stations KEXP, KCRW and WFUV's The Alternate Side online or otherwise in the kitchen, at my desk or in the car. I also enjoyed John In the Morning's pick of "Spiritual High Part III" by Moodswings, sampling the famous words of Martin Luther King with whom I share my birthday. (I'll post it below, always inspirational but especially appropriate as we head into the long MLK holiday weekend.) There was also a live session with Panda Bear on KCRW -- listen to it in the archives here -- that I enjoyed midday as if I was in the room.  And on my way home from a yoga class later I heard that Field Report song, "Home (Leave the Lights On)" that I wrote about during an emotional time last fall. During this listen however I turned the corner and saw my own cozy house lit up in welcome, simply because I had thought to turn on the lights before I left. It was a nod to being another year older and a nice reminder to take care of myself.

Take a listen on Spotify here or at the widget on the home screen.

1. "Dreams Never End" - New Order
2. "Follow" - Mr. Gnome
3. "All My Friends" - LCD Soundsystem
4. "Where It's At" - Beck
5. "First Song" - Band of Horses
6. "Jumping Jack Flash" - Rolling Stones
7. "Home (Leave a Light On)" - Field Report

New Song by Field Report "Home (Leave the Lights On)"

My beloved bike from college at the St. Michaels harbor

Sometimes it takes hearing a song in the right setting to have it really resonate within. I had listened to the second album by Field Report, Marigolden (out October 7 via Partisan Records), in its entirety recently without finding a standout tune for my next new music playlist. Yet last week I found myself back in Maryland shortly after celebrating the life of my mother, with my father landing in the impressive University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.

Per usual, I found solace in music through local radio stations as I ferried myself back and forth over the Bay Bridge from the Eastern Shore, where my parents have lived for over twenty years in St. Michaels. Independent station WTMD 89.7 in Baltimore offered up favorite bands such as Dr. Dog, Okkervil River and Band of Horses just as I needed an infusion musical jams to keep me rolling, while WRNR 103.1 out of Annapolis presented a more standard lineup and advertising breaks that clued me into the local scene. WRNR also had the inside scoop about area boy Dave Grohl's visit for an episode of his HBO show Sonic Highways, airing an interview where Grohl admitted to flying some Chesapeake blue crabs out to the West Coast because he missed them so much! Plus when R.E.M.'s "Everybody Hurts" came on WRNR as I drove my Dad home from his extended stay, my heart sank with every swelling refrain.

But that first night I drove to stay at my parents house alone, which in itself was unprecedented, was crazy dark and stormy. The Field Report song, "Home (Leave the Lights On)" came on WTMD, with a breezy beginning that belies the depth of meaning found in the lyrics. Voiced by laid back singer/songwriter Christopher Porterfield of Milwaukee, the tune haunted my soul as I realized there wasn't anyone to complete this simple task at my destination. Truths such as how we wake "up everyday just a little bit changed," and how "the body remembers what the mind forgets, archives every heartache" resonated deeply, as I faced another challenge in my family. Check out the band's video below, and I suggest listening carefully to every word.

A Funeral Songs Playlist of My Own As We Honor My Mother

 Favorite photo with my mom, Jane Rush Jansen

I'm busy planning a memorial service this week for my mother. There's relief along with the sadness after watching her slow decline from ALS these past two years, but it's amazing how the details swirl amid the heartache. This is my favorite photo of the two of us from a vacation in Florida long ago. My Mom taught me that culture makes everything worth living and maybe it's genetics, but I have the same love of music. Her favorite genres were Broadway shows, movie scores and all things classical, which was known as "Nana music" to my kids. Yet music also moves me deeply, cutting straight to the core with a vibrancy that fills my being. And as my brother says she liked her music "the louder, the better." Ditto.

On the way to see her last week, the day before she left us/her passing (insert one of the countless terms I've heard recently here), I listened to my own Funeral Songs playlist. I usually punch the lower radio dial for a college radio or NPR station along the way, but I needed a something I count on to last me for hours. It's a fluid list like the recent post listing my Top 25 Concerts, certainly not set in stone until the time comes. Like that or a desert island list (songs you'd take along if marooned), it makes for a lively conversation -- even if just in your own head. Of course, mine is in playlist form and I was even critiquing my order as tears streamed down my face, having to face mortality head on. 

Eddie Argus of Art Brut told me in a PopMatters interview that he named a song "Ice Hockey" instead of "Funeral Song," even though that was the intended purpose. Thought that was a cheeky way to approach things, to use his English term.  So if you'd like to listen to my current collection of blog faves and other tunes that have inspired me along life's path, check it out at link here or below. As I load my laptop with my mother's CD collection to get ready for the event this weekend, I am thankful for this continuing outlet for rejuvenation, however it came my way.

Our His & Hers 25 Top Concert Lists Comparison With Video Highlights

Celebrating the anniversary in Montreal

On the way home from seeing Arcade Fire in Montreal (write up, photos and vids in the previous post) Paul and I took the long road trip to transcribe our top 25 concert moments of all time, plus some Honorable Mentions with the overflow of awesome live music.  It has been an ongoing conversation for years and yes, most of the bands we have experienced together. So on the occasion of our anniversary today, I thought I'd list them here as a his and hers compilation.  As a testament to our longevity, The Ritz is now known as Webster Hall and a big thank you to the Bowery Presents for sprucing up venues around New York City, especially the Music Hall of Williamsburg, The Capitol Theater and Bowery Ballroom -- all excellent spots to see a show. And of course we are fuzzy on some of the dates.

As far as compiling the lists, it was hard to put things in any particular order or consider many festival slots since it usually means not seeing an entire set. Both of us did list Franz Ferdinand at Austin City Limits Music Festival (2013) and Flaming Lips at Moogfest (2012), as we got to the stages early to secure a good view for the complete set. I've added videos from those shows here along with one from LCD Soundsystem's first night of the final week of shows for the band, truly epic.  Other matches are the Talking Heads in 1983, which I wrote about recently with the 30th anniversary of the concert doc from the tour, Stop Making Sense, and David Bowie's 1983 "Serious Moonlight" tour. But can you guess which list is Paul's and which is mine? Listen to some of our fave songs on a Spotify playlist here.

LIST #1
1. Talking Heads 1983 (Forest Hills, NYC)
2. David Bowie 1983 (Madison Square Garden, NYC)
3. Flaming Lips 2011 (Moogfest Asheville, NC)
4. Arcade Fire 2014 (Parc Jean-Drapeau, Montreal)
5. LCD Soundsystem 2011 (Terminal 5 NYC)
6. Franz Ferdinand 2013 (Austin City Limits Music Festival, TX)
7. Moby 2009 (Irving Plaza, NYC)
8. Beck 2014 (Hammerstein Ballroom, NYC)
9. Elbow 2014 (Webster Hall, NYC)
10. Art Brut 2012 (Music Hill of Williamsburg, NYC)
11. Weezer 2006 (Roseland, NYC)
12. Spoon 2018 w/Grizzly Bear (The Captitol Theatre Port Chester, NY) *Update
13. Hot Chip 2010 (Moogfest Asheville, NC)
14. Phantom Planet 2004? (Irving Plaza, NYC)
15. Paul Westerberg 2005? (The Globe Norwalk, CT)
16. David Byrne 2009 (Oxford, UK)
17. David Byrne 2001 (Apollo Theater, NYC)
18. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. 2011 (Bowery Ballroom, NYC)
19. Peter Bjorn & John 2011 (Bowery Ballroom, NYC)
20. The National 2010 (Brooklyn Academy of Music, NYC)
21. CAKE 2010 (Irving Plaza, NYC)
22. Gang of Four 1984 (The Ritz, NYC)
23. Octopus Project & Devo 2010 (Moogfest Asheville, NC)
24. Sufjan Stevens 2010 (Beacon Theater, NYC)
25. Iggy Pop 1986 (The Ritz, NYC)

Honorable Mention:
Dandy Warhols 2011 (Webster Hall, NYC)
The Walkmen 2012 (Crossing Brooklyn Ferry, Brooklyn Academy of Music, NYC)
Band of Horses 2014 (The Capitol Theatre Port Chester, NY)
Portugal The Man 2012 (Terminal 5, NYC)
Fitz And The Tantrums 2010 (Mercury Lounge, NYC)

I was there!!!!

LIST #2
1. Talking Heads 1983 (Forest Hills, NYC)
2. David Bowie 1983 (Madison Square Garden, NYC)
3. Flaming Lips 2011 (Moogfest Asheville, NC)
4. Arcade Fire 2014 (Parc Jean-Drapeau, Montreal)
5. LCD Soundsystem 2011 (Terminal 5, NYC)
6. Franz Ferdinand 2013 (Austin City Limits Music Festival, TX)
7. Frank Zappa 1978 (Felt Forum, NYC)
8. Police 1982 (Syracuse University, NY)
9. Gang of Four 1984 (The Ritz, NYC)
10. The Clash 1981 (The Bond, NYC)
11. Beck 2014 (Hammerstein Ballroom, NYC)
12. Phantom Planet 2004? (Irving Plaza, NYC)
13. Orbital 2012 (Moogfest Asheville, NC)
14. Allman Brothers & Eric Clapton 2011 (Beacon Theater, NYC)
15. Yes 1978 (Madison Square Garden, NYC)
16. Paul Westerberg 2005? (The Globe Norwalk, CT)
17. Band of Horses 2014 (The Capitol Theatre Port Chester, NY)
18. Peter Bjorn & John 2011 (Bowery Ballroom, NYC)
19. Spoon 2009 (Roseland, NYC)
20. Weezer 2006 (Roseland, NYC)
21. Atoms for Peace 2013 (Austin City Limits Music Festival, TX)
22. Hot Chip 2010 (Moogfest Asheville, NC)
23. Grateful Dead 1987 (Providence, RI)
24. Fitz and The Tantrums 2010 (Mercury Lounge, NYC)
25. Iggy Pop 1993 (The Ritz, NYC)

Honorable Mention:
The Walkmen 2012 (Crossing Brooklyn Ferry, Brooklyn Academy of Music NYC)
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. 2011 (Bowery Ballroom, NYC)
Jeff Beck 2009 (B.B. King Blues Club, NYC)
CAKE 2010 (Irving Plaza, NYC)
Sufjan Stevens 2010 (Beacon Theater, NYC)