It seems that this time of year, everyone wants to make a list of their favorite everythings. I am not going to make a list, I’m just flatout going to pick the best song I heard this year. Maybe the best song ever.
First a disclaimer: I did not listen to as much new music in 2007 as I usually do. My IPOD crapped out, and I didn’t really care because I spent most of my listening time reviewing mixes of our new CD; Broken Town. I did find time to check out some highly reccomended releases; Manchester Orchestra, Bright Eyes, Jayhawks, Wilco, Radiohead, Devandra Barnhart, Jose Gonzalez, My Chemical Romance, Nickel Creek and a bunch I can’t recall. Yes, it’s nice that indie artists are making headway and there’s some really good stuff in there, but the song that made this jaded listener take note was “Pensacola”, by John Bustine.
When I have a few minutes, usually at night, I listen to the podcasts of “All Songs Considered”. When I hear something I like, I find there website and listen further. When listened to the broadcast about John Bustine it sounded like something I would like. When I heard to the song it was so visceral that I actually exclaimed “Whoa!”. Here is the link to the story and song. What’s it sound like? To me, it channels Craker’s Kerosene Hat, Tom Waits and Pink Floyd. Want more? Alfred Hitchcock, Dante, Rimbaud and Casablanca. Find some uninterupted time, listen to it the first time, at a pretty good volume. You’ll want to listen to it again, but the first listen will hit you in the stomach.
