Songs haunt my mind like ghosts I cannot shake, specters of a past that has looped around to make sense only as I become old enough to solve the mysteries of who I used to be. Certain songs from my youth were at the forefront of my obsessive personality this year, listened to again and again as I found myself wondering how I did not see the truth so long ago. I wrote pieces about a couple of those songs this year, so my thinking was perhaps more attuned to the power of a single song than in past years. Whether that was the cause or not, most of my favorite albums this year did not have a singular song I would point to as the crux of the experience. And with a shorter supple of singles from other sources, it made picking my absolute favorite songs a harder task than most years. For several of these artists, I could have picked among multiple songs without sacrificing anything.
While the tiers may not have been separated by as much as in the past, there were still songs that made a lasting impact on me. These are the ones I am here to celebrate and highlight. In no particular order, my favorite songs of this year are...
VK Lynne - Seam Ripper
Over the course of the year, VK gave us a number of sounds and styles to try out, with this one leaving a lasting impression on me. This was a year of feeling connections fraying, so VK's song about the benefit of cutting the threads connecting us to people we would be better off without hit home with me. I have been on the receiving end of that treatment many times, while I usually find myself holding on for dear life to keep the distance from growing. A jaunty song reminding me that some people are happier leaving me behind was a fitting soundtrack in a year when I questioned the very nature of friendship. This song made me smile more than most of the people in my life.
VK Lynne - Plastic Roses
This song also left a lasting impression. Conjuring the sound of 80s hair metal ballads, VK tells a story about memories that can't be killed or discarded. There are some things that we are stuck with, no matter how much we want to forget or move on. Mine are less memories, and more existential crises, but the sentiment is the same. Just when we think we have moved on, they will pop back up to remind us no matter where you are or how much you've evolved, you can't cut your roots so they won't grow back. A weeping guitar solo is the acknowledgment that we can't bend the world the way we can bend a note.
Lucifer - The Dead Don't Speak
Whether we call Lucifer occult rock, or doom rock, or any other number of genre tags, this song stands out in their catalog for being a huge, stomping number. When the chorus comes in, and Joanna hits that hook, the band is pounding out the chords and beat with as much power as they can muster. It's one of those moments when I can envision a festival crowd headbanging in time, and there's not much better than that. It's the closest thing to an anthem as a fuzzy genre can muster, and I'm here for it.
The Requiem - Cursed
It isn't easy to capture the way a song makes me feel in words. I'm struggling to say what exactly the sensation I get from this song is, because it's more than merely a catchy emo song. There is something in the drive of the guitars and the wail of the vocal that stirs a bit of defiance in me, as if I'm able to muster the energy to give a damn once again. That might be a bit melodramatic, but it's on the right track.
Hannah Wicklund - Sun To Sun
The blues is at its best, at least to me, when it gets stretched out to say something in as loud and epic a way as possible. Hannah does that on this song, drawing out the drama as she lets her guitar and vocal burn. There's a sense that she's pausing between each line as if she needs to gather her breath to spit out the next line. It's a powerful delivery, and one of the rare moments when I feel like I understand the blues. That makes it a song well worth hearing.
Powerwolf - Viva Vulgata
A lot of Powerwolf songs end up sounding the same. That is both a blessing and a curse, but it means when one can stand out from the pack, it must be special. That would be this song, which stands head-and-shoulders above the rest of the album, due to its immense and irresistible hook. Atilla is joined by the usual choir of voices, and they deliver an energetic sermon to the masses, which might not convert my belief system, but it will keep me in the pews for a little while longer.
Blues Pills - Holding Me Back
There is more connecting genres of music than we sometimes notice, given how narrow our focus can be. The first instant I heard this song, there was one inescapable thought that would not leave my mind. Blues Pills had opened a door to show us what music would be like if Adele was fronting a rock band. Elin's voice has always had nods to Adele, but never before has she sounded quite so similar, and with the intro being played akin to "Rollin In The Deep", the comparison was unavoidable. I have struggled with Blues Pills, because they have never matched the power and fire of their debut, but this song is a showcase of what this version of the band can be. God, I hope they can keep it going.
Myles Kennedy - Miss You When You're Gone
My thing for ballads continues, with my favorite song from Myles' album being this slower number. The ringing chords have a beautiful tension, and Myles' voice is its most emotional. When the chorus hits, there's just enough power to propel the song, and a release that is satisfying in a way that a heavier song struggles to achieve. It's great work from Myles, and one of my favorite performances of his ever.
Cassandra's Crossing - Closer To Heaven
Few of the songs on the album give Cassandra as much room to let her voice shine. The sparse arrangement in the verses lets us hear every nuance of her performance, and the layers in the chorus are pillowy soft and gorgeous. This song is less about immediate gratification, and more about the slow-burn appeal of a voice working its way into your heart.
Cemetery Skyline - The Coldest Heart
Perhaps the most metallic song on this goth album, the heavy groove juxtaposed with the slick melody makes this one stand out from the rest. The dynamics build from the soft verse, to a heavier bridge, to the crushing chorus. It winds up in a glorious sweep of emotional vocals and searing lead guitar. Sadness rarely has made me smile so much.
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