Each year since 2017, I’ve kept a running playlist of new (to me) songs on Spotify. I’m picky with the Liked Songs feature – at the end of every year, I empty the collection into a playlist and start fresh. Five full months into 2021, I’ve saved 120 songs. Some are by artists I’ve loved for years, some are by artists who are new to me, others are classics that have somehow evaded my ears until now.
Enough ado. Let’s get to the list. Here are my favorite songs for each letter of the alphabet as of June 1:
A: “Anniversary” by Novo Amor – This artist was billed to me by a friend as [Ben Howard + Bon Iver]. It’s an equation that’s pleasing to the ears.
B: “Blame Game” by Beach Bunny – Far too many great songs to choose from for this letter, but I couldn’t pass up the tantalizing alliteration. Honeymoon was one of my favorite albums of 2020 and this EP is tiding me over as I wait for another.
C: “Confirmation (SSBD)” by Westerman – Melancholic with a sweetly bright sound, this one wouldn’t be out of place at a Cool Bar or an 80s school dance.
D: “Dionne (feat. Justin Vernon)” by The Japanese House – With sincere apologies to Great Grandpa’s “Digger,” I have to go with this track that is constantly playing, both through my speakers and in my head.
E: “Everything I Had” by Sun June – Laura Colwell’s voice soars above a groove that only gets more infectious as you listen. Also, I’m a sucker for piano fills.
F: “Friends” by Band of Skulls – When your wife is a Twihard, the soundtracks are inescapable. Has there ever been a greater disparity between quality of film and quality of accompanying music? Seriously, how are these soundtrack albums so unbelievably good?
G: “Good Day” by Twenty One Pilots – At this point, my friends and family members are questioning the true authorship of this post. Me? Liking a song by this band? It’s true what they say: anything can happen.
H: “Hope” / “Hurt” by Arlo Parks – Both great tracks off of one of my favorite albums of the year thus far.
I: “Interstellar Love (feat. Leon Bridges)” by The Avalanches – I’ll admit I don’t “get” The Avalanches the way music-savvy people seem to, but there’s nothing not to like about this one. Anything Leon Bridges touches is bound to be good.
K: “Kilby Girl” by The Backseat Lovers – I discovered this song on the Alt-18 countdown, something I don’t think I’ve done since high school. This is probably a song I would’ve loved then, and I like it now just the same.
L: “Looks Just Like the Sun” by Broken Social Scene – While this song is worth listening to for its musical qualities alone, it’s the attached memory that does it for me. It played through a friend’s car stereo as we drove through New Mexico on a blissfully peaceful day.
M: “Mono no Aware” by Great Grandpa – The central question of the song is one I’m constantly asking myself; indeed, most humans probably do. Do you feel the same thing that I do? Can you? And how would we know if we did?
N: “Northern Lights” by Death Cab for Cutie – While it seems DCFC’s best albums are behind them, I’m thankful that each new release has a few gems.
O: “Overnight” by Claud – Another good song with a better memory: a chilly solo walk through downtown Flagstaff with the promise of a piping-hot breakfast burrito at the end.
P: “Parking Lot” by The Weather Station – When this song started I thought I’d accidentally switched over to a War on Drugs album. I wouldn’t have known if not for the obviously different (and gorgeous) vocals, and the fact that this song isn’t a million years long.
Q: Nothing yet – need recommendations!
R: “Riotriot” by Tune-Yards – I’m ten years late to this album. Better late than never. It’s weird and wonderful.
S: “Something About Us” by Daft Punk – I’m twenty(!!) years late to this album. Ditto. I originally heard the Saint Motel cover, which is also great.
T: “Time (You and I)” by Khruangbin – I don’t have enough purely instrumental contemporary music in my life.
U: “Used to Be Lonely” by Whitney – I guess I was bound to like a band that shares a name with my wife. I was constantly surprised in delightful ways by the interplay of instruments on this album.
V: “Valleys (My Love)” by Whitney – I’ve tried to avoid repeat artists on the list, but this album was too good to be denied.
W: “When You Go Away” by The Weepies – I listen to this album every year, and every year a new song seems to stand out to me. This year, it’s this one.
X: Nothing yet – need recommendations!
Y: “You Know You Like It” by DJ Snake – Certainly a guilty pleasure, but you can get away with those when they’re part of your workout program. Thanks, Peloton!
Z: Nothing yet – need recommendations!
#: “1 x 1 (feat. Wesley Schultz) – My inner high school kid is crying tears of joy because of this collaboration. All that’s missing is Britt Daniel on guest vocals.
That’s the list so far. You can listen to the complete yearly playlist here.
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