1. Caballo Viejo--Ry Cooder. Cooder playing Cuban style not on the guitar but the organ, and concocts an all-time great pop workout. (2003)
2. Best Kept Secret--Jerry Douglas Band. Top 2 are both instrumentals, but it 's not that much of a trend. From the greatest Jerry Douglas record ever (of the same name, Best Kept Secret) and the best Douglas band. I mean, he's got Derek Trucks and Bill Frisell as guests and the best guitar solo on the record is by band member Keith Sewell on this song. And Gabe Witcher's violin is positively otherworldly, gorgeous. And Jeff Coffin contributes perhaps his best sax solo ever. Incredible. (2005)
3. No Man's Land--Sufjan Stevens. Best of the best: Best song (by a narrow margin over a bunch of contenders) by the best artist of the 21C so far. Who else could construct such a dynamic song with a 1-note bass part? (2006)
3. No Man's Land--Sufjan Stevens. Best of the best: Best song (by a narrow margin over a bunch of contenders) by the best artist of the 21C so far. Who else could construct such a dynamic song with a 1-note bass part? (2006)
4. Another Travelin' Song--Bright Eyes. Not sure how Conor Oberst did this (record). He has never come close on any other record. But this particular tune is a brilliant throwback to the height of folk-rock and Dylan from the mid-1960s. (2005)
5. Waiting for the Federals--Aly Bain. Rollicking fiddle tune by the Scottish master. Another instrumental but, no, it's not a trend. (2000)
6. Tear Stained Eye--Kasey Chambers. Unlikely choice to cover the Jay Farrar tune, but boy does it work. (2002)
7. Conversation 16--The National. A totally quirky band, this time because of the unusual baritone vocal stylings of Matt Berninger, but it really really works. (2010)
7. Australia--The Shins. OK, the Shins are not gonna change your life, but this is James Mercer's cleverest work including a perfect and totally engaging little guitar solo. (2007)
8. Modern Man--Arcade Fire. I have no idea if this is their best tune, but it did find its way to the top of the list today. Ask me tomorrow and there's another half dozen fabulous songs to pick from. This one is from the restrained one-third of their output, as distinguished from the other two-thirds that are totally over the top in terms of energy and that wall of sound and Win Butler's incredible little sneer. But, see, they can do it either way. (2010)
6. Tear Stained Eye--Kasey Chambers. Unlikely choice to cover the Jay Farrar tune, but boy does it work. (2002)
7. Conversation 16--The National. A totally quirky band, this time because of the unusual baritone vocal stylings of Matt Berninger, but it really really works. (2010)
7. Australia--The Shins. OK, the Shins are not gonna change your life, but this is James Mercer's cleverest work including a perfect and totally engaging little guitar solo. (2007)
8. Modern Man--Arcade Fire. I have no idea if this is their best tune, but it did find its way to the top of the list today. Ask me tomorrow and there's another half dozen fabulous songs to pick from. This one is from the restrained one-third of their output, as distinguished from the other two-thirds that are totally over the top in terms of energy and that wall of sound and Win Butler's incredible little sneer. But, see, they can do it either way. (2010)
9. The Art Teacher--Rufus Wainwright. A powerful performance of a terribly clever tune in which the gay artists sings of his love for a male teacher in the persona of young girl. (2004)
10. I Can't Keep You in Love with Me--Vince Gill & Terri Clark. From a Louvin Brothers tribute record with a perfect western swing accompaniment that really really swings. (2003)
10. I Can't Keep You in Love with Me--Vince Gill & Terri Clark. From a Louvin Brothers tribute record with a perfect western swing accompaniment that really really swings. (2003)
11. Trouble on Alum--Jerry Douglas. Beautiful in the most understated way. (2008)
12. You Do--Aimee Mann. The guy rarely gets the girl in Mann's world and this is no exception. (2000)
13. When I Cross Over--Tift Merritt. Wonderfulness in a gospel/spiritual form with a terrific guitar line by T-Bone Burnett. (2003)
12. You Do--Aimee Mann. The guy rarely gets the girl in Mann's world and this is no exception. (2000)
13. When I Cross Over--Tift Merritt. Wonderfulness in a gospel/spiritual form with a terrific guitar line by T-Bone Burnett. (2003)
13. Antichrist Television Blues (2007)
14. Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)--Arcade Fire. (2004) Win Butler's gotta be one bad-ass dude to so perfectly capture the persona of the slimy hypocrite of a TV preacher. And he's also stuck in adolescence with all his songs about growing up in Houston including not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 versions of Neighborhood on their 1st record.
15. Towers--Bon Iver. Best of Justin Vernon in his quirky, atmospheric, falsetto style. (2011)
16. A Remark You Made--Jerry Douglas. A slow blues from the wonderful Best Kept Secret record. Once again Gabe Witcher's violin is just incredibly eloquent. (2005)
18. Shelter--Ray Lamontagne. Hard to pick between Shelter and Trouble. Ray's voice sounds more like Trouble mostly, but I'll go with the slightly more uplifting tune. (2004)
14. Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)--Arcade Fire. (2004) Win Butler's gotta be one bad-ass dude to so perfectly capture the persona of the slimy hypocrite of a TV preacher. And he's also stuck in adolescence with all his songs about growing up in Houston including not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 versions of Neighborhood on their 1st record.
15. Towers--Bon Iver. Best of Justin Vernon in his quirky, atmospheric, falsetto style. (2011)
16. A Remark You Made--Jerry Douglas. A slow blues from the wonderful Best Kept Secret record. Once again Gabe Witcher's violin is just incredibly eloquent. (2005)
17. Pilgrim--Steve Earle. With the Del McCoury Band, best setting for Earle's tunes ever. (2000)
18. Shelter--Ray Lamontagne. Hard to pick between Shelter and Trouble. Ray's voice sounds more like Trouble mostly, but I'll go with the slightly more uplifting tune. (2004)
19. Good Dog, Happy Man--Bill Frisell. From the record of the same name, Frisell's best work to date. (2000)
20. We Are Alive--Bruce Springsteen. Bruce in his best Woody Guthrie mode. Grammies really booted this one, nominating We Take Care of Our Own instead of this vastly more eloquent tribute to the downtrodden. (2012)
21. Again--Bill Frisell. The jazzy Frisell at his quirky best with Dave Holland and Elvin Jones. (2001)
22. Bloodbuzz Ohio--The National. Another quirky little effort. (2010)
22. Bloodbuzz Ohio--The National. Another quirky little effort. (2010)
23. Alexandra Leaving--Leonard Cohen. Say what? Inscrutable. But entertaining. (2001)
24. Lucky--Hem. The greatest band you've never heard in a folky-poppy sort of way. Their songs seem to come from a bygone day. (2004)
25. Sir Aly B--Jerry Douglas. Yet another gorgeous excursion from Best Kept Secret. (2005)
25. Sir Aly B--Jerry Douglas. Yet another gorgeous excursion from Best Kept Secret. (2005)
26. It's Not--Aimee Mann. Gotta love "Kiss me baby like a drug, like a respirator." (2002)
27. Hopes Too High--Tift Merritt. (2008)
28. Sequestered in Memphis--Hold Steady. (2009)
29. Trouble--Ray Lamontagne. (2004)
30. Inca Roads--Zappa Plays Zappa. Dweezil reinvents one of Frank's greatest and makes it Dweezil's greatest. (2008)
31. Home--Zero7. Haunting guest vocal by Tina Dico. Look up the version on Jimmy Kimmel on YouTube. Wow. (2004)
32. In the Morning of the Magicians--the Flaming Lips. (2003)
33. We're All in the Dance--Feist. From the Paris Je'Teme soundtrack. (2007)
34. Pious Proud--Sarah Borges. Mainly Sarah Borges kicks ass. But her single best tune is this slow lament. (2005)
35. A Soft Place to Land--Kathleen Edwards. (2012)
36. Line--Fantastic Merlins. Sax and cello jazz. Bee-you-tee-ful! (2007)
37. Rebellion (Lies)--Arcade Fire. More of what they do best. Sneer at the adult world. (2004)
38. Before the Colors Fade--Iris Dement. Welcome back, Iris, from a 15-year case or writer's block! (2012)
39. Reckoner--Radiohead. (2008)
40. Gravity--John Mayer. Specifically the version from the 2006 Crossroads Guitar Festival. (2006)
41. Billy Paul--Vince Gill. Crazy. Jaunty little melody about a guy who kills his girlfriend and then himself. (2011)
42. Part II--Keith Jarrett. Another of his wonderful piano excursions, in this case from The Carnegie Hall Concert. (2008)
43. Devil's in the Jukebox--Ray Lamontagne. (2010)
44. Give Peace a Chance--Bill Frisell. (2011)
45. I Ain't Found Nobody Yet--Caitlin Cary. From the very best recording ever made by a former member of Whiskeytown. (2002)
46. The Simple Life--Ricky Skaggs. The version from Transatlantic Sessions with the Irish breakdown at the end. (2000)
34. Pious Proud--Sarah Borges. Mainly Sarah Borges kicks ass. But her single best tune is this slow lament. (2005)
35. A Soft Place to Land--Kathleen Edwards. (2012)
36. Line--Fantastic Merlins. Sax and cello jazz. Bee-you-tee-ful! (2007)
37. Rebellion (Lies)--Arcade Fire. More of what they do best. Sneer at the adult world. (2004)
38. Before the Colors Fade--Iris Dement. Welcome back, Iris, from a 15-year case or writer's block! (2012)
39. Reckoner--Radiohead. (2008)
40. Gravity--John Mayer. Specifically the version from the 2006 Crossroads Guitar Festival. (2006)
41. Billy Paul--Vince Gill. Crazy. Jaunty little melody about a guy who kills his girlfriend and then himself. (2011)
42. Part II--Keith Jarrett. Another of his wonderful piano excursions, in this case from The Carnegie Hall Concert. (2008)
43. Devil's in the Jukebox--Ray Lamontagne. (2010)
44. Give Peace a Chance--Bill Frisell. (2011)
45. I Ain't Found Nobody Yet--Caitlin Cary. From the very best recording ever made by a former member of Whiskeytown. (2002)
46. The Simple Life--Ricky Skaggs. The version from Transatlantic Sessions with the Irish breakdown at the end. (2000)
47. Blind Love--Sarah Borges. Another slow blues from a master of kick-ass rock. (2007)
48. Freeway View--James McMurtry. (2008)
49. Crush in the Ghetto--Jolie Holland. From another wonderful album you've never heard. (2006)
50. We Used to Wait--Arcade Fire. (2010)
Artists with more than 1 song on the list
Arcade Fire #8 13 14 37 50
Sarah Borges #34 47
Jerry Douglas #2 11 16 25
Bill Frisell #19 21 44
Ray Lamontagne #18 29 43
Aimee Mann #12 26
Tift Merritt #13 27
The National #7 22
48. Freeway View--James McMurtry. (2008)
49. Crush in the Ghetto--Jolie Holland. From another wonderful album you've never heard. (2006)
50. We Used to Wait--Arcade Fire. (2010)
Artists with more than 1 song on the list
Arcade Fire #8 13 14 37 50
Sarah Borges #34 47
Jerry Douglas #2 11 16 25
Bill Frisell #19 21 44
Ray Lamontagne #18 29 43
Aimee Mann #12 26
Tift Merritt #13 27
The National #7 22
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