Sean’s Favorite Songs of 2007

Before we get too far into 2008, I want to clear up my last piece of unfinished 2007 business. The last item related to this site, anyway; I’ve still got a pretty hefty clean-up job waiting in my basement, and the truck could use a new set of tires. I’ll get to those tasks in good time, people. All in good time. For now, though, here are some of the songs I found myself enjoying in the past year, in no particular order:

“Savannah,” King Wilkie – With the release of “Low Country Suite,” King Wilkie reclaimed its musical identity from those who would appoint them the saviors of traditional bluegrass. This lush ballad shows that they’ve got a bright future in more than one style of music.

“Gunslinger,” John Fogerty – Fogerty created a lot of buzz last year with “Revival,” his return to Fantasy Records and the Creedence Clearwater Revival sound. He captures that vibe perfectly on “Gunslinger,” which is a cut way above his Bush-bashing screeds on “Revival.”

“I Wish I Had That Mandolin,” Kieran Kane, Kevin Welch & Fats Kaplin – This talented trio’s ’07 release, “Kane Welch Kaplin,” wasn’t as completely outstanding as 2006’s “Lost John Dean,” but it was still pretty darn good. The high point for me was “I Wish I Had That Mandolin,” a story-song that perfectly captures the band’s back-porch vibe.

“Phantom Limb,” The Shins – Another burst of bittersweet pop from the folks who brought you “New Slang.” It might not change your life, but it’s likely to make you hum along. The rest of “Wincing the Night Away” is pretty catchy, too.

“Listening to Levon,” Marc Cohn – Cohn, who in 2007 released his first album since 1998, is best known for his 1991 Elvis-inspired megahit, “Walking in Memphis.” This track, the opener of his latest disc, “Join the Parade,” pays tribute to the influence of another Southern icon – The Band’s Levon Helm.

“Die Die Die,” The Avett Brothers – The Avetts just keep getting better, and this track reveals an evolving mastery of melody that’s pretty much irresistible. One of the strongest opening tracks of any new disc I heard in 2007.

“I Still Want To Be Your Baby (Take Me Like I Am),” Bettye LaVette – If the Avett Brothers’ opener wasn’t the strongest first track I heard in ’07, then this cut was. As I mentioned in my Top 10 Albums post last week, this song pairs LaVette with the Drive-By Truckers, who sound a whole lot like the early ’70s Rolling Stones. That is a good thing indeed.

“Ordinary People,” Neil Young – From “Chrome Dreams II,” though this 18-minute powerhouse apparently was considered for inclusion on several albums over the years. I read in a recent Uncut magazine interview that he wanted to put it on 1989’s “Freedom” but changed his mind because he thought it would overpower the other songs. I hate to disagree with Neil, but I think this track would have made an excellent compliment to “Rockin’ In The Free World.”

“In a Razor Town,” Jason Isbell – The ex-Drive-By Truckers guitarist/singer turns in a beautiful country ballad on his solo debut, “Sirens of the Ditch,” and it’s got the dobro to prove it. DBT will be fine without him, but pretty songs like this one will show them over and over what they’re missing.

“South Texas Girl,” Lyle Lovett – Lovett shows just how much he learned from the Texas songwriting masters, and then invites one of them – Guy Clark – to make opening and closing cameos.

“Radio Nowhere,” Bruce Springsteen – From the first time I heard this as a free track on iTunes I could think only one thing: The Boss is back. I was completely OK with the singer-songwriter records and the folk excursions, but it’s good to hear Springsteen backed by electric guitars again. I probably listened to this more than any other song in the past year.

“Paradise Lost,” Storyhill – For years, John Gorka’s “Houses in the Fields” has been the standard by which I judge songs about overdevelopment. Storyhill has given Gorka some company, though, with this song about childhood memories that have been razed in the name of suburban sprawl: “When we were young we used to walk in those fields / And run forever, in the backyard woods / Now the old trails disappear in neighborhoods / And streets named after what’s gone for good.” I couldn’t get enough of Storyhill’s harmonies, and I played this song over and over in 2007.

“The Temptation of Adam,” Josh Ritter – One of my favorite songs of ’07, and my favorite song ever about falling in love in a missile silo. The sound got me first; it’s so achingly beautiful that it takes a few listens to pick up on the story.

“Tennessee Blues,” Steve Earle – The opener from “Washington Square Serenade” nicely ties together Earle’s past and his present, bidding good-bye to Nashville and sending a sweet love letter to New York City. Yes, Earle uses beats, but they only add to the song. Take them away, and you still have the same finger-picking he learned from Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark.

“Southside of Heaven,” Ryan Bingham – Bingham has got a lot of potential, and I look forward to hearing more from him soon. Right now, it’s about the voice for me. He’s in his mid-20s but sounds like he’s twice that age. Judging by the lyrics, he’s done a bit more than 20-something years of living ... hard living.

“Getting Ready,” Patty Griffin – On which the sweet-voiced Patty Griffin tells her low-down man she’s about to make a change. When this chugging rocker really gets going, you know she means business.

“Juarez,” Sam Baker – I knew nothing about Baker before reading a one-page feature in No Depression. I wish I had found out sooner, but I’m glad I know now. He’s got kind of a half sung, half spoken delivery like John Prine or maybe Townes Van Zandt. He certainly captures much of what was great about Van Zandt, and not just because he mention’s “Waiting Around To Die” in “Juarez,” the opening track from “Pretty World.”

“Can’t Find the Way,” Mary Gauthier – Another songwriter who sometimes is compared to Van Zandt, I think more for her plainspoken style than anything else. Her storytelling isn’t too shabby, either. Compiling a list of the best Hurricane Katrina-related songs wouldn’t be a joyous task, but such a list would have to include this track. Gauthier really captures the human element of those displaced by the mighty storm, an aspect of the disaster that sometimes gets lost when you’re watching New Orleans flood footage on TV.

“The Picture,” Son Volt – I’ve been going through a real horn phase lately, but I think even if I wasn’t I’d have to include this track from “The Search.” After the opening dirge “Slow Hearse,” the ’70s-AM horns of “The Picture” come blaring through the speakers and bring with them a shot of sunshine from the notoriously dour Jay Farrar. Of course, he keeps his reputation intact with the lyrics of “The Picture”: “Hurricanes in December / Earthquakes in the heartland / Bad air index on a flashing sign,” etc. You know the drill.

“Hate It Here,” Wilco – Farrar’s former bandmate in Uncle Tupelo, Jeff Tweedy, stands a chance of making it onto my best-songs list every time Wilco issues a new release. That’s because no matter how much guitar shredding or ambient noise the band lays over the top of them, Tweedy’s songs are finely crafted and could stand on their own. They play it pretty straight here, which is how I like Wilco best.