Final post of this week long look back last year’s music always belongs to the best songs I heard over the past year. As with 2014, with a lot of personal matters going on, it seemed like there was less new music rolling around in my mind. But what was in there was stellar, and that’s what you’ll find here in my Top 5 Songs of 2015!
***Honorable Mentions: Hiatus Kaiyote – “Building A Ladder,” Annabel (Lee) –“Suki Desu” (Live Version Recorded Live At KPFK), Ibeyi – “River,” Vieux Fakra Toure & Julia Easterlin – “Masters Of War,” Kamasi Washington – “Henrietta Our Hero,” Kendrick Lamarr – “How Much Does A Dollar Cost?”
5. Dungen – En Gang Om Aret – Allas Sak (Mexican Summer)
Allas Sak is such a good record that I almost think of it as a full document instead of a collection of songs. But from the very first time I heard the record “En Gång Om Året,” stood out. Perhaps more than any other song on this album, the individual pieces of Dungen’s sound come together fully as the song unfolds. But I think it’s Reine Fiske’s soaring guitar that is most responsible for why I love this song more than any of the others on the album and more than most every song I heard in 2015.
4. Oddisee – I Belong To The World – The Good Fight (Mello Music)
Oddisee – I Belong To The World
As I mentioned during the 2015 rundown, while enjoyed this song at earlier parts of the year, it really didn’t become one of my favorites until well into the Fall. I think that some of that might be related to my trip to Cuba and the kind of contemplation that comes from turning 40. The sentiment that is in the song, one of feeling both out of place and feeling that you belong to something much broader than yourself is one that resonates with me, deeply. The more I thought about that feeling in my own life the more I found myself seeing this song as one that might not only be a favorite for the year, but one that might a personal anthem for a long time to come.
3. NxWorries – Suede – Single (Stones Throw)
Few people (except perhaps the artist who is #1 on this list) had a better year than Anderson.Paak, who gained both widespread acclaim for being featured frequently on Dr. Dre’s surprise album Compton and set the indie world on fire with this collaboration with production guru Knxwledge. This song was so good that I pushed aside my usual requirement that a “Top” song is featured on a full-length album during that same year. But “Suede” is such an amazing song, with so many amazing lines and such an amazing sound that I had to include it here. I even quoted one of the lines in a class during a discussion of the many possible uses of the word “Bitch,” which rarely happens with contemporary music. More music from Anderson.Paak should be quickly approaching in 2016 and perhaps even a full-length album from NxWorries, but even if there isn’t, I’ll probably be listening to “Suede” through most of this year too.
2. The Sandwitches – Play It Again Dick – Our Toast (Empty Cellar)
The Sandwitches – Play It Again Dick
It’s a bit of a tragedy that the single best thing the Sandwitches created is on their final recording as a band. Back in June I prophesized that this would be on this list and in the months that have passed, there isn’t a single part of what I said originally about this song that isn’t still true: ““Play It Again Dick” might stand as a signature tune from the group, featuring all the elements that endeared them to all who heard them and listened, slight country feel to Roxanne’s drumming, the twin harmonies where, in this case, Heidi sings in a lower register in between Grace’s lines and those mountains of lovely reverb on those twin guitars. Every time Grace belts out that “Honey aren’t you glad like me,” at the end it sends shivers up and down my spine.”
Even after hearing this song, now for hundreds of times, it still gives me chills during those final lines every single time. I will truly miss this band and the power Grace and Heidi were able to marshal through their voices.
1. Kamasi Washington – Malcolm’s Theme – The Epic (Brainfeeder)
Kamasi Washington – Malcolm’s Theme
With 17 tracks spread out over nearly 3 hours, all of it incredible, you might think it would be hard to chose just one favorite from The Epic. Pretty much from the moment I heard “Malcolm’s Theme” I knew there was no chance any other song was going to be at the top of this list. Malcolm X is a cherished hero, not only for his political beliefs and criticism of the American racial system, but particularly as a model of redemption and an example of possibilities of having a second chance. Kamasi and his band offer a rhythm worthy of the man, as vocalists Patrice Quinn and Dwight Trible sing the eulogy, delivered by Ossie Davis at Brother Malcolm’s funeral, with great spirit. The choice to include Malcolm’s voice, and to use an excerpt where Malcolm discusses his worldview, acting as a counter point to negativity often directed towards him and particular these days to Muslims more generally, is part of what gives the song a timeless quality. 50 years from now, it’s likely people will still turn to this song as a tribute to Malcolm. Truly a remarkable achievement…