31 Songs

31 songs from 2013: perfect day

Posted on December 31, 2013 by stuart

2013 was a pretty normal year. We reviewed around ninety albums, distilling the following 31 list.

What wasn’t normal was the passing of Lou Reed. I was a latecomer to Reed’s brilliance, later learning how deep his influence truly was. Today I wonder what it would have been like to visit Warhol’s Factory and watched the Velvet Underground. Or to have been at the table when Reed, Bowie, and Iggy Pop would hold court. Even a simple coffee with he and wife Laurie Anderson would have been unbelievably amazing. Not that any of that would have happened, and I’m grateful for his music from which I have been given so much.

31 songs from 2012: dirty dozen

Posted on December 31, 2012 by stuart

2012 saw a long contenders list: 104 albums! Musicians across the spectrum seem to be very active, from punk legends PiL to NYC phenomena The Rapture to new wave master Joe Jackson. Picking just 31 from this list was not an easy task.

31 songs from 2011: Kate is back (again)

Posted on December 31, 2011 by stuart

2011 sees the return of classic artists from my youth (Duran Duran, Kate Bush) alongside amazing new artists bursting onto the scene (St. Vincent, Everything Everything).

It’s years like this where music is more important than ever. My father, after a long and happy life, passed in October. He loved music, even if not always the music I loved. He played trumpet and cheered my sister on as she pursued music. Through him I came to appreciate the great vocalists of his time like Dean Martin and Mel Torme, and some new masters like Diana Krull.

More than anything, I’ll remember listening to Radio Bahrain in the 1980s when I was visiting him and my stepmom in Saudi Arabia. They’d take me to a small nearby fishing village and indulge my musical interests, spending many hours waiting for me to finish shopping for bootleg cassettes. My musical horizons grew exponentially, and I think that made him happy. It certainly made a big impact on my wellbeing.

31 songs from 2010: twenty years of fun

Posted on December 31, 2010 by stuart

This year my wife and I celebrate two decades of love, partnership, and music addiction. We’ve shared our tastes, blended as time blurs distinctions, and keep finding exciting new artists to become this year’s favorites. And this year offered many to choose from.

Bryan Ferry (of Roxy Music fame) and Deco are technical newcomers although hardly new to either of us. Both put out awesome albums well before our official list started counting in 2000.

31 songs from 2009: does not fit

Posted on December 31, 2009 by stuart

We couldn’t quite squeeze the list down this year so everyone gets a bonus, 32nd best-of track. Who got the honor? Read on ,…

31 songs from 2008: lucky

Posted on December 31, 2008 by stuart

Travel, elections, recovery: it’s been a complicated and amazing year. There’s a real sizzle in the air and we feel it in this year’s best-of list.

31 songs from 2007: shaken not stirred

Posted on December 31, 2007 by stuart

This year we said goodbye to a dear friend. Peter often joined us for shows at local venues and shared our passion for music. He was a spectacular person who leaves a legacy of kindness and an irrepressible joie de vivre. This year is dedicated to his adventurous spirit.

31 songs from 2006: third times the charm

Posted on December 31, 2006 by stuart

They say repeat something three times it sticks. If that’s true then the 31 list is here to stay. 2006 has lots to offer in terms of music from new finds and old favorites alike.

31 songs from 2005: second helping

Posted on December 31, 2005 by stuart

It’s the second year of 31s and I’m feeling pretty good about it. We reviewed 130 albums to pick the best 31 from 2005 (and a few latecomers from 2004). We deadlocked on one album and bent the rules a bit, adding two songs from Death Cab for Cutie’s album Plans.

31 songs from 2004: it starts here

Posted on December 31, 2004 by stuart

My wife and I listen to a lot of music. A lot. We’re basically professional teenagers, with years of experience going to record stores, watching music videos, talking to friends, and going to concerts. So why not take all that and do our own best-of list?

So here’s our first list: thirty-one tracks, one for each day of any month, culled from the best albums of 2004. Our list has old favorites, absolute beginners, and all points in-between. We’re going to try and make this an annual tradition so let’s see how that goes.