All Things BMer

Here's my playlist of favorite songs from 2024. I put the aggressive stuff (rap, punk...) at the end, otherwise, this playlist is designed to be played in order.

1. Hailey Whitters - Raised

country

I have been listening to Hailey Whitters for awhile now and was very excited to listen to Raised. Over the year, these songs ended up on all of my playlists, there were just too many to pick from, I liked them all. Hailey’s sound reminds me of early Kacey Musgraves and Miranda Lambert. The songs on Raised paint a clear picture of life growing up in a small town, and Hailey as the girl-next-door that everyone would have loved to hang out with. Hailey is a songwriter that has worked with many artists and has a writing credit on all but one song on Raised.  The track “The Neon” was co-written by another favorite of mine, Lori McKenna. 

Favorite Tracks: “Everybody Oughta” “Big Family” “The Neon”

“I can't help that I'm this way My heart goes wild and that won't change If I take this love right to my grave It's because I fault how I was raised“ -Raised

My Favorite Songs of 2022

2. The Interrupters - In The Wild

3. Zach Bryan - American Heartbreak

4. Florence + the Machine - Dance Fever

5. Charley Crockett - Man from Waco

6. Whiskey Myers - Tornillo

7. Sigrid - How To Let Go

8. Randall King - Shot Glass

9. Kaitlin Butts - What Else Can She Do

2. The Interrupters - In The Wild

ska punk

almost 15+ years ago I stopped listening to ska. After the 90′s, in my opinion, there weren’t ska bands worth listening to. That is, until The Interrupters came along! Perhaps it is because they don’t have horns, or they don’t write dumb songs, or because Aimee’s voice is perfect. Ska Punk or Street Punk, backed by Hellcat Records and Epitaph Records, with guest vocals from Tim Armstrong. Come on, what is better than this?

Favorite Tracks: “Raised By Wolves” “In The Mirror” “Let ‘em Go”

“Love is an action, start with yourself” -As We Live

My Favorite Songs of 2022

3. Zach Bryan - American Heartbreak

4. Florence + the Machine - Dance Fever

5. Charley Crockett - Man From Waco

6. Whiskey Myers - Tornillo

7. Sigrid - How To Let Go

8. Randall King - Shot Glass

9. Kaitlin Butts - What Else Can She Do

3. Zach Bryan - American Heartbreak

country

Zach Bryan is leading a wave of traditional, legit country music back to airwaves. American Heartbreak gets better and better every time I listen to it. Bryan also released a Live at Red Rocks album this past Fall that is fantastic as well.

Favorite Tracks” “Open the Gates” “Happy Instead” “Sun to Me”

“And I remember being younger and my mother told me true Find someone who grows flowers in the darkest parts of you Take heed when things get hard and don't you ever turn around 'Cause you’ll find someone, someday, somewhere That grows you to the clouds“ -Sun To Me

My Favorite Songs of 2022

4. Florence + the Machine - Dance Fever

5. Charley Crockett - Man From Waco

6. Whiskey Myers - Tornillo

7. Sigrid - Bad Life

8. Randall King - Shot Glass

9. Kailin Butts - What Else Can She Do

4. Florence + the Machine - Dance Fever

pop rock

There are very few, if any, artists writing on the level of Florence + The Machine. Lyrically they are just amazing. Musically they bring emotion and power to each song, and I love it. 

Favorite Tracks: “Daffodil” “Dream Girl Evil” “King”

“You said that rock and roll is dead But is that just because it has not been Resurrected in your image? Like if Jesus came back But in a beautiful dress And all the evangelicals were like "Oh, yes" -Choreomania

My Favorite Songs of 2022

5. Charley Crockett - Man From Waco

6. Whiskey Myers - Tornillo

7. Sigrid - How To Let Go

8. Randall King - Shot Glass

9. Kailtin Butts - What Else Can She Do

5. Charley Crockett - Man From Waco

country

Charley Crockett is an acquired sound, one that I did not really like at first. However, Charley puts out a ton of music and I’ve been hooked on everything he’s put out in the last few years, with Man From Waco being my favorite. 

Favorite Tracks: “Name On A Billboard” “I’m Just A Clown” “Odessa”

“Take a look at me, I'm just a clown And on my face I wear a frown I've paid the cost to hang around So take a look at me, I'm just a clown“ -Im Just A Clown

My Favorite Songs of 2022

6. Whiskey Myers - Tornillo

7. Sigrid - How To Let Go

8. Randall King - Shot Glass

9. Kaitlin Butts - What Else Can She Do

6. Whiskey Myers - Tornillo

country rock

Tornillo is full of songs that you know your friends have never heard, but you wish that they did. As soon as I heard “Antioch” I was hooked, Whiskey Myers bring an unforgettable brand of Southern-style country rock that is just great. 

Favorite Tracks: “The Wolf” “Antioch” “For The Kids”

“You're playing for fun, I'm playing to eat.” -The Wolf

My Favorite Songs of 2022

7. Sigrid - How To Let Go

8. Randall King - Shot Glass

9. Kaitlin Butts - What Else Can She Do

7. Sigrid - How To Let Go

pop

Sigrid presents the kind of dancy pop music that i really enjoy listening to. How To Let Go is a solid follow-up to her debut, Sucker Punch (which i really liked!), but this time around the songs have a more generic feel. They’re fun, they’re not challenging. 

Favorite Tracks: “It Gets Dark” “Bad Life” “Mirror”

“I keep changing my direction And every thought becomes a question“ -Everybody Says They’re Fine

My Favorite Songs of 2022

8. Randall King - Shot Glass

8. Randall King - Shot Glass

country

If you grew up with country in the 90′s you will appreciate Randall King. I love just about everything he puts out, gives me a real Alan Jackson vibe. Shot Glass is full of high quality, traditional sounding country tunes.

Favorite Tracks: “You In A Honky Tonk” “Around Forever” “Record High”

“Life spins like a Haggard record It goes from good to bad to better Nah, you can't get back the sand in your glass Got 'em living like it's now or never“ -Around Forever

My Favorite Songs of 2022

9. Kaitlin Butts - What Else Can She Do

9. Kaitlin Butts - What Else Can She Do

country

It’s been awhile since we got new music from Kaitlin Butts and we didn’t get much, there’s only seven tracks on What Else Can She Do but dang, they’re great. If you add the late 2022 ep Sad Yeehaw Sessions you’ve got yourself a good collection, plus you get a cover of Nirvana’s “In The Pines”, “Whiskey Lullaby” by Brad Paisley & Carrie Underwood,  and the Wreckers “One More Girl” to top it all off. 

Favorite Tracks: “Angels Like You” “It Won’t Always Be This Way” “Blood”

“'Cause they say that misery loves company It's not your fault I ruin everything And it's not your fault I can't be what you need Baby, angels like you can't fly down here with me” -Angels Like You

My favorite songs of 2022

10. Miranda Lambert - Palomino

country

While not my favorite Miranda Lambert album, Palomino does present an entire album of great little songs. In my opinion, Lambert is always better when she tones it down and tells stories, there are plenty of those moments on Palomino.

Favorite Tracks: “Pursuit of Happiness” “Waxahachie” “What Makes the Jukebox Play”

“Every show must end Every circus leaves town You don't know the magic's gone Until the lights go down” -Carousel

Well, here they are. I tried not to overthink this list this year, I built the list to be listened to in order but go ahead and shuffle it up if you like. Let me know if you find something you like!

1. The Weeknd - After Hours

pop

I love just about every thing on After Hours. Radio is going to play these songs to death which is really unfortunate because we are all getting sick of them already, but they are the best songs of the year. I jam tracks from this album every day.

Favorite Tracks: “Heartless” “Blinding Lights” “Hardest to Love” “Scared to Live”

“ ...don't be scared to live again” -Scared To Live Again

MY FAVORITE SONGS OF 2020

2. John Anderson - Years

country

The first time i listened to Years back in early 2020 I said immediately that it was my album of the year. I have so many thoughts on John Anderson and this album, I was not much of a fan of his somewhat corny country sound through the years. Once I heard that he was working with Dan Auerbach (Black Keys) I knew it would be so good. Auerbach is a genius and after last year’s Yola record, everyone is paying attention. Years feels like Anderson’s last album, it is retrospective, it’s grateful and honest, and considering Anderson lost his hearing during recording, the sound is just beautiful.

Favorite Songs: “Years” “Hanging On” “Tuesday I’ll Be Gone” “Slow Down”

“Bein' alone, nobody's home They can't see my crying eyes All by myself, nobody else And now I realize” -Nearly Nothing

MY FAVORITE SONGS OF 2020

3. Run The Jewels - RTJ4

rap

If today’s mumble-rap bores you, if you are tired of song after song with the same tired lyrics about drugs and sex then you need to get into Run The Jewels. Smart, thoughtful, provoking and dang, the beats are just fire.

Favorite Tracks: “Walking in the Snow” “JU$T” “The Ground Below”

“All of us serve the same masters, all of us nothin' but slaves Never forget in the story of Jesus, the hero was killed by the state“ -Walking In The Snow

MY FAVORITE SONGS OF 2020

4. Lori McKenna - The Balladeer

country / americana

This album blew me away. The songwriting is incredible, so much depth. There’s a good chance you don’t recognize McKenna but she’s part of the powerhouse songwriter trio Love Junkies. She wrote my favorite song on Nightfall by Little Big Town as well as my favorite song off The Highwomen, “Crowded Table”. Balladeer is just so good. 

Favorite Songs: “When You’re My Age” “Balladeer” “This Town is a Woman”

"When lonesome doesn't quite define how so alone you feel I'll walk with you, even if it's uphill." -Uphill

MY FAVORITE SONGS OF 2O2O