The Best Songs of 2017
By Kevin Broughton
Trailer’s
list was okay, but just. It demands a response, so here are the ten best
songs of 2017.
Good talk.
Come for the 1½-minute intro of standup bass, brushes &
organ.
Stay for the good-time rock, sassy-ass blues & rockabilly.
Sure, “White House Road” gets all the hype. For straight-up
poignance, though, give me this as the best cut on the smash debut album Purgatory. Well, this one or “Lady May.”
The opening track on what I voted the No. 1 album of the year.
The richness of this full-grown folk singer’s baritone
speaks for itself and nearly defies substantive description. It simply is. PS, he’s 22 years old. I think we’re
done here.
The best voice in all of country music.
On an album full of gems from some of the best musicians in
Texas, here’s a real treat: an acoustic version of “Superstition,” featuring
virtuoso pianist Daniel Creamer on vocals. It’s sublime.
Two
years ago these guys had our album of the year, and Trailer in his
autocratic grace declared, rightly, “The Bird Hunters” our top song. Which
makes it so shocking he would put “Pay No Rent” (respectfully, maybe the
third-best cut on FTM’s #2 Album of the Year) so high, to the exclusion of the
clearly superior “The House Fire.” A disturbing lapse in judgment at best; one
hopes there’s not a deeper character flaw in play.
“I heard the judge ask the jury, ‘which one’s the one to
go?’ Then I heard them say my name, and why I’ll never know.” A song of guilt,
forgiveness and redemption, from the point of view of the criminal pardoned while
the Savior bought ours.
Carve out some of that kindling. There’s plenty of wood
around.
Pure, country authenticity. It tastes like honey.
“We could steal some Keystone Beer from an A-rab liquor
store.”
Leroy Virgil, you beautiful man, thanks
for the best interview ever. Regards to Rico, and bring on the bird dogs and
mountain lions, pal.
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