Life is complicated and busy. Did you notice? Keeping up with the music, movies and books that fed your youthful imagination and conversations is harder than ever, but even more important. Here's the good news: there's never been more great new stuff. The challenge is to find it.

So here are my highly opinionated views on sounds, sights and words that will help you keep it fresh and real, and links to the veins where the richest motherlodes can be found.

Feed your head.
- JumpingFlashJack

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Best Singles of 2013

There was great new music coming out of everywhere this year, but vintage rock and soul are like a dog whistle to me.  I hear it and I come running.  Turn it up.


10.  "Adorn," Miguel - A late 2012 release that lit up my near year.  Robin Thicke wasn't the only guy stealing moves from Marvin.  Man cast a long shadow.


9. "Peach Blossom," the Eels -  A workout song that makes you you feel faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive.


8. "Down Down the Deep River,"  Okkerville River - "But it's not alright, it's not even close to alright."



7. "Reflector," Arcade Fire - Arcade Fire burning bright for over 7 minutes.  Light my fire.



6. "When a Fire Starts to Burn," Disclosure -  Uh, oh.  Dancing in the kitchen again to the sound of EDM.


5. "Simple Twist of Fate," Sarah Jarosz - The cover of the year.  Breathtaking.



4. "King and Cross," Asgeir - Icelandic guy singing English phonetically perhaps?  Hey, it worked for ABBA.



3. "Get Lucky," Daft Punk - I've heard it about three million times and I'm still not done with the Nile Rogers rhythm guitar line.  Le Freak, c'est chic.




2.  "Blurred Lines,"  Robin Thicke - Trashy, trashy, trashy.  "Everybody get up," starts Pharrell.  And did we ever.



1.  "Her Favorite Song," Mayer Hawthorne -  Mayer doing his very convincing blue-eyed soul thing, with the best hook of the year.  Extra points for the basset at the turntable.  (R.I.P. Woodrow)




Honorable Mentions:

"The It Switch," Johnny Marr
"Hold On, We're Going Home," Drake
"Agape," Bears Den
"Falling (Psychemagik Remix)," HAIM


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