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Part ten of ten!

91. Caramel || Suzanne Vega: the timing and tone of this one make it really interesting. Also, it's Suzanne Vega, so it's close to flawless.
92. The Sentinel || John Gorka: choosing just one John Gorka song was painful, you guys. This one just tells a good story, and I love the way his voice sounds here. (The song starts around 2: ( Read more... )

Part nine.

81. Let Your Troubles Roll By || Carbon Leaf: if there were a way for a song to embody the feeling of floating down a lazy river, relaxed and just enjoying the lazy feel of it all... it would sound like this.
82. Rhythm of Love/Can’t Help Falling in Love || Straight No Chaser: this is the group behind the hilarious a capella "Twelve ( Read more... )

Part eight.

71. Ireland || Garth Brooks: this is more of a folk song than a country song, but it's one of my favorites by Garth Brooks, who is one of my favorite artists. It goes beyond just reciting a story - it really sets you there with tone and mood and pace. It's close to perfect.
72. All The Gold In California || The Gatlin Brothers: I ( Read more... )

Part seven.

61. Poison and Wine || The Civil Wars: this is a song that I can listen to on repeat for days, and it will still choke me up. It's the growing-apart song, and it's so honest it hurts.
62. The Maid on the Shore || Stan Rogers: one of the best story-songs I've ever heard. Girl power sung by Stan Rogers? Oh, yes.
63. Come Back Over || ( Read more... )

Part six!

51. Little Wonders || Rob Thomas: this is the best song for a bad day. Not only does it make me happier all on its own, it also reminds me of Meet the Robinsons, a movie that also always cheers me up.
52. I’m Going To Stop Pretending That I Didn’t Break Your Heart || Eels: because sometimes you need an apology, even if it's late in coming.
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Part five.

41. Paradise || Bruce Springsteen: I'm from that area of New Jersey that holds Springsteen up as a minor god. I trick-or-treated at his house when I was a kid; I've been to the Stone Pony; I grew up not twenty minutes from Asbury Park. That said, I'm... okay, I like him, but I don't love him, with the exception of certain songs. This is ( Read more... )

Part four.

31. The Parting Glass || The Wailin' Jennys: this is, to some extent, the Irish funeral song. There are many, many lovely versions of this - but this is the one I'm most familiar with, the arrangement that I learned, and the one I'd like played at my own funeral. (Somewhat morbid, but there you have it.)
32. Creep || Scala: there's ( Read more... )

Part three.

21. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel || Casting Crowns: okay, yes, this is a Christmas song. But! This version - even if you don't like Christmas music at all, you should listen to this. it's entirely instrumental, featuring a very, very talented violinist. It's absolutely stunning, and one of those Christmas songs I listen to year-round, ( Read more... )

Installment 2!

11. Hurt || Johnny Cash: I have a deep, sincere love for Johnny Cash's voice, and the way he delivers this song will stick with you. There's a story about how Cash presented this song to his loved ones - apparently someone said "John, it sounds like you're saying goodbye," and his reply was something like "I am." It's... not hard ( Read more... )