Stones dot the landscape, marks of older times now gone but vaguely recalled or at least felt subconsciously, a connection made through elapsed years. And the annual Track roundup is a bit like that as well – where we gaze back over 12 months and recall the songs that got us excited each month. And with the Daily Track(s), Folk Tracks Roundup, Jingle Bells Fridays and Mincepie Mondays as well as other random track features (remember the Count? He loves to count) there are more than ever to choose from. But as ever we’re going to compare and contrast – my Track of the month and the Readership’s favourite song of the month. And then… drum roll please… the readers’ song of the year! So let’s go back through the hazy curtains of memory to December 2023….what was good then?
December 2023
It is a month dominated by Winterval-themed songs, and with it also being the site’s annual holiday is also a short month, but there were still some fine choices. Such as the melancholic ‘I Was A Gun‘ from The Roseline.
Readers’ Choice: And the readers were in the mood for self-sabotaged and doubt filled love, as on ‘Never Win‘ from S/J.
January 2024
Breaking all the rules by producing a song that mentions the internet that is actually worth listening too, who else but the wonderful Kaia Kater with ‘The Internet‘.
Readers’ Choice: It was the title track from Christian Parker‘s second Byrds covers album ‘Change is Now‘ that people really hit on. Appropriate, somehow, for the start of a new year and one that would certainly see some change come.
February 2024
One of the most exciting bands on the Americana scene is Bonny Light Horseman, and one of their finest songs on the latest album is ‘When I Was Younger‘ . A song that could absorb a day.
Readers’ Choice: Well, if we had it right, then maybe a lot of the readership’s listening was done around the Soul’s Midnight – as ‘Up All Night Blues‘ from Driftwood hit the spot.
March 2024
Aoife O’Donovan – featuring additional vocals from Anaïs Mitchell ‘Over The Finish Line‘ can you actually credit that we were dumb enough to title this one “Democracy or Dictatorships. Hmm… what to do“. Yeah, we’re laughing now.
Readers’ Choice: It was one of the more serious songs that we’ve run this year that chimed most with the readership with Niamh Regan‘s ‘Madonna‘ confronting the violence against women that society tolerates. It must have sparked a folky mood as ‘Folk Tracks Roundup – March 2024‘ was also very popular.
April 2024
Ahead of a new album Julian Taylor shared a song full of self-doubts and regrets ‘Weighing Down‘ , and of overcoming them.
Readers’ Choice: And in April it was a song from Linda Thompson‘s amusingly titled album ‘Proxy Music‘ with Kami Thompson singing ‘Solitary Traveller.‘
May 2024
The return of Rain Parade to recording and touring has been one of the joys of the last year and a bit, and this song from a snuck-out EP was more than appropriately titled: “Surprise, Surprise”
Readers’ Choice: It’s been quite the Paisley Underground revival year this year – and Rain Parade‘s ‘Surprise, Surprise‘ was as equally popular with the readership. We’re cool dudes.
June 2024
It was the scathing assessment of the “benefits” of the gig economy, outrageous rents and low wages from Grievous Angels that chimed this month with ‘Barcelona (I’ll be free)‘ mixing folk with Crazy Horse-isms.
Readers’ Choice: World weariness and touring fatigue as captured on Massy Ferguson‘s ‘So Long Carry On’ caught your ear in June.
July 2024
A month full of great choices (if I do say so myself) but Jordie Lane gave us something a bit different with the imposter syndrome tale ‘Biscuit House.’ Great chorus: ‘You ain’t no gunslinger baby / you’re a hipster eating gravy / Off a biscuit / in a Nashville house.’
Readers’ Choice: And it was touring life – this time viewed with a more positive eye – that attracted you again dear reader, as you revelled in Taylor Hollingswoth‘s ‘Never Can be Lonely‘.
August 2024
Liv Greene‘s haunted fragile love song ‘Katie‘ was a real heartbreaker. Too beautiful? Too painful? Well, yeah, maybe, but love can be beautiful and painful.
Readers’ Choice: strictly speaking the favourite track for the readership was Dylan and The Band from ’74 – but since someone has seen fit to take down the track video we’ll pass on to your second favourite, Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings on ‘Hashtag‘.
September 2024
There certainly was no shortage of great music as the Summer fell behind us, and New Dangerfield offered us, on ‘Put No Walls Around Your Garden‘ , a new spin on ‘old timey’ Stringband music. Awesome.
Readers’ Choice: A rare instrumental choice, showing that dazzling playing can be enough, as you went for Jerry Douglas‘ ‘What Might Have Been.’
October 2024
It was great to get some new music from Laura Zarougian, one of our favourite new finds from last year, and ‘New Used Car’ didn’t disappoint.
Readers’ Choice: Come October, comes a desire for Canadian roots-rock – and The Hearts filled that need with ‘Almost Ready.’ Very nice.
November 2024
It was a powerful performance and an impressive song – Crys Matthews‘ ‘Cancel Culture‘ addresses the things that society could really do with cancelling. Gutsy, determined and unapologetic – simply a great protest song.
Readers’ Choice: Dan Raza asked ‘Wasn’t That Enough For Me‘ – and it was certainly enough for you dear reader.
And that was another year of tracks – so there is only one question left to answer: what was the Readers’ song of the year as featured in the Tracks section, and the answer is ‘What Might Have Been’ the haunting song from Jerry Douglas’ album ‘The Set‘. Yup, it was an instrumental ode to regret, lifted by Aoife O’Donovan’s ethereal wordless vocals, that resonated most. So now we know.
But – hey, if there was a particular song you heard this year in any of the Tracks features, why not let us know? There’s no promise that it’ll shape the future choices – we pick from what we’re offered, and I pick what I like, you know, man.
