Artist: Father John Misty
Album: I Love You, Honeybear
Listeners may have mistaken Springsteen’s similarly-titled anthem for a patriotic song, but no one will make that error with “Bored in the USA”. With scathing lyrics over Elton John piano chords, this was the best song off of one of 2015’s hottest releases.
Artist: Vince Staples
Album: Summertime ’06
I’m not usually big on lines repeated over and over in place of a chorus; but here, when Staples repeats “I ain’t never ran from nothing but the police,” it imitates the deadened spirit of those abused by the system.
Artist: Bob Dylan
Album: Shadows in the Night
Out of all the great songs that Dylan has covered throughout his storied career - and there are quite a few - this is one of the best. Like all good covers, he sings it with the conviction of personal experience. Bravo.
Artist: Jason Isbell
Album: Something More Than Free
The best country song - if you can even call it that - of the year. Lost dreams, friends, lovers, and religion all flash before your eyes, like faded, crackly film. Isbell captures them all in this perfect song before they disappear forever.
Artist: Sleater-Kinney
Album: No Cities to Love
This classic band took a decade off, found themselves, worked on other projects, regrouped, and made one of the best albums of their career. The album’s title track was the pinnacle guitar moment of the year. (Pick up Carrie Brownstein’s new autobiography, ‘Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl’, if you haven’t already. “Amazing” would be putting it lightly.
Artist: Kanye West
Non-album Single
A tender ballad about generational family bonds with sparse accompaniment from Paul McCartney from the most divisive star on the planet… Sound good to you? Well, it’s better than “good.” It’s a new classic from an artist with classics to spare.
Artist: Drake
Album: If Youre Reading This Its Too Late
There is no shortage of songs about “making it” in the world. Hell, there’s at least one more on this list. But Drake, having ruled 2015, is the most convincing and revelatory. Singing this song on top of the world, you cannot help but to join in.
Artist: Adele
Album: 25
Do I even need to write a commentary for this song? It’s the only song on this list that everyone on Earth has heard. Enough said.
Artist: Sufjan Stevens
Album: Carrie & Lowell
Quite possibly the saddest song I have ever heard. I know people who cannot even get all the way through it.
Artist: Kendrick Lamar
Album: To Pimp a Butterfly
Bragging with a social message? Only Lamar could have pulled this one off, and he did it all over a groove worthy of James Brown. The king has arrived and I cannot get enough.