Playlist Monday

Playlist Monday is a weekly feature at the Drawing Board. Once a week I post one playlist from home, more or less, at random. For special occasions, I'll post a themed track list.

We're going to finish up the best of 2007 list right here and right now:

Car Crash by Matt Nathanson
This guy is easily my favorite new artist of 2007. If you check his bio, he's been hanging around since the 90s, but this is his first song of any success. It's a good one with soaring vocals, a catchy, hooky, melody, and a really cool drum part.

Killing the Blues by Alison Krauss & Robert Plant
When the front man from Led Zeppelin collaborates with a modern bluegrass virtuoso, their song has to make the list. That's a rule I have. The album is not nearly a compromise of styles - Plant definitely crosses over onto the bluegrass turf. Incredibly, it works.

I'll be Waiting by Lenny Kravitz
I usually don't like this guy, and to be honest, there's not a lot in this song to make me change my mind. It's otherworldly simple, but I'm most impressed by the production here. In order to capture the raw emotion of the lyrics, the production is raw. The simplicity of each part - and there aren't many parts - equates to something raw and painful. The drums honestly sound like they were recorded on a tape deck in a garage. Gimmicky? Yeah, but cool this time. Lenny, don't overdo it.

Impossible Germany by Wilco
Wilco's Sky Blue Sky is a good album, although it's probably been overstated as being among the best of all time. Still, this track is indicative of what Wilco does. Understated melodies over grown-up chords. The net result is a product that's plenty good for now. It'd probably be best to wait and see how it winds up in history, though.

Honestly by Cary Brothers
I've been writing these playlists for just a few months now, and this is Brothers' third appearance. This track is my favorite - soulful lyrics flirt with piano descants over the top of a beautiful guitar line. You owe it to yourself to check this one out.