The thought for this feature crossed my mind the other morning as I streamed the illegally uploaded Bright Eyes cuts from the upcoming Saddle Creek Records release The People’s Key. It just kinda hit me randomly how fantastic the Omaha, Nebraska based record label’s catalog is from start to finish. Seeing the talent this label has for scouting is as simple as it comes.
More difficult I found however was narrowing their catalog down to my ten favorite songs. They ended up looking something like this:
10. The Faint – I Disappear
If you can manage to listen to this song (and that bass line) without shaking your ass you’ve got more body control than I do. Every time I listen to it, I either have to skank or rush off to play Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland. Fantastic song from a fantastic band.
9. Rural Alberta Advantage – In The Summertime
When PopWreckoning received the review copy of Hometowns I probably listened to this song 250 times. There is just something about the lyrics and the way they’re presented over a somewhat simple but strikingly beautiful orchestration of notes that seems to help this song grasp me with a white knuckle grip. It is simply beautiful.
8. The Good Life – Heartbroken & 7. Cursive – Rise Up! Rise Up!
In my humble opinion there is no one better at capturing dysfunction, heartbreak and the all around angst than Tim Kasher. Though it was nearly impossible to narrow it down (hell, I could’ve just shoved the whole Album of the Year album on here and been pleased), Last.Fm claims these two songs to be the winners of my listening choices.
6. Bright Eyes – Easy/Lucky/Free
I think this song is a perfect example of how personal experience and relatability can alter the impact of a song. I listened to this song almost exclusively during the six week period in which I lost both my grandfather (who was also my best friend) and my mother. The line: “I never really dreamed of heaven much until we put him in the ground, but it’s all I’m doing now,” capsulized exactly what I was feeling and reminded me to keep it together.
5. Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson – The Sound
I think there are two types of people in the world: those who love this artist and those who have never heard of him. Seriously, I think that Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson is without a doubt Saddle Creek’s most underrated artist. Listen to “The Sound” and give it a judge yourself.
4. Azure Ray – November
The line, “I was afraid to be alone, but now I’m scared that’s how I’d like to be…,” grabs me like few other songs have. To this day the cellos give me goosebumps. This song is as flawless as they come.
3. Maria Taylor – Song Beneath The Song
Maria Taylor (also of the above mentioned Azure Ray) has a way with words that I find difficult to find in female musicians. She doesn’t hide behind her sexuality in order to sell records. “Song Beneath The Song” is a splendid example of Taylor’s magical gift for words.
2. Bright Eyes - Lover I Don’t Have To Love
Conor Oberst is a lyrical genius. He captures situations, depicting them with his words in a way most author pine to be able to do. In my opinion, “Lover I Don’t Have To Love” is Oberst at his strongest.
1. Rilo Kiley – A better Son/Daughter
This says it all:
“And sometimes when you’re on
You’re really fuckin on
And your friends they sing along And they love you
But the lows are so extreme
That the good seems fuckin cheap
And it teases you for weeks in its absence.”
So what about you? What are your favorite Saddle Creek songs? What did I leave off the list that you would have added? What are your top ten?
