iPod Top 100: 2021

1. “Wannabe in L.A.” – Eagles of Death Metal
2. “I’m a King Bee” – Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band
3. “Hero” – Weezer
4. “Dark Days” – Yard Act
5. “Spanish Doors” – Liz Phair
6. “Good Time, Baby” – Strange Relations
7. “Wild at Heart” – Lana Del Rey
8. “Raven” – The Living Pins
9. “What I Need” – Pearl Charles
10. “Vacation” – Johnny Aloha
11. “Call It a Day” – Leon Creek
12. “Hey Lou” – Liz Phair
13. “Zoology” – Funkrust Brass Band
14. “Rock Lobster” – Johnny Aloha
15. “Puppy and a Truck” – Jenny Lewis
16. “Island in the Sun” – Johnny Aloha
17. “Los Ageless” – St. Vincent
18. “Blow Your Whistle” – Chuck Brown
19. “Before You Gotta Go” – Courtney Barnett
20. “In There” – Liz Phair
21. “On a Coconut Island” – Louis Armstrong & The Polynesians
22. “Ride on Thru” – Rebel Queens
23. “It’s a good day (to fight the system)” – Shungudzo
24. “Drift” – Cartel Madras and Dom Dias
25. “City of Mirrors” – Dos Santos
26. “California Girls” – Johnny Aloha
27. “Black Sheep (feat. Brie Larson)” – Metric
28. “Imposter” – Pearl Charles
29. “My Head’s in Mississippi” – ZZ Top
30. “Rae Street” – Courtney Barnett
31. “Drink to Hawaii” – Johnny Aloha
32. “Bad Kitty” – Liz Phair
33. “As Long As You’re Mine” – Pearl Charles
34. “Wave” – Slowey and The Boats
35. “The Revolution Starts Now” – Steve Earle
36. “I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide” – ZZ Top
37. “The American Dream” – Blu & Exile
38. “Cruel Summer” – Johnny Aloha
39. “Good Side” – Liz Phair
40. “Sweet Sunshine Wine” – Pearl Charles
41. “Palm Desert” – St. Vincent
42. “Tube Snake Boogie” – ZZ Top
43. “53 Miles West of Venus” – The B-52s
44. “Work Me” – The Black Keys
45. “Así es la Vida (That’s Life)” – David Lee Roth
46. “Next Year” – Foo Fighters
47. “Witchcraft” – Graveyard Club
48. “Summertime” – Johnny Aloha
49. “Let Me Love You Like a Woman” – Lana Del Rey
50. “The Game” – Liz Phair
51. “Do Something Crazy” – Outasight
52. “All the Way” – Pearl Charles
53. “honest” – phem
54. “Tush” – ZZ Top
55. “Junior’s Instrumental” – The Black Keys
56. “Sax Riddim” – El Dusty & Chucho Ponce Los Daddys de Chinantla
57. “Back in Business” – Frank Bey
58. “Cocaine Blues” – George Thorogood & The Destroyers
59. “Paradise City” – Johnny Aloha
60. “Tulsa Jesus Freak” – Lana Del Rey
61. “Soberish” – Liz Phair
62. “Only For Tonight” – Pearl Charles
63. “Can I Call You Rose?” – Thee Sacred Souls
64. “La Grange” – ZZ Top
65. “Wednesday’s Child” – Alice Smith
66. “When You Go (That’s When You’ll Know)” – The Altons
67. “Black Myself” – Amythyst Kiah
68. “Better Than Gold” – Barrington Levy
69. “Keep Your Hands Off Her” – The Black Keys
70. “4 Ed Maten” – Delgres
71. “Black Woman” – Fatoumata Diawara & Lauryn Hill
72. “Waiting on a War” – Foo Fighters
73. “I Love a Man in a Uniform” – Gang of Four
74. “Wonderful” – Gretchen Parlato
75. “Turntables” – Janelle Monáe
76. “Language of Love” – Jason Joshua
77. “Venus” – Los Straitjackets
78. “Take Your Time” – Pearl Charles
79. “Sheila Can Do It” – Weezer
80. “This Will Be Our Year” – The Zombies
81. “Pearl Necklace” – ZZ Top
82. “Meet Me in the City” – The Black Keys
83. “Blackskin Mule” – CeeLo Green
84. “The Summer Looks Good on You” – Cheap Trick
85. “Lo-Rez Sunset” – David Lee Roth
86. “Hard Skool” – Guns N’ Roses
87. “No Turning Around” – Jeymes Samuel
88. “Guns Go Bang” – Kid Cudi & JAY-Z
89. “The Harder They Fall” – Koffee
90. “Chemtrails Over the Country Club” – Lana Del Rey
91. “We Go Harder” – Laura Mvula & Mayra Andrade
92. “Vote!” – The Linda Lindas
93. “Polyester Bride (Live)” – Liz Phair
94. “Time” – Los Yesterdays
95. “Dawn Bends” – Mac McCaughan
96. “Chismiten” – Mdou Moctar
97. “Ain’t No Better Love” – Seal
98. “All The Good Ones” – Weezer
99. “You and Islands” – Zac Brown Band
100. “Nobody But You” – The Black Keys

Previous top 100 lists: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

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Books read, 2021

Yes, this is late. Last year was another rough one, folks. You may have heard.

I’ll probably shift this to a Google Doc next year. Anyone who’s really hot to see what I’m reading is presumably following me on Goodreads already, I suspect.

Jan. 24: Forever War

Feb. 27: Emergency Skin

March 17: Whispers Under Ground

March 27: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

April 3: Ready Player Two

April 8:  Piranesi

May 3: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

May 9: The Galaxy, and the Ground Within

May 19: Small Gods

May 21: Kitchen Confidential

June 18: Death on the Nile

June 29: Broken Homes

July 29: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Aug. 5: A Psalm for the Wild-Built

Aug. 28: Lords and Ladies

Sept. 27: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Sept. 28: Something Wicked This Way Comes

Oct. 18: Dune

Nov. 4: Men at Arms

Dec. 4: Authority

Dec. 30: Soul Music

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iPod Top 100: 2020

It’s not hard to see this list as a reaction of the year that was. Let’s hope 2021 and especially 2022 are heavier on happy, bouncy tunes.

1. “Ayeyayaya” – The Shredders
2. “Get Up Get Out” – Born Dirty
3. “Top Knot Turn Up” – Madame Ghandi
4. “50 Foot Woman” – Hannah Williams & The Affirmations
5. “Time Spent in Los Angeles” – Dawes
6. “For the First Time” – Best Coast
7. “Fuck Up the Friendship” – Leah Kate
8. “You’re Not Alone” – Semisonic
9. “March March” – The Chicks
10. “Malibu” – Kim Petras
11. “Looking for America” – Lana Del Rey
12. “I Would Die 4 U” – Mariachi El Bronx
13. “You Can’t Rule Me” – Lucinda Williams
14. “Loteria” – Mariachi El Bronx
15. “Take the Money and Run” – Run-DMC
16. “California” – Steve Martin & Steep Canyon Rangers
17. “Black Steel” – Tricky
18. “I Wanna Be Like You” – Ukulena
19. “Antifa Dance” – Ana Tijoux
20. “House of Bamboo” – The Hi-Tide Orchestra
21. “Signal” – Automatic
22. “Making Love to the Dead” – Beginners
23. “Different Light” – Best Coast
24. “Goonda Gold” – Cartel Madras
25. “Monday” – Filous & Ashe
26. “A Hero’s Death” – Fontaines D.C.
27. “New Mood” – LPX
28. “Take What You Can Carry” – Mia Doi Todd
29. “Lonely Heather” – The Nude Party
30. “I Am America” – Shea Diamond
31. “Dystopian Boy” – Sólveig Matthildur
32. “Worry” – Songhoy Blues
33. “I’m a Man” – Spencer Davis Group
34. “Moral of the Story” – Ashe
35. “Running to Chad” – Baba Stilz
36. “Everything has Changed” – Best Coast
37. “Coming of Age” – Blondes
38. “Lay Me Down” – Dirty Heads
39. “Watermelon Sugar” – Harry Styles
40. “Little Bit of Love” – Kesha
41. “I’m Sayin'” – Longshot
42. “Fortunate Son” – Sleater-Kinney
43. “South Gotta Change” – Adia Victoria
44. “Angola Rodeo” – The Black Lips
45. “Rise” – Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles
46. “Grounds” – Idles
47. “Lockdown” – Koffee
48. “Here Come the Warm Dreads” – Lee “Scratch” Perry
49. “Gypsy Woman” – Muddy Waters
50. “Bang!” – AJR
51. “Valens” – Graveyard Club
52. “Peaceful Easy Feeling” – Jim “Kimo” West
53. “Asleep on the Shore” – The Swingin’ Palms
54. “Give Us Justice” – Thee Sacred Souls
55. “(I Blame) Society” – Titus Andronicus
56. “Malibu” – Trixie Mattel
57. “Ball and Biscuit” – The White Stripes
58. “Sunglasses” – Black Country, New Road
59. “Stay High” – Brittany Howard
60. “Working” – Cartel Madras
61. “Supermoon” – Charly Bliss
62. “Steel Guitar Rag” – The Greasy Gills
63. “Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar” – The Hi-Tide Orchestra
64. “The Perfect Wave” – The MelTones
65. “Santeria” – Metalachi
66. “Justice Never Dies” – Quetzal
67. “Stay Away” – Randy Newman
68. “Sing Along” – Sturgil Simpson
69. “Over the Moon” – The Swingin’ Palms
70. “Kalua” – Arthur Lyman
71. “Hear It” – Bad Religion
72. “N.B.T.” – Black Market Brass
73. “Voodoo Bamboos” – Chaino
74. “Mystique” – Cosmique Hypnotique
75. “Rome” – Dojo Cuts
76. “Leisure Time” – Eyesore & The Jinx
77. “Swamp Meet” – The Greasy Gills
78. “Jaws” – Greg Townson
79. “Lockdown” – The Hi-Tide Orchestra
80. “All Eyes” – Mariachi El Bronx
81. “Bohemian Rhapsody” – Mariachi El Bronx
82. “Moonlight Wahine” – Network Music Ensemble
83. “All I Want” – The Offspring
84. “Trouble in Paradise” – Rufus Wainwright
85. “Old Man” – Stella Donnelly
86. “Entrada” – The Swingin’ Palms
87. “Ten in 2010” – Bad Religion
88. “Pipeline” – The Chantays
89. “Waterfalls” – Death Cab for Cutie
90. “Mr. Rebel” – The Greasy Gills
91. “Tiki Diva” – Kenny Sasaki & The Tiki Boys
92. “Pearly Shells (P?p? A’o ‘Ewa)” – Maile Serenaders
93. “Wind of Change” – The Scorpions
94. “Makaha” – The Tikyaki Orchestra
95. “Brown Eyed Lover” – Allen Stone
96. “Rollercoaster” – Best Coast
97. “War Room” – Black Market Brass
98. “Shark Tank” – Bloodshot Bill
99. “Keep On” – Courtney Barnett
100. “U.F.S.” – The Greasy Gills

Previous top 100 lists: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

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Books read, 2020

Jan. 9: Midnight Riot

Feb. 1: Earthquake Weather

Feb. 29: Guards! Guards!

March 26: We’re with Nobody

April 5: Wizards & Spells

April 14: Eric

June 26: The Once and Future King

June 30: Our Towns

July 31: Moving Pictures

Aug. 18: To Be Taught, If Fortunate

Sept. 14: Annihilation

Sept. 29: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Sept. 30: Magic for Liars

Oct. 11: Traveler: The Shining Blade

Oct. 18: Reaper Man

Nov. 20: Beasts & Behemoths

Nov. 23: The Hate U Give

Dec. 10: Moon Over Soho

Dec. 13: Squeeze Me

Dec. 30: Witches Abroad

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iPod Top 100: 2019

1. “Red Bull & Hennessy” – Jenny Lewis
2. “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” – Lana Del Rey
3. “What Have You Done for Me Lately?” – Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
4. “Old Town Road (feat. Billy Ray Cyrus) [Remix]” – Lil Nas X
5. “bad guy” – Billie Eilish
6. “Younger” – The Mountain Goats
7. “What’s Up Danger” – Blackway & Black Caviar
8. “Gotta Get to Know Ya” – Seratones
9. “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” – The Bob Seger System
10. “Doin’ Time” – Lana Del Rey
11. “Change” – Mavis Staples
12. “Final Form” – Sampa the Great
13. “Holy Roller” – Emily Wolfe
14. “Lo/Hi” – The Black Keys
15. “Son of a Lovin’ Man” – Buchanan Brothers
16. “Pretty” – Ingrid Michaelson
17. “Grendel’s Mother” – The Mountain Goats
18. “Ashamed” – Omar Apollo
19. “Treat Her Right” – Roy Head & The Traits
20. “Los Angeles” – X
21. “Celebrity Skin” – Hole
22. “Game of Thrones” – Los Straitjackets
23. “Eia La” – Barefoot Natives
24. “Connection” – Elastica
25. “What You Need” – INXS

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