1. For Emma [live on Laundromatinee] by Bon Iver – The studio version of this song, from the album For Emma Forever Ago, was the first Bon Iver song I even got remotely interested in and even so, just barely. However, upon repeated listening, the sheer depth of regret and loss expressed so concisely in so few words and communicated mostly by the pained inflection in Justin Vernon’s voice eventually made this my favorite song of last year and this year. Even more surprising was how Justin has turned out radically different arrangements of the same song that each channel the same feelings of missed opportunities and what might have been in uniquely different ways. Here are two versions back to back with YouTube links to follow along, see where your mind takes you if you let yourself get lost in the song…

So apropos, Saw death on a sunny snow
Him: "For every life..."
Her: "Forgo the parable."
Him: "Seek the light."
Her: "...My knees are cold."
(Running home, running home, running home, running home...)

Her: "Go find another lover;
To bring and.to string along!"
"For all your lies,
You're still very lovable."
Him: "I toured the light;
so many foreign roads
for Emma, forever ago."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VbEWj7Ihzs

2. For Emma [live on Myspace Transmissions] by Bon Iver – A drum and piano version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6S__IpVpSQ

3. Too Deep by J Mascis – Try listening along to this lament from the Dinosaur Jr frontman and you might think this is a similar song of sadness and loss over revisiting a past love, but then go back and imagine that he may have never even spoken to the object of his attention and now we’re talking a whole ‘nother level of regret.

I saw You
I saw You
I saw everything in a motion
I saw why it's left unspoken
I crawled out
I crawled out
I'll do better than the last time
Got so much more than my mind
I saw You
I saw You
I saw You
I know why I went to see it
Still not sure what I believe in
I walked in
I walked in
Is this the time I'll understand
Will it pass right through my hand
Till I see You
Said I'm the one who knows
Said I'm the one who knows
Please don't speak of it no more
Been left out starting to show
I just stare but not a peep
You walk by it gets too deep
Turn the stick into my soul
Hasn't changed much getting old
I saw You
I saw You
I saw You

4. Rebound by Sebadoh – Sebadoh is the solo vehicle for Lou Barlow, J Mascis’ partner, foil and nemesis in the on again, off again collaboration that is Dinosaur Jr. Lou always imparts a more hopeful tone to his singing but is nonetheless sensitive and reflective so it’s really not surprising that two such introverted, introspective souls had such trouble keeping a band together. Here he seems much more inclined to move on to the next relationship than to look backward, but he’d be lying if he pretended he wasn’t leaving a little regret behind.

Heart-broken and attractive
A sad, sloppy mess
Lookin' for approval
And easily impressed
Beware they say, but why would I listen
When it feels this good?
No one lives their life
Doing all the things they say they should
Confusion turns me upside down
Lost as quickly as I'm found
But soon enough it turns around
On the rebound

Call it fate or true love
Never forced romance
Fell into a new love
Maybe perfect love by chance
Beware they say, but why would I listen?
I need to know what I've been missin'
I'm no one you can trust
All little boy lonely with curious lust
Confusion turns me upside down
Lost as quickly as I'm found
But soon enough it turns around
On the rebound, on the rebound
On the rebound, on the rebound

5. Magnet’s Coil by Sebadoh – Recognizing that you’re just wound too tight is half the battle.

6. Skull by Sebadoh – There is a wistfulness in Lou’s singing here that creates the hook for the song as much as the spot-on lyrics. Great lo-fi video as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFniGEsV3Qs

There is history in this place
There are dragons to be chased
And though I don't know who you are
An easy flow and a strong, a strong heart
And the charm in the way you hide
Gently take my skull for a ride
And I don't know who you are
But I know what I would like you to be
A one-night stand under stoned persuasion
But a joy that I can't hide
Gently take my skull for a ride

We can never ever go too far
The pain we can't escape at least will wait
So let's go quickly, no we go slow
Let's go chasing dragons through the snow
Kindly take my all
And give me all you have
Gently take my skull for a ride
Take and shake your soul
But never lose control
Gently take your skull for a ride

7. Water Surrounds by The Mendoza Line – Foreshadowing the unfortunate, untimely breakup of their band and relationship, sadness pervades this quiet tune from their penultimate album Full of Light Full of Fire.

Bored to tears with my novel and this music
I clean the sheets each week,
the bed that nobody uses

And I can't tell the others what I feel
That I sometimes see the light, but Satan's real
I feel his burning rage

A small crack in the door turns to twelve inches
A soft rub on the back becomes two pinches
And I can't tell the mothers what I've done

But if God made me mother,
he made my son to cry out in the dark
Hold out your arms, boy, you need me

There's a tear in the free paper, crack in the (?)
A room with my new lover, the anteroom of hell

And I can't tell my lover what I've seen
The continents drifted in my dreams
An emptiness abounds and water surrounds
…my last feeling

8. Heading for the Fair by Saint Etienne – Sarah Cracknell and the band chip in with as much regret as you can express over synthesizers and a churning beat but there’s no mistaking the wistfulness behind the music.

Lights, I see them far away
There's so many lights
The colours and the voices drift my way

I see you once again
It's been a long, long year
But I believe we haven't changed since then

I'll maybe hold your hand
And then spin me round again
The way you have so often in my dreams

My mama said don't go
There's nothing for you there
I stroll across the road
I'm heading for the fair
The music, endless sound
Of candy floss and love (love, love, love, love, love)

Please don't go
The sin, the darkness, baby, I know
He'll say that it's forever (love, love, love)
And he'll be back
So he can be with you

Round and round I'm spinning
Softly velvet touch my cheek
I think of you
Tried to catch your eye in vain
I'm giving out
You're spinning out of view

I see you once again
It's been a long, long year
But I believe we haven't changed since then

My mama said don't go
There's nothing for you there
I stroll across the road
I'm heading for the fair
The music endless sound
Of candy floss and love (love, love, love, love, love)

Please don't go
The sin, the darkness baby I know
He'll say that it's forever
And he'll be back
So he can be with you

Round and round I'm spinning
Softly velvet touch my cheek
I think of you
Tried to catch your eye in vain
I'm giving out
You're spinning out of view

Round and round I'm spinning
Softly velvet touch my cheek
I think of you
Watch you walk away in vain
I'm giving out
You're spinning out of view

9. Slow and Steady (Live on KEXP) by Of Monsters and Men – A live version of this quiet, introspective cut from their debut album, it shows off the varied instrumentation and relaxed vibe of the band. The Youtube link below is for this live performance, but there also is another “outdoor” version featured for a Right Guard Off Guard Gig out there too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jee3voi2Zk.

The lights go out, I am all alone
All the trees outside are buried in the snow
I spend my night dancing with my own shadow
And it holds me and it never lets me go

I move slow and steady
But I feel like a waterfall
Yeah, I move slow and steady
Past the ones that I used to know

My dear old friend, take me for a spin
Two wolves in the dark, running in the wind
I'm letting go, but I've never felt better
Passing by all the monsters in my head

And I'm never ready
'Cause I know, I know, I know
That time won't let me
Show what I want to show

10. Western sky by American Music Club – Nobody can do regret and heartbreak like Mark Eitzel, who really hit his stride in the early days with the American Music Club like on this heart-rending cut from the out of print classic California. I originally was going to include the version from the even harder to find promo Live at Slim’s(now a bonus 19th cut!) but figured a gentler introduction to this classic was warranted for the uninitiated.

11. Circle of Friends [live at Pitchfork] by J Mascis – J has penned many notable loner/loser tales of woe and regret, such as Severed Lips which was poignantly covered by Juliana Hatfield, but in somewhat of a reversal, he takes a turn at Edie Brickell’s Circle which he makes his very own in this live recording at the Pitchfork studios:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeerDM8xrj8

Me, I'm a part of your circle of friends
and we notice you don't come around
Me, I think it all depends
on you touching ground with us.
But, I quit. I give up.
Nothing's good enough for anybody else
it seems.
And I quit. I give up.
Nothing's good enough for anybody else
it seems.

And being alone
is the best way to be.
When I'm by myself it's
the best way to be.
When I'm all alone it's
the best way to be.
When I'm by myself
nobody else can say goodbye.

Everything is temporary anyway.
When the streets are wet --
the colors slip into the sky.
But I don't know why that means you and I are
- that means you and....
I quit -- I give up.
Nothin's good enough for anybody else it seems.
But I quit. I give up.
Nothing's good enough for anybody else it seems.

And being alone
is the best way to be.
When I'm by myself it's
the best way to be.
When I'm all alone it's
the best way to be.
When I'm by myself
nobody else can say...

Me, I'm a part of your circle of friends
and we notice you don't come around.

Halalalalalala

12. Seen It All by Jake Bugg – Another precocious UK teen already ready to declare he’s seen it all at the ripe old age of nineteen.

13. Rock and Roll by Juliana Hatfield – Doing her best to jolt us back out of the doldrums of regret, Juliana reprises the other signature tune by Jimmy Page’s old band on her new covers album appropriately titled Juliana Hatfield. Could not find a video of this cover, however I did find a killer cover of It’s Only Rock and Roll which I can’t help but include here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4RN83ixbeA

14. I’m Not Sayin’ by the Replacements – It’s hard not to celebrate boisterous new music from the Mats, although sad circumstances brought the boys back together for what is likely a one-off benefit EP to benefit former guitarist Slim Dunlap who suffered a stroke last year. My favorite is their choice of this Gordon Lightfoot cover which spot on nails the sentiment that’s always carried the band and made them so teasingly appealing, that they never aimed to please, but they tried!

I’m not sayin that I love you
I’m not sayin that I care
If you love me
I’m not sayin that I care, I’m not sayin I’ll be there
If you want me

I can’t give my heart to you
And tell you that I’ll sing your name
Until the sky
I can’t promise to be down
And I’ll always be around if you need me

May not be alone each time you see me
Out in the street or in a small café
Still I won’t deny
Or mistreat you
Baby if you let me have my way

I’m not sayin I’ll be sorry
For all the things that I might say
That make you cry
I can’t say I’ll always do
The things you want me to
I’m not sayin I’ll be true but I’ll try

I may not be home when you see me
Or show up when I promised I would
Said I won’t deny or mistreat you
Baby if you love me like you should

I’m not sayin I’ll be sorry
For all the things that I might say
That make you cry
I can’t say I’ll always do
The things you want me to
I’m not sayin I’ll be true but I’ll try

I can’t say I’ll always do
The things you want me to
I’m not sayin I’ll be true but I’ll try

Don’t try

15. As Long As You Come Home Tonight by Go-Kart Mozart – Found this on Uncut’s Best of 2012 CD.

16. Come Home (live at WNRN 91.9) by Bess Rogers – Not exactly sure where I came across Bess, expect that this cut popped up on my “unplayed” playlist on a long plane ride home and caught my ear. She has an “official” video for it, but I like the live in the studio at WNRN 91.9 video better: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfST2RurB1A

17. Nowhere is Home by Dexys – If you haven’t already noticed, the end of this CD slowly devolved into a“coming home” theme which naturally lead to this response from Dexys, who won significant acclaim for their 2012 comeback album One Day I’m Going to Soar, only 27 years in the making since their last release. Nowhere is home, indeed!

18. Nothing But Time by Cat Power – Chan Marshall closes out the set with her opus from last year’s Sun which, fittingly, put the closing touches on her broken marriage in a way that allowed her to move on with her life. Nothing like channeling your inner David Bowie, circa Low/Heroes, to cleanse the soul, with a little help from Iggy Pop and his Thin White Duke baritone. No regrets allowed.