1. Last Christmas by Florence and the Machine – Found this one too late to make my second Christmas sampler but it very quickly grew on me so had to include it here along with a better YouTube link of Florence performing it live. I love the informality of it, particularly where she’s sneaking looks at her crib-sheet lyrics while still delivering what I consider to be the definitive performance of the oft-covered tune. See for yourself!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =Py30XbvMbh8

2. Dance Me to the End of Love (live in London) by Leonard Cohen – I highly recommend Leonard’s Live in London album which documents his return to the road to recover the losses from his manager embezzling much of his fortune. What is so striking is the genuine joy and heart he brings to his performances which you can see in his mannerisms and in his humble and sincere banter with the audience.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHw FyS NlM-c

3. I’m Your Man (live in London) by Leonard Cohen – The live performances also showcase the supple and textured support that the excellent touring band he put together lends to familiar tunes that make them come alive anew and he even tacks on a bit of the poetry that initially brought him fame. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKjSr1zOTq0&feature=endscreen&NR=1

4. Queen of England by the Mendoza Line - So of course I’m disappointed that the Mendoza line dissolved in marital disharmony but Timothy Bracy and Shannon McArdle left us a thoughtful introspective of the evolution of a relationship through this three song journey across their various musical incarnations. Queen of England, recorded as part of the Mendoza Line’s Sent Down to AA album, reflects back on the beginnings of an “over-appraised” relationship sung wearily by Tim with the very subtle backing from Shannon seeming to be her quiet acknowledgement of the innocence and optimism she started out with. Not everyone is confident enough to reference Blood on the Tracks, but Tim’s spot on lyrics more than meet the challenge.

So, you thought you were in love
Just 'Cause I bought you pancakes
Call it an honest mistake
But for God's sake don't call it love

So, you thought you were turned on
Just 'cause I got you wasted
And you over-appraised it
When you told your friend you were in love

And you recognize, of course
That all this is just a sham
And I'm not an artist
And I'm no one's idea of a man

You were a little engine that might
Might make all these little things right
But if I don't see you tonight
Say hi to the Queen of England

So you thought we should've stayed friends
But I didn't think so
But you wouldn't take no for an answer
You kept on asking why

So I said I wanted you
But I didn't mean it
I just liked to see if
I could say those things
And look you in the eye

And you recognize, of course
That all this is just a sham
He's not an artist
And I'm no one's idea of a man

You were the little engine that could
Make all these awful things good
But you never said you would
Help out the Queen of England

You recognize, of course
That all this is just for laughs
'Cause I've been his lover
And he don't really talk like that

You were the little engine that cracked
But that isn't blood on the tracks
Should you want your innocence back
Go ask the Queen of England

Should you want your innocence back
Go ask the Queen of England

5. Wedding Dance by Slow Dazzle – Slow Dazzle was a side project from the Mendoza Line for just Timothy and Shannon for songs that didn’t fit. Over a haunting bass line that echoes the memorable theme from Twin Peaks (an old TV favorite of mine), Shannon lays out the battlefield that their marriage was waged over.

They claimed two years ago they changed the name
But that green and rusted street sign reads the same
I thought you’d come around and sign the sheets
But my last name just don’t make yours complete

The mothers set me up I had no chance
She turned her back and cursed our wedding day
I tripped and fell into the boiling rage
Led by men who slipped right through her cage

I hope that we’re not lying here tomorrow
Cause I know I’m not gonna do a thing
Without a push, without a shake
Until that bridge between us splinters until it breaks

I heard desperation in my hand
Tried to dump it into foreign land
You squeezed disgust and lust between your knees
That just can’t wash off in far off seas

I hope that we’re not lying here tomorrow
Cause I know I’m not gonna do a thing
With this weight, with all these days
With all these changes we promised we would make

6. Poison My Cup by Shannon McArdle – Finally, Shannon pushes on alone on her excellent solo album, Summer of the Whore, which finds her dealing with the emotions of being blindsided by the breakup of their marriage.

Can’t carry all my baggage honey
What’s a girl to do?
I know I’ve done enough damage buddy
But I’m not through, I’m not through

7. Re: Stacks by Bon Iver – No answer from Tim so far so I looked back to Bon Iver’s debut For Emma, Forever Ago and found a tune I didn’t get into the first go around that gives the guy’s side on a relationship gone south. Justin uses gambling analogies for the loss of love as he hits bottom. It’s the album closer that puts the finishing touch and closure for the lost love yearned for in For Emma, my favorite song on the album, and allows Justin to keep and appreciate the memory while finally moving on.

This my excavation and today is Kumran
Everything that happens is from now on
This is pouring rain
This is paralyzed

I keep throwing it down two hundred at a time
It's hard to find it when you knew it
When your money's gone
And you're drunk as hell

[chorus] On your back with your racks
as the stacks as your load
In the back and the racks and the stacks are your load
In the back with your racks
and you're unstacking your load

I've been twisting to the sun I needed to replace
The fountain in the front yard is rusted out
All my love was down
In a frozen ground

There's a black crow sitting across from me
his wiry legs are crossed
And he's dangling my keys he even fakes a toss
Whatever could it be
That has brought me to this loss?

This is not the sound of a new man or crispy realization
It's the sound of the unlocking and the lift away
Your love will be
Safe with me

8. Yellow by Brooke White – Brooke’s debut album preceded her appearance on American idol but was re-released after the season, but it was on the American idol tour that this Coldplay cover reached its full color potential as evidenced by this YouTube video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p6DUKD-oWc

9. Dream On by Brooke White – I liked Yellow better, but this remake of the Aerosmith classic was also a pretty good changeup of the original without the Steven Tyler histrionics.

10. American Girl by Taylor Swift – Taylor worked her way onto several 2012 best of lists with Red in which she begins to diversify her musical styles. I’ll give her a nod for this creditable cover of the Tom Petty classic.

11. Rhiannon by Best Coast – Bethany Cosentino’s band also made several 2012 best of lists with The Only Place but they caught my ear with this no-frills version of the Stevie Nicks classic that actually brings the lyrics to the front out from behind all of Stevie’s veils and scarves.

12. Silver Springs by Lykke Li – Taken from the same tribute album, Just Tell Me That You Want Me: A Tribute To Fleetwood Mac, as Rhiannon, Lykke brings a real ethereal quality to another Stevie Nicks tune.

You could be my silver spring
Blue-green colors flashing
I would be your only dream
Your shining autumn ocean crashing

Don't say that she's pretty
And did you say that she loved you
Baby I don't want to know

So I begin not to love you
Turn 'round, see me running
I say I loved you years ago
But tell myself you never loved me no

And don't say that she's pretty
And did you say that she loved you
Baby I don't want to know

Oh no
And can you tell me was it worth it
Baby I don't want to know

Time cast a spell on you
But you won't forget me
I know I could have loved you
But you would not let me

I follow you down 'till the sound
Of my voice will haunt you
(Give me just a chance)
You'll never get away from the sound
Of the woman who loves you
(Was I just a fool)

13. Gypsy by Gardens & Villa – I thought this was one of the highlights of the Mac tribute, starting out with a flute in a misty garden and ultimately giving the song an identity separate from Stevie’s gypsy persona.

14. What Will Be Will Be by Allo, Darlin’ – Another cut from my current favorite band, this one reaches back to their eponymous debut album for a completely different take on the old Que Sera Sera refrain that even gives one of Elizabeth Morris’ bandmates a vocal turn. Definitely not your father’s Doris Day.

15. Amy by Green Day – Another cut from Dos!, a sad goodbye to Amy Winehouse from Billie Joe Armstrong, whose latest exploits that landed him in rehab indicate may have more in common with Amy than he should for his own good.

Is your heart singing out of tune
Are your eyes just singing the blues
Dirty records from another time
Some blood stains on your shoes

No one really knows about your soul
And I barely really know your name
Burning rhythms and posting lies
And a bunch of fools drown in shame

Amy don't you go
I want you around
Singin' woah, please don't go
Do you wanna be a friend of mine?
Do you wanna be a friend of mine?

Did you tattoo a lucky charm
To keep you out of harms way?
Warding off all evil signs
But it never really kept you safe

Now you're too young for the golden age
'Cause the record bin's been replaced
Twenty seven, gone without a trace
And you walked away from your drink

Amy don't you go
I want you around
Singin' woah, please don't go
Do you wanna be a friend of mine?
Do you wanna be a friend of mine?

Amy please don't go
Amy please don't go

Is your heart singing out of tune
Are you eyes just singing the blues?
Dirty records from another time
Some blood stains on your shoes

May I have this last dance
By chance if we should meet?
Can you write me a lullaby?
So we can sing you to sleep

Amy don't you go
I want you around
Singin' woah, please don't go
Do you wanna be a friend of mine?
Do you wanna be a friend of mine?
Do you wanna be a friend of mine?