Jeff Tweedy - "Feel Free" (Twilight Override)

I discovered the Chicago band 'Wilco', led by Jeff Tweedy, with their 'Being There' album in 1996. This was the CD era and the album was a double album, which wasn't too common due to the length of a CD compared to a record. So with that in mind it was still a consistently strong album. I have so many tracks from that album on radio playlists still. It took me on a discovery journey to Jeff Tweedy's previous band 'Uncle Tupelo', which also featured Jay Farrar. Many great Wilco albums followed with so many great songs. 'Yankee Foxtrot Hotel' in 2002 was probably their most acclaimed. 'Jesus etc' from that album is featured on this blog as well, and has quite a good story. Even his side projects like Golden Smog and the albums with Billy Bragg, where they used unreleased Woody Guthrie lyrics or verses, kept my interest in Jeff Tweedy/Wilco going. Along with more great Wilco albums he also went on to record solo albums and also an album with his son Spencer. So with all that history of releasing great songs, it must be hundreds, could it be possible that he has written one of his greatest songs ever, just recently, for his upcoming album 'Twilight Override', which is, wait for it, a triple album. He hasn't slowed down a bit. One song released prior to the album release, is 'Feel Free'. It's seven minutes of Dylanesque verses, pieces of wisdom, a little advice, and some particularly nice poetry. Don't expect a chorus or a bridge. A song like this has so many great lines and one in particular is..... Feel Free, Let it be or Let it bleed, John or Paul or Mick or Keith, Feel Free. Wow! One of his greatest? Feel free to disagree but I don't think many will.

Waxahatchee - "Right Back to It" (feat. MJ Lenderman)

This was an easy pick for my 2024 song of the year. From my album of the year as well, Tigers Blood, but that was a lot harder to pick. "Right Back to It" can be said to be indie rock and country in equal measure. Katie Crutchfield, who performs under the Waxahatchee name, had the traditional country duet in mind while writing the song and MJ Lenderman was the perfect pick for the male part. In fact, he plays a big part on the whole album, particularly on guitar. Now, don't expext Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty, this is way too unconventional - but I suppose it was her take on that genre in her unique way, and at the same time, it does have that country feel about it. She explained more in a press release here.... "I'm really interested in writing love songs that are gritty and unromantic. I wanted to make a song about the ebb and flow of a longtime love story. I thought it might feel untraditional but a little more in alignment with my experience to write about feeling insecure or foiled in some way internally, but always finding your way back to a newness or an intimacy with the same person. " All said and done - it really is a modern classic.

beabadoobee covers Bic Runga’s ‘Sway’ for Like A Version

Beabadoobee is a Filipino/British singer songwriter. She released her brilliant third album 'This is how tomorrow moves' in 2024, which was produced by Rick Rubin. While in Australia, she stopped in at Triple J to record a song or two for their 'Like a version' series, as with many touring artists. She chose to cover Bic Runga's 'Sway' - a big hit here in New Zealand from Bic's debut album 'Drive' in 1997. Baebadoobee said she grew up with the Bic Runga album due to her mother's love of the album. Baebadoobee's version is an indie rock makeover.