Happy new year, everyone! I had a great time making my year end list for you, and I hope that I exposed you to some great music that you can enjoy; I know that I enjoyed each one of those albums in 2008, and will continue to do so in the new year. However, now that 2008 has bowed out, and we find ourselves on the first Friday since the countdown began, I just couldn’t wait to get back to the regular installments of five song Fridays! So, let’s get started; each track that I am featuring this week is MASSIVE, and some of them I have been sitting on since the beginning of December, waiting in extreme anticipation to bring them to you! Well, that time has arrived, so here we go!
LeAnn Rimes – What I Cannot Change
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_12_leannrimes-whaticannotchange.mp3]
While this song may have come out way back in 2007 (waaay back, eh… lol), I only recently heard it when the dance mix surfaced. After really digging the dance mix, I was intrigued to hear the original, mostly because the lyrics were so emotionally driven and completely heartfelt; not to mention how much I related to them. Well, shock me, because when I heard the original, I realized that I had just heard a song that I would come to count amongst my favorite songs I’ve ever heard. This song is beautiful and amazing. The lyrics speak of pain that has been endured, and a painful solution to deal with the future of family and the unknown. This song completely speaks to me, and I relate wholeheartedly. I read a review of this CD, however, and someone got snippy and insisted that LeAnn would be better off singing about how “good she had it”, and to that, I call bullshit; it’s insulting to someone who has legitimately been through something to insist that they just get over it and move on. LeAnn has made a daring testament to dealing with a less than desirable family situation, and she has done so in the most beautiful way imaginable; I for one applaud her putting this out there and showing us some of her vulnerability. Screw you, reviewer… bravo LeAnn, girl, I certainly relate. I have been playing this song, non-stop on massive repeat since I heard it. It is truly amazing.
Sara Bareilles feat. Ingrid Michaelson – Winter Song
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_12_sarabareilles-wintersong.mp3]
Something that you may not know about me, is that I DETEST Christmas music. Seriously, hearing holly jolly Christmas is like nails on a chalk board to me, so the idea of a Christmas album is almost a complete NO from me. However, when I saw that Sara Bareilles has contributed, I had to take a listen; she has done a somewhat “Christmas-ish” song in the past that I loved; her live cover of River is amazing. Well, the 30 second clip on iTunes proved this to be another amazing Sara B track, so I had to snag it. I have to say, that I appreciate how many of you readers asked me if I had heard this song, because it really makes me appreciate the give and take with us sharing our music tastes!! I wanted to feature it, because even though Xmas has passed, this song is more of a “winter” song (ha!), and it is still winter, so why not, right?! This counts as one “Christmas” song I actually love!
A Camp – Stronger Than Jesus
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_12_acamp-strongerthanjesus.mp3]
I will admit that I actually screamed out loud a little bit when I heard that the new A Camp album was coming out in early 2009, and even more when I heard this amazing first single from that album (Colonia). I have loved Nina Persson for a very long time, and I count her amongst my favorite female vocalists; and the Cardigans are one of my favorite groups as well. With her previous A Camp album, Nina Persson did not disappoint me, and I know that by how much I am loving this song, that this record will probably be amongst my top records of 2009! See, I’m always calculating that list, people! I’m just hoping that they tour nearby; that would really make my day! As of this moment, the new A Camp is my most anticipated album of 2009.
Feist with the Constantines – Islands In The Stream
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_12_feist-islandsinthestream.mp3]
Wow. Can we say amazing?! It’s no surprise that I love Feist, and when she released a deluxe version of her amazing album, The Reminder, I was floored that this song was included. It is a brilliant remake of the original guilty pleasure made famous by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers. Feist’s sweet vocals paired with the Constantines is a real treat, and I am nothing less that elated to pass this one on to you. I love a GREAT cover, and this is truly a great cover of a classic hit. I hope that this treat gets some real attention, because its greatness really cannot be ignored. This song makes me want to go sing karaoke; right now!
The Bird and The Bee – Love Letter To Japan
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_12_thebirdandthebee-lovelettertojapan.mp3]
Finally today, I am pleased to announce another highly anticipated album of 2009! I love the sweet throwback sounds of the Bird and the Bee, and their last album was a complete and utter delight. Well, they are scheduled to release their next album later this month (January 27), and judging by this first single, it should be just as good as their debut; and possibly even better. The Bird and The Bee are another one to watch out for this year, because if they keep going strong with their amazing jazz/dance/pop style that I love so much, I am sure that their sophomore album will be on my year end list too. I love when my favorite artists release new stuff and it is great, and like this song, does everything to make me excited about the rest of the record!
Well, there’s the first five of the new year. I hope you enjoyed your new year’s eve, and I hope these songs find you well in the new year. There are some massive tracks here, so let me know what you think, and as always, let me know what you are listening to! After going through my favorites of 2008, I am dying to know what I missed, and what I need to be paying attention to in 2009!
: As much as I love the Cardigans (they are definitely amongst my favorite groups of all time), putting a Best Of collection amongst the other contenders kind of isn’t fair for the rest of the studio albums on the top 31 list; even if the record (a double record in this case) is amazing. That being said, it’s a great collection with a ton of songs that I hadn’t heard before, mostly because they were B sides or on soundtracks. If you love the Cardigans, it is a MUST have. It is a solid five star album.
: What should I say that hasn’t been 
: If this album would have been released this year, for the first time, it would have probably been number one (if not amongst the top spots) on this list. However, this CD was originally released in 2005, and there isn’t enough new here to make it a contender. That being said, IF this album had of been released this year, it would have fit perfectly; which is a testament as to how forward and amazing this record is… it can stand the test of 3 years, and do so effortlessly. I can’t wait for the next record from Robyn.
: I love Antony and the Johnsons, and if this EP is any indication as to what we have in store from his next full length release in January, well, you will see this name again next year around this time. The first song on this EP is breathtakingly amazing. 
: Here’s a great record that didn’t connect with me as much as their previous release, but it’s definitely a good record, and I am glad that it’s in my collection. 
: It was Paste Magazine’s number one, and while I do really love this record, it didn’t resonate with me on that level. Zooey Deschanel’s voice is amazing; I can’t wait for volume two.
: And here’s our first casualty ladies and gents… if there were 32 spots, it would be on the list. Fantastic record throughout, it just waivers at the end with the ultra long track, and that is really all that hurts it.
: Here’s another album that should have made the list, but didn’t because there are only so many days in December. It’s a great record in the same vein as Jason Mraz with a little bit more Marc Broussard. There are some eloquent and beautiful songs on this album that captivate me every time I hear them.
: A solid pop album, with some definite movers and dance floor shakers on there. There are a ton of singles on this record, so I don’t know why he has only released two. Either way, he’s maturing nicely.
: Another solid, and hilarious, album from the great Ben Folds. Just missed the cut, seriously.
:This one is kind of a conflict for me, because there are some AMAZING songs on it, but there are more than a couple filler tracks that really drug it down. I am definitely happy to have this in my music collection though, because when Matt’s good, he’s GREAT, seriously, seriously GREAT.
: There are some stunning songs on this album, and they remind me a lot of last year’s top ten group Melee, but they just missed the mark for this year’s list. Note that you cannot by the physical CD on amazon, so the link is for the MP3 CD. If you must only get one song, you have to get Bigger Than Love. That song is amazing.
: Lastly, I HAVE to mention Aqualung, not only because he made my top ten last year, but because he released possibly one of the most amazingly beautiful songs on this record, called Arrivals. It is the last track of a record that feels sort of hurried, but there is nothing about this song that isn’t beautiful, sweet, and oh-so elegantly constructed. This is a MUST have just because of that one song, I tell you; I only wish the rest of the album would have been as amazing.
I have found it; today, I had the best green tea frozen yogurt I have ever tasted. After lunch at Doc Chey’s, my buddy Deb and I wandered over the 
