As promised, here are my top songs of the year. Same rules apply here as with the albums; all songs had to be released in the last 12 months to qualify. Most of these were also highlighted in the albums post, so I’ll keep my comments to a minimum. But this would make for one sweet playlist. Enjoy!

1. Man of the Family – Mark Erelli. A great song that resonates with me on a deep level. Erelli’s poignant depiction of the thought process of a young man whose father has passed away is spot on.
2. Viva la Vida – Coldplay. Sure they sold out when they used this tune to hawk iPods, but who cares. Was there a better sound this summer?
3. You Are the Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne. This dude’s got soul. Awesome tune.
4. Five More Hours – The Gabe Dixon Band.
5. Human – The Killers. I have no idea what this song means. But I love it.
6. Tear Down the House – The Avett Brothers. I didn’t list The Avett’s stellar “The Gleam II” on my albums list because it technically qualifies as an EP. But this is the best song on what is turning out to be a superb collection from my new favorite band. My favorite lyric? I remember crying over you / And I don’t mean like a couple of tears then I’m blue
   I’m talkin’ about collapsing / And screaming at the moon
   But I’m a better man / For having gone through it
7. Violet Hill – Coldplay. Lennon-esque.
8. Mansard Roof – Vampire Weekend. For my kids.
9. The Square Root of Two – The Two Man Gentleman Band. These dudes crack me up. I wish I’d written this witty ode to love set to mathematics.
10. Cassanova, Baby! – The Gaslight Anthem. Maybe the best pure rock ‘n roll track of the year.
11. If I Had Eyes – Jack Johnson.
12. All Will Be Well – The Gabe Dixon Band.
13. Lost – Coldplay. The piano-driven one, not the others. Although I do love the Jay-Z “duo”.
14. Everybody Knows – John Legend. I love this dude’s voice.
15. On Up the Mountain – Jakob Dylan.
16. Go Easy – Ryan Adams.
17. Our Voices – Matthew Barber.
18. Lovers in Japan / Reign of Love – Coldplay. The fourth and final Coldplay song to make the top 25.
19. But For You Who Fear My Name – Welcome Wagon. A relatively new entry since it was just released. But this Sufjan-produced gospel album is simply great and this is my favorite track so far.
20. Heaven – Brett Dennen.
21. Murder in the City – The Avett Brothers.
22. Angel – Jack Johnson. I’ve never liked a complete Jack Johnson album, but “Sleep Through the Static” was his best to date. This song reminds me of my girls, Sunny and Abby Kate.
23. Caroline – Old Crow Medicine Show.
24. Reckoner – Radiohead. This song gets in my brain and curls up and stays for days.
25. Baby Doll – The Gabe Dixon Band.