As a follow up to my favorite albums post, here are my 25 favorite songs of 2015:

1. Speed Trap Town by Jason Isbell. A masterful story about pain, regret, and finally taking control of your life, sung by the current king of Americana.
2. Fire Away by Chris Stapleton. My favorite song on my favorite album this year.
3. Children of Children by Jason Isbell. A song inspired by Isbell’s mother.
4. Then Came the Morning by The Lone Bellow.
5. Man I’m Supposed to Be by American Aquarium.
6. Hello by Adele. The rare popular song that’s actually good.
7. How’m I Gonna Find You Now by James McMurtury.
8. Long White Line by Sturgill Simpson.
9. Bored in the USA by Father John Misty.
10. Should Have Known Better by Sufjan Stevens. One of Sufjan’s beautiful odes to his late mother.
11. Daddy Doesn’t Pray Anymore by Chris Stapleton.
12. The Joke Explained by Wilco.
13. V’s of Birds by Dwight Yoakam.
14. Shoegaze by Alabama Shakes.
15. (I Do) Like We Do by Harry Connick, Jr. Harry Connick really demonstrates his versatility on this latest album. He can do it all: jazz, pop, adult contemporary, even a bit of country-western, as on this stellar tune.
16. Cumbia de Donde by Calexico.
17. Fond Farewell by Seth Avett & Jessica Lea Mayfield.
18. Third Eye by Florence + The Machine. The most anthemic song on this band’s best album to date. I really like this song.
19. Copper Canteen by James McMurtury.
20. Lampshade On by The Dustbowl Revival. This might be the most fun record I’ve heard all year.
21. You Satellite by Wilco.
22. Traveller by Chris Stapleton.
23. One Thing by Gabe Dixon. I love Gabe Dixon. I wish he was a little more prolific. One of these days, he’s going to put out a five-star album. For now, I’ll have to be satisfied with little nuggets like this one.
24. How Could You Babe by Tobias Jesso Jr.
25. Only Love by Mumford & Sons. I was hugely disappointed in this album. After a meteoric rise to the top of the Americana / folk-rock heap, Mumford inexplicably “went electric” for this release. The songs are mostly derivative and forgettable. Only Love is the one exception.