The Dogwood Bark's Top 100 Songs Of All Time - #94: The Wrens - "She Sends Kisses"

The Wrens - The Meadowlands (2003)

Normally, I post a favorite lyric from the featured song at the beginning of the write-up.  This time, I'm going to paste the lyrics in their entirety for a couple of reasons. First, you can't understand them otherwise.  Second, the song stumbles into this list due almost solely to the juvenile and clumsy way in which they were written.  It sounds like a drunken imitation of the Wallflowers.  It sounds like one of the best break-up songs ever penned.

ten tons against me and you’ve gone

I put your favorite records on

and sit around

it spins around

and you’re around again

struck dumb while drugs run at how high reeds

cue every memory at half-speeds

just like….charles, hold-me-downs

I’m-coming sounds

cut crap, who’s filling shoes like these anymore?

past clumsy crushes beneath Thrill Pier

hopes pinned to poses honed in men’s room mirrors

a sophomore at Brown

she worked Lost & Found

I put your face on her all year

from five rows of photos when you wrote

of posed you, dressed blue, a backyard boat

signed at the bottom with this quote:

(#4 North Shore) a cape may address

your new one I guess

‘all’s well in hell and all here’s hoping’

she sends kisses

some signed ‘with Love, Beth oooooo xxxxx’

she sends kisses

same old beth - some signed 666

our shore town knockdown sure was fun

yeah, white trash, what have you

I fired replies back gun by gun

past Seven Wrecks I read your four answers: 1. your move 2. I’m tres involved 3. move on 4. love, Beth

I walk it down

this tourist town

‘just thought I’d’ calls

just friends 

she sends kisses 

and all at once back doors blow open

she sends….
in envelopes stamped w/ ‘Hope & Hearts’ - ripped right open

she sends…

but I’m corrupt - I wrote back good luck

Check out the rest of the Dogwood Bark Top 100:

100. Pixies - "Where Is My Mind?

99. Bloc Party - "This Modern Love"

98. Paul McCartney - "Too Many People"

97. Liz Phair - "Explain It To Me"

96. Neil Young - "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere"

95. Belle & Sebastian - "Another Sunny Day"

The Dogwood Bark's Top 100 Songs Of All Time - #95: Belle & Sebastian - "Another Sunny Day"

Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit (2006)

"Another sunny day, I met you up in the garden.  You were digging plants; I dug you, beg your pardon."

Beloved Scottish duo Belle & Sebastian have firmly secured their place among my all-time favorites.  Their style has evolved over the years, trading in the Nick Drake inspired folk for sunshine pop along the way.  "Another Sunny Day" clearly comes from the later period.  Despite its warm title and jangly, driving rhythms, the subject matter paints the typically dark picture of the stages of dying love.  It's a tale told over and over again in pop music.  Belle & Sebastian just do it better than almost anyone.

The video just screams of hipster aesthetic, but this group has always attracted the black-rimmed glasses with beanies in the summer type of crowd.  If you start to suffer from cuteness overload, just close your eyes.  The cascading harmonies used so effectively throughout will reel you back in.

Check out the rest of the Dogwood Bark Top 100:

100. Pixies - "Where Is My Mind?

99. Bloc Party - "This Modern Love"

98. Paul McCartney - "Too Many People"

97. Liz Phair - "Explain It To Me"

96. Neil Young - "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere"

Penny Lane #6 - The Real Group - "Waltz For Debby" & The Moody Blues - "Your Wildest Dreams"

In celebration of Lainey's first birthday, we give you Penny Lane #6.  It was a great year.

Penny Lane #5: First Aid Kit - "Emmylou"

The Penny Lane home movie #5, showcasing the life of Lainey over First Aid Kit's "Emmylou."

Penny Lane #4: Fleet Foxes - "Helplessness Blues"

The fourth video in the Penny Lane home movie series, featuring Fleet Foxes' "Helplessness Blues."  This highlights Lainey's first trip to Yellowstone.

The Dogwood Bark's Top 100 Songs Of All Time - #96: Neil Young - "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere"

Neil Young - Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (1969)

"Every time I think about back home, it's cool and breezy."

You're going to see plenty of Neil Young as this countdown slowly plods along, as he undoubtedly resides among the all-time greats within the Dogwood pantheon.  Another common thread you'll find woven throughout this list is the frequent presence of tracks from essential albums that could be described as less essential individually.  Yes, I know this album contains iconic rock songs like "Cinnamon Girl" and "Cowgirl In The Sand;" but for me, you can't top the rootsy folk of the title track.

It's simple, and it's timeless.  The Horse sounds great without noodling you to death with their (admittedly impressive) jam skills.  Who can't relate to "I think I'd like to go back home and take it easy?"  Next time you're reeling from a hard day's work, escape the day to day running around and put on this classic.

Check out the rest of the Dogwood Bark Top 100:

100. Pixies - "Where Is My Mind?

99. Bloc Party - "This Modern Love"

98. Paul McCartney - "Too Many People"

97. Liz Phair - "Explain It To Me"

The Dogwood Bark's Top 100 Songs Of All Time - #97: Liz Phair - "Explain It To Me"

Liz Phair - Exile In Guyville (1993)

"Tell him to jump higher.  Tell him to jump farther.  Make him measure up, decades longer than you."

Warning:  hipster moment coming right at you.  Long before Liz Phair was asking Top 40 listeners why she couldn't breathe without a certain someone, she recorded a punchy album full of angsty indie rockers.  Yes, before she went mainstream and "sold out," she actually made some really good music.  I almost hate myself for buying into the reverse hype so to speak, but this thing is just too damn good.

1993's Exile In Guyville still sounds unique and fresh to this day.  The subject matter doesn't exactly lend itself to in-car spins with my daughter, but it sure makes for a great drunken late night headphones listen.

The standout track from this relatively large collection is the bittersweetly beautiful "Explain It To Me."  I find the title somewhat ironic; because upon sharing my favorite song from this indie classic with others, I'm often asked to explain.  Others seem to prefer the dirtier, more grungy tracks.  And perhaps it's the position "Explain" holds within the track listing and the pretty contrast that it provides that warms my heart so.

As it is, I really can't explain why this tune is one of my favorites of all time.  It's one of those unmistakable moments in music that simultaneously brings joy and sadness, and it does so with such profound authenticity.  Overly simple and slightly mundane?  Maybe.  I'll play it forever though.

Check out the rest:

100. Pixies - "Where Is My Mind?"
99. Bloc Party - "This Modern Love"
98. Paul McCartney - "Too Many People"