Erik Adams and Annie Moss wrote about the local music scene on their Just Haircuts and Jackets (justhaircutsandjackets.blogspot.com) Web site for more than a year. As a fitting eulogy to the now defunct blog, these experts on mitten state music gave us their top five Michigan songs:
5. "Boys and Children Sing for Summer" — Those Transatlantics
EA: Had this song existed in the '80s, it could have scored the climactic scene to a barely-watchable teen movie, when the shy heroine performs at the high school talent show. No one's surprised by the cutesy opening ... but then the curtains fall to reveal a bad-ass backing band, as our heroine displays her true rocker self during Mike Spence's fret-burning solo
4. "Threadlines"— Matt Jones
AM: Even amongst the intriguing rhythm, intricate lyrics and Matt Jones' penetrating solo voice, the vocal harmony in the chorus tears me apart. I could sing along to this song for hours
3. "Hearts and Flowers" — The Pop Project
AM: Zach Curd's earnest, flattering and slightly awkward description of romantic admiration rings truer than any love song I've ever heard.
2. "The Last Parade on Ann St." — Chris Bathgate
EA: We've argued so much about which interpretation of "The Last Parade" sounds best, but it doesn't matter. This is just a great effing song
1. "Isabella County, 1992"
AM: This song really captures the duality of the melancholy and warmth of Michigan winters: The seemingly-barren season can surprise us with nights at a bar with dear companions and beautiful, beautiful snow.
EA: I'm grateful Jamie Monger captured one of those nights.
Thanks to Leah Warshaw.
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