I’ve been making what I call a Christmas mix — that is, not holiday songs but a mix made at the holidays — since 1997; first they were tapes, then for a few years cds, and finally, in the digital age, the last seven years have been downloadable zip files, and this year is no exception. These are songs — frequently but not necessarily released in 2012 — that meant something to me this year, for various reasons, and they are for you. Consider it a list of my favorite songs of this year, if that helps. The whole shebang is available as a zip file [here] (135MB, .zip).

Happy holidays, happy 2012, happy these are great songs — whatever floats your boat. This is from me to you. 2012 was a bad year with great moments, and here’s hoping that 2013 is better.

If you creep about lurking and you only comment on one post all year, this would be a good one. I’m just sayin’. ♥

Okay, link should be working now. Let me know if it doesn’t.

1. “Why” – Josh Ritter: why spend your only life waiting / to do what you know you can do?
   
2. “I Want My Seven Years Back” – Chelsea Crowell: you can retell your same old story / and maybe some new girl won’t think it’s lame
   
3. “I Don’t Mind” – Defeater: i will beg and steal and borrow / to keep you safe your whole life
   
4. “Nothing’s Gonna Change The Way You Feel About Me Now” – Justin Townes Earle: i know it’s wrong but i’ve got to admit / i said some things that i shouldn’t have said
   
5. “If I Needed You” (Townes Van Zandt) – Mumford & Sons: if i needed you would you come to me / would you come to me, for to ease my pain?
   
6. “Giving Up Redheads” – Leland Sundries: well that girl didn’t even catch my eye, boys, until she dyed her hair
   
7. “Flowers In Your Hair” – The Lumineers: it takes a man to live / it takes a woman to make him compromise
   
8. “Pick Me Up” – Air Traffic Controller: have a seat, grab a drink / try not to give a fuck what anybody thinks
   
9. “Working Titles” – Damien Jurado: you wrote about me on every new record / i’ll show up in the title of your song / i only hope that somebody requests it
   
10. “That Old Black Hole” – Dr. Dog: i was not prepared to lose it all the moment that i found it
    
11. “King of the World” – First Aid Kit: well i’m nobody’s baby / i’m everybody’s girl / i’m the queen of nothing / i’m the king of the world
    
12. “Smothered In Hugs” (Guided By Voices) – Cuff The Duke: i’m gonna leave with you / you can teach me all you know
    
13. “The Happy Song” – Alex Chilton: sing us a happy little song and we can do the rest
    
14. “Cinder Blocks” – Onward, Soldiers: where have you been / come back to Carolina
    
15. “Nice Things” – The Menzingers: are you happy, are you sane, are you rich, are you thin?
    
16. “Nothing Is Anything (Without You)” – Wintersleep: if it was easier to leave it alone / why did you come here?
    
17. “Never Have To Fall In Love Again” – Eleni Mandell: but if you have to gamble on a better life than ramble / and i’ll start by falling out of love with you.
    
18. “Isn’t This World Enough??” – Admiral Fallow: from your first exhale to your very last breath / isn’t this world enough?
    
19. “Still Not Home” – Tift Merritt: i try so hard, but i’m still not home
    
20. “Someone You Used To Know” – Wylie Hunter & the Cazadores: you can say that’s the voice of someone you used to know