The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2009: Bosque Brown's "This Town" Comes Back at No. 8.

[Editor's Note: Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be presenting my favorite local songs of the year, counting down from No. 25 to No. 1, one track a day. Today we take an in-depth look at song No. 8 on the list--and, please, feel free to click after the...

By Pete Freedman

December 24, 2009

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[Editor's Note: Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be presenting my favorite local songs of the year, counting down from No. 25 to No. 1, one track a day. Today we take an in-depth look at song No. 8 on the list--and, please, feel free to click after the jump for a free download of the track. Lastly, please keep checking back to see how the list pans out. Also after the jump, check out songs No. 40-26 in the Top 40 list that will update as it grows...]

No. 8: Bosque Brown -- "This Town"

In person, Mara Lee Miller looks like a wallflower, a shy, small-town girl a little bit afraid from the spotlight. Then she steps behind a microphone, her fellow members of Bosque Brown standing behind her.

And she starts singing. And out pours that voice. And everyone within earshot melts.

Bonus mp3:

Bosque Brown -- "This Town"

Miller, who along with her backing band, performs under the name of Bosque Brown (a reference to the Bosque River), possesses a heart-stopping talent with her vocals. A true throwback, which boasts just enough of a Texas drawl (developed in her hometown of the unincorporated Whiskey Flats community), Miller's is a timeless voice.

Throughout the entirety of her band's 2009 release, Baby, Miller's talent shines through in a major way. But it shines brightest on "This Town," which, bolstered by the rest of the band's spare playing style, is driven mostly by a relatively repetitive piano line and Miller's voice. But that's all it needs, really. Because, again, that voice... it's just so comforting, and, on a nostalgic track about one's hometown, that makes for a soul-crushing combination.

A slightly poppier track than most of Bosque Brown's catalog, which tends to stay close to its true blue Americana base, "This Town" stands as proof that Miller's voice isn't just a good fit for a niche genre. Indeed, here, Miller shows off a Regina Spektor-like star power.

Only, well, better. Because it's, I dunno, more honest. Seriously: If listeners haven't completely crumbled by the end of "This Town" they will be once Miller sniffles at its end. You can't fake something like that. Nor can anyone deny Bosque Brown's impressive talents.

The Top 40 Local Songs of 2009 (Links to music videos and free song downloads available where applicable; links to streams where neither a download nor video exists.)

40.

Bosque Brown -- "This Town"

-- "Safety in Numbers"
39. Macon Greyson -- "Pushing Strings"
38. The Burning Hotels -- "Austin's Birthday" (video)
37. The Riverboat Gamblers -- "DissDissDissKissKissKiss" (video)
36. Salim Nourallah -- "Endless Dream Days"
35. The Phuss -- "Preacher, Preacher"
34. The Southern Sea -- "These Things Always End Badly"
33. Fungi Girls -- "Pacifica Nostalgia"
32. Giggle Party -- "Jason Bought a Hatchet" (video)
31. Carter Albrecht -- "Country Living" (stream)
30. This Old House -- "At Risk"
29. Occult Detective Club -- "You'll Follow Me"
28. Bad Sports -- "Nothing But Agitation"
27. Darktown Strutters -- "Quakertown"
26. The Crash That Took Me -- "Patricia Lynn" (stream)
25. Red Monroe -- "Pat Mayse Lake"
24. Danny Balis -- "Tethered"
23. Sleep Whale -- "Cotton Curls"
22. PVC Street Gang -- "Cutlass" (video)
21. Air Review -- "Jura"
20. Xrabit & Damaged Good$ -- "Follow the Leader" (video)
19. Doug Burr -- "The Righteous Will Rejoice"
18. Seryn -- "We Will All Be Changed"
17. galleryCat -- "Say Say Say"
16. Sunnybrook -- "Waving Hands"
15. The O's -- "You've Got Your Heart"
14. Ishi -- "Pastel Lights"
13. Binary Sunrise -- "Five Minutes"
12. The Paper Chase -- "What Should We Do With Your Body? (The Lightning)"
11. Fergus & Geronimo -- "Tell It In My Ear"
10. Max Moon -- "Urban Outfitters"
9. Neon Indian -- "Deadbeat Summer"
8. Bosque Brown -- "This Town"
7. ????????
6. ????????
5. ????????
4. ????????
3. ????????
2. ????????
1. ????????

...and be sure to keep checking back, as this list will update daily

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