Although it’s a little late for a “year in review” piece, I would be remiss not to talk about my hands down favorite song of 2009. As a bonus, this pick also doubles as an open love letter to the song’s singer. Neko Case has a voice so rich you could by a small Indonesian island with it. It makes me think of all sorts of great things like winter nights in a pine forest or summer days in an old wooden barn (I LOVE old wooden barns).  She has songs that make you want to cry and others that make you want to create your own maps in a medieval dungeon workshop.

The specific song, “This tornado loves you” has all the elements needed for an all-time classic. It has great lyrics; I especially love the line, “I’ve waited with a glacier’s patience”. The frantic guitars mesh seamlessly with her singing. It just works as a mid-tempo country-rock masterpiece. Plus, it is about a tornado falling in love with someone which is super weird and awesome.

As for Neko, here are some key facts why I am asking her to marry me:

• She is a total babe. (I saw her at a bar in Montreal once and this fact is now scientifically confirmed)
• She lives on a farm in Vermont with means she has an old wooden barn.
• She wears David Suzuki tshirts on national American television shows.
• On her latest record cover, she stands on a classic car in bare feet holding some sort of weapon.
• That god damn voice.