“For the Summer” by Ray LaMontagne & The Pariah Dogs

I’m not a huge fan of contemporary country, but there are some songs from the genre I think are top notch. This track from Ray LaMontagne & The Pariah Dogs has a contemporary country arrangement with a pop music feel, although the music and lyrics are far more mature than anything that passes for pop music nowadays.

It’s not the first song to explore loneliness and forgiveness, but the sentiment (brought across by LaMontagne’s strong yet world-weary vocals) gives it an uncommon depth of feeling. This would be a good song to take on the road, when it’s time to thing about lost loves.