All my elevens and sevens been comin' up sixes and nines

One happy result of looking at the work of The Dahlmanns is that the journey has led me to re-explore Amy Rigby's canon. That's because said Dahlmanns have a splendid cover of "Dancing with Joey Ramone" that perfectly captures the brilliance of that particular punk-rock dream. More on the Ramones soon.

Amy Rigby has been doing her thing so well and so consistently for so long that she gets taken for granted. And, tragically, not enough know her or her work.

But the cool kids know about her -- literate and deliciously tuneful snapshots/portraits of modern life and relationships from the point of view of a 30-40-50-something single (most of the time) mother. But that doesn't mean her music doesn't translate across genders; these truths hit home and have emotional depth and clarity, even for dads like me.

Especially attractive is the (not so) subtle sense of humor interwoven through folk, rock and country-flavored jingle-jangle melodies that float around in your head for days.

But it's the emotions that stay with you even longer. Rigby knows the significance of the little moments, and her sharp eye for detail brings it all back home:

I picked my daughter up at school last week
She had her headphones on, she barely said hello
And all I wanted was to hug her, smother her with kisses
But I was cool, like hi there, how did it go?
She had chipped nail polish, writing on her hand
She was nodding her head to her favorite band
Staring into space like she was all alone
But I didn't take it personal
It meant that I was home, and I said

Hey I love you, you're perfect, don't ever change
Don't ever change
Hey I love you, you're perfect, don't ever change
Don't ever change

Amy Rigby and husband Wreckless Eric -- "Don't Ever Change" (Yes, that Wreckless Eric)

Amy Rigby is smart, maybe too smart for her own good, given the pop landscape. She has an age- and experience-defined audience, although it's a good bet that most have of them have yet to hear her.

It may be that she is the best songwriter of the last 15 years.

I never could have really appreciated Rigby's prodigious gifts when I was single and had no children, or even before I was a battled-scarred veteran of relationships. This is grown-ups music, for people who are no longer sure that growing up was a good thing, and laced with cynicism and a knowingness that love is a universal problem that sometimes can be laughed at.

Her voice is alternately assured and vulnerable, sweet and sassy, and rough when it needs to be.

And what does is say that this modern and jaded, yet hopeful, mom speaks to me and my life RIGHT NOW better than any male songwriter?

It means that she has been there before. And that she is good, damn good. And often great.

"Beer and Kisses" -- Amy Rigby

Strictly 100: Number 22 -- Amy Rigby