BEST OF 2010 (songs) #6 Best Coast - Goodbye

Bethany Cosentino became one of the closest things indie culture had this year to an internet celebrity, in part because of the hype surrounding Best Coast, in part because of the somewhat hilarious feud between her and Hipster Runoff, in part because of her propensity to write songs for Target and Converse, in part because of her propensity to typify a stereotypical southern California girl who really likes to dank, and in part because she dates another quasi-internet celebrity from southern California named Nathan Williams who also likes to smoke dank and make music. Lost in all of this is that Bethany is an insanely talented songwriter who crafts simple, but potent, jangle-pop songs. "Goodbye" is an instant classic heartbreak song delivered with equal measures of wit and sincerity. There are so many great lyrics in this one song, including my favorite; "I lost my job, I miss my mom, I wish my cat could talk" that it almost seems unfair to other songwriters that Bethany is this good. Once she gets to the chorus though, and the production shifts from light to heavy and dark, you get the sense that "Goodbye" isn't all shits and giggles. There is real hurt and heartache at the center of "Goodbye" that will have you crying in your drink, even as you crack a smile during its grin inducing verses.