I actually started this catalogue-ranking prior to my Taylor Swift ranking. It just took much longer, because the Indigo Girls have an enormous body of work! I started around December off and on, then January-March, all of first quarter. Then, formatted the list for almost a whole month. So I’ll link the methodology I used for Taylor Swift (and every ranking project) here:
As for the categories, enjoy them if that’s your thing, ignore them if it’s not. The list is from my least favorite song to my very favorite song. Oh, and I included most of the legit albums, including lives and repeated songs, except a very redundant live (Retrospective) and a short EP (I think, those are the ones I skipped, I’m too lazy after all this work to Google).
Here’s what the letters stand for:
(C)ATCHY
(I)NSTRUMENTALS-extra
(L)YRICS
(N)OTES-super high or low or complex
(P)OLITICAL MESSAGE
(S)ENTIMENTAL
(U)NIQUE
Without further adieu: Here is the catalogue of my long-term favorite music group–The Indigo Girls!
Skips:
Skip-dislike; skip-boring
Skip: Last place song:
-Fare Thee Well (SO):
Skip-dislike
-History of Us (ST): L, N
-Left Me a Fool (SF): L
Skip
-Sister (CoNS): C, L
Skip-Boring
-Birthday (BQS): N
Best skip:
-Feed & Water the Horses (BQS):
Meh:
Last meh: -Mystery (1200): L, N
-When We Were Writers (LL): N
-Andy (CoNS): L, N
-Power of Two (1200): L, N
-Power of Two (LwtUoCSO): I, L, N
-Cedar Tree (RoP): I, N, U (bag pipe sounding)
-There’s Still My Joy (HHD): L, N
-Peace Child (HHD): C, L, N
-John (BQS): L, N, P
-Mistletoe (HHD): C, L
-Cordova (AtWLI): C, L, N, P
-Neuvose Senorita (BY): L, P
-Mystery (LwtUoCSO): I, N
-Able to Sing (BQS): C, N
-Dead Man’s Hill (1200): N, P
-Come On Home (AtWLI): C, L
Best meh: -Strange Fire (1200): C, I, L, P
IG OK = neutral songs
A = top of OK [1 =higher part of OK-A; 2 = lower part of OK-A]
B = exactly OK
C = lower OK [1 = higher part of OK-C; 2 = lower part of OK-C]
IG OK:
OC-3rd rank of the OK group
2-bottom of the OK-C group
Worst OK2: –Findly, Ohio 1968 (OLD); L, P = OC2 (slow & depressisng)
-Texas was Clean (OLD): L = oc2
-Closer to Fine (LwtUoCSO): C, I, L, P = OC2 (Emily sounds out of breath; slow)
-Mystery (SO): L, N = OC2
-Love Will Come to You-live (RoP): L = OC2
Best OK2: -Language or the Kiss (SO); L, U (bike bell) = OC2
IG OK:
OC-3rd ranked of OK group
1-top of OC group
Worst OK-C-1: -Language or the Kiss (1200): L, N = OC1
-Look Long (LL): C, L, N, P = OB2
-Hey Kind Friend (SotS): I, L = OC2
-If I Don’t Leave Here Now (OLD): N = OC1 (more in depth)
-All That We Let In (AtWLI): C, L = OC1
-Power of Two (SO); L = OC1
Best OK-C-1: -Fly Away (DOD): C, L, N, P = OC1
IG OK
OB-2nd ranked of OK group
2-bottom of OB group
Last OK-B-2: -Virginia Woolf (RoP): C, L = OB2
-Soon be to Nothing (CoNS); C, L =ob2
-Fishtails (OLD): L, N, P = OB2
-Cordova (SDtBD): C, L = OB2
-I’ll Be Home for Christmas (HHD); N, S = OB1
-Ghost-live (1200): L, N = OB2
-Everything in it’s Own Time (SotS): C, I, L, P = OB2
-Come On Home (SDtBD): C, L = ob2
Best OK-B-2: -Center Stage-live (ST): C, L, P = OB2 (little off-key)
IG OK
OB-2nd ranked in OK group
1-top of OK-B group
Last OK-B-1: -Digging for Your Dream-acoustic (PatBB): C, L, P = OB1
-Virginia Woolf (1200); C, L, N = OB1
-Fly Away-acoustic (DOD): L, N =OB1
-Dirt and Dead Ends (PatBB): L, N, P =ob1
-Sister (CoNS): L = (too quiet) = OB1
-Crazy Game (SF): C, N = oa2 (kinda bluesy & has flute?)
Best OK-B-1: -Sugar Tongue-acoustic (PatBB): C, L = OB1
IG OK
OA-top of OK group
2-bottom of OK-A group
Last OK-A-2: -Share the Moon (BQS): C, I, L = OA2 (pretty strings)
-Come On Home (LwtUoCSO): C, I, L, N = OA2
-She’s Saving Me (BY); L, N, S = OA2
-Caramia (SotS): C, I, L, N = OA2
-Don’t Give that Girl a Gun (SotS): C, L, N, P = OA2
-In the Bleak Midwinter (HHD): I, N = OA1 (original; harmonies!)
-Ghost (LwtUoCSO): I, L, N = OA1
-Driver Education-acoustic (PatBB); C, L, P = OB1
Best of OK-A-2: -Fleet of Hope (PatBB): C, L = OA2 (harmonies even stronger than usual)
IG OK
OA-best of the OK group
1-top of the OK-A group
Last OK-A-1: -We Get to Feel it All (BQS); C, I, L, N = OA1
-Ghost of the Gang (PatBB); C, L, P = OA1
-Three County Highway (DOD): L, S = OA1
-Bitterroot (BY): C =OA1
-Rise Up (AtWLI): C = OA1
-Virginia Woolf (LwtUoCSO): C, I, L, N = OA1 (some of the singing a bit iffy, instruments good!)
-Pendulum Swinger-live (DOD): C, L, P = OA1
-What are You Like (SDtBD); C, I, L = OA1 (end!)
-War Rugs (BQS): C, I, L, P = OA1 (instruments!)
-Three Hits-live (RoP): C, I, L, P = OA1
-Compromise (CoNS): C, I, L, N, P = OA1
Best of OK-A-1: -Prince of Darkness (SDtBD): C, N, P, S = OA1
IG Goods:
A = almost awesome, top of good
[1 = higher part of Good-A;
i = top half Good-A-1; ii = bottom half Good-A-1
2 = lower part of Good-A]
B = exactly Good
[1 = higher part of Good-B; 2 = middle of Good-B; 3 = lowest part of Good-B]
C = almost OK, lowest good list
[1 = higher part of Good-C; 2 = lower part of Good-C]
Good- C= almost OK
2 = bottom of category
Last Good-C-2: -Alberta (OLD): C, L = c2
-Everybody’s Waiting for Someone to Come Home (SF): C, N = c2
-Back Together Again (1200): C = c2
-Gone (BQS): C, N = c2
-Country RAdio (LL): L, N, P = c2
-Ghost (RoP); C, I, L, N, P = c2
-Thin Line (1200): c2
Best Good-C-2: –Love’s Recovery (1200): C, L = c2 (too much brass)
Good
c= almost OK
1 = top of category
Good-C-1 bottom song: -Walk Away (SF): C, I, N = c1
-Love Will Come to You (RoP): C, L, N = c1
-Come a Long Way (OLD): L = c1
-I’ll Be Home for Christmas (HHD): I, N = c1
-It Really is (A Wonderful Life) (HHD): C, N = c1
-Something Real (AtWLI): C, L, N = c1
-Feel this WAy Again (LL): C, L = c1
-Spread the Pain Around (OLD): C, I, L = c (CAJUN SOUNDS)
-Dirt and Dead Ends (DOD): L, P = C1 (BLEAK)
-Salty South-acoustic (PatBB): C, I, L, P = c1
Best Good-C-1: -Digging for Your Dream (SDtBD): C, L, P = C1
Good
b= exactly good
3 = bottom of category
Last Good-B-3: -Get Together (SF) = C, L, P = b2 (NICE HARMONY)
-Dead Man’s Hill (SO): C, L, P = B2
-Southern California is Your Girlfriend (OLD): C, L = b2
-Sorrow and Joy (LL); N, P = b2 (WTF is this song about? I like the sentiment of the chorus)
-Wild Horses (SDtBD); C, N = b2
-We are Together (CoNS): C, N = b2
-Peace Tonight (CoNS): C, L = b2
-Ghost of the Gang-acoustic (PatBB): L, P = b2 (substancial story)
-The Wood Song (SO): C, L, N = b2
-Nashville (RoP): C, L, P = b2
-Digging for Your Dream (PatBB) = C, L, P = b2
-Perfect World (AtWLI): C, L, P = b2
-War Rugs (LwtUoCSO): C, I, L, N, P = b2
-True Romantic-acoustic (PatBB): C, L, N = b2 (the yearning!)
-I’ll Change-acoustic (PatBB): C, L, S = b2
-Come a Long Way (LwtUoCSO): C, I, L, N = b2 (Uneven singing; ending!)
Best Good-b-3: -Fly Away (SDtBD): C, L, N = b2
Good
b= exactly good
2 = middle of category
Last Good-b-2: -Mariner Moonlighting (BQS): L = b1
-Change My Heart (LL); I, N, P = b1 (kinda weird lyrics)
-Elizabeth (OLD): L, N = B1 (DETAILED STORY)
-Muster (LL): L, P = b1
-Your Holiday Song (HHD); C, I, L, N = b1
-The Wood Song (SDtBD): C, N = b1
-What Are You Like-acoustic (PatBB): C = B1
Best Good-b-2: -Fleet of Hope-acoustic (PatBB); C, L = b1
Good
b= exactly good
1 = top of category
Bottom Good-b-1: -K.C. Girl (LL): C, L, = b1
-Run (DOD): C, N = b1
-The Girl w/the Weight of the World in Her Hands (NIS); L, P, S = B1
-Jonas and Ezekiel (1200): C, L, N, P = b1
-Jonas and Ezekiel (RoP): C, I, L, P = b1
-Ozilline (CoNS): C, I, L, U (old lady talking) = b1
-Reunion (SO): C, I, L, N = b1
-Ozilline (SDtBD): I, L, N = b1
-Love of Our Lives (SDtBD): C, L, N = b1
-True Romantic (PatBB): C, L, N = b1
-Down by the River (1200): C, I, N = b1
-Woodsong (LwtUoCSO): C, I, N = b1
Best Good-b-1: -Keeper of My Heart (NIS): C, L, P, S = b1
Good
a= almost awesome
Last Good-almost awesome: -Crazy Game (SF): N = a2ii (great harmonies, bluesy)
-What Are You Like (PatBB): C = A2ii
-Romeo and Juliet (RoP); C, L, N, P = a2ii
-Three Hits (RoP): C, I, N, P = A2ii
-Let it be Me (RoP): C, N, P = a2ii
-Leeds (SotS): C, L, P, U (Indian chanting) = a2ii
-Free in You (AtWLI): C, N = A2i
-This Train Revised (SO); C, I, L, N, P = a2i
-Trouble (CoNS): C, I, L, N, P = a2ii
Best Good-Almost Awesome: -They Won’t Have Me (DOD): C, I, L, P = a2ii
Awesome
A = Elite Awesomes
B = Average-Awesomes
Platinum [1 = top of platinum; 2 = bottom of platinum]
Gold
Silver [1 = top of silver; 2 = bottom of silver]
Bronze
C = Just Awesome [1 = higher part of Just Awesome; C-2 = lower part of Just Awesome]
Awesome-C-2
Last A-C-2: -Damo (BQS): C, I, L, N = a2i
-Watershed (SDtBD): = C, I, L, N, S = a2i (5d, live singing = less)
-Making Promises (BQS); C, L = a2i
-Love of Our Lives-acoustic (PatBB): C, L, N = a2ii (stronger singing)
-Three County Highway (SDtBD): C, L, N = a2i
-Strange Fire (SF): C, I, L, N = a2i
-Gone Again (CoNS): C, I, L, P = a2i
-Pendulum Swinger (DOD): C, L, N, P = a2i
-Southland in the Springtime (NIS): C, L, S = a2i
-Starkville (BY); C, I, L, S = a2i
-Shed Your Skin (SofS): I, L, N, P, U (native american backing) = a2i
-Sugar Tongue (PatBB): C, L, P, S = a2i
-Able to Sing (LwtUoCSO): C, I!, L, N = a2i
-Tether (AtWLI): C, I, L, N, P = a2i
-Galileo (LwtUoCSO): C, I, L, N, P = AIi (good, but I like original better)
First A-C-2: -Welcome Me (NIS): C, I, L, P, S = a2i
Awesome-C-1
Last A-C-1: -Angels We Have Heard On High (HHD): C, N, S = a1ii
-Little Perennials-live (DOD): C, I, N = a1ii
-Airplane (RoP): C, L, N = a1ii
-Lay My Head Down (DOD); C, L, N, P = a1ii
-Damo (LwtUoCSO): C, I, L, N, P = a1ii
-Three County Highway-live (DOD): C, L, N, P = a1ii
-You’ve Got to Show (BY): C, L, S = a1ii
-Cut it OUt (SotS): C, I, L, P = a1ii
-Happy in the Sorrow Key (LwtUoCSO): C, I, L, N, P = A1ii
-Tried to be True (ST); C, L, S = a1ii
-Fugitive (SO) = C, L, N, P = a1ii
-Faye Tucker (CoNS): C, I, L, N, P = a1ii
-Secure Yourself (ST): C, L, N, P, S = a1ii
-World Falls (NIS): C, L, N, P, S = a1ii
First A-C-1: -Closer to Fine (SDtBD): C, I, L, N, P, S = a1ii
Average-Awesomes:
Platinum [1 = top of platinum; 2 = bottom of platinum]
Gold
Silver [1 = top of silver; 2 = bottom of silver]
Bronze
Last Avg-Awesome-Bronze: -Beauty Queen Sister (BQS): C, I, L, P = a1i
-Least Complicated (SO): C, L, N, P, S = 2a
-Last Tears-acoustic (DOD): C, L, N, S = a1i
-Chickenman (RoP): C, L, P, U (harmonica?) = 2b
-Run (DOD): C = 2b
-I Don’t Wanna Know (SF): C, I, N, U (harmonica?) = 2b
-I Believe in Love (DOD): C, L!, S = 2b
-I Don’t Wanna Know (1200); C, I, L, N = a1i (more lively version, “I don’t care either!”)
First Avg-Awesome-Bronze: –Touch Me Fall (SO): I (really rocks at end) = 2b
Last Silver Avg-Awesome-2: –This Train Revised (1200-live): C, I, N = 2b
-Love of Our Lives (LwtUoCSO): C, I!, L, N = a1i
-Little Perennials (DOD): C, L = 1C
-Favorite Flavor (LL): C, L = 3
-Learned It On Me (OLD): C, L, N (harmonies) = 2b (yes! a burn-song)
-Olympia Inn (OLD): C, P = 2B
Top Silver Avg-Awesome-2: –Dairy Queen (AtWLI): C, I, S! = 2b
Last Silver Avg-Awesome-1: –Love’s Recovery (ST): C, L, N, S = (don’t like Emily’s deep singing) = 3
-Land of Cannan-radio single (ST): C, I, L, N, P, S = a1i
-Burn All the Letters (SotS): C, I, L, N, P, U (powwow chant) = a1i
-Believe in Love (SDtBD): C, I, L, N = a1i
-I’ll Change (PatBB): C, L, S = 2b
Top Silver Avg-Awesome-1: -All the Way(DOD): C, L, S! = 2a (strong vocab, meaningful to me)
Last Gold Avg-Awesome: –Center Stage (ST): I, L, N, P = a1i (ending)
-Faye Tucker (CoNS): C, L, N, P, U (laugh, chanting) = 2b
-Fill It Up Again (SDtBD); C, L, S = 2a ( a bit different from my fave version, audience sings)
-Rock and Roll Heaven’s Gate (DOD): C, L, N, P = a1i
-Our Deliverance (BY); C, L, N, P, S = a1i
-O Holy Night (HHD): C, I, N, S = a1i (high difficulty notes)
-Sugar Tongue (SDtBD); C, N = 2a
-Midnight Train to Georgia (1200): C, L, N, P = a1i (Emily really sings!)
-Kid Fears (LwtUoCSO): C, I, L, N = a1i (crowd singing)
-Get Out the Map (SotS): C, L, N, P, U (banjo?) = 2b
-It’s Alright (SotS): C, L, P, S = 2b
Top Gold Avg-Awesome: -Heartache for Everyone (SDtBD): C, L = 2b
Last Platinum Avg-awesome-2: –Fugitive (SDtBD): C, L, N, Pa= 1i
-Philosophy of Loss (CoNS): C, L, P, S = a1
-Collecting You (BY): C, L, N, S! = a1i
-Joking (RoP): C, L, P, S, U (false ending) = 2a
-Cold Beer & Remote Control (CoNS): C, L, P, S! = 2a
-Driver Education (PatBB): C, L, S = 2a
-Hand Me Downs (NIS): C, I, L, S = 2b
Top Platinum Avg-awesome-2: –You and Me of the 10,000 Wars (NIS): C, L, P, S = a1i
Last Platinum Avg-awesome-1: –Yoke (LwtUoCSO); C, I, L, N, P = a1i (wow-low register!)
-Sugar Tongue (LwtUoCSO): C, I, L, P = a1i
-Tether (SDtBD): C, I, L, P = a1i (Amy belts. it. out!)
-Chickenman (LwUoCSO): C, I!, L, N!, P = 2a
-Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (1200): C, I, L, P = 2a (a cause near to my heart)
-Blood & Fire (ST): C, L, N, P, S = a1i
Top Platinum Avg-awesome-1: -1,2,3 (NIS): C, N, S = 2a
Awesome Elites:
A = Top-Elites
B = Exactly Awesome-Elite
1 = higher part of Awesome B; 2 = lower part of Awesome B
C = Better than your Average Awesome
AWESOME-ELITE
1C (better than your avg awesome)
Last awesome-1C: -Money Made You Mean (DOD): C, I, L, P = 1c
-Shame On You (SDtBD): C, I, P, U (cajun instrument) =1c2 (different tempo from orig bothers me)
-Second Time Around (PatBB-acoustic): C, L, P 1C
-The Wonder Song (HHD): C, L, N, U (country) = 1C
-Make It Easier (SF): C, I, L, N, P = 1c
-Land of Cannan (SF): C, L, N, S, U (harmonica) = 1c
-Rock and Roll Heaven’s Gate (SDtBD): C, L, N, P =1C
-Salty South (SDoBD): C, I, S = 1c
-Get Out the Map (SDtBD): C, L, N, P = 1c
-Howl at the Moon (LL): C, I, L, N, U (tribal) = 1c
-Go (SDtBD): C, I, L, N, P = 1C
-Shit Kickin (LL): C, I, L, P, U (choral backing) = 1c
-Scooter Boys (SotS): C, I (jengling) L, P, U (wail) = 1c
-Shame On You (SotS): C, L, N, P, S, U (road block trippin’ break-down) = 1c1
-Heartache for Everyone (AtWLI): C, I, L, S = 1c
-Philosophy of Loss (CoNS): C, I, L, P, S = 1c
-Last Tears (DOD: C, L, N, S = 1c
Top awesome 1C: -Hope Alone (BY): C, L, N, S =1c
AWESOME-ELITE
1B (exactly elite)
bottom exactly elite = ii
Last Awesome-elite-1Bii: -Fugitive (LwUoCSO): C, I, N = 1bii
-Joking (1200): C, I, (bass @ end) L, N, P, S, U (false ending) = 1bii
-Love of Our Lives (PatBB): C, L, N, S = 1bii
-Cold Beer & Remote Control (SDtBD): C, L, N, P = 1
-Money Made You Mean (DOD-live): C, I (banjo-wow!), L, P = 1bii (don’t like plosives)
-Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (1200-live @ atwood): C, L, N, P, U (feat artists, drumming) = 1bii
-Deconstruction (BY): C, L!, N, S! = 1bii
-Least Complicated (1200): C, L, N, P, S = 1bii
-Land of Cannan (ST): C, I, L, S = 1bii
-World Falls (LwUoCSO): C, I, L, N!, P = 1bii (sounds just different enough; the singing!)
-Go (CoNS): C, I, L, N, P, U (talking about activism in background, chanting) = 1Bii
-Second Time Around (PatBB): C, I, L, P, S, U (harmonica?) = 1Bii
-Pushing the Needle Too Far (1200): C, L, P, S = 1bii
First awesome-elite-1Bii: -Tangled Up In Blue (1200); C, I, L, N, P = 1bii (Emily sings her ASS off!)
AWESOME-ELITE
1B (exactly elite)
top exactly elite = i
Last awesome-elite-1B-i: -I Feel the Christmas Spirit (HHD): C, I, L, N, U (blue grass) = 1bii
-Devotion (SDtBD): C, L, N = 1bi
-Happy Joyous Hanukkah (HHD): C, I (BASS!), L, P, U (mandolin?) = 1Bi
-Happy in the Sorrow Key (OLD): C, I, L, N = 2Bii (ENDING!)
-World Falls (1200-live): C, L, N, S = 1bi
-Moment of Forgiveness (BY): C, L, N, S =1bi
-Yoke (BQS): C, I, L, P, S = 1bi
-Become You (SDtBD); C, L, P, S, U (accordian?) = 1bi
-Chickenman (1200): C, I, L, N, P, U (harmonica= 1bi (best version?
-Hammer and a Nail (NIS): C, L, N, P, S! = 1bi
-Yield (BY): C, I, L, N, S = 1bi
-Moment of Forgiveness (SDtBD): C, L, N, S = 1bi
-Kid Fears (SDtBD): C, L, S, U (feat Shreena Mead sounds good) = 1bi
Top Awesome-Elite-1-B-i: -Galileo (1200): C, L, P, S = 1bi
IG AWESOME-ELITE 1
1A top of the top
Last awesome-elite-1A: -Compromise (LwUoCSO): C, I, N = 1a
-Become You (BY): C, I, L, P, S = 1a
-Second Time Around (SDtBD): C, I, L, P, S, U (live = more emotional) 1A
-Prince of Darkness (ST): C, L, N, P, S =1a
-Pushing the Needle Too Far (NIS): C, L, P, S = 1a
-Closer to Fine (ST); C, L, N, S = 1a (I felt like I was somehow betraying these staple-favorites ranking any song higher)
-Kid Fears (ST): C, L, N, S, U (feat Michael Stipe) =1a
-Fill It Up Again (AtWLI); C, L, N, S = 1a
-Galileo (RoP): C, L, P, S = 1a (same with this old friend-felt guilt out-ranking it)
-The Rise of the Black Messiah (OLD): C, I, L, N, P, U (strong & haunting) =1a
-Go (LwUoCSO): C, I, L, N, P = 1A (Amy belts it out!)
-Watershed (NIS): C, L, N, S(!) = 1a
-Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright (SDtBD): C, L, N (harmonies), S, U (Brandi!) = 1a (this song makes me super-enthusiastic!)
***Very top of all IG songs: -Closer to Fine (1200): C, L, N, S(!), U (pennywhistle?) = 1a (b/c you can hear how important/popular this song is w/the crowd = pure joy & a lesbian initiation)
kit10phish.wordpress.com 
Leave a Reply