"This lovely book is both a beautiful collection of songs and a fascinating guide to the strange work of making art in the world. A beautiful gift from one of our greatest songwriters."
―John Green, author of Everything is Tuberculosis

"An illuminated manuscript. These songs, released from their recordings, stand even more vividly as stories: self-contained, richly colored, extending their private inks into the wider world."
―Patricia Lockwood, author of Will There Ever Be Another You

"John Darnielle is the best lyricist of his generation. And he is one of only two writers--the other being Scott Walker--whose song lyrics I would want to read in a book. These lyrics are as linguistically concentrated, rhythmically astute, and surprising as any contemporary poem, and Darnielle's commentary, itself beautifully written, is a fan's dream come true. I have hoped for such a book, but this book is more than I hoped for."
―Shane McCrae, author of New and Collected Hell

"[These] lyrics are brilliant . . . Darnielle is one of the best songwriters of his generation, and his words are achingly beautiful . . . [This Year] offers a look into Darnielle's inspiration and songwriting process, and the result is even more impressive than one might expect. An inspired project."
―Kirkus Reviews (starred review)