Month: November 2011

Top 100 Songs of 2009 (25-11)

25. The Big Pink – Dominos

They don’t come much bigger than this. Intention, chorus, beat, swagger: all larger than life. Sure, in one respect it’s a boastful song about the ease of female conquest, but moreover it sounds like the celebration of life and the possibilities therein if you believe you’re bigger than it all. And we all need pick-me-up songs like this, so rock the funk on Big Pink, rock on. Bonus points because I don’t think I’ve heard a song with such obvious braggadocio since mid 90’s Oasis, and that is a welcome reference point if ever there was one. The Big Pink sound like an amalgam of some of the coolest bands ever (Oasis, The Verve, Chemical Brothers, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Jesus & Mary Chain), and for picking such wicked influences, they get a mega middle finger up in the air.

24. Frightened Rabbit – The Modern Leper

The first amazing song I discovered in 2009. A winter pick-me-up of the warmest kind. “Are you, a masachist?!?!?” Scott Hutchison pleads over and over in this wonderful and powerful song. The Scots struck gold with this one. One of the most likeable songs you’ll come across. Is it possible to root for a song? I think it is, and I would go to bat for this one. It’s the accent, it’s the buildup, it’s the lyric, it’s the urgency…it’s a revelation.

23. Arctic Monkeys – Crying Lightning

Alex Turner and co. return with another winner for a lead single, but turn down the adrenaline several notches from the typhoon of noise that also goes by “Brianstorm”. This song may be a bit slower in tempo, but it still affirms Arctic Monkeys as a youthful band with oodles of charm, slickness, and charisma to offer. I feel like they’re winking at listeners and saying, “you didn’t think we’d come at you like this, did you?” With a lead singer and drummer who are so far ahead of the class, I think they are going to come at us in myriad ways for many, many years. Well done lads.

22. The Tragically Hip – The Last Recluse

Maybe the most “modern” song The Hip have ever done, and they pull it off with aplomb. Lyrically as strong as always with hooks and melody seeping out of the very fabric of the song. “Who are you? The last of the immune?” Mr. Downie asks. I’m not immune, and I’ll willingly catch this fever every single time. Builds to such a strong crescendo with a multitude of musical layers, battering the listener into submission. I love the Gregorian-chant-style vocal that enters at 2:28. Also contains maybe my favourite lyric of the year, “Who are you? The last Canada goose?”. Distinctly and proudly homegrown, once again ladies and gentlemen, Canada’s best band ever, The Tragically Hip

21. The Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition

I read a review of this song that was some of the most cynical garbage I’ve ever read. Will every song be patently original? No. Will every song break ground into new sonic territory? No. Music should make you feel something. This song floats on a cloud and makes love to the sky, kissing it, whispering sweet nothings into its ear and comforting it even in the face of impending darkness. The vocal melody is so gorgeous it could melt even the coldest of hearts.

20. Silversun Pickups – Substitution

Firstly, I’m not convinced this is the best song on the OMFG-good Swoon, and in fact it might not even be top three, but it is my favourite–at the moment. When a band releases an album this strong, favourite tracks tend to change fairly often. “Substitution” does have a certain je ne sais quoi about it though, a mostly straightforward rock ditty that simply clicks. I’m convinced this song was born hypogean styles–bred in a laboratory a hundred feet underground and fed the weirdest and most random things until it burst through earth’s top soil and penetrated air itself to gain traction, unable and unwilling to ever leave the atmosphere. Brian Aubert is a monster and roofie-spreader. I hope he never changes. Bonus points for the simple/extremely cool video with models playing musical chairs.

19. Grizzly Bear – While You Wait for the Others

I don’t have much to say other than this song makes me feel super happy and Grizzly Bear are absolutely amazing at four-part harmonies. Crazy, crazy good.

18. Death Cab for Cutie – My Mirror Speaks

Recorded during the Narrow Stairs sessions, I can only assume they didn’t want to collapse the music industry by making too good of an album, so they saved this whopper for the quite good Open Door EP. So, so, so catchy, with a bountiful spirit to boot. Ben Gibbard is one of the best lyricists in music, and he’s more than on point with this one. I can see a couple different ways to read this one. DC4C are in top form.

17. Wild Light – Heart Attack

This song is wickedly immediate and writhes with intensity in the verses before relenting a bit during the chorus. “I have watched you break your back, what comes next, a heart attack?” sheds light on the perils of the hustle-and-bustle lifestyle, and pleads for contemplation, relaxation and perspective to maintain sanity. A great point in today’s world, and it fits well with such an aurally pleasing tune.

16. Ra Ra Riot – Can You Tell

Boy and girl wake up next to each other, she, having to extricate herself from his grasp as she gets up to stretch and him, reticent to leave bed. A kettle is put on in the kitchen, they have a cup of tea while eating some toast with home-made jam. Seeing that the jam is almost finished, they smile at each other and know what to do…they move outside and take in the mid-morning sunshine. She takes a deep breath and smells thyme and rosemary growing in the front yard. He inhales a sense of calm and sneaks a smile as she’s on bended knee, examiningthe first growth of a rose bud. Taking each other’s hand, they proceed to walk down a path, marvelling at the clearest of blue skies and warmth of early spring. A sparrow tends to its young up in a tree and the world seems to stop moving. Nothing else is important. It is their surroundings, it is their hearts aflutter, it is them… Walking deeper into the forest, rays of sunlight pierce through and touch ground, as a butterfly’s multi-coloured imprint is accentuated in the sunlight. Finally they reach their mysterious destination and come upon a plant unlike any other. It is somehow able to grow raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, boisonberries, and blackberries, all on its relatively few branches. Happy at the sight of this wonderful and surreal piece of nature, he begins to pick some of the berries as she unwraps a loin cloth to put them in. Laughing as they pick and eat them, he comes in for an unexpected kiss, her blushing matching the vibrant red shade of the raspberries. They start to go back to the house, but not before they each give thanks in their heads. He for the Caribbean-blue water starkness of her eyes. She for the crimson-red hue that adorns his lips. Both of them for their one-of-a-kind tree and moreover, each other.

15. Florence & The Machine – Dog Days Are Over

“Happiness, hit her! Like a bullet in the head!” sings the irrepressible and incomparable Florence Welch. Coincidentally enough, I felt like a bullet hit me in the head the first time I heard this song. It was poppy but soul-infused. It was mesmerizing and otherwordly. And that voice. Oh my word, that voice. Ms. Welch has one of the strongest voices I have ever heard, and she puts every ounce of strength into her vocal performance, whether she’s singing in a hushed whisper like in the first few words of this track or when she loosens her belt and goes apeshit when the first “happiness” comes in. From one of the best debuts of the year, a shining star is born.

14. White Lies – To Lose My Life

Epic pop/rock through and through. Channeling Joy Division, New Order and The Killers, White Lies bring more than morsels of menace to their particular brand of synth-pop. “Let’s grow old together, and die at the same time.” Okay. It’s worth noting that their other undeniable hit, “Death”, was one of my favourite songs of 2009 also, but it was so good in its limited release last year that I had it in my top thirty of 2008. I wouldn’t forgive myself if I pushed another song out at the expense of double-listing “Death”, as great of a song as it is, so I mention it again to make myself feel better. Exhale.

13. M83 – We Own The Sky

A perfect summation of what it feels like to be in love. It took me a while to appreciate “Kim & Jessie”, but it took me even longer to see what a beast of a tune “We Own The Sky” is. This song flies Urbi et Orbi, to the city and to the world, making stops to drop little pieces of heaven wherever it goes. I love how this blends the most perfect pop sensibilities with the understanding that the best dance songs build to a climax and add layers every few bars to hit the spot. By the end of the song, there are so many sounds layered on top of each other that I can barely make them all out; I can also barely remember where I am as this song takes me to such a far off place. Anthony Gonzalez is a genius.

12. Lady Gaga – Bad Romance

Wow did this song shoot up the list like a bat out of hell. This is the sound of a woman knowing exactly what she needs to sound like in order to capitalize on the attention she’s drawn to herself. At first I didn’t think this song was much of anything. Then I gave in a bit and thought the verses were absolutely mega and the chorus was ho hum. Then I gave in even more and realized the chorus is indescribably massive. Combined with the sick-as-funk bridge, the cascading synths that rain down like an anti-moribund monsoon, and the passion with which she belts it out, Gaga has created a monster of the most malevolent kind. She has a vision: she is the new Queen of Pop and if you don’t like it, you don’t matter because she’s going full steam ahead no matter what. Pop hasn’t sounded this energized in a long, long time. Bonus points for the cool-as-hell video and the what-the-hell is she saying “Whatjabaromance”.

11. Beirut – No Dice

I’m not a huge fan of March of the Zapotec and Realpeople – Holland, not because it isn’t any good, but mainly because Zach Condon’s previous releases have changed the way I thought and felt about music–tough shoes to keep laced–and it almost by definition couldn’t keep up. I understand the record is more of a collection of stuff he’s had sitting around his house, and I understand that he wanted to show people he was more than just an amazing brass instrumentalist and far-older-and-wiser-than-he-is vocalist, hence the foray into electronics. It took a couple listens, and then I realized the exercise in reflection was all worth it, thanks to the best electro-pop instrumental song of the year, otherwise known as “No Dice”. DJ’s all over the world would kill to have cut this track, and the guy who helped redefine the boundaries of Indie comes along and let’s this banger loose without breaking a sweat. Unreal. I believe Zach Condon can do absolutely anything musically. I also think he’s probably Batman, Santa Claus, the Pope, LeBron James, Seth MacFarlane, and the Smoke Monster from Lost on the side. Show-off.

Top 100 Songs of 2009 (50-26)

50. White Rabbits – Percussion Gun

The best song that Cold War Kids didn’t release this year. The drumming is cool and the vocal is tight and urgent.

49. Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker – Laces Out

They can do buck wild with the best of them. This song attests to their wicked strong pop instincts.

48. In-Flight Safety – Model Homes

They are not re-inventing the wheel with this one, but they are patently honest and believable. I haven’t rooted for Maritimers this much since the Trailer Park Boys.

47. The Maine – Ho Ho Hopefully

The best Christmas song of the year, by far. I heard Santa cried when he first heard this song, then Mrs. Claus told him to stop being so Emo, then he cut his wrists, then she patched it up with love and candied tears, then they made sweet, cherubic love.

46. Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks

A band in their prime, brimming with melodies and musical ideas to spare. I feel really warm when I listen to this song, warm like my body is layered in longjohns wrapped in longstockings covered in leopard-skin leotards. This song is luscious to its very core. Bonus points for probably my favourite video of the year, an amazing visual trip.

45. Backstreet Boys – Bigger

Far and away the best song on their mostly forgettable new record, this tune proves they can fit Adult Contemporary bliss in their back pocket. Max Martin was, is and will forever remain an indomitable Swedish treasure.

44. Muse – Undisclosed Desires

They cannot top the catchiness of “Starlight”, but they come close here. This is “Starlight’s” dirtier, younger, troublemaking cousin. For such a gitchy tune, designed to make people raise hands and give in, that is some pretty grimey bass-slapping action going on in the chorus. An underrated and sneaky part of the song comes in at 3:06, with some low level background crooning from Mr. Bellamy. Slyer than Stallone and slicker than Rick.

43. Hot Chip – Take It In

This song hasn’t been out long, but the chorus soars so high it renders its late year release moot. The chorus is baby-powdered with pure lilac and doused with the serenity of sage. A chorus like this comes around once a career for most bands. Simply breathtaking.

42. Silversun Pickups – There’s No Secrets This Year

There are no secrets and there are no explanations worthy of a song that froths with so much vigour, intensity, and excitement. The bravado of this album-opener is unparalleled. (“I’ll tell you a secret, let’s make this perfectly clear, we’ve got roofies in here” Those who know will know.) Bonus points for the minute lead into “The Royal We”.

41. Placebo – Julien

Probably Placebo’s most club-ready song, and probably their buck-nastiest track to date. A foot-tapper of epic proportions; I’m confounded as to why this song has yet to be released as a single. “Julien, you’re being taken, for a ride…” So are we, and rarely has it been so much fun.

40. Metric – Waves

I can’t believe this song didn’t make Fantasies. The absolute opposite of a B-side. This song is sweet, light and unfathomably catchy.

39. Casiotone for the Painfully Alone – Scattered Pearls

It was a fait a compli, this song is as pure as a white lilly. The most innocent song of the year and undoubtedly one of the best.

38. Tiesto f. Tegan & Sara – Feel It In My Bones

The best electronic song of the year. Clearly the best song on his bloated and not so good Kaleidoscope. Should have been the first single, but will settle for being the biggest hit. A really concise instrumental aided by an awesome vocal turn by Tegan & Sara. The tune gets particularly massive at 3:00. What dance/trance/pop should aspire to be, though it rarely hits like this.

37. Animal Collective – Brother Sport

“Open up your throat,” open up your mind, open up your heart, and there will be no stopping the force of nature that is “Brother Sport”. When I listen to this song, I hear celebration, all-encompassing and glorious from the first second to the last.

36. The Stills – I’m With You

Just your classic pop-rock perfection, no more and no less.

35. M83 – Kim & Jessie

This song came out in early 2008, and I liked it then and for the rest of that year. It became the most beautiful explosion of hope, promise, and relaxation this year. Anthony Gonzalez layers so much in this tune, it seems impossible to get sick of. The nearly incomprehensible lyric adds to the charm of this marvelous song. If you were an animal being built from scratch, this song is the sound of your exoskeleton fusing with your muscular and nervous systems to make you feel…alive.

34. The Killers – A White Demon Love Song

An intriguing departure for The Killers. This doesn’t necessarily sound like them, but as usual, it is one super bad-ass tune. The chorus, in particular, slithers along at its own deliberate pace, led by that lazy bassline. The chorus is cacophonic, like a bear choking on malaise and tonic. I don’t think they’ve ever double-tracked a vocal with such disparate octaves. It’s the pace, it’s the chorus, it’s the trumpet add-on in the last section, it’s the question, “White demon, open your heart skull, white demon, who let your friend…go?”.

33. The Boxer Rebellion – Evacuate

The best free iTunes “song of the week” of the year–by miles and miles and days and days. This song is so energetic it couldn’t be further from rigormortis than prime-era Clinton Portis.

32. Noah & The Whale – Blue Skies

A song about heartbreak and reflection that can’t help but feel cathartic and transcendent. Such a pretty, precious song. Having shown a knack for writing the sweetest new-folk/indie/pop around, Noah & The Whale have settled comfortably and beautifully into their own collective skin.

31. Maximo Park – Let’s Get Clinical

I’m still not even sure this is the best song on the album, because top to bottom, Quicken The Heart is consistently strong. This tune has been my favourite for the longest period of time, if only because of her, if only because “I’d like to map your body out, inch by inch, north to south…”.

30. JJ – Things Will Never Be The Same Again

The best jungle-prancing song of the year. Somehow Max & Carol are having a rumpus to this song, somehow two people are falling in love to this song, and somehow, this is the sound of summer in all its sun-kissed glory.

29. Placebo – Kings of Medicine

The epic album-closer. My favourite tune on the record. The song with the grandest aspirations, musically and lyrically. It has the bright sheen that Placebo have recently discovered, but it also carries a heft of Meds’ doldrums-focused attitude. I preferred Placebo when they were revelling in dirt and passed out on the floor, but knowing they can sound this good when they step out of the darkness gives me hope. It’s the gorgeous piano melody and the soaring brass that goes regal at 3:40. It’s funny that the word “kings” is in the title, as pretty clearly, this song is the sound of a coronation. “Don’t leave me here, to pass through time, without a map or road sign,” Brian croons. With Placebo doubling as the newly crowned “Kings of Medicine”, I don’t fear for the direction of the dominion. Placebites rejoice, the reign continues.

28. Neko Case – This Tornado Loves You

This tune is equipollent to her balladry, a swirling concoction of sounds and images. There is not much more to say than Neko Case is the best female singer-songwriter on the planet right now and that I love everything she stands for and makes me feel. I can penetrate her songs with a depth and appreciation that is pretty much an impossibility with anyone else. Strength, power, and beauty incarnate.

27. Julian Casablancas – Out of the Blue

I wonder what seeing his fellow Strokes’ brethren release sturdy record after sturdy record did to him? It sure as hell didn’t slow him down, that much is apparent. The Stroke with the most obvious pop instincts, Casablancas lets loose on this song, the album-opener from his generally strong Phrazes For The Young. There are hooks left, right, and centre. There are synths galore. There are inspired vocals. There is pop magic at its core. “How could you be, so perfect for me?”. You are “Out of the Blue”, you are. Bonus points for making me think of her when I hear it.

26. Alexisonfire – The Northern

They specialize in anthems and have had oodles in their young and so far spectacular career, and this track will surely come to be revered alongside the best of them. This song is their pop masterstroke to date. Everybody is hitting on all cylinders here. It’s Dallas’ double-tracked vocals to begin the song and George breaking down not only the door at the 2:40 mark, but pretty much demolishing an entire skyscraper with hundreds of sticks of dynamite. “I want to go…to heaven…roll Jordan, rolllllllllll Jordan.” Well, at least you’ve got St. Pete’s attention now. That beginning riff is OMG-crunchy. Buck Nasty is the name of what’s going on here.