artists

Top 100 Songs of 2010 (75-51)

75. MGMT – Flash Delerium/Someone’s Missing

Lead single “Flash Delerium” was reticent to release its charms, just don’t mistake that for meaning there are none present. It’s a fantastic mess of a song. “Someone’s Missing” is more straight forward but no less enjoyable. MGMT, for all of their drug-inspired imagery, are much smarter than they let on. “Someone’s Missing” plays at the fact that the band may have lost a few fans with such a tough album, one bereft of world-conquering tunes like “Time to Pretend” or “Kids”. They clearly don’t care, and they shouldn’t; they’re on a very interesting path even as the bandwagon gets a hell of a lot lighter.

74. Timbaland – If We Ever Meet Again (f. Katy Perry)/Morning After Dark (f. SoShy & Nelly Furtado)

73. Taio Cruz – Break Your Heart/Dynamite

72. Diplo f. Pantera Os Danadinhos – Percao

Diplo is a good producer, and the music here is a likeable slice of MIA/Santigold type gitch. The song is truly brought to life though by Brazilian Pantera Os Danadinhos. I have no idea what she’s talking about in this Portuguese lyric, but it’s mighty fun bopping your head while trying to guess.

71. Sufjan Stevens – All Delighted People (Classic Rock version)/Vesuvius

“All Delighted People”, from Sufjan’s EP of the same name is a slow-builder, more rewarding with each subsequent listen. Mr. Stevens has impeccable pop instincts and a knack for horripilating. “Vesuvius” proves impactful from the moment it begins. Is it an ode to a mountain? A metaphor for something unattainable? Whatever Sufjan’s intention, the song is simply gorgeous.

70. No Age – Fever Dreaming

Bat-shit crazy, tatterdemalion and the life of the party. In fact, “Fever Dreaming” isn’t just the life of the party, he’s the guy who gets arrested for pissing on a cop that was sent to the party in the first place because of the commotion he was causing. Rabble-rouser!

69. Sleigh Bells – Tell ‘Em

Bat-shit crazy as well, carrying a futuristic laser gun that spews cotton candy. Also, the sister of “Fever Dreaming”. As the cops drive away with her brother, she shoots a blow dart that takes out a tire. As the cop car stops and the cops return to the house to seek out the perp, she escapes slyly, not before sneaking her brother out of the car. Someone else, probably a recent MIA song, gets arrested and everyone is happy.

68. Tennis – Marathon

Unmistakably attention-grabbing, like a Camera Obscura song mixed with 60’s Motown sensibilities. Pretty and wonderful and relevant. A must listen.

67. Yeasayer – I Remember/ONE/The Children

I’m cheating even more here by putting three songs in one spot. Thing is, I’ve liked them all a tonne at different times. “I Remember”, the wayward, lovetorn ballad; “ONE”, the 80’s indebted slick piece of funk; and “The Children”, the morbid, hallucinogenic, bastard son. I find a couple parallels between Yeasayer and MGMT very interesting. First of all, they’re pals. Both from Brooklyn, tourmates during their debut record tours, and interested in breaking any pre-conceived notions of what kind of band they are. They’re both, ahem, experimental to put it mildly, with sounds and no doubt substances. I would love to sit in on a conversation between these guys. Seeing them play together a couple years back, I thought that Yeasayer were better live and MGMT had better songs. Funny that they’ve switched each others’ clothes at this point. MGMT have reverted back to a less commercial sound while Yeasayer have swung for the fences and made their unique brand of psychedelia accessible for all. More specifically, MGMT’s “Kids” couldn’t be more peppy if it tried. On the other hand, Yeasayer’s synonymously titled “The Children” couldn’t be more dark and witching if it tried. I’m going to enjoy watching both of these bands move forward individually, but also as some sort of weird Brooklyn psych-pop fellowship.

66. Tokyo Police Club – Wait Up (Boots of Danger)

Bringing pure fire from Newmarket. Well done lads.

65. Katy Perry – Teenage Dream

The catchiest song from her Max Martin helmed latest. When pop is this polished and uses dance-style layering and come-ins to this effect, it’s hard to resist.

64. Shakira – Waka Waka

A lot of derisive chatter about this song doesn’t dissuade me from saying it’s as catchy as Lucifer’s baseball glove in his hellish house league (read: he uses a particularly effective brand of stick ’em and it works). Who cares that a non-African sang the World Cup theme song? I don’t. Shakira’s vocal stylings have rarely been so endearing.

63. Bagraiders – Shooting Star/Matt White – Love

The McDonald’s combo. Bagraiders’ “Shooting Star” is that insufferably catchy dance song from McDonald’s breakfast ad of earlier this year. Matt White’s “Love” is the song that accompanies the recent McRib ad. One pure dance, one pure pop, both proving the creative marketing team at McDonald’s may be without a conscience but not without ears.

62. Fang Island – The Illinois/Daisy

Dance-punk enthusiasts go large with “The Illinois” and “Daisy”. Both tracks are wondrously epic, mixing accelerated guitars with chanting refrains. These songs are good for your heart, like Stephen Hawking and his Grand Design is difficult to impart.

61. Cee Lo Green – I Want You/Satisfied

Lady Killer indeed. A fantastic duo of tunes, back-to-back and stuffed right in the middle of his smooth-as-buttermilk, soul-inspired LP. Cee Lo drips style and grace with these two tracks about love and pleasure. No one (seriously, no one) croons better than Cee Lo. He’s at the top of his game and when he uses that powerhouse of a voice at full force, he can melt steel like in a colour fight, aqua-marine batters teal. He’ll be known for that ubiquitous, two-worded send off of a song this year. Quite frankly though, that does a disservice to the rest of the very strong material on The Lady Killer. Don’t sell yourself short next time Cee Lo, you’re not just a lady killer, you’re a bona fide and indiscriminate hitman.

60. Daft Punk – TRON Legacy (End Titles)

Unfortunately, the Tron Legacy soundtrack is not a proper Daft Punk album — more of a score — so we only get a pittance of what the Daft are capable of. “TRON Legacy” does however, firmly show the world that DP can still bring electro-magma awesomeness whenever they please. The kicker here is the massive orchestra that accompanies the duo and doesn’t sound out of place in the least. It only leaves the listener salivating for their next effort. Come again soon boys.

59. My Chemical Romance – S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W & The Kids From Yesterday

Ambitious to their core, MCR are back with a grandiose, multi-themed saga that primarily involves empassioned youth fighting against, to put it simply, “the man”. For all of the weighty thematic content, the hooks are often immediate and precise. “S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W” is one of the best songs they’ve ever done; full of layered guitars and swaying vocals. “The Kids From Yesterday” is the considerably hooky ode to bygone youth. MCR have a smart, considered voice that begs to be heard, and are the “young” band most likely to come up with a Green Day, American Idiot-style, world-conquering album later in their careers once people have written them off.

58. Marina & The Diamonds – Oh No!/Hollywood

The first offerings from the breakout star of 2010. With a winning smile, pretty face and most importantly sky-filling hooks at every turn, Marina Diamandis has issued her curriculum vitae on The Family Jewels LP. Clearly obsessed with fame, success and its trappings, this woman knows exactly what she’s getting into and sounds like she’s having one hell of a time taking the plunge into the abyss. “Oh No!” and “Hollywood” would be other artists’ best songs, but they’re not even close to the best of what Ms. Diamandis’ album has to offer. The sound of a star going Red Giant.

57. Bombay Bicycle Club – Ghost/Dust On The Ground

Two songs from their mid-2009 album, I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose, both of which were on my list last year. I couldn’t help it; every time either of these songs played this year, I had to stop. They were just too damn rewarding not come back to. Both “Ghost” and “Dust On The Ground” are exceedingly rewarding listens. Displaying such staggering musicianship on a debut album is frightening. This English band will have a lot to say before it’s all said and done.

56. Hot Chip – One Life Stand/Thieves In The Night

Maybe the most feel good band on the planet. Unquestionably one of the best. Both of these songs are distinctly joyous. A marvel of a band that continues to please.

55. Guster – What You Call Love/Stay With Me Jesus

For a band that’s not a singles band, Guster have a plethora of astonishing songs. One of the most likeable bands on the planet, they’re also unbeknownst to the masses. Content in giving their fans what they want is commendable. “What You Call Love” is happy yet aching; triumphant trumpets percolating around the scolding lyric, “what you call love, is just urgency; what you call love, is the place you turn in an emergency; what you give up, when it’s not what you want it to be, well that’s not love, what you call love…” Jaw-droppingly poignant in its simplicity, such is one of the golden charms of Guster. “Stay With Me Jesus”, with its gorgeous and quiet guitar-strummed hook, is not a simple religious plea to the bearded one. First of all, most of the band are Jewish, and they’re too clever to write something so basic. Moreover, it’s a song about how some people believe faith is exclusive and the inherent silliness of such an assertion. All the while, the heavy idea is massaged with beautifully sung “Hallelujah’s”. Stay with me Jesus? Sure, but as long as everyone’s invited and Guster’s playing as we chill.

54. Kanye West – So Appalled f. Jay-Z, Pusha T, RZA, Swizz Beatz & Cyhi The Prince/All of The Lights f. Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Elton John, Elly Jackson, Fergie, The Dream, Tony Williams, Kid Cudi, John Legend, Charlie Wilson, Ryan Leslie

Easily the longest song title of the year if you factor in the featured artists, “All of The Lights” has to be tongue-in-cheek. I’ll be frank, I can’t even hear half of the people the song purportedly features. I’m unconvinced they’re all actually there. Either way, the beat is throttling. Yeezy steals this song easy, and right off the bat too, as he demands, “something wrong, I hold my head; MJ gone, our ni**a dead!” Cearly, Yeezy is distraught and his anxiety is palpable. His anxiety is all-encompasing too, and it has his personal life reeling, “restraining order, can’t see my daughter; her mother, brother, grandmother hate me in that order.” Kanye owns this song with a ferocious, face-slapping vigor. “So Appalled” is waaaaay less effusive but possibly even more affecting. It’s a calculated menace, kind of like Mobb Deep’s “Shook Ones”. The strings in the background lend a sense of impending dread that make the song impossible to ignore. Bonus points to Kanye for getting Jay-Z to not only sound alive, but even a little invigorated. Extra bonus points for how everyone says “ridickalous”. A movie of song from a film course of an album.

53. Band of Horses – Northwest Apartment/Neighbor

“Northwest Apartment” is probably the most upbeat song BOH have ever done, and it’s one of their best. A sing-a-long, foot-stomping, mega-sized tune, it proves BOH can do energy if they please. The thing is, they just sound so wonderful when they do down-tempo stuff, something album closer “Neighbor” aptly reinforces. Ben Bridwell sounds so peaceful, even if he’s yearning for an unattainable past. “Neighbor” begins as softly as silk that I can hear it breathing. Its breaths are so relaxed it sounds like it’s about to go to sleep — but not because it’s boring. The second half of the song doesn’t exactly explode, but it moves from almost closing its eyes to opening them wide, looking upwards to the sky and whispering a thank you under its breath. The organ to close the song is freaking fantastic. Superb efforts, yet again from BOH.

52. CEO – Come With Me

Somewhere, a club in Sweden plays this song every Saturday. I wish that club was closer. I’d get in on that. Oh Sweden.

51. The Electric Anthology Project – I Dim Our Angst in Agony

An expedition of a song. A cover of one of my favourite songs of 2007, Built to Spill’s “Goin’ Against Your Mind”. What’s interesting is that the cover is by Built to Spill. Under the moniker The Electric Anthology Project, the band has covered several of their own songs with an electronic hue. The awesome guitar intro of the original is transformed into a dripping synth intro. Both are fantastic. Very creative.

Top 100 Songs of 2010 (100-76)

100. Glasser – Plane Temp

Cameron Mesirow has an ear. In fact, she most likely has two. Human biology aside, this woman hears melody different from most. On “Plane Temp”, it’s the way she ferrets out a sense of mild alarm with her voice, accompanied perfectly by those serene musical textures. Strangely, for such a modern-sounding song, the music also sounds like a communal chant from the 1800’s. This song is the sound of a particular scene from Last of The Mohicans, the scene where cutthroat Magua kills Uncas and callously dispatches his body over a cliff, tragically followed by Uncas’ love, Alice Munro, taking her own life and dropping off the same cliff as a vacant stare washes over her. The scene, like the song, is intense but calm.

99. Jimmy Eat World – Coffee and Cigarettes/Invented

They’ve done it again. At this point, Jimmy Eat World are such professional hitmakers, they can pretty much pump out any kind of song they like. Instantly nostalgic and hook-filled with a story: check. That would be “Coffee and Cigarettes”. Heart-tugging, neck-hair-bristling and honest: check. That would be “Invented”. Having a knack for every-time-out awesome album closers unfortunately broken this time around with the okay Mixtape, JEW should have put “Invented” last. There’s so much to like about “Invented”, including the chilling way Jim repeats, “You’re always in my head, you’re just what I wanted,” the subtle backing vocals from Courtney Andrews and the way the end of the song explodes into life. Well done chaps — I don’t know how many times I’ve said that about you — and keep it up.

98. Girls – Thee Oh So Protective One

It’s the way the trumpet dances like the discount DVD bin deserves Ella Enchanted.

97. Longo & Wainwright f. Craig Smart – One Life Stand

96. Big Boi – Shutterbugg

In no way, shape or form is Big Boi in anyone’s shadow. Delayed for eons because the label(s) wanted a hit. Were they even listening to “Shutterbugg” at all?

95. Cold War Kids – Audience/Coffee Spoon

Two extremely solid tracks from the underrated Behave Yourself EP. Something tells me Cold War Kids could have a huge radio hit if they wanted, but for now, they’re content with releasing solid effort after solid effort. Looking forward to seeing what their 2011 LP has in store.

94. The Good Natured – Your Body Is a Machine (Zebra & Snake remix)

From the clutch Kitsune Maison compilation (#9), this song wouldn’t miss a beat if it were sung by La Roux. And it would be one of their better songs. An eminently likeable Electro-pop ditty.

93. Finger Eleven – Stone Soul

The best song from the generally disappointing Life Turns Electric record. It’s just Them vs. You vs. Me was such a good record, that I expected more from their follow-up. “Stone Soul” is the exception. It’s far-and-away the catchiest tune on the album. If I could only ask One Thing, I’d simply ask, more of that next time boys.

92. Caribou – Kaili

The most I’ve ever liked a Manitoba or Caribou song. Reminiscent of a really good Junior Boys song, the core melody of “Kaili” is Bounty strong. The wayward sax and layered synths make this one a rewarding listen the more it’s inspected.

91. Linkin Park – Burning the Skies/Iridescent

The first proper song on A Thousand Suns, “Burning The Skies” is a statement of intent. Linkin Park have grown up and care about different things than they did ten years ago. There’s nothing wrong with that. For all the lyrical and sonic shifts, Linkin Park have remained true to one thing — melody. “Burning The Skies”, and “Iridescent” for that matter, are brimming with life, the sound of a band that collectively has as strong of an ear for songcraft as ever. On “Burning The Skies”, Chester Bennington relents, “I’m losing what I don’t deserve.” Not yet you haven’t, not yet.

90. Against Me – Suffocation/High Pressure Low

89. Jenny Berggren – Gotta Go

The last remaining sister in Ace of Base is no longer with the group. Probably something to do with the record company wanting younger girls to front the “new” Ace of Base. Whatever. What’s surprising is that big brother Jonas and family pal Ulf most always wrote the hits for Ace of Base (the non cover ones anyhow), and it always seemed as though the sisters, replete with their pretty and unthreatening voices and faces were mere fodder for the cameras. It appears that idea may need to be revisited. “Gotta Go” is better than anything from Ace of Base’s latest LP, so kudos must go to Jenny for this song, presumably about the split from the group. This is one hell of a catchy break up song.

88. Young Money f. Lloyd – BedRock

The Young Money family get together on this insidious little slice of pop. Everyone puts in a yeoman’s effort here, but even Lloyd’s punchy hook is upstaged by scene stealer du jour Nicki Minaj. The best line is both cringe- and laugh-inducing, as Minaj carelessly flaunts, “Ok I get it, let me think, I guess it’s my turn; maybe it’s time to put this p***y on your sideburns.” Yup, she went there.

87. Civil Twilight – Letters From The Sky/Teardrop

“Letters From The Sky” is pure drama. It’s caliginous, mysterious and soaring. The song comes up from the ground, slowly but surely like a brain-craving zombie, and bursts flaming into the air, torching falling letters from the sky as it rises. And yes, this does sound like U2. Good U2 (read: not recent), so it’s a major compliment. As for “Teardrop”, I suppose it’s a good thing that everyone knows the song now because of House; Massive Attack undoubtedly got some new fans and a great song was put on a plate for the masses. It’s nearly impossible to match the heartbeating metronome and scathing, emotional resonance of the original, but CT make it different enough that it’s not a slap in the face to the originators.

86. Gyptian – Hold You (Hold Yuh)

Packaged in a sweet sounding reggae-pop tune, “Hold You” is probably the dirtiest song of 2010. Khia would be proud.

85. The Magnetic Fields – You Must Be Out of Your Mind

The best track from Realism, The Magnetic Fields’ biggest strength is that they don’t really sound like anyone else. Lyrically, a biting reproach of a song; musically, a comforting, playful ditty. Neat trick.

84. Lady Antebellum – Need You Now

83. Scissor Sisters – Night Work/Fire with Fire

Gosh I love this band. No one in pop is more energetic. No one cares for as much (ass) cheek. Lead single “Fire With Fire” is a winning tune. “Night Work”, in spite of its title, is possibly the most playful song of the year. So bloody catchy it hurts.

82. Kanye West – Hell of a Life/Monster f. Nicki Minaj, Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Bon Iver

That beat. That ferocious, kick-stomping, funk you of a beat. Kanye’s verse — Kanye’s esophagus punching verse. Jay-Z’s (insufficient) attempt to keep up with the Jones’. Rick Ross’ 0.4 second appearance. Indie torchbearer Bon Iver’s spot. All of it — I mean all of it — is upstaged by Nicki funking Minaj. Listen and weep at her skill, schizophrenia and ridiculousness. You want me to stop with the gossip? Ok. It’s not gossip anymore — it’s fact.

81. Edward Maya f. Vika Jigulina – Stereo Love

80. Rihanna f. Eminem – Love the Way You Lie (Part 2)

Better than part 1 because of: the drums, the melody being allowed to breathe and Rihanna’s triumph as the hook-bearing siren.

79. BOB f. Hayley Williams – Airplanes

Monster hook from Ms. Williams. She is, as the kids say (or said, 15 minutes ago), hot.

78. Brandon Flowers – Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas

If only the album didn’t die (save for one other track) after this canyon-sized opener. The best pitch-man Vegas could ask for, BF sounds alive on the track. It’s a welcome departure from the rest of Flamingo and only serves to further emphasize what could have been. He needs Keuning, Stoermer and Vanucci back. Hopefully the break has served them well.

77. Holy Fuck – P.I.G.S./Stay Lit

Toronto’s noise peddlers push hard on their Latin America LP. An absolute terror live, Holy Fuck transfer that energy as best they can on these two stunners. “P.I.G.S.” is the no-bullshit proof of strength, showing off its generously proportioned muscles; “Stay Lit” is slightly more reserved, choosing to bring only its eyes above water, crocodile style. Both work.

76. Frightened Rabbit – Living In Colour/The Wrestle

If this band was an uncle, they’d be avuncular and wise. Both of these songs are apple pie warm at their cores.