List! Of Songs!
It's that time of year again: the season of lists! I've always been envious of the 'music journalists' and 'record store clerks' with their fancy year-end lists, hoping that some day I would have the power to prove how amazing my taste in music is. This year, now that I've harnesed the awesome power of the INTERNET, I've decided to pre-empt all the list makers out there and post a year-end list in *gasp* November.
This was going to be a list of my favorite songs of the year, but it started to get too long and contained entire albums. As an alternative, I've decided only to list my favorite songs that are also condusive to spastic dancing around my apartment. Consider this list, the 'best solo dance party songs of 2005' (in no particular order).
Herman Dune - Not on Top
I think that this might just be the best song of the year. Perhaps it's because I empathise with the way the song laments a wasted youth ("I thought I'd never say that I bought Nevermind and it changed my life some fifteen years ago"), or maybe it's the fact that the guitar solo is almost a parody of a guitar solo. Or maybe it's that the song is unadorned with effects and pedals and fancy recording but, instead, is grounded in witty lyrics sung in heavily accented English by a band that doesn't take themselves too seriously. And, I mean, they managed to get Julie Doiron as a backup singer! This song basically has just about everything I could possibly want.
[buy]
The Mountain Goats - This Year (Video)
For a while I was convinced that the song Dance Music was the greatest song the Mountain Goats ever produced, but I've been recently converted by the even more excellent "This Year". In the course of 3 minutes and 52 seconds the song manages to condense an entire novel worth of character development and a lifetime of teenage angst into a seemingly upbeat pop song. It is at once beautiful and dark and hopeful and depressing.
(I've linked to the video because it's really good and I assume some of you out there might not have seen it. Beware the annoying popups and whatnot at the site, though.)
[buy]
Black Mountain - Druganaut
You know that first dance that the bride and groom do at a wedding? I forget what that's called, but this is the song that will be playing if I ever get around to doing that dance.
[buy]
Smog - I feel like the mother of the world
I read somewhere that this is an anti-war song. I probably could have figured that out for myself if I wasn't for the fact that I'm completely paralyzed by how beautiful everything else about the song is. In fact, it's only recently that I've been able to get past the sounds that the instruments make on this album enough to really listen to the lyrics. And, holy shit, are they good.
[buy]
Floatation Toy Warning - Popstar Researching Oblivion
I said some stupid stuff about this song a few months back. I should have just let the song speak for itself because I only diminish its goodness by describing it.
[buy]
Chad Vangaalen - Clinically Dead
Even if you don't like Chad Vangaalen (which I think is kind of weird), you have to admit that this is the catchiest song you've heard this year. Seriously, listen to that sweet, sweet distorted guitar in the chorus and that almost-falsetto on the lyrics "prank call".
[buy]
P:ano - T. Hatch says 'Round Every Corner'
Best. P:ano. Song. Ever.
Actuall, this may rival the Herman Dune song for the title of 'best song of the year'.
[buy]
Wolf Parade - Dear Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts
I know that this song is on an EP that was released last year, but I didn't hear it until this summer so it is now officially 2005 list worthy. I don't know what to say about this song except that it is the best song of the year. Or have I said that already?
[I think they stopped selling this EP, but I'll post a link if I can find one]
******
Ok, I hope you liked the songs. I know we've posted some of them before but, well, we post some pretty awesome songs. They deserve to be on the list. Before I stop writing (I know!) please note that we've been really enjoying the reader comments. Please grace our little comments section with some lists of your own. Thanks for all the love!
This was going to be a list of my favorite songs of the year, but it started to get too long and contained entire albums. As an alternative, I've decided only to list my favorite songs that are also condusive to spastic dancing around my apartment. Consider this list, the 'best solo dance party songs of 2005' (in no particular order).
Herman Dune - Not on Top
I think that this might just be the best song of the year. Perhaps it's because I empathise with the way the song laments a wasted youth ("I thought I'd never say that I bought Nevermind and it changed my life some fifteen years ago"), or maybe it's the fact that the guitar solo is almost a parody of a guitar solo. Or maybe it's that the song is unadorned with effects and pedals and fancy recording but, instead, is grounded in witty lyrics sung in heavily accented English by a band that doesn't take themselves too seriously. And, I mean, they managed to get Julie Doiron as a backup singer! This song basically has just about everything I could possibly want.
[buy]
The Mountain Goats - This Year (Video)
For a while I was convinced that the song Dance Music was the greatest song the Mountain Goats ever produced, but I've been recently converted by the even more excellent "This Year". In the course of 3 minutes and 52 seconds the song manages to condense an entire novel worth of character development and a lifetime of teenage angst into a seemingly upbeat pop song. It is at once beautiful and dark and hopeful and depressing.
(I've linked to the video because it's really good and I assume some of you out there might not have seen it. Beware the annoying popups and whatnot at the site, though.)
[buy]
Black Mountain - Druganaut
You know that first dance that the bride and groom do at a wedding? I forget what that's called, but this is the song that will be playing if I ever get around to doing that dance.
[buy]
Smog - I feel like the mother of the world
I read somewhere that this is an anti-war song. I probably could have figured that out for myself if I wasn't for the fact that I'm completely paralyzed by how beautiful everything else about the song is. In fact, it's only recently that I've been able to get past the sounds that the instruments make on this album enough to really listen to the lyrics. And, holy shit, are they good.
[buy]
Floatation Toy Warning - Popstar Researching Oblivion
I said some stupid stuff about this song a few months back. I should have just let the song speak for itself because I only diminish its goodness by describing it.
[buy]
Chad Vangaalen - Clinically Dead
Even if you don't like Chad Vangaalen (which I think is kind of weird), you have to admit that this is the catchiest song you've heard this year. Seriously, listen to that sweet, sweet distorted guitar in the chorus and that almost-falsetto on the lyrics "prank call".
[buy]
P:ano - T. Hatch says 'Round Every Corner'
Best. P:ano. Song. Ever.
Actuall, this may rival the Herman Dune song for the title of 'best song of the year'.
[buy]
Wolf Parade - Dear Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts
I know that this song is on an EP that was released last year, but I didn't hear it until this summer so it is now officially 2005 list worthy. I don't know what to say about this song except that it is the best song of the year. Or have I said that already?
[I think they stopped selling this EP, but I'll post a link if I can find one]
******
Ok, I hope you liked the songs. I know we've posted some of them before but, well, we post some pretty awesome songs. They deserve to be on the list. Before I stop writing (I know!) please note that we've been really enjoying the reader comments. Please grace our little comments section with some lists of your own. Thanks for all the love!
posted by ian at 7:22 PM
13 Comments:
kool site...Chad VanGaalen Rox!!
http://neileslife.blogspot.com
That is a nice list! I will second every item! Have you told laural about Druganaut yet?
This is indeed a list of mostly fantastic songs. I applaud the placement of Herman Dune and Smog (which are two of my favourite albums of the year). I think if "Mother of the World" were placed earlier on the album, its greatness would be better recognised: the way it streams over with gold and silver, with life. Have you seen the video? (Best. Anchorman. Ever.)
http://www.dominorecordco.com/site/?page=news&artistID=27
The cult of McBean (and Black Mountain) continues to mystify me. Perhaps I will understand better when I see them with Wolf Parade next week.
That Herman Dune record is definitely in my top 3.
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
Herman Düne is a good bid for best song, but you missed a couple others:
Art Brut - Good Weekend
The Boy Least Likely To - Be Gentle With Me
Editors - Munich
The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
The Bravery - Swollen Summer
Franz Ferdinand - Do You Want To
Bloc Party - Helicopter
...actually, I can see how it might be hard to keep the list short.
herman dune is surely wonderful. i included the p:ano song (after its first post) on a mix for a beautiful girl; so, thanks is what i'm trying to say.
Kyle: I think we all included that song on a mix for a beautiful girl. How could you not?
I personally hold Nick Hornby responsible for the “mixes for beautiful girls” disaster. Please! Beautiful girls prefer whole albums too.
I personally hold Nick Hornby responsible for the “mixes for beautiful girls” disaster. Please! Beautiful girls prefer whole albums too.
I like the Chad van Gaalen a lot!!!
all the blood songs are good.....it's bizarrre sci-fi for the ears.
here's another comment!
My top five (more recent) music list always looks like this: 1. Destroyer; 2. Dan Bejar; 3. Destroyer w/ Frog Eyes; 4. Destroyer (once more, for good measure); 5. Fiery Furnaces. Best,
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