these are 3 of my favorites
3 Use Somebody-Kings of Leon(video came out in 2009)
2 Fireflies-Owl City
1 21 Guns-Green Day
What are your favorite songs of the Year?
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Well I just happened to make a blog post about that, so here's a good helping of copypasta for you. Wall of text, INCOMING!
10. Beeline by Sky Larkin (on The Golden Spike)
Sky Larkin hail from Leeds, UK, and they are a very special blend of indie pop and '90s heavier indie rock. I saw them opening for Los Campesinos in march and I haven't gone a week without listening to their debut album, The Golden Spike, ever since. I chose Beeline because everything about it is so uplifting and the bridge is pure gold. Buy this album.
9. Am I Lost by Manymental Mistakes (on Manymental Mistakes)
I'll be honest here, I have no idea if this came out in 2009. It probably did. I bought the album about two weeks ago and it's marked as being the 11th out of 100. So yeah, I'm holding on something pretty rare here. If you want some sweet noise to brighten you day though, don't fret! They'll be making a reissue with a different cover. They had a few shouts in local newspapers, so I think these guys might break through. They sure do deserve it. I chose Am I Lost because, as good as the whole album is, it can get pretty dense. This song, on the other hand, is compulsively listenable, but it doesn't sacrifice any of MMM's fury.
8. Havin my Baby by Think About Life (on Family)
Another local band! If you were scared by Manymental Mistake's noise rock though, don't run away yet! This is pure dance pop goodness. It's one of these rare records that's suits your everyday iPod playlist just as well as the dance floor.These guys are something else live, I tell you. Don't miss them if they ever come in your city. Unless you really hate fun, of course. Havin my Baby's sped-up vocal sample sounds ridiculous at first, I know. But what's that? Is that your feet tapping the floor? Yeah, thought so.
7. I'm Okay by Myself by Morrissey (on Years of Refusal)
Ah, Moz. You either love him of hate him. Whatever your stand is, though, it's hard to deny how glorious of a comeback Years of Refusal was. As the man himself would say on the opening track, "I know by now you think I should have straightened myself out; thank you, drop dead". I'm Okay by Myself is the album's last track, and I'll always be impressed how a song that starts so strong still manages to build up so nicely. Won't change your opinion if you don't like Morrissey, but a real treat for fans.
6. Technology is a Dead Bird by Mars Argo (on Technology is a Dead Bird)
Mars Argo recalls '90s dream pop bands without ever copying them. If you like female vocalists, you're in for a treat, Argo's voice is absolutely dreamy. It's breathy, high-pitched and kind of sensual. Kind of a weird cross between Belinda Butcher and your local church's children choir. Fun fact: I found about Mars Argo on Look At That ****ing Hipster.com.
The whole album can be streamed here. If you want to buy it, they have a "pay-what-you-want" deal, but there's a 10$ minimum.
5. Send it to Oslo by Sparky Deathcap (on Tear Jerky EP)
Found about this guy on the Los Campesinos blog. His approach to music is very DIY, and thanks to that all of his tracks sound very intimate. Not "sultry jazz your dad listens to" intimate, more like "late night jam with friends" intimate. I don't really buy EPs, except digitally, sometimes, but I might just make an exception and order this one from the UK. Terrific stuff.
4. Lips by Micachu (on Jewellery)
Shortest song on this list! Lips clocks at 1:19, but it makes good use of this time. It's very busy, sonically, with some weird guitars, droning synths and what sounds like a sample of someone giving a very loud kiss. Jewellery strikes a perfect balance : it's wildly varied, full of ideas, but never anti-cohesive. It's one of these rare cases where the artist just threw everything on the record and it worked, instead of being a mess.
3. The Strangers by St. Vincent (on Actor)
Annie Clarke aka St. Vincent is one of the most exciting things to happen to music in this decade. There, I said it. If you leave a young girl who's just a tiny bit insane alone in a room with old Disney movies and an electric guitar, St. Vincent happens. Actor, her sophomore effort, is darker than her first album. Darker in that "down the rabbit hole" kind of way only she can pull off. Saw her live this year, and she easily ranks in my top 3 live performers.
And by God, she's beautiful.
2. Malibu Gas Station by Sonic Youth (on The Eternal)
Of course, there's some SY on my list. I've said it before, but here it is again : The Eternal is awesome. It's a treat for every single Sonic Youth fan, from the hardcore noise cracks to those who like their more mainstream stuff like Dirty or Goo. You get both fresh melodies and incredible, daunting walls of sound. If you do not like this record, you do not like Sonic Youth. Malibu Gas Station is my favorite track on the album. Kim Gordon has never sounded this sexy since Kissability on Daydream Nation, and that's saying something. It's a masterfully structured song, it flows extremely well and it still gives me goosebumps after all those times.
1. The Sea is a Good Place to Think of the Future by Los Campesinos! (on Romance is Boring)
Surprise! 2009's best song is on an album scheduled for 2010! Of course, if you're a fan and you follow LC's blog, like me, you've had the pleasure of hearing this song a lot sooner than you thought you would. It's a change from their earlier material, that's for sure. You don't get any jangling guitars here, and it's not going to be a winner on the dance floor. Instead, The Sea... features melancholic strings, a heart-wrenching chorus and beautiful yet twisted lyrics. It took everyone by surprise and divided the fans. I, for one, think it's easily one of their best tracks, and since every song on each of their album has something going for it, that's saying something. The band has released another song from the upcoming album, which is closer to their usual brand of indie-pop, so I think it's safe to say there will be something for everyone on that record. Romance is Boring is my most anticipated record of 2010, no questions asked, and every indie fan should rush to the closest record store when it releases in early february.
Other songs I totally forgot to include in my list: Airport Surroundings by Loney Dear, Laura Palmer's Prom by You Say Party! We Say Die! and Fire Baptized Species by Duchess Says.
Night By Night - Chromeo
THAT IS IT!
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