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December 21, 2005
try to write a sexy thriller in sonnet form
Over the next couple (4 let's say 8) days, I'll be putting up my favorite songs of the year. I say favorite because, personally, there are songs that I love that I might not consider the 'best' of this year, and these are songs that are attached to definite (mostly good) memories, to specific times and places, to certain moods (this is sounding like an ad for scented candles now). There are some conscious omissions though- acts that I had written about way too often (e.g. Animal Collective; Feels is probably my album of the year though), or who have already received a ton of attention from other, better blogs (Franz, Superwolf, Devendra, etc.). Hmm. Anyway, this is an actual mix (not in the sense that all the songs are blended, but I did try to sequence it so that there are interesting and smooth transitions- the Sufjan->Excepter->DFA1979 works especially well, in a strange way), if you care to listen to it as such. Here's pt.1 (pt. 2 on Friday, pts. 3 and 4 after Christmas):
01 Kelley Polar - Here in the Night (Love Songs of the Hanging Gardens) [BUY]
02 Oneida - The Eiger (The Wedding) [BUY]
03 Torngat - Alberta Song (La Rouge) [BUY]
04 Broadcast - I Found the F (Tender Buttons) [BUY]
05 Caribou - Hello Hammerheads (The Milk of Human Kindness) [BUY]
06 Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - House Fire (Broom) [BUY]
07 Sufjan Stevens - Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois (Illinois) [BUY]
08 Excepter - Shoot Me First (Self Destruction) [BUY]
09 DFA1979 - Blood On Our Hands (Justice Remix) (Romance Bloody Romance) [BUY]
10 Hardfloor - Groupie Love (4 Out of 5 Aliens Recommend This) [BUY]
11 Hot Springs - Bacteria (Rock Partouze) [BUY]
12 Ungdomskulen - Foursome and Then Some (7") [BUY]
13 Art Brut - My Little Brother (Bang Bang Rock and Roll) [BUY]
MMV Molars Mix pt.1 (zip file)
01 Kelley Polar - Here in the Night
(from the archives) Song of the year? Maybe (stiff competition from Page France's 'Chariot'). I have commitment issues with accolades like that. But this song and this record are unstoppable. Makeout jam? Check. Beat-heavy dance-party starter? Check. KP's vocals are a thing of beauty.
02 Oneida - The Eiger
(archives) Once you've heard this at least twice, it's almost impossible to resist singing along to it. In fact, I dare you to not sing along. Great storyline, amazing strings, makes me yearn for a mountain range I've never seen in real life. And of course, there's the Clint Eastwood connection.
03 Torngat - Alberta Song
(archives) Breezy, melancholy instrumental. Pretty much the apotheosis of 'autumnal music'.
04 Broadcast - I Found the F
(archives) I stand by the "Blow Up" comparison, even if only, say, two people know and/or care about that movie. Trish Keenan sings like she's walking alone in a city park that's been neglected for years.
05 Caribou - Hello Hammerheads
I love this song because it is soft and quiet and colorful. Here's a linen analogy: this song is the equivalent of your go-to pillow case (you know, the one that you use when company's staying over, the one that's mature, but also pretty damn stylish. Yes).
06 Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - House Fire
(archives, different song though) Catbirdseat recommended pop-powerhouse. I am a sucker for any lyrics involving a car crash ('Love Rhymes with Hideous Car Wreck' would play at my wedding if it weren't grossly inappropriate), especially in the context of a song that travels as sweetly and sadly as this one.
07 Sufjan Stevens - Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, IL.
The first time I heard this song, it was being played on a surround-sound home theater speaker system. And I was extremely drunk in the middle of the day (long story). Those initial piano chords struck me though, with an almost physical force- their clarity, their buoyancy, their brightness- just undeniable. Still my favorite song from that album.
08 Excepter - Shoot Me First
(archives) "Self Destruction" was not as good as I had hoped it would be. I liked it, but it didn't quite measure up to the promise of "Throne" (which was definitely the better Excepter record of '05)- however, this song is a fantastic distillation of the way the old Excepter line-up (Calder and Caitlin are now ex-Excepters, in their own band, Vizusa) did things, and it's the perfect serving size of the band's scrambled, analytically dancey jeremiads.
09 DFA1979 - Blood On Our Hands (Justice Remix)
The original is the best song on "You're A Woman, I'm A Machine", but Justice somehow improved on it. Let's say by dressing up the hairy monster that is the album version in shiny shoes, a snappy shirt, and a freshly-pressed suit; said beast then goes on a date, gets married, and gets divorced- e.g. this is the kind of song that the things in "Where The Wild Things Are" would listen to if they had to make alimony payments. And Justice knows that.
10 Hardfloor - Groupie Love
Hmm. Don't think I can say anything about this better than Rich Four Four already did: --"The best song on the best tracky house album you'll hear this year (the as-yet-import-only 4 Out of 5 Aliens Recommend This), "Groupie Love" is another chapter in the never-tired series of tracks that equate dancing and fucking. "Love" is a moan-a-thon in the tradition of Donna Summer's "Love To Love You Baby" and Lil' Louis' "French Kiss," with a twist of A Jackin' Phreak's "Acid Sex" and maybe James T. Cotton's "Press Your Body." Its classic bloodline sounds right at home pumping on 4 Out of 5, an album-as-ode to early Chicago acid house that's the always-acidic Hardfloor's most blatant throwback."-- [Is this song NSFW? Probably.]
11 Hot Springs - Bacteria
(archives) Why isn't more attention being paid to this band? Is it because the songs are too good, too energetic? Is Giselle's voice too sexy? Their debut EP, "Rock Partouze" is solid fucking gold, please do yourself a favor and go get it. The stuff they're doing now is even better- check it out.
12 Ungdomskulen - Foursome and Then Some
(archives) Even though I wrote about the B-side of this 7", the A-side is just as spectacular: if you like quick riffs, if you miss McLusky, if you like fun, then this is your band and your song.
13 Art Brut - My Little Brother
Haven't made up my mind about Art Brut just yet, but I do love this song, mostly because it reminds me of my own, dear, personal little brother (who is, in fact, 22 yrs. old). Also it's just a fantastic straight-ahead rock song.
Posted by Kevin at December 21, 2005 11:40 AM