Best of 2009

s-t


Bat For Lashes - "Daniel"
Is this song about The Karate Kid? If so, Natasha Khan shows true genius in writing such a lush love letter to Ralph Macchio's (in)famous alter ego. I agree with the "futuristic Stevie Nicks" consensus when describing her sound, due to a certain... mystical quality that few artists possess.


Camera Obscura - "French Navy"
With a voice dipped in honey, Tracyanne Campbell weaves a charming girl-meets-boy scenario and somehow manages to not sound corny when singing "Oh, the thing that you do, you make me go, 'oooooh.'" I can't decide if I like the live version better, where the strings are replaced with trumpet.


Charlotte Hatherley - "White"
Starts off mid-tempo, Charlotte Hatherley singing hazily, even lazily... then turns into a disco rave when the chorus hits. Love the drum fills. And while the album as a whole is inconsistent, it never fails to be interesting.


God Help The Girl - "God Help The Girl"
OK, so this is extremely twee but also extremely appealing. I especially enjoy when Catherine Ireton speeds up mid-sentence: "The dawn will touch me in a way a boycouldnevertouchtheirpromisenevermeantsomuchtome!"


Julian Casablancas - "Glass"
A beginning sprinkled with short chirps of arbitrary whistling belies its true nature - an epic ballad sent from outer space. I love that Casablancas pushes this song into cinematic territory. In instrumental form, the sounds - laser beam fire, bits from the Buckaroo Banzai end credits - are beyond gorgeous and I can't help but think his vocals do more harm than good. But then he'll hit the high notes of "You won't have any trouble now," plus the "ooooohooohoooooohoh" that closes the song and I chastise myself for ever questioning the man.


Metric - "Collect Call"
Beautiful, elegant, hypnotic... perfect for when you're slowly riding out the downside of a high. I picture Emily Haines leaning her head on someone's shoulders, arms looped around his neck and dancing with her feet on his, "wishing you could keep me closer, I'm a lazy dancer, when you move, I move with you." Also a rare projection of emotional vulnerability in Metric's mainly socio-political oeuvre.

Metric - "Stadium Love"
Those first arena-sized drums signal an instant adrenaline rush. Shouting "oooeeeoooeeeooo!" back at Emily Haines along with a few hundred people was one of the highlights of my concert-going life. This song is a total blast. Fact is, many more tracks off Fantasies belong on this list: "Satellite Mind," "Blindness," "Gimme Sympathy," "Help I'm Alive," "Waves"...


The Postmarks - "My Lucky Charm"
It saddens me that this song only shows it's full potential on record, as the echo verse is omitted in the live version, thereby leaving an unexpected emptiness. But it does feature perhaps the best "awww"-inducing lyric of the year: "Ever since the first day you arrived, I've been set on autopilot smile." A bouncy, unabashedly joyful treat.


Viva Voce - "Red Letter Day"
Spurred along with some twangy, country-western guitar, Anita and Craig Robinson make perfect harmony grooving on an outstanding bass melody. Cowpoke-ingly atmospheric, I listen with eyes closed and envision a Texas sunset.


Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Hysteric"
A subtle Karen O is a fine Karen O, despite what the title suggests. "Faces" also rules.

HM:
Lucky Soul - "Whoa Billy!"
Mos Def - "Priority"
Pearl Jam - "The Fixer"
Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson - Break Up
Phoenix - "1901"

jho


1 Animal Collective - "Summertime Clothes"
Nothing special about how it starts out as you hear Avery's tick-tock vocals but once Panda Bear jumps in, the song really takes off after that. It's like "Ring Around the Rosie" but for grown-ups.


2 Animal Collective - "My Girls"
Unwordly blips and bleeps provide a stark contrast to Avery and Panda's call-and-response vocals. My only ticky-tack knock is the drum verse at 2:30, which doesn't seem to fit compared to the rest of the song. Check out its 2 decent videos.


3 Kid Cudi (featuring MGMT and Ratatat) - "Pursuit of Happiness"
Part Mase, Part Fabolous except he can sing. Song runs a little long but I enjoy his "don't worry, everything going to be alright" vibe.


4 Matt & Kim - "Lessons Learned"
Quite possibly their most 'mature' song. I dig Kim's background vocals and here Matt's synths really add to the build-up near the end. Gives us a sense of hope at the end. Entertaining video.


5 Phoenix - "1901"
Over-played maybe. I don't think I've appreciated anyone's drumming since Matt Tong of Bloc Party (and check out this drumming rendition). Like "Lessons Learned" gives us little bursts of hope. That being said, this song sometimes feel it has potential to be so much more. Certainly it gives this trailer an extra added punch.


6 Thao Nguyen with The Get Down Stay Down - "When We Swam"
I like the laid-back, jingle-jangle feel of the song. It's like the "Hokey Pokey" but for grown-ups.


7 Clare Bowditch and The Feeding Set - "The Thing About Grief"
Her effortless vocals borders being nonchalant. But her indifferent tone works well within the context of the song.


8 Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Little Shadow (acoustic version)"
The airy, string arrangements gets the nod over the album version.


9 Cold Cave - Life Magazine
Propelling beats, crescendo/decrescendo synths and echoing vocals makes for a distinct sound and kick-butt tune - what's not to like?


10 Julian Casablancas - Glass
Sounds like something Vangelis produced in Blade Runner. Take out the vocals and the instrumental would stand on its own; if not even stronger (similar to Stroke's bandmate, Albert Hammond Jr.'s "In Transit"). Check out Phrazes for the Young preview.

HM:
Fanfarlo - Comets
Matisyahu - One Day
Keri Hilson - Knock You Down
Kelly Clarkson - My Life Would Suck Without You

Remixes/Mash-ups:
Animal Collective - "My Girls" (HATCHMATIK Disco remix)
Grizzly Bear - "Two Weeks" (Fred Falke remix)
Kid Cudi (featuring Kanye West and Common) - "Make Her Say" (Sammy Bananas remix)
DJ STV SLV - "Good Ol' Fashion Nightmare" (Matt & Kim vs Beastie Boys)

Handclaps!

In honor of hand-claps: we tried our best picking authentic claps and not synth-generated ones.

s-t


Acid House Kings - "Do What You Wanna Do" (2005)
What I dig about this is that aside from the sleigh bells, handclaps are the primary source of percussion. The bass melody is a poor man's Peter Hook for sure. Tied with The Charade for Best Swedish Band You've Never Heard Of.


Feist - "1234" (2007)
For the record, I was a fan waaay before the ipod commercial! Finger snaps too - bonus! In terms of instrumentation, she throws in everything but the kitchen sink... is that a banjo I hear?


Lykke Li - "I'm Good, I'm Gone" (2008)
There's something sinister and frantic about the loping beat, but it's an irresistible head-nodder.


Rilo Kiley - "Frug" (1999)
Only a handclap intro but this song sparked my love for Jenny Lewis and RK. Saw the video on 120 Minutes - MTV playing videos... who da thunk?


Some Girls - "The Getaway" (2003)
If a handclap subcategory existed, then this would belong under "Golf Claps." Written by the underrated Freda Love, whose unorthodox drumming is quite the delight.

jho

Arcade Fire - "Rebellion (Lies)" (2004)
Blink and you'll miss this single hand-clap that occurs around 3:20.



Elastica - "Connection" (1994)
Great way to wrap up the song with a single string of quick-two-timed hand-claps.



Little Ones - "Lovers Who Uncover" (2006)
Gotta love this little gem's burst of hey-yo's accompanied by of course, hand-claps.



Rilo Kiley - "With Arms Outstretched" (2002)
These hand-claps are nothing to write home about but I do like the sing-a-long and clap-a-long ending.



George Michael - "Faith" (1987)
He even used finger snaps in this song - now that's impressive.

Guilty Pleasures

I don’t know why putting this list together was more difficult than it was. It should have been fairly simple but my Guilty Pleasures list has been in flux for the past few months. There was really no criteria but I ended up eschewing 80s one-hit wonders, hip-hop and "oldies" and for some reason, my list is 90s heavy. In the end, the consensus was that the artist name alone had to elicit some degree of embarrassment and shame in us. Here you have it.

s-t

Alanis Morissette - "Head Over Feet" (1995)

I hated "You Oughta Know." And there was that one year at Chinese Youth Camp where you couldn't walk 10 feet without hearing little girls singing "Ironic" in every hallway. This is, however, her finest hour. Showing considerable restraint, she reigns in her weird, (normally) annoying vocal tics and gives us a simple, honest love song. The rest is forgiven.

Song: Great choice and actually the only Alanis song that I like (i particularly like the ending with her random LaLas and showing off her harmonica skills)

Gwyneth Paltrow & Huey Lewis - "Cruisin" (2000)
The guilty pleasurelessness of this song is directly correlated to how obnoxious you find Mrs. Coldplay. By GOOP's mere existence, this song automatically shoots to the top of the GP list. To paraphrase Lewis Black: "If you have a vision of how you want to live your life, and you go onto GOOP and Gwyneth's lifestyle guidance is the vision you had? Kill yourself." In all fairness, her voice is surprisingly pretty great here, and a fine match to Huey Lewis's grizzled croon. Light, clear... in a sense, it's exactly how you'd figure an Ice Princess would sound. The drum machine is corny as all get-out.

Jimmy Ray - "Are You Jimmy Ray?" (1997)
Let's face it - everything about this song is retarded. The lyrics: who are all these Rays people are mistaking him for? Where are the REAL Rays? Fay Wray! Billy Ray! 1/2 of Harlem Heat, Stevie Ray! The video: bikini-clad girls wearing viking helmets and playing double dutch outside a trailer. But looking like the bastard child of Elvis, Brian Setzer, and Brüno, Jimmy Ray's rascally strut inconceivably turns the song into a catchy showpiece. For the longest time, I thought he sang "with Aretha" instead of "with a reaper," as if he had some celebrated kinship with the Queen of Soul.

Song: I agree it's catchy. Reminds me of Cornershop's "Brimful of Asha" for some reason.
Video: extremely random. No other video features a RV except maybe Radiohead's Street Spirit".

Third Eye Blind - "Never Let You Go" (1999)
In 3eb's heyday, was there anyone more douche-y than Stephan Jenkins? The Sugar Ray guy, perhaps? The falsetto singing is somewhat tolerable, but the spoken word part at the end is utter nonsense. God help me, I like it anyway.

Song: I really wish you had chosen “Semi-charmed Life” but I guess it’s better than “How’s It Going To Be”. Was he really married to Charlize?

Wilson Phillips - "You're In Love" (1990)
I feel compelled to turn in my man-card for revealing this, but dammit, their entire debut album (I had it on cassette) is a guilty pleasure. Their voices worked well together and they were just so puppy dog-eager and enthusiastic, rooting for them was easy! And I had a crush on Chynna.

Song: If you had a gun to my head and asked me to choose a fave WP song - I'd pick either “Release Me” or “Impulsive” (I can't believe I came up with two). And I guess I’ll go with Wendy then.

jho


Aqua - “Barbie girl” (1997)
This is so painful for me to include. I use to own the 12” version of this but I’m not actually sure if we (Ting and I) ever played it at any of our parties.


Lou Bega - “Mambo No. 5” (1999)
This came song came in I believe at the tail end of the “Swing Revival” (see: Brian Setzer, Big Bad VooDoo Daddy, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, Squirrel Nut Zippers). But this song actually reminds me more from the likes of Us3’s“Cantaloop”, Los Del Rio’s “Macarena” and Lucas’ “Lucas with the Lid Off”.


Paris Hilton - “Stars Are Blind” (2006)
Yes I did go there and yes, I’m obviously a sucker for reggae beats.


Ace of Base - “The Sign” (1993)
1994 was filled with other guilty pleasures but I went with the original that spawned a decade full of 90s hi-NRG techno songs (see other groups with female vocals with random dude’s ‘rapping’: Real McCoy, LaBouche, etc). This song also flashes me back to LoveBoat along with Enigma’s “Return to Innocence” and Inner Circle’s “Sweat”.


Sugar Ray - “Someday” (1999)
Sad to say but this may not be the only Sugar Ray song that I like (Fly, Falls Apart, When it’s Over, Spinning Away cover). This one has definitely has a nice easy breezy quality to it.

Cover 2 (Vol. 1)

Here are some of the “better” Covers that we’ve come across. We’ll try to periodically go through a few batches that stand-out to us.

s-t

The Corrs - "When The Stars Go Blue" ft. Bono (2002) [Ryan Adams 2001]



OK, I'll admit I'm a big softie because Andrea Corr and Bono dancing is a major reason why I like this cover. But to be clear, I prefer the VH1 Live In Dublin version, not the link above.

Franz Ferdinand - "All My Friends" (2007) [LCD Soundsystem 2007]



Though it sounds like a New Order homage for the most part, the last 30 seconds go haywire, Franz Ferdinand-style.

Girls Against Boys - "She's Lost Control" (1995) [Joy Division 1979]



In a word: HEAVY. If the original was a hospital - clinical, sterile - then the GVSB version would be a strip club. The drums kick hard, the guitars are like nails on a chalkboard - the whole thing is (don't know if I'm using the term correctly) a hot mess. GVSB flip the lyrics around somewhat, and Scott McCloud comes up with this line @ 1:37 mark: "and you turn around and took me by the hand, she said... uh!" which then leads into the main melody... so cool.

Ted Leo - "Since U Been Gone/Maps" (2005) [Kelly Clarkson 2004 & YYYs 2003]



After living in Taiwan for several years, I remember coming back to the US and hearing the original for the first time, pleasantly surpised that it was the work of an American Idol. Leave it to wiki to school me on exactly why these 2 songs mash together so nicely: the transition... of course! Leo's hard and fast strumming is a welcome change to the YYYs' slower, gentler acoustic version, and the "Wait, they don't love you like I love you" lyric is an absolute classic.

The Vandals - "So Long, Farewell" (1998) [Rodgers and Hammerstein 1959]



Pretty straightforward pop-punk cover of the original that loses none of its charm in the translation. Dave Quackenbush totally nails the "Goodbyyyyyyye." Creative fan-made (?) video.

jho

Radiohead – “Nobody Does it Better” (circa 1995) [made famous by Carly Simon 1977]



I actually prefer this version linked than the MTV version which actually shows them performing. But not sure if I prefer this cover over Anna Faris’ version in Lost in Translation.

Ben Fold – “Such Great Heights” (2006) [The Postal Service 2003]



Ben occasionally lags a little on the vocals but I guess he has to catch his breath sometime. I like the arpeggios and the “Macarena” is definitely a bonus. There’s also a decent cover by Rilo Kiley but I can’t tell whether Blake Sennett or Jenny Lewis is singing.

We are Scientists – “Hoppipolla” (circa 2006) [Sigur Ros 2005]



Singing in Icelandic and Hopelandic is no easy feat. Props to Keith Murray for his mimicry or hey, maybe he’s always been familiar with Icelandic. I prefer the live BBC version than the one I have linked. The one linked sounds a little “too clean” as compared to the version that I have which has some imperfections that I appreciate.

The Spinto Band – “I Think We’re Alone Now” (2006) [made famous by Tiffany 1987]



A very-underrated band (which gives me an idea of another post) – see: “Oh, Mandy”. Interesting video: it appears as if they were performing at a wedding. I like how one of the band members has to stand over and play the piano part while the actual guy in front of the piano has to sit there and just watch him. Clever drumming.

Final Fantasy (Owen Pallett) – “This Modern Love” (circa 2005) [Bloc Party 2005]



When I first saw this, I was totally blown away by what he did with looping and still am. Owen bears an uncanny resemblance to Matthew Modine (see Gross Anatomy).

He Said, She Said

I wanted to include Weezer’s “I Just Threw Out the Love of My Dreams” and the Lost Patrol’s “Alright” but they simply don’t apply to the rules. Nor do any songs by the Raveonettes or Mates of State. And this has to be the first time I sat down with all the songs and took another listen to the actual lyrics (I’m actually looking at individual lines and not necessarily how everything pieces together – which doesn’t make sense, I know).

s-t


Crooked Fingers - "Call To Love" (2005) [with Lara Meyerratken]
Like Matt Sharp, Eric Bachmann is not the purest singer in the world, so he knows to surround himself with ladies who can pretty things up, and Meyerratken's contributions on Dignity and Shame are superb. Her first verse is colorfully direct and awesome (great lyrics in general though):

It's true I heard a birdy say your name
But I'm a straight-talk woman, got no time for games
Don't need my heart kicked around the block no more
You may be a smooth-talking daddy, but I've heard it all before


Jason Collett - "Hangover Days" (2005) [with Emily Haines]
Anything with Emily Haines is gold, so the fetching bass line just adds to this song's luster. It's rare to find bass parts that stay continually interesting throughout, but there's a real sense of whimsy that, even as the notes fade, I begin to miss already. Totally agree with Hobag's "vacationing in Mexico" description. If you like pina coladas...!


The Jesus & Mary Chain - "Sometimes Always" (1994) [with Hope Sandoval]
As far as I'm concerned, THE archetype for the he said/she said genre. Great contrast between the 2 leads: Reid's conversational style and Sandoval's melancholy cooing. Though the song is rather upbeat in pace, there's a certain gloominess in both voices that make them a perfect match. She HAD to take him back... who else could stand them?


The Postal Service - "Nothing Better" (2003) [Ben Gibbard & Jen Wood]
Props to Jen Wood for a fantastic vocal showing on record, but I saw this performed live at The Parish in Austin with Gibbard and Jenny Lewis struttin' around onstage like a modern-day Travolta and Newton-John that totally ruled. I do think that Wood's voice, pretty but sharp and straightforward - as opposed to Lewis's lush, romantic pipes - suits the song better. Nice imagery, with my faves being:

And I will block the door like a goalie tending the net
In the third quarter of a tie game rivalry

I've made charts and graphs that should finally make it clear
Prepared a lecture on why I had to leave


Stars - "Your Ex-Lover Is Dead" (2005)
I forgot about this song until Hobag brought it up and was all set to use Smashing Pumpkins' "...Said Sadly" with James Iha and Nina Gordon (super-underrated), but in the end felt Iha's elementary school lyrics really hurt it. "Your Ex-Lover..." on the other hand, with its strings, whispered "live through this" refrain, and guitar-driven ending is dramatic without crushing the story they're telling. They will attempt to repeat the formula on 2007's "Personal." Quite apt that Millan sings about being porcelain since that's how I'd describe her singing: bright and pristine.

jho


The Blood Arm – "Do I Have Your Attention?" (2007) [with Anais]
I think I originally heard this off of Cloverfield with just the lead singer singing. But now check out the duet – with Anais singing in French and wha-la! It’s now 100x better. Actually, it’s the piano that drives this song.


Lush – "Ciao!" (1996) [with Jarvis Cocker]
I love it: Hate is in the air! From the album Lovelife, which also featured the Matt Sharp-referenced “Ladykillers” and the bouncy “500”. I like the way Miki sings this song, with such conviction. You get a feeling she really hates this bastard (oh snap). Check out how she sings:

Well, I've felt better since I slammed that door
You always cramped my style, I never noticed before
It's been a non-stop party since I flew the coop
I can't believe I fell for such a loser like you
…

Good luck, mister, do you think I care?
Since you've been gone the offers have been everywhere
I've got a million guys just lining up for me
I've turned a corner, boy, my life is ecstasy, well

By the way, is that a harmonica or an accordion? I say harmonica but not entirely sure. And here's an old clip of Miki Berenyi showing she's got some stage presence.



Jesus and Mary Chain – "Sometimes Always" (1994) [with Hope Sandoval]
Hmm, Jim Reid sounds kinda like J Mascis from Dinosaur Jr on this song. When this originally song came out (I was a freshman in Austin – was I listening to K-NACK? can’t seem to remember), but I think I was more familiar with Mazzy Star with “Fade into You”, “Halah”, “Flowers in December”. Their songs can only be described as lazy but I mean that in a good way. But anyways, here in the end, the guy gets the break, but not always…keep reading.


Postal Service – "Nothing Better" (2003) [Ben Gibbard and Jen Wood]
I’ll be the first to say again that I typically don’t listen to the lyrics in a song. But now thinking back, Gibbard wrote 2 memorable opening lines to 2 great songs on Give Up:

Will someone please call a surgeon
Who can crack my ribs
And repair this broken heart
…

I am thinking it's a sign
That the freckles in our eyes
Are mirror images and when we kiss
They're perfectly aligned

Ok wait a minute, maybe it’s a little too saccharine. But anyways, this time the girl (Jen Wood, not to be confused with Jenny Lewis) gets the last laugh in the end.


Stars – "Your Ex-Lover is Dead" (2005)
When coming up with this list initially, I had it ranked as the weakest but now I think it stands out alone. I like how they sing about a moment they are physically sharing together but they are really internalizing their thoughts or actually externalizing since they are singing, wait...nevermind. I really like the way Amy sings her first line: This scar is a fleck on my porcelain skin. In the end, when the guitars kick in and then the two sing: There's one thing I have to say so I'll be brave - really adds weight to what they finally have to say to each other. I really see it as a happy ending, because at least the feeling is mutual, so no one gets hurt in the end, right? Their video was shot with a nod towards Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Tally of the winners:
Nathaniel vs Anais: ?
Jarvis vs Miki: Miki by a landslide
Jim vs Hope: Jim by default because Hope is so meek
Ben vs Jen: Jen rocks
Torquil vs Amy: even stevens

Honorable Mention:
Positive K - "I Got a Man"