It’s coming down to the end of the year, which means websites are rolling out my favorite things: best of the year lists! I thought I’d join in the holiday spirit and share what songs topped my list for 2010. I even wrote commentary for my top five picks. Take the poll at the end, ok?
It’s coming down to the end of the year, which means websites are rolling out my favorite things: best of the year lists! I thought I’d join in the holiday spirit and share what songs topped my list for 2010. I even wrote commentary for my top five picks. Take the poll at the end, ok?
25. Architects and Engineers -- Guster (easy Wonderful) 
24. Window Seat -- Erykah Badu (new amerykah pt ii)
23. Hard Parts -- The Courage
22. Turnpike Ghost -- Steel Train (self-titled)
T&S version: 
21. Mine -- Taylor Swift (Speak Now)
20. Bad Day -- Darwin Deez (unreleased) 
19. Too Dramatic -- Ra Ra Riot (The Orchard)
18. Bye Bye Blackbird -- Quasi (American Gong) 
17. We Don’t Want Your Body -- Stars (The Five Ghosts)
16. See Me Now -- Kanye West feat. Big Sean, Beyonce and Charlie Wilson (my beautiful dark twisted fantasy)
15. Too Much -- Sufjan Stevens (the age of adz) 
14. Dirty Thing -- Telekinesis (parallel seismic conspiracies)
13. Conversation 16 -- The National (High Violet)
12. Next Girl -- The Black Keys (brothers)
9. Riley -- The Corin Tucker Band (1,000 Years) 
8. Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) -- Arcade Fire (The Suburbs)
7. Helicopter -- Deerhunter (Halcyon Digest)
6. Rill Rill -- Sleigh Bells (treats)
5. My Girl the Horse (feat. Sara Quin) -- Fences (self-titled)
Is it possible for music to be lush yet sparse at the same time? Because it seems like Fences has pulled it off for his debut full-length. “My Girl the Horse” utilizes this method with simple piano, guitar and bass over a loop-esque drum track while Chris “Fences” Mansfield sings the same three haunting lines. Sara Quin’s wispy voice in the second half of the song adds a whole new dynamic, showing how every layer and individual note is important.
4. Spit It Back In My Mouth -- Kaki King (junior)
3. Masquerade -- Lelia Broussard (masquerade)
2. Home -- Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (up from below)
1. All to All -- Broken Social Scene (Forgiveness Rock Record)
Possibly the most ambitious song Broken Social Scene has ever released (even more-so than “7/4 Shoreline,”) synthesizers pulse with violin and heavy bass sounds above them to evoke an airy and beautiful sound. It takes everything good about modern electronic music and combines it with everything good about indie rock. With the help of newcomer Lisa Lobsinger’s voice, Broken Social Scene has created an absolute masterpiece. There isn’t really any other to describe this song than breathtaking, and it certainly deserves to be the top song of 2010.
Special Posthumous Award: Cecilia/Amanda -- Elliott Smith
This song may date back to 1997, but label Kill Rock Stars just released it this year. After three posthumous records, how could Smith have written any more songs we haven’t heard? “Amanda Cecilia” existed already, but this is a much different (better) version and one of the most surprising musical highlights this year.
So… that’s it. Did I miss your favorite song? I probably did… sorry! Let out your feelings in this poll. Out of my choices, which is your favorite of the year?
I love Lelia Broussard’s album, but Masquerade is not my favorite song on the album. I wouldn’t even know who she was if not for Ingrid Michaelson so I voted for Parachute.
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Masquerade is an amazing song, if you really listened to the lyrics you’d hear that. Parachute is a cute song, but is no where near the complexity and brilliance that is Masquerade, obviously, its all opinion. Actually I had not really heard of Ingrid Michaelson except through Lelia. I’ve been a fan since 2006, and this record is going to blow her up, that much is certain.
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You’ve just earned a new feed subscriber! Regards from Spain.
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