land.sea.& air

Along with each of these song I’ve posted a link to the song, and its companion lyrics from one of my favorite websites Songmeanings.net. I realize not all of the lyrics on that site are correct but the community there is usually pretty good at correcting it.

ENJOY!

http://bit.ly/q1xg8

This is a pop gem and one of the catchiest songs I’ve heard all year. A library never seems like an interesting setting for pop song, a murder mystery is more like it. After hours “between the dust and the micro fiche” the band Pains of Being Pure at Heart put together pop rock perfection. There are so many clever library references that you almost forget the song is about promiscuity in a public place.

http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858754400/

http://bit.ly/BDXDQ

While one band was being inspired by the prospect of library fornication another was “waiting for some words to jump at me.” Camera Obscura’s song French Navy is truely heartbreaking. The song has a very 50’s nostalgia vibe to it. French Navy captures what it is like to be on the cusps of something great only to have it vanish.

http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858767831/

http://bit.ly/13Vjfq

Striving for love, but never quite realizing it is the topic in Neko Case’s “This Tornado Loves You.” Well, that is the song at its most simplistic point. The personification of a Tornado on a love rampage is pretty brilliant. Through the first few stanzas of this song Neko weaves a wave of destruction, that can only be described as beautiful.

http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858763357/

http://bit.ly/7sxXnY

When I listen to the Animal Collective I feel as if I am surrounded by color. In this song its a very warm color with bursts of cool air. So many love songs take the easy way out, and fail to describe that anything goes feeling of love. I think Summertime Clothes does a good job of showing that carefree feeling. One of my favorite lines, not so much the words but how its said is, “don’t cool off… I like your warmth.” AC gives you the essence of what is is like to truly be lost in the moment with someone else.

http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858754837/

http://bit.ly/Apngu

The next song on our list comes from one of my favorite bands of year. The Dirty Projectors might be one of the best, smartest, and most technical bands around I had the pleasure of seeing them in October. Dave Longstreth, Amber Coffman, and Angel Deradoorian of the Projectors put on an amazing show. Any band that can preform with that kind of precision is worthy of endless praise. Before the concert I worried they might not be able to delivered the silky harmonies I fell in love with on this track, but they delivered and then some. This isn’t even the best song on their album Bitte Orca. After the concert I felt a bit like Questlove at the end of this short video http://www.twitvid.com/53683.

http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858779386/

http://bit.ly/3jSuR

Walkabout \ˈwȯ-kə-ˌbau̇t\:  rite of passage where male Australian Aborigines would undergo a journey during adolescence and live in the wilderness for a period as long as six months.This is by far my favorite collaboration this year, Atlas Sound and Noah Lennox (Panda Bear of Animal Collective). Clocking in at just 67 words it packs a lyrical punch. I’ve said it before, but I would love to live in this song.  There is only one way I can describe this song and that is to say it is a return to innocence. After this year, after this decade maybe that’s a little of what we need.

http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858787110/

http://bit.ly/hoUw0

When I listen to No. 9 on the countdown it feels as if I am getting a marathon tour of the Projector’s influences. You can hear everything from Ritchie Valens to Zeppelin to some drum machine driven hip hop of today. A friend of mine asked me what kind of music this was… and I paused… a while. Its a tough question, but get to the end of this song and tell me this is not Rock. While the ladies of the the Dirty Projectors have voices of angels they can also get down on their guitars with the best of them.

http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858778600/

http://bit.ly/PwLtz

No. 8 comes from another one of the year’s buzz bands, Girls from San Francisco. If Grizzly Bear is reminicent of the Beach Boys in the Pet Sounds era, then the Girls are definitely the earlier Beach Boys in the California Girls era (+ some Culture Club for good measure). Great beach punk tune. A pizza and a bottle of wine always sounds a whole hell of a lot better than whatever you are doing when this song comes on.

http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858775809/

http://bit.ly/gopCW

It was hard to write the review for this song, because usually when I listen to it, it stops me dead in my tracks. I resisted the XX for as long as I could. It was until a friend of mine demanded I give them an honest listen. Just two tracks into their debut album, I was hooked. Now correct me if I’m wrong but the members of this band are just 20 years old. That is astonishing to me! Most 20 year olds just want to rock out, and the XX are content making meaningful chill music. The lyrics of this song are simply beautiful. The lyrics themselves are wonderful, but it is the conviction and subtle passion they are sung with that takes it to another level. “I think we’re superstars, you say you think we are the best thing”… Well, if that isn’t love then I don’t know what is.

http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858790099/

http://bit.ly/LdiUo

Coming in a No. 6 is a song I’ve already said is one of my favorite songs of the year… its Grizzly Bear’s While You Wait for the Others. If guitars were ever as powerful as swords it would be because of this song. Here Grizzly Bear prove you can sound sweet while still being a complete asshole. My favorite part comes in at the 3 minute mark with a crescendo of ” and all we want” and “oooohs” mix with the clanging guitars for a beautiful climax. I have to admit a few people come to mind when I sing along to this song.

http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858708885/

http://bit.ly/2UcXpN

On Mos Def’s latest album Ecstatic he came back to regain the crown of underground rap. The beat sounds is lush and  like something out of a foreign 70’s flick. If someone were to ask me about the state of politics in the 00s I would serve up the first few lines of this song as my thesis. Rap legend Slick Rick comes in with one of the best collaborations of the year. Rapping from the perspective of a solider on a 15 month tour in Iraq. Through all the distrust and confusion of war torn Iraq the soldier bridges communication gaps with “one of his fabulous raps.” Perhaps Slick Rick is offering up a way for the two cultures to effectively communicate.

http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858782997/

http://bit.ly/ovp83

I love the Through the Looking Glass lyrics and the Thriller-esque video for this song. My friend’s son once asked “Dad, what does dance till you’re dead mean?!?” my friend responded with “It means, you just keep dancing…”  This song is so much fun its hard to resist the demands of “Dance! Dance till you’re dead!” I’ve said it once before that I think Karen O is the Rock Queen of the Decade, so its no surprise that she would play the Queen of Hearts and demand “OFF! Off off with your head!” I’m not sure if this video was made before or after the death of Michael Jackson, but either way it turned out to be a great tribute to the King of Pop.

http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858763817/

http://bit.ly/8WVtev

I had many an argument with myself about the placement of this song. At this point its like the NCAA basketball tournament and there are 4 number ones. If you look at my iTunes it was my most played song of the year. I won’t even tell you the number because it is absolutely ridiculous! At this point in history I feel like this song is very apt. Maybe its a personal history, but “past and present, that don’t matter now, the future is sorted out.” I don’t really know what this song is about, but its a great jam. Anyone who tells you any different isn’t your friend. While writing this I just up my ridiculous play count by 5 or 7.

http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858764495/

http://bit.ly/OWxOf

My number two song is the second on this list by St. Vincent aka Annie Clark. Her second album Actor was my one of my favorites this year, and something I played non stop for a couple of weeks. The first track off of Actor is Strangers, and gives you an accurate look at what the rest of the album has in store for you. There is a simplistic version of the meaning of Strangers, but I think have a more complex interpretation of what this song is about.

The song starts off innocently enough, but its darker tone becomes apparent with the lines “paint the black hole blacker.” Here I imagine Annie (St. Vincent) is painting a word portrait of a suburban wife stuck in a insipid pastel world (ala Edward Scissor Hands). In this world the wife is regulated to that 1950s lifestyle even though she is clearly more intelligent than the men in her life. These men or better these yet boys all have things to hide from her, which causes her not to trust them (painting the black hole blacker). She sounds innocent, but even this June Cleaver type character has her darker side. St. Vincent slowly brings out this darker side, until it is suddenly brought upon the listener with electrifying force. Its frighting and dazzling all at once. Lines like “desparate don’t look good on you, and neither does your virture” are cutting and I almost feel sorry for the poor sap that inspired such lyrics. Strangers has such a brilliant and beautiful composition I could listen to it for days and come up with 50 other compelling interpretations.

http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858767623/

http://bit.ly/xyzk

When I started this process of figuring out my favorite songs of the year, even though other songs had compelling arguments, I knew It would end with this song. Even if its not your “cup of tea”, it should be. Plain and simple this is an incredible piece of art. The lyrics of this song could stand alone as a great piece of poetry. My Girls is written from the prospective of a father, and is a universal celebration of family. If you look back on the last two years we have been on the brink of complete economic collapse and record unemployment. Then put that against a musical background that for the past 10 years has promoted a lifestyle of endless consumption, and is continuing to do so.

Then comes Animal Collective to remind us that what we want and what we need don’t have to be all that different. Recently families have tightened budgets and found that the only way to weather the hard times is to come together. Some of us have moved back home to help family, some are still looking for jobs, and while others have started whole new families in the darkest of times. In these dark times we found that the most important thing was to take care of the ones we love, and to be in the company of ones we love.

As much as this song is a celebration of family it is a beautiful promise.

There isn’t much that I feel I need
A solid soul and the blood I bleed
With a little girl, and by my spouse
I only want a proper house

I don’t care for fancy things
Or to take part in the vicious race
But to provide, for one who asks,
I will, with heart, on my father’s grave

I don’t mean
To seem like I care about material things
Like our social stats
I just want
Four walls and adobe slats
For my girls

Happy New Year everyone! Here’s to the year and decade to come next!

30. It Ain’t Gonna Save Me - Jay Reatard

http://bit.ly/6fFum0

Nothing like a little teen fueled angst to kick off this list. In this first single from Jay Reatard, he is upset, but doesn’t pretend to be pissed off about anything in particular. If I had to guess he is upset about his parent’s suburban lifestyle and two car garage. Luckily for us he uses this angst to create a punk jem called “It Ain’t Gonna Save Me.”

29. Who Says - John Mayer

http://bit.ly/316lt2

It was going to happen at some point, I’d put a guilty pleasure on here. I find myself defending John Mayer often. People’s arguments against Mr. Mayer are usually apt, but there is a maturity in his newer music that can’t be ignored. In “Who Says” Mayer exhibits an independent streak that for me is easily relatable.  I don’t smoke, never have, but no one is telling me I can’t. I like being me, but I reserve the right to change it up every now and then.

28. Sleepy Head - Passion Pit

http://bit.ly/QtXn7

This song possibly came out in 2008, but I’m going to ignore that fact since it was reissued in 2009 on Passion Pit’s album Manners. There is something dizzying and refreshing about this song. Its sound is very innocent.

27. Percussion Gun - White Rabbits

http://bit.ly/MNvui

This song came on a couple of different samplers I got throughout the year. After it hit me I couldn’t help, but imagine it being played in some sort of big band swing setting. All you swing dancers out there will know what I’m talkin about when you hear the drums and bass on this number.

26. Make Her Say - Kid Cudi

http://bit.ly/a8Czn

Unless you lived in a cave this year (which I tend to do from time to time) it was extremely hard to get away from Lady Gaga. While this will be the only Lady Gaga related song on this list I have to tip my hat to her for inspiring music that I wouldn’t mind being seen listening to. Oh yea Kid Cudi, Kanye, and Common are good on this song too.

25. 15 to 20 - Phenomenal Hand Clap Band

http://bit.ly/yftnj

This is an odd song from a band with an unnecessarily long name. The lead singer on this track is so hypnotic. After she rattles off “We got the local operation of the local police, they are more than pleased I just spoke to the chief” with such ease, I’m hooked.  The swagger in lines “All the money still ridin’ the bus” make you feel like the coolest person … on the bus at least.

24. Brother Sport - Animal Collective

http://bit.ly/e18bz

This song should be higher on my list. It really should. I love this song. There is nothing I would love more than to be at a party where everyone knows this song (maybe Coachella ‘10). Especially for the chant comes in the second half of the song “Keep it real! Keep it real! Shout out!” Animal Collective has a cool way of making words flow that might not otherwise flow in normal conversation. Brother Sport loses points only based on the fact that I’ve played it for people and have gotten mostly salty looks. For now I’m content with dancing alone in my room to this amazing song.

23. ABCs - Knaan

http://bit.ly/10pthz

I had the privilege of seeing Knaan preform at Coachella 2009. The depth of his lyrics remind me of Lupe Fiasco. I’ve seen both in concert, and Knaan blows Lupe out of the water. In Knaan’s show he shares a piece of himself with the crowd that you can’t get off of the record. Now that is not saying his debut album  Troubadour disappoints in any way. On tracks like ABCs Knaan… well I’ll let him tell you… “I don’t mean to sound like a showboat, but its true my persona’s no joke, I stepped into some kind of portal, I’m legend and sometimes I’m noble.” In a couple of years time Knaan has the potential to be the next big thing in rap.

22. Two Weeks -Grizzly Bear

http://bit.ly/MGJ1g

I’m a huge fan of the Beach Boys - Pet sounds. It seemed like that kind of sound was locked in 60s nostalgia. Grizzly Bear breathed new life  into the melodic sounds and harmonies of that era. Two Weeks is kind of repetitive, but each time the sound gets larger.

21. Marrow - St. Vincent

http://bit.ly/17SClV

I just found about St. Vincent is year, and the first thing I thought was… where has this woman been all my life.  Marrow is a prime example of St. Vincent’s style it sounds so whimsical, then come in some ugly yet beautifully sung lyrics, and then you are hit with the gritty guitar and horns. By the end of the song you aren’t sure if she’s the one or your the one asking for “H-E-L-P.”

20. Zero - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

http://bit.ly/4BIMdx

When I first got It’s Blitz! I played this song non-stop. This song is good to dance to, and go for when you weaving in and out of traffic on the freeways in a suburban jungle. “Was it the cure? SHELL SHOCK! Was it cure? HOPE NOT!” Play this songs and have fun getting lost in the synths.

19. Thank You - Jay-Z

http://bit.ly/W20ME

Its like Jay-Z is thanking us for starting up converstations like “is Jay-Z better than Biggie and Tupac?” Play this song and try not to feel cool. It’s Jay-Z songs like this where I don’t think he is going for the Biggie or Tupac mantle but the Sinatra mantle instead. Now Jigga’s voice is no where near Old Blue Eyes, but both can make you feel like you are in a glitzy Hollywood production.

18. You’ve Got the Love (XX Remix) - Florence and the Machine

http://bit.ly/WdnpC

The XX are arguably the most hyped up band this year, at least in the non radio world. I did my best to resist them, but that wall started tumbling down with this Florence and the Machine Remix. The song is evenly paced in a very XX way, and then it is injected with some glam from Florence. Slow but it is still very dancable.

17. Lisztomania - Phoenix

http://bit.ly/OWdo6 or http://bit.ly/ADBkP

“From the mess to the masses!” One of my favorite bands of the year Phoenix. If you hear this and don’t feel the urge to dance then you might want to check your pulse, because you might already be dead. If listening to this song is the most fun you had all year, then I say it was a good year. If you check out this song I suggest checking out both videos links posted. Then submit yourself to 80’s vibe.

16. Watching the Planets feat. Karen O. - The Flaming Lips

http://bit.ly/Drckw

It takes you until the end of the Flaming Lips’ latest LP Embryonic to witness the supernova of sound that is “Watching the Planets.” This album feels like The Flaming Lips are going for that Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon/ The Wall mantle and succeeding. At the end of this violent mess of a song The Lips leave you feeling battered, bruise, and to find that “there ain’t no answer to find.”