Ah almost done with the list you never wanted. I will be done with clogging up your beautiful tumblr. feed shortly. I think these countdown posts are the longest things on tumblr. No one writes anything… it’s all pictures. I’ve concluded I’m miss using tumblr… sue me see if care. I’m going to hopefully use these final posts to prove my superior taste in music, or like with the last post [30-21] expose my embarrassing taste in music.
20. Frontier Psychiatrist - The Avalanches - Since I left You (2000)
If anyone is ever crazy enough to let me make a crazy western movie, this song is going to be in the movie and on the soundtrack. This song has it all. Thats what happens when its composed from 37 different spoken word albums. In four and a half minutes Frontier Psychiatrist takes you on an insane musical journey. It is funny, weird, maddening, dramatic, and larger than life. This album could have come out yesterday and I would still be floored. Coming out in 2000 I really think it is ahead of it’s time. This song and album is influencing newer artists and DJs to take ridiculous numbers of samples and bring them together to compose something completely unique. We have moved past “two turn tables and a microphone” now it’s an entire crate of records and speakers. I have no idea how you create a song like this. Maybe you stumble upon it? There are so many moments in this song I love, but one sticks out the most. It comes at 3:30 when a lady’s voice asks “Can you- Can you think of anything that talks… other-other than a person?” and a child responds “ah a-ah ah -ah ah- Bird? -YEAHHH!” That “YEAH” launches into an awesome scratch section. This is the coolest/weirdest song in my music library. Put it in yours and your ears will love you.
19. 1901 - Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (2009)
Instant dance party! A French band named Phoenix with an ambitious album title put out an instant classic to close out the decade. At the end of this crazy decade we needed a song like this. “Past and present don’t matter now the future’s sorted out” wishful thinking, but you are too busy dancing to figure out what’s been sorted out. At your next party turn this one up and let yourself go. Everyone will be better for it. If dance-able isn’t your bag, then check out this acoustic version filmed in Paris (hell you can dance to this one too!). No matter how you cut it this song is amazing. Fantastique
18. Us - Regina Spektor - Soviet Kitsch (2004)
“They made a statue of us…” This one took a while to click, and I’m not sure why. A dear friend of mine would play this song all of the time. Then when it clicked for me I could see why she insisted on playing this song over and over again. This song also appeared on the (500) days of Summer soundtrack, while I love the movie I’m mad they stole this song. Every time I play it people are like “oh this is that song from (500) Days.” I guess I constructed an entirely different story in my mind about this song, and it was pretty far from the (500) Days plot. Mine was about a movement. A new movement to change the world, being scolded by the old guard, later being blamed, and then celebrated. The leaders of this moment are not without flaw, but they work together in a smart resourceful way to do things previously thought to be impossible. I have stayed in a “den of thieves’ ” like the one mentioned in the song, and I can tell you the “Thieves” mentality is contagious. All meaning aside Regina shows off her musical chops in “Us.” Her voice and musical talent are truly a gift.
17. Heart of the City - Jay Z - The Blueprint (2001)
One of the biggest and best rap albums of the decade, The Blueprint. Heart of the City is hands down my favorite Jay-Z song. This is also the song that launched Kanye West’s career as a producer. Without this song, without this album the rap scene is completely different. Here Jay-Z and Kanye bring out rap’s soulful side. What’s crazy about this song is the beat was originally intended to be for DMX. I wonder if it would have had the same impact if this was a DMX track. Here Jay-Z address his critics who are just looking to move the top of the rap game. Jay-Z does well to smother the flames of would be beefs, “I know you’re waitin’ in the wings, but I’m doin my thing.” Not only does this song move rap away from the hardcore gangsta rap of the 90’s, but completely moves away from the violence that was threatening to destroy the entire scene. Put this song on repeat and “Take ‘em to church!”
16. Jesus, Etc. - Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002)
This song is absolutely beautiful. If you ever come to a dinner party hosted by moi, I apologize in advance. When this song comes on, it will be on my dinner party play list, I will probably ignore all conversation to enjoy this song. If you have the time look up the story of the album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, it’s almost as good as the album. For an album originally slated to be released on 9.11.2001 there are an awful lot of references that bring to mind the attacks of that day. ”Tall buildings shake/ voices escape singing sad sad songs”… “Voices whine/ Skyscrapers scraping together” This song has some of the most beautiful and tender lyrics that are so creatively written that you can’t help but feel moved.
“Voices escape singing sad sad songs/tuned to chords/ strung down your cheeks/ bitter melodies/ turning your orbit around”
One of my favorite lines is “Our love… Our love… Our love is all of god’s money/ everyone is a burning sun.” Those lines are followed by an amazing and perfectly placed string arrangement. This song should be required listening for life.
15. Crazy - Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere (2006)
Six years into the 2000s we were are all feeling crazy, if not completely mad. Now living in a world where information is at our finger tips via the web, and around us none stop news thanks to 24-hour networks creating a culture of fear. Cee-lo Green and Danger Mouse come together and give us one of the most iconic songs of the 2000s. Everyone is a fan of this song. Hell, ask your grandma I’m sure she loves it, and she didn’t know Charles Barkley sang. This song hypnotic, catchy, and frightening. Thats the 2000s in a nutshell.
14. Digital Love - Daft Punk - Discovery (2000)
In the 2000s, thanks to Daft Punk, electronic music got some heart and soul. Beyond just being something you can dance to between the 1’s and 0’s there was real feeling. Digital Love is the personification of electronic music. Call it what you want techno, house, or whatever when you create music people can relate to you are going to have a hit. Daft Punk did it and did it their own way. Everything from the guitar solo to the lyrics are digital. It maybe digital but I guarantee you there is more love and feeling in this song than your average radio “I love you she loves me” pop song.
13. A Milli - Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III (2008)
Shortly after it’s lush intro, after the first “A Milli’s”, and the 808’s I can be heard letting out a “oooh shit!” This song is a monster. It’s everything you love and hate about rap, but its so creatively done that you can’t ignore it. Producer Bangladesh (aka Shondrae Crawford not as cool as stage name Bangladesh ) was actually upset that Lil Wayne didn’t really stick to the sample’s theme of being a millionaire. One of the saddest things about this song is Lil Wayne isn’t even trying on this track! That’s really the probably with rap, other than trying to out boast the other guy these guys aren’t really trying. The creativity is there, but no urge to really say anything. With that said, I can’t really pick on Weezy too much, because he does it so damn well. I really wanted to not like this song, but when this song hits it’s hard not to feel like a complete badass.
“Mutha@#$%er I’m Ill, not sick/ and I’m okay, but my watch’s sick/ yea my drop’s sick/ yea my glock’s sick/ and my knot thick/ I’m it/ Mutha@#$%er I’m ill”
The only thing that could make this song even more bad ass is Samuel L Jackson saying the line above. Well, seeing Katie Couric saying the lines above would be badass too.
12. Fell In Love With A Girl - The White Stripes - White Blood Cells (2001)
This was a high school anthem, and probably still is. Clocking in at just under 2:00 minutes this is the shortest song on the entire list. It uses every second to pack a musical punch. Check out the amazing lego video directed by creative genius Michel Gondry. Then see and hear the reason this song is ranked as high as it is.
11. Paper Planes - M.I.A. - Kala (2008)
It knew this song before it was featured in two movies (Slumdog Millionaire and Pineapple Express). I was a fan, but I didn’t think it was that big of a deal. Even when I saw it in those movies I thought “thats cool” and I probably played it some more, but I never realized just how big this song was becoming.
Then one night at a “Gangsta/Cholo” themed party (which I felt I was too cool to dress up for) I took over the reins as party DJ (which means I played my ipod and turned the volume up and down). I had exhausted my catalog of 90s gangsta rap and was getting complaints from the gallery that “my shit wasn’t gangsta enough.” My friend Matt suggested I play Paper Planes to appease the hipster wanna-be gangsta crowd. From there we argue about whether or not Papers Planes is “gangsta” enough. He convinces me that it doesn’t matter. Just before I’m about to play the song , I see the host of the party running towards me to yell at me “PLAY SOME DAMN GANGSTA SH-” *I click play on Paper Planes* - “OH MY GOD THIS IS MY JAM!!!!” The place erupts while Matt and I stand there puzzled. Though not puzzled enough to not dance to one of the coolest songs this side of the new millennium.
Side note: Probably the best use of a cash machine sound since Pink Floyd Money. Also the best use of the gun sound effect ever. Look it up… It’s science.
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Just 10 more songs left. Any ideas on what you think the final 10 songs should/ will be?
