Interestinthings Law, Startups, Music; maybe in that order

Top Tracks of 2009

I've done one of these every year over the past few, but this year it just wasn't getting done, so I decided that I'd have to just write whatever I could while I was actually listening to each song. The thoughts below may not be phrased quite right, but they're honest impressions and I hope the songs really speak for themselves. So listen along, and if you don't like one of them, I promise to sit through the absolute worst song of equivalent length you can dredge up from your own collection, whenever you see fit to foist it on me.

1. "Help I'm Alive" by Metric off Fantasies (24 spins)

Love the way the drums start almost like bells, and continually impressed by the really expert, seamless blending of a very simple pop song in the middle of what's otherwise an aggressive, offbeat postpunk piece.

2. "1901" by Phoenix off Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (22 spins)

This song insists on being fun from the first notes, at least if you enjoy fuzzy noises as much as I do. But this one also has a great build to the chorus, and a wonderful variety of guitar sounds.

3. "Warm Heart of Africa" by The Very Best off Warm Heart of Africa (22 spins)

Beautifully adulterated African folk sounds lead you right into one of the very best Vampire Weekend songs that isn't by Vampire Weekend. Ezra Koenig returns the favor from their Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa remix from last year, showing us how bad these guys need to do a whole album together.

4. "Gimme Sympathy" by Metric off Fantasies (21 spins)

I always enjoyed this song, but it wasn't until I saw the video that I really understood how much fun it really is. Something about watching them switch instruments takes all the seriousness and/or pretension out of it and just leaves you smiling.

5. "There Are Maybe Ten or Twelve..." by A.C. Newman off Get Guilty (20 spins)

So much bombast so quickly, but if you can't handle a dose of pretension, then Carl Newman may not have much to offer you. All I can really think to say is that it's a very ambitious song, but he absolutely pulls it off.

6. "Prophets" by A.C. Newman off Get Guilty (20 spins)

Prophets leaves the bombast for the chorus, but it's very simlarly constructed otherwise and really almost as good. Made an awfully heavy-handed HIMYM finale sequence last season almost genuinely moving.

7. "The Ancient Commonsense of Things" by Bishop Allen off Grrr... (19 spins)

I don't actually love this album very much; Bishop Allen may never get back to the splendor of their year of EPs, but this song is a step in the right direction. There's really just no conceivable reason not to listen to this song when it comes on.

8. "All For The Best" by Thom Yorke off Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy (19 spins)

Might be my favorite song of the year if asked straight up; certainly the most emotional one. Working from a heartbreaking backstory, Thom Yorke turns in an expectedly virtuoso performance. I can't imagine anything worse than losing the mother of your children, and that album cover makes me tear up every time. A thorough dirge that still somehow manages some optimism.

9. "The Kids Don't Stand A Chance (Miike Snow remix)" by Vampire Weekend (19 spins)

Probably my favorite VW song (and I love them all dearly), here chopped, beaten, and spun up into something just as lovable. Beautifully maniacal.

10. "Skeletons" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs off It's Blitz! (16 spins)

This album is really a surprise; I figured I was done with the band since I hadn't heard anything that came close to Maps, except maybe that Adidas commercial that Karen O did. Well, this song and the rest of them are all a drastic return to, and extension of, form. Exquisitely produced and arranged without sacrificing too much of their edge.

Except for the Miike Snow remix, you can also play the whole playlist on Lala's site.