We’re a music site, did you really think we wouldn’t get in on the end of year lists thing??? Self-indulgence is our THANG.
Anyway, kicking things off with the best list (in my opinion), songs. Way easier to sort out. I’ll count down to #1 over the next 5 days, excluding weekends (I think). Afterwards, will come my favourite releases of the year (ie not just albums but EPs, 7″ releases, etc) Enjoi!~~!~~
#25: Dan Deacon – Get Older (Bromst)
News of his acute sciatica was a downer on an otherwise stellar year for Deacon, which saw him piece together a 15-piece live band to play on a tour with No Age and Deerhunter, and also release the clusterfuck amazingness of Bromst. Get Older is the perfect close to Bromst, driving his chipmunk cartoon electronica along with surplus amounts of marimba, and a hands in the air home straight that begs repeating. Deacon seemingly just CANNOT mess up when it comes to afterschool TV theme nostalgia.
#24 Best Coast – When I’m With You (Single)
Bethany Consantino’s had a pretty fun time this year with her new project, Best Coast. Amidst a storm of backlash against anyone who masks their recordings in reverb / fuzz / hiss, she’s managed to put together a string of CDR and 7″ releases thatshowcase her wry, sarcastic songwriting and propensity towards beach-driven pop songs that fit the season perfectly. When I’m With You is just one pretty awesome example of her melancholy bliss, we’ll touch more on her later.
#23: The Mayfair Set – Desert Fun (Desert Fun 7″)
This combo project between Blank Dogs and Dum Dum Girls actually nails a midpoint between the two projects – Mike Sniper (Blank Dogs / Captured Tracks) mumbles into the mic from behind a curtain about how long the drive in the desert sun will be, while Dee Dee counteracts with the all-too-familiar summer positivity. It’s a sentiment that’s been echoed by way too many bands this year, but on this track, it manages to sound genuine and great.
#22: Sharpie Crows – Landlords
FUCK. There’s the sense of pending doom in the vocal delivery, the way the guitar is dragged like a corpse across the instrumental breaks, the asylum screams before the verses start, even the singalong refrain. So much of what Sharpie Crows do best is pounded out here with so much energy, and in only 103 seconds. FUCK.
#21: Cold Cave – Life Magazine (Love Comes Close)
For an artist whose output generally errs on the darker side of things, Life Magazine was a welcome addition to an already sterling set of tracks on their debut LP, Love Comes Close. Ex-Xiu Xiu member Caralee Mcelroy provides the vocals here, amongst pretty handclap beats and slightly darkwave guitar parts, managing to come out with a positive outlook on things, and a dreamboat track.
MORE TOMORROW!!!!!1111“`~~~!!~
