ME!?! PICK ME?!? MEMEMEMEMEMEMEME!!!! Damn…
And now…I present my Top 25 Favorite Songs of 2009. Read ‘em and weep Gaga fans…
25. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart – “The Tenure Itch” (alternative)
This song just reminds me of my college days. It’s catchy, it’s got that 80′s alternative beat to it. I would have played it around midnight on my radio shift in college. It’s awesome!
24. Spinnerette – “Driving Song” (alternative)
Originally, their song “Ghetto Love” was the track I was addicted too. But upon repeated listenings, THIS one was the one that had more longevity. Catchy track and lead singer Brody Dalle has the sexiest voice ever!
23. Julian Casablancas – “Left & Right In The Dark” (alternative)
With a keyboard and a riff straight from “Flock of Seagulls”, this track is a unique blend of Casablancas’ unique vocal and 80′s pop. The lead singer of The Strokes has gone it alone…and made a track that I will be listening too for a long time.
22. The Boxer Rebellion – Semi Automatic (alternative)
This song breathes. Dunno how else to explain it. And even though the lyrics are repetitive, I love the vocals. They’re haunting.
21. Tegan & Sara – “Hell” (alternative rock)
This sisterly duo has been making great music for a while now and this track is my favorite from their album “Sainthood”. Catchy and perfect.
20. Shinedown – “If Only You Knew” (rock)
Yeah…I know…they are the new Creed. But I like Brent Smith’s voice and the lyrics are cool. Reminds me more of classic 80′s rock than Creed actually…
19. Stardeath & White Dwarfs – “New Heat” (alternative)
I have no idea what it’s about, but I just dig it. And the name of the band is EASILY one of the oddest of the year…and I love the lyrics.
“In my mind I never thought I’d see the end of time,
it’s not that bad we’re having more fun than we ever thought”
Funny stuff…kinda.
18. Wolfmother – “White Feather” (rock)
If this ain’t the channeling of Led Zeppelin, I’ll quit. But damn it’s good stuff! This track ROCKS and I ALWAYS crank it when it comes on my IPod! And I NEED MORE COWBELL!
17. Monsters Of Folk – “The Sandman, The Brakeman & Me” (Songwriter/acoustic)
With a stellar lineup of musicians, this track has M.Ward leading the way with his dreamy vocals and the old country style artistry. Should best be listened to while sitting under a cactus and watching the stars.
16. Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johanssen – “Blackie’s Dead” (alternative)
As disappointing as his solo release was this year, Yorn’s teamwork with Johanssen compliments her spry singing. Good alt-pop!
15. U2 – “Breathe”
What was once a leading contender for best track of the year for me dropped back simply because of it’s release date. By the time I started this list, I’d grown somewhat tired of this song. However I can’t deny that, if I look at what song I listened to the most this year…this track is the tops of the list. Great addition to the U2 catalogue.
14. Eminem – “Same Song And Dance” (rap)
The guy is like a walking horror show. As ass-shaking as any song out this year, but as violent as anything he’s ever done. Still….it’s nice to see Slim Shady back and in form…
13. Electrik Red – “Bed Rest” (R&B)
With all the R&B soul singers out there, why choose this one? Because it’s like a flashback to the 80′s…of course! Straight from the days of Expose & Shannon, this sexily charged ditty is groove friendly and ready for the disco floor!
12. Prince - “Colonized Mind” (R&B)
Slow and thoughtful, Prince sends a message in this one. Let’s get it together people…it ain’t gonna happen unless we do it together. Disagree all you want, but the man has a point. And this track is the gem in a stellar double disk release.
11. Mindy Smith – “What Love Can Do” (pop/songwriter)
People can talk about how pop music stinks these days, but the fact is…you just have to go looking for it. This little gem will stick with you for hours. Reminds me of “Fleetwood Mac” from back in the day and she wrote it all by herself.
10. MuteMath – “Electrify” (alternative)
No band got a rise out of me more than MuteMath this year, and with this song about obsession, they rock out. You can almost feel the testosterone coursing through your veins…
9. Metric – “Satellite Mind” (rock)
I gotta hand it to the women this year…they rocked my world. And Metric’s album “Fantasies” is a classic alternative rock album. This is my favorite track from that album and it makes me drum on the steering wheel every time.
8. Temper Trap – “Fader” (alternative)
If I told you how I learned of Temper Trap, you would laugh. Needless to say, it has something to do with my brother, The Beatles and one of his friends. It’s a long story and I won’t go into the details but here’s the real deal…this track is classic pop-alternative. I dig it!
7. Pearl Jam – “The Fixer” (rock)
So many great songs on this album I had a hard time trying to decide which was my favorite. Originally I thought about going with “Amongst The Waves”, but then I thought about it and THIS is the real heart of this album. So I went with it. And so should you. Ya can’t go wrong with either really…
6. Spoon – “Got Nuffin” (rock)
It starts out with fuzzy guitars and a driving beat. It then delves into a relationship gone awry. Good stuff from a band due out with a new album anytime now!
5. Silversun Pickups – “Growing Old Is Getting Old” (alternative)
With a great album always comes a great song. Although most of this album kind of just all fits together, this track speaks to me because, well…quite frankly…I feel the same way. Growing old IS getting old. Might as well listen to someone else bitch about it!
4. Florence + The Machine – “Howl” (alternative)
I would LOVE to direct the video for this song of lust on fire. Sounding a lot like Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde, Florence Welch takes passion to new heights here. And I can visually see this song in my head. Awesome.
3. The Doves – “Kingdom Of Rust” (alternative)
I love the bombastic sound of this song, and then the way it smoothes out and becomes quiet and then picks up again. It’s quite an unusual tune and I’ve been listening to it constantly for 3 months.
2. White Lies – “Death” (alternative)
“I love the quiet of the night time
when the sun is drown in a deathly sea.
I can feel my heart beating as I speed from
the sense of time catching up with me.
The sky set out like a pathway
but who decides which road we take?
As people drift into a dream world
I close my eyes as my hands shake and when I see a new day
who’s driving this anyway
I picture my own grave
cause fears got a hold on me”
Enough said.
1. MuteMath – “Armistice” (rock)
This band really came out of nowhere for me and this song was the reason I even bothered to listen to their album in the first place. It has horns, I love the lyrics and love the beat. Check it out and see if you don’t feel the same. It has everything I love in music and it rocks my soul. Is it grandiose? No. But will it stick in your head? Well…it does mine and I can’t recommend it enough.
