Top 25 Songs of the First Half of 2005: #10-6
I see the finish line and it is lined with gold.
10. Bloc Party "Helicopter" from Silent Alarm (Vice)
Now that tickets are about to go on sale for Bloc Party's Warfield show, it seems somewhat silly to promote them by praising them. I mean, c'mon, can we get these guys sashes that say "Miss Rock Darling 2005" already? But like any pageant, being popular is what they strive for and in turn, it's hardwork. They've earned it. Most of Silent Alarm is freaky sex hit after freaky sex hit, with the cuddly ballads strategically placed to give a moment to squeegie the sweat off. "Helicopter" however, doesn't quite fit into the Bloc Party hit song mold, which makes it even more fabulous that it was a single. It shows more teeth than Bloc Party care to show they have; it's darker, edgier and less dancy. Gregorian chanting and distorted guitars make "Helicopter" fist-pumpingly anthemic, echoing in some kind of punk rock catacomb. But in the end it's still your posterboys Bloc Party behind it all. You wanna know why? Because it's catchy as all fuck.
9. Thunderbirds Are Now! "(Aquatic Cupid's) Harpoons of Love" from Justamustache (Frenchkiss)
Stupid me. Since I got Justamustache in April, I thought "(Aquatic Cupid's)" was part of the previous song "198090". Only recently did I piece together the fact that indeed "Aquatic Cupid's" is connected to "Harpoons of Love". Let me tell you, my mind has offically been blown. Fitting, since in April my knees were blown and my neck has a premanent crick which can all attributed to the overbearing presecnce of TAN! in my life. Early moments of the song will hint at a blippier Hives. But as the guitar rhythms transform with cybernetic robotism, beeps become more pronounced and soon the track is fully formed, like a spazz-pop-punk Voltron, streamlined with hooks so big they really can be classified as harpoons. TAN!'s controlled chaos is an indication of maturity and careful, thoughtout songwriting. It's also blessing in disguise for me, lest I suffer any real bodily damage in uncontrollable jerking-related injuries.
8. Feist "Mushaboom" from Let It Die (Arts and Crafts)
I want you to dim your computer monitor brightness. Now, close your eyes and move up to the computer real close without smashing your face. Now open your eyes and read this: FEIST IS THE LOVIEST SINGER IN THE WORLD. Now back up and adjust your brightness back to your original setting and read on. Okay, I might not really believe what I just gently typed to you. But everytime I hear "Mushaboom" (actually released in 2004 in Canada, but Let It Die just recently got stateside release), I feel on top of the world, spinning around in a field of tulips, napping in bed of bunnies, telling everyone I love them no matter what their face looks like. Trust me, I never want to do that stuff. "Mushaboom" is that precious. Beautiful and quirky, the plucking pianos, hand claps and twangy acoustic guitar compliments Leslie Feist's voice, down to earth, textural and tangible and at the same time, way better any human being I know. Know personally, that is.
7. Headphones "Natural Disaster" from Headphones (Suicide Squeeze)
I tried for a good 20 minutes to try to come up with good side project joke. Nothing. Okay how about an original Christian band gag? Another 10 minutes later, I have 30 minutes of spacing out done and nothing written. The fact is that they're out there, with an ultimate side project of a Christian band joke just waiting to be christened. I'm sure Headphones know it, being the side project of unfairly-labeled, outspokenly politically Left, Christian indie-rock band Pedro the Lion. David Bazan and T.W. Walsh must be like "Hey man, we all hate Creed. Hahaha. Now let's get past it and concentrate other evils in the world like racism, big business and W." Well, they've done their part, tranferring the well-crafted melodies and poignant politics of Pedro to "Natural Disaster". The poppy, bleeping, psuedo-Mates of State electro-organ sounds replace the distorted guitars, lightening up Bazan's commentary on Right-Wing Christian hypocrisy. It's almost as if Bazan is saying that this whole mess we're in is laughable. Headphones will exist and if people listen, they will likely be glad they did while the naysayers will continue to let the hatorade spill from their topped off hipster goblets.
6. Spoon "I Summon You" from Gimme Fiction (Merge)
The fact that this track is #6 is a testament to the Top 5. I've loved "I Summon You" for over a year, from it's early downloadable rough demo in June of '04 to the well produced gem on Spoon's Gimme Fiction of today. It lived on a mixtape of mine that is constantly being changed (usually bi-monthly, that's twice a month right? I get bi-monthly and bi-weekly mixed up) for nine months, while its surroundings changed, only to be taken off for a month and re-introduced with a subtle makeover, like giving a natural beauty a little eyeshadow, rouge and lipstick. Britt Daniel and gang added a little bass, thumping drums and gentle reverbed guitars, to compliment perhaps Daniel's most sophisticated melody yet. The naturally rhythmic acoustic guitar strumming gives Daniel's distinctive raspy call a vehicle to float on, not aimlessly, but with purpose and direction. I'd like to raise a glass to toast a love affair that will last seemingly forever.
It all crashing down by the end of Friday. Then I can focus and really get to work.
10. Bloc Party "Helicopter" from Silent Alarm (Vice)Now that tickets are about to go on sale for Bloc Party's Warfield show, it seems somewhat silly to promote them by praising them. I mean, c'mon, can we get these guys sashes that say "Miss Rock Darling 2005" already? But like any pageant, being popular is what they strive for and in turn, it's hardwork. They've earned it. Most of Silent Alarm is freaky sex hit after freaky sex hit, with the cuddly ballads strategically placed to give a moment to squeegie the sweat off. "Helicopter" however, doesn't quite fit into the Bloc Party hit song mold, which makes it even more fabulous that it was a single. It shows more teeth than Bloc Party care to show they have; it's darker, edgier and less dancy. Gregorian chanting and distorted guitars make "Helicopter" fist-pumpingly anthemic, echoing in some kind of punk rock catacomb. But in the end it's still your posterboys Bloc Party behind it all. You wanna know why? Because it's catchy as all fuck.
9. Thunderbirds Are Now! "(Aquatic Cupid's) Harpoons of Love" from Justamustache (Frenchkiss)Stupid me. Since I got Justamustache in April, I thought "(Aquatic Cupid's)" was part of the previous song "198090". Only recently did I piece together the fact that indeed "Aquatic Cupid's" is connected to "Harpoons of Love". Let me tell you, my mind has offically been blown. Fitting, since in April my knees were blown and my neck has a premanent crick which can all attributed to the overbearing presecnce of TAN! in my life. Early moments of the song will hint at a blippier Hives. But as the guitar rhythms transform with cybernetic robotism, beeps become more pronounced and soon the track is fully formed, like a spazz-pop-punk Voltron, streamlined with hooks so big they really can be classified as harpoons. TAN!'s controlled chaos is an indication of maturity and careful, thoughtout songwriting. It's also blessing in disguise for me, lest I suffer any real bodily damage in uncontrollable jerking-related injuries.
8. Feist "Mushaboom" from Let It Die (Arts and Crafts)I want you to dim your computer monitor brightness. Now, close your eyes and move up to the computer real close without smashing your face. Now open your eyes and read this: FEIST IS THE LOVIEST SINGER IN THE WORLD. Now back up and adjust your brightness back to your original setting and read on. Okay, I might not really believe what I just gently typed to you. But everytime I hear "Mushaboom" (actually released in 2004 in Canada, but Let It Die just recently got stateside release), I feel on top of the world, spinning around in a field of tulips, napping in bed of bunnies, telling everyone I love them no matter what their face looks like. Trust me, I never want to do that stuff. "Mushaboom" is that precious. Beautiful and quirky, the plucking pianos, hand claps and twangy acoustic guitar compliments Leslie Feist's voice, down to earth, textural and tangible and at the same time, way better any human being I know. Know personally, that is.
7. Headphones "Natural Disaster" from Headphones (Suicide Squeeze)I tried for a good 20 minutes to try to come up with good side project joke. Nothing. Okay how about an original Christian band gag? Another 10 minutes later, I have 30 minutes of spacing out done and nothing written. The fact is that they're out there, with an ultimate side project of a Christian band joke just waiting to be christened. I'm sure Headphones know it, being the side project of unfairly-labeled, outspokenly politically Left, Christian indie-rock band Pedro the Lion. David Bazan and T.W. Walsh must be like "Hey man, we all hate Creed. Hahaha. Now let's get past it and concentrate other evils in the world like racism, big business and W." Well, they've done their part, tranferring the well-crafted melodies and poignant politics of Pedro to "Natural Disaster". The poppy, bleeping, psuedo-Mates of State electro-organ sounds replace the distorted guitars, lightening up Bazan's commentary on Right-Wing Christian hypocrisy. It's almost as if Bazan is saying that this whole mess we're in is laughable. Headphones will exist and if people listen, they will likely be glad they did while the naysayers will continue to let the hatorade spill from their topped off hipster goblets.
6. Spoon "I Summon You" from Gimme Fiction (Merge)The fact that this track is #6 is a testament to the Top 5. I've loved "I Summon You" for over a year, from it's early downloadable rough demo in June of '04 to the well produced gem on Spoon's Gimme Fiction of today. It lived on a mixtape of mine that is constantly being changed (usually bi-monthly, that's twice a month right? I get bi-monthly and bi-weekly mixed up) for nine months, while its surroundings changed, only to be taken off for a month and re-introduced with a subtle makeover, like giving a natural beauty a little eyeshadow, rouge and lipstick. Britt Daniel and gang added a little bass, thumping drums and gentle reverbed guitars, to compliment perhaps Daniel's most sophisticated melody yet. The naturally rhythmic acoustic guitar strumming gives Daniel's distinctive raspy call a vehicle to float on, not aimlessly, but with purpose and direction. I'd like to raise a glass to toast a love affair that will last seemingly forever.
It all crashing down by the end of Friday. Then I can focus and really get to work.
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