a few times i've been 'round that track
Lists are totally self indulgent. But let's be serious, blogs kinda are too.
With that, it's getting close to the end of the year, so why don't we start off this year end business. If you're the type of person who doesn't like lists, but loves the accompanying mp3s that go with them, you'll be sadly disappointed, as I've decided to start with singles this week, shows next week, albums the week after, with a downloadble mix that is (hopefully) reflective of all three lists to finally go with the latter. See? Self-Indulgent.
With that...
The Top 20 Singles Of The Year, as arbitrarily chosen by me.
If it was released as a single in 2005 (on cd, vinyl, or as a video) it was up for consideration.
1. Gwen Stefani - Hollaback Girl
I know... if one more person you know describes something they like with "shit is bananas" you're going to punch the first bleached blonde in sight. But you're just kidding yourself. The monster drum beat, the you-better-stay-retired-beyonce marching band horns, and the afermentioned breakdown; you secretly (or not so secretly) stomp your feet like this everytime. In a year, Gwen's anthem might be like "Hey Ya," but for now, I still turn it up everytime I hear it.
2. Broken Social Scene - Ibi Dreams Of Pavement (A Better Day)
Kevin Drew's voice, in all its multitracked glory, almost seems like its drowning underneath the thick soup of instruments on "Ibi," but that's part of the beauty. A room full of guitars, horns, some white noise... Dave Neufeld piled everything he could on top of the vocals, but somehow they still manage to cut through. It didn't have that subtle build that "Anthems..." had, or the pop punch that "Almost Crimes" had, and it didn't have that slow burn of "Lover's Spit," but it was bigger than all three. Sometimes, size matters.
3. Ciara feat. Ludacris - Oh
If you play this on any decent stereo the low end makes you feel like your insides are going to shake right out of your chest. Ciara's best moment of 2005 might actually be when she "sings it accapella" for Missy, but 5 seconds does not a song make. Smooth vocals, a monster hook, and a verse from Mr. why-don't-I-just-stick-to-cameos does however. I was pretty smitten with "1-2 Step" and "Goodies" as well, but this is, without question, her best work.
4. The Futureheads - Hounds Of Love
I have a friend who "survived an all night essay writing binge with only coffee, some potato chips, and the Futureheads covering 'Hounds of Love' on a loop." I'm still not sure how wise a decision it was, but he said it worked. Rather than espousing the virtues of Eliot when I listen to this, I'm more motivated to try my hand at the "oh oh oh" and then the "oh OH oh oh oh" parts... but hey, that's just me.
5. Jamie Lidell - Multiply (Gonzalez Remix)
The album version of this song is a keeper in it's own right. Stripped back on this remix, however, it's pure blue-eyed soul. Piano, handclaps, a little blues bar atmosphere, and Jamie's croon - it's enough to make Al Green jealous.
6. LCD Soundsystem - Daft Punk Is Playing At My House
When I saw James Murphy and Co. earlier this year, "Daft Punk..." was the only song that sounded worse than the record. Everything else seemed to get a massive kick in the ass, but this sounded subdued - reined in, despite the dueling basses - the complete opposite of the record. This is the kind of song you crank up to get out of bed on a monday. That, and it's got a cowbell solo that the lead singer announces for chrissakes!
7. Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx - Gold Digger
Exhibit A: One of my best friends insisted on playing this song everyday on the way to school, but I still love it.
Exhibit B: Next time you're around a group of friends yell, "If you ain't no chump, holla we want prenup!" Rather than look at you like you're an idiot, they will, in fact, yell back, "WE WANT PRENUP, YEAAAAHH!"
The defence rests.
8. Amerie feat. Jay-Z - One Thing (Remix)
If there was anything that could make this song better, it was Hip Hop's most famous retiree (sorry Too $hort) dropping in to replace the rap verses (sorry Eve).
9. The Arcade Fire - Neighbourhood #3 (Power Out)
It wasn't "Tunnels" or "Wake Up," but "Power Out" is the only Arcade Fire song I've heard in a night club sandwiched between Bloc Party and "House of Jealous Lovers." Not only that, but it wasn't a lull in the dancy trio of tunes, it was the climax."
10. The Killers - All These Things That I've Done
I hate this band. Loath them, in fact. I hate Brandon Flowers' prancing. I hate his faux accent. I hate "Somebody Told Me" more than "My Humps." I hate how so many people eat up their shitty new-new wave like they're the second coming of Joy Division instead of the second coming of Duran Duran. I'd be lying if I didn't admit to loving this song though, embarrassing as it is. The over the top delivery works on this one. I love the sing-songy chorus. I love how the keyboard only intro gives way to that chugging reverb soaked guitar riff. But, most of all, I love how two minutes and 40 odd seconds in everything slows to a palm mute and Mr. Brightside, himself, is surrounded from all sides in glamour as they nick Spiritualized biting the Stones in all their gospel glory.
11. Final Fanatasy - This Is The Dream of Win and Regine
12. Sleater-Kinney - Entertain
13. Cat Power - The Greatest
14. Out Hud - It's For You
15. Bright Eyes - First Day Of My Life
16. Helen Love - Debbie Loves Joey
17. M.I.A. - Bucky Done Gun
18. Robyn - Konichiwa Bitches
19. Diplo - Tippin' Toxic (Britney vs. Mike Jones and Paul Wall)
20. Bloc Party - Two More Years (MSTRKRFT Remix)
now playing: Franz Ferdinand - The Fallen (Justice Edit)
6 Comments:
I think oou're totally overrating the Futureheads here. That cover is totally crap compared to the original.
I love the cover! Cool list Quinn.
By 
, at
5:39 p.m.
i would hope if it were just a song list, soon enough would be in the top 5. oh the cons.
By , at
12:57 a.m.
stars have recently released your ex-lover is dead as a single and it blows all these jokers away.
By , at
1:44 a.m.
seeing the Futureheads sing "hounds of love" live is so much more wonderful "oh ohs" then thought possible. You should hear Elbow's version of "One Thing" (recorded on Radio One), and I'm happy/not happy that
Stars picked "ex-lover" as their new single because I don't want it tarnished in any way.
By , at
2:00 a.m.
this list is bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S!
In fact, the whole Gwen Stefani album was so pretty damn good [and I oughta namecheck here "Serious", "Harajuku Girls", "What you waiting for", "Cool" and, naturally, "Bubble Pop Electric" as some of the greatest pop songs of the 00's] that it should be eligible in the Best Album of 2005 polls, even though it came out in 2004.
big kudos for the inclusion of the killers' "all these things i've done" too. funnily enough i don't disagree with anything you just said about them; only, i rate all those things pretty highly. Come on! The second coming of Duran Duran! Does it get any better than this? Extra points for his faux-accent! I prefer to leave the seriousness to the Arcade Fire, whose album was earth-shattering good too. :)
By , at
8:28 p.m.
