15. All Saints Day, "You Can't Be Alone" (from S/T)
Bent-up, low-fi would-be anthem. I pretty much love this shit.
(free download @ One Track Mind)
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14. Kurt Vile, "Invisibility: Nonexistent" (from the SQUARE SHELLS ep)
Kurt Vile is easily the musician I'd most like to get stoned with.
(free download @ Hippies Are Dead)
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13. Japandroids, "Younger Us" (from the YOUNGER US 7")
Great song. Soundwise they channel The Replacements here, which makes frontman Brian King's unhealed nostalgia seem right.
(free download via Pitchfork)
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12. Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, "I Learned the Hard Way" (from I LEARNED THE HARD WAY)
Amy Winehouse might not have reminded you how great Motown was, but Sharon Jones will.
(free download @ Aquarium Drunkard)
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11. Japanther, "Spread So Thin" (from ROCK 'N ROLL ICE CREAM)
It hasn't ever taken that much to make a great pop song. Just oooo's and electricity.
(free download @ 5 Acts)
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10.(tie) The Black Keys, "Tighten Up" (from BROTHERS); Best Coast, "Boyfriend" (from CRAZY FOR YOU)
I hope The Black Keys never stop pretending that rock n' roll hasn't come and gone. Best Coast's CRAZY FOR YOU was one of my favorite albums of the year; this song was the most embarrassing for a grown heterosexual man to be caught singing.
(free download @ Passion of the Weiss; other free download @ Culture Bully)
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9. Doug Paisley, "End of the Day" (from CONSTANT COMPANION)
There were good wooden songs by Black Mountain and Blitzen Trapper in Twenty Ten. But this was the best. Dude's Canadian, may sort of remind you of Neil.
(video @ youtube)
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8. Gil Scott-Heron, "Me and the Devil" (from I'M NEW HERE)
Here's how happy I am to see Gil again:
Gil! Gil! Gil! Gil! Gil!
(free download via Stranger Dance)
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7. Perfume Genius, "Mr. Peterson" (from LEARNING)
A spare, churchly requiem. "He let me smoke weed in his truck." That line instantly puts it in my top ten. "He made me a tape of Joy Division." Or maybe that one.
(free download via Captain Obvious)
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6. The Arcade Fire, "Ready to Start" (from THE SUBURBS)
From a top-three album of the year. Lots of great songs on it; had a hard time choosing.
(free download via ListenBeforeYouBuy)
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5. Blair, "Hello Halo" (from DIE YOUNG)
Most underappreciated release of the year. Yeah, she's kind of nineties, but this song—thing of genius. "Don't know what I'm sayin, don't know what I'm sayin, don't know what I'm sayin, don't know what I'm sayin…Got a radio in my head…." Becomes a pop song about writing pop songs.
(free download via Das Kleinicum)
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4. Sleigh Bells, "Rill Rill" (from TREATS)
In-fect-ious.
Braces?
What about them? She's all about them.
(free download @ The Stark Online)
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3. Deerhunter, "Desire Lines" (from HALCYON DIGEST)
Who's better than Deerhunter?
Rhetorical question.
(free download @ Covert Curiosity)
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2. Kanye West, "Runaway" (from MY BEAUTIFUL DARK TWISTED FANTASY)
Will probably always remember seeing the premiere of this at the close of this year's VMA's.
Drama from persona. What it's all about.
(video @ youtube)
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1. No Age, "Fever Dreaming" (from EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN)
Louder. Louder. Louder.
(free download @ Pitchfork)
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