For New Year's I decided that I would have a countdown, and since I hardly ever write about music here, I figured that'd be as good a subject as any. However, since I have thousands of songs to slog through from the years 1960-2007, I never actually got around to listening to any new music. So, not one of these songs was actually released in 2008. But, most of them are fairly new... you know, except for the ones from 1966. I tried to list them in some sort of semblance of likability order, but it was damn hard, and I also limited it to one song by any given artist. I doubt these are in perfect order, but I'm not willing to agonize over the list for several more hours. So... Enjoy.
25. The Call - Reginia Spektor, from the 2008 album The Chronicles of Narnia Prince Caspian Soundtrack
I really hate that this is on the list, but it's so damn catchy. I must've heard this song two hundred times while working at the movie theater this summer, but it never got old. It probably brainwashed me, but whatever... I like it.
24. The World - The Starting Line, from the 2005 album Based on a True Story
23. Fable - Gatsby's American Dream from the 2005 album Volcano
A song about Lord of the Flies? Hell yes.
22. I'm on Fire - Bruce Springsteen from the 1985 album Born in the U.S.A.
Chalk this one up to my dad's habit of buying greatest hit's albums and the radio's inability to play lesser known songs, but somehow I never heard this song until this year.
21. When I Grow Up - Garbage, from the 1998 album Version 2.0
20. Take Cover - Acceptance, from the 2005 album Phantoms
19. Brighter - Paramore, from the 2005 album All We Know Is Falling
18. Live Forever - Oasis, from the 1994 album Definitely Maybe
Until this year I had only ever listened to What's the Story Morning Glory?, but this song is great. I really should check out more from this album.
17. Starlight - Muse, from the 2006 album Black Holes and Revelations
16. Banshee Song - Gob, from the 2007 album Muertos Vivos
The only song on this list that was also on the Best Halloween Song's list.
15. Do You Feel - The Rocket Summer, from the 2007 album Do You Feel?
14. The Underdog - Spoon, from the 2007 album Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Obnoxious album title, but a great song. It has an extremely catchy beat and good melody.
13. Pictures of You - The Last Goodnight, from the 2007 album Poison Kiss
I first heard this song after driving home from Ann Arbor after having one of the most interesting nights of my life with a girl... It involved a raccoon, and probably warrants a post one of these days.
12. Anyone Else But You - The Moldy Peaches
While definitely not my favorite song in Juno I did really enjoy the simple melody and quirky lyrics. It's probably done better by Ellen Page and Michael Cera, but this is the full version. I also really have no friggin' clue what album this is from. Now, I realize that Juno came out last year, but I for the life of me can't remember when I went to see it. Anyway, I certainly never really started listening to the songs from the movie on any regular basis until 2008.
11. Sea of Love - Cat Power, from the 2007 album Music from the Motion Picture Juno
Also from Juno.
10. Shimmer - Fuel, from the 1998 album Sunburn
9. Only Women Bleed - Lita Ford, from the 1990 album Stiletto
This is a cover of an Alice Cooper song, but frankly as much as I like Cooper, I'm not all that into his music. I think it's much more fitting to have this song sung by a woman, anyway.
8. The Conversation - Motion City Soundtrack, from the 2007 album Even If It Kills Me
Sad as hell, but with a lot of enjoyable lyrics. I first heard this thanks to Julia Nunes.
7. Breathe Me - Sia, from the 2004 album Colour The Small One
6. A Well Respected Man - The Kinks
This song was released in 1966... I have no idea how it took me over fifty years to hear it. It's great and also from Juno.
5. Pieces - Sum 41, from the 2004 album Chuck
4. All the Young Dudes - Mott the Hoople, from the 1972 album All the Young Dudes
Juno again...
3. A Lifetime - Better Than Ezra, from the 2001 album Closer
A song about death... sad, sweet, gives you that bittersweet feeling of longing in your gut, just amazing.
2. Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect - The Decemberists, from the 2002 album Castaways and Cut-Outs
I don't really have any idea what this song is about, but someday I'm going to really sit down and study it. This song might have the best lyrics of any that I have ever heard, everything just fits perfectly. It's slow, melancholy and just beautiful.
1. New Slang - The Shins, from the 2001 album Oh, Inverted World
This might be my favorite song of all time. The lyrics are second only to the above mentioned and everything else about it is even better. Nothing has ever better captured the feeling I get in my gut late at night better, not even my countless attempts at writing about it.
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4 comments:
The Shins are amazing. Awesome on a stick! (Without the sickness usually associated with -insert item here- on a stick.)
Great songs! I remember I couldn't believe that you had never heard I'm on Fire. I think you're a little harsh on yourself for A Well Respected Man, though. I don't think you can miss out on a song for over fifty years if you've only been alive for 21.
That's a very good point, Steph.
And thanks Other Caleb. I'm glad you're still around.
Oh HELL yeah, you HAVE to watch Garden State and listen to the Shins to ever live.
btw i got a song category on my blog
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