hey, it's human nature to make lists

[Zesty Mordant]

yeah, so we all know that pitchfork is run by a bunch of circle-jerking grocery sticks and their lists suck. In fact pretty much all lists my music mags/sites suck.

Except MX of course, so this thread is straightforward. We all listen to a lot of music and out of the releases this year list the top 10 songs (they don't have to be singles) that you've heard. If possible include a little blurb about why.

1. Foo Fighters- "Best of You": In Your Honor wasn't great, but this was probably the best Foos single since "Everlong". I really don't anyone who doesn't like this song. Even dopey hip-hop goons and uber-elitist indie kids enjoy it on an unironic level.
2. Kanye West feat. The Game- "Crack Music": To hell with "Diamonds" and "Gold Digger", this was the definite highlight of Late Registration. Great beat, even greater production and Kanye's lyrics hold a fair degree of weight without being typically preachy and arrogant. Plus the Game kicks ***.
3. Gorillaz- "Feel Good Inc.": This really doesn't need a reason why.
4. Thrice- "The Earth Will Shake": acclaimed melodic hardcore band + Pelican-style heaviness + slave-era worksong = awesome
5. Jaga Jazzist- "Oslo Skyline": dreamy and hypnotic, yet also extremely catchy; great song to drift off to.
6. Queens of the Stone Age- "Broken Box": Just a great little rock number and is very ween-ish. Quirky, catchy, upbeat, and heavy. The piano riff is great.
7. Propagandhi- "Iteration": Punishing thrash-punk number. Excellent musicianship correlates wonderfully with the strong imagery in the lyrics (Donald Rumsfeld removing land mines as a punishment=:thumb: ). Nice face-melting solo at the end too.
8. Common- "Faithful": Gorgeous hip-hop number that incorporates that classic Philly soul song. Features some of Common's best lyrics as well.
9. Ryan Adams- "Magnolia Mountain": Great breezy number by Adams and showcases his return to much better songwriting. Has some great laid-back country "twang" elements.
10. System of a Down- "Soldier Side": Among the best of System's work. Great use of harmony and powerful imagery and play in the lyrics. Plus it's heavy.

Well that's mine. Not a whole lot alt. or indie. but who cares.

[Scott Herren]

I agree that Pitchforks list isn't great, but it is better than that list.

[Scott Herren]

10) Death From Above 1979 – Black History Month (Alan Braxe Remix)
9) Royksopp - Only This Moment
8) Sufjan Stevens - John Wayne Gacy, Jr.
7) Sleater-Kinney - Jumpers
6) Super Furry Animals - Zoom!
5) Antony and the Johnsons - Hope There's Someone
4) New Pornographers - Use It
3) My Morning Jacket - Off the Record
2) M83 - Teen Angst
1) Feist - Inside and Out

[Clunge]

Amplifier - Throwaway: It's on the bonus EP that was released with the re-release of their debut album. Great intro and just a heavy 2:30 song with a catchy chorus.

Foo Fighters - In Your Honor: The standout track for me of IYH. Really good live as well.

Oceansize - A Homage To A Shame: Savage post-rock song in a similar mould to Amplifier that hits you like a train and continues running you over for quite a long time.

Dream Theater - Octavarium: I'd never listened to any Dream Theater before hearing the Octavarium album. The title track is just an immense, epic song that has 8 or 9 distinguished musical sections to it, each as good as the last.

Dredg - Zebraskin: My favourite track of Catch Without Arms. It's just a good, chirpy number that I often get stuck in my head.

InMe - Just A Glimpse: Best song InMe have ever written on an album that was mostly rubbish. Great riffs in this song and the whole song works really well.

Kinesis - Rainbow In The Night: A very different song to the rest of their work I always think with a killer riff. Rather much heavier than some of their stuff.

The Mars Volta - Tarantism: Madness encapsulated within one song. It's just, amazing.

SOAD - Revenga: Mesmerize for me was a brilliant album and Revenga always stuck out to me as a great song.

QOTSA - Everybody Knows That You're Insane: This song = QOTSA. Top track off a disappointing album.

[Zesty Mordant]

I agree that Pitchforks list isn't great, but it is better than that list.

Interesting, 'cause I'd say the same about your list.



:p

[TalkingHead]

1) Antony and the Johnsons - "Hope There's Someone"
2) Pelican - "March Into the Sea"
3) Sufjan Stevens - "Casimir Pulaski Day"
4) M83 - "Don't Save Us From the Flames"
5) Decemberists - "The Bagman's Gambit"
6) Marianne Faithfull - "No Child of Mine"
7) Animal Collective - "Grass"
8) Art Brut - "Formed a Band"
9) Kanye West - "Gold Digger"
10) My Morning Jacket - "Anytime"

/thread

[Little Man being Erased]

9. Ryan Adams- "Magnolia Mountain": Great breezy number by Adams and showcases his return to much better songwriting. Has some great laid-back country "twang" elements.
Nice. Welcome to the Ryan Adams crew.

[OrbDragon]

1. Jaga Jazzist - All I Know Is Tonight
2. Eels - Understanding Salesmen
3. Beck - Girl
4. The Flaming Lips - Mr. Ambulance Driver
5. dEUS - The Real Sugar
6. MissAntarctica - With You Hello (Is One Step From Hell)
7. Ani DiFranco - Studying Stones
8. Mercury Rev - Black Forest (Lorelei)
9. Gorlliaz - Feel Good Inc.
10. Dresden Dolls - Girl Anachronism

[Sound Boy]

Minus the Bear - Drilling
Coheed and Cambria - The Willing Well II:Fear through the eyes of madness
Incubus - Make a Move
Foo Fighters - Best of You
System of a Down - Radio/Video
Broken Social Scene - 7/4
Broken Social Scene - Windsurfing nation
Team Sleep - Elizabeth
The Fray - Cable Car
Turin Brakes - Over and Over

eh...

[Bukowski]

1. Mew - Zookeeper's Boy

[mr_jackalope]

1. The National - All the Wine: The best song off of the best album of 2005. It starts slow with the album's characteristic guitars, with layer upon layer added as the lyrics come in and become increasingly weirder. "I'm a birthday candle in a circle of black girls, God is on my side" has to be about the weirdest couplet written this year. Things keep in the cyclical pattern of the guitars until everything, as the pressure maxes out, the song bursts into a bridge that still sends tingles down my spine, after listening easily more than 300 times. This track is truly immense.

2. The Hold Steady - How a Resurrection Really Feels: The final track on Seperation Sunday, and the climax to a group of impossibly interlinked songs. It's that scene in a movie where the main character realizes who they are, and what they've done so terribly wrong. It's the last scene in Catcher in the Rye or The Stranger, the complete understanding of oneself. Craig Finn created a character in the opening track, and brings her to conclusion here, effectively making the album a novel. Plus, one must appreciate the massive musical support the band provides for this undertaking.

3. Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc.: They made the perfect pop song. 'Nuff said.

4. The Mountain Goats - This Year: Another classic song from the ultra nasally-voiced John Dairnelle. The album itself chronicles his abusive relationship with his stepfather, and this song captures the feeling of him as a teenager making an escape from it all. With possibly the catchiest chorus written in years ("I am gonna make it through this year, if it kills me"), the song serves as the shining star in a sea of highlights in the first half of the album.

5. The Gunshy - $4 Pabst: The best song off of the most ignored album of 2005. With the voice of Tom Waits and an acoustic guitar, The Gunshy (a one man outfit) provides the listener a piece of perfection in under 2 minutes. A rumination on love in youth, he decides to go beyond his memories of a young love and imagine her thoughts and life years down the road, without him. Seek this song (and album) out, by any means necessary.

6. The Constantines - Lizavetta: "We desire disorder; in this desire, we are all born our own destroyers." Set over menacing and blasting guitars (with horns thrown in the background for added oomph), Lizavetta a thunderstorm of a song. Plus, it's probably the only song this year that uses an 1895 National Geographic article as the source for half of its lyrics.

7. Okkervil River - The Latest Toughs: The poppiest, yet probably most lyrically insightful, moment on a stellar but slow album. It's best to listen to this one while reading along in the CD's lyrics book, as the punctuation takes it to another level (I'm not joking).

8. Sun Kil Moon - Ocean Breathes Salty: The only song on the album of Modest Mouse covers that outdoes anything Isaac Brock could attempt; he honestly should just reliquish the rights, this is the best performance of this song, ever.

9. Broken Social Scene - It's All Gonna Break: BOOM.

10. Stereophonics - Dakota (You Made Me Feel Like the One): Though a craptastic album, this is the second best "single" put out this year. A pure blast of energy.

[sweboy]

Not in order:

The Mars Volta - Cassandra Gemini
Sigur Ros - Saeglopur
NOFX - You're Wrong
Protest The Hero - She Who Mars The Skin Of The Gods
Protest The Hero - No Stars Over Bethlehem
Looptroop - Carneval
Bomb The Music Industry! - It Ceases To Be "Whining" If You're Still "Shitting Blood"
Bomb The Music Industry! - Ready... Set... No!!!
Immortal Technique - Dance With The Devil
Slightly Stoopid - Babylon Is Falling

[I'll Take The Veil]

In No particular order:

Chicago- Sufjan Stevens
Cassandra Geminni- The Mars Volta
I Have A Ghost Now What?- Jaga Jazzist
7/4 (Shorelines)- Broken Social Scene
At The Bottom Of Everything- Bright Eyes
Panic Attack- Atmosphere
F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X.- The Fall of Troy
Burn That Broken Bed- Calexico/Iron & Wine
Baraga Embankment- Bear Vs. Shark
Frances The Mute- The Mars Volta

[W.M.A]

1. Helicopter- Bloc Party
2. Girl- Beck
3. Denial Twist- White Stripes
4. Hope There's Someone- Antony And The Johnsons
5. Chicago- Sufjan Stevens
6. The Fallen- Franz Ferdinand
7. Minds Eye- Wolfmother
8. Somewhere Else- Razorlight
9. Oh My God- Kaiser Chiefs
10. L.S.F- Kasabian

[nutz]

wat kind of shyt r u trying to pull ?this site is worthless

why bother keeping it up

isnt this site wat amazon.com n allmusic.com is for

star rating -10

good ****ing day n sleep well n never wake up

PZZ out u hermit dwelling homoerotic potentially danger to society of all others being infected with retarded syndrome
-end quote by opium-

P.S. IF U WANNA FIND ME I WILL BE AT www.ultimate-guitar.com

[Clunge]

:wave: Bye.

[BasShorty]

QotSA, Gorillaz, Mars Volta, White Stripes, Oasis and Foo Fighters were the best this year.

[I'll Take The Veil]

wat kind of shyt r u trying to pull ?this site is worthless

why bother keeping it up

isnt this site wat amazon.com n allmusic.com is for

star rating -10

good ****ing day n sleep well n never wake up

PZZ out u hermit dwelling homoerotic potentially danger to society of all others being infected with retarded syndrome
-end quote by opium-

P.S. IF U WANNA FIND ME I WILL BE AT www.ultimate-guitar.com

u r kewlz hve fn wthe yur firnds tehre. at ultimate-guitar.com. We will just stay here and use all the letters in words when we type and it will be fun for you and me.

[IHeartDisco]

1) Broken Box - QOTSA. When I bought Lullabies....and listened to it non stop (as I do with any other QOTSA record) for a few days this was always the track that stood out for me. The lyrics are great its got a good flow to it, I love the random/cheeky background comments and noises...the almost bad sounding guitar over the top nearer the end which makes it sound amazing...I just love this song.
2) The Fun Machine Took A **** And Died - QOTSA. Having gone to the Brixton gig I picked up the Fin Machine Vinyl. This was a song that was hyped up for ages as it was left off the album and literally no-one had heard it. Then they played it live at Brixton for the first time and all the QOTSA fans went home and played their vinyls. Its just different/creepy, very circus like and is just something a bit different for QOTSA. And on vinyl it sounds even better with a bit of crackle and a slightly more lo-fi sound to it.
3) Teachers - Soulwax. Got the new Soulwax remix album Nite Versions. Put it on thinking that itd be all remixes but nonono! This is the first track and even though its simple and basically a bit of a laugh it is still a great song and when listening to the influences or 'teachers' for the band its amazing the range of music they listen to. A veryvery cool track.
4) To Buy A Gun - Idiot Pilot. I first heard this and was 'WTF?!!'. But ignoring the screaming (which Im not a big fan of but can stand). I love this track. The main singer's voice is great and just generally is like this song.
5) Disco infiltrator - LCD Soundsystem. One of my bands of the year. Mainly because of this song. I got hooked immediately. Catchy, dance worthy and just amazing. This band are the future of dance music.
6) Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt - We Are Scientists. The tune of my summer. I heard this waaay before it was released or the band was even on the radar and I fell in love with it. Its basically catchy pop with an edge to it. these guys have a sense of humour and great live show too. Also the song is in my top 10 due to it being the anthem of my relaionship with my ex girlfriend...we both loved this band when we were together and would sing it together and yeah it has sentimental value.
7) Some Mothers Do 'ave 'em - Reuben. One of my favourite British bands came back with a great album this year and this track is my favourite off it. A great riff, great drums, good honest simple lyrics by a great band.
8) Rabbit in headlights - Howards Alias. My favourite British ska band (that has now split unfortunately) released this just before they split. But they are more than ska and their new album shows this with heavier guitar and inclusion of keyboards this time too. A very catchy danceable track.
9) Damn Damn Leash - Be Your Own Pet. New exciting band with this upbeat tune. COuldnt stop listening to it once I got ahold of the EP. Simple short pop-punk tune with female vocals and a fast pace.
10) The emo song. Finally a total piss take song but I have to include it because I just think its hilarious. Its not emo at all its got a dance beat to it but the lyrics/voice over the top just crack me up every time. I love this song.

[bubbledeath]

No order...

Maxi Geil! &Playcolt-Making Love in the Sunshine
CYHSY-The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth
The Decemberists-The Mariner's Revenge
Kelly Clarkson-Since U Been Gone
The New Pornographers-Twin Cinema, or all of them, rather, but this is the one that's the most played.
Sufjan Stevens-They Are Night Zombies!!! (ect. ect)
Spoon-Two Sides Of Monsieur Valentine
Robyn-Konichiwa Bitches
Andrew Bird-Fake Palindromes
Stars-the First Five Times

[IHeartDisco]

2) Pelican - "March Into the Sea"


Hey nacho what are Pelican like? Im going to see them next year supporting Cave In

[IHeartDisco]

Coolcool. Any albums you can recommend? Ill have to get ahold of some of thier material

[elnicky]

1. Arcade Fire - Wake Up
2. Sufjan Stevens - Casimir Pulaski Day
3. Andrew Bird - Fake Palindromes
4. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Let The Cool Goodess Rust Away
5. Decemberists - We Both Go Down Together
6. Stars - Your Ex Lover Is Dead
7. Ryan Adams - Cold Roses
8. Bright Eyes - Lua
9 . Queens of the Stone Age - In My Head
10. My Morning Jacket - Dondante

[Japanese Policeman]

Sufjan Stevens - Chicago
And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Will You Smile Again?
Jaga Jazzist - All I Know Is Tonight
Eels - Old **** / New ****
Nine Inch Nails - All The Love In The World
Andrew Bird - Skin Is, My
Kate Bush - King Of The Mountain
Sigur Rós - Sæglópur
Oceansize - No Tomorrow
Nikka Costa - Till I Get To You

[Lucifer Jim]

dEUS - The Real Sugar
Dream Theater - Octavarium
The Mars Volta - Cassandra Gemini
Opeth - Atonement
Porcupine Tree - Arriving Somewhere But Not Here
Queens of the Stone Age - Broken Box
Riverside - Dance With the Shadow
Sigur Rós - Milanó
Shadow Gallery - Room V
Strapping Young Lad - Skeksis

[BillCosby]

1. The Mars Volta - "Cassandra Geminni" (/fanboy)
2. The Decemberists - "The Mariner's Revenge Song"
3. Kanye West - "Touch the Sky"
4. Common - "The Food"
5. M.I.A. - "Bucky Done Gun"

That's all I care to post at the moment.

[Vismund Cygnus]

1. The Mars Volta - Cassandra Gemini
2. The Mars Volta - L'Via L'Viaquez

in no particular order:

Portugal. The Man - Stables and Chairs
The Decemberists - The Mariner's Revenge Song
Neon Blonde - Chandeliers and Vines
British Sea Power - Oh Larsen B
The Fall of Troy - All of the Ghostship songs
Kanye West - Gold Digger
Ryan Adams - Easy Plateau
Spoon - The Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine

[guitarded_chuck]

I don't like picking individual songs. Way too hard to choose.

I like Ryan Adams, The Mars Volta, The Decemberists, Kanye West and Sufjan Stevens the most this year.