Top Songs of 2009

[graphic by Copycat]

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[list by Chris DeLine]

#1) Bat For Lashes “Daniel” (live performance review)
The most beautiful song on an album that made Bat For Lashes a household name this year. Well, in some households.
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#2) The Prodigy “Invaders Must Die”
With all three original members of the group together again for the first time in over a decade, the Prodigy never sounded so fierce; even if only for a song or two on their otherwise forgettable comeback album.
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#3) Fever Ray “Triangle Walks” (album review)
This pick could have been any song from Karin Dreijer Andersson’s now-defunct solo project. Each song is remarkably unique and stunning in their own right.
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#4) Pearl Jam “Just Breathe” (album review)
The most delicate and touching track on a rugged rock album, “Just Breathe” showcases how brilliant Eddie Vedder’s much scoffed at songwriting can truly be.
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#5) Yeasayer “Tightrope”
Though it has long-since in the band’s live repertoire, “Tightrope” has a lasting sound that acted as a fantastic gateway song between All Hours Symbols and Odd Blood.
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#6) P.O.S. “Purexed” (album review)
Again, this pick could have been a handful of tracks from the stunning Never Better. The bi-polar nature of “Purexed” makes it stand out however, and that’s saying something when considering how unique the entire record is.
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#7) PJ Harvey & John Parish “Black Hearted Love” (track review)
The best rock riff of the year.
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#8) Matt and Kim “Daylight” (live performance review)
It’s hard not to be happy for the Brooklyn-based duo’s success this year. Matt and Kim’s live performances do well to accurately reflect the overwhelmingly positive feeling of their songs; “Daylight” just happens to be one of the most enjoyable of which to listen to either live or on record.
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Matt and Kim “Daylight” [MP3]

#9) Dead Man’s Bones “In The Room Where You Sleep (original version)” (track review)
The Anti- version which made it onto Dead Man’s Bones’ debut album lacks the eerie grit that the original (pre-label) version had. The song is only topped by its music video.
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#10) Raekwon feat. Method Man & Ghostface Killah “New Wu” (album review)
Method Man’s chorus on “New Wu” is an earworm that just won’t die; the entire track has me anxious waiting for the trio’s forthcoming collaboration. Wu-Tang forever.
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[list by Josh Keller]

(My favorite songs from records that didn’t make my top 10 albums list.)

#1) Girls “Lust for Life” (album review)
A song I have been jamming out to since February, it built my expectations so high that I was ultimately let down by the band’s debut album.
Purchase | MySpace

Girls “Lust For Life” [MP3]

#2) The Bitters “Warrior”
Heavy stuff. The kind of fist clenched female fronted rock and roll that never seems to get old for me.
MySpace

#3) Neon Indian “Deadbeat Summer” (track review)
A song that seems to crawl up your spine and make you want to dance. The best song from an album that I otherwise thought was over rated.
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#4) Roadside Graves “My Father Sat Me Down” (track review)
My favorite alt-country song of the year (from my favorite alt-country album). A song that seems destined to be played on lonely nights with a bottle of whiskey close by.
Purchase | Official | MySpace

#5) Fanfarlo “The Walls Are Coming Down” (album review)
The epic highlight to the bands stunning debut album, a song that will hold us over until Arcade Fire come out with their next LP.
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#6) The Smith Westerns “Imagine Pt. 3″
These young kids love thems some glam, and this track highlights their shambolic garage/glam combination at its very best. Not part of their debut record, but a song that really makes me want to see them live.
MySpace

#7) Fergus & Geronimo”Tell It (In My Ear)” (track review)
Catchy rock and roll that sounds like it literally might have been recorded in a garage? Yes please.
Purchase | MySpace

#8) Surfer Blood “Swim” (album review)
Making epic pop music safe again, this Florida-based band impressed with their debut record and a strong live show that really brings their ’90s revivalist rock to life.
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#9) Fool’s Gold “Surprise Hotel”
One of those songs that brings a smile to my face every time I hear it. The Foreign Born offshoot band bring the afro beat to this driving track.
Purchase | MySpace

Fool’s Gold Surprise Hotel” [MP3]

#10) Julian Casablancas “11th Dimension” (album review)
I don’t know where the hell this came from, and I really hope the Strokes we knew and loved come back very soon, but this song is a couple different kinds of awesome and really showed a different side of Casablancas.
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Honorable mentions: A Sunny Day in Glasgow “Failure,” Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears “Get Yo shit,” Cymbals Eat Guitars “…And the Hazy Sea,” the Crocodiles “I Wanna Kill,” Jay Reatard “It Ain’t Gonna Save Me” & Buddy and Julie Miller “Ellis County.”

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[list by Jon Behm]

#1) Grizzly Bear “While You Wait For The Others”/”Ready, Able” (album review)
I know, predictable, right? I am not going to apologize to the naysayers, Grizzly Bear pretty much rules.
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Grizzly Bear “While You Wait For The Others (live on KCRW)” [MP3]

#2) The Very Best feat. Ezra Koenig “Warm Heart of Africa”
The Very Best are insanely great, and this pairing up with Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig is a match made in awesome.
Purchase | MySpace

#3) Beirut “Venice” (live performance review)
I feel like this song has been around for years (it has), but in finally getting its official release this year, I can now put it on the list. It is one of Beirut’s all-time best.
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#4) St. Vincent “The Strangers” (album review)
I have been a long-time Annie Clark doubter (I still can’t stand much of Marry Me) but she really surprised me with one of the year’s best records and this: a really fantastic single.
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St. Vincent “The Strangers” [MP3]

#5) Dirty Projectors “Useful Chamber”/”Knotty Pine” (album review)
Oh Dirty Projectors – you are on all my lists this year. These two are two of the group’s best but I could have just as easily gone with almost any song off of Bitte Orca.
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Dirty Projectors & David Byrne “Knotty Pine” [MP3]

#6) Animal Collective “Brother Sport” (album review)
I grew a bit weary of Animal Collective over-saturation this year, but as a testament to this song’s greatness I still can’t listen to it enough.
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#7) Ty Segall “The Drag” (album review)
I feel like Ty Segall was the great overlooked artist of 2009. This song, off of his debut album, is total psychedellic gritty garage, and is more straightforward than just about anything else this year.
Purchase | MySpace

#8) Here We Go Magic “Tunnelvision” (live performance review)
Yeah, this song is really long, but every minute is pure bliss. It is also even better performed live.
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#9) Speech Debelle “Finish This Album” (track review)
The 2009 Mercury Prize official whipping girl is a lot better than people give her credit for. This single is a fantastic example of her ability to connect to the listener on an intimate level.
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#10) Toro Y Moi “Blessa”
A really fantastic track from an up and comer in the world of dreamy dance pop – expect great things from this dude in the future.
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Honorable mention: Yeasayer “Tightrope”
Another great one off of the wonderful Dark Was the Night compilation. I wouldn’t feel right if it didn’t make the list.

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[list by Erik Thompson]

#1) The Twilight Sad “I Became A Prostitute”
Roaring venomously out of the gate, this ominously moody track from the Scottish rockers blazes with intensity and emotion.
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#2) We Were Promised Jetpacks “Quiet Little Voices”
Another stellar track from Scotland, this one bristling with the immediacy and urgency of youth-having one of the best choruses of the year helps too.
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#3) Japandroids “Heart Sweats” (album review)
The driving drums and fuzzed out guitar get you even before the comical, mantra-like lyrics. This Vancouver duo delivered my favorite album of 2009, and this blazing song is one of the reasons why.
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#4) Thom Yorke “All For The Best”
Yorke’s tender, beat heavy cover of the Miracle Legion track is featured on the Mark Mulcahy tribute record. Thom’s brother Andy joins him on vocals, only adding to the impact of this gorgeous, emotional song.
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#5) The Memory Tapes “Bicycle”
Seemingly coming out of nowhere (also know as Dayve Hawke’s New Jersey bedroom) this jubilant, funky track has a bit of everything, and builds to a resounding, triumphant finish that absolutely soars.
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#6) Phoenix “Lisztomania” (album review)
Another smash hit on an album filled with them, this French band clearly knows how to craft a melody (and a subtle joke), all while still being able to put smiles on their audience’s faces while they dance their asses off.
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#7) The Big Pink “Velvet” (album review)
A tension-filled, mercurial, buzzing beast of a track that explodes in all the right places. I’ve taken drives in my car just to listen to this song at top volume, it’s just that good.
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The Big Pink “Velvet” [MP3]

#8) Echo & the Bunnymen “I Think I Need It Too” (artist interview)
A strong return for the Liverpool veterans, with Ian McCulloch’s vocals sounding stellar and vital, and Will Seargent’s guitars soaring, this song fits nicely alongside a songbook already filled with hits.
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#9) The Pains of Being Pure at Heart “Young Adult Friction” (live performance review)
One of the songs of the summer for me, this NY band clearly knows how to craft a catchy tune full of tongue-in-cheek lyrics and a youthful spirit.
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The Pains of Being Pure at Heart “Young Adult Friction” [MP3]

#10) Modest Mouse “Satellite Skin”
Released during a string of excellent Modest Mouse seven-inches this year, this is one of the best songs Isaac Brock has written in years. It’s clever, bristling with attitude and energy, and stomps when it needs to.
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[list by Tim Althaus]

(In no particular order.)

Evidence & Sick Jacken “Classical”
There’s nothing that says West Coast more than Dilated Peoples front man Evidence and Psycho Realm representative Sick Jacken. The two emcees teamed up over a mystically mesmerizing Alchemist beat for one of the sure highlights of Intermission. These guys only spit one verse apiece, and even though this track is short, it’s surely one of my favorite songs of the year.
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Jay Electronica “Exhibit C”
I really don’t know what album or project this track is going to be on, but to be honest, it’s easily one of the strongest cuts that I’ve heard this year. I’ve been fascinated with Jay Electronica since I heard about him a couple years back, and I’m pretty sure a good percentage of the hip hop community is in the same boat. On “Exhibit C,” Jay effortlessly murders a ridiculous Just Blaze beat in a few breaths and leaves the listener craving for more.
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Fashawn feat. Blu “Samsonite Man” (album review)
Yes, I know I caught a lot of heat for what I said about this track when reviewing the album earlier this year, but my words still stand firm. Exile is quickly on his way to becoming one of the premier producers of this decade, and with beats like the one featured on “Samsonite Man,” it’s not hard to see why. Exile’s carefully cut piano keys and vocal samples concoct the perfect setting for Fashawn & Blu to rock the microphone in full force.
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Raekwon feat. Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah & Method Man “House of Flying Daggers” (album review)
One question sums up this track perfectly: Who knew that Wu-Tang would sound so fucking good with Dilla beats? On one of the strongest outings on Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2, The Chef and his Wu-Tang Clan collaborators coast smoothly over one of Jay Dee’s donuts that would make RZA bow in animate approval.
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Royce Da 5’9″ “Shake This” (album review)
Two things are true: 1) DJ Premier is a legend that cooks up classics, 2) Royce Da 5’9″ is a beast. With that being said, the rest is all minor details. Royce & Premo team up for one of the most well scripted tracks of 2009; Royce’s verses make the listener feel as though they are right alongside him as he recounts the issues surrounding his incarceration, and Premo’s uplifting beat shows that he is no doubt, still one of the best in the game.
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Skyzoo “The Opener”
The introductory tracks on albums are very crucial to me; if I really like the introduction on an album, I usually tend to like the rest of the album a great deal. Skyzoo’s track “The Opener” is a lot like Black Milk’s track “Long Story Short” on Tronic; both are opuses that give the listener a good idea of what’s to come. Skyzoo spits deep introspective lyrics, and Cyrus the Great brings weeping strings and soulful piano keys to life in this exemplary album opener.
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P.O.S. “Goodbye” (album review)
“Goodbye” is another track that just screams great production. Stef teams up with longtime Doomtree affiliate Lazerbeak to make one of the most passionate tracks of 2009. Lazerbeak’s exulting horns and carefully chopped vocal samples create a perfect canvas for Stef to take out all of his aggression on. One of the strongest cuts on one of the strongest albums of the year.
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P.O.S. “Goodbye” [MP3]

14KT “Black-N-Gold”
14KT has long been in the underground hip hop scene of Michigan for a long time now. The Athletic Mic League veteran has been garnering a lot of attention the last two years for his signature soulful sound. On “Black & Gold” 14KT takes it one step further and shows the world that his talent extends way further than behind the boards.
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Alchemist feat. Blue, Evidence, Talib Kweli & Kid Cudi “Therapy”
Alchemist is one of those guys who always puts out quality work, and needless to say, I enjoyed Chemical Warfare a great deal. The one track that still jumps out like crazy on it is “Therapy”, and for some reason I just can’t get enough of it. It probably has something with Kweli and Evidence being on the same track.
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J Dilla feat. Black Thought “Reality TV”
As Black Thought proved on the Roots track “Can’t Stop This,” he is more than worthy of spitting wicked lines over a Dilla beat. “Reality TV” is the epitome of a concept track; Jay Dee’s upbeat strings allow Black Thought to show off his god-like emcee status and list off more reality TV references than one can fathom.
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Top Songs of 2008 | Top Songs of the Decade