Top 20 time, bitches! We're in the big leagues now. These right here are some of the greatest songs of the year. If you were lazy earlier today and missed
#30 – #21, just click that link there and you'll jump right to it.
It's Not Me, It's You won't be out until next year, but this track made its way to Stereogum a few months ago. You really can't do much better than this. I mean, first you take Lily Allen, who was obviously fantastic anyway, and then you add one of the most hypnotic electronic beats on the market today? That's a winner. "The Fear" is great, too, but it's so new I haven't even heard it in HQ yet.
Alright, Still was my #1 album of 2006, and if "Everyone's At It" is any indication,
It's Not Me, It's You will be one of the best albums of 2009.
There we go, that's what I'm talkin' about. After teasing you all with some other songs off of
Viva La Vida..., here's the big one. "Violet Hill" was another one of those genius free downloads, like the Dido song I mentioned in the last block. The beat is hot, the song cycles through some nice ups and downs, and the lyrics are thought provoking in places. Trifecta!
Strange that one of the best songs from the new UK singing sensation didn't make its way onto
19, her debut album. "Painting Pictures" was a B-side on her "Make You Feel My Love" single. It came to me at the very beginning of the year, and it set the stage for what would be one of the best new artists of the year. As indicative by the lack of picture here, you can expect more Adele in my top 10.
What a collaboration! This song popped up out of nowhere onto my local adult contemporary radio station, of all things. Upon first listen, I thought, no way this could actually be the joined forces of Ben Folds and Regina Spektor, but it sure was. It's the best track on Ben Folds' new album,
Way To Normal, and it's one of the best songs of the year. The best part is easily the way Regina Spektor whispers,
you don't know me–at allllll.
The surprise of the year? Maybe. Who would've thought Juliana Hatfield (who had one of her biggest hits with "My Sister" way back in 1993) would come back from left field to make one of the best albums of 2008? The best song from it right here, "This Lonely Love," starts out with one of the best piano intros I've ever heard and stays strong throughout. Check out her entire new album,
How To Walk Away. It's well worth it.
I ran across "Foundations" in December 2007, so it actually made its way onto my 2007 list as one of the miscellaneous singles. Whatever! I listened to it enough this year to justify a rare repeat appearance. This is an amazingly, sometimes hilariously, blunt song that just gets right to the point. That's what I love about Kate Nash in general. Early this year, I got her whole album,
Made of Bricks, and I found the theme continued throughout. She's a breath of fresh air in the music scene and I hope we hear more from her in years to come.
Probably one of the best story-based songs I've ever heard. "Carolina Drama" is an epic 6-minute tale of betrayal as told by the infallible Jack White. There are no traditional verses and choruses; instead, the story lasts straight through from beginning to end. As the final track on
Consolers of the Lonely, it's an unbeatable curtain call to one of the best albums of the year.
If you must know the truth about the tale, go and ask the milkman.
Here's the highest secondary appearance by any artist on my list this year (which means it's the last one you'll see without a picture). Only fitting, I suppose, that it's from Santogold, one of the best new artists of the year. "Lights Out" is the kind of song that gets you hooked from the very first listen and never lets up. No surprise you'll see one more by Santogold coming up in my top 10.
Hailing from Neptune City, New Jersey, which is also the name of her newest album, Nicole Atkins is a musical wonder to behold. The songs she made for
Neptune City are kind of mysterious and aquatic (as also illustrated in the art above); the sound and presentation is something very unique. I discovered "The Way It Is" when she performed it on Conan at the very beginning of the year, and throughout the rest of the year, it became one of my most played songs. The way she draws out the final lyric of the chorus will have you hooked...
I suppose that's just the way it is.
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum-bum. Holy crap is this a great song or what? I remember the first time I heard it, I was hooked. Rihanna did it again. No way! When will she stop cranking out the hits? But that wasn't the end of the story. The music video changed everything. I saw some teaser caps of the video before the full thing was released, and it blew my mind. I saw scenes so dark and inventive that I swear I thought I'd never see in 2008. I mean, music videos are expected to be uninteresting these days, but "Disturbia" sure proved me wrong. I was excited as anyone to see it for myself in all its high definition glory, and when I did, I was blown away. "Disturbia" was
the pop music video worth watching in 2008, and it was the best unabashed straight-up great pop song out there. Put it all together and it's a winning combination.
You ain't seen nothin' yet. Except about 110 songs or so. Next, I'll finally crack the top 10 and then we'll get this thing done. Thanks for all the support, as always! See you next time.
