Like last year I am going to talk about the songs I have enjoyed this year. Once again, most of these weren’t released this year, as I am pretty uncool and cant keep up with the kids.
When I looked at my last.fm for top songs this year, quite a lot of last year’s songs were there, my musical credability is so fail. I still really like Phantom Limb and Crooked Teeth it seems.
So this post although not entirely “my top songs of 2009″, are my top songs excluding 2008.
I have gone to great lengths to make the music as accessible as possible, putting links to both spotify and grooveshark (for our international friends). I have also made an 8 tracks that you can listen to through the flash player below.
The Crimea – Several Thousand Years Of Talking Nonsense
Some people can’t take their eyes off the prize,
just believe it’s a god given right to survive, to have life.
Some people don’t know how lucky they are.
I went to a Crimea gig quite early when I moved to London and I actually really enjoyed it. Typically it took me a while to actually dig up the music and have a good listen. I think this was in Tom’s top list of songs last year which is what prompted me to listen. I really like the lyrics and the way the end (the lyrics quoted) is delivered really powerfully, it’s annoying that it’s not available on Spotify as I would listen to it all the time.
The Shins – Saint Simon
Mercy’s eyes are blue
When she places them in front of you
nothing really holds a candle to
the solemn warmth you feel inside of you
I’m not really too sure what this song is about, but the quoted lyrics seem to light a spark in me every time I hear it. James Mercer’s singing during it as always is impeccable.
The Veils – Sit Down by the Fire
It’s hard to say
But I think you’d better
Just say you don’t love me
You don’t love me anymore
This song has an acceptance of defeat about it, that bad things happen and things don’t always work out - but it’s ok. To me at least, I could be way off the mark.
Dan had this song playing in the house a few times and I always called it “that epic song”, by “that band”. I eventually got round to properly listening to The Veils and seeing them live later in the year. I think if Finn Andrews wasn’t in a band he’d be a software engineer. He has an awkward stage presence, it’s brilliant.
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – Stay Alive
Can’t you see his arms are a hell you won’t ever leave?
This band have a wonderful Smiths-y/The Cure vibe to them. Theres so few lyrics to this song that you cant draw many conclusions on to what it’s about. I’m guessing its something to do with trying to convince some loved one to escape some deadbeat town with you. 1000’s of songs on this theme but it doesn’t make it any less awesome.
She & Him – Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?
Why don’t you sit right down and stay awhile?
We like the same things and I like your style
I might be mixing up events in time here, but Ruth introduced me to this song and I like to think she sent it to me before I had asked her out, as a not-so-subtle hint for me to man up and tell her how I felt. Whether this is actually the case I am unsure :p Still it’s a great song and it does remind me of her. The video is also glorious as the singer is Zooey de Chanel who is actually a goddess
Florence + The Machine – Dog Days Are Over
Happiness hit her like a bullet in the head
Spotify | Grooveshark
Florence couldn’t possibly want to be Kate Bush any more if she tried. She has a great voice and this song in particular I enjoy listening to. Not much else to say really, it’s just really good!
Pixies - I’ve been waiting for you
A woman
With the feeling
Of losing once or twice
Spotify | Grooveshark
When I managed to throw a pint of water on my laptop and then subsequently my iPhone died, I lost all my music which I had stored in the megabitz. When i got it all back I quickly re-downloaded what I could (cba to burn cds!) and along with that I got a load of Pixies B-sides. This cover of a Neil Young song and is in my opinion much better than the original. It’s a Pixies song where Kim Deal is singing, so quite frankly it is automatically good.
The Decemberists - The Wanting Comes In Waves
RE-PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIID!!!
Spotify | Grooveshark
I really enjoyed The Hazards Of Love album, it’s a fun and weird story to follow. This part is when our hero tries to bargain with the Queen (of the forest? or something?) who saved him when he was a child - to allow him to be human again for one more night so he can see his newly found lover. The singing by the woman is just unbelievably epic.
The National - Karen
Karen, put me in a chair, fuck me and make me a drink
Spotify | Grooveshark
I saw The National twice this year, at Glastonbury and at some other place around Southbank that I cant remember the name of. I much preferred the latter gig where they played a lot more of Alligator, which was an album I hadnt really paid much attention to, the brilliance of Boxer was too distracting it seems. This was a mistake, Alligator is fantastic and Karen is probably my favourite - I love the quoted lyrics.
Mumford & Sons - Sigh no more
Spotify | Grooveshark
I stand by what I said last year that Mumford and Sons are amazing live. I saw them again this year where they plugged their (at the time) upcoming album called Sigh no more. Out of the songs I hadn’t already heard this was definitely my favourite. Typically it took me a while to catch up with the album but now I have I cant stop playing it.
