Tuesday, December 30, 2008

2008 Best Moments in Song

For the fourth year in a row, I've gotten more specific than any other publication, narrowing down the best musical moments of the year to chords, lyrics, melodies and drum fills.

Together, they make the Best Song of 2008. Suck one, Girl Talk. Zipped Originals.

Human Highway - "The Sound", 0:00 - 0:28
Islands - "The Arm", 0:35 - 0:54

Nick Thorburn (Islands, Human Highway, formerly Unicorns) was certainly productive this year, but perhaps that was to his bands' detriment. Ultimately, the HH and Islands' albums turned out mediocre, but had exciting starts with these opening tracks. "The Sound" is immediate, infectious pop. Starting with lonely palm muted guitars and hand claps, then filling in voice, and, finally, kicking in a groove. "The Arm" opens with atmosphere, before the scream lets the guitar line out of its cage, along with some perfect violin callbacks. (FunNote: this riff makes a neat ring tone!)

Why? - "The Hollows", 1:48 - 2:10

It was difficult to find just one moment from my favorite album of 2008, Alopecia, to highlight, but these lyrics pretty much sum up what Why? is all about. Yoni Wolf does not write in generalities. He's sarcastic, he's got a great band behind him and, even though this is hip-hop, he always puts melody first.

The Gaslight Anthem - "The '59 Sound", 2:28 - 2:38

This isn't my favorite Gaslight Anthem song off their great album of the same name. But it marked a comeback in my musical life ...when I decided that I could start listening to punk music again. Because it's fun. Because it's big and loud. Because it doesn't make me think too much.

TV on the Radio - "DLZ", 2:22 - 2:44

So much 'tude. So much cool. How rad would it be to take a class from this "Death Professor" fellow???

Marnie Stern - "The Crippled Jazzer", 0:00 - 0:29

The coolest guitar playing of the year is all over Marnie Stern's album, but this is my favorite bit. The tapping freakout is great, but when she shifts into that anthemic riff (with drum help from Hella's Zach Hill), I feel like I could wrestle a bear.

The Mountain Goats - "Lovecraft in Brooklyn", 2:15 - 2:28

Whenever John Darnielle wants to really belt it out, I will be there. Whenever John Darnielle wants to show that he is completely vulnerable and a total badass in one line, I will be there.

Bonnie "Prince" Billy - "You Want that Picture", 0:53 - 1:11

To not use Will Oldham's voice as my best moment from Lie in the Light could be a controversial move if anyone actually wanted to argue about this list with me. But, no one will. I like the idea that relationship problems are temporary, and everything will be "alright" when you perish.

Fleet Foxes - "Your Protector", 0:54 - 1:15

This movement always transports me directly to a magical forest, and, yes, I am on mushrooms.

Weezer - "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived", 3:33 - 4:06

You could write a thesis paper on the failure of this song and the 10 disparate sections that lack any cohesion whatsoever, but that doesn't mean this melody isn't Weezer's most Weezer in 10 years. For that, I love it. And then right after this part, it's back to the suck. Rivers decides to inflict another spoken-word monologue on the follies of fame. Choice line: "Someone once said, 'All the world's a stage.'" Yeah, Riv. Someone totally did said that.

Native Korean Rock - "OOO", 0:03 - 0:36

Karen O sounds so fucking sexy here it's unreal.

Les Phoques - "Zenith", 4:24 - 4:58

Friend and songwriter Ben Turner finds just the right words. I can't think of a phrase that better reflects seriously crushing on someone than, "let's find a bar or let's find that dance floor," while "gyrate" and "freak" become the sweetest, most heartfelt verbs in the English language.

Mt. Eerie - "A Sentimental Song", 1:43 - 2:05

Using artist David Shrigley's words as lyrics, Phil Elverum finds the right balance between silly and somber. I, for one, trust the tone.

Air France - "Collapsing at Your Doorstep", 3:53 - 4:34

The best outro of the year samples voices from old children's television shows. "Sorta like a dream, isn't it?"

2007 List
2006 List
2005 List