Month: December 2014 (Page 3 of 4)

“Spinners” – The Hold Steady

http://youtu.be/3QHMsP4DkUA

The Hold Steady will never again be as good as during their three-album run from 2005–2008. But they still write great songs, like this ode to getting out and trying to put heartbreak behind you. Or, put the ball in play, as some of us used to say.

The nights go on forever now
But the morning comes up quick.

Previously:
20 – “Black And White” – Parquet Courts
19 – “I Got Knocked Down (But I’ll Get Up)” – School Of Seven Bells
18 – “We Only Come Out At Night” – Sugar Stems
17 – “Too True To Be Good” – Dum Dum Girls
16 – “Milwaukee” – The Both
15 – “New Skin” – Torres
14 – “Seasons (Waiting On You)” – Future Islands
13 – “Fall In Love” – Phantogram

“Fall In Love” – Phantogram

Phantogram describes their music as “darkadelic,” which strikes me as perfect. Electro-rock with heavy psychedlic influences, their sound is dark and dense. Throw on lyrics that speak about the hopeless side of love, and their songs aren’t terribly uplifting. But damn do they sound great.

Bonus points: If I had to have a crush on someone in this year’s countdown, it would be lead singer Sarah Barthel.

Fall in me
I’ll let you bleed
’Cause you were fallin’, I’m sorry, ah baby

Previously:
20 – “Black And White” – Parquet Courts
19 – “I Got Knocked Down (But I’ll Get Up)” – School Of Seven Bells
18 – “We Only Come Out At Night” – Sugar Stems
17 – “Too True To Be Good” – Dum Dum Girls
16 – “Milwaukee” – The Both
15 – “New Skin” – Torres
14 – “Seasons (Waiting On You)” – Future Islands

“Seasons (Waiting On You)” – Future Islands

http://youtu.be/1Ee4bfu_t3c

Sometimes great songs get an extra push from a video or nationally televised performance. This is a fine example of that phenomenon, as the band’s performance on Letterman last spring nearly broke the Internet.[1]

But that performance should not hide that this is a great song even without Samuel T. Herring’s wacky stage presence. It is a simple, yet forceful, statement on the perils of trying to change, or change for, someone that you love.

Seasons change,
But I’ve grown tired of trying to change for you

Previously:
20 – “Black And White” – Parquet Courts
19 – “I Got Knocked Down (But I’ll Get Up)” – School Of Seven Bells
18 – “We Only Come Out At Night” – Sugar Stems
17 – “Too True To Be Good” – Dum Dum Girls
16 – “Milwaukee” – The Both
15 – “New Skin” – Torres

“New Skin” – Torres

A song I absolutely fell in love with back in February. This was part of Weathervane Records’ Shaking Through project, in which they document the entire creative process as a song is written and recorded. For this, they took Torres, Mackenzie Scott’s stage name, and added two members of The War On Drugs (Adam Granduciel and David Hartley), Sharon Van Etten, and Chris Wilson of Ted Leo & The Parmacists.

The result is a haunting song that recalls some of Van Etten’s finest works in its slow build and dramatic finish.

Oh, and bonus points for having a line about Kansas City!

The darkness fears
What darkness knows
But if you’ve never known the darkness
Then you’re the one who fears the most

Previously:
20 – “Black And White” – Parquet Courts
19 – “I Got Knocked Down (But I’ll Get Up)” – School Of Seven Bells
18 – “We Only Come Out At Night” – Sugar Stems
17 – “Too True To Be Good” – Dum Dum Girls
16 – “Milwaukee” – The Both

“Milwaukee” – The Both

Take two legends of power pop, put them together, and magic ensues. Aimee Mann and Ted Leo sound like they’ve been playing together for decades, and their differing backgrouns (Mann coming from art rock, Leo from punk) compliment each other nicely. Bonus points for the nicely done video.

It’s the nucleus burning inside of the cell

Previously:
20 – “Black And White” – Parquet Courts
19 – “I Got Knocked Down (But I’ll Get Up)” – School Of Seven Bells
18 – “We Only Come Out At Night” – Sugar Stems
17 – “Too True To Be Good” – Dum Dum Girls

“Too True To Be Good” – Dum Dum Girls

DDG changed their sound a little for this year’s Too True release. They left behind the fuzzy, garage-rock sound of their first three albums for a darker, post-punk sound that is firmly rooted in the early–1980s. While making the musical change, Dee Dee did not lose her ability to write a terrific hook.

It’s hard to outrun a devil from behind

Previously:
20 – “Black And White” – Parquet Courts
19 – “I Got Knocked Down (But I’ll Get Up)” – School Of Seven Bells
18 – “We Only Come Out At Night” – Sugar Stems

“We Only Come Out At Night” – Sugar Stems

I reserve one spot each year for a pure pop gem. This song lives up to the band’s name, sweet as sugar.

Go ahead and run your mouth if you think it’ll make people think you’re smarter
You always thought you knew it all anyway

Previously:
20 – “Black And White” – Parquet Courts
19 – “I Got Knocked Down (But I’ll Get Up)” – School Of Seven Bells